81bb5433828a6d662ef0bcbe96f41dd3ba3792d2.pdf

Custom Home

Winter 2013 www.customhomeonline.com

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The art and craft of building and designA PlAce

In the cIty

REGISTER TODAY: Join thousands of professionals, innovators, and experts at the world's largest green building conference and expo.

PRESENTED BY THE U.S . GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

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PPG Architectural Coatings is an industry leader serving professionals and homeowners through a network of company stores and independent dealers across North America.

The PPG logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.® and indicate trademarks of the PPG group of companies unless otherwise indicated. Devoe Paint is a registered trademark of AkzoNobel.

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Photo courtesy of Christopher Simmonds Architect

Winter 2013 / Custom Home 3www.customhomeonline.com

Contents

Volume 23, Number 4. custom home (ISSN: 1055-3479; USPS: 010-543) is published four times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) by Hanley Wood, LLC, One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005. Copyright 2013 by Hanley Wood, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written authorization. custom home is sent free of charge to qualified readers involved in the custom home building and design industries. Publisher reserves the right to determine qualification. Nonqualified annual subscription rates: U.S. and possessions and Canada, $36; all other countries, $192. Single-copy price: $10. For subscription information, write: Circulation, Custom Home, Hanley Wood, LLC, One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC, 20005. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Custom Home, P.O. Box 3494, Northbrook, IL 60065-9831. Printed in the USA.

Features

DepartmentsFrom Our Project Gallery / 5

Products / 11

Room Study / 19

Master Class / 27

Innovation / 31

Outdoor Products / 51

Last Detail / 56

Ad Index / 55

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GRAND DAMEOdds were long and regulations were tough, but in Washington, D.C’.’s historic Georgetown neighborhood, a magnificent restoration prevailed

CITY LIGHTIn an old San Francisco warehouse, minimalism and an open plan result in a light-filled loft home that’s the epitome of urban living

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Winter 2013

TOP JOBA Chicago roof garden flourishes despite a harsh climate, thanks to well-camouflaged mechanicals, a workhorse palette of plants, and clever wind protection

Homeowners want a tight home envelope for

energy savings and comfort. They also want

fresh, clean indoor air. That puts builders in a

tight spot…but the latest Comfort™ series ERV

from Carrier has the solution, offering maximum

performance while taking up minimal space.

The Comfort series ERV circulates outdoor air for

a fresher indoor environment, while mounting

directly to the furnace or return duct – perfect

for today’s fl oorplans, where every square foot

counts. So even with a close fi t, builders and

homeowners can breathe a little easier.

For more information about Carrier® products,

call 1-800-946-2930 or visit Carrier.com.

HELPS NEW HOMES

ACHIEVE A LOWER

HERS INDEX RATING

Only 7.25" wide, and

designed to mount

directly onto the

furnace or return duct

in upfl ow, downfl ow

or horizontal positions

while eliminating two

of the four typical

duct connections.


CustomHome

editorial and advertising offices One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005202.452.0800 / FAX: 202.785.1974www.customhomeonline.comsubscription inquiries and back issue orders 888.269.8410 / FAX: 847.291.4816privacy of mailing list We rent our subscriber list to reputable companies. If you do not wish to receive promotional material from other companies, please call 888.269.8410.postmaster Send address changes to custom home, P.O. Box 3494, Northbrook, IL 60065-9831. Canada Post Registration #40612608/G.S.T. number:R-120931738. canadian return address Pitney Bowes Inc., PO Box 25542,London, ON N6C 6B2

Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written authorization. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted and not necessarily those of custom home.

custom home occasionally will write about companies in which its parent organization, Hanley Wood, LLC, has an investment interest. When it does, the magazine will fully disclose that relationship.

From Our Project Gallery

EDITORIal DIREcTOR / Daniel MorrisonEDITOR / Amy AlbertcHIEF DESIGN DIREcTOR / Gillian BerensonMaNaGING EDITOR / Jennifer LashSENIOR EDITOR / Shelley D. HutchinsDEpuTy aRT DIREcTOR / Brian WilsoncONTRIBuTING EDITORS / Bruce D. Snider, Cheryl Weber, LEED AP

SENIOR DIREcTOR, pRINT pRODucTION / Cathy UnderwoodpRODucTION MaNaGER / Margaret CoulteraD TRaFFIc MaNaGER / Daisril RichardspREpRESS cOORDINaTOR / Betty Kerwin

auDIENcE MaRkETING MaNaGER / Chari O’Rourke-BerzanskisSENIOR DIREcTOR, cREaTIvE SERvIcES / Megan McCloud

HaNlEy WOOD MEDIapRESIDENT OF cONTENT / Bob BenzSENIOR vIcE pRESIDENT, auDIENcE OpERaTIONS / Sarah WelcomevIcE pRESIDENT, FINaNcIal plaNNING aND aNalySIS / Ron Kraft

puBlISHED By HaNlEy WOOD, llc cHIEF EXEcuTIvE OFFIcER / Peter GoldstonevIcE cHaIRMaN / Frank AntoncHIEF FINaNcIal OFFIcER / Matthew FlynncHIEF cuSTOMER OFFIcER / Dave ColfordpRESIDENT OF DIGITal / Andrew ReidpRESIDENT, EXHIBITIONS / Rick McConnellpRESIDENT, METROSTuDy / Christopher VeatorEXEcuTIvE vIcE pRESIDENT, cORpORaTE SalES / Paul TourbafEXEcuTIvE vIcE pRESIDENT, EXEcuTIvE pROGRaMS / Warren NesbittEXEcuTIvE vIcE pRESIDENT, STRaTEGIc MaRkETING SERvIcES / Tom RousseauSENIOR vIcE pRESIDENT, STRaTEGIc MaRkETING SERvIcES & cONSuMER MEDIa / Jennifer PearcevIcE pRESIDENT, FINaNcE / Shawn EdwardsvIcE pRESIDENT/GENERal cOuNSEl / Mike BendervIcE pRESIDENT, MaRkETING / Sheila Harris

Modern Townhouse, new York

Architect: Lichten Craig Architecture + Interiors, New York; Builder: Chilmark Builders, Pleasantville, N.Y.; Photography: Peter Margonelli

BuckTown residence Two, chicago

Architect: Miller|Hull Partnership, Seattle; Studio Dwell Architects, Chicago; Builder: Ranquist Development, Chicago; Photography: Marty Peters

shaker Lodge, housTon

Architect: L. Barry Davidson Architects, Houston; Builder: Pyramid Constructors, Houston; Photography: Miro Dvorscak

Yin Yang house, Venice, caLif.

Architect: Brooks + Scarpa Architects, Los Angeles; Builder: Glenn Lyons Construction, Venice; Photography: John Edward Linden

In keeping with this issue’s urban theme, below are some of our favorite city homes from Custom Home’s Project Gallery. We’re always in search of great houses and invite you to add your best work at go.hw.net/ch-project-gallery.

