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BUILDING TRUST BLOG
On this month’s episode of Ready, Set, Renovate, join David Bass as he walks through the transformation of this 1960s home in the heart of Clemson, SC. David knows this project backward, forward, inside, and out. In the video, he discusses the various characteristics of the home and explains who was involved, what changed, and how the transformation took place. You’ll learn how our team “prepares with purpose” and believes “best is the standard” for this Clemson family.
Meet David Bass
Before going too deep into this blog, introductions are in order. You may be wondering: who is David Bass, and why does he know so much about this stunning remodel? David is the Chief Operating Officer of Daniel Builders. Long before becoming COO, he had two decades of construction experience under his [tool] belt. David arrived at Daniel Builders in June 2008. In those early years, Daniel Builders did much, much smaller projects. David helped Daniel Builders establish a reputation for quality work as a carpenter. As that reputation spread, larger projects arrived at our doorstep. As the business grew from home repair to custom builds, so did David’s career.
Throughout the years, David honed his project management skills. As a project manager, he became proficient at planning the trajectory of his projects and holding those involved accountable to create an experience that we call the “Daniel Builders Difference.” He, along with Bob Cord and Daniel Jachens, the owners of Daniel Builders, focused on going from good to great. (Quick side note: If you ask David to name his favorite book on business, he’s likely to say “Good to Great” by Jim Collins). As time passed, Daniel Builders added more project managers to the team, and David assumed the role of Build Director.
The Daniel Builders team is fast approaching 50 employees. As COO, David mentors the next generation of newcomers to the team and oversees the company’s daily operations. Despite the company’s humble beginnings, David still holds the high standard of providing a great client experience to everyone who walks through our door (learn more about that here), regardless of project scope or size. That’s why we have so many repeat clients!
At Daniel Builders, many of our clients come back for additional projects in their forever homes, but we also remodel second homes. While a forever home is designed for daily function, a second home is designed for a different pace of life. Good design always begins with end use, and a second home can serve as both a getaway and a gateway for entertaining. How can you remodel with hospitality in mind? Over the years, we’ve collected many remodeling tips for second homes.
Hospitality-Focused Design
How do you design a space where holidays are celebrated, friends visit for long weekends, and family gathers throughout the year? The end use changes the way the home should function. Instead of focusing solely on everyday routines, the design should support entertaining, overnight guests, and time spent together.
That starts with the layout. An open floor plan creates a central gathering space where the kitchen, dining room, and living area work together. Instead of dividing guests, open-concept floor plans allow guests to move freely throughout the space, and the host can prepare meals without missing the conversation. The home feels welcoming from the moment people arrive.
Of course, every gathering eventually ends up in the kitchen. The best designs acknowledge that while giving people other places to gather. A dedicated bar, coffee station, or beverage area creates a secondary destination, allowing guests to spread out rather than crowd around the island. Multiple seating areas, whether that's a cozy sitting room, a breakfast nook, or a lounge that opens to the patio, give people the freedom to settle into conversations without feeling disconnected from the rest of the group.
When planning a home that's meant for frequent entertaining, it's often the behind-the-scenes spaces that make the biggest difference. A scullery or prep kitchen extends the functionality of the main kitchen by providing space for meal prep, staging, and cleanup. During larger gatherings, dirty dishes, serving platters, and cooking messes stay tucked away, leaving the primary kitchen clean and inviting throughout the event.
Other thoughtful details can make guests feel just as comfortable:
A main-floor powder room that's easy for visitors to access.
En-suite bathrooms that provide privacy for overnight guests.
Plenty of built-in storage for serving pieces, linens, and entertaining essentials.
Distinct living spaces that allow guests to gather in smaller groups without feeling separated from the rest of the home.
These aren't the features that typically grab attention in our “after” photos, but they're often the ones homeowners appreciate most after years of hosting.
In Upstate South Carolina, entertaining naturally extends outdoors for much of the year. Large sliding glass doors (check out the screened porch photos of our Carolina Casual Home) can blur the line between interior living spaces and covered patios, making it easy to move from dinner inside to conversations around an outdoor fireplace. Comfortable seating, flexible dining areas, and integrated audio help create an atmosphere that feels relaxed and inviting. The goal isn't to fill the space with amenities, it's to make the transition between indoors and outdoors feel effortless.
While trends come and go, homes designed around the way people gather tend to age well. Features like panelized cabinetry, integrated storage, and flexible living spaces create a clean, cohesive backdrop that supports everyday living as well as special occasions. They're practical as well as timeless.
