CRB&D Spring 2021 by RCS Publications Ltd.

CRB&D

SPRING/EARLY SUMMER 2021

CAPITAL REGION BUILDING & DESIGN AN RCS PUBLICATION

Diversity in Design Three Showcase Homes

THE TRADES AS A CAREER CHOICE • TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS CAPITAL REGION BUILDING & DESIGN

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CAPITAL REGION BUILDING & DESIGN

SPRING/EARLY SUMMER 2021

CRB&D

Capital Region Building & Design

VOLUME 22 SPRING/EARLY SUMMER 2021 Publishers Rita C. Stevens R. Craig Stevens Executive Editor R. Craig Stevens Managing Editor Rita C. Stevens Layout & Design RCS Publications Ltd. Senior Feature Photographer Randall Perry Advertising Sales RCS Publications Ltd. Capital Region Building & Design is published 4 times a year by RCS Publications Ltd., PO Box 9338, Niskayuna, NY 12309. Phone (518) 786-6575. E-mail: rcs1prod@nycap.rr.com. www.rcspublications.com www.capitalregionbuilding.com Back issues: $5.00 per copy (prepaid). The information published in Capital Region Building & Design is believed to be accurate and authoritative, but is not intended to substitute for legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice. Statements and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Capital Region Building & Design. © 2021 RCS Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

PUBLISHERS’ NOTES

elcome to Capital Region Building & Design’s first issue of 2021. Because of the pandemic we paused production in 2020, an extraordinarily challenging year for all of us in so many ways. But I am happy to say that 2021 looks promising, with more of the things we took for granted gaining some normalcy again. We hope you all are safe and well. You may notice our cover design has changed. Capital Region Building and Design is a pretty long title. In house we generally refer to it as CRB&D, so we redesigned the cover to make it easier for everyone. We hope you like it! And we hope you find the articles in this issue interesting and informative. Did you know that the building trades offer many career opportunities for young people to consider? The story beginning on page five sheds some light on how the industry is reaching out. Our feature stories take a look at three different styles of homes that were built by award-winning Saratoga Showcase of Homes builders for last year’s “virtual” event. In case you didn’t tune in to the TV tour you can check out these three homes with some incites from the builders and fabulous Randall Perry photos. You can still watch the whole tour on the Showcase of Homes website: www. saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. As we look forward to the 25th anniversary of the Showcase of Homes, which we have covered since its inception and provided the original and dedicated Showcase guide since 2000, we will look back at some of the past events and share some stories and photos. And, we look forward to providing a dedicated CRB&D Showcase Guide for the 2021 event. One of the charities for the Showcase, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, found 2020 a tough year to carry on their work of helping people in need because of the restrictions in place. You can help them this year by donating dollars and/or time or stopping by their newly named store, ReShop for the Good. And read about one homeowner who benefited from RTSC’s efforts on her behalf. Finally we are sharing Tips from the Experts with our readers to help you with a variety of concerns you may have in building a home or remodeling one. We begin with the kitchen design process, then stair design and finally selecting the right lighting for your home. And a big Thank You to our advertisers who have joined us again as we begin this new publication season.

Rita and Craig

Rita & Craig Stevens, Publishers

CAPITAL REGION BUILDING & DESIGN

TO OUR ADVERTISERS

It’s never to early to reserve your space for the 2021 CRB&D Saratoga Showcase of Homes Guide. Email us at rcs1prod@nycap.rr.com for details, including Early Bird Discounts! SPRING/EARLY SUMMER 2021

.................Features 5

I could build more homes if … An SBA Task Force on Careers in the Trades

Courtesy Curtis Limber

Victorian Charm Belmonte Builders’ City Square Townhome

Uniquely Bella Modern meets traditional in Bella-built home

European Elegance Witt Construction’s Downton Walk Condo

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County • Is your neighbor’s home safe • A new year and a new home • ReShop for the Good

..........Tips from the Experts

10 © Randall Perry Photography

9 14 20

Your kitchen by design: Builder’s Kitchens Staring at stairs?: A.W. Hamel Stair Mfg., Inc. How to use layered lighting: Wolberg Lighting Design & Electrical Supply

...............Every Issue 3 27 30

Publishers’ Note Industry Update In Focus by Randall Perry

..................On the Cover

The home ofﬁce in Belmonte Builders’ City Square 2020 Saratoga Showcase townhome, featuring a brick ascent wall. Photo © Randall Perry Photography

22 4

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I could build more homes if … By Doug Ford and Pamela Stott Photos courtesy of Curtis Lumber

could build more homes if I could find the labor. Do you know anybody looking for work? Why aren’t young people getting into the trades? According to the Department of Labor, the U.S. economy had 7.6 million unfilled jobs in the trades and only 6.5 million people looking for work as of January, and the problem has only gotten worse. Discussions at every Saratoga Builders Association (SBA) Board meeting for months centered around these concerns. We need more young people to support the demands on the construction industry. We continued this fruitless exercise until finally someone suggested we stop the meaningless dialogue unless we intended to do something about it. There was a long pause, and then a productive exchange ensued as board members started sharing ideas. You could feel the mood change and the excitement build. As a start, we formed the SBA Task Force consisting of builders, suppliers, and other interested association members. Dialog on how to proceed led us in many different directions. Where could we have the greatest impact with the end goal of bringing more labor to an already tired and The article is reprinted with permission from the January 2021 issue of Lumber Co-Operator, NRLA.org.

