your living space

trend watchspecial advertising section

Construct, Renovate & Revitalize

y o u R l i v i n g s p a C e

Changing lifestyles call for changing homes.

TexT by MaRy gow

courtesy of cynthia knauf landscape design

Spring 2011 / Best of Burlington 35

36 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

landscaping & outdoor spaces


fresh &

TRanquil

special advertising section

Whether it’s due to the economic chal-

lenges of the past few years or it’s simply

a nod toward comfort and convenience,

families are staying home more than they

used to. This nationwide trend means homeown-

ers are investing to make their living spaces more

functional, more beautiful, and—quite simply—

more fun.

Indoor living is moving out as boundaries

between indoor and outdoor life are changing.

Well-appointed outdoor kitchens bring alfresco

meal preparation and dining together. Beyond fabu-

lous grills, outdoor kitchens feature refrigerators,

sinks, even espresso machines and pizza ovens.

From a morning cup of coffee to a gracious dinner

party, outdoor meals are becoming part of daily life.



let there be fire“Our clients want to embrace their outdoor space. We are installing a lot of fire pits. Some are formal fire rings and others incorporate boulders for seating, creating a very natural setting. We have also installed formal outdoor fireplaces at several homes. Both the fireplace and fire pit let you expand your indoor life into the outdoors.”

Marie P. limoge, landshapes, landscape designer/architect.

Opposite page: Stainless steel spa by Cynthia Knauf Landscape Design. Top: Well-equipped outdoor kitchen. Natural fire pit by Landshapes. Right and bottom: Vermont views by Cynthia Knauf Landscape Design.

land shades

www.cynthiaknauf.com


landscaping & outdoor spaces


Between indoors and

out, sunrooms are

not just for summer

anymore. “Sunrooms

today can be either uninsu-

lated three-season rooms

or insulated extended-

season rooms that can

be used year-round,” says

Elizabeth Warren of Otter

Creek Awnings in Williston.

New window technology

and efficient design also

contribute to extending a

sunroom’s use time.


Otter Creek AwningsOtter Creek Awnings

www.OtterCreekAwnings.com


Go NativeTrends in landscape design are bringing

homeowners and their guests outdoors.

landscapes are becoming even greener

and more sustainable with greater

awareness and use of native stone and

vegetation. Fieldstone and new england

granite are beautiful and at home in our

region, and they do not require the fuel

consumption of stone shipped from

overseas. Maples, blueberries, cattails,

and other indigenous species thrive here

naturally and have fewer maintenance

and disease issues than imported exot-

ics.

local is best“Local seems to be the trend, not just with food stores and restaurants, but also in landscape architecture. It’s exciting that each year more Vermont clients are requesting the use of local construction materials, craftsmanship, and plants.”

cynthia Knauf, cynthia Knauf landscape Design, Winooski, VT.


Courtesy of Cynthia Knauf Landscape

www.landshapes.net


kitchens & floors


bright &

open living“The kitchen is the new great room—a

very open, very functional

space for cooking, dining,

entertaining, and watching

television,” says Ali White

of Becky White’s Kitch-

ens by Design in Georgia,

Vermont. “Islands are now

spaces where conversations

are happening. The island

almost always has seating,

which works for the kids

to do homework, for fam-

ily meals, and for guests

sipping wine when you’re

entertaining. Kitchens also

have multiple eating spaces.

Beyond the island you may

have a banquette with an

informal dining space in one

part of the room and your

more formal dining area in

another part. The separate

formal dining room is rare.”



bright &

open living

“Kitchens are

becoming very

personalized, and

many people have

a theme in mind,”

Ali says. “I have a

lot of clients who

bring me magazine

pages of Tuscan,

French Country,

and Shaker or

farmhouse styles

that they want to

capture in their

new kitchen.

Within these, we

are seeing a lot of

painted kitchens.

In a Tuscan kitchen

you might have

cabinets with an

Old World look and

a distressed paint-

ed finish. Someone

restoring an old

farmhouse may

want wide plank

floors and cabinets

that respect that

history.”

Ali continues,

“Tile is really huge!

It is also very

personal. You have

so many choices,

from intricate floral

patterns to small

mosaic to subway

tiles. The way you

lay out your tile

can dramatically

change the look of

your kitchen. For

example, if you

have shorter than

8-foot ceilings, we

like to use tile in a

vertical pattern to

visually elongate

the walls.”

KitcheN style

www.kitchensbydesignvt.com


Whether you’re

building a new

home from the

ground up or

remodeling your existing

space, local contractors

can guide you to making

smart choices. They’re

familiar with all the latest

materials, technology, and

energy-efficient options

available today.

“We build Green Cer-

tified Five Star homes,

certified by the National

Association of Home

Builders,” says Chris

Snyder of Snyder Homes.

