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LAKES REGION

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PARADE OF HOMES

“Showcasing beautiful homes & renovations built by premiere Lakes Region Builders.”

VIRTUAL HOME TOUR

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Farmhouse Style Lakefront Renovation

S

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper Photos courtesy Lighthouse Contracting Group

ometimes it takes determination to achieve a goal.

A healthy dose of hard work and a vision also helps.

The homeowner of a stunning Lake Winnisquam waterfront home had some definite ideas about style as she began to plan an extensive renovation. The home, which she and her husband purchased about three years ago, was built in the 1980s. While structurally sound, it was beginning to look outdated. The couple wanted a modern farmhouse style to bring the home into the present day and they contacted Jeremy Doucet (owner of Lighthouse Contracting Group), to help achieve that goal.

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Published by The Smiley Publishing Group, LLC, P.O. Box 119 Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896 | 603-569-5257 | thelaker.com

Christopher p. Williams arChiteCts, pllC PO Box 703 • Meredith, NH 03253 • 603-279-6513 www.cpwarchitects.com

4 | home | fall 2020

PUBLISHER Dan Smiley

Publishers of home, The Laker and Dining Out in the Lakes Region.

ADVERTISING Jim Cande Maureen Padula

Smiley Publishing Group, LLC. assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors. Advertisers will please notify the management immediately of any errors which may occur.

EDITOR Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

© 2020 All Rights Reserved.

No reproduction in part or whole without express written consent.

PRODUCTION MANAGER Gina Lessard CIRCULATION Joe Corbett Kathy Larson

Together, the homeowner and Jeremy tapped into their determination to transform a typical home and give it an eye-catching farmhouse design.

Says Jeremy, “At Lighthouse, we take a consulting-based approach to a project. We guide the client to determine the end result they are looking for. We follow the design/build concept and always work within a budget.”

Jeremy, who grew up in Moultonborough, has been immersed in the construction industry since he was a teenager. One might say he was an entrepreneur from an early age, working for local sled dog owner Keith Bryar and caring for the animals. Jeremy also helped with clean up at construction sites and by age 16, he decided the construction industry was the right place for him.

Today, Lighthouse Contracting Group staff work most often on the Gilford/Laconia side of Lake Winnipesaukee. “We primarily work on second homes, lakefront and mountain view properties but we have local clients as well,” says Jeremy.

According to the company’s website, there are steps used when working with a client: the initial consultation, a design/build contract, design and scope development on paper staying within the budget range agreed upon, a construction agreement, planning and organization of the project, then construction and finally, completion. Working with the client and making her vision a reality was the goal for the Winnisquam exterior redo.

When the homeowners for the Winnisquam project contacted Jeremy, they were ready to tap into their ideas for a casual farmhouse type home, with the distinct advantage of a great backyard facing the lake. Some features of the home were in

good shape and did not need upgrades, such as the roof, which was just a few years old.

“It was a well-built home,” Jeremy explains. “Because the client had owned the place for three years, she had time to gather ideas of what she wanted and she had plenty of photos and ideas to share with me.”

For phase one of the project, the work centered on the exterior of the home. The homeowner had a rough sketch of a deck she wanted, and with his trademark creativity and determination, Jeremy greatly expanded on that basic idea. The finished deck is a thing of beauty, as well as being highly functional. Any family would love to gather on the deck, where there is plenty of room for groups to eat, relax and socialize while taking in lovely views of the lake. There is also an outdoor kitchen/porch where the owners can grill under cover.

Says Jeremy, “I love the deck and it is probably my favorite part of the entire project. The porch was a bonus and well worth the extra effort. We are proud to have helped create such a great gathering place.”

After the client met with Jeremy and conferred on plans, the work began in April of this year. Wrapping the house and covering it in a durable, moisture-resistant siding that looks like painted wood created a new exterior. Board and batten was added as well, and overall it created the trending modern farmhouse style the owner wanted.

New windows in keeping with the farmhouse style also were in order. The special windows are from the Pella Lifestyle Series and they are reflective with a UV coating to filter out harmful sunlight. According to Jeremy, the windows greatly increase a home’s energy efficiency.

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The front door has satin etched glass to create a welcoming entry for family and guests. A front covered entry was added and a new garage overhang completed the style.

It is the back deck and porch that Jeremy is most proud of and his favorite area of the work Lighthouse did on the exterior. “We originally thought we were doing a deck on the back of the house, with no porch. But when we started on the work, we knew we wanted to do more and that the porch was needed. The outdoor kitchen was another added feature,” he says. Perhaps all this extra work was done because just 50 feet away, the lake beckons and to not take ultimate advantage of all the back of the home offered would have been a shame.

“There are three areas to the outdoor space: an 8 ½ by 17-ft. sitting area; a stairway/catwalk; a sitting area with fire pit and then the screened-in porch with a 10-ft. table and outdoor kitchen,” Jeremy says.

The back deck and porch are loaded with details, such as a cocktail railing and clean lines. When the project was completed shortly after the 4th of July, the owners could take full advantage of the outdoor areas for barbecues and family meals or just sitting and watching the sun set over the water.

Jeremy is clearly very interested in special lighting for a project and he explains some of the exterior lighting that was used on the home. “I am really into lighting,” he says. “I went to the International Builders Show and was intrigued with what I saw for lighting. And the owner of this home was into the idea of special lighting as well.”

Low-voltage lighting for the exterior and on the deck, stairs and porch created soft illumination without being too obvious. LED tape lights cre-

ated more ambiance under the garage overhang and all lights are on a smart control so the owners can access them from their cell phones.

The outdoor kitchen is outfitted with Lynx appliances with a wine fridge, a full grill with vent hood and a big power burner. It is the perfect spot to cook while being close to guests as they relax on the deck.

With the exterior work completed, the next phase will be to move to the interior of the home. Jeremy says the structure was well built, which is a big plus. On the list to address will be the mudroom and a dining room/ kitchen to make a more open and workable flow. A dormer upstairs will also be added to create a master suite.

“I give the owners full credit for all we have achieved on this project,” says Jeremy. Indeed, it was the vision of the owner, who took her time to gather ideas and determine what she wanted in the renovations. “One thing she did want was for her home to look individual and not like every other home in the area,” Jeremy adds.

Indeed, that goal has been achieved and the home will be one of the featured properties on the upcoming virtual Parade of Homes. (See article in this issue on page 10.)

With determination and style and creativity, Jeremy and his crew at Lighthouse have embraced the ideas and vision of the home, giving it a modern and lovely farmhouse style. It can be sure phase two of the renovations will be equally as stunning with the owner/builder collaboration.

For information, visit www.lighthousecontractinggroup.com or call 603567-4172.

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How home design trends are evolving for social distancing COVID-19 has brought changes to everything, and home design is no exception. Experts are expecting to see lasting impacts on everything from the materials we use to the rooms we prioritize. Check out these and other noteworthy trends: Houses over apartments: Many people who live in condos or apartments do so to be closer to the action — work, entertainment and shops — and never planned on spending much time at home. But the pandemic has changed that, and more people are going to want a home that offers plenty of room and outdoor space in case they need to self-isolate again.

Self-sufficiency: A hard lesson we’ve learned is that things and services we thought we could count on aren’t necessarily a sure thing, so items that increase self-reliance will become very popular. Expect to see more homes with sources of energy like solar panels, sources of heat like fireplaces and stoves, and even urban and indoor gardens that allow you to grow your own produce.

Outdoor living: Between playgrounds closing and parks becoming overcrowded, many of us are turning to our balconies, patios and backyards for fresh air and nature. This means we’re going to be investing more in our outdoor spaces, with functional kitchens, soothing water features, cozy firepits, and high-quality outdoor furniture to create a much-needed escape.

Healthier spaces: Thanks to spending more time indoors and reprioritizing our health, we’ll turn to design to help ensure our homes are safe and healthy for our families. We’ll see a rise in products like water filtration systems as well as materials that improve indoor air quality. For new homes and additions, alternatives to wood-framing like insulated concrete forms from Nudura, which offer improved ventilation for healthier indoor air quality and an environment that’s less susceptible to mold, will be key.

Home office space: Business experts are suggesting many companies will see that working from home is not only possible but offers tangible benefits, like saving money on office space rent. With working from home on the rise, creating a home office space that inspires productivity will be a major project many of us tackle. Luxury home office furniture that feels chic and blends into your décor as well as ergonomic chairs and desks will see a major boost.