aging workforce? The topic is complex, and there’s no easy answer. We quickly realized we needed help from others outside our small group, so we reached out to Washington-SaratogaWarren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES and invited them to join our Task Force. Their participation quickly confirmed our suspicions. There is a huge lack of awareness about career opportunities in the construction trades. This is combined with misconceptions surrounding the work (e.g., too physical, poor pay, long workdays) and the list goes on. We had now uncovered our mission: “To encourage young people and adults to consider a career in the construction industry by bringing an awareness to the benefits associated with it.” Our team was ready and eager to help the industry find young talent—but how do we reach the students? High schools seemed to be a logical, obvious avenue. We knew BOCES understood the industry challenges, but we didn’t know what to expect from the schools. We set up meetings with several local school superintendents, principals, and guidance counselors. We shared our mission and what brought us there. We had predetermined notions going into these meetings that schools were partially to blame for our labor problems by pushing four-year college degrees to help their “ratings.” Only students

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who were academically challenged were introduced to the trades (maybe). Our thinking was not entirely wrong, but we were encouraged to find that superintendents and principals were very aware of the problem and more than willing to support our efforts and work with us. We did however feel resistance from many guidance counselors. They were willing to listen, but we realized there was more work to be done with this audience. It also became clear that parents contributed to the awareness problem and shared in the knowledge gap. Parents want their children to have a successful career. They don’t want their children to work in a career that requires hard physical labor, long hours, and low pay; a college degree will divert them from such a path. Here again, the lack of awareness and misconceptions of the trades has been guiding parents to steer their children away from careers that can be very rewarding. Speaking with school staff, we heard repeatedly how they struggled to connect with parents and forewarned us it would be difficult to find ways to engage them. We have found this to be true and it remains one of our biggest challenges. Pre COVID-19, we created activities to engage our mission using valuable feedback from our meetings with school staff. The next few paragraphs highlight some of the activities our Task Force has

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done to try to make a difference; piloting our programs using two local schools. In the ﬁrst activity, we partnered with highly respected local builders with different styles and approaches to their trade. They presented to junior and senior high school students about the day-to-day in building and construction. Most students were hand-selected by school staff to participate and academic achievement was not a consideration. We feel strongly that students at any academic level can beneﬁt from this awareness. The presentations were interactive and intentionally informal. Students had an opportunity to engage and experiment with tools and technology used in construction. Surveys conducted at the conclusion of each session showed an increased awareness about the trades and for some, a

willingness to want to learn even more and possibly consider the trades as a career option. We also held a career day at Curtis Lumber with students from the same two pilot schools, with some faculty members choosing to participate as well. Prior to attending, students were asked to select either a sales or operations career path. They were guided through a series of learning sessions based on their chosen path. Those who chose sales spent time with the kitchen and bath design team, the estimating department, and project center. The operations group worked with dispatch and logistics, the mechanics shop, and manufacturing door shop. At the conclusion of the tours, the two groups came together for lunch and a presentation by the marketing department.

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All presentations for both career groups were purposely designed and presented by Curtis’ younger team members and focused on the technology aspects of the work for broader student appeal. As our third activity, we scheduled half-day tours at multiple homes under various stages of construction. The goal was to provide students with an opportunity to experience a working jobsite and see the various trades in action real time. Builders would travel with students between site visits to allow for additional questions and discussion. Unfortunately, the outbreak of COVID-19 prevented this from happening so we’re hoping to be able to offer it in 2021. Another popular event was the construction of a tiny house in conjunction with WSWHE BOCES. The CTE students along with volunteers from the trades and local community members built the house on the school campus. It was featured during the SBA Annual Showcase of Homes. Many who worked on the house were on-site during the Showcase tours to share their experiences and promote awareness of the trades. The event culminated with an awards dinner where the students spoke about the project to an audience of 300. After a brief COVID-19 pause, the Task Force re-engaged our mission, albeit with changes. The pandemic forced us to rethink how we would continue to bring awareness to the trades under a very different set of conditions. We continued to consult with our two pilot schools to help alter our strategy. Additionally, an instructor from Hudson Valley Community College heard about us and reached out. He has been working on his own endeavor, Expertise Project, under the premise that we can’t fix the skills gap until we address the awareness gap. He utilizes students’ love of technology and puts cameras in their hands. They visit local jobsites and manufacturing facilities and film whatever interests them on the tours. This raw footage is edited by others for OSHA compliance and converted into short videos from the students’ perspective. Our Task Force has partnered on this project and is helping fund a pilot of the program in early 2021 with 150+ videos. The end goal is to produce a “Netflix of local jobs” video library with thousands of videos that schools can access and use to promote awareness of numerous trades here in our local communities. It’s been more than two years since we launched the SBA Task Force. We’ve met some amazing people dedicated to working with students, partnered with great organizations, and made many