“We’re installing building

products with a system-

atic approach that makes

our homes more efficient

and minimizes their im-

pact on the environment.”

thiNK loNG terM“People are living in their homes longer and are personalizing them more. They are investing in kitch-ens with custom cabinetry, granite countertops, and higher quality ranges to suit their taste and style.”

chris snyder, snyder homes, Shelburne, VT


building and remodeling


efficient &

eneRgizing

“Homes today have more open spaces or so-called flex spaces. We are building fewer homes with both a living room and dining room,” says Chris Snyder.

Three smaller photos courtesy of Snyder Homes.



hoMe-buyiNG DecisioNsThings are changing in the 21st

century, and homeowners want

a combination of convenience,

comfort, and quality while being

ever mindful of the impact their

choices have on the environment.

“People are making home-buying

decisions based on lifestyle,” says

Chris Snyder. “For example, people

want to live in town to be closer

to stores and shopping, and within

walking distance of village cen-

ters. We are also seeing individuals

downsizing to smaller homes

with grounds that are easier to

maintain. In one of our single

family–home neighborhoods,

homeowners have the option

of services to include plowing,

shoveling, and mowing.”

coNstructioN treNDs

Builder Tom Moore of Underhill

Center, Vermont, says he is

incorporating these most-asked-

for features in home design and

construction:

open floor plans with attention to

natural lighting. “People like open

spaces, not so many walls creating

separate rooms. With the house

oriented to the south and proper

window placement you can maxi-

mize natural lighting.”

computer-controlled environ-

ments. “My house is wired so

I can control the temperature,

lighting, and security system from

my phone or computer. I can be

anywhere in the world and control

those systems.”

universal design. “If you build

today with a plan for adapting in

the future, you can be prepared for

your family’s changing use of the

house. For example, a room on the

ground floor may be a home office

or family room at first, but later it

may become an accessible bed-

room. You may want to design it even

with doorways sized for wheelchair ac-

cessibility and a nearby bathroom that

can be adapted to changing needs.”

backup systems. “In recent years we are

having more blackouts and power inter-

ruptions. We’re finding more and more

people want backup systems to run

the home when the power is out. In my

house we have two backup systems: one

can run the entire house on a generator,

the second just runs essential systems

on batteries.”

two home offices. “Both people in a

couple need workspace.”

home gym. “Many people want some

workout area in the home so they don’t

have to go out to the gym to exercise.”

www.SnyderHomesvt.com


the verMoNt WayMark Stephenson of Vermont Energy in

Williston says, “Conservation is a basic

Vermont core value from way back and

you find it in people today. Conservation

is not an aesthetic trend in terms of what

something looks like, but it is a trend

in terms of how things work for your

comfort and long-term value. People are

investing in appliances and systems that


building and remodeling


saviNG eNerGy“More and more people are interested in optimizing the siting and efficiency of their homes.”

tom Moore, tom Moore builders, Underhill Center, VT


do more for less.” Mark brings us up

to date on the latest options.

Tired of sweating it out during sum-

mer’s heat and humidity? “Ductless

air conditioning is making big inroads

in Vermont,” according to Mark. “A lot

of people have endured hot summers

with noisy window units and lots of

fans. There are a lot of options in the

new ductless air conditioning sys-

tems that are super quiet and energy

efficient. They can really increase

comfort and quality of life and add to

a home’s value.”

Mark knows about saving money, a

topic of interest to every homeowner.

“People are thinking more about wa-

ter conservation,” he reports. “Wheth-

er your water is metered or you have

your own well, it can cost a lot. New

toilets, faucets, showerheads, and ap-

pliances work well but with a lot less

water.”

Have you ever stepped into the

shower only to have the water turn

icy cold within two or three minutes?

Mark has a solution. “Tankless water

heaters today are extremely reliable,”

he explains, “and the temperatures

don’t fluctuate, even when several

showers are running at the same

time. They are adaptable products

that deliver real energy savings.”


How smart are your home heating and

hot water systems? It may be time to up-

grade, according to Mark, who explains,

“Another recent trend is the application

of logic to home systems. It used to be

that a boiler was set to turn on the same

for the coldest day of the year and a day

at 50 degrees. Now systems are

smarter. A new boiler has a remote

sensor that measures the outdoor

temperature then gives feedback on

how much heat is needed. Making

smarter appliances equals gains in

comfort and savings.”

www.vtenergy.com


windows & doors

y o u R l i v i n g s p a C esMart choicesHomeowners are always looking for ways to heat and cool their homes without

breaking the bank on energy bills. when shopping for replacement windows and

doors, look for the eneRgy sTaR® label, which means you’ll save on heating and

cooling costs and create a comfortable home year-round.

eNerGy star qualified windows and doors also deliver more comfort, create less

condensation, and protect your valuables from sun damage better than convention-

al clear-glass double-paned alternatives.


d i d yo u k n ow ?The average family spends $2,200 a year on energy bills, nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling.