6 Custom Home / Winter 2013 www.customhomeonline.com

CustomHome

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Jeff Calore, Executive Vice President, Residential Construction / 202.380.3766 / [email protected]

norma figueroa, Account Coordinator, Team Lead / 773.824.2412 / [email protected]

midwestsusanna lione6191 N. Highway 161, Suite 500Irving, TX 75038 972.536.6459 / FAX: [email protected]

northeastPaul Pettersen112 Kingsbury Road, Garden City, NY 11530516.536.9154 / [email protected]

westCarol weinman395 Del Monte Center, Suite 317Monterey, CA 93945831.373.6125 / [email protected]

southeastPatriCk ZaZZaraOne Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600Washington, DC 20005202.736.3483 / FAX: [email protected]

Canadad. John magner500 Queens Quay West, Suite 101WToronto, Ontario M5V 3K8416.598.0101, ext. 220 / [email protected]

united kingdom/euroPestuart smithFirst Floor, SSM House, 1 Cobden Court Wimpole Close, Bromley, Kent BR2 9JF44.20.8464.5577 / [email protected]

China and hong kongadonis mak+852 2838 6298 [email protected]

onlineedwin kraft, Digital Media5908 Northern Court, Elkridge, MD 21075 443.445.3488 / [email protected]

Classified advertisingPhil hernandeZ, Executive Director, Account ManagementBrian sherry, Account Managerken wilson, Account Manager

subscription inquiries and back issue orders Call 888.269.8410. For reprints and licensing, contact Nick Iademarco, Wright’s Media: 877-652-5295 ext. 102 or [email protected].

Published by Hanley Wood, LLC

Try SoftPlan for yourself: visit www.softplan.com or call 1-800-248-0164 for your free trial

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Hanley Wood is committed to publishing quality content that serves the information needs of construction industry professionals. Our editors have once again been honored by the most prestigious editorial awards program. Join us in congratulating them.

2013 Winners

POOL & SPA NEWS

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PROSALES

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Congratulationsto hanley wood’s jesse h. neal award winners

GOOD LOOKS RUN IN THE FAMILY

Bringing innovation to the surface.™

PPG has expanded its range of architectural glass and coatings—and outlets where you can fnd them.

From PPG PittsburGh Paints® to OlymPic® to Glidden® brands and our

many other popular paint brands, you can now fnd PPG architectural coatings at

more than 15,000 outlets, including home centers, independent paint dealers, and

company-owned stores. and we’ve broadened the industry’s most complete range

of tinted and high-performing low-e glass with sOlarban® 67 glass by PPG.

it’s engineered to reduce heating and cooling loads and look great doing it. Join the

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Visit www. bringinginnovation.com/residential.aspx to contact a PPG color specialist

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PAINTS - COATINGS - OPTICAL PRODUCTS - SILICAS - GLASS - FIBER GLASS

www.ppg.comGlidden, Olympic, PPG Pittsburgh Paints, the PPG Logo and Bringing innovation to the surface are trademarks and registered trademarks

of the PPG group of companies. © 2013 PPG Industries, Inc.

Doing business doesn’t come with a warning sign.Help minimize the risk of building with AIA Contract Documents. Get the same contract protection used by many of America’s largest construction companies.

AIA Contract Documents are the Industry Standard because they’re strengthened by more than a century’s worth of legal precedent. Courts throughout the country have

recognized their legitimacy, making AIA Contract Documents one of the most effective ways to manage risk and protect interests throughout every phase of construction.

Widely accepted by all stakeholders because of their fair and balanced approach, AIA Contract Documents cover a complete range of project types through a comprehensive

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Get free samples of the new SP documents at aia.org/customhome.

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Masonite’s extensive selection of entry doors reflects the kind of dedication to quality,

innovation and durability you’ve come to expect from a trusted name in interior doors.

Engineered to meet a wide range of applications and sizes, Masonite entry doors will

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the beautiful doorA DOOR FOR EVERY DOORWAYMasonite®, AvantGuard®, Barrington® and Belleville® are trademarks of Masonite International Corporation. ©2013 by Masonite International Corporation. BWI-13601

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Building on the momentum generated by its inaugural year, ECOHOME’s Vision 2020 initiative continues in 2013 to explore sustainability metrics, milestones and opportunities that strengthen the foundation of our industry and move it forward.

ecobuildingpulse.com/vision-2020

Log on now for research, analysis, videos, interviews, and more across eight key topic areas chaired by some of the industry’s leading thought leaders!

Building Design + Performance Allison Ewing, Principal, Hays + Ewing Studio

Tedd Benson, Founding Owner, Bensonwood Homes

Codes, Standards, and Rating Systems Mark Frankel, Technical Director, New Buildings Institute

Economics + Financing Robert Sahadi, Director Energy Efficiency Finance Policy, Institute for Market Transformation

Efficiency + Building Science Dennis Creech, Executive Director, Southface

Mark LaLiberte, Vice President, Construction Instruction

Indoor Environmental Quality Marilyn Black, PhD, Founder, GreenGuard/ UL Environment

Materials + Products Tom Lent, Policy Director, Pharos Project, Healthy Building Network

Sustainable Communities John O. Norquist, President, CEO, Congress for the New Urbanism

Water Efficiency Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Rapidly Changing Codes

Building the Foundation of an Energy-Efficiency Housing Market

Open Building

Walkable Communities

Evaluating Toxicants in Product Selection

Indoor Environmental Quality

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency

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ProductsTop-of-the-line fittings for every custom project

1. Made In The Shade The Capsian Grande Moroccan-inspired pendant features a shapely transparent steel blue (shown) or smoke glass shade, mouth-blown by Italian artisans and measuring 19 inches in diameter and 13 inches tall. The fixture includes a 120-volt, 60-watt medium base A19 classic Edison lamp, or an 11-watt medium-base, self-ballasted compact fluorescent Plumen lamp. The unit comes with 12 feet of field-cuttable cable. Metal finishes include black, satin nickel and white highlighted with satin detail and clear cable, and antique bronze highlighted with antique bronze detail and brown cable. Tech Lighting. www.techlighting.com.

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by wanda jankowski


Products / e n e r g y & C o n t r o l s

5. At Your FingertipsThe Homeworks QS Dynamic Keypad is a wall-mounted, touch interface that enables the control of lights, shades, HVAC, energy, and audio/video equipment throughout the home. The screen displays system and device status. Three hard buttons enable instant access to frequently used functions. Offered in black gloss (shown) or white gloss, the keypad measures 5 ⅛ inches tall and 2 ⅜ inches wide, with a half-inch depth in front of the wall and 2 ¼-inch depth behind the wall. It is available for wired or wireless installation in a flat, hollow wall. Lutron. www.lutron.com.