Custom and quality: With the hit to the economy, people are going to be buying less, but what they do buy will be better quality, while at the same time making an effort to support American businesses. When it comes to design, trends will shift to locally made furniture, custom-built homes and pieces and materials that stand the test of time.

- Metro Creative

MEREDITH -$1,895,000. Gentleman’s Farm with 210 acres.

Idyllic farm with the utmost privacy and vast mountain views around every corner! Historic post and beam Cape with major renovations and a recent Great Room addition; many original features, hand-hewn beams, wide pine floors, wainscoting, Gunstock corners and original brick fireplace. Property consists of 2 antique homes, post and beam barn with box stalls and tractor storage, lush pastures, stone walls, miles of trails, bordering town forest for hiking and recreation. Established apple orchard, berry plantings and kitchen garden. This is a great opportunity for a conservation-minded buyer who is attracted to the natural, historic and agricultural values in a property. This private, safe haven on a dead-end road abuts 500 acres of town forest

MOULTONBORO- $1,650,000.

A private peninsula with 365’ on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Clearwater Point offers a rare combination of the most desirable waterfront features: sandy beach, mountain/forest views, serene scenic cove, large U-shaped dock, level lawns/1.2 acres, low taxes, permitted site/septic plans for a new 6-bedroom residence or retain the quaint, rustic 4-season cottage with 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths, brick fireplace, loft with large master bedroom, detached 2-car garage and plenty of room to spread out!

Ellen Mulligan, Broker Associate

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 32 Whittier Highway, Center Harbor, NH 03226 Office: 603-253-4345 ext. 124 | Cell: 603-387-0369 8 | home | fall 2020

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Parade of Homes Goes Virtual

What does a virtual tour look like? The Lakes Region Builders & Remodelers Association has announced its first-ever Virtual Parade of Homes. Adjustments have been made to this popular annual event so it can continue in this time of COVID-19. To protect homeowners and the public, the event will be virtual, and will begin on Columbus Day weekend.

The virtual tour will feature new 360-technology, meet the builder sessions and sneak peeks of each building project. Visitors can also tour from the comfort of their own homes for months after the holiday weekend.

“The virtual parade of homes tours are well received across the country with other home builder associations switching to virtual Parades,” said Brenda Richards, Executive Officer of Lakes Region Builders & Remodelers Association. “We’ll miss seeing everyone in person but we’re excited to showcase our members using this new platform. The technology is so interactive that we think, going forward, we may continue to have some virtual elements included in future tours.”

The Lakes Region Parade of Homes has become a popular tour for locals, potential homeowners, and visitors from all around New England. It brings together homeowners and builders to begin the process of building a new home or remodeling an existing home.

Visitors will enjoy viewing professionally designed homes as well as meeting talented builders.

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ing around the home virtually. Visitors will see the latest interior design trends and home technology, exceptional materials, trendy kitchens and baths and popular color choices that will be sure to inspire. Whether you want ideas for your current home, are looking for your next home or just appreciate quality craftsmanship, the Parade has something for everyone.

In addition, visitors will be able to click on each builder’s profile and see a professional video of the builder talking about their company and showcasing their projects. Consumers can connect with local builders and shop local supply and building companies with the click of a few buttons. “The connections this event provides is every bit as vital with a virtual tour as it is in person,” commented Richards.

The event will go live in October and tickets can be purchased for $10 per household, which allows full access to all the interactive elements of the tour. The public will enjoy viewing the homes, voting on their favorite projects, asking questions of the builders and having a chance to win prizes.

As a non-profit organization, ticket sales from the tour also serve as a fundraiser. It is an income source the Association depends upon to continue its ties with the Huot Tech Center and their commitment to inspire the

next generation of trade professionals. The current build project is a brand new off-site 384 square-foot custom-built home offering one bedroom, one bathroom, radiant heat, full appliances and it is expansive ready. Once the students get back to school, building can resume. Students gain valuable skills, guidance and pride, and upon its completion, the project offers low cost and high value to the ideal buyer with land and the ability to get the site work completed to fit the build.

At a time of great uncertainty, one thing remains certain: the home building industry will play a large role in the country’s economic recovery because the industry generates jobs. The new estimates from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) show that building an average single-family home generates 2.90 jobs (measured in full-time equivalents; enough work to keep one worker employed for a year). Home building generates jobs in a mix of industries (subcontractors, engineers, attorneys, mortgage brokers, bankers and more) and this will be crucial to boosting a healthy economy during a period of recovery.

The Lakes Region Parade of Homes will allow the public to meet premier builders and remodelers. “Our builders are currently crafting some amazing projects and we can’t wait to show them to you,” said Richards. The goal is simple—produce a quality home tour experience, providing building connections to the public and aiding the Association’s workforce development commitment to inspire the next generation of trade professionals.

To learn more about the Parade of Homes and sponsorship opportunities, visit lakesregionparadeofhomes.com.

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MEREDITH // Stunning 5-bedroom/4-bath home on 11.84 acres. A detached 3-car garage. $1,100,000 (4824015) Call Bronwen Donnelly 603-630-2776

HOLDERNESS // Exquisite offering. 1790 Cape on 37+ acres with 400’ frontage on White Oak Pond. $999,000 (4823017) Call Becky Whitcher 603-393-7072

TUFTONBORO // Gorgeous c.1 850 5-bedroom farmhouse, completely renovated, separate guest house, 39 acres close to Lake Winnpesaukee. $615,000 (4792757) Call Randy Parker 603-455-6913

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COW ISLAND – TUFTONBORO Lake Winnipesaukee Class! Architecturally designed 4-bedroom/3-bath home. 2 lots – 375’ ftg., u-shaped dock, 30x36 boathouse, VIEW! $1,425,000 (4822513) Call Betty Ann Bickford 603-651-7040

WHORTLEBERRY ISLAND – TUFTONBORO Three separate lots of record, 1.33 acres, 270’ of Winnipesaukee waterfront, shallow beach. Incredible views! $595,000 (4795841) Call Betty Ann Bickford 603-651-7040

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How to Design Your Dream Custom-Built Home There are many advantages to designing your own home. Gone are the builder-basic styles, layouts that don’t work for your family and exteriors you can’t tell apart from your neighbors’. To help with your planning, check out these tips.

Find the right property. There are no limits to what you can create with a custom-built home, but the size and quality of your lot do impose restrictions. While you don’t need to have everything decided when you purchase the property, make sure you have a general idea of what you need — your architect can help with this. Also, double check zoning laws, so you don’t wind up not being able to build your dream threestory home on a residential street that only allows bungalows.

Consider your lifestyle. What kind of lifestyle do you want to live? What’s important to you? From bigger elements like smart home automation and sustainability to smaller considerations like storage and organization, think of these things when designing the layout and built-in elements. For example, if you hate shoveling, now is the opportunity to make sure you have the shortest driveway possible.

Build for the future. Your needs and wants right now are at the top of

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your mind, but a custom home is a significant investment in time, money and energy. It’s also likely you want this to be your forever home, so it’s a smart idea to build for tomorrow. Think about how your family will evolve and what your future needs will be. Consider building materials that are designed to stand the test of time, like insulated concrete forms (ICFs) from Nudura. This alternative to wood framing is a greener option and offers disaster resilience against high winds and fire. The superior insulation also means more comfortable, uniform indoor temperatures and less money spent on heating and cooling your home.

Avoid the fantasy trap. This is your dream home, so it’s okay to indulge on that outdoor fireplace or luxury bathroom tiles that you’ve been envisioning. But to keep your budget in check, focus on the priorities and items that will give you the best value for your dollar. Invest in features that will improve your everyday living and boost your property value, like energyefficient construction or a finished basement.

- Metro Creative

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home | fall 2020 | 15

DIY Projects That Can Conserve Energy Around The House Home renovation projects can pay numerous dividends. Renovations can have a positive effect on resale value, make homes more livable for residents and, in some ways, make homes more affordable.

Renovation projects that aim to conserve energy can save homeowners substantial amounts of money. Such projects don’t often require considerable effort or even sizable financial investments, which can make homeowners skeptical as to just how much they can save after completing the project. But the scale of a project may have little to do with how much homeowners will save. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy notes that a relatively effortless task like turning back a thermostat between 7° and 10° F for eight hours per day can save homeowners as much as $83 per year. A more labor-intensive task like planting shade trees saves homeowners an average of between $35 and $119 per year.

When looking for ways to conserve energy around the house and save money, homeowners need not necessarily commit to expensive projects.