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lasting relationships. Our small group has grown signiﬁcantly in number and now expands well beyond SBA members to include a high school superintendent, BOCES assistant superintendent, and a community college instructor. Their involvement brings an authentic perspective from academia to help us reach the students as we work to dispel misconceptions and educate about the facts. As an industry, we need to acknowledge that we too are at fault for

opportunities for students to open doors for meaningful conversations with counselors and CTE instructors. Your business might consider offering job shadowing or OJT for students. These experiences provide meaningful education beyond the classroom. Ultimately, we all can do something to further the cause. There are many talented young people in our school systems who would beneﬁt from an exciting, lucrative, rewarding career in the trades. In no way does the Task Force discourage young people from at-

the gap in our labor force. Arguably, perhaps even the most to blame. What have we done collectively to attract young people to the trades and educate the school systems and parents on the merits and benefits of a career in the construction industry? There is so much more to the construction industry today than hammers and nails. Without the trades, we as lumber and building material suppliers will struggle to be successful. This is not just a local problem. The trades are struggling nationally. A recent statistic reports 62% of firms nationally are struggling to fill important skilled trades positions. It’s difficult to validate this number; however, it is safe to say the percentage is significant. The good news is, we can all do something to change the course we’re on. As we realized in that board meeting many months ago, talking about the problem without acting solves nothing. A good place to start is with your local school districts and BOCES. The schools are eager to partner with local businesses and organizations. They are passionate about helping their students. They welcome learning about career CAPITAL REGION BUILDING & DESIGN

tending a four-year college. We simply recognize that it may not be the path for every student. We all want what’s best for our children and as such, we have a responsibility to provide them with an awareness of the beneﬁts and career opportunities in the trades. The SBA Task Force is Chaired by Doug Ford (dougford@curtislumber.com) and Pam Stott (pamelas@curtislumber.com) from Curtis Lumber Company. Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information.

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Tips from the experts

Your kitchen by design

The process of working with Builder’s Kitchens is a little different for every client because we customize our approach to you and your builder. When working with a builder we start with a standard layout set by them and then adjust it to each customer’s unique tastes and needs. In terms of a remodel client we typically begin by going out to the house to measure. This allows us to see the space and get a sense of what is currently in place and what they are looking to change or add in the renovation. From there we generate a starting ﬂoor plan. Then the client comes into our showroom to review the plan and look more in detail at door styles, ﬁnishes, opt upgraded accessory cabinets and the crown molding detail. They can also select countertops in Cambria Quartz, Corian, Laminate or Cultured Marble (bath only). In the new construction kitchen design (shown here) we worked with Belmonte Builders to create an up-andcoming kitchen with a “wow” factor. Because of the setting of these townhomes in downtown Saratoga Springs we also considered the longevity of the design. The builder wanted something classic and timeless that would appeal to their buyer. For this reason we decided to work with a classic color palette, stacking the cabinets to the ceiling for added drama and adding a custom wood hood. The wood hood and island in black instantly draw your eye into this stunning kitchen, whereas keeping the perimeter white keeps things bright. Our kitchen and bath designers can help you with your new home plan or with a fresh new look for your remodeling project. Check out our website or give us a call to visit our showroom to discuss your project’s needs. www.builderskitchens.com 518-438-3207 CAPITAL REGION BUILDING & DESIGN

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Victorian Charm

City Square Luxury Townhomes

PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY

Find the best of both worlds in these new luxury townhomes and downtown Saratoga Springs

ne thousand feet from beautiful Downtown Saratoga Springs, City Square is Belmonte Builders’ exclusive urban neighborhood featuring a mix of luxury townhomes with a handful of single-family homes. “City Square gave us a truly unique and rare opportunity to build a new multi-family townhouse community right next to downtown Saratoga Springs,“ says Lindsey Belmonte, VP of Customer Relations. She added, “Being so close to downtown, our conceptual plan for the community was heavily inﬂuenced by it.” Adding, “it was designed to blend naturally with the area with elevations that would feel at home with the Victorian architecture that’s so prominent there.” In order to achieve that look, the Belmonte design team added period-appropriate

elements like boxed windows and bays, overhangs and brackets, and scalloped siding to the elevations. Sidewalks and charming street lamps were added for the aesthetic appeal and to encourage residents to walk within the neighborhood seamlessly to downtown. Lindsey touts the aesthetic design of the homes as well as their functionality. The forethought in the design even includes an option to add an elevator into the center staircase, if needed. “When designing the townhomes in City Square, we wanted to maximize every square foot while focusing on the rooms people use most,” says Lindsey. “One of the trends we’re seeing is the formal dining room going away, as well as fewer walls and hallways,” Lindsey added. By substituting a study for the formal dining room, they