2. solAr sYstem The WireFree Solar Pack includes an 11.85-inch-by-1.57-inch-by-0.43-inch photovoltaic panel. Mounted on the inside of the window, it converts sunlight into electricity, which is stored in a 13-inch-long nickel metal hydride battery to power any Somfy WireFree motorized window covering. The pack includes the Y harness connection wire and mounting tape. Accessories are available, such as a solar panel mounting bracket kit, a plug-in AC battery rapid charger (required for charging battery prior to installation), and extension cables. Somfy Systems. www.somfypro.com.

3. no Air thereEnergyComplete Sealant fills gaps and cracks that cannot be reached post-drywall to eliminate air leakage. With no harmful off-gassing during application and curing, says the firm, the foamed-in-place air sealant creates a long-lasting gasketing layer between lumber and drywall that flexes with the house. It helps reduce mold growth by keeping airborne moisture from entering wall cavities. EnergyComplete Sealant contributes to points in green building programs such as Energy Star, LEED, and the NAHB National Green Building Standard, and is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified. Owens Corning. www.ocenergycomplete.com.

4. in hot WAterRheem has introduced the high-efficiency Power Direct Vent (PDV) water heater, which brings condensing technology to residential tank design. It’s 80 percent energy efficient— the highest available for residential tank water heaters, claims the maker. At less than $20 a month to operate, it promises considerable utility savings. The main flue is capped at the top of the unit, forcing gasses down through a submerged heat exchanger that loops around the center flue. Venting is done with PVC piping. It’s available in 38- and 48-gallon capacities and comes with a factory-installed exhaust riser that vents at the top of the unit, rather than via side riser. Rheem. www.rheem.com.

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9. Halo EffEctThe Corona pendant offers a ring of illumination that’s created by internally focused LED lights. The fixture is suspended by only three thin cables, though it seems to float in space. The Corona’s white etched acrylic shade can be paired with housing that comes in a bright satin aluminum or in a satin black finish, and it’s offered in four different sizes—6, 16, 24 and 32 inches—which refer to the diameter of the ring. Various sized fixtures are fitted with 8-, 19-, 28- and 35-watt lamps, respectively. Sonneman – A Way of Light. www.sonnemanawayoflight.com.

6. crystal clEarUnited Kingdom–based housewares designer Lee Broom is maker of a clear, lead-crystal light bulb that looks like an old-fashioned spirits decanter. Now the designer has added another high-end light-bulb to his offerings: a frosted version of the cut-crystal bulb that casts a softer light and uses contemporary LED technology. The integrated 2W LED bulb is available on its own or paired with a brushed brass fitting set. It can be installed as a pendant or under a shade in wall, ceiling, or as a standalone. The light bulb measures 3 ½ inches wide by 6 inches tall. Lee Broom. www.leebroom.com.

7. Magic toucHFrom the adorne collection, the Touch Switch has a translucent glass face. The tap of a finger on the circle turns lights on and off. It fits flush within the wall plates, eliminating the need for visible screws, and can be retrofitted into existing electrical boxes. The Touch Switch supports single-pole and three-way operation, and can be paired with a Touch dimmer or with a second switch or dimmer. Thirty-two colors and finishes are available. It also can include an optional locator light and be combined with an Accent Nightlight. Legrand. www.legrand.com.

8. ganging upThe Stainless Steel Three-Gang Toggle Switch offers a discreet profile with its 18mm-thick brushed steel plate. Shown in nickel silver, it is also available in stainless steel, antique bronze, unlacquered brass, and clear acrylic. The three-gang toggle plate measures 4.53 inches tall and 6.38 inches wide. Toggles can be mixed with push buttons and rotary dimmers on the same plate, and low-voltage push buttons can integrate with home automation systems. Forbes & Lomax. www.forbesandlomax.com.

Products / L i g h t i n g

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efficient options available, all backed by four generations of innovation, craftsmanship and support from local retailers. And with Marvin's selection of interactive tools, including our Product Designer, Product Finder, and new Marvin App for iPad~ you and your clients will have what you need to plan and organize projects from start to finish.

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MARVINi~ ~ · Windows and Doors

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Products / f i r e p l a c e s

13. Fireside ChatRegency Horizon includes ventless models that are gas- or propane powered and can go outdoors. Model HZ042 has a stainless steel body and a flame bed with reflective crystals in copper (shown), black, cobalt blue, or starfire; volcanic stones in ivory/tan or slate/gray; or ceramic driftwood logs. There’s an electronic ignition, a tempered glass windshield, and an easy access on/off switch. The faceplate is 36.5 inches wide and 17.5 inches tall; the unit is 14.625 inches deep. Regency Fireplace Products. www.regency-fire.com.

10. Chariot oF FireModel WS54 has a wide format with disappearing glass set in a surround of copper (shown), reflective black, coffee bean brown, or titanium porcelain panels. Flames produced with natural gas or propane rise up from a bed of tumbled glass (shown) or river rocks and white sand. The electronic ignition converts to a standing pilot via push button. The battery backup allows operation during power outages. The face measures 53 9⁄16 inches wide and 17 ¾ inches tall. The unit is 22 11⁄16 inches deep. Town and Country Luxury Fireplaces. www.townandcountryfireplaces.net.

11. some Like it hotThe ventless, insulated Custom Three-Sided Stainless Steel Firebox is offered with a painted metal, stainless steel, or brass finish on the exterior and interior. It includes a hinged door with keyed lock and honeycomb mesh. The cartridge holder features river stones (shown), painted metal, stainless steel, brass, clear glass chips, or individual stacking logs. The top is adorned with glossy or matte tile in black or gray, or with the customer’s materials. Dimensions are customized, but typical sizes are 36 inches wide, 18 inches or 24 inches tall, and 18 inches deep. Hearth Cabinet. www.hearthcabinet.com.

12. heat WaveThe ventless Zeta is shaped from high-frequency heated aluminum molded into an arching crescent and set on a swivel base. The stainless steel firebox insert rests inside the shell and gets filled with fuel. The outer surface is hand-wrapped in leather, with a choice of black, brown, or tan. Set it as you would a hearth, with the option to make it a free-standing piece of sculpture. The unit measures 32 inches tall, 36 inches deep and 42 inches wide. EcoSmart Fire. www.ecosmartfire.com.

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Doors | Windows | Siding | Stone


Room Study

Despite the popularity of e-readers, residential builders and designers aren’t reporting a decline in clients wanting home libraries. In fact, some even theorize that libraries may be more in demand because quiet space offers welcome counterpoint to popular open living. And while fewer print books are being bought, homeowners

are reluctant to give up existing collections. Housing those books in a dedicated room allows opportunities for multipurpose spaces such as libraries that double as offices, meditation rooms, or studios. Even if it’s just some shelves and a comfortable window seat, architect Mike Ruegamer says most of his clients want a room just to get away.

