Resources, Renewable Resources

If you are building or remodeling, or want to change systems in order to take advantage of some renewable energy incentives available to Maryland residents, these are some good starting points for fact finding.

Geothermal

Maryland offers a Geothermal Heat Pump Grant Program. It is a $3,000 rebate incentive on systems meeting the program requirements, which are listed here.

This two and a half minute video by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy succinctly explains the technology behind geothermal heating and cooling.

Solar

The Residential Clean Energy Grant Program is another rebate incentive program, worth $1,000 for a residential photovoltaic panel system meeting the specifications of the program. 

Informational articles relating to solar systems and an exhaustive list of frequently asked questions and concise answers can be found at the Clean Energy Authority.

Wind

The Windswept Grant Program offers a rebate incentive, as well, worth $3,000 for a residential wind power generation system meeting the program requirements. Links on the U.S. Department of Energy WINDExchange page illustrate wind activity in Maryland and provide a small system customer guide to help determine if wind is a sensible solution for your residence.

Last but not least, the Maryland Energy Administration offers a wealth of information for Marylanders regarding EmPOWER Maryland, and all energy related topics. 

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields...and the ground temperature maintain a steady 55 degrees for your heating and cooling needs!

An "Oldie" but a Goodie

I am impatient to share the latest beautiful work in our home by Harmon Builders, but this post is old news. The last remaining detail for the new work is carpet installation (scheduled on our own), before we move into the awesome new bedroom they just finished in the basement level of the family room addition also done by the Harmon team.

That project transformed our small 1920's shed bungalow into a more modern floor plan. Our younger daughter was born at the same time the Harmon team wrapped up the initial project. As a seven year old, she needs more space and a closet. Because she has the largest bedroom in the house, our soon-to-be middle school student  has been storing her younger sister's toys. This isn't ideal (for any of us)! We could suit everyone and gain a guest room by moving out of the small upstairs master bedroom.

The girls no longer need us at arm's length, so we will be using the basement as a complete master suite with a quiet den, bathroom, and adjacent laundry in exchange for tolerating the low ceiling height in the original basement. We will soon be in a more spacious bedroom with his and hers closets below the added-on family room.

As part of the shuffling around, we are finally to the point of replacing furniture bought for other rooms with things we want specifically for that space. I was emailing some pictures of our family room to ask for help with selecting an entertainment center. It occurred to me that I have never shared the living room that we love every day as much as the day it was done.

Living room addition 2007: 10 casement windows, sliding glass door exit to added deck, and two skylights flood the room with light and a vast sense of space when the shades are open. 24 x 24 inch ceramic tile floor, laid on diagonal and beadboard wainscoting.

Pass through space with bar height counter open through the former exterior wall into the kitchen, door to added powder room visible on the right side of the room. Walkway into kitchen opened where back door previously existed. Not shown: coat closet to the right added a closet to the main floor. Modern necessities with 1920's architectural details; Harmon Builders replicated the trim carpentry to match the original structure.

Bathroom Before & Afters

I ran across a slideshow of brilliant bathroom remodels. This Old House published their Reader Remodel Contest results from 2013. If you are planning a bathroom renovation, there are some great images to look through for ideas.

My personal favorites:

• Clawfoot tubs, especially with a pop of colorful paint on the exterior (I've done this in a remodel before; the painting part is simple) 
• Stained concrete counter top
• A pretty beadboard bathtub alluding to the architectural style of the period during which the home was built
• Use of a large double-fauceted sink where a double sink vanity would not fit--clever and stylish solution to a common problem
• Floor-to-ceiling tower shelving that also serves to define the space between two sink areas or separating the toilet and vanity

One more concept that grabbed my attention was a renovation in Minneapolis that incorporated salvaged wood from downed trees in the area by a company called Wood from the Hood. I'm not aware of anything like that available in our region, but the idea is brilliant.

Making the Useful Beautiful in Universal Design: Grab Bars

William Morris is most known for being quoted that you should have nothing in the home that you don't know to be useful or beautiful. It is exciting to see his philosophy applied to utilitarian things such as grab bars. At last they are seen turned into decorative elements or combined with other details to become more functional and beautiful.

