A tale of two faucets

Cifial Techo Straight Lav Faucet

Next week, Hands-On Construction starts remodeling a master and a family bath in Weston.  We've been working with the homeowner, designer and plumbing supplier Waterspot Natick for a few months on product selections and arranging delivery to coordinate with our construction schedule.  The homeowner and designer had selected Euro-style Cifial fixtures for the two lav faucets and the tub fill in the contemporary master bath.

A few weeks ago, our Waterspot sales rep let us know that Cifial, a Portuguese company, was unable to get shipments out of the country and was also having trouble getting component parts for their product.   Waterspot suggested a similarly-styled Graff substitute for the tub fill and offered to give us the two display models of the Cifial lav faucet from their Natick and Providence showrooms.  We conditionally agreed, but asked that Waterspot send the floor models here first, so we could examine them before accepting them for the job.

Graff M.E. Collection Lav Faucet

When the faucets arrived, we discovered that the faucets were identical, except for the brand lettering at the base of the faucets.  The company had undergone a logo update between the manufacturing of the two faucets.  Yes, it was only a cosmetic difference, but a possible source of irritation whenever the homeowner looked at the two lav faucets.  And, additionally, we don't like to start a project with products that may have service or warranty issues going forward - the future of Cifial had started to concern us.

We did some online leg work (bless the Internet) here in our office and found that the Graff lav faucet that matched the replacement tub fill was a similar design, was in stock at Waterspot and might be a viable design alternative.  Our Waterspot sales rep worked with us to match the price of the Cifial faucets and we were able to present an acceptable solution to the designer and homeowner and stay on schedule and within budget.

A Concord Garden Room built for entertaining and family

The homeowners of this lovely Concord home wanted to convert an unused screen porch into a year-round garden room, suited to both formal entertaining and daily use by the family.
 

In designing the garden room, the architect integrated arches and curves, reflecting earlier work on the front entry and created a sun-drenched garden room. A barrel vaulted, coffered ceiling room with pilasters, which lends itself to formal entertaining, was offset by glass, veneered rustic stone and radiant heated floors giving the room a warm and family-friendly quality.

Rain chains add a whimsical touch to the copper gutters at the doors leading in from the garden. 

  
A dormer with an extended elliptical window intersects the copper clad shed roof.  A new rear porch provides entry to the tiled mudroom with cherry cubbies adding visual warmth, a bench seat and functional storage.

Architect -- Rick Eifler

Photography -- David Yates

First peek at new Jules Verne home theater tomorrow night

Several years ago we did a successful collaboration with Audio Concepts (870 Commonwealth Ave, Boston) on a beautiful home theater in Sudbury. 

This week Audio Concepts is featuring its newest home theater showroom -- the Jules Verne.  From their website:  

Steampunk is a movement that’s oozing into books, movies, fashion, and for some time now, home design.  Imagine brass and copper, glass and polished wood, and intricate details that have been long neglected in overall design.  The result is a wonderful combination of Victorian era antiques salvaged and reconstructed into clever modern day gadgets.  Connoisseurs of the aesthetic have “steampunk’d” everything from computers, chairs, televisions, guitars and whole houses.

Unveiling of the new showroom and free cocktail reception is Tuesday, April 10, 5 to 8 pm - Register here.

Thinking about outdoor living

With the warm spring weather we're having in New England, it won't be long before we're spending long evenings outdoors on our decks. This week I attended a day-long deck seminar at Concord Lumber where I learned about new decking products, techniques, code considerations and design ideas from TimberTech and AZEK.

Here's a homeowner's resource I learned about: You can download free deck designs from Decks.com. Close to 100 different style decks, many of which are available in different sizes. This is a helpful way to begin visualizing a new deck. Plans include material lists, too.

Updating a 1970's Concord Colonial - Opening up Living Spaces

Custom built-in bar next to new solarium

This 1970’s colonial home is owned by an older professional couple juggling demanding careers and committed to aging in place.  They wanted to improve the kitchen-family room connection, create beautiful spaces in which to read and write, and to better utilize an existing screen porch.    

Porch before

For this project, Hands-On Construction converted the porch to a year-round solarium, updated family room finishes and created large openings between the solarium, family room and existing kitchen. 

Family room fireplace / New painted wood trim

We converted the family room brick fireplace to gas and added a beautiful a wood mantle and granite hearth. We provided custom painted wood built-ins on three walls to house a media center, bar and some of the couple’s extensive book collection. And we replaced existing barn board wainscoting and dark beams with a painted wood trim package that was a better fit to the classic elegance of their home. New carpet, paint and wallpaper finished the transformation.