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were able to make the kitchen and dining areas larger. Belmonte’s newest model home, located at 106A Division Street, is an example of the kind of customization available in City Square. A spacious 3 BR, 3 BA luxury townhome, it features an owner’s suite, private study, gourmet kitchen, daylight basement and large bonus room above the attached two-car garage. This townhome makes a great first impression from the moment you enter with 10 ft. ceilings and 6 ½“ French oak hardwood floors extending throughout the main floor. An open staircase and handsome formal study with double pocket doors are located just off the entry foyer. The first floor’s open design seamlessly blends the

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The open ﬂoor plan seamlessly blends the great room, gourmet kitchen and dining room together. Post to post boxed newels accent the staircase beyond by A.W. Hamel Stair Mfg., Inc.

The spacious master suite on the second ﬂoor features a cozy sitting area to relax after a long day, a large walk-in closet and a beautiful master bath.

family room, gourmet kitchen and dining areas together. One of Lindsey’s favorite design elements in the townhome is the use of exposed brick on three walls (great room, dining area & study). “The idea was to make it look like an old building that had been knocked down, but had some original walls remaining creating the feel of a restored Victorian structure.” The gourmet kitchen features a large working island painted black to match the range hood. Together they provide contrast to the white cabinets and white Quartz countertops with gray veining and the matching backsplash to create a clean, contemporary look. A spacious Master Suite along with a guest bedroom suite & laundry room are located on the 2nd ﬂoor. The master bedroom includes a cozy sitting area perfect for reading or relaxing. The guest suite also boasts a private full bath. A large daylight basement offers even more living space. Large egress windows on multiple walls and 9’ ceilings provide light and height. The model’s basement is outﬁtted for fun with a pool table, home theater and half bath. Lindsey

notes, “There is even a pocket wine room underneath the staircase.” Flexible space above the attached rear-entry 2-car Garage enjoys the privacy of a dedicated staircase off the Mudroom. It’s the perfect space for a guest suite

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or home ofﬁce and features a cathedral ceiling, charming eave closets, full bath and zoned thermostat control. With the COVID-19 restrictions of the past year Lindsey notes: “These townhomes have space for families to

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The lower level’s classic staircase by A.W. Hamel Stair Mfg., Inc. adds beauty and function to this home. Large egress windows and nine-foot ceilings offer light and height in this theatre/game room, which also includes a custom wine room and a powder room.

The large gourmet kitchen, seen here and opposite, features Schrock Entra and Trademark cabinetry with the Kayes door style from Builder’s Kitchens and Samsung stainless steel appliances from Marcella’s Appliance Center.

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Red oak newels and treads with a farmhouse design stand out in this centrally located staircase from A.W. Hamel Stair Mfg., Inc.

AT A GLANCE © Randall Perry Photography

Special features • 10-foot first floor ceilings • 9-foot second floor and basement ceilings • Formal study with double glass pocket doors • Brick accent walls in the dining area, great room and study • Spacious owner’s suite with sitting area • Finished basement with game room, custom wine room and adjoining home theater • Separate bonus suite with full bath over the garage • Attached rear entry, two-car garage • Unique, period-appropriate Victorian exterior

spread out for remote working or learning. There’s plenty of room to set-up multiple work areas with privacy.” When asked how the COVID-19 restrictions impacted Belmonte Builders, Lindsey said that it varied based on the status of each home and that initially construction did have to stop on most of the homes. “We had to quickly learn and establish new ways of doing things to keep everyone safe and to maintain our high standards” says Lindsey. “We followed the CDC guidelines for our ofﬁce and model

homes and developed new remote ways to do our selections process.” Most of Belmonte’s clients embraced the changes and enjoyed having the option to review selections from the comfort of their own home. For more information about City Square’s townhomes or other Belmonte new-home communities visit: https://belmontebuilders.com. Editor’s Note: This article was prepared for CRB&D by Belmonte Builders.

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Smart Technologies/ Energy efﬁciencies • Energy Star rated home • Therma-Tru© insulated entry doors • Insulated Thermopane Low “E” argon gas-ﬁlled, grills between the glass windows • Wireless Sonos speakers in the kitchen, great room and basement with Sonos mobile app control • Smart TVs with streaming capabilities in both the great room and home theater

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Tips from the experts

Staring at the stairs? hardwood treads will want to tie in with your hardwood ﬂoor choices. The stairs will be laid out and built for the particular type of handrail style you are using. So all of these choices (ﬂoors, treads, rail style, colors) need to be addressed before any wood is cut, sometimes even before the framing. Let us take a look at your prints! We can help! So pick out your style! Show us your prints. Let Us walk through your stair and handrail details together, step by step! A.W. Hamel Stair Mfg., Inc. has been in business for more than 65 years building stairs and railings for our community. Visit us at:www.HamelStairs.com or call us at 518-346-0331. We would love to chat about your stairs!