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By the BookThree home libraries house plenty of places to read, work, create, or contemplate

by S h e l l e y D . h u tc h i n S

Room Study

Tower Tale Here, bookshelves serve as spatial organizers. A decommissioned water tower in a tony residential district overlooking New Haven, Conn., struck architect Peter de Bretteville and his wife, Sheila—who teaches art at nearby Yale University—as an ideal spot for their new home.

Inside the 18-inch-thick concrete walls, four structural columns span 28 feet from floor to ceiling. De Bretteville used those existing columns as an organizing mechanism for arranging living spaces within the 50-foot-diameter circular structure. Instead of filling the space between columns with walls, two stories of bookshelves serve as organizational partitions as well as a library and home office. The soaring library stands in a place of honor and is the only rectilinear space within the curved walls. The shelves house more than 500 linear feet of books for the professorial couple. Structural wood beams span the 16 feet from column-to-column and provide stability for the shelving system. This allows for gaps between

Tower Tale: Architect: Peter de Bretteville Architect, Hamden, Conn.; Structural Engineer: Vladimir Tussman, New Haven, Conn.; Mechanical Engineer: Scorbati and Associates, New Haven; Room Size: 64 square feet

“I count the footage of books they have and ask what kind of expansion they anticipate—the exact same way we do dressing rooms.”

Paul Ryan-G

off

www.customhomeonline.com

Feel Me!!

Architectural Fiberglass Doors

From JELD-WEN

© 2013 JELD-WEN, inc.

Fiberglass doors that look and feel like real wood!Experience the new Architectural Fiberglass line from JELD-WEN at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas,

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Room Study

David Bond, who collaborates frequently with Freeland, says “it was the most difficult roof I’ve ever built.” Bond adds that it also was one of his favorite projects because the former framer actually climbed up and framed the roof himself. “The series of offsets breaks down the light,” Freeland explains, “but it was created mainly because we didn’t want a monolithic wall of books. It also gives the space more of a “personal, residential feel and became an organizational device,” adds Freeland, because sections are organized by subject matter.

Open BOOk Creating a light-filled library isn’t an oxymoron. “I designed these corner shelves to fit right up to the door frames and give a clean rhythmic aesthetic of alternating bookcase, doors, bookcases, doors, etc., to the entire room,” says architect Mike Ruegamer to describe how he turned the typical ratio of bookshelves-to-glazing found in most home libraries upside down. The result is a

Legal Binding: Architect: Freeland Buck, Los Angeles; Builder: A Grade Construction, Pasadena, Calif.; Cabinetmaker: European Elegance Woodworking, Van Nuys, Calif.; Room Size: 380 square feet

the shelves and columns so natural light can flow into the library.

LegaL Binding in a home office, shelving doubles as an architectural detail. A lawyer who works from home wanted a library/office that was physically attached to the house but felt separate. He needed room to store his law books, meet with clients, and concentrate on cases. In his spare time, the homeowner has a passion for photography and travel, so he also wanted space to display his photos. Architect David Freeland designed an addition at the end of the single-story house that juts out into Japanese-style gardens.

Four-foot-wide bays set at symmetrical angles are filled with shelves and cabinets. Further breaking down the scale of the room, a canted ceiling changes directions every 16 inches. Each rafter was cut and placed at a different angle with twisted drywall panels and plywood filling the space between. Builder

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light-filled space for reading and meditation. Approximately 140 linear feet of shelves fill the room’s corners to prevent direct sunlight from damaging books. Ruegamer treats home library design like closets: “I count the footage of books they have and ask what kind of expansion they anticipate—the exact same way we do dressing rooms.” Natural maple for the shelving, ceiling, and floors further brightens the room. The ceiling plane is low to create a more intimate feel, but an exposed roofline ties in with the double-height ceilings found in other public spaces throughout the house. Surrounded on three sides by gardens, the room connects to the outdoors through glass doors and windows with steel divides that emphasize the horizontal lines created by bookshelves. The translucent walls let natural light in during the day, while at night the room softly illuminates the landscaping. As in all of the libraries he designs, Ruegamer speced three

types of artificial lighting. “We always do different treatments to highlight the books,” he explains, “plus provide ambient lighting and task lights for reading.” CH

Open Book: Architect: Group 3 Designs, Hilton Head, S.C.; Builder: Hankin Builders, Exton, Pa.; Cabinetmaker: Contemporary Artisans, Telford, Pa.; Room Size: 250 square feet

How to Create Home LibrariesTips from the pros to help design and build inviting, functional, and flexible rooms

• Lay out and measure existing collections then ask clients about buying plans to determine the amount and height of shelving needed.

• Personalize the scale of a library by breaking up shelf spans and changing angles or directions among various sections.

• Don’t be afraid of windows to add cheer and great reading light, but direct sunlight away from books.

• Include window seats or other built-ins for long-term reading and less clutter.

• Use ¾” thick plywood in narrow spans to keep shelves and books upright.

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Master Class

House RulesBuilder Ken Vona shares the wisdom that keeps him at the top of the Boston-area custom home marketBy B r u c e D . S n i D e r

millwork shop for a job in New Hampshire, and why no one should launch a custom building business before age 28.

How did you get started in the business?My dad was a small contractor, doing kitchen and bathroom remodels. He used to drag my two brothers and me to the jobsite to help him. I swore I’d never do this for a living. But after two weeks in college, I felt like a caged animal. So I said to my parents, ‘I’m going to start a business of my own.’ The economy was really suffering at the time—it was 1980—and I was just a one-man show for several years. But things picked up, I hired some people, and today I have more than 65 employees. We’ve built about half a million square feet of construction in the past 10 years alone. We work in the $400-to-$600-a-square foot range, and we’re working on anywhere from 40,000 to 70,000 square feet of homes during any year.

How did you work your way into the high-end market?We did some work for a couple who were moving up in their field—they were in banking—and they passed my card to even higher-ups in their company. The next thing you know, we went from installing doors to building additions to building 6,000-plus-square-foot homes. That period, starting in the 1990s, was an era of growth in homes that I don’t think we’ll ever see again. Today our typical project—a nice one—is a 10,000-square-foot, high-end custom home. But we built a home that was 44,000 square feet. And we also run a maintenance company, so we do projects as small as replacing a screen door.

How do you sell to today’s clients?There’s still a clientele out there that wants high-end work, but everyone is looking for value right now. We’ve sharpened our pencil, the same way everyone else has. But we’re completely an open-book company. Everything is spelled out from the start of the job, so clients clearly understand where the money is going. We give them reports every month of every dollar we’ve spent. There’s an opportunity for them to be part of the process instead of just the person writing checks. Most educated people want quality because they know in the long term that will save them money. Explaining the process is what usually sells the job.