New solarium overlooks wooded lot

Engineered beams and walls in the new solarium allow for a vaulted ceiling and oversized windows.  Old-fashioned bubble style skylights were replaced in the low-pitch roofing.  Stucco hid exterior insulation applied over the poured concrete slab to preserve the slate floor.  A zoned ductless AC and baseboard heating system improved homeowners' comfort.  And a larger landing and new stair improved access to the patio and wooded back yard. 

Some of the other improvements we made ---

• We installed a french door between family room and kitchen to allow for some sound separation during tv viewing
• Better situated lighting for aging eyes and reading
• In the media center, our consultant designed for a one touch controller
• We maximized the homeowners' views of a lovely, private, wooded lot
• Construction Details:



Solarium looking into kitchen

• We called in a structural consultant for the beam
• Installed flashing detail for exterior insulation
• Used split wood shutters so top half is operable above furniture
• Made extensive roof-siding-trim repairs to make the building shell weather-tight and provide ice-dam protection

Architect: Rick Eifler

Designer: Merill Comeau

Photography: Mori Insinger

Top trends in bathroom remodeling



The Envi™ Eco-Performance ($50-$80) showerhead’s Fibonacci-inspired, spiral-shaped nozzle pattern provides full-body coverage. Image: Moen

Houselogic recently highlighted three top trends for bathroom remodeling in 2012: Conservation, Technology Innovations and Safety for an aging population.  While some of the examples are pricey and frankly excessive (do you really NEED a TV built into your medicine cabinet? Or an iPod dock on the commode?), some of these are worth a closer look.

In the area of conservation, we like the reminder to look for the WaterSense label on toilets, showerheads and faucets.  With the increasing demand and higher cost for water usage, it's important to install plumbing products that offer at least 20% water savings over those products that just meet code.  A high-efficiency toilet can shave your annual water bill by more than $90 while a low-flow shower head can save you another $150.

Many of our clients who have recently done bathroom remodels are deciding to add safety features that will allow them to comfortably age in place in their current homes.  Some of the universal design features we've included in our bath remodel projects include 

• framing for grab bars that can be installed now or later
• a curbless shower that has no lip at the floor and can be accessed by those using a wheelchair or other mobility device
• hand-held shower heads, also great water savers, and shower benches which allow for a seated shower or an extra surface to rest bath products or a foot
• taller toilets with soft-close lids

Increase in residential construction spending

Good News

Spending on residential construction projects nationwide has increased in each of the last six months, according to Census Bureau numbers reported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). We are seeing this trend closer to home where the Concord building department is ahead of last year's record setting pace for number of building permits issued. Employment is rising, retail sales climbing, and mortgage rates are at a record-low.

Island dreaming - What goes into a successful kitchen island design?

A couple of weeks ago we featured a kitchen remodel Hands-On completed last year - the new kitchen has a beautiful large island at its heart.  Big or small, what makes for a successful island?  Here are some questions to think about in designing your dream island --

Photography Mori Insinger 2011

• Beyond storage and extra work surface for your sous chef  - what do you want your island to do?  Will you outfit it with a cooktop, refrigerator drawer, microwave, dishwasher or sink?  Do you want an end or side especially for dining or homework?
• Thinking some more about function: Does a multi-level surface make sense, to separate eating space from work space?  A curved side makes an inviting edge for dining or other seated activities.
• Mixing surface material choices -- different from the other counter tops (butcher block, granite) or cabinet finishes (painted, stained) in the kitchen -- enhance the island's focal point and support multiple work spaces.
• How will the island define space in the kitchen?  Is it meant to control traffic between cooks and guests?  Will it act as a bridge, supporting movement between kitchen and family room, as this island does?
• Finally, size is a key design choice.  Just right is between 3 1/2 and 4 feet - any smaller and there's not enough clearance for appliances to open or people to move around it.  Any larger and you're taking extra steps as you move from island to surrounding counters.

 Here are some other thoughts on island design from award winning kitchen designers.

I recently attended a workshop “Strategies for improving Building Energy Performance” to keep abreast of the newly implemented ‘Stretch Energy Code’.
Hands-On is committed to better building practices that can help insure healthier, more durable, efficient homes. Here are some sites to check out.
Center for Ecological Technology www.cetonline.org
Conservation Services Group www.csgrp.com

On the Shelf:

Green Remodeling, Johnston & Master

Green Building and Remodeling for Dummies

Homeowners Guild to Building Performance

Towards a Zero Energy Home, Johnston & Gibson

Cost vs Value -- How do remodeling and replacement projects stack up?

Nationally, home improvement replacement projects such as siding, windows, or garage doors continue to edge out remodeling projects in cost recouped, according to the Remodeling 2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com)*.