Grab bars in bathrooms can be integrated into corner shelves, soap dishes and shower head mounts in showers, or conveniently serve dual purposes with decorative towel bars or toilet paper holders. Like all of these other details, they are found in popular finishes like oil-rubbed bronze or stain nickel, and can even be made of wood. The only difference is that they must be anchored sturdily to hold the weight of the user.

Less often installed, but also useful, are bars that are mounted along the edge of kitchen counter tops. These can be used as handrails to roll a wheelchair user around the kitchen space, and can serve dual purpose for kitchen towels and for hanging kitchen tools in convenient to reach places.

 Grabcessories can be found through many of the large retailers. American Standard has the Invisia Bath line that includes faucets with curved surround bars. On-line retailer Grab Bar Specialists carries many different manufacturers and extensive universal access products. They have almost anything imaginable--a potentially wonderful resource for anyone wishing to put together a accessible bathroom.



“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.”--William Morris

Deck Maintenance for Safety

Did you know that May was Deck Safety Month? I know that was news to me.

A story in the news of a deck collapse at an inn on Pawleys Island in North Carolina called deck safety to my attention. You occasionally hear of a home deck failure when people have overloaded it with party guests, and the idea is pretty terrifying.

Deck failures typically involve aging materials and failures at attachment points. People don't think about it much. They realize wood can rot, but nails can decay as well. An annual inspection can help you be sure your deck structure is strong and safe. A professional inspection can be performed if you are unsure yourself.

The owners of the inn where the collapse occurred in June said that the deck was not in disrepair but was water-logged and could not hold all the weight. This illustrates how important it is to keep the surface sealed, not just for appearance and longevity, but for safety as well. With our recent painting project we decided we wanted the deck painted to coordinate with our window trim. Lionel applied Duckback Deck & Dock, an elastomeric product from Sherwin Williams that seals, fills in cracks, and helps prevent slips and falls when walking. Harmon Builders also specifies Benjamin Moore stains for their deck projects.

When It All Comes Together

The Harmon Builders team has done a number of projects for us recently, starting with replacing our windows and front door last summer. Things are coming together beautifully. I have always wanted to live in a home that looks just how I envision it should, and I finally feel like I have that.

I know Lionel Lloyd of The Painted Finish is planning to take some "real" photos, so I just snapped a few to show some of the details I love. Lionel is a true artist, so I look forward to seeing his work. I am so happy with everything that I am excited to share it!

Mahogany door from the Eagle Window and Door series by Andersen.

Kwikset lock set: Ashfield in Rustic Bronze

E-Series Eagle Windows from the AW Architectural Collection to replicate original sash and bow windows. Aluminum clad exterior in cinnamon toast color.

Sherwin-Williams paint on the siding and red porch ceiling, gray trim paint by Farrow & Ball. Restored center columns that had been knocked out by a previous owner. Copper gutters. Farrow & Ball is locally available at Patrick Street Interiors.

Gutter and rain barrels.

Customize the Space Under Your Stairs

One of the best accomplishments of custom building and remodeling is that a custom project can make the best use of under-utilized spaces. One often overlooked spot in a home is the space under a staircase, and there are some truly brilliant ways to make something special out of those few available square feet.

Several ingenious ideas can make a special feature under the stairs for bar spaces. This can be done a few different ways. The first is a small counter and cabinet space tucked under the steps, with wall mounted storage for glasses and bottles. Another option is a pull out drink cart that slides in, out, and all around on a set of casters. One more elaborate possibility is to have a bar extend outward in an L-shape or curve that connects under the stairs and has storage tucked under the stairs, both behind the extended counter top in the area beneath the staircase, as well as storage under the extended counter space.

More recently home magazines are featuring pull out shelving that functions the same way pull out cabinetry works in the kitchen.  In this case a cabinet front door pulls forward from the wall with shelves behind that roll on drawer glides. Given where staircases are usually located these could be perfect for shoes and bags or linens.

Most often you see a closet. Using the exact same space planning that you would for a closet, you can reinvent it as a fantastic playhouse space, turning the miserable cupboard that Harry Potter lived in on its ear. This could also be the perfect spot for a built in crate space for the dogs to give your furry family their own special place in the home.  Desk space, a reading nook, a powder rooms or wine cellar style storage are other brilliant uses for this little spot in your home.