(614) Home 2018

HOME V OL . 2

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I BACK YARDS 614columbus.com (614) HOME 2018

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introduction

Travis Hoewischer, Editor-in-Chief On the Cover Design: Hidden Creek Landscaping Photo: Marshall Evan Photography

H

ow ya livin,' Columbus? Well, it seems. And we don't just mean wealthy, or in lavish luxury. No, we mean well, as in "a good or satisfactory way," especially when it comes the creativity put into upgrading your living space.

Our first edition of (614) Home was a big splash, an homage to the best and brightest home designs in central Ohio, and the second version more of the same.

But just like in any home renovation scenario, we learned a few lessons the first time around, filling out the walls, I mean ... pages, with an even greater sense of detail.

Inside, you're still getting large-format photo essays about some of the most compelling designs and decor we could find

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in town, along with a handful of features from a company committed to restoring barns to someone's first time flipping a house.

In Volume 2, you'll also get a much clearer vision for how to pick up everything from stone to silk blinds, with expert tips from pro builders, and shopping guides from dapper designers.

We've even got some realtor advice for you to help navigate the swift upstream swim that we now know as the local housing market.

Maybe there are things you were afraid to ask. Or just things you didn't know applied to you and your home based on scale. There's something valuable for every project and its project manager.

Curl up in that room you're about to learn how to gut—and give us a read.

home Publisher Wayne T. Lewis Editor-in-Chief Travis Hoewischer Associate Editor Jeni Ruisch Contributing Writers Suzanna Lynch J.R. McMillan Lori Crabtree Michelle Zarlengo Photographers Collins Laatsch J.E. Evans Megan Leigh Barnard Marshall Evan Kimberly Potterf Ray LaVoie Karlie Moore Adam Bradshaw

co n t e n t s

Advertising Director Meggin Weimerskirch SENIOR Account Executives Derek Landers Liza Worthington Account Executive Becky Hart Lead Designer Dustin Goebel

MI X ED M OD

P OP COLOR

OUTDOOR

TEX TURA C UES....................... . . . . . . . .12

GO I NG FO R GO L D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 8

INS IDE / O U T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

graphic Designers Hugo Albornoz Jess Wallace Phoebe Davis VP of Sales & Marketing Lindsay Press

(614) Magazine 458 E Main St., Columbus, OH 43215 Office: (614) 488-4400 Fax: (614) 488-4402

RESTORATION

RE M ODEL

BASE MENT

BEAM TEAM ....................... . . . . . . 4 2

P E R S O NAL TO U C H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 8

FU N DOWN B E LOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

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Email submissions to: editor@614columbus.com www.614columbus.com

A dv e rti s e m e n t

Textural Cues How to add layers to your mid-century lair

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Textural Cues

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his streamlined Columbus home interior, designed

by Crimson Design Group, shows what a beautiful marriage mod can make. By following the guidelines of modern design, and keeping with straight lines, and a sleek and uncluttered scene, the designers stayed true to the original architecture of the home. By adding texture to every surface with tiles, wallpaper, wall coverings, and wood; the modern look can be elevated and warmed. With a revamp of color and style, Crimson Design Group created a look that any colorful mod can be proud of. (614) Home caught up with Lead Designer Heather Kates, and CEO Cheryl Stauffer to discuss design choices, and tips on using color and texture with modern style to create a clean, classic look.

The design of this space draws its inspiration

from mid-century design. The client wanted to incorporate the original stone wall and wood ceiling into the updated design and wanted to honor the midcentury feel of the original architecture and design. That inspired a midcentury space, with a modern edge.

Cork-Top Bouchon counter stool

by Orlandini & Radice, $337 each Floor lamp

by West Elm $329 Large patterned rug

by Jaipur $400 Pendant lights in kitchen purchased through Capital Lighting.

Seneca 3 Light, 12 inch Natural Brass Pendant $203 each

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BY J ENI RUIS H P H OTOS BY A LYSSA MI L L ER

The plants are sculptural,

in a way, which helps prevent the design from feeling too linear or stark. Plants also liven up and add warmth to a design. They add visual texture, movement, and improve oxygen flow.

Color is incredibly important. When creating a design, first

consider the space and the overall look you’re going for.

Identify primary and secondary colors, along with an accent color. For example, in the kitchen, the primary color is featured by the dark brown cabinets and countertops, the secondary color is the natural wood of the flooring. The accent color is the green/grey tile. After that, add a pop of color, like the orange door.

Texture is an incredibly important aspect to any design. For

this particular design, the window treatments we used softened the overall look of the space. Midcentury design can look too linear and stark, if you’re not careful. We used plants to warm up the space, as well. In the powder room we used a light blue grasscloth wall covering. From afar, the wall is visually textured but if you touch the wall, it’s also physically textured. It’s very cool. We were lucky that the client wanted to keep the original stone walls in the living room space, as well. That was a beautiful texture to play off of. We placed two beautiful leather chairs in front of the wall, in addition to a fiddle leaf fig plant. The chairs are a beautiful, supple leather which is in direct contrast with the rough, stone wall. And the fiddle leaf adds visual interest and dynamic movement.

The kitchen stools were designed by Orlandini & Radice, for Dom Italia.

They’re named the “Bouchon Counterstool.” They look quite like a champagne cork. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it’s often where a lot of celebrations take place. Festive stools like these were ideal for the midcentury inspired look we were going for. They’re fun, unique, and still so chic.

When combining different patterns, the ratio is very important. Don’t mix

a ton of small scale patterned things together, and don’t mix only large scale patterns together, either. Instead, combine one large scale patterned item for every two small scale patterned items. In this design, this can be seen in the combination of the large scale patterned area rug which is contrast with the small patterned throw pillows. This 1:2 ratio keeps things from looking chaotic and keeps your design looking intentional and curated.

A more minimalistic style

usually involves sleek lines and as little clutter as possible. It’s possible to create a minimal space without creating a stark, cold design. This is where color and pattern play is your friend. Don’t just use solids. And, of course, texture is so important, as well. This could be physical textures (like fabrics) or accessories that add visual texture.

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Shop Talk: (614) goes shopping with Columbus designers at their favorite stores.

K at e Wa n n e ma c h e r Wannemacher Interiors Museum Store, Columbus Museum of Art

Wannemacher took us to the most unexpected place to furnish your abode. She created a relaxed modern look, centered around some designing heavy hitters. This laid-back version of modern isn’t too strict, and you can add your favorite existing pieces without ruining the sleek aesthetic.

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Eame s Cha ir by Herman Miller

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Eame s wool bla nk et $565

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(comes with ottoman) $5,335

The Eames chair is an investment piece that will become an heirloom. These iconic chairs are a classic modern style that can fit into many different design scenarios.

The plaid makes the design less stiff and more home-y. Textile are a great place to add color and softness that you can change from season to season, or as your home changes or family grows.

Hou rglass es by BIDKhome large $95, medium $95, small $65

Functional art is always a great conversation piece. These hourglasses are hand-blown, and the sand inside comes in a wide variety of colors, so you can mix and match, or pick whatever works with your room or theme.

Dalmation P uppy footsto o l

by Herman Miller $220

This footstool is another iconic design by American modern furniture manufacturer, Herman Miller. It’s simple enough to fit into the streamlined look, but remains playful as well as functional.

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“C r es c en t Cas c a d e ” m ob il e

by Ekko Workshop $165 This adds height to your design, and an unexpected pop of color that draws the eye upward. The gentle movement adds life to a quiet spot in your home.

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MEG HA N

, CITY PA RK RAD

IN RS RIO TE

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going for gold

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veryone knows that style is a rotating door. Considered outdated for a while, the color gold has been recently splashing around on runways and in homes. While perusing portfolios for our second edition, (614) Home noticed the golden thread tying together several projects by designer Meghan Conrad, of City Park Interiors.

Her fondness for metallic sheen, as well as custom fabric colors, shows through in the looks she has created for her clients.

According to Conrad: “Almost every style can benefit from a pop of gold!” We’ve curated a collection of her metal-infused work, and Conrad took us on a tour, offering up her design process, and some advice for interiors. We are living in a gilded age.

The island was the client’s original antiqued brass-wrapped top. It was done by a local metal artisan. It became the jumping point to incorporate more of the golds into her Palette. The hood was designed and made by another local metal artisan to complement the existing island metal. This was a complete remodel of her existing home.

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Conrad noted that "gold pairs well with nearly every color. I love mixing it with cool tones for a great contrast."

Right now, the trend is mixing lots of different finishes. It’s a great way to add interest and create a more collected look versus matching everything. Gold is giving kitchens and other rooms some punch. It’s not your old brass, it’s a softer, fresher tone.