Okay, blink. Now, take another look at your stairs. What do you see? Let’s talk about that! I think we can all agree, we’ve spent too much time looking at the same four walls lately. It’s easy to lose our focus. The stairway in your home is a focal point, a place to focus some of your planning and design, an opportunity to enhance the unique character of your home. Design and function: First and foremost your stairs must ﬁt the space allotted and function properly and safely. In addition they become one of the biggest pieces of built-in furniture/design features in the whole house. Early planning with your architect, builder and designer assures that you will get the “look” you are hoping for. We can help! The details of your stairway need to be determined early on. Our shop-built staircases get installed in new construction projects before sheetrock. The

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Uniquely Bella

PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY

Modern meets traditional in this one-of-a-kind custom Saratoga home

eeking to build a forever home that suited their specific lifestyle, Christine and Rick Bult wanted to be sure they could work with the builder from the very start. They chose Bella Home Builders to create a one-of-a kind home like no other. Christine is a teacher and Rick owns Fastsigns of Saratoga Springs. The lot they selected was curved, so some extra creativity was required of architect Bob Flansburg to incorporate all their needs to fit the space. The result was a house that resembled a boomerang in its footprint because of the odd shaped lot. Builder Dave DePaulo, who worked closely with the couple, said that the design was like nothing he had done before. “You couldn’t put a bungelow there, unless it was very tiny. ... The way that it worked out it also made for a wonderful backyard and covered porch area.” Dave doesn’t like to categorize the house style. “I call it a Bella house. It’s definitely not a farmhouse, definitely not contemporary. It’s a Bella design.” While

he admits the interior has a more modern look, the exterior blends modern and traditional elements and even an element of surprise — an octagon turret for a touch of the medieval. “I think the black trim, windows and aluminum garage doors add a really contemporary look. You just don’t see people doing those kind of doors on garages. And the front door with smoked glass is more modern. But the eyebrow windows, the timber framing, the stone placement and overall shape of the house makes it really unique.” Douglas Fir was selected instead of the typical dark pitched pine for the timbers. “The timbers on the porch are clean, simple and sleek.” The interior of this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2600 sq. ft. home is very bright and airy with a lot of open space. The octagon shaped room is an ofﬁce and the stair rail is a more contemporary design. It has a beautiful lower level with lots of windows and a nice staircase leading down to it that is ready to ﬁnish. Dave gives the homeowners a lot of credit. “They are the ones who picked all

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the ﬁnishes. They were really amazing to work with. The colors and the way they decorated it was a great job. ... Everyone who goes there just loves it.” Dave also credits his Project Manager Tanner Duguid and Selections Coordinator Soula Tsitos, “They did a wonderful job.” The home, located in Bella’s Park Grove neighborhood, was featured in the Saratoga Builders Association’s 2020 virtual Saratoga Showcase of Homes. (More photos continue on page 18.) To learn more about what Bella Home Builders offers visit: www.bellahomebuilders.com Above: Bella’s custom designed home features Douglas Fir timber framing, eyebrow windows and contemporary black windows and garage doors. Opposite: Bright and airy describes the living room with its distinctive eyebrow window. Custom metal handrails designed by A.W. Hamel Stair Mfg., Inc. add to the modern interior features. The 3-blade ceiling fan from Monte Carlo’s Maverick Collection provided by Wolberg Lighting Design and Electrical Supply makes it cool in summer and adds warmth in winter.

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My husband and I were looking to build a one-of-a-kind forever home and this is what we found with Bella Home Builders. We came from a home with a first-floor master and knew this was something we didn’t want to live without. We also wanted an open concept floor plan to meet our laid back lifestyle. From the ground up, we worked with Dave and the architect, Bob Flansburg, on creating spaces like a walk-in pantry, first floor laundry room, mudroom large enough to house lots of outdoor clothing, and a home office open to the rest of the house. Each person at Bella Builders helped execute our vision. We bounced numerous design ideas off of staff, and their recommendations and input were always on point. We are so very happy to have chosen Bella Home Builders to build our dream home. Christine Sipperly-Bult

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The dining room features a 6-light Curry & Co. Ariadne Collection chandelier from Wolberg.

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The well-organized storage cabinetry in the mudroom can neatly store all the boots and jackets a family could want.

Entering the foyer through the modern smoked glass front door it’s a short walk to the gourmet kitchen. Lighting the way is a Generation Lighting Asher Collection flush mount fixture from Wolberg. The gourmet kitchen features Wellborn cabinetry with a Hanover door style. Upper cabinets are maple glacier white and lower cabinets and island are maple blue, from Curtis Lumber’s Kitchen Design Center. The Hudson Valley Martini collection pendant lights over the island are from Wolberg. Appliances are Bosch from Marcella’s Appliance Center. Plumbing fixtures are Brizio’s Litze Collection from WIN Supply in Saratoga.

Looking through from the front door one is drawn to the Modern Forms Stormy Collection Chandelier from Wolberg and the custom metal handrail on the second ﬂoor (above) and on the stair rail (right) from A.W. Hamel. From the second ﬂoor one has a breathtaking view of the bright and airy great room with its impressive beamed ceiling and contemporary styled furniture.

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Tips from the experts

How to use layered lighting When you enter a well-lit room, you feel instantly at home. You may not know exactly why, but it just feels right. Achieving that feeling of comfort is easy when you discover how to use layered lighting. What is layered lighting? Simply put: layered lighting is using different types of light fixtures to make the most of every room’s features. For instance, many dining rooms have a chandelier that may also be dimmable. The next level would be adding a buffet lamp or two on a sideboard to bring the light source closer to the table, and to add an element of style. For even more glamour and ambiance, place wall sconces along one or more walls. These accent lights can be used alone or in combination, depending on the occasion. Enhance your living room with a chandelier or flush mount aided by spot lighting in seating areas. Table and floor lamps are the easiest way to add 20

Curry Co.

Modern Forms Generation.

Hudson Valley

ﬂexible lighting for reading or handwork. Wall sconces are another great addition to the living room or den, especially in recessed areas around built-in bookcases, or in multiples along a long wall. The kitchen is a great place to use layered lighting – from multiple pendants above an island, to LED light strips under cabinet edges, and recessed lighting above the sink or inside open- or glass-fronted shelves. Using layered lighting in the bathroom makes it easier to perform tasks such as shaving, applying make-up, or avoiding middle-of-the-night falls. Talk to the experts at Wolberg Lighting Design & Electrical Supply about new designs in LED bath vanity lights, ceiling lighting and automatic sensor LED lighting. Our homes reﬂect our ever-changing lifestyles. Make use of layered lighting to give any room a makeover and create that instant feeling of comfort and ease. Visit www.wolberg. com or call 518-4898461 (Albany), 518886-6486 (Saratoga).

Monte Carlo Visual Comfort. CAPITAL REGION BUILDING & DESIGN

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European Elegance

PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY

Uniquely elegant condominiums create a touch of England in Saratoga Springs

f you were taking a stroll along the east side of Saratoga Springs and came upon Downton Walk Lane you might just think you had been transported to England. This very English neighborhood was created by builder John Witt, who actually went to London to study the architecture as his inspiration to design the seven upscale single-family detached condominiums. Admittedly he acknowledged the PBS blockbuster Downton Abbey inspired the name. The freestanding mixed materials homes range from 2,500+ to 4,000 square feet. “It’s a unique situation because it is all on one 150 by 230 lot,” John said. “Each home is different. Every backyard goes up against the next door neighbor’s side of their garage creating a totally private yard. This allows more outdoor space

then in a dimensional subdivision. They can use the yard right up to the area that the neighbor would never use.” Just blocks from the Saratoga Race Course and a short walk to downtown the community features a heated radiant system on its private lane, driveways and walks. Front yards are designed with beautiful English gardens. And a homeowner’s association maintains the private road and the landscaping, but the owner’s can design and maintain the rear yard if they so choose. Two of the seven homes, which were featured in the Saratoga Builders Association’s 2020 virtual Saratoga Showcase of Homes, are shown here. Each home is different, but European in styling. Different decorators worked with the homeowners to include their

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personal touches to make the home uniquely theirs. Elizabeth Tanny and 23rd and Fourth work on the homes shown here. Of course one can find those Witt signature details and features in every home. Reclaimed beams and cast limestone mantels over the fireplace in some of the homes add to that European styling. Lighting fixtures and tiles are all unique to each home. “ I think you’ll see more projects like this in the future,” John notes. But it is too late to buy one of these homes because they are all sold out. (More photos continue on page 24.) To learn more about Downton Walk and some interesting new Witt Construction projects visit: www.wittconstruction.com

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Opposite page: The mixed-material exterior of this Downton Walk condominium uses stucco, knotty Cypress and local natural organic copper. Pella windows from Crawford Door & Window Sales enhance the European styling. Wolberg Lighting Design and Electrical Supply’s 2-light exterior Artcraft Lighting wall lanterns on the garage are from its Fremont Collection. Curtis Lumber provided the Rouge Valley front door w/bronze hardware and the framing, interior doors, hardware and trim. Clockwise from top right: It’s in the details. Kitchen and Bath – Kohler plumbing fixtures from WIN Supply; Lighting fixtures from Wolberg include: Kitchen – 1-light pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting, the Haverhill Collection; Dining Room – 5-light linear chandelier from Visual Comfort F. Chapman Darlana Collection. Bath and hallway: 2-light flush mounts from Hudson Valley’s Newport Collection. Kitchen and dining room - Crawford’s distinctive Pella windows add a truly European flair.

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AT A GLANCE Home features • Witt custom kitchens • Reclaimed beams • Limestone hearth • Private fenced backyards • Radiant heated paver driveways and walkways, radiant heated brick road • Exteriors are mixed materials: stucco, local natural organic copper and knotty Cypress Energy efﬁciencies • Smart lighting throughout the neighborhood that comes on at dusk and turns off at each homeowner’s designated time • Blown-in foam insulation energy efﬁcient heating systems

Opposite, top: Reclaimed beams add warmth to the brightly lit family room thanks to Crawford’s Pella window collection. Evening light is enhanced by Wolberg’s 1-light wall sconces from Visual Comfort’s Deauville Collection. Below: Twilight highlights what one homeowner chose in the design of their very private rear yard. Stone pavers surround the pool and a ﬁre pit offers warmth in the evening. Above, top: A quiet spot in this home is the signature Witt element, a comfy window seat with storage below. Bright light enters through this distinctive Pella window from Crawford, but evening light is provided by two of Hudson Valley’s Groton Collection wall sconces. Above: Another Witt element is the custom mud room with lots of organized storage. It is well lit by ﬂush mount lights from Wolberg’s Hudson Valley Groton Collection.

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Industry Update

2021 Saratoga Showcase of Homes’ 14-home line-up for Fall

The 2021 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Committee is proud to announce a spectacular line-up of 14 locations from our region’s ﬁnest builders for the area’s premiere new home tour event. Celebrating 25 years of exceptional homes, this annual tradition will be presented over three beautiful fall weekends on September 18-19, 25-26 & October 2-3. In honor of this silver milestone anniversary, tickets this year will be $25 and will go on sale in early August. The Saratoga Builders Association’s Executive Director Barry Potoker, commented, “ We are looking forward with hope, optimism and great anticipation to once again present the Saratoga Showcase of Homes this autumn as we move out from this pandemic. Our goal is to present a “live” tour for the enjoyment of our community while providing the needed help for our two charities who beneﬁt from its proceeds. In planning ahead, our pledge to everyone involved with this event is to take all the necessary steps to follow NYS, NAHB & CDC health and safety guidelines.” Thank you to the twelve award winning builders committed to this year’s event: BDC Group, Beechwood Homes, Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders, Bonacio Construction, Caruso Homes, Kodiak Construction, McPadden Builders, R & M Builders, Trojanski Builders and Witt Construction.

The 2021 Showcase Committee has an extensive marketing and promotional campaign in development, which includes ofﬁcial media sponsors including newspapers, magazines, online, television, and social media. Corporate sponsorships are now available to support this annual event. Those interested should

contact Barry Potoker at 518.366.0946 or go to its website (www. saratogashowcaseofhomes. com/sponsors) to download a packet. Over the past 24 years, this community event has contributed over $1.3 MILLION dollars to our two local charities. Proceeds from the Showcase of Homes beneﬁt Rebuilding Together Saratoga County www.rebuildingtogether saratoga.org and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties www.glensfallshabitat.org. For more details on the 2021 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Follow us on FACEBOOK for all the updates!

About Saratoga Builders Association The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the well-being and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, ﬁnancial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, please visit www.saratogabuilders.org.

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ebuilding Together Saratoga County is still hard at work making sure our neighbors in need have safe, healthy and affordable homes, but we need your support now more than ever. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to primarily use

Is your neighbor’s home safe? Photos courtesy of RTSC

continues to take a negative economic toll on individuals, families, businesses of all sizes, and the community overall. Because of that we anticipate that the need for our services will continue to grow in the coming months. We plan to provide repairs and accessibility modiﬁcations for 175 of our neighbors in need this year, but we can’t do it without you! Please consider making a donation today to support our work! Rebuilding Together Saratoga County 132 Milton Ave • Ballston Spa, NY www.rtsc.com

paid contractors, rather than volunteers, which has increased the cost of our work. However, this temporary adjustment will help keep our clients, volunteers, and staff safe and healthy. We are also looking at homes differently due to the pandemic. Our clients are spending more time than ever in homes that may present serious safety and health hazards such as poor air quality, mold and mildew, lack of working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, drafty windows and doors, no hot water, and leaking roofs. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how important it is to live in a safe and healthy home because the community’s health depends on everyone staying home. The pandemic also

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RTSC renames store and relaunches as “ReShop for the Good” Rebuilding Together Saratoga County is thrilled to announce a new name for their store in Ballston Spa. ReShop for the Good sells new and gently-used furniture, household goods and decor, and the proceeds support Rebuilding Together Saratoga County’s work to provide critical repairs and accessibility modiﬁcations for low-income homeowners in our community. ReShop for the Good originally opened in 2017 and has continued to see increased business year after year. “We opened our store in 2017 and the business has continued to grow online

and in our store, even during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Executive Director Michelle Larkin. “It’s clear that the community understands the value of being able to both donate and shop to support our work. With this growth our team saw an opportunity to rename our store so we can build a brand around the mission of the ReShop and Rebuilding Together. Our motto is ‘When you do good, you feel good’ and the new name of our store really reinforces that message. Every item you donate and every dollar you spend at the

ReShop helps us help our neighbors in need live in safe, healthy, warm, dry and affordable homes.” ReShop for the Good hosted a ribbon-cutting on April 8, 2021 to celebrate the renaming and relaunch. For more information about ReShop for the Good, please visit their website at www.reshopforthegood.com.

A new year and a new home

ebuilding Together Saratoga County recently provided Barbara in Ballston Spa with a brand-new home! Through our Manufactured and Mobile Replacement Program, we replace substandard mobile and manufactured homes with new, energy-efficient homes for qualified homeowners. This program is funded through grants provided by NYS Homes and Community Renewal and the services are provided at no cost to the people we help. Barbara initially applied for assistance with repairs to her home in late 2018, and we remodeled her bathroom and made repairs to her steps and landing in early 2019. In spring 2019, Barbara’s dryer malfunctioned causing a serious fire and unfortunately her house was condemned by the town. She reached back out to us to see if we could help. We worked with Barbara, her mobile home park management, and NYS Homes and Community Renewal to move through the application and approval process, including the need to raise the new home by five feet because it is located in a floodplain and working through other challenges and delays related to COVID-19. This past spring, Barbara was able to select design features for her new home. The old, damaged home was removed in September 2020, and the new home was delivered in December. Barbara moved into her brand-new home on New Year’s Day! We are thrilled that she was able to start 2021 in her own home! Barbara said of her experience and new home, “I’m relieved. I have so much gratitude that this was available, and I’m so thankful. If I’m being honest, the word ‘home’ means more to me now because of COVID.” She was looking forward to having her own space again and unpacking her

things, including items she inherited from her mom that she wanted to display in her new home. We would like to send a special thank you to NYS Homes and Community Renewal and Governor Andrew Cuomo for providing the grant funding needed for us to be able to undertake this important work! We would also like to thank the Kayadeross Acres management and community for partnering with us through this process.

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IN FOCUS

ow ! What a year. Its been a year since the beginning of the pandemic and so much of our “normalcy” has changed. From the simplest task of running to the store, gathering with friends and family and even working. It’s nice to finally see things returning to a sense of normalcy. Some businesses couldn’t have been busier, and some hung on by a thread or sadly, not at all. As we all move forward it’s nice to welcome back Capital Region Building and Design (CRB&D), THE original, informative publication on all things building in the Capital Region. I have worked with Rita and Craig Stevens since 1991 on their publication as it evolved from a business to business magazine for the building industry to one that includes the general public. I would support them in anyway I can and I urge you to do the same, whether advertising within the magazine, or telling the advertisers you saw them in CRB&D. Speaking of working with clients for many years, I have been very blessed to have worked with the featured builders in this issue many with whom I have had a long history. Peter Belmonte (Belmonte Builders) and I attended Shenendehowa High School together. I am proud to have worked with his firm from the beginning of my career. He has built so many fine communities throughout our entire Capital Region won numerous awards for the Saratoga Showcase of Homes and Parade of Homes. His Center Square project is yet another fine example of the firm’s innovative use of land and creating a village within a village. A real beauty in the heart of Downtown Saratoga Springs! I have worked with John Witt (Witt Construction) since 1991. He was a very creative, young builder

Belmonte Builders’ City Square townhome

A new beginning with old friends

Bella Home Builders’ custom-designed home

Witt Construction’s Downton Walk condominium

back when we met. I was in awe of his style, craftsmanship, and the attention to detail in his innovative homes. Working with top interior designers for his Showcase and Parade homes, he normally won best interior design, which made his homes really stand out, along with best workmanship and numerous other categories. His Downton Walk project again shows his innovative style and creative use of land and location. Dave DePaulo (Bella Home Builders) and I first met with his first entry into the Saratoga Showcase of Homes. His most recent entry for 2020, custom designed Bella-built home near Saratoga Lake, was a beautiful classis design. Stone, timber, post and beam, with a beautiful pool and privacy at the end of cul de sac, this house stole the show when it was judged. His latest project in Saratoga, Joshua Lane, again continues his legacy of ingenuity to make special neighborhoods for families and empty nesters. Combining energy efficiency, creative use of materials and cutting edge design, his homes also score very high in both the Saratoga Showcase of Homes and the Parade of Homes. I am proud to not only represent these wonderful firms for so many years, but also to call each one of them my friend. I look forward to 2021 as we all continue to move away from the past year. As a licensed remote pilot, I hope to work with these builders and other clients to use my professional drone services to highlight their work and give their work and communities “ a sense of place” as only aerial images can do. I wish each and every reader the best of health and continued success this coming year and in the years to come. Thank you all for trusting in our professional services since 1986.

For more than thirty years Randall Perry Photography has provided award-winning architectural photography services to the area’s top builders, designers, architects, construction ﬁrms and hospitality properties. As a licensed remote pilot with a 107 certiﬁcation, the studio also specializes in professional drone photography. His work has been featured in numerous trade and consumer publications as well as books on design and architecture, including, “Naples Florida, A photographic portrait.” To learn more about his work and view a portfolio of online images visit his website at www.randallperry.com. Or call 518.421.6834. Or email Randall at randallperry@randallperry.com.

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