DoveBlog - the official blog of Dovetail General Contractors LLC

Dovetail projects in New York Times!

2011-03-28T12:30:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday New York Times Travel Section features a piece about spending "36 Hours in Seattle". The writer, David Laskin, is clearly enamored with our blossom-filled spring weather, but he is most excited about our neighborhoods that are being transformed "into vibrant enclaves of restaurants bars and galleries. With so many converted and repurposed buildings, Seattle's cityscape is starting to look as layered as the wardrobes of its inhabitants." Dovetail is very pleased to take an active role in converting and repurposing some of our neighborhoods' historic buildings to add to Seattle's vibrant urban culture. Laskin mentions several Dovetail projects, including Sitka and Spruce ("One of the most talked-about restaurants in town") and Oddfellows Cafe & Bar. The well-researched 'insider' article also mentions some neat spots around the city that may not be familiar even to long-time Seattle residents! Make sure to also check out the well-photographed online slideshow to go with the story.

Sitka and Spruce featured in Remodelista blog

2011-03-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sitka and Spruce, a recent Dovetail commercial tenant improvement project, is featured in the Remodelista design blog. Of the build-out, Remodelista says "the space is a compelling mix of rustic (open kitchen with wood-fired hearth) and industrial (original factory windows, exposed concrete walls)". Check out the Remodelista post for some more photos and commentary on this very special restaurant. Even better, head to Sitka and Spruce up on Capitol Hill and treat yourself to a delicious meal in an inspiring setting!

Walrus and Carpenter featured in GQ!

2010-12-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

Now we know we have officially arrived! GQ magazine features Dovetail project Walrus and Carpenter in their January issue and on their website, in their "10 Best New Restaurants in America" feature. This project also puts Seattle on the map, as the other restaurants listed are in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. Added bonus: their panna cotta with wild huckleberries is listed as one of the top five best desserts - in the whole country! Walrus and Carpenter is an oyster bar (and more) in Old Ballard, that we're very proud to have been part of creating. Please be good to yourself and make it out there.

Among the praise heaped on Walrus and Carpenter: "A pitch-perfect oyster bar, and more ... reminds me of the once wonderful Pike Place Market, before it got touristy and bland ... This kind of restaurant should define Seattle dining"

finishing touches on Rock Box on Capitol Hill

2010-12-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

We are putting the finishing touches on Rock Box, a new Karaoke venue on Capitol Hill. Rock Box is a karaoke "box" in the traditional Japanese style, with 12 private boxes ranging from small (four to six guests), to medium (eight to ten), to large (12 to 14). It will also include a party room that accommodates up to 40 people and which will host a weekly, non-karaoke DJ night. Design for the build-out was by MW Works. Check out the Rock Box website for more info, and be sure to come on down and rock out with your friends!

Here's a few more pics of the buildout as we near completion:

The entry features salvaged wood and some really cool steel work.

The street-facing booth has glass that can go from clear
to frosted with a flick of a switch! Now that is pretty cool.

Site superintendent Roger Shurtleff demonstrates
proper 'chilling' technique inside a booth awaiting upholstery.

Molly Moon's featured in design blog

2010-10-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

Molly Moon's Ice Cream on Capitol Hill, which we completed in 2009, was recently featured in the Schemata Workshop blog along with some pretty great images.

You can see some more images of the shop on our website. Whatever you do, head on up to Capitol Hill and have some ice cream at Molly's.

Wall + Roof Studio on ArchDaily

2010-02-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

The ArchDaily Blog has an excellent post about a project we built not long ago, the Wall + Roof Studio by Hutchison & Maul Architecture. Although it has a small footprint, it's full of innovative details and concepts. ArchDaily posted some high resolution drawings, sketches, and photos of the project, including a great shot of our very own Chris Mega who lead the construction. Check it out!

More Dovetail work makes the papers

2010-01-25T13:45:00.001-08:00

Above we see Cupcake Royale, a recent Dovetail commercial project, in a recent Seattle Times article by Tyrone Beason (image by Benjamin Benschneider / The Seattle Times) about the Pike/Pine business corridor in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Beason describes the tensions that can arise when a neighborhood emerges as an exciting and vibrant place, and the ways in which owners, developers, and business owners can try to maintain a healthy neighborhood once demand (and rents) increase. Here at Dovetail we are proud that the projects we've been involved with in the neighborhood (Cupcake Royale, Molly Moon's, Oddfellows Cafe, Nube Green, La Spiga, Quinn's Pub, and most recently Sitka and Spruce) are increasing the quality of the neighborhood and provide great places to come together over a nourishing meal, drink, or scoop.