To make pass-through areas mesh with other parts of your house, create a focal point with a unique piece, such as the chest. Or a great piece of artwork as seen above the chest. It is as if one piece leads to another from room to room. The artwork selected here was one that initiates a conversation. Titled “Face,” it was painted in gouache by Paul Henri Bourguignon in 1958 when he was living in Columbus and Erika (his wife) was teaching at OSU. He is Belgian, and also lived in Haiti and Peru. Several of his works are featured and available for purchase at Art Access in Bexley.

Conrad prefers to use the metallics on hardware and lighting fixtures. They can be paired with complimentary gold or yellow tones in fabrics and upholstery accents. Overusing the gold, say as a paint color paired with the hardware, can take away the specialness or “pop” that it gives a room.

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going for gold

This was a custom designed bunk room for a couple that wanted a fun space for their grandkids to come and stay. The room was designed with each child in mind, a few of the bunks are smaller for the little ones.

Each child has their own embroidered monogrammed pillow. The client wanted a room that was gender neutral, which led them to using grey as the background with pops of orange/persimmon and gold/ lemon. They wanted it to be fun yet still restful.

For more of Conrad’s projects, visit cityparkinteriors.com

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B right Ideas:

Lighting Up Your Look E ilee n M cCa nd l i sh

is an East coast transplant and interior designer extraordinaire. Her years of experience have given her insight into the designs that work best for her customer’s individual style. When (614) Home came calling with questions about lighting design, McCandlish answered with a tour of Ferguson Showroom, a Columbus sales floor and warehouse with lighting for every room, from bargain to luxury models.

McCandlish give advice about lighting design, while showing off the myriad options inside the walls of Ferguson.

Pen dan t lights

are versatile, and can be a great way to light everything from a work area, to a powder room. McCandlish points out that people are more frequently using pendant lights above nightstands to free up tablespace. Traditionally lined up over kitchen islands and dining areas, hanging lights can be grouped in many ways, like an asymmetrical pair, or a cluster in places where a floor lamp may traditionally be used.

F i lame nt bu lbs

are definitely on-trend right now. The vintage look can add to an industrial design scheme. The bulbs themselves are not very bright, so you will want to include a lot of them, or supplement your lighting with something that won’t compete with them, like recessed canister lights. The warm temperature of the lights is flattering, and there are LED filament bulbs now on the market. These are brighter, last longer, and have a cooler temperature.

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When it comes to lighting, size matters.

Hang length is predetermined on many lighting features.

You want plenty of space around fixtures.

Large features will overpower a small space, and tiny ones can be lost in a big area.

The art of lighting may be dazzling, but one mustn’t forget the technology and skill required to brighten up your home. If you want to replace old light fixtures with minimal work, you must operate within the parameters of your existing circuits and wiring. Though re-wiring is definitely an option, it must be left to the professionals, lest you have a hair-raising experience trying to make over your home.

ch a n del i er s

will never go out of style. Crystals will always be popular because of their ability to reflect and refract light. Different prism cuts can translate into different lighting effects, and lend themselves to specific design schemes. The prisms can scatter light around a room, whether they are highly faceted or square cut, free hanging or fixed. Straight angles and simple facets keep a light looking modern.

Metals

can be used in different way within a design, and lighting hardware is a perfect way to introduce metal to a space.

McCandlish says to watch for unintentional mixing of metals, where an odd piece can clash if it stands apart from a matched set. Mixing metals is becoming more stylish, and when done purposefully, can integrate old and new items into the same scene.

Scon c es

have been around for literal centuries, since they were just a way to hang a torch on a chamber wall. Thanks to modern technology, we can put light into dark areas with comparably minimal fire risk. Sconces can be a compact way to brighten up a small space, like a hallway or nook, or above sideboards or credenzas.

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Kitche n Prof il e:

Pop Culture Color

By Je n i R ui sc h hite kitchens are very ontrend. Subway tiles and white cabinets are clean and bright, and will be flexible should you want to change up your style in a few years without a renovation.

But some people dance to the beat of a different color, and that can make all the difference in the world. This 1890 Victorian home in downtown Delaware is decidedly modern in style with a nod to pop art. Bright colors bring out unique accessories and appliances, as well as a personality all its own.

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The Cleary Company, a central Ohio design, rebuild and remodel firm, took the helm for this project. The owners wanted a space to entertain guests in the heart of their home. They wanted the new kitchen to both fit into a retro design theme that is carried throughout the house, and respect the historic value of the home.

Two seemingly disparate styles that come together seamlessly with a little elbow grease and ingenuity.

This remodel started as a U-shaped kitchen with a separate, closed-off room from the adjacent dining room, and a design that competed with the entrance to the basement. Not ones to be hemmedin by existing space, the design team proposed moving the basement stairs and a

doorway to the mud room. This saved wall space, which was dedicated to additional countertop and cabinet space.

The clients had their eyes on an orange light fixture, and a bright and unique orange range. They also had leather-top barstools featuring the classic monkey face motif of Paul Frank fame. For this project, the clients supplied all the lighting and appliances for the upgrade. These components lent themselves to a clean, mod look with pop culture influences, that still managed to preserve the historic elements of the kitchen. This is a definitive transitional design. Elements of historic design were maintained, and combined with modern colors and items to mesh together the two styles. •

Project budget: $95-$120k Ceilings: 9’ 5�.

Custom cabinets painted with PM-1 Benjamin Moore Super White

Mudroom floor tile calabria 13x13 by Hamilton Parker

The counters are Ceasar stone with a pencil edge by local company, and oldest continually operating business in the country, Lang Stone

Kitchen backsplash, bright ultra white by Hamilton Parker Cooktop accent by Florida Tile

Knobs and pulls by Top Knobs in satin nickel

Stools by Paul Frank

White apron sink and faucet by Carr supply Foot activator for sink by Tapmaster

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Shop Talk: (614) goes shopping with Columbus designers at their favorite stores.

H a n n ah H ah n

Independent Photographer Cost Plus World Market Hahn captures some California Boho vibes in her collection. A sitting area becomes a meditation on textures, color, and natural elements like wood and gold. Hahn finds an item she loves, such as a pillow, and builds a look around it, pulling out the tiniest pops of color with complimentary accessories.

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Pi llows $30 - $40

The name of Hahn’s game is pillows.

From throw to floor, cushions soften the look of your room, and provide opportunities to change or update your look without buying new investment pieces, like couches.

Faux F ur Chair $300 Wood framed chairs are lightweight, but sturdy. You can easily play with your look by choosing drastically different fabrics within the same color family, such as brocade and faux fur, both in ivory.

Ru g $ 1 50 A good rug is literally the base a design is built on. This blue color goes well with the overall palette, and really ties the room together.

Pri n t $130 An overhead beach shot suggests a relaxing environment, and provides a focal point for the room. The colors in the shot are seen throughout in the furnishings.

Lante r n $50 A sculptural wooden candle holder can provide a relaxed source of lighting. This handmade wooden lantern adds to the earthy feel of the room.

H angi ng c a nd l e h ol d e r s $ 1 0 each

Hanging accessories lend height and dimension to a room. Candle holders are an opportunity to add more light sources.

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Left: Before photos show the original orientation of the porch, and the existing brick work on the patio.

RIGHT: This progress photo shows the antipest screening placed under the floorboards.

Sittin’ in Clintonville

By Je n i R ui sc h

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hen The Cleary Company first met the family that owns this Clintonville home, they had their work cut out for them—figuratively speaking. Actually, not a single cut had been made to begin the work required to bring a facelift to the home.

P h oto By Marshall Evan

The day they were supposed to break ground with the project, the family received news that the original contractor was pulling out. The porch upgrade was beyond their technical capabilities, and they could not take it on. With permits gathered and dumpster rented, the family was out on a limb. They contacted The Cleary Company, and from there, it was off to the races. The Cleary Company was able to fast track the design process, dispatch workers, and create the gathering place that the homeowners had dreamed of.

The home was built in 1929, and had several renovations from then to the present. Remodeling older homes often comes with the risk of uncovering previous shoddy work, but luckily the project was smooth after the initial rocky transition. The existing structure was a semi-covered porch, which had not aged well, and detracted from the surrounding brick patio. The end goal was an attached, low maintenance, screened-in porch for the whole family to relax on. The husband is an engineer, and the wife an artist and collector, so The Cleary Company had some discerning eyes to impress. The new porch was to be modeled after a traditional “Sleeping Porch.� This meant some unique, historically inspired details were to be added. A blue ceiling was thought to trick pests into thinking it was the sky, and building nests elsewhere. The eaves and the ceiling on the landing would be made of beadboard. The design on the inside would be an eclectic, vintage, flea market find style.