www.wdbrownell.com



tiles & mosaics


texture &

inspiRaTion

tile foreverbeautiful tile and mosaics have been

around since ancient times, and today

the classic look of tile is more popular

than ever. gayle Critchlow gardner,

owner of north Country Tile in williston,

fills us in on everything that’s going on

with this versatile material.

soothiNG colors

“The new england market is more con-

servative and traditional than some ur-

ban areas,” says gayle. “we see a lot of

off whites and whites, soft greens, and

blues rather than bold colors. we also

see that people prefer a cleaner appear-

ance rather than something busy.”

gayle continues, “For the bathroom,

people want to walk in and have a calm

and soothing environment. we see a

Ph

oto

s co

urt

esy

of

No

rth

Co

un

try T

ile

www.northcountrytile.net



tiles & mosaics


Photos courtesy of North Country Tile

lot of whites and creams and

beach glass—soft green and

soft blue—in bathrooms. with

a traditional or contemporary

look that’s very clean, people

can accessorize with cheerful or

bold accents—towels, shower

curtain, and art.”

looking for something out of

the ordinary? gayle suggests,

“you can always infuse a little

artistry in a contemporary room:

little accent colors, something

that gives that ‘wow!’ factor, a

surprise that works. For exam-

ple, basic subway tile, three-

by-six-inches, has been around

forever. if you lay it vertically

rather than horizontally you see

something a little different.”

easy-care oPtioNs

“we are seeing larger format

tiles and products,” gayle says.


special advertising section special advertising section

“They are cleaner and simpler.

people also want products that are

maintenance free and last a long

time. in the past we used to sell a lot

of slate, local and from asia. natural

stone requires maintenance. now

more manufacturers are producing

materials that look just like stone

but require minimal maintenance.”

ProtectiNG the PlaNet

people are concerned about green

products, “so in the tile business

there’s been a sincere effort to use

renewable and reusable materials

and environmentally friendly manu-

facturing techniques,” says gayle.

“green and sustainable practices

have been a focus of the tile indus-

try for a long time. in tile manufac-

turing, factories recycle materials

and have increased their air quality

protection dealing with the kilns and

off gasses,” she explains.

gayle’s final bit of advice: “your

floor is the canvas you use to start

your room. From there you build

everything up. use something very

attractive and durable.”

loNG-lastiNG tileAccording to a recent study of flooring durability, ceramic tile has an expected life span of 50 years—the same as natural hardwood. Compare that with carpet at six years and sheet vinyl at 10 years.

www.blodgettsupply.com


interior distinction


classic &

uniqueannette besaw of design

Matters in south burlington

shares her views on 2011

decorating trends and why

they are coming about.

“With the world still in turmoil

and the economy the way it

is people are striving for bal-

ance and order in their lives,”

explains Annette. “This has


Co

urt

esy

of

Desi

gn

Matt

ers

thiNK color“Along with primary hues, we will continue to see turquoise and purple, which have proven to be very popular in Vermont over the last year.”

annette besaw, Design Matters, South Burlington, VT

led both manufacturers and

buyers to pull back to basic

lifestyles and values.”

Annette believes that two dif-

ferent themes will be strong in

2011. “The first will be related

to nature and farming,” she

says. “Colors of vegetables

with vibrant hues will be offset

with neutrals like the color of

hay, grains, and bark. Country

prints are on their way back

in, like gingham checks and

www.designmattersvt.com


plaids. We will be seeing a

lot of furniture and mirrors

wrapped in ropes or mac-

ramé. Wood tones will be

grayed in color and combined

with whitewashed finishes.”

Annette continues, “The

second theme will relate to

primary hues that provide

contrast and inspiration.

Fantasy and whimsy will take

hold and relate to feelings of

escaping the world’s troubles.

An example of this is black

combined with bright shades

of pink, green, and orange.

Mottos like ‘old is new again’

and ‘less is more’ will remain

in 2011.”

www.altogetherinteriors.com

www.annroche.com


interior distinction



Practicality

“Customers understand that half of their

energy budget is wasted out windows,”

Gordon says. “Products like EcoSmart

Insulating Shades more than double the

insulating power of windows.” According

to Gordon and his daughter, Kelly Conklin,

the shades deliver a return on investment

of perhaps 20 percent per year.

techNoloGy

Looking for convenience? Try motorized

window treatments. “Shades, blinds, or

draperies can be activated by remotes,

timers, sun sensors, or even an iPhone,”

says Gordon. “We are not far away from

the ability to activate your shades accord-

ing to the energy demand.”

WiNDoW treatMeNtsFrom energy-efficient cellular and Roman shades, eco-friendly bamboo shades and

blinds, or flowing draperies, quality window treatments add beauty to any room.

gordon Clements, owner of gordon’s window decor in essex Junction, says, “The

roll that window treatments play in a home has become more significant since the

fall of the housing market in 2008. Customers are now keeping their homes for

much longer so the consideration paid to items like window treatments has become

more important.”

www.GordonsWindowDecor.com

your living space

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