How have you dealt with the recession’s impact on your subcontractor base?We lost six subcontractors that were important to us: two millwork companies, two concrete form companies, one plumbing company, and one painting company. They loved working for us, but out in the rest of the world they just lost money constantly, and they couldn’t stay in business. It’s been difficult because now the marketplace has swung in the opposite direction, and there aren’t enough quality, high-level vendors or subcontractors to handle the workload. We’ve had to go outside of Massachusetts to bring other vendors in. We’re actually using a large millwork company in Ohio to do a job for us at Lake Sunapee in

No single builder owns the Boston-area market in high-end custom homes, but every custom builder here knows the name Ken Vona. In business for 33 years, Kenneth Vona Construction has become nearly synonymous with a certain type of house: the best that money can buy. By the height of the mid-2000s building boom,

other custom builders considered it a mark of distinction simply to bid against Vona. We checked in with Vona recently and learned why construction labor is in short supply, why he’s using an Ohio Pe

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Ken VonaOwnerKenneth Vona Construction

Master Class


our website, and, believe it or not, people find us through that. If we’re looking for somebody, that’s usually where we start. We believe in hiring the right person and training them, rather than hiring someone who already has set ways of doing things. And we believe in taking care of our employees, so turnover is minimal. We automatically contribute 3 percent to their 401(k) plans. That’s non-elective; we don’t require them to put anything in. 2012 wasn’t a great year for the company, but we still paid an additional 4 percent of our payroll in profit sharing. In the past nine years, we’ve paid 119 percent in profit sharing.

Unfortunately, there’s limited room for advancement within a construction company. We address that with bonuses and also by making people feel part of a team. At the tail end of a job, we send our managers and office staff out in the field, not only to clean the house or shovel snow, but also to see what they were part of. They weren’t just pushing paper. We brought together 10 million pieces of a puzzle and put it together in 16 months, and they were part of that. CH

New Hampshire. We’ve had to reach deeper into the marketplace to see who else survived the past four or five years and can handle the work.

What’s your advice to young builders starting out today?The school of hard knocks is not the place to learn construction. If I were starting out today, I would get a construction management degree and then intern for four years—two years in the field and two in the office—before deciding to do it on my own. And along the way, I would minor in psychology—and I mean that. Before entering a contract for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, I think one needs to understand how the other person might be thinking about it. And nobody should be opening a construction company before the age of 28 because there’s just too much to learn. I also believe in hiring key people to do the things that I don’t do well. I couldn’t run this company without my two partners, Jim Koulopoulos and Brian Vona (who’s also my younger brother), our director of operations, our office manager, and the rest of our top-notch employees. It’s crucial to recognize that you don’t have certain skill sets and that you need somebody else to do those things. You can’t be great at everything.

How do you assemble and maintain a top-flight staff?During the past four or five years, with the economy down and no construction jobs to be found, nobody’s entered the labor force. Finding people to do the work is very difficult, and I think it’s only going to get worse. We constantly run a “looking for qualified people” notice on

Ace High Vona’s stock in trade has long been premium projects like this New England farmhouse-style residence by D. Michael Collins Architects (above, left) and this Shingle style home by Shope Reno Wharton Architects.

Sam

Gray Photography

Kenneth Vona Constructionwww.kenvona.com

Type of business Custom building, remodeling, home maintenance

Years in business 33Employees 652012 starts 3

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Cedar Ridge Mountain Home, WhistlerArchitect: Brent MurdochDesigner: Schreyer Construction Ltd.Photo: Kristen McGaughey

Winter 2013 / Custom Home 31

Teaming up beats subbing outWhile evoDOMUS is overseeing site preparation and foundation work, Bensonwood is fabricating the building’s structure in its climate-controlled indoor production facility. Structural panels arrive at the site shrink-wrapped in plastic. A Bensonwood crew assembles the building shell, performs a blower-door test, and hands off the project to evoDOMUS’ finish crew. “It’s a hybrid process,” Kolbe explains. “Everything inside the house is built in the field … and we hand the owners the keys to a finished home. We’re the only point of contact for the client, and that’s a big thing for the people we work with.”

The custom prefab approach follows a model that is common in Germany, where Alexander Kolbe grew up (he and his American-born wife met while practicing architecture in Berlin). “We worked with some of the top German [prefab] manufacturers for many years,” he says, and they grew to appreciate the design advantages of panelization over the methods more common in the U.S. modular buildings, which “all have this boxy, containerlike thing going.” Using panels, in contrast, “we have no size limitation; we have no span limitation; we can do anything.”

Prefab’s benefits go beyond saving money On its website, evoDOMUS makes a strong case for prefabrication, but an appeal to bargain hunters isn’t part of the pitch. The method can indeed be more cost efficient than conventional site-built construction, Kolbe explains, but its greatest benefits lie in time efficiency and construction quality. “We build the most precious part of the house, the load-bearing structure, in a controlled environment,” with the advantages of CNC fabrication equipment in an optimal-humidity atmosphere. The resulting precision is key to meeting the firm’s stringent performance standards. With rubber gaskets sealing structural joints and triple-glazed German windows, “we get blower-door results below 1” air change per hour, he says. Photovoltaic panels power the buildings’ air-source heat pumps, “so we don’t need fossil fuels.”

Partnering offers distinct benefits to fledgling firms Leveraging Bensonwood’s expertise and industry standing gave evoDOMUS a leg up in the business and played to the smaller company’s strengths. “We want to keep our company small and exclusive, so we can spend a lot of time with each client,” Kolbe says. While evoDOMUS has been in business less than three years, Bensonwood’s manufacturing capabilities and reputation as a pioneer in both prefabrication and green building provided market presence, credibility, and geographical reach right out of the box. “We focus on the East Coast, simply because it’s close,” Kolbe says, “but we work everywhere. If you twist my arm, I’ll build you a house in Alaska.” CH

The design/build model presents architects with distinct advantages in custom residential work—accurate pricing, streamlined construction documents, and exclusive control over the finished product. And architect-led design/build firms, like conventional custom builders, can avoid the overhead of a large field crew by subcontracting some or all

of the production work. Cleveland-based design/build architects Michelle and Alexander Kolbe have seized on these benefits while adding a twist of their own. Along with Bensonwood—an established builder in Walpole, N.H.—they combine custom design and personal attention with the quality control and efficiency of panelized, prefabricated construction.

The Kolbes’ firm, evoDOMUS, works to serve clients “who don’t want to get involved with more than one company,” Alexander Kolbe says. Sample designs on the firm’s website are primarily inspiration for potential clients. “We design each home individually, from scratch,” he says. “Then we work up a budget, and clients decide whether to build with us or not.” For those who choose to proceed, this is where things get interesting.