Artisan Spotlight: Susan Zoccola

2010-01-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

We've had the pleasure of working with Seattle artist Susan Zoccola on previous projects, and are excited to be working with her again. Susan works in a wide variety of scales, from tile design to colossal public art installations. In this residential remodel project, Susan has been commissioned to create an art wall (center of image above, in progress) to separate the stairs to the upper level. In front of the art wall will be a sunken pit filled with lead birdshot, and a sculpture by the owner's sister. Susan is creating a subtly nuanced texture on this feature element - let's have a closer look:
The texture is achieved by plastering small pieces of gauze to the wall, and then dripping wax as a final layer. Here we see Susan (top) working with her assistant Julia on the stair side of the same wall:
Stay tuned for more info on Susan and other artisans that we collaborate with!

Dovetail work makes the cover shot!

2010-01-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

This past weekend's Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Sunday Magazine features a cover story about the central role that old buildings play in our cultural heritage, and the importance of preserving those buildings despite changing economic forces. At the bottom of the image we see Molly Moon's Ice Cream, a recently completed commercial tenant improvement project in Capitol Hill's historic Oddfellows Hall building. (In addition, Dovetail designed and installed the wooden building entry doors immediately to the right - they are more historically accurate replacements for aluminum doors from a previous remodel.) Below is a design drawing of the building facade for comparison with the photograph:

Here at Dovetail we're glad to have been part of the the important building preservation and adaptive reuse process in many of our commercial projects, including both locations of Molly Moon's Ice Cream, La Spiga, Quinn's, Essential Bakery, Via Tribunali, and the Oddfellows Cafe, also in the Oddfellows Building.

Recycling our construction debris

2009-12-02T12:06:00.001-08:00

Our company policy has long been to recycle as much as of the debris as possible that is associated with construction and remodeling. In an effort to see first-hand what happens after the recycling company leaves our jobsites, today we toured United Recycling, the facility where this material is sorted and processed. We were greeted by perfect blue skies, crystal clear views of the Cascades and Mount Baker, and Bruce, who manages the facility.

United recycles an impressive 95% of materials it receives in their neat and organized facility. If it has a use here in the Northwest, United will sort it out and make sure it is put to good use instead of going to a landfill. They do some of the processing into final product themselves: they make topsoil and several kinds of mulch from shredding and composting stumps and brush; they crush concrete and asphalt into several sizes usable for grading and road building; and they shred lumber to create hog fuel, which is burned to create electricity or can be used for landscaping. They also sort and bundle an impressive variety of other materials that are found in jobsite waste, including metals, rigid plastics, sheet and film plastics, glass, and drywall. These materials go on to other processors to create usable products. Bruce is always researching to see if there is a new local market for materials that must currently be diverted to a landfill. At the top of the list is used carpet. Bruce is staying updated about a local facility that will soon be able to process this material. It all makes economic sense, since a facility like United is constantly working to eliminate the cost of sending waste to a landfill, and instead to process and sell whatever is possible.

Above, a pile of materials prior to sorting.

Sorting and crushing concrete.

Sorting lumber from a demolition.

Sorting brush prior to chipping and composting.

Dispaches from the field

2009-11-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

Here we see one of our site superintendents, Ray O'Leary, proud of his latest, newly completed project. Nube Green is a new retail store in the historic Oddfellows Hall building. Design was by Domestic Architecture. Nube Green will be selling all manner of goods that are local and "green": recycled, reused, and otherwise helpful to our existince on this planet.

Next up we see Janos (left) and Chris (right) mulling over a specification for roof details for a major residential remodel in Medina that's nearing completion.

As a project nears completion it's always important to protect floor surfaces, so workers have to remove their shoes and work in their socks, or slip cloth booties over their shoes. Chris, the site superintendent for the Medina residence (see above photo) chose a different route and brought in some comfy house slippers.

Dovetail gets good ink!

2009-10-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Very exciting... We just got our paws on an advance printing of "Perspectives on Design Pacific Northwest: Design Philosophies Expressed by the Pacific Northwest's Leading Professionals". This book published by Panache Partners features not only beautiful photographs of some of the region's best designed and executed homes, but also words of wisdom from prominent architects and builders. Best of all, as you can see in the page scan above, there is an entire chapter dedicated to Dovetail work! Photos of some of our best projects are accompanied by inspiring reflections on the construction process by our founder, fearless leader, and head pontificator, Adam Turner! We know you can't wait to get your own copy, so here's a link to purchase this book. More details soon...

Check out our new website!

2009-10-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

We have a great new website! When you next visit www.dovetailinc.net you’ll be able to see many of the projects we’ve completed over the years, both residential and commercial. We’ll also be posting progress images from projects currently in construction. Check in to the ‘community’ section to discover more about the talented and friendly folks working at our company, as well as links to our collaborators and suppliers.

Love birds!

2009-06-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

A pair of barn swallows spotted at one of our job sites today.

Record breaking temps

2009-06-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

Today's extreme temperatures caused the authorities to issue an official 'heat advisory'! Good thing the Dovetail office has a big garage door and plenty of operable windows to throw open and let the breeze cool things off.

Our wood shop

2009-06-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

Chris Dowling runs our fine wood shop. Here are some recent photos:

Clamps.

Bits. Wow, I better not touch those.

Keep those chisels sharp, Chris!

Just look at how organized all those screws and nails are.