How to Protect Your Second Home
How do you design a space that’s only used for weekends, lake days, or game days? Since it’s not your permanent residence, what can protect your investment when you are away? A backup power supply and remote home monitoring are worth considering if you’re remodeling a second home! Andrew Wactor, VP of Sales & Marketing at Fusion Audio + Video (learn more about them here) says, "One of the biggest trends we're seeing is homeowners moving away from individual smart devices and toward fully integrated home systems. Rather than managing separate apps for lighting, climate, security, and entertainment, they're looking for a single platform that allows every system to work together and be managed from anywhere."
1. Standby Generator
What do you do if the power goes out when you are miles away? A whole house standby generator can solve this issue. It’s permanent and wired directly into your home’s electrical system and is powered by natural gas or propane. When the power goes out, it turns on automatically within seconds and uses an automatic transfer switch to swap from utility power to the generator. Many generators offer smart monitoring through a mobile app, where you can see notifications about maintenance, weekly self-tests, and outages. Our friend Nate Collins, Electrical Manager at Trusted Tradesmen & Co., is a great resource for questions regarding whole house standby generator installation.
2. Home Water Management System
Anyone who has ever experienced a water leak knows the kind of havoc it can cause, especially when it is prolonged. What if that leak happens at your second home during the week, and you’re not planning a visit until Saturday? Smart water leak detection systems like the Moen Flo monitor changes in water flow, water pressure, and temperature and notify homeowners through an app. If a pipe freezes or bursts, the smart water shutoff valve will close automatically to help prevent water damage.
3. Smart Thermostat & Climate Control
This is a great option to reduce energy bills and protect your home from mold. A smart thermostat for a second home can be set to a schedule that changes automatically at certain times of day. If you forget to set the thermostat before leaving your weekend getaway, no problem, you can set it remotely! Smart climate systems also offer freeze protection. If temperatures drop unexpectedly, the system can alert homeowners and automatically adjust the temperature to help pipes from freezing. This is especially valuable for vacation homes that sit vacant during the winter. Smart climate systems also offer geofencing. The system recognizes when homeowners are approaching and begins heating or cooling the home before they arrive. When they leave, the system automatically returns to an energy-saving mode. Smart climate systems also provide energy usage reports that can help homeowners identify unusual spikes in energy consumption, which may indicate an HVAC issue before it becomes a larger problem.
4. Smart Lighting and Smart Shades
Smart lighting is great for both convenience and security. Lighting “scenes” can be created to manage different areas of the home. You can set a scene for watching a movie that turns off overhead lights and a scene for entertaining that turns them on. It’s great to have the flexibility to turn lights on and off remotely, especially if a light is left on accidentally or if a vendor is coming for maintenance. Motorized shades can be programmed to close during peak sun hours to reduce solar heat gain, helping improve comfort while lowering cooling costs. Lighting color temperature and brightness can also be programmed to match your body’s circadian rhythms to make your getaway even more relaxing.
5. Smart Security
Security, lighting, shades, and climate can all work together as a unified system. Lights and shades can be programmed to turn on, off, raise, and lower in random patterns to make vacant homes appear occupied. Lighting can also be integrated with motion sensors or programmed to illuminate in tandem with your security system to give you added peace of mind while you are away. For example, if a door is opened unexpectedly at night, lights can automatically turn on, improving visibility and enhancing security. Smart locks allow homeowners to grant temporary access to housekeepers, contractors, or guests. Smart security systems offer remote monitoring and instant alerts that notify homeowners of activity on their property through motion, door/window, and glass break sensors. The smart security system provides a live camera feed that the homeowner can check from anywhere and an activity log that tracks who entered the home and when.
Whether you're updating a lake house, mountain retreat, or game-day getaway, our team can help you create a space that's beautiful, functional, and built around the way you live. From design to craftsmanship, we'll guide you through every step of the remodeling process so you can spend less time worrying about your home and more time enjoying it with family and friends. With clear communication, careful planning, and attention to every detail, we'll make the remodeling experience as enjoyable as the finished space.
Are you looking to remodel a second home? Speak with a Daniel Builders Project Guide by contacting us at 864.506.5546 or https://www.danielbuilders.com/get-started. Click these links to learn more about MHK Architecture, Brad Ramsey Interiors, Palmetto Pines Woodworking, and Fusion Audio + Video.
*Thanks to Fusion Audio + Video for their collaboration on this blog!