Alexander and Michelle KolbeCo-founders,evoDOMUS

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Package DealMichelle and Alexander Kolbe bundle custom design with industrial-strength prefab constructionBy B r u c e D . S n i D e r

Innovation

evoDOMUSwww.evodomus.com

Visit Bensonwood Homes at Greenbuild, Booth No. 3590N

Type of business Design/buildYears in business 2

employees 82013 starts 3

32 Custom Home / Winter 2013

A venerable Washington, D.C., mansion regains its lost glory—and then someBy B r u c e D . S n i D e r / / / P h oto g ra P h S By M a x w e l l M ac K e n z i e

Grand dame


Design Studio

Deep Connection A new kitchen aligns itself on the main axis of the original historic house. Barn

doors close the main hall from the “hyphen” that connects the house’s old and new sections.

www.customhomeonline.com34 Custom Home / Winter 2013

Central Time An ill-conceived 1960s remodel had closed off the house’s center hall, orienting

the main stair toward a new side entrance. Restored to its original configuration, the first

floor now presents a majestic view from the main entrance to the rear garden.

View additional images of this project at customhomeonline.com

Project Credits Builder: Horizon Builders, Crofton, Md.; Architect: Cunningham | Quill Architects, Washington, D.C.; Living Space: 7,200 square feet; Site: 0.14 acre; Construction Cost: Withheld

Standing in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the house that would become Mother & Child was a building of some distinction from the time it was new. “It was built in 1893,” says architect Ralph Cunningham. “It’s one of the rare Colonial Revival houses in Georgetown.” By the 1960s, though, that didn’t count for much. In 1961, the owners of the neighboring Evermay estate, one

of the city’s largest, converted the building for use as a guesthouse, stripping much of its historic character in the process. “Preservation was just in its infancy,” Cunningham explains, “so they felt free to butcher away.” Some 50 years later, in a very different regulatory environment, Cunningham and Crofton, Md.–based Horizon Builders executed a heroic do-over that gave the house a new lease on life as an urban family home as contemporary in function as it is historic in character.

Step One: Negotiate the regulatory maze. With the help of Washington-based architectural historian Emily Eig, Cunningham learned that the house actually had undergone two significant renovations. The first, before 1920, added several feet to the rear of the building to accommodate indoor plumbing. The 1961 project went much further, removing the front porch and rooftop widow’s walk, relocating the center-hall entry to the side of the building, and scrambling the classical symmetry of the original floor plan.

Facing the formidable Commission of Fine Arts, which holds sway over design matters in the Georgetown Historic District, Cunningham offered a proposal: A full restoration of the original 1893 building in exchange for permission to build a sympathetic—but somewhat more contemporary—rear addition. “For Georgetown, it was a fairly radical thing,” says the architect, who nevertheless won approval. “It wasn’t a fight. It was really like a long dialogue, which I really give them credit for. They could have had their heels dug in, and they didn’t.”

Step Two: Establish a clear distinction between the building’s restored and new components. Cunningham’s scheme plays off the simple massing of the original house—the “Mother,” essentially a brick cube with a hip roof on top—by adding a smaller cube, the “Child,” at the rear. “The Mother is 35 feet in every dimension; the Child is 24 feet in every dimension,” says Cunningham, who connected the two via an inset “hyphen” that lets each read as a separate geometrical solid.

Cunningham worked closely with landscape architect Richard Arentz to integrate the building with its walled rear garden, which screens out neighboring properties at both sides, but opens at the rear to borrow views of Evermay’s elaborately landscaped grounds. Cunningham’s overriding aim was to make the addition subordinate to the original house, “like a pavilion in the garden.”

Inside, Cunningham restored the main house’s original center-hall layout, amplifying its impact by extending the strong central axis through the new kitchen and out into the garden. Having restored the old rooms’ gracious proportions, Cunningham and Washington-based interior designer Tom Pheasant were forced to improvise period-appropriate trim and finishes because so little of the original interior remained. “Pretty much the only thing that was intact was the stair and the second-floor hall associated with it,” says Cunningham, who penned bold neoclassical casework and moldings for the original areas of the house. A leaner, more abstracted trim schedule inclines the new spaces—the kitchen, a master suite above, and basement-level theater and guest quarters—in a more contemporary direction.

Step Three: Find a uniquely skilled builder. The building’s historic value and tight urban site demanded a contractor with expertise in urban historic preservation. General contractor Horizon Builders specializes in surgical-strike interventions in dense residential neighborhoods. “On some of these jobs we put in $6,000 to $10,000 just to cover the parking tickets,” says company principal George Fritz. The crew saved and cleaned bricks removed during demolition to make seamless patches in the remaining walls and restored century-old double-hung windows to maintain the integrity of the street façades. “We had to jump through all the usual historic hoops,” Fritz says. The narrow lot made modern aspects of the job equally challenging. “We underpinned the whole house and dropped the basement floor 2 feet,” he says, in addition to drilling wells for the geothermal heat pump system.

But the results show nary a sign of strain. Viewed from the sidewalk, the project neatly turns the calendar back to 1893, and the addition builds on the experience of the original. “It’s very sympathetic with what’s there,” Fritz says. “It feels good; it fits well. And when you’re in that kitchen, you’d never know you were in the heart of D.C.” CH


Lower level First floor Second floor

Water WorksThe success of this project owes much to landscape architect Richard Arentz’s garden plan, and the plan’s centerpiece is the fountain that animates the rear patio. “It’s a play fountain,” says Arentz’s associate Michael Rossetti, who explains that it uses the same components as public fountains designed for children to splash in. Thirteen water jets are set flush with the stone patio, leaving an uninterrupted walking surface. Each jet incorporates an LED light and a drain that recirculates water to a cistern buried in the garden. A computerized system housed in a vault beneath the fountain controls an infinitely variable water-and-light show. “You can set what jets are on; you can set the height of each jet,” Rossetti says. “The programming is limitless.”

Commanding Presence The exterior work included restoring the original 1893 house’s front porch and roof-top widow’s walk, both of which had been removed in the 1960s, and closing in a side entrance that dated from the same period. Painstaking historical accuracy here earned the design/build team some leeway for a somewhat modern addition at

the rear of the building (above). Little of the house’s interior trim survived the 1960s remodel, so architect Ralph Cunningham extrapolated from the neo-classical exterior in trimming the stairway’s grand Palladian window. The wall treatment consists of leather panels applied in a running bond pattern (above, left).



In a San Francisco loft remodel, open plan plus minimalist strategy equal lightness and transparency By B r u c e D . S n i D e r / / / P h oto g ra P h S By B r u c e Da m o n t e

City Light


Design Studio


View additional images of this project at customhomeonline.com Project Credits: Builder Team Commercial Construction, Point Richmond, Calif.; Architect Edmonds + Lee Architects, San Francisco; Living Space 1,500 square feet; Construction Cost Withheld

Times change, empires rise and fall, but the steam-age brick industrial building endures. Dating from the 1860s, San Francisco’s Oriental Warehouse originally served a steamship company in the Asia trade. “At the time it was built, it was actually on the waterfront,” says architect Robert Edmonds (landfill later pushed the shoreline a block away). During the mid-1990s dot-com construction surge,

the building was converted to residential use. Now, as a second digital boom raises the bar on San Francisco real estate higher still, Edmonds has followed suit. His gut retrofit elevates this Oriental Warehouse loft from builder-grade to full-on custom, while highlighting the historic character of the original building.