That's also the picture around Boston, with a couple of notable exceptions.  A mid-range major kitchen remodel (average cost $65K) has a 70% return, comparable to the siding and window replacements percentage return.  But a mid-range minor kitchen remodel (avg cost $21K) gives back 80%.  An attic bedroom remodel is another higher yield project at 72%. See the full set of  Metro Boston data for rankings of all types of home improvement projects in our area.



Hands-On kitchen remodel project from 2011

A recent report from Angie's List had kitchen remodel projects at a return of 85%.  It hasn't been that high for a while (at least in our market), but it is the case that, historically, kitchen (and bath) projects have been slightly higher than average in cost-value ratio. In 2011-12 results, national kitchen and bath projects matched the overall national average (57.1%) for cost-value ratio. But New England's average return for kitchen and bath projects (66.5%) is still above its overall project average (60.5%).


*copyright 2011 Hanley Wood, LLC. Complete data from the Remodeling 2011-12 Cost vs. Value report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com

Home energy management: Anticipating the weather

New energy management software from EnergyHub and Earth Networks' called e5 will allow smart thermostats to respond to local weather, current and forecasted. Using Earth Networks' system of 8,000 weather observation stations around the country - the same ones that source Weather Bug - the e5 system will use live, neighborhood-level weather conditions and forecasts to anticipate major changes in weather and manage heating and cooling needs in advance, in the most energy-efficient way.

Earth Networks approach also focuses on user preferences for comfort and homewoner schedules, both of which are programmable, through Energy Hub's website or mobile apps. 


Read more about the product, scheduled to begin rollout in summer 2012,  at the Treehugger blog.

Kitchen hangout for large blended family

A blended family with ten adults and teenagers reside in a historic 1860 house in Lexington.   

Our 2011 remodeling project envisioned a kitchen with large island where multiple cooks could prep a meal, participate in family activities and watch a ball game, or as a perch to chat and work on a laptop.  When alone, the parents wanted an intimate spot to have a meal for two.



Pantry wall - BEFORE

A previous kitchen renovation/addition had drawbacks:  

• A large walk-in pantry divided the kitchen and family rooms, cutting off conversation and limiting activities 
• The breakfast table was jammed into the middle of a hallway, creating a bottleneck where family moved to the rest of the house
• Three pair of porch French doors directed traffic through the family room sitting area.  The resulting piles of outerwear blocked circulation and created unsightly clutter
• An oversized window seat was unusable.  Generally, the family room space was cluttered, hard to furnish and difficult to heat
• Both task and mood lighting were sub-optimal.

A key project goal was to re-use the assets of the kitchen:

• Ten-year old stained oak cabinets were relocated and reconfigured and new oak cabinets were stained to match.  The Sub-Zero was relocated
• A new 4½’ x 8½’ island replaced the dark, cluttered walk-in pantry.  Into the island went existing components: Two dishwasher drawers, a warming drawer, a microwave drawer and a black granite farmer’s sink.  The custom island cabinetry was painted as were cabinets

  

  New beverage counter under oval window

  elsewhere, a colorful accent to the predominant dark oak cabinetry
• A charming oval window in the formerly dark pantry became featured over a beverage counter which included a relocated under-counter beverage refrigerator
• Interior French doors with a stained glass transom were re-used in a new pantry closet
• A beautiful tile backsplash was saved
• A painted tin ceiling needed to be partially removed to install structural beam.  We re-used the panels we could salvage and located matching panels. The entire ceiling was then painted, to make a seamless blend between old and new.

New Mudroom at entry

Our renovation captured a portion of the porch to create an organized “drop zone” entry area to the kitchen.  Along with integrating it with the kitchen, the family room portion of the new room was improved by installing a gas fireplace with custom mantle as a focal point and by removing the window seat to create a breakfast nook.

Challenges encountered began with the careful removal of parts to be saved and reinstalled. Buried in the pantry wall slated for demolition were various lines that fed the second floor master bedroom suite above.  We padded the exterior wall to accommodate the re-routed pipe and wire and then custom fabricated casing and jamb so that the saved oval window fit into the thicker wall.  A window of trim was saved for the new entry zone.  We re-used granite countertop and oak strip flooring.

After: Kitchen opens to family room with generous center island at its heart

Here's what the homeowners say about their new open kitchen / family room: "The kids can now prepare and cook two meals at the same time.  Or, I can prepare food at the island sink and watch the football game while someon sits at the other end using a laptop. It has become the home office.  The island is not too big.  It has become the heart of the home."

See more photos of this project at our website portfolio.

Architect: Rick Eifler

Designer: Merill Comeau

Photography: Mori Insinger