With a budget of 37 to 50 thousand dollars, Cleary created a 123 square foot area with room for plants, accessories, and seating for four people. Extra care was taken to critter-proof the porch, including screen under the floorboards, and reinforced skirting around the exterior bottom to discourage any creatures from taking up residence.

Easy to use and maintain fiberglass and composite materials were used for the decking, railing, and columns. On the wall shared with the main structure, shiplap siding was used. It was milled on-site to maintain the budget, and customize it to the unique conditions of the home.

Outside of the porch, brick pavers that were unearthed to make room for the increased square footage were reused, reducing cost and material needs. Water runoff was a big concern for the homeowners, so Cleary installed a copper rain chain off the gutter and downspout to direct water flow. The skirting joints were beveled to keep water from gathering around the seams.

After the first two weeks, the decking was laid, and the homeowners moved their chairs and table out to the space to relax in the evenings as they watched the progression of their new porch. Every morning, the contractors would move the furniture from the work area, and every evening they would return it. After six weeks, the project was complete.

What resulted was a Contractor of the Year award-winning residential exterior renovation project, a beautiful and unique gathering place, and one very happy family. • 614columbus.com (614) HOME 2018

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Concrete and blacktop both have their benefits and drawbacks. But with either material, water runoff is disrupted.

Imagine a grass football field. During a downpour, water can soak into that ground. Now imagine that same area covered in concrete. The water must run off of the concrete, and be absorbed by a nowlimited amount of porous ground, which can lead to flooding. Porous pavers allow water to run naturally into the underground water table, where storm runoff is naturally filtered by the earth.

It Ain’t Easy Being Green ass extinction, climate change, an island of plastic in the ocean. The last century of industry and technological progress have left a deep mark on the face of the planet. Sustainable updates made to new or existing homes are among some of the most impactful ones you can make for the environment. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, and changes in home building techniques and materials are making a big difference in the place where we use and expend the most energy over the course of our lifetimes.

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after

before

There is a wide array of building materials available to homeowners, especially when it comes to flooring. Traditional hardwoods can be expensive, and lumber harvesting can be a tree-cutting, pollution-producing process. Tile is expensive to ship, and leaves your toes cold in the winter. A solution? Cork, of course!

Cork is bark taken from mature trees that naturally replace it year to year, so it’s a sustainable process in which no trees are cut down. The increasingly popular flooring material is naturally fireand mildew-proof. And it provides a soft, insulating layer against both sound and temperature.

Where’s the place in the home where you really like to pamper yourself? Other than “everywhere,” the most obvious choice is the bathroom. Whether you like to take long hot showers, or luxuriate in the bathtub, a bathroom can be a spot in your home where a lot of energy goes straight down the drain. A highefficiency water heater can cut down on gas or electricity usage, and still get that shower piping hot. Low-flow toilets and shower heads can produce the same water pressure you crave, while reducing your water usage by leaps and bounds past traditional plumbing fixtures. With a little planning, you can temper your energy usage, while still giving yourself some much-needed you time.

One of the top construction efforts that will get you green is insulation. Insulating your house can save on energy costs across the board. AirKrete Insulation is lightweight concrete that resembles a foam. But don’t mistake it for spray-foam insulation. This stuff is made of Magnesium Oxide, which is fire-proof, pest-proof, and sound-dampening. Poured into the walls with a hose, this concrete is light as a feather.

One of the easiest ways to lower your bills and your carbon footprint is to use all LED lighting in your home. Light emitting diodes have the lowest energy usage of any type of light available on the market. Not only can you buy LED bulbs for traditional fixtures, but the technology of these lights has finally been matched by the style. You can now buy trendy filament bulb-style lights that are actually LEDs, and many fixtures are being produced with LEDs in mind. So you don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability.

Windows can be a big point of energy loss, especially in older homes. Energy-efficient windows are sealed and double walled to prevent air leaks. This will insulate your home, and keep the cooled or heated air inside where it belongs, meaning your furnace and air conditioner don’t have to continuously run to make up for the escaping climate-controlled air. Highperformance windows will let the sun shine into your abode, without letting too much heat escape. I can just hear my dad yelling “Close the window! We’re not air-conditioning the neighborhood!”

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Inside/Out Part deck, part den, this space gets a blue ribbon for green design urns out you can create a unique backyard space closed off from many elements—just by being a little open-minded.

This central Ohio back yard is perhaps a jewel in the crown of Nicholson Builders. In only four months, Nicholson built this space where the homeowners can stretch their outdoor time nearly throughout the temperate midwest climate. The towering oak limb that supports the outdoor shelter area is unique and local.

The black Mexican beach stones embedded in the walls add a touch of the exotic to the look.

Jeremy Little, who is a certified environmental designer with Nicholson, gave (614) Home a tour of this outdoor haven.

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P h otos By J E Evans

Before the structure was built in the rear yard of the home, it was largely a blank canvas. Simply a seeded lawn, a few small pine trees, and a very understated wood stoop and steps leading from the back door down to the yard.

The landscaping for this project was interesting in that the landscape company was engaged early in the design process once a conceptual design for the structure was fairly well vetted.

The structure itself was designed in such a way to capture some framed portal views of the existing landscaping, while new softer elements were added around the structure to soften some of the hard lines.

This particular project incorporated some classic modern materials along with some materials already in use on the existing house to help tie the two structures together. The trellis and screen wall are both made of cedar, which has been sealed to help preserve the warm color. The fireplace is composed of a dark iron spot brick to really set itself apart from the minimal concrete slabs and the clean white exterior drywall walls and ceiling. The tapered roof edge is actually trimmed with a polymer based exterior trim that will resist rot and insects.

Perhaps my favorite element of this project is the log column.

14 inches in diameter, it’s a limb from a much larger tree. The log is solid oak with no steel post inside. We had custom brackets made for the top and bottom of the log to attach it to the beam in the ceiling and foundation in the ground. The log itself came from right here in central Ohio. One of our staff architects had this tree down on his property and it seemed like a great opportunity to make use of it. The mantle above the fireplace was also milled from this tree. Getting the log to the job site was interesting.

It was hauled out of the woods with a large tractor and we had the bark shaved off-site. Then it

was just a matter of having five hands on deck to set the column upright and turn it to just the right orientation. The floating daybed is also an interesting piece in that we custom designed it with our 3D software which in turn was released for fabrication with a CNC machine so that all of the pieces were precisely cut to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

The bed was then suspended from the ceiling with stainless steel cable and appears to hover above the ground.

Having a TV outside certainly isn’t a new idea, but it is growing in popularity. Some things to keep in mind are sun exposure and limiting glare, as well as exposure to direct or wind driven rain. The TV in this project is one specifically designed to be outdoors, so it can take direct sunlight, large temperature changes, direct rain etc. It is recommended to have a cover for the TV when not in use to maximize the longevity of the unit.

The homeowners wanted a space that could be used for a large part of the year to cook, relax, entertain, and from time to time even work from home.

As a result, we gave them the grilling / cooking area, dining area, TV entertainment area with fireplace, WiFi and integrated ceiling speakers, hot tub with linear fire pit, and a large deck for lounging. When designing an outdoor space in our climate, we first need to understand how the homeowner intends to use the space and their desires for how much of the year they’d like to be out in the space. For this particular client, their desires were to use the space as long as possible, but with the understanding that they won’t be out there in the coldest parts of winter. That being said, in an effort to extend their time in the space we’ve designed in the fireplace and fire trough which both supply a nice amount of heat.

We also planned for the future installation of recessed infrared ceiling heaters which would allow them to be out in the space for the majority of the year. • 614columbus.com (614) HOME 2018

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rock solid

o create an outdoor oasis of megalithic proportions, some heavy lifting may be required. For a cute walkway, or some patio pavers, the average Jo(e) could internetsource a plan of attack. But for a project with a scope like this one, it’s possible it may be best left to the professionals. Jason Cromley, owner of Hidden Creek Landscaping takes us through some of the work and materials required to pave the way to stonework of epic proportions. •

Ph otos By Ma rsha l l E va n

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This patio and pool scene incorporates many different looks. From the area bordering the pool, the different decks of the patio, the steps, the pavers going through the grass and planting beds, and the river stone mulch beds; to the dog wash station hidden behind corten steel panels with Mexican beach pebble floors, and the huge boulders brought in to anchor the whole look.

The myriad styles of stonework require two basic tactics: Wet-laid, or mortared work, such as the step and pool coping, natural stone veneer, and the dog wash floor, all purchased from Semco Outdoor; and dry laid, like the silver travertine paver patio, and the landscape boulders.

All the patio, step and hardscape flooring required extensive measuring and grading to ensure proper drainage and adhere to Ohio standard hardscape flooring code. Underneath all the hardscaping, base gravel was important to allow proper drainage and avoid heaving. For the wet-laid hardscape, custom mortar mixes were required for proper application and color matching. Aluminum edging was embedded to contain the Mexican beach pebble natural stone mulch beds.

Underneath the beds, weed matting was used to help prevent weeds from growing up through the beds.

Custom handrails from local forge, Fortin Ironworks, and custom corten steel pieces from Gingway Products, Inc. complement the stone facade. Completing the look is low-voltage landscape lighting, and Tivoli string lights from Wolf Creek, along with softscapes from SiteOne. 36

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The unique, large boulders were placed for aesthetic and functional purposes. They were placed closer to areas of high traffic or at focal points to draw the eyes, and add a stately feature to the landscape. Serving a purpose near the walkway, they helped to hold in the base materials used to build up the travertine patio and steps. The boulders were placed first to help hold back base gravel of the patio, then the Travertine pavers were cut in around them using templates and grinder plate. The tight access spaces didn’t allow for large machinery to be utilized, so manpower was used for getting materials on and off the site.

One of the gathering places in the yard is the firepit. Once the appropriate plumbing and burners were installed, custom corten steel was used as a frame, and it was filled with tempered black fire pit glass that can take the heat. Stone work has such a visual impact on design, but can seems daunting for a DIY-ers skill set, not to mention wallet. But the natural stone market is as competitive as ever. With quarries all over America producing quality pieces, natural stone options are often better priced than concrete products.

If hardscapes are installed to correct building standards and used for the right application, natural stone work can last a lifetime. Softscape installation afterwards soften the hardscapes and are the cherry-on-top. •

Village Vision P hotos By Ray Lavo i e

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massive, open space can sometimes be as much a barrier to good design as a boon–but, hey, when you get the chance to redesign a large house—that was once a shop and a garage—in little old German Village, you take advantage.

That’s the way lead designer Nathan Sampson felt working with his clients on this project, where

he and the team at Behal Sampson Dietz got to combine their vision with that of the homeowners and run away with some stunning ideas.

“The credit here has to go to some incredible clients—they have a great eye for furnishings that pull all the spaces together,” Sampson said. “It is a very livable house, and you always want to see what’s around the next corner.”

He let (614) Home tag along for a tour: • 614columbus.com (614) HOME 2018

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The house consists of two old buildings.

They were originally a machine shop and garage, very industrial, but provided a shell capable of creating large open spaces, and in German Village that can be rare. The building had been converted into a residence by a previous owner, but needed to be updated and reconfigured to work for a growing family.

One of our main project goals was to take advantage of the unique opportunities the building offered to really make this a one-of-akind home.

Open space can be a challenge to layout, but also has its advantages. For example, the program of the building is flipped; we kept the open living space on the second floor, and the bedrooms on the first floor, facing the rear yard for privacy. The open plan of the second floor allows the space to be flooded with light.

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To get the plan to work we ended up removing a few hundred square feet of the single story building to get all of the bedrooms to feel open and have access to natural light. Both the original structures were very deep front to back.

We treated the reclaimed wood as a material focal point, to define different spaces in the open layout. We painted the old wood factory floor, and the wood structure of the ceiling each in a single color to reinforce the idea that this was all one space. The accents of reclaimed wood were used sparingly in the kitchen (backsplash and shelves), on the island, and around the fireplace. In the lower level we used milled shiplap siding to define different spaces. The master bedroom was designed to be a retreat, in both plan and feel. It’s dark, and the warm feel distinguishes itself from the rest of the house. The dark stained pine walls and ceiling offer a serene backdrop for the furniture and art to stand out. •

Wood: reclaimed by Mt. Vernon Barn Company (Doug Morgan) Handrails: Fortin Ironworks Stone: Chester A. Smith

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Beam Team Doug Morgan and the Mount Vernon Barn Co. usher Ohio’s past into the Present

By Jen i R u is c h

eth Morgan still has the valentine Doug Morgan sent her in the first grade. It seems that saving bits of history has become a literal and figurative foundation for the Morgan family.

They launched the Mount Vernon Barn Company and Mount Vernon Millworks in 2011, where they find old barns, carefully dismantle them, and repurpose them for use in today’s world.

It usually starts with a phone call. An old barn on the back of a family property that once stored hay and housed animals, but now sits unused and decaying.

Hand-hewn, pre-1880, timberframed structures have value in the modern day beyond sheltering livestock, but it takes a dedicated effort from Mount Vernon Barn Company to rescue these ancient structures from being reclaimed by mother nature. The Morgans buy the barn, carefully clean out and dismantle it, and bring it back to their barnyard near Fredericktown.

There, the pieces are cleaned, denailed, repaired, and stored until they are repurposed. • 42

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This oak timber frame from 1840 includes is now a five-bedroom, two-and-half bath country home, featuring vintage barn siding on the interior and a custom kitchen designed and handcrafted by Mount Vernon Millworks. 614columbus.com (614) HOME 2018

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Customers usually own, or are buying, a piece of property where MVBC will take the frame, re-erect it, and turn it into whatever the customer wants. A home, addition, party barn, art studio, workshop, etc. Hand-hewn timber frame structures can be finished in lots of ways. They are impressive in a traditional design context, but complement well with modern finishes, like metal and glass. A particular style that Morgan likes is the spare Scandinavian or minimalist look. He daydreams of someday wrapping an entire barn in glass, protected from the elements in its new iteration, but proudly on display.

Modern building codes require MVBC to essentially build an entire house around the timber frame in order to achieve required insulation R values. They also install all the modern conveniences, like electricity, plumbing, and HVAC. Oh yeah, and bathrooms—at the time these barns were built, folks didn’t have indoor plumbing and would use outhouses and chamber pots.

Having your hands on history comes with some special perils and benefits. The time worn structures carry a cache of history within their frames.

“One of our best finds is a 1951 Ford F-3 pickup truck. It’s a rare model and still has 44

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its original flathead V-8 motor, and other original parts,” Doug said. “We worked really hard to repair it and get it running and now it’s everyone’s favorite. We call it ‘Old Blue.’ We often find 19th century tools, antique furniture, early 20th century license plates, and whiskey bottles … empty whiskey bottles.”

Not all the idiosyncrasies of this unique job are quite as charming. Falling through a rotted floor is a constant risk.

Having a finger or limb crushed by a falling timber or barn stone is a real danger. In another throwback to the days of old, Morgan and his team have to tango with mother nature in the course of their work.

“We’ve found huge bee hives in the walls of log houses. In spring, if you hear hissing in a barn, it’s usually a fluffy, snowwhite, baby buzzard—it can’t hurt you, but it’s mom might be lurking overhead ready to defensively regurgitate on you. We prefer to dismantle barns and log houses in winter when the critters aren’t as active.”

Mount Vernon Millworks, which operates in conjunction with the barn company, sells handmade custom cabinetry and furniture made from the reclaimed wood of the dismantled barns and log houses. When a structure is taken apart, Morgan’s team obtains a

“Born” around 1820, this beech timberframe has been repurposed as a family gathering barn, where the owners have held a wedding for one of their children and often entertain family and friends. Favorite spots include the hearth of the 40-foot-tall stone fireplace and the bar in the old granary made from reclaimed chestnut.

lumber yard’s worth of lots of other high quality reclaimed wood besides the timber frame. They often get boards that are 15-20 ft long, 15-20” wide and one-to-two-inches thick, made from oak, chestnut, walnut, cherry, beech, and others.

Rather than throw these away, they convert them into items that can be used in the 21st century.

“We tell our customers, if you don’t need a whole barn, you can still save a piece of a barn.

If you buy a dining table made from reclaimed barn wood, we can often provide a photo of the barn it came from. We think this helps put ourselves into historical context.”

Morgan says when he first “meets” a barn, he is stricken by utter amazement and wonder that the men who built it 150-200 years ago did it completely by hand, without modern tools or equipment. The trees were cut down with felling axes and then hewed into square timbers chopped by hand with broad axes. The intricate and precise mortise and tenon joints were executed using hand augers and chisels, and the huge timbers were lifted into place by using simple tools and machines, like gin poles and block and tackle. Thus, these structures have a zero carbon footprint—repurposing a structure with a zero carbon footprint is as green as it gets. All the barns, and furniture and cabinets made from reclaimed wood, come from Ohio, so the transportation to get them to customers—who generally live within 100 miles– consumes a lot less fuel than products that are often shipped from halfway around the world.

MVBC has dismantled over 60 barns and log houses and have re-erected and repurposed somewhere between 30 and 40. These barns remind us of the time when 90 percent of the population lived in the countryside, on small

We often find 19th century tools, antique furniture, early 20th century license plates, and whiskey bottles … empty whiskey bottles.”

family farms averaging 50 acres, close to nature. Entire communities had to work together to build a barn—neighbors were closely connected and much more dependent on each other for survival. Lessons we would be wise to learn from in a divided and often wasteful time. “[It] helps reconnect us, our customers, and our community to our past. It’s amazing how many of the barns we acquire come from families that have owned them since they were built. We are currently witnessing the end of the Great Age of Barns—they will be gone in 5-10 years. So we’re in a race against time to save as many of the best barns as we can find. These structures are magnificent works of art—sculptures made entirely by hand. Each is unique.” • Mount Vernon Barn Company shot a pilot for The DIY Network called "Barn Sweet Home." It will air March 21, 24, and 25 at 3 p.m. EST. For more, visit mtvernonbarn.com.

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Shop Talk: (614) goes shopping with Columbus designers at their favorite stores.

A l e x i s M i c hal o v i c h G. Everett Interior Design and Project Services

Elm & Iron at Easton

In an unassuming storefront lies a treasure trove of singular vintage and reproduction house wares. Michalovich, a project manager and designer, constructed an eclectic vintage look using unique items that tell a tale of their own. A little bit of industrial, and a little wood and some plants to soften the edges make this vintage bar a real scene stealer.

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Fou n d ry P enda nt Li g h ts small $149, medium $199, large $249

Metal light fixtures add to the vintage industrial feel of the scene, while adding light to the workspace of the bar, and drawing the eye upwards.

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Vi ntage b ottl es

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M i dd l e s c h ool lock e r

$8 - $24

A collection hailing from everywhere from antique prescriptions to high school chemistry sets, these vintage glass bottles help set the scene for your mixing and shaking. Maybe don’t drink out of them, though.

$865

This locker can stow away all the odds and ends you want to stock for your bar. Storage options are always best when they can build on the style you’re creating.

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M a nc h e st e r U nited tur nst i l e f r om b e fo r e WWII

$5,500

The anchor piece for this bar, this was a part of the gates at Manchester United Stadium, which was bombed during WWII. This turnstile was salvaged from the wreckage and left untouched.

This is the focal point for the scene, and has an amazing back story.

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By Su z anna Lynch

Suzanna

grew up in an old Victorian and my great-grandmother had a Victorian home with many rooms to explore. She had a victrola and a piano in the parlor, having been a piano teacher in her 20s before marrying my great-grandfather.

So much nostalgia revolved around houses for me.

After dreaming of making a business out of fixing up old homes for many years, I finally bought a house that was in need of a lot of attention. It hadn’t had gas service in over 20 years and during the middle of the winter, the front porch looked like Niagara Falls in January with frozen water coming down through the roof. Inside, though, was the beautiful potential that I could so clearly see—large rooms, amazing woodwork and ornate hardware on solid wood doors, windows with wavy glass, century old hardwood floors, and brick fireplaces. • 48

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First Flip

Ly

I had managed several projects at the house I lived in; refinished floors, tore out a drop ceiling, took down wallpaper to paint walls, added a patio and did landscaping, but I had never been faced with a home that needed to be completely rewired, replumbed and drywalled throughout.

My vision of what this house could be was clear and I started calling carpenters, plumbers, electricians, cabinet makers, and anyone else who was brave enough to help me.

I soon realized that my biggest challenge was getting people to show up to work on the house.

I had a carpenter who had done several projects for me at my own house who I had hired to do the work on this property, but he was not showing up.

He didn’t give me an excuse or a reason, he just didn’t show up. I knew nothing about structural engineering and had no idea what type of beam to put in or how any of that worked, but I knew I wanted to open one wall so the kitchen and dining room area would be more open. I was at the mercy of anyone who told me it would be $1,000 or $10,000 to do it.

I also didn’t know how to get a building permit, which I found out the hard way, was necessary. One day when the carpenter did finally show up, someone from the city came in and saw that I had taken out some of the plaster on the wall I wanted to open. I was fined for starting construction without a permit! Let that be a lesson: get your permits.

After several weeks, which seemed like

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years, of no progress on the house and trying to get people to show up to work, I was at my wit’s end. It was then that I came across a business card from a carpenter I had met in a nearby community. I called him and asked if he would give me an estimate on the wall, and he said he would meet me the next day.

I figured it would be more of the same with someone promising to show up and being left waiting in the freezing cold with no more progress being made.

But, Fred showed up on time and looked around the disaster of a house that scared everyone else away and said, “This is nice.” He looked some more at the disasters around every corner then looked me square in the eyes and said, “You’re going to need my help.”

After three months with Fred on the job, the house was completed and I put it up for sale! That’s when the real terror began. Had I put too much money into the house for the neighborhood? Would it sell? I had all my money wrapped up in this project, so needless to say, I was freaking out.

Fortunately, it sold pretty quickly, but the 23 days it took to find a buyer felt like an eternity! I was able to get my money out and I purchased another house that was in even worse condition. But this time, I knew how to run the project. And in the attic, there was a victrola exactly like my great-grandmother’s.

I can’t say that I bought the house because of the victrola, but it certainly did have an influence. That and the fact that it was only $20,000.

Fred knew everything about structural engineering and beams from working as a carpenter for 30 years.

He also knew several amazing tradesmen who came in and got all the permits needed to do the job the right way. I learned that the city building department

Lynch took advantage of the immense amount of space available in the home, transforming this former quaint kitchen into a mudroom.

Attached to the ensuite bedroom, this bathroom allows for open space with it’s high arching ceilings, and offers plenty of storage space in its large walk-in closet.

is a great resource for anyone attempting a project like this one.

Fred was not only a great carpenter, but also a great teacher who taught me everything he knew along the way.

With Fred’s help, I have remodeled eight houses over the last three years. I’m not the only one who appreciates the character of an old house, but most people also want a brand new kitchen, walk-in closets, spa-like baths, a furnace, plumbing and electric, and that’s where I come in!

After several people contacted me for advice on getting into the house flipping business, I documented the entire process, from determining if a home is a good candidate for a flip to getting the building permit to marketing the house for sale. I am lucky that I met Fred, but not everyone who dreams of transforming a historic building has someone like Fred to help.

To help with this problem, I have included in the “renovation manual” many of the lessons that I learned on my first flip and the names of great tradesmen and companies that will show up and do the work the right way for a reasonable price. It is definitely a head start but still doesn’t make the job easy.

There is a lot of scheduling, coordinating, supervising, financing, and accounting to do, but for anyone with enough guts, passion and patience, I say take the leap. It is not as easy as it looks on TV, and is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it is well worth it. •

"He looked some more at the disasters around every corner then looked me square in the eyes and said, 'You’re going to need my help.'”

For more, visit shermanohioenterprises.com.

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Shop Talk: (614) goes shopping with Columbus designers at their favorite stores.

Lauren King

Lauren King Design Grandview Mercantile King’s design has a modern soul, and a vintage style. The clean lines and uncluttered feel says mod, while the poncho-as-rug, and grouped glass vases give it depth and add interest. This is a perfect example of a hybrid style that can please everyone in a shared space, where different accessories are brought together.

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painting

$995 Six drawers, and plenty of space on top. That’s lots of storage for any room in your house. This could be used as a buffet in a dining room, or a mirror could be hung above the back for use as a dresser/vanity combo.

$15 - $37 Glass adds a sculptural look to any scene. These vintage vases are an inexpensive way to add art to a room. The color scheme includes green to go with the painting, and pink adds a pop of color.

$575 (pair) This mid-century modern lamp has clean lines, and adds structure to the collection. The metal is a contribution in both texture and color.

$175 This woven rug is actually a poncho. King was drawn to its organic feel, which contributes a softness to the setup. Unexpected uses for items bring personality to your design.

$59 The focal point of this scene, this painting adds a pop of color and is complimented by the vases.

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Everything will cost more and take longer

D-I-Why?

The road to rehab is paved with risk and reward

by J. R . Mc Mi lla n

B

uy cheap, do-ityourself, and make more money in a few weeks than you’d otherwise make all year. There are entire networks of flippers and fixer-uppers pushing the premise like televangelists—the new prophets of profit.

Don’t let those episodes that finish everything in an hour fool you. Rehabbing a house isn’t quick, cheap, or easy—it’s slow, expensive, and painful.

And yet, we decided to do it anyway.

We weren’t idealistic urban pioneers determined to reclaim a small square of the city. Suburbia had simply lost its allure amid busybodies, constant construction, and a wellheeled school district that suddenly hit the skids and started slashing programs affecting our kids.

After enumerable open houses that never panned out, we kept coming back to the same dilapidated home on a double lot that was clearly vacant, but never for sale. A real estate agent in the neighborhood tracked down the out-of-town owners and found the right person, on the right day, in the right mood to consider a cold offer.

We already knew it needed a lot of work.

Here’s what we didn’t know about Rehab Hell: 54

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Unlike the typical flip, we actually planned to live there—maybe forever. So we didn’t mind spending a little more to make it what we wanted instead of what it was. But moving a sink and knocking out a wall to connect your kitchen and living room is a lot less complicated on paper than it is once permits and engineers are involved. Add the AC unit, electrical wiring, and copper plumbing that had been pillaged before we bought it and it adds up fast. What was supposed to be a 12-month rehab is approaching two years, which included months with two mortgages, plus rent and storage. We eventually had to realign the “fix list” to just the minimum number of projects to make the house habitable, then leave the rest for later. It’s a strategy that would have saved both time and money had we started there instead.

Referrals are important, but imperfect.

"I can sweat pipes and swap light fixtures just fine, but when it comes to breaker boxes and things that go boom, better to be safe than dead. "

The place had been home to a fair number of felines during the two years it was empty.

We literally bought a cathouse. Every window was broken or wouldn’t open. (Never mind the smell. If there were a fire, everyone would die.) After combing through lots of online ratings, we selected a local window company we hoped would replace the fire hazard and foul odor with some fresh air. The sales guy was as slick as their receptionist was sweet.

But that all changed once they had our money. Months of excuses turned to silence.

Calls and emails were ignored. Only after threatening to come to their office and throw a rock through the front window just to see if anyone would show up to fix it did they finally schedule the installation. With the wisdom of hindsight, some of those swelling reviews now seem highly suspect.

It’s okay to be thrifty, just not foolish.

There are actually plenty of repairs the average homeowner can handle with the right tools and YouTube. I don’t mind admitting I’m slow and sloppy at just about every task I’ve taken on, or that I essentially learned to tile floors and shower walls by watching The Vanilla Ice Project. But sometimes you bring in a pro just to keep your new home from blowing up or burning down. I can sweat pipes and swap light fixtures just fine, but when it comes to breaker boxes and things that go boom, better to be safe than dead. We asked around and found a quasi-retired electrician to make sense of our mess, and a former plumber who still likes to get his hands wet and runs gas lines on the side. They were both willing to supervise my work or assist for far less than an ordinary contractor.

"we selected a local window company we hoped would replace the fire hazard and foul odor with some fresh air.

The sales guy was as slick as their receptionist was sweet. But that all changed once they had our money."

Always work from the inside out.

Every instinct suggests fixing ugly first, but resist the urge. We started down the wrong road by lining up exterior improvements, when we should have stayed focused on the less sexy projects inside. I should have pulled off the aluminum siding earlier to discover solid cedar underneath before wasting time shopping for new siding only to end up restoring what we had. We should have replaced the water heater and finished the bathroom first, not last. Fortunately we found a guy who was able to repair and refinish the floors and feather in new wood so well a hummingbird couldn’t tell the difference. But it would have been much easier to tackle the plaster and painting first.

Ideally it should have been windows, plaster and paint, then floors. Now we’re doing it in reverse, having to cover up the floors to keep from screwing them up.

Know your neighborhood and your neighbors.

I still joke that I went out for a beer and came back with a house, but that’s not far from the truth. We were already looking for a new place to live. But while writing a story about a group of Westgate homebrewers who get together every few months in someone’s backyard or living room to share and compare, I realized what I’d overlooked entirely in our search—genuine community. That’s the real reason why after months of frustration with few prospects we decided to make an offer on a rare pre-war ranch, despite its many faults, even though it wasn’t for sale. Since then, this gathering of former strangers has eagerly offered their tools, time, and talents to make this long-neglected house a home. The guy around the corner is redoing the roof, a dude on the other side of the park helped hang the kitchen cabinets, and those floors were saved by someone from down the block.

This is the most important advice, and probably the only thing we did right from the start. You’re not just buying a house, whether you’re flipping it or moving in. You’re buying a neighborhood and the people who live there are the real investment, and what ultimately decides whether it’s all worth it.

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Real(ty) Talk How to get the most of out of your house— straight from the person who’s gonna sell it

By Lo r i C r abt r ee

Y

ou’re thinking of selling your house—or it’s suddenly become a necessity. There are endless reasons as to why, with the end result being the same—there is a lot to do before that sign can go in your yard.

Let the purge begin.

Some people live like a real estate sign is already in their yard. They have two totes in their basement on an otherwise empty shelving unit, and that is the sum of their excess. Chances are, that’s not you—especially if you’ve lived in the same house for many years. Make your life easier, and get rid of those languishing items now. Not only will it make your house feel better to prospective buyers it’ll make you feel better. Help yourself out even more, and start packing up items that aren’t necessary for day to day life. The more you can get out of your house now, the easier it will be to move, and the easier it will be to take on everything else that needs to be done (like the rest of this list).

You know that sink leaks? Fix it now.

No one is fooled by your casual placement of a bucket under the p-trap in your sink cabinet.

Deferred maintenance = less money for your house. All those repairs you’ve been meaning to get to done? Do them now. Buyers aren’t going to be impressed with your ingenious use of duct tape or the locking pliers used to turn on the hot water in your shower—they’re going to wonder what else is wrong with your house, and how well it’s been repaired. And remember—even if a buyer doesn’t notice the closet door falls off the track every time it’s opened, their inspector will.

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Clean like Oprah is coming for the weekend. … and she’s going to be looking in all your closets. Most of us don’t live in immaculate houses— especially those of us with kids or pets. Buyers may not notice your gleaming baseboards, or that you dusted the hot water tank, but a very clean house feels well maintained. And doesn’t smell weird. Buyers will forgive the smell of cleaning products—they aren’t so forgiving about mystery funk.

Don’t forget to take your cleaning spree outside. The front exterior of your house is the first impression buyers have, and you don’t want that impression to be that cobweb across the front door.

You always meant to take down that flying geese wallpaper—now’s the time.

Don’t assume buyers are ok with taking on the updating tasks that you always meant to do. Every house is different in what it might need to feel updated and fresh. Maybe all the kitchen cabinets and wall trim needs repainted, or there’s carpet/flooring to replace. But sometimes it’s as simple as painting the front door and replacing a light fixture or two. Just make sure you adios that fruit basket wallpaper border in the kitchen.

Let it go.

Some of us are bad at goodbye (you know checking your ex’s social media is unhealthy; quit it). Once you’ve made the decision to sell your house, you’ve begun the process of saying goodbye to it. It’s no longer about all the ways in which you imagined yourself there, or imagined what you would do to it, your house has always been an investment, and it’s time to let go of the emotional attachment you have to it. This can be really hard—even painful. The history of that place during the time you lived there will always be yours, but your future history will be made somewhere else.

Go pro.

In the process of figuring out what all needs to be done, hopefully you’ve contacted and interviewed at least one real estate agent. A good agent will do more than stick a sign in your yard—they’ll guide you through the process above, offering referrals from contractors to carpet sellers, and will help you make decisions based on what they know buyers want. Which can be pretty different from what you think buyers want. An agent should be able to walk through your house and suss out obvious items that might show up on an inspection report—or more importantly, be dinged by an appraiser, and cause a closing delay. Whoever you pick to be your agent, make sure it’s someone you like, and can trust—you’re about to be involved in a short-term relationship with them. •

Lori Crabtree is licensed agent with CoreOhio Realty. You can reach her at lcrabtree@coreohio.com or 614-6070172 (call or text). Her Instagram is @ Twixlen (but it’s mostly her dog).

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Remix.

Remodel.

(No) Repeat inside a designer's most personal project—their own palace

By Travis Hoewischer

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ere at (614) Home, we always have an eye toward what the husband and wife team at Davis Rogers Interiors are doing.

Creative, flexible, and efficient, Derrick and Deana have turned out some of the best residential and commercial projects we’ve seen in this city—of any size and scope.

So when we heard they’d doubled up the size of their new home and set about putting brand-new touches on it, we had to get a closer look.

Not only did they maintain the midcentury modern feel of their new house, but expanded the square footage to over 3,000, creating stunning and functional spaces on every level.

“Style-wise, it was actually our intention to not repeat anything in our own home that we’ve done in other projects,” Deana said. “Because it was an existing older home and not a new build, it lent itself to be very unique, especially in the flow and layout. It’s a ranch, so we were able to raise the ceilings. And while older homes were built with very distinct rooms in mind, we were able to take walls down to open up the space. Just like we tell our clients—when it came to the finishes, we chose materials that we loved.”

Stylish as always, but local and energy-conscious to boot, “D&D,” as we call them, kicked open the door to their design expertise, as well as their own living room, and gave us—and you—a room-by-room tour of their new space.

Kitchen Derrick: We both like to cook together when we have time. The kitchen was a big function factor for my very organized wife. But we also wanted it to be dramatic since we raised the ceiling. We had the backsplash applied all the way up to the ceiling, and did a waterfall edge on both sides of the island countertop. We worked with Distinctive Marble & Granite to choose a durable material called dekton that looks like beautiful marble but can take heat and even markers! Good thing since we have our first little one on the way in June!

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Master Bed Deana: This room was an addition which included the bedroom and closets. We definitely needed the extra space since 1950s homes were not built to accommodate. It also helped to add to the overall value of the home. While we still have a few elements to add, we wanted the space to be comfortable and cozy. It’s a good place to lounge and read but after a long day, the comfy bed usually has us knocked out! All of the warm wood floors throughout were laid at a 45 degree angle by B&L Tile & Floors. The sphere rope chandelier and pendants are from Capital Lighting. (Window treatments, Custom Shades & Shutters, Inc.; furniture/accessories, Trove Warehouse, Value City, World Market, Macy’s) •

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Master Bath Deana: It was important for the master bath to be a calm sanctuary to relax. While we saved by budgeting with the Delta fixtures and soaking tub from Lowes, we were able to splurge a little on the tile from Hamilton Parker, Walker Zanger, Emser, and installed by B&L Tile & Floors. The home has a midcentury vibe with a rustic flair, so we brought that warmth in with the wood used in the bathroom. •

Dining Room Deana: We knew we wanted the wall removed that separated the kitchen from the dining room. To keep an open walkway, the table needed to be pushed over, rather than in the middle of the room.

So the wall just called for a banquette. We went back and forth rather to do fabric or wood. Budget did play a role in that decision and we are happy with the dramatic look of the wood which was done by a local carpenter, Millwork Elements. (Light, and chairs, All Modern; Table, Magnoloia Home, reclaimed wood, Cardinal Building Supply; Stair Rail, Thomas Held; Chandelier, Elm & Iron) 62

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Basement Derrick: It’s the perfect place for us to watch a movie

or entertain at the bar with three TVs for sports, and a game table for cards. It’s a very warm, rustic vibe.

We used reclaimed barn wood from Cardinal Building Supply, countertops from DMG, and a custom graphic on the mirror from Images and Words to make it personal. As for the back wall, we want to display local artwork in our home. I started with one of my favorites, Amy Shepherd-Davis. She paints backwards on glass.

It’s incredible! I gave her some of my favorite music artists, two living legends and the others are music legends that have passed. I couldn’t be more excited about how these turned out! I want to add more.

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What’s cooler— and cheaper— than an addition?

Building something brilliant in the basement

Fun Down Below

M

ancave. Den. Escape Room.

Doesn’t matter what you call it—in the central Ohio climate and its unpredictable patterns, the basement is the place where you can count it serving your needs 24/7/365.

“Perfect weather—it’s typically “overcast and 65 degrees” in a basement,” joked Buckeye Basements’ Jon Smith.

“We can work despite inclement or miserable weather outside and avoid the associated delays that are often inherent in construction.”

Oh, and in the case of these projects from Smith Buckeye Basements, a brand-new basement can also “serve” you on par with any of the area’s finest watering holes.

We asked the experts to fill us in on why so many homeowners are going stools-under-the-stairs, and what you need to know about upping the value of your home from the ground up.

Ensure that there are no moisture or water issues existing currently in the basement. If so, have those rectified before beginning any type

of basement remodel. Another notable factor to keep in mind is that most municipalities require that the remodeling work be inspected, so the importance of obtaining permits and using a licensed contractor that either specializes in basements or is at least familiar with all of the code restrictions involved cannot be overemphasized.

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P h otos by A da m Bradshaw

One of the biggest challenges

we encountered involved being hired after a “fly by night” contractor or a homeowner who is not in the trade tried to begin tackling the basement remodel on their own and became overwhelmed. Unfortunately, any work that was done was not up to code and we had to remove items and start all over again. This creates a good deal of “re-work.” Also, we have found that home builders often place the furnace, hot water tank, etc. and any plumbing rough-ins in areas of the basement that are not conducive to a superior finish and layout in the end. So, we have relocated the mechanical fixtures and trenched concrete for plumbing re-work as need may be.

A basement can be finished for the fraction of a cost of a room addition, as the foundation is already there and it does not require a roof. Additionally, in an unfinished state, most people view their basement as dark and dreary. It may be great for storage, but few owners are drawn to spending time in the lower level until it’s remodeled to look and feel like the rest of their home.

It’s better for quality family time.

Some clients have told us remodeling their basement and utilizing their new space afterward has literally brought their family closer together. It’s often a space for the whole family to enjoy!

Bigger is not always better.We actually recommend reserving a

portion of the basement for unfinished storage, and rather than finishing nearly every square inch of the lower level, reducing the finished space if need be, to help pay for some of the nice upgrades which make the area more inviting in the end (i.e. media room package, wet bar, custom cabinetry or built-ins, etc.) So, for instance, rather than having three large rooms finished downstairs, a homeowner may elect to finish one or two rooms instead and add some “wow factor” that will make family and friends want to use the lower level. This will also aid in resale value.

The entire process is less intrusive.

Workers come inside, shut the door to the basement behind them, and for the better part of the work day, they are downstairs and out of the way of the family. This is in stark contrast to a kitchen or upstairs’ bathroom remodel, for instance.

Our goal is to impede on the family’s lifestyle as little as possible throughout construction.

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Virginia Birchfield Furniture maker

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virginiabirchfield.com

ave you ever wanted to brag about supporting local art?

How about sitting on local art?

You’ll be able to grant both wishes this spring by attending the Columbus Furniture Makers’ Showcase, where you can pick up one-of-a-kind pieces that put dollars in the hands of local artisans—and more of your city into your home.

We made Virginia Birchfield, one of several exhibitors, pause the saw for a few seconds to give (614) Home a little primer on how she’s merging elements.

Tell us a little about your background. Where are you from?

Where did you go to school? I grew up in rural Knox county (Fredericktown Ohio) and currently reside there. I attended the Columbus College of Art & Design 2005-2009. I majored in Interior Design.

Are you classically trained, or are you self-taught?A little of both, I have been designing and creating since I was a child. I didn’t start working with wood until my junior year at CCAD, where I was taught the fundamentals of design and learned a few new skills in the process.

How did you start working with metal and wood? Did they start separately or together?Separately. While I was attending CCAD, I worked for my dad restoring classic cars. I learned how to cut and repair panels, weld, and paint. The woodworking started with a furniture design class and sculpture classes at CCAD. I started combining the two materials when I built a cherry bench with a steel base and and carved a chair out of a large piece of sugar maple and later built a steel base for it.

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Tell us about the process of putting the metal and wood together.I love working with both materials and always try to find a way to combine the two because they compliment each other so well. Though, in most of my pieces the wood is the star of the show, the metal plays an important part to contrast the wood and balance piece.

How do you get your wood?It is all locally sourced (Knox County) from felled, dead, or dying trees. I have access to a portable sawmill where I mill most of my own wood. That’s where I find the really unique wood for my pieces. It gives me the freedom to pick and choose how and what I want to cut.

What are your favorite materials to work with?So far, wood, steel, and concrete.

What is the difference between furniture and art?

Is there a difference in how you go about making those things?I do tend to blur the lines between art and design. I like to refer to these pieces as functional art. I start by creating a piece that justifies the wood and I let the materials dictate the outcome. Sometimes it becomes a sculpture or sometimes it becomes a functional object.

The Columbus Furniture Makers Showcase will be held 4.23 at Strongwater Food and Spirits. For more, visit cfms614.com.

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So many people think Feng Shui is about decorating – hang a crystal, install a mirror, and enhance your “wealth” area. Decorating is humancentric. Feng Shui should start with the land, then man’s impact (buildings, roads, bridges, etc.), then people in the space. When we acknowledge that our environment (every rock, river, person, animal, building, etc.) is resonating energy, it changes people’s perspective.

Every thought, deed, and action has a ripple effect.

Everybody Feng Shui Tonight: Reclaiming your energy by rearranging your home.

It is important to understand the energy of the original structure as well as the new design. Think of it like siblings – teenager and a new baby. If a good foundation isn’t introduced, they can ignore or resent each other (so each structure’s energy can resist or fight). Occupants are caught in between. Start with a good foundation, and it saves conflict, effort, time, and money.

By Jen i Ruisch

eng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that focuses and frees energy through the arrangement and design of the home, its rooms, and the objects that inhabit them.

Diana Garber, of Intuitive Concepts, is a Columbus-based Feng Shui expert who helps people arrange their space so their energy can flow toward the things they want in life. (614) Home asked her to give us some tips, and bust some myths when it comes to how people interact with their homes, and their Chi. I work with clients to establish goals and benchmarks. Their benefits are what they determine, and more. People have reported improvements in all aspects of life; examples include health, relationships, conception, wealth, business success, scholastic, athletics, and much more.

The five elements are fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Each affects different family members, hierarchies of business, body parts, and functions of life. With authentic Feng Shui, each element is associated with numbers. Depending on a building’s build date, renovation/addition, and compass direction, these numbers go through a formula. The conclusion diagnoses the energy of a building which reveals how occupants experience the space.

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"When we acknowledge that our environment is resonating energy, it changes people’s perspective.

Every thought, deed, and action has a ripple effect."

Since authentic Feng Shui works holistically, it doesn’t make sense to do just one room. Think of a person in each room that doesn’t speak the same language as the others. They tend to isolate themselves. Feng Shui helps them to communicate so that positive energy in one room can now help less-positive energy in another. Collaboration is more powerful than isolation.

Outdoor spaces are very important since authentic Feng Shui starts with the land. As an example, if an outdoor space has geopathic stress, trees and plants will distort or not thrive, people will be agitated, it attracts undesirable insects and vermin.

Some small and easy things people can do to improve their space: avoid red walls in kitchens and dining rooms.

Red stimulates the appetite, which is why it is in food commercials. Provide three feet of space between electronics and any body part when sleeping.

Electromagnetic field disrupt cells and energy. Minimize clutter. It stagnates energy (which should flow). If you haven’t used something within the last two years, repurpose it (repair, donate, or recycle). This work will reduce negativity and multiply positivity. • For more, visit intuitiveconcepts.com

Crucial Stage The difference between “seller” and “cellar” could come down to setting the scene

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recent look at Columbus real estate listings on popular real estate websites reads like a tale of two cities: homes that are in contract within hours and homes that linger.

What creates the difference between homes that sell and homes that sit? (614) Home reached out to Michelle Zarlengo, owner of one the leading home staging companies in Columbus, Sanctuary Staging, to learn more about home staging. Here are five things she wants you to know about the growing trend….

What is home staging?

Home staging has become a popular way to increase a home’s selling price and decrease time on market. It can be as simple as decluttering and rearranging furnishings all the way up to fully furnishing and styling a vacant home in a manner that aligns with the targeted buyer of the home, which is where a company like Sanctuary Staging specializes. “Our experienced team focuses on creating an emotional connection with buyers, presenting each property as a home that buyers can see themselves living in,” Michelle said. “Well over 80 percent of our staged listings go into contract within two weeks, and over two thirds sell with multiple offers, driving up the price.”

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P h otos by Karli Moore

My home is going to sell fast anyway…why would I want to stage?

You can’t deny that the Columbus market is a seller’s market, but working with a stager that has the training and experience to identify and highlight the best features of a home, helps sellers get top dollar. “After seeing their homes staged, several of Sanctuary’s clients decided to raise their initial listing price $5K, $10K, even $25K, and in each case, the client got the higher price,” Michelle said. Statistics from the National Association of Realtors provide further support: “When staging a home, 29 percent of sellers’ agents reported an increase of one percent to five percent of the dollar value offered by buyers, in comparison to similar homes. Twenty-one percent of respondents stated that staging a home increased the dollar value of the home between six and 10 percent.”

Shouldn’t I just put my home on the market and see what happens? I can always make improvements later.

Listings aren’t like fine wine, they don’t improve over time, and if you don’t ensure your home looks its best for the first few days of listing, you are potentially losing out on buyers and setting yourself up for a longer time on market. A listing that is 30-, 60- or 90-plus days on market may be perceived as having a serious flaw and as a result, buyers may be less likely to seriously consider it in their search. And in general, the longer a listing sits, the lower the price goes.

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"After we staged and it was relisted a few days later, it received multiple offers and went into contract in less than 48 hours."

My house will look bigger and sell more quickly if it’s empty, right?

Michelle shared that this is one of the biggest home selling myths. Over 90 percent of buyers start their search with online photos. What is more likely to motivate a buyer to visit a home, endless photos of empty rooms or a home that is beautifully styled with the right pieces that give each room depth and purpose? Once buyers arrive at a home, studies have shown that they ‘tour’ an empty home for only 5 to 15 minutes, while they “stay” in a staged home threeto-five times longer. Why? It has been estimated that only 10 percent of the population has the spatial relationship ability to mentally furnish a room.

In an empty room, buyers will wonder if a Queen bed will fit … in a furnished home they’ll see that a King fits with room to spare. Stagers select just the right furnishings to show buyers a home’s potential.

According to the National Association of Realtor’s 2017 Profile of Home Staging 77 percent buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.

I’ve loved this home for years…won’t everyone else?

It’s hard to separate yourself from the home that you’ve created so many memories in, but it is not your memories that buyers are seeking, it’s a home they can see themselves living in. Staging displays a home with that purpose in mind. “While we specialize primarily in vacant homes, we have had the opportunity to help homeowners in occupied spaces. One of our favorite success stories—our client had been trying to sell their home over the course of several years. After we staged and it was relisted a few days later, it received multiple offers and went into contract in less than 48 hours.”

When you prepare your home to sell, there are two paths: DIY or enlisting the services of a professional home stager. If you decide to DIY, keep the 4Ds in mind: de-personalize (which means not only putting away personal items, but also neutralizing the décor), declutter, deep clean, and designate a purpose for every room. Finally, ask your agent to professionally photograph your home for the listing so it shows its best.

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If you choose to work with a home staging company, ensure the company is professionally certified and insured. Ask to see photos of their best work, but also ask for online links to some of their recent listings so you can view a more representative sample of their work. Read online reviews and testimonials. Weigh the quality of the work product with the price. Home staging is an investment, and in an effort to save a few hundred dollars going with a lower cost stager, you could potentially lose thousands on your selling price. Finally, once you’ve made your choice, relax and know that you are entrusting the presentation of one of your most valuable assets, your home, in the hands of an experienced professional.

For more about Sanctuary Staging and Home Styling, visit sanctuarystaging.com.

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Home Resources A-Z A big thanks to the people and companies that are making (614) Home a design reality. To keep it local, and find more on any of our subjects, simple check out their websites.

Adam Bradshaw bradshawphoto1.com

G. Everett Design and Project Services g-everett.com

Art Access artaccessgallery.com

Grandview Mercantile grandviewmercantile.com

Behal Sampson Dietz bsdarchitects.com

Hidden Creek Landscaping hiddencreeklandscaping.com

Buckeye Basements buckeyebasements.com

Hannah Hahn hannahhahnphotogra.wixsite.com

Cardinal Building Supply cardinalbuildingsupply.com

Intuitive Concepts intuitiveconcepts.com

Capital Lighting capitallightinginc.com

Karli Moore Photography karlimoorephotography.com

City Park Interiors cityparkinteriors.com

Lang Stone langstone.com Lauren King laurenking.design

Cleary Company clearycompany.com

Marshall Evan marshallevanphotography.com

CMA Museum Store museumstore.columbusmuseum.org

Mount Vernon Barn Company mtvenonbarn.com

CoreOhio Realty coreohio.com

Nicholson Builders nicholsonbuilders.com

Crimson Design Group crimsondesigngroup.com

Virginia Birchfield virginiabirchfield.com

Davis Rogers Interiors davisrogersinteriors.com

Reclaimed Barn reclaimedbarn.com

Distinctive Marble & Granite distinctivemarbleandgranite.com

Sanctuary Staging sanctuarystaging.com

Eileen McCandlish mccandlishinteriors.com

Sherman Ohio Enterprises shermanohioenterprises.com

Elm & Iron Easton elmandiron.com

Trove Warehouse trovewarehouse.com

Ferguson Showroom ferguson.com

Wannemacher Interiors wannemacherinteriors.com

Fortin Ironworks fortinironworks.com

World Market worldmarket.com

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