The DOE notes that the following are some energy-saving projects and details what homeowners can expect to save after completing them. While each individual project may not result in jaw-dropping savings, homeowners who follow many of these recommendations may end up saving more than $1,000 per year.

Project: Install exterior low-e storm windows.

What is it? Low-e windows reflect infrared heat back into a home. Such windows are coated with an ultra-thin layer of metal that improves the window’s insulation ability.

How much can I save? Homeowners who install low-e windows can save between 12 and 33 percent on their annual heating and cooling costs.

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Project: Seal uncontrolled air leaks.

What is it? Air leaks let cool air in during winter and warm air in during summer. Caulking, sealing and weather stripping all cracks and large openings can cut back on air leaks that are costing you money. The DOE recommends hiring a contractor to seal any leaks on heating and cooling ducts.

How much can I save? Homeowners who seal uncontrolled air leaks can save between 10 and 20 percent on their annual heating and cooling bills.

Project: Plant shade trees.

What is it? If you plant a deciduous tree between six and eight feet tall near your home, it will begin to shade your windows within a year of being planted. Depending on the species of the tree and the home, the shade tree will begin shading the roof within five to 10 years. The DOE notes that shading is the most cost-effective way to reduce air conditioning costs.

How much can I save? Properly planted shade trees can reduce air conditioning costs by anywhere from 15 to 50 percent.

Project: Insulate the water heater tank.

What is it? New water tanks are likely already insulated. But homeowners with older hot water tanks can insulate their tanks with a water heater insulating blanket kit.

How much can I save? Insulating a water heater tank can save homeowners as much as 16 percent on their annual water heating bills.

Even the smallest DIY projects can produce big savings. More information about energy-saving home improvement projects can be found at www. energy.gov.

- Metro Creative

Every tree needs a champion.

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The Most Popular Room in the House

By Rosalie Triolo Photos by Charlie Pearson

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H

ow many people have come to New Hampshire on summer vacation and decided, “This is a place I would like to live someday?”

What inspires people? Is it the vastness of Lake Winnipesaukee and the quaint towns surrounding it, or the smaller, quieter lakes included in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region? Did you marvel at the tall mountains with hiking trails and infinite far-reaching views, or gaze at a palette of endless summer sunset colors?

In the early 1970s, Charlie Pearson, who graduated from college with a degree in Business Management, and his wife, Marsay, a nurse, came to New Hampshire on vacation. One evening, while sitting at the beach on the shores of Lake Wentworth admiring one of those take-your-breathaway, brilliant New Hampshire sunsets, they decided to leave New York State where they were living, and move to New Hampshire.

Charlie and Marsay soon settled into life in the Wolfeboro area. For a while, Charlie worked with a carpenter, learning different aspects of the job.

Enjoying carpentry, Charlie began working for the Fred Varney Company.

At the time, in 1974, Les Rankin, Fred Varney’s son-in-law, owned the company. Charlie went to school to learn about remodeling older kitchens and installing new kitchens, and bathrooms. His degree in business management was an added plus when a few years later, in 1981, Charlie bought the company.

In 2021, Charlie will celebrate his 40th year as owner of the Fred Varney Company with a showroom/offices in Wolfeboro. Charlie and Marsay have three children - a son living in California, a daughter in Connecticut and another daughter who helps Charlie with the Fred Varney Company website.

Within a year Charlie hired designer, Dianne Willand, who after 38 years, is now semi-retired, working on a part-time basis, designing kitchens for the Fred Varney Company. The other designers, Philip Hunter and Carolyn Brown, are full-time employees. All three are invaluable members of the company. (If you were to add Dianne’s years together with those of

her co-workers, Philip Hunter, and Carolyn Brown, it would represent approximately 80 years of fine kitchen designs at Fred Varney Company.) In Charlie’s words, “All the designers and employees are ‘people persons.’ They are loyal, and really good workers.”

One of Charlie’s favorite kitchen projects was at Bald Peak Colony Club in Moultonborough. His client, Charley Hugel and his wife, Nina, were in the process of having a home built at Bald Peak. Charlie Pearson takes great pride and feels quite fortunate to have been part of the creation of the Hugel’s showpiece kitchen.

After the Hugel’s moved into their new home, a party was in order.

Invitations were mailed out to everyone who participated in designing, crafting, and building the extraordinary home, including all those who took part in creating their breathtaking kitchen.

Charlie Pearson remembers asking Nina if she loved to cook. She replied, “Love to cook? My daughter-in-law likes to cook. The kitchen is for her.”

Charley Hugel passed away in 2016, and in 2019 his wife, Nina, followed.

The Hugel’s son and his wife moved from Michigan to take over the family home in the Lakes Region. Once again, the talents and ingenuity of the designers of the Fred Varney Company were enlisted. The new generation of Hugel owners chose to remodel their new kitchen in a totally different style from the original, according to their tastes.

Some customers visit the showroom knowing what they like and need, but they may still require some help deciding on a design. While there are customers who do not know exactly where to start in remodeling an existing kitchen or deciding on what type of kitchen to install in their new home, others have an idea. The designers at Fred Varney Company are there to help all customers by giving their expert opinions and understanding the challenges, which may occur. As Charlie said, “Most people will take suggestions, because they like to have a pair of fresh eyes take a look.”

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Granite vs. Quartz and worked on a few orders.

Soapstone Most of our requests are Many of Charlie from customers who Pearson’s customers prefer granite and quartz prefer granite to quartz countertops. During my or vice-versa soapstone 40 years of ownership, is not quite as popular. we have sold between As Charlie explained, 1,800 to 2,000 kitchens.

“Granite is an extremely Of that number, at Fred hard, 100 percent natuVarney Company, we ral surface. Every granhave installed perhaps ite countertop is unique 500 of those kitchens and unto itself because it is various builders have inquarried from the earth. stalled the other 1,300 to Quartz is an extremely 1,500,” explains Charlie. hard, man-made surface Wood and lots of light create a warm kitchen in this design by Fred Varney Company.

Wooden accent pieces that has more consistency have become the trend in in color and appearance due to it being man-made. Soapstone is a natural some kitchens. At one time butcher block countertops were more popular, product, also quarried from the earth. It is a softer material that looks old. though they require maintenance and cannot withstand having hot pots Quartz, on the other hand, is the ‘new kid on the block,’ being readily availplaced directly on their surface without a trivet or other protection between able for the last 10 to 15 years. Quartz also has been heavily marketed by the counter and pot. big companies that manufacture the material; thus the increase in sales.

When asked about appliances, Charlie comments, “As with any appliResistant to heat, you can put hot pots or pans down on all three materials. ance, there are always those which at times are more popular than others.

However, quartz and granite suppliers do not recommend setting hot pans Customers who are either remodeling or installing a new kitchen and have on the counter surface on a consistent basis. If you should have a problem, the room, are tending towards the Sub-Zero refrigerators. The Samsung the supplier can hedge by reiterating this. At Fred Varney Company, we have brand of appliances are quite popular, although a fair amount of people not had a heat problem with either granite or quartz, but the hedge is there have shown interest in GE appliances, as well as the European brands of to cover the suppliers. The reason why some people prefer one product to Bosch and Miele which are produced by German companies.” another is purely their personal preference.

Fred Varney Company is located at 4 Grove St., Wolfeboro Falls, NH “As far as soapstone countertops are concerned, over the years we have 03896. Call 603-569-3565, or visit www.kitchensofwolfeboronh.com.

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Fall Grilling at Home

By Chef Kelly Ross

F

all grilling is as good as it gets and in keeping with the season, I want to share some delicious but “off-the-wall” chicken wings, some unique burgers using many types of meat, and then a couple of fun surprises. Wings are a staple at most of the barbecues I attend and continue to be a big “go-to” when I am entertaining. Most people I know won’t eat wings unless they are done in a fryer. Don’t get me wrong, wings in the fryer are awesome and will generally get you the crispy wings that are preferred by everyone, which is one of a few reasons why restaurants cook theirs that way. However, the main reason is it the quickest way to do so.

As always, I prefer to rely on the grill for my heavy lifting when it comes to cooking, which is why I grill my wings. The grill gives the wings a flavor you can’t get anywhere else.

One thing I preface when it comes to wing recipes is the cutting and prepping of the wings themselves. I generally buy my wings fresh and whole, which requires some cutting. A whole wing is sort of shaped like the letter V when all stretched out, with a tip sticking off the right-hand top segment of the V, which is much smaller than the other two segments and basically waste. Cut the wings at the bottom joint, and then the tip off the right segment. Throw the tips away. From here, you are ready to go with any recipe you like. This recipe is for two lbs of wings, and only calls for five ingredients.