Openness governs the floor plan. The client, a young professional with contemporary tastes, presented a fairly simple program: a one-bedroom dwelling with plenty of display space for his substantial art collection. Edmonds responded by going back to basics. “We stripped it down to the bare bones on the inside,” says the architect. “The approach was to take everything down to what we wanted to keep—brick, timber, and concrete—and build it back in a way that was as light as possible.”

With the exception of a full bath (which doubles as a powder room), the main floor plan is entirely open, with living and dining areas

sharing a double-height space and the kitchen tucking under the heavy beams that support the mezzanine above. The mezzanine level is more open still, with a sleeping area that overlooks the living room and a bathroom that borrows daylight from the larger space via a room-width glass shower wall. A two-story span of storefront glazing fills the unit’s south-facing wall, but the apartment is otherwise landlocked, Edmonds explains, “so we tried to get light back as far as we could.”

Construction details perform a disappearing act. General contractor Ralph May’s crew wrapped the edge of the mezzanine in black sheet metal, creating a bold, clean demarcation between the two levels. Elsewhere, the guiding principle was to replace the heavy, opaque assemblies of the 1990s renovation with materials that range from light to virtually invisible. A spare steel staircase (see sidebar, page 42) climbs to the loft, which is lined with frameless glass guardrails. Cove lighting fills vertical reveals between new, painted walls and the existing brick and concrete surfaces, which are left bare. “The approach,” Edmonds says, “was to amplify the things we liked: the industrial nature, the heaviness of the existing walls and timber framing.” Its result is to make a sense of the overall volume available from every corner of the apartment—even the shower.

The minimalist strategy maximized wall space available to display art. “One of our tasks was to curate his art and decide where to put it,” says Edmonds, who left the living room’s two-story east wall as an unbroken expanse of concrete. He organized the opposite wall as a four-bay gallery, using two low drawer units—stock furniture pieces from Italy—to project the composition into the room. Edmonds repeated the flat, boxlike shape at one wall bay as a wall-hung surround for a flat-screen television. “It’s just made out of drywall and metal studs,” he says. “We wanted the TV to look more integral to the house.”

The original building always reads through. While asserting its own character and reflecting its era, the new work clearly defers to the apartment’s structural shell. The kitchen—with paint-grade cabinets in glossy white and a subtly grained granite counter and backsplash—looks as if it were slid into place as a single unit. Millwork in the bathrooms and dressing area floats against the brick of the original warehouse and the concrete party wall that was added when the building was converted to residential units. By making clear the sequence of interventions, the strategy honors the building’s long history. And by exposing the strong and solid way it was created, Edmonds says, the project conveys “this idea of architecture that you really see.” CH


High Visibility Long sight lines expose the full height and depth of the interior, while a glass railing at the mezzanine level and a glass wall at the stair achieve near invisibility. A glass shower wall brings daylight into the master bath (opposite page).


Giant StepSIn an apartment that’s all about lightness and economy of material, this new stair sets the standard. “It’s just a tube-steel central stringer with steel treads

welded to it, bolted at the top and bottom,” explains architect Robert Edmonds. “It couldn’t be simpler.” And Edmonds managed to maintain the purity of the design without playing fast and loose with the Life Safety Code. The treads float close enough to the concrete

side wall to meet the standard, while a floor-to-ceiling glass panel serves as a nearly invisible guardrail at the stair’s open side. The resulting assembly serves as

the sculptural centerpiece of the apartment, while barely casting a shadow. “And because it was all fabricated off-site,” Edmonds adds, “it ended up being a not terribly expensive item.”

Stair section

4“ x 8” TUBE STEEL STRINGER1/2” STEEL PLATE TREADS1/2” X 2” STEEL BAR HANDRAIL18 GA. METAL SPANDREL COVER HEAVY TIMBER LEDGER7/8” HARDWOOD FLOORING1/2” TEMPERED GLASS GUARDRAILALUMINUM GLAZING SHOE18 GA. METAL SPANDREL COVER1/2” TEMPERED GLASS PARTITIONRECESSED GLAZING CHANNEL3/8” BASE PLATE WITH 1/2” BOLTS

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Open Minded Bathrooms and closets are concentrated at an interior corner, leaving the rest of the floor plans as open as possible (above). With glazing limited to its single exterior wall, the loft’s two-story living area and reflective wall surfaces allow daylight to reach deeply into the interior (left).

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Second floor


A penthouse roof garden sprouts in the Windy CityBy C h e ry l w e B e r , l e e D A P / / / P h oto g rA P h s By l i n DA oyA m A B ryA n

Top Job


Design StudioOutdoor Design Studio

www.customhomeonline.com46 Custom Home / Winter 2013

Once seen simply as an urban luxury, roof gardens are a developing technology that cools our dense cities and makes them more livable. This one, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, sits atop a five-story building and is reached by way of a spiral staircase on the penthouse balcony. Not only does the garden connect the owner to nature and a skyline view, it also thrives in a city

famous for its strong winds and extreme seasonal temperatures.The expansive terrace, designed by Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects,

is a Midwest prairie in microcosm. Two steel and mesh pergolas—a smaller one leading into the garden from the rooftop’s service entrance, and a larger one sheltering the seating area—are connected by slate pathways that wind past ipe planter boxes and a meadow of perennials and ornamental grasses. Structural concerns and exposure to the elements, of course, make rooftop transformations tricky. Here’s what makes this one work so well.

Finessing Infrastructure The building’s existing roofscape, with its protruding mechanical guts, was unsightly. Shoji-style screens made of ipe and frosted acrylic hide eight air-conditioning condensers, but the gaggle of goose-neck PVC stacks couldn’t be screened. “There were so many of them, and they had to be left as is,” says Abigale Baldwin, a firm principal. “We said, ‘It’s an urban environment; we’ll paint them a dark shade that will recess out of your vision.”

Working with a structural engineer, the firm calculated the roof’s weight-bearing capacity, taking into account the weight of the soil, trees at maturity, live load (the people using it), and snow load, in addition to the built components. “For simple perennials, we typically aim for 100 pounds per square foot,” Baldwin says. “The soil alone weighs 60 to 80 pounds per square foot when wet.”

The rooftop needed no structural reinforcements, though a cross-brace was added under the penthouse balcony to support the spiral staircase. Paved surfaces were lined with metal stud sleepers, which act as a second support structure and level the slightly pitched roof. The pergolas, built off-site and craned into place, were bolted to the 6-inch-thick concrete roof deck.

Including Creature Comforts An existing fireplace contains three flues that service the residential units below. Luckily, “it had been built large enough that we could cut in our own firebox and flue,” Baldwin says. Although the fireplace is the sole source of heat here, the landscape architects sometimes install radiant heaters in pergolas on similar projects. They also provided a range of seating options, including a high-topped bar table (elevated to enjoy the view), sofa, coffee table, and side chair. On a rooftop, “you want weighty pieces that won’t get caught by the wind and blow away,” she says. At dusk, lighting brings the garden to life. The main pergola is fitted with recessed lights. Flush fixtures on the sides of the planters illuminate the small pergola, and thin L-shaped stakes brighten the pathways. Wiring was installed in conduits buried on the beds’ edges. CH

View additional images of this project at customhomeonline.com Project Credits: Landscape Architect: Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, Chicago; Builder: T. Andrews Construction, Chicago; Landscape Contractor: Eiserman & Associates, Libertyville, Ill.; Carpentry and Stone: Landek Specialties, Beloit, Wis.; Irrigation: Advanced Sprinkler Systems, Highland Park, Ill.; Lighting Design: Lightscape, Libertyville; Resources: Green Roof: Hydrotech, Colbond; Path Lights and Uplighting: Hadco; Pergola Lights: B-K Lighting; Stone Paving: Stone Deck West


PiPe Dreams The mechanicals, which could not be moved, posed a big challenge. They were hidden in place: PVC vents were camouflaged with black paint, and air conditioning was concealed with a shoji screen. The roof’s existing parapet wall provides a much-needed wind break. (Photos courtesy Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects)


A Workhorse PAlette For A hArsh ClimAte“On a rooftop there is little shade, and it’s dry and blustery,” Baldwin says. “The plants had to be extremely hardy, and those that aren’t so resilient are tucked away in pockets.” Varied planter heights add interest in a garden where weight and soil profiles prohibit the use of tall trees. Drip irrigation supplies steady moisture to the plantings, which include a mix of slow-growing, mid-size trees (aspen, Japanese white pine, spruce), shrubs (cotoneaster, juniper, boxwood, oakleaf hydrangea), and perennials (switchgrass, astilbe, sedum, and hosta, among others). The billowy meadow at the garden’s center is rooted in a layered green roof system composed of filter fabrics and drainage mats topped with lightweight soil, which is held in place with aluminum edging. “The nice thing about the meadow is that it provides interest all winter long,” Baldwin says.

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Outdoor Productsb y C h e r y l w e b e r , l e e d a p


1. Glare Be GoneOutdoor wall lamps provide safety and security in the dark, but they’re often a source of glare. The Ecran in and Out fixture finesses both challenges with a diffuser that expands from its base to create a glowing screen. The product is made of weather- and waterproof polycarbonate IP65, and is equipped with an 8-watt LED bulb. Available in opal, olive, and sand, the widest part has a 7.3-inch diameter. Luceplan. www.luceplanusa.com


2. Line itemIntroduced to North America in 2013, Step Up linear LED lights offer endless design possibilities. The dashes of light can be embedded in the ground or into vertical or horizontal masonry. They’re made of an extruded aluminum or stainless steel body and 3/8-inch tempered glass, making them strong enough to drive over. The recessed fixtures are IP67-rated and come in multiple lengths and color temperatures. Inter-lux. www.inter-lux.com

3. PiLLar of LightClean-burning takes on new meaning in these updated tiki torches, inspired

by Scandinavian lighthouses. Danish designer Christian Bjørn’s Lighthouse Oil lamps, which come in black or white, can be filled with standard lamp oil or citronella and will burn strong, even in the wind, he says. Ranging in size from small (9.5 inches tall) to extra large (26.5 inches tall), the smaller ones are ideal for a tabletop setting, while the large one could illuminate a terrace. Christian Bjørn. www.dwr.com

4. SimPLe SoLarMeteor’s solar LED ground lights offer a minimal footprint and no-wiring design, saving on installation time and costs. The recessed fixture’s steel frame and rim (in a choice of brushed or stainless steel or brass) sits in a hard plastic shell and has a load tolerance

high enough to withstand 4-ton vehicles. It charges fully in six hours of direct sunlight and holds that charge for at least 12 hours. Color choices include white, warm white, amber, red, blue, and green. Meteor Lighting. www.meteor-lighting.com

5. metaL PetaLHandcrafted from 100 percent recycled steel, the Firefly Sculptural Firebowl has scalloped sides that shield the flames from the wind and accentuate the play of light inside the bowl. It can be painted or left to patina naturally over time, and is suitable for use with wood or

charcoal. The bowl sits on an attached 12-inch-diameter base and measures 37 inches across. John T. Unger Studio. www.johntunger.com

6. ConverSation PieCeThis 48-inch-square Hacienda cast-aluminum hearth top fits on Timeless Wrought Iron’s assortment of dining and bistro tables, but also will cover almost any fire pit base. Designed to converse or eat around, the stay-cool tops come with a recessed bowl filled with stones and a fuel line for propane or natural gas hookup. For short burn periods, hardware-store flammable gel also can be used. The company also makes a round version of the hearth, which is 52 inches in diameter. Timeless Wrought Iron. www.timelesswroughtiron.com

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LastDetail

A close-up look at a great idea


Building the MoldThis detailed wall represents “the ultimate client compromise” according to Marc Kushner. “She has classical tastes and he wanted a modern pied-à-terre,” the architect says. “We gathered up all of the traditional molding that would have been scattered around the apartment and condensed it into a singular molding wall.” The wall encloses the kitchen and generates a long entry sequence that turns a corner and becomes the feature wall for the open dining/living area.

Kushner and partner Matthias Hollwich “basically went through molding catalogs and picked our favorite ones then put them together so edges fit.” That was the easy part. Building it was trickier. “We wanted heft and not just hollow shapes,” Kushner explains. Guy Corriero at Plaster Works led the master team that crafted the 26-inch-thick wall. Using a piece of cut sheet metal like an old credit card machine—sliding it back and forth

Michael M

oran/OTTO

across the plaster—they hand-carved the 45-foot-long run of molding. What appears to be monolithic trim is really many pieces of hand-crafted plaster fastened to plywood. “They spent two weeks in the apartment with toothbrushes and sand paper to fill gaps and smooth out connections,” Kushner says.

The result of such incredible attention to detail is that nearly six years later there’s not a single crack in the wall. Modern technology was handy, too. Coming to a full stop where molding merges into a totally smooth surface was a new move for the plaster craftsmen. Kushner and Hollwich scribed MDF panels to match the molding profile then Corriero’s team patched and painted it into a seamless transition. And speaking of profiles, Kushner secretly added his own into the wall. “We made a full-scale print-out of my profile,” Kushner laughs, “and grafted it in.” — shelley d. hutchins


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