Candied Garlic Chicken Wings 3 cups honey ¾ cup soy sauce 4 cloves minced garlic ¼ cup your favorite hot or buffalo sauce 2 lbs of chicken wings Heat the honey, soy sauce, hot/buffalo sauce and minced garlic in a sauce pan to a boil. Put the wings in a large baking dish and pour the marinade over the wings. With a set of tongs, move the wings around so all are wet, cov-

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er with foil and refrigerate overnight. Pull the wings from the fridge about 1 ½ hours prior to grilling and put into a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes. Pull from the oven; drain the wings, saving the marinade while doing so. Heating will help most of the marinade come off the wings. Put the drained marinade into the sauce pan and bring to a medium simmer to a light boil, then drop the heat to a simmer. Get your grill turned up to medium high, brush it clean and oil it well. Place the wings down flat on the grill with no overlapping.

Close the lid, cook for 5 minutes, turn them over and repeat the process. All the marinade should be dumped into a large Tupperware container that has a cover. Pull off the wings, add them to the Tupperware, cover and shake well.

With tongs, put the wings back on the grill, again cooking for 5 minutes on each side while closing the lid. If the sugar in the honey on the wings starts to darken them faster than you want, bring the heat down to a medium low.

Pop them back into the Tupperware and shake them up again, repeating the process 4-5 times. Don’t be afraid to use some bleu cheese or ranch dressing for dipping. These are a great combination of sweet, salty and spicy.

The next recipe is a southern blend of taco sauce, barbecue sauce, and French salad dressing, among other great flavors. I called these my “Bandito Wings” at a Mexican restaurant where I used to work and they were incredibly popular.

Bandito Wings 2 lbs wings, separated as described earlier 1 tsp each of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup butter 1 cup taco sauce, your choice of spice ½ cup favorite BBQ sauce ½ cup French salad dressing 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp buffalo sauce

Combine the bottom 6 ingredients in a sauce pan until the butter is melted and all ingredients are well blended. Season the wings with the salt and pepper. Heat the grill to medium high, clean and oil as needed and place the seasoned wings on the grill in a single layer. Pour the dressing into a specific wing Tupperware container. After 5 minutes, flip the wings and cook for another 5 minutes with the lid closed. Like the last recipe, put the wings in the container, cover, shake, and put them back on the grill. Again, cover, after 5 minutes do the same, close the lid, and pop the wings back in the container.

Repeat this process 5 times and again, serve with your favorite sauce.

Next on today’s grilling menu is taking a staple – a burger – and changing things up. I am not going to utilize ground beef, at least right away. I “may” toss in one of my classic ground beef recipes once we go through other fun ideas. I know some people really enjoy a non-traditional burger, such as one of many veggie burgers, ground turkey, even using fresh salmon or tuna to create a seafood burger. Truth be told, there are many styles and varieties of proteins and veggies, which make an outstanding burger. That is the bulk of my theme today. If your crew enjoys ground lamb, sausage, chicken, and such, these recipes will be a huge win/win.

First on the “Hit List” is a spin on a classic chicken sandwich. Granted, if you want a chicken sandwich, you could throw a chicken breast on the grill, sauce it up, top it accordingly and put it on an upscale burger roll. Today, we are going to use ground chicken, although if not properly prepared, ground chicken can be dry, which takes all the fun out of a great burger made from any meat. This recipe is for four Chicken Burgers. This burger is much better when done in a skillet on the grill as opposed to directly on the grill as it will hold together much better this way.

BBQ Chicken Burgers ½ lb, or 8 slices, thick cut strips of bacon 1 ½ lbs ground chicken

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Kosher salt & fresh grind pepper 4 thick slices of cheese of choice Your favorite barbecue sauce 4 quality burger rolls, maybe Brioche or onion rolls Thin sliced onion and tomato, shredded lettuce In a large cast-iron skillet, cook bacon over a moderate heat, turning only once, until wonderfully browned and aromatic, about 8 minutes. Transfer the cooked bacon to paper towels to drain. Once finished, pour off all but 2 tbsp of the bacon grease. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, ¼ cup of barbecue sauce and season with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly by hand. Form into 4 patties, about ½ - ¾ inch in thickness. Cook them over a medium-high heat in the skillet for about 4 minutes, turn them over carefully, cook for another 2-3 minutes, topping generously with barbecue sauce, 2 strips of bacon each and the cheese and cook until the cheese melts. I usually close the lid to help the melting process. Butter and grill the rolls on the grill. Lather sauce on both inner sides of the roll, plop the chicken burger on the bottom, top with veggies of choice and the top roll, and dig in and have your napkins close by.

It’s time for a lamb burger. Possibly the one protein that has as many lovers as haters, lamb definitely has the stigma of being just that. There is no gray area, but, for those who love it, they truly love it. I’m one of the few that actually love it and hate it. Well, let’s just say that when I am in the mood for lamb, I’m on it like my dogs on a bone, but I only get that feeling a couple of times a year. What makes this lamb burger recipe so delicious is the aioli that accompanies it, and like I say, much of my favorite foods are favorites due to the sauces that accompany them. This outstanding recipe is for 4 burgers.

Lamb Burgers with Onion Soup Aioli ½ cup mayo

1 tbsp Lipton onion soup mix 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 2 European cucumbers, sliced very thin, lengthwise. Use a mandolin if you have one 1 tsp sugar Kosher salt & fresh grind black pepper 1 ½ lbs of ground lamb 4 upscale rolls of choice 2 large Vidalia onions, caramelized Let’s start with the aioli, which will hold in the refrigerator for 3 days. Mix the mayo, lemon juice and onion soup mix and pop into the fridge for at least 1 hour before using. Peel and julienne the onions and sauté for 45-plus minutes total or so, on a medium heat for 10-15 minutes, then drop to a low heat and with a set of tongs, move the onions around to caramelize them evenly. In another bowl, toss the cucumber slices with the sugar, ½ tsp of salt and let stand for 20-30 minutes, occasionally moving around to combine.

Spark up the grill to a medium-high heat, brush and oil it. Form the ground lamb into 4 patties, about ½ inch thick and give a thumb indentation into the middle of them all to help the cooking process. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides of the patties and grill for 4 minutes or so per side. Butter and grill the rolls halfway through the second side, lather the inner sides of the rolls with the aioli, pop the burgers on the bottom half, top with the cukes and onions and add the top half of the roll and enjoy this to the fullest.

Our next “burger” of the unorthodox variety brings ground sausage into the equation, which makes it my favorite. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a huge fan of sausage subs with onions and peppers, as well as buying sausage patties and again doing with peppers and onions. This recipe is fun, and has a few other ingredients. This recipe is a combo of a few different ground meats, not to mention yummy pancetta. This recipe is for 6 patties.

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Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Burgers ½ lb thinly sliced pancetta 1 lb ground pork ½ lb ground veal ½ lb ground sausage of choice (I prefer hot) Kosher salt ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground allspice ¼ tsp ground cloves ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg 2 large bunches of broccoli rabe, about 2 ½ lbs 2 tbsp virgin olive oil 2 medium garlic cloves, minced ¾ tsp crushed red pepper Fresh grind black pepper 6 oz Fontina cheese, cut into 6 slices 6 Kaiser rolls, split and toasted First things first, lay the pancetta on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap and freeze until firm. Once stiff, put into a food processor and finely chop until well minced. In a large bowl, combine the pork, veal and sausage with the chopped pancetta. In a smaller bowl, combine the cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg. Sprinkle over the meat and combine thoroughly and gently. (You are not mixing meatballs so you don’t want this to toughen up.)

Pat into 6 even sized patties. Spark the grill to medium high. In a large pot of water, cook the broccoli rabe until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain, squeeze any excess water out of it and coarsely chop it. Heat the olive oil in a skillet on the grill and add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over a moderate heat. Add the chopped broccoli rabe and cook over a medium heat while stirring until heated throughout. Season with salt and pepper. Crank

the grill to high, season the burgers with salt and pepper and grill equally on both sides until cooked all the way through. Just before done, melt the fontina cheese over them, butter and grill the buns, place a good spoonful of the rabe onto the bottom buns, and set the burgers on top. Add a little more rabe over the top if preferred. If you feel the need for another condiment, I sometimes add Dijon mustard. These are uniquely delicious!

I want to end the burger recipes with a more traditional burger. Sure it is traditional in that we are going back to our ground beef roots, and all in all the accouterments to this aren’t anything crazy, although the homemade sauce is something I will guess you have never had on a burger. This recipe is for 4 burgers.

Catalina Bacon Burger 2 beef steak tomatoes 1/3 cup olive oil, more for rubbing 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1+ tbsp tomato paste 1 large clove of garlic, minced 1 tbsp sugar Sea salt and fresh grind black pepper Hot sauce of choice ¾ lb sliced bacon, coarsely chopped, then frozen for 15-30 minutes 1 ½ lbs ground beef Quality burger rolls of choice 6 thick slices of Vidalia onions 6 thick slices of horseradish cheddar cheese Let’s make the dressing. Crank your grill to high. Slice the tomatoes into about ½ inch slices. Brush the slices with oil, season with salt and pepper and pop them on the hot grill. After 2-3 minutes, flip the slices over and once

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the slices become quite soft, pull from the grill. Cut/peel off the outer skin and transfer them to a food processor or blender, once cooled, and add the vinegar, paprika, tomato paste, garlic, sugar and oil and blend. Season with salt and pepper and hot sauce and get it where you want it to be. Pour off and set aside. Pop the frozen bacon into the food processor until finely chopped.

Using your hands, combine the bacon with the ground beef and form into 4 evenly sized ½ inch thick burgers. Season the burgers with salt and pepper and lay them onto a preheated medium-high and well-oiled grill and cook for about 4 minutes per side depending on the thickness. Butter and grill the rolls, place onion slices on the grill after brushing with oil, hit each burger with 2 strips of bacon and top with cheese and close the lid to melt it. Take the bottom rolls off the grill, add the onion slice and then the bacon cheeseburger and top with the dressing.

Although it is time to end this article dedicated to the love of good food, I would be amiss without ending with a great fall dessert, so here we go. . This is an Earthquake Cake, which has grown in popularity in recent years, although there are dozens of varieties. Although I am a big pie guy as opposed to a cake guy, this type of cake is delicious. Earthquake cakes are sort of cake meets brownie meets pudding. This should give you 12 portions.

Pumpkin Earthquake Cake 1 box white cake mix ½ cup vegetable oil ½ cup water 1 cup pumpkin puree ½ cup brown sugar 1 tsp pumpkin spice ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground allspice 1 tsp vanilla extract

3 eggs Cream Cheese Filling 8 oz cream cheese at room temp 3 cups powdered sugar ½ cup melted butter Also Needed 1 cup gently crushed pecans; you do not want pecan dust 1 cup shredded coconut, sweetened ¼ cup milk chocolate chips ¼ cup butterscotch chips Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and grease up a 9- x 13-in. glass baking dish. Sprinkle the pecans and coconut evenly along the bottom of the baking dish and set it aside. In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the cake mix with the vegetable oil, water, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin pie seasoning, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla and eggs. Spatula the sides well, mix a little more and when done, pour over the coconut/pecan lined glass dish. In another bowl, combine the frosting ingredients and when done, spread in dollops evenly into the pumpkin batter. Using a knife or toothpick, swirl the cream cheese batter and the pumpkin cake mix together.

Sprinkle the chocolate and butterscotch chips over the top and again, swirl them into the batter. Bake for 35-37 minutes or so. The cake should be set/ firm on top but the center should still jiggle a little when the pan is gently tapped. Allow to cool before cutting. I prefer to eat this cold, but it can be popped in the microwave for a bit if you prefer it warmed. Store the leftovers in the refrigerator.

Please enjoy your fall season and never forget to spoil your taste buds. If you have any questions or feedback, please touch base at fenwaysox10@ gmail.com.

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The Ultimate Historic Structure Renovating the Belknap Mill

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper Photos courtesy Belknap Mill

The Belknap Mill has a lot to tell a homeowner. The 1823 structure, located in Laconia, NH, has been around for nearly 200 years and seen just about everything from serving as a textile mill where socks were made to facing demolition to being saved and converted to a museum and event venue. Looking far back in time, to the early days, it served as a weaving mill. The Belknap Mill also holds the respected title as ‘New Hampshire’s Meetinghouse’ as dedicated by then Governor Meldrim Thomson in 1976.

Lest one assume a mill building has little to do with owning a home – especially a historic home – that assumption would be quite incorrect. The Belknap Mill, if it could talk, would give the best possible advice to the owner of an old house or even someone who owns a modern home and is unsure of maintenance and upkeep.

Because the Belknap Mill cannot speak, we depend upon those who know the building well to speak for it and to raise funds and oversee ongoing maintenance and special projects to keep the building in good shape.

Two people who have taken on those tasks at the historic Belknap Mill are Executive Director, Karen Prior and Program and Operations Manager, Tara Shore, along with the guidance and support from the Mill’s Board of Directors. Both know just about every inch of space in the building and they are not shy in saying it takes a lot of effort and awareness to maintain a historic structure.

While the Belknap Mill is much bigger (four stories) than most historic homes, some of the maintenance issues are similar. Says Karen Prior, “The Belknap Mill will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2023. Since my time at the Mill, we have raised funds and done a lot of work on the infrastructure.

Those projects have included two new energy-efficient boilers, a new roof, a renovated elevator, structural beams in the basement, restoration of the cupola, and restoration of the historic clerestory windows.”

This summer the renovation of the Rose Chertok Gallery, located on the third floor, was completed. This is a stunning space that required a major

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transformation, including modin the process of a Museum ern upgrades while celebrating Assessment Program (MAP), its historic beauty. The space is which will create the road a wonderful venue for meetings, map for the renovation of the weddings and civic engagement. museum spaces. The third The last renovation of this space and final phase will be to took place in the 1970s. The renovate the administrative space was considerably outdated space and address the issue and in need of significant renoof how to store and archive vation. The entire floor has been the Mill’s historic documents transformed and is now the envy for the future.” of any lover of historic buildTwo words – deferred ings. The wood floors have been maintenance – are key to replaced, the bathrooms remodunderstanding the needs of eled and made handicap accesan old house, or indeed, any sible, there is a high tech A-V home. Karen says it does not system, and the catering kitchen The beautiful third floor Rose Chertok event space. really matter the size of your is a stunning work area any chef home, but especially if it is an old house, you should constantly assess and be would embrace. aware of what might need to be fixed or updated. “It is worth emphasizing Unlike typical homeowners, Karen and Tara have been able to apply for the importance of factoring maintenance funds into your building project and receive significant grants and donations from businesses and individubudget. As stewards of the historic Belknap Mill, and being responsible to als who love the Mill and want to see it continue and thrive into the future. our donors, our ‘sustainability fund’ was an important component of our (However, they offer sound advice for making home repairs: plan for a rainy fundraising efforts.” day and set aside funds so money is there when the need arises. If you own an Certainly the Belknap Mill’s roof is a case in point. If funding had not been old home, you need to be aware that the need will surely arise.) granted to fix the roof, one can only imagine the trouble the entire building Karen says, “One of the problems we faced when we began the phases of could have faced. The roof also is the place where the historic cupola rests the Mill’s capital campaign was a significant amount of deferred mainteand it is an iconic symbol of ‘New Hampshire’s Meetinghouse’ and as impornance that required immediate attention. We are currently completing Phase tant as any logo. A leaky, unstable roof would certainly and eventually spell I, which includes the restoration and renovation noted earlier. Phase II will disaster for the cupola. be to upgrade the air-conditioning units, the lobby and museum. We are Karen, Tara and the Board of Directors of the Belknap Mill were aware of

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the roof issues but they certainly could not climb up on the steep structure to inspect its condition; they relied upon skilled contractors to lead the way.

This would be true also of a homeowner who has questions about a leaking roof on a historic home. Bring in an expert and let them tell you how to best address any problems.

“If you don’t maintain the building – whether it is an old home or the historic Belknap Mill – it will be more expensive in the long run. Because of the deferred maintenance of the past, we now have an annual checklist for regular upkeep. For example, one of the things on the checklist is a yearly check and testing of the boilers to make sure the system is working well, and the new floor in the Rose Chertok Gallery will receive annual light refinishing to maintain its integrity and beauty,” Karen explains.

To keep up with what might need to be repaired in your home, start with regular cleaning, suggests Tara. “That might seem like a simplistic way to assess what your home needs, but when you are doing routine cleaning, lots of things come to light. At the Belknap Mill, we depend on our custodian to catch things that need repair when he is doing routine cleaning. He often sees things that need to be fixed as he cleans. You’d be surprised what you see when you are washing windows or dusting. While doing these tasks, our custodian might notice a crack in a window or a missing brick on the exterior of the building. He comes to me when he finds such things and it helps us be aware.

“We already knew the roof needed work,” recalls Tara. “All you had to do was look at it to see it needed to be replaced. We received quotes for the roof work and although originally, we just planned to do the roof, we knew we would need to raise the funds. That was when we did the funding campaign that Karen spearheaded.

“At that point, we engaged in an Historic Building Assessment led by Historic Preservationist Mae Williams. A grant from LCHIP (Land and

Community Heritage Investment Program) provided the funds for this indepth analysis of the historic building, which brought to light all that needed to be addressed. This process is what officially launched the restoration and renovation of the Belknap Mill and the Industrial Evolution capital campaign,” Tara recalls.

Similar to tackling projects in an old home, it was important to prioritize repairs. Beyond the roof work, the boiler topped the list as well. “It was up to code, but during yearly maintenance, we were told it was ‘on its last legs,’” recalls Tara.

The elevator also was aging and while it was in working order, the circuit to run the elevator was dated and the decision was made to upgrade the entire structure.

There is no doubt keeping a checklist of things to test and go over on a regular basis is vital if you own an old house. A homeowner should also prioritize projects, which the Belknap Mill did. Although the structural work wasn’t glamorous versus choosing beautiful countertops and appliances for a new kitchen, it was critical work that had to be done.

In other words, tend to the workings of your home and the décor will come later.

For the Belknap Mill, after all the structural work was completed, it was time to address the needs of the third-floor event space. “The third floor is where the public goes for meetings and events and weddings,” Karen explains. “It creates a vital revenue stream for the Mill. As with other areas of the building, maintenance on the third floor had been deferred. The kitchen and bathrooms were outdated, and the bathrooms were not handicapped accessible.”

Because events such as weddings and concerts take place at the Mill, the plan was to keep the beauty of the historic spaces the public has come to appreciate, but update it for visual appeal as well. With historic brick walls and

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wood beams, the space is the perfect place for an upscale, yet rustic wedding or party. The goal, which was met, was to keep that historic beauty but modernize the kitchen and other areas as well.

The old wooden floor was quite damaged and had to be completely replaced. The new plan for the kitchen was to expand and relocate it to the other side of the original space. Appliances were replaced and granite counter tops, a farmer’s sink and exquisite cabinetry were installed in keeping with the history of the Mill thanks to the architectural design work of Misiaszek Turpin, pllc. Contractors Bonnette, Page & Stone built the island prep area and it created a rustic and functional workspace. Two antique doors and hardware found in the Mill’s basement were repurposed and are now being used on the third floor. The bathrooms were small, dark and needed a complete renovation as well. “We doubled the bathroom capacity, added new lighting and fixtures with a focus on reflecting the rustic industrial décor of the Mill,” Karen explains.

Although the pandemic has curtailed events and life as we know it for everyone, brides are already booking the venue for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. “We can easily accommodate micro-weddings this year,” Karen says, “and we enjoy showing the space to couples who are planning their wedding.”

Much can be learned about the renovation of an old house from the third floor Belknap Mill project. “We started work in January and we finished in June,” Karen recalls. First, the construction crew did demolition of the floors and walls. Heating and plumbing were next on the list, along with new electrical. New walls were framed in and then it was on to painting the walls and sanding and sealing the floor. To maintain the regular and often heavy use of the floor, multiple coats of polyurethane were applied. Also, the A-V system is new and can now be used for sophisticated business meetings and its stateof-the-art technology makes it very desirable for performances and weddings.

All this took time and patience; because the Belknap Mill is a public space,

The renovated event space kitchen. care was taken to make sure visitors did not venture onto the third floor as work progressed. In a sense, the staff of the Mill experienced what any homeowner faces when living in a space during construction.

All these projects – from the roof to the third floor and more – obviously came with a price tag. And, each part of the Phase I projects required skilled workers and needed to follow historic preservation guidelines.

Any owner of an old home will tell you “there is always something” to be done, simply due to the age of the building. This holds true at the Mill as well. Phase II is in its planning stages and will be driven by programming offered at the Mill to the public. While this might seem miles away from what an owner of an old home might need, comparisons can be made. At the Mill, part of the mission is to present a rich variety of programs and education opportunities for the public. The ongoing task is how to do so in the space, especially the first floor where a museum tells the story of the Mill’s long life as a textile mill. The first floor also has an art gallery that is used regularly

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by Larry Frates, the Mill’s Artist-in-Residence and other local artists. The upcoming challenge will be how to configure those spaces in the best possible way to teach about the Mill’s history and to offer arts programming.

In an old house, an owner might ask themselves some of the same hard questions, such as how to configure a room so it can best be used for entertaining or cooking or as an office, without sacrificing the historic features.

“We have been doing the MAP (Museum Assessment Program) with a small group of Belknap Mill volunteers, staff and Board members. We meet often to answer detailed questions about programming and how we envision the Mill growing into a strong and vibrant museum well into the future. This initiative will determine what direction the museum should go; we will then begin Phase II, which of course, will include more fundraising,” explains Tara.

Overall, the work done recently took the dedication of the staff and Board of Directors. Says Tara, “The history of the building is so important; we are DAVID M. DOLAN ASSOCIATES, PC Land Surveying - Consulting - Permitting

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all committed to its long-term sustainability. We were fortunate to have the right people in the right positions at the right time dedicated to the mission and vision of the Belknap Mill.”

From repairing the roof to replacing bricks that date back to 1823 to keeping the rich history of the Belknap Mill alive while upgrading the workings of the building, the Belknap Mill indeed has a lot to tell the average homeowner.

If one were to ask Karen Prior and Tara Shore, the gatekeepers of the historic Mill, what to do first, they would likely agree the most important thing is to love your home, and always remember why you chose to live in an old house. You are there because you love the beautiful, historic details and the story and history of the home’s past.

Like the Belknap Mill, your home has a story to tell; keep it in good condition so its story can live on.

For information about programs, exhibits, and event rentals of the Belknap Mill, call 603-524-8813 or visit www.belknapmill.org.

Funding for the restoration and renovation of the Belknap Mill came from many dedicated individuals and businesses, as well as a significant grant from LCHIP (New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program), the McIninch Foundation, the Samuel P. Hunt Foundation, the City of Laconia, New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority and Northern Border Regional Commission.

The construction team for Phase I included Misiaszek & Turpin pllc (architects), Bonnette, Page and Stone (construction managers), and RistFrost-Shumway (engineers).

Karen Prior adds, “We are very proud that our construction team was all Laconia based. It is critical to have the right team in place and as a result of their expertise and support the work at the Belknap Mill has exceeded all expectations.”

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How to protect wood floors from inclement weather Wood floors are a worthwhile investment that can improve the beauty and function of just about any room in a home. Even though wood floors are durable, and new protective treatments help seal out many of the things that may have damaged floors in the past, homeowners still need to prioritize protecting their hardwood floors.

Certain seasons of the year can be harsher on wood floors than others. For example, seasons characterized by moisture and precipitation, particularly the early spring, winter and fall, can be hard on wood floors. The experts at ServiceMaster Clean say that cold, snowy days can damage wood floors, and Lumber Liquidators agrees that winter weather can be harsh on flooring.

Homeowners need not give up on hardwood if they live in an area that sees all four seasons. They just need to take a few steps to keep floors looking beautiful.

• Clean up the salt. Salt that keeps sidewalks and streets clear of snow and ice inadvertently gets tracked inside a home. Hard chunks of salt can scratch wood floors, and, if left to sit, that salt can eventually cause white marks and other stains. Routinely vacuuming and sweeping up salt is necessary to protect wood floors.

• Invest in shoe storage. Wet or snowy boots can create puddles around the house. Have a special mat or tray by the front door where wet shoes can be kept. A nice bench in the entryway makes it easy for residents and

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guests to remove their shoes until it’s time to go back outside.

• Use water-wicking mats. Homeowners will probably need a few extra mats around to tame errant drips and wipe shoes. Any entrance that might be used by people or pets should be protected. Try to avoid petroleum-based, rubber-backed mats, as they could discolor the wood floor.

• Control humidity indoors. Cold, dry air in a home can be problematic because the moisture in the wood can eventually evaporate into the air. The heat will suck that moisture from the flooring, causing it to shrink, creak and splinter and become more brittle. Think about investing in an in-line humidifier for the home’s HVAC system that can keep a moderate amount of humidity in the home. Hardwood floorboards are installed to accommodate minor temperature and humidity fluctuations. This is typically a range of between 60 and 80 degrees F with a relative humidity range of 35 to 55 percent, advises ServiceMaster.

• Use the right cleaning products. Avoid excessive water to clean wood floors, and select soaps that are specially designed for wood flooring. Consult with the flooring manufacturer for a list of detergents that are safe to use.

With proper care, hardwood flooring can survive rain, snow and cold weather.

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Essentials for a bathroom remodel

What began as a utilitarian space for personal sanitation has, in modern times, transformed into one of the most coveted rooms in the house.

Bathrooms have become a place to relax and unwind, and new bathrooms are on the tops of many homeowners’ wish lists.

Bathrooms can be as lavish as budgets allow. Wish lists can include everything from luxurious soaking tubs to rainfall showerheads to chaise lounges to televisions or home entertainment systems contained in the space. Those contemplating their own bathroom renovations may draw inspiration from the following features.

• Hot water recirculation system: Few things can be as disappointing as desiring a hot bath or shower only to find that the hot water tank has been drained. The home remodeling company Normandy Remodeling says that water recirculation systems provide on-demand hot water. In such systems, hot water may continuously run through the pipes or there may be a pump underneath a sink. Either way, one needn’t wait for the water to warm up any longer.

• Double under mount sinks: Bathroom time is at a premium, especially when people must prepare and leave the house together. Rather than jockeying for position around a single sink, dual sinks enable more breathing room and time efficiency. Under mount sinks are easy to clean because there is no lip around where the sink meets the vanity, preventing the accumula-

tion of grime and gunk.

• Glass-free shower: Soap scum and water deposits can form on shower doors, even for homeowners who are diligent with cleaning.

A sizable shower prevents water spray and affords the ability to forgo glass doors or curtains, thereby cutting down on cleaning and making the room feel more modern.

• Multi-head shower: When redoing the shower, account for various shower heads so that the water can cascade across the body more completely. This provides a spa experience at home.

• Touchless faucets and soap dispensers: These aren’t just for public bathrooms anymore. Touchless faucets and dispensers are more sanitary and convenient.

• Separate toilet room: A shared bath almost necessitates this type of set-up. The toilet is housed inside its own small space and closed away from the rest of the bathroom. It’s more private and convenient this way.

• Heated flooring: You need not worry about stepping out of a warm shower onto a cold floor when heated flooring is part of the equation. This option is available in various flooring materials as well.

Remodeling a bathroom boils down to certain coveted features that can really set a space apart.

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Keeping Traditions Alive

By Thomas P. Caldwell

W

hen the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Indiana was looking to replace the faded wool rug that covered the floor in the Nancy Hanks Lincoln Hall, the National Park Service turned to Country Braid House in Tilton to make a reproduction of its 1943 braided rug. Country Braid created the reproduction according to the specifications of the original hand-braided rug, made by the residents of the Richmond State Hospital in Easthaven, Indiana. That included matching the colors in the original rug and completing the project in six months’ time — something other potential rug braiders were unable to do.

The Country Braid House also has made custom braided rugs for filmmaker Stephen Spielberg and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, and believes the 10- x 54-ft. rug they did for an interior designer in New York City is the largest braided rug ever made. Most recently, they also produced several rugs for Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.

With those credentials, Country Braid has become the go-to place for those looking to bring a little warmth to their homes and businesses. The

company has shipped rugs around the world with recent orders going to Arkansas, Virginia, Montana and California.

“Our clients are interior designers and people who appreciate craftsmanship,” says Sarah Jurta, the third-generation owner of the Country Braid House, “but mostly, it’s regular people who like quality.”

Beginnings Innovation has been the byword for Country Braid House since its inception in 1968. Sarah’s grandfather, George Jurta, started the business after becoming intrigued by the braiding process. He had seen his mother-in-law braiding rugs and, with his background as the head mechanic at J.P. Stevens Woolen Mill in Franklin, George figured he could build a machine to replace the repetitive motion required to create the braids.

“People would come by with things that were broken, and he’d figure it out,” Sarah says of his ability to analyze and solve problems. “Seeing the repetitive motion in braiding rugs, he thought there must be a better way.”

The result was a hand-operated braiding machine that used three circular wheels to create a serpentine motion that would weave three rolls of wool into a braid. He later updated his machine to operate on electricity, and some of his original machines remain in operation today.

“I’ve calculated that it’s 80 percent faster than a hand-braider, and can keep seven to eight lacers busy,” Sarah says.

George originally intended to sell his braiding machines, but found that people with the skill to operate them and lace the rugs were not common.

“So, instead of selling the machines, he decided to focus on what the machines produce,” she said.

Operating Country Braid with his wife, Marion, George started by making “spec” rugs to sell, but soon was taking custom orders. He would operate the braider and Marion would do the handlacing.

After George died, their daughter-inlaw, Jan — Sarah’s mother — joined

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the business with her husband, Wayne. They would take their rugs to trade shows and fairs, eventually catching the attention of designers who appreciated the quality of their work.

After Jan bought out Marion’s share in the business, they started handling used rugs.

“It started with my grandmother’s auction,” Sarah recalls. “They saw there was an interest in her used rugs.”

Today, in addition to their own rugs, Country Braid has a large selection of used rugs — some as old as the early-mid 1900s.

“People change their decor, or downsize and no longer have space for the rugs,” says Sarah. “There has been a demand for used braided rugs, since they last for decades.”

Sarah got involved in the business two years ago, on its 50th anniversary, and today has taken over the operations.

Country Braid continues to follow the traditional process for making rugs — focusing on using sustainable wool cloth (not yarn) and highquality wool blends instead of using polyester or other synthetic blends typically used in today’s commercial rugs.

Modern Rugs Braided rugs are typically round or oval, but they can be square, rectangle, or octagonal, and Country Braid even makes reversible stair runners. Some other unique shapes include multi-circle, multi-square, and multi-hexagon runners and area rugs.

Last year, Country Braid produced a 22- by 25-foot rug that linked together a series of 20 squares in bright teal, orange, and pink colors.

In addition to making rugs, the business does rug repairs to fix holes or dog chews. They can replace sections of a rug that has come apart as a result of heavy use. “But it has to be hand-made and not stitched by machine,” Jan notes.

Machines have their place at Country Braid, in braiding and cutting wool strips, but the hand-lacing is important, the Jurtas maintain.

“We buy the wool in cuts or bolts,” Sarah says, “and use a cutting machine to make consistent strips for the braiding machine. We then use a mechanical roller to put the wool strips into a roll for the braider.”

Unlike commercial rug-makers, Country Braid laces all its rugs by hand using a hollow cotton lacing thread. That allows them to splice the thread rather than tying knots, ensuring that none of the stitching is visible and making the rugs reversible. They guarantee them to never come apart.

For those wanting custom braided rugs, Country Braid has a “wall of color” with wool samples that people can use to match paint chips or fabrics from their homes. “We’ll help them pick the colors to go with it,” Sarah said, “to match what they want, and whatever size they want.”

A showroom at Country Braid offers a display of rugs, and customers can tour the workroom to see for themselves how traditional rugs are made.

Country Braid also works remotely with people who want to order a rug but cannot make it in to pick the colors in person. The shop offers electronic renderings with several design options to allow customers to see what a section of rug would look like before ordering. “It really helps the customer ‘see’ the rug if they can’t come in,” Sarah says.

Rugs are priced by the square foot, with those that are not round or oval costing slightly more. The average turnaround time is 12-16 weeks after an order is placed.

For those wanting to braid their own rugs, Country Braid offers supplies: wool, thread, braiding stands, lacing needles, instruction manuals, and a remnant room where people can pick up wool at a fraction of the regular price.

Country Braid House, located at 462 West Main Street, Tilton, has an updated website at www.countrybraidhouse.com which features a photo gallery of rugs to give visitors ideas of what they may want. To reach Country Braid House, call 603-286-4511.

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Striking While the Iron’s Hot

By Leigh Sharps

Normand Pinette says he believes he is not a true blacksmith because, “I am learning something new about it every day.”

But while the 87-year-young ironsmith is admittedly learning new aspects of his craft daily, his body of work speaks loudly for itself, as does the praise from his hundreds of extremely satisfied clients. One need only look at the innovative and original ‘products’ on his website and there is little doubt this hard-working man is indeed an expert blacksmith.

Many know Longfellow’s famous poem ‘Under The Spreading Chestnut Street the Village Smithy Stands’ but an even better saying to

describe this respected ancient profession is an old Native American proverb: ‘A single blow of a blacksmith is equal to a hundred blows of a goldsmith!’

A blacksmith is defined as a craftsman who fabricates objects out of iron, hot or cold, forging on an anvil. The blacksmith term derives from iron that was formerly called ‘black metal’. A farrier is a specialty blacksmith who specializes in shoeing horses (Latin term Ferrum also meaning ‘iron’).

The smithy, ironsmith, forger, metalworker has a long and varied history harking back to medieval times, as well as being prominent

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in mythology. It’s believed to have started in 1500 BC by the Hittites who invented the process of forging and tempering iron ore with communities needing to have tools to build, forage, cook, etc. During the Iron Age the method to produce wrought iron came about by reducing the natural ore with heat. This newer substance was much easier to fashion into tools stronger and sharper than stone.

During the medieval period, it was a part of every township. The ‘Village Blacksmith’ was greatly respected. Blacksmithing techniques continued through the mid-19th century until the Industrial Era. But due to modern machinery and mass production, demand for individual blacksmithing products greatly declined. Most of the work shifted to farrier work. In the early 20th century, blacksmiths trended into doing architectural work but during the Great Depression and industrialization, blacksmithing became a little-known trade.

Thanks to a resurgence in the 1970s, people who wanted to ‘return to the land’ found the lost art of blacksmithing and it began to be popular once again. Now there are many famed blacksmiths and there is even a TV show titled ‘Forged in Fire’, featuring blacksmiths making weaponry.

Forges were once fired by coal for thousands of years but today they’re run by gas. The ‘pounding’ process to change the shapes of metals is also now done mostly by a ‘pounding’ machine although some intricate work is still done with hammers. Pinette’s forge is hand-made partly using varying sizes of wheel drums. Many of these methods create perils for the blacksmith as Pinette can attest by the loss of a fingertip (by a hammer) and countless burns. “Just part of the work,” he says.

There are other tools, forges, machinery and ‘ovens’ which have greatly changed over time as well. Welders are smaller and handier, anvils are shaped differently, ovens are much smaller, and heating machinery is much more advanced.

He says he never “dreamed I’d end up being a blacksmith as my life’s

work. I’m not educated. I went through the eighth grade and then had to go to work.” Though most of his varied life-long job experiences somehow all involved ‘metal or iron’, there was one exception and this was his first job: a pin boy. Raised in a family that was enduring tough times, Pinette was one of six children forced into labor to help support his family as soon as he turned 14. “I was a pin boy in a ‘duckpin’ alley.” For those who may not know what a ‘pin boy’ is, it is a person, generally a youth, whose job was to place bowling pins back into their spots after they were knocked down by a bowler. “There were exact spots drawn on the floor and they had to be placed back on those spots for the bowler.” (‘Duckpins’ are shorter and squatter pins than conventional ‘tenpins’ and the balls are also smaller than tenpins. Pin boys were used until automatic machines replaced them in the late 1950s). Pinette made 60 cents a day and walked the eight miles home from work rather than give up a dime for a bus ride!

Pinette spent years in the military, serving in Korea, and upon his return he joined his brother who had a fencing company in Massachusetts. This was his first business working with metal products and installations as well.

Eventually, the two built a profitable business which included selling wood stoves, but due to changing circumstances, the business was dissolved.

It was then Pinette and his wife moved to New Hampton where they purchased a motel and 16 cottages on Lake Pemigewasset on Rte. 104 between New Hampton and Meredith.

They raised two daughters and a son, working hard to run and maintain all the cottages as well as the motel. He kept his hand in working with metal, becoming more and more adept at it, but it wasn’t his sole occupation.

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He did, however, gain some fame when three of his products were featured in the movie ‘Housesitters’ starring Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin, filmed in Concord. “I had some items in a store on Newbury St. in Boston and they chose a hat rack, a coat rack and a candelabra for the piano.”

He also sold items from the same store to Disneyland.

When his wife sufNormand Pinnette works on his latest project; a fered a heart attack platform for a vintage coffee table. and could no longer work running the cottages and motel, he found he was unable to keep up with the work alone and they sold the motel (now private residences) and all the cottages and it became a condominium development. Then he turned to blacksmithing full-time and never stopped.

The work ethic that began with his ‘pin boy’ employment is still part of his life today and though he doesn’t have to walk eight miles back and forth to work, he still goes out to the workshop across his yard every single day.

He is always working on something, large or small from door handles to pokers, ‘Moroccan twist” railing supports to bedsteads and fancy lamp posts.

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He also installs all his own work (now with the help of his apprentice). He estimates he creates about 100 projects each year for customers who know him by word-of-mouth or through his website for folks looking for a metal fabricator.

He is currently working on a base a lady intends to make into a coffee table by placing an antique ‘box’ atop. He hides all his welding spots so there are no joint markings that can be seen. He also invents many items for others to use like the original iron tool he produced to help contractors take walls down. He has also created his own styles of railing supports with different types of decorative twists.

Although he says he has not fabricated “my favorite project yet”, the ones he currently works on “are always my favorites until they’re done”. He does everything from king size bedsteads to unique table bases made from iron wheels, etc., and a railing incorporating a wagon wheel. A specialty are fireplace screens. He has one with a cattail design, one with a three-foot owl, one with twining ivy and one with a squirrel and pine cones (he superimposes drawings onto plywood which he uses for a base template to bend the metal around).

All his metal comes from a firm in Connecticut. “He has the best prices and he drives right up here when I need something,” notes Pinette. He works in various metals: ‘mild iron’, copper, brass, steel and wood (when he adds tabletops, etc.). His inspirations come from drawings, mainly, that his customers bring to him. “If they can draw it, I can make it,” is his motto. He cites creativity as his strongest point. Not all his projects are made from ‘hot’ metal, some are ‘cold’ as well.

There are several steps and terms in making an item, which include forging, drawing down (lengthening), upsetting (making metal thicker), bending, swaging, punching, pounding and welding. These all require the use of a hammer, or pounding machine, and an anvil, but there are many other tools, techniques and terms depending on the different types of jobs or odd pieces made.

Though he resisted for a long time accepting an apprentice, Pinette said he finally broke down after many requests by a young man he had come to know from Pinette doing projects for him in the past. He told him: “You can learn but just don’t get in my way!”

Now Pinette said it’s “one of the best decisions I ever made. He’s a quick learner and is very good”. Although he knows most craftsmen don’t pay their apprentices, Pinette pays him as he knows he’s “well worth it; he deserves it, and I know my craft and creativity will go on.”

Pinette plans to hand down his large workshop, once he retires, to the apprentice but he doesn’t plan on that anytime soon. “When asked if I’ll retire soon, I just tell people ‘I’ll retire three days before my funeral!’”

To contact Normand Pinette, visit www.nhblacksmith.com or call 603744-2295 and remember his go-to phrase is “If you can draw it, I can make it’.

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How To Design A Fitness Room at Home People exercise for many different reasons.

Exercise can improve one’s appearance, reduce the risk for illness, alleviate stress or anxiety, and even help pass some time. Exercise is often a social activity, but in the wake of social distancing guidelines issued in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many people have found themselves looking for ways to exercise at home.

Building a home fitness room has never been a timelier project, and such a project can continue to provide rewards even when life returns to some semblance of normalcy. Here’s how to successfully stock a home gym.

• Find a dedicated space. A home gym will be limited by the amount of space that can be devoted to workouts. Possible fitness room locations include a spare bedroom, a garage, a basement, or an enclosed patio. Measure the space so you can pick and choose equipment that will fit. Leave some floor space empty for movement exercises or mat activities.

• Keep the space bright. Darkness can sap energy levels, so invest in mirrors and adequate overhead lighting to make the space inviting.

Natural light can make the exercise area more enjoyable.

• Consider the flooring. New flooring can protect against damage and

44 | home | fall 2020

make an area more conductive to working out. Rubber mats can offset echoes and reduce the noise of running on a treadmill or setting down heavy weights.

• Use space-saving equipment. A home gym space will likely not be as expansive as the space inside a traditional fitness center.

Thankfully, many activities do not require a lot of space or equipment. Classic exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, and sit ups require little gear but still produce results.

Figure out which equipment you like the most and invest in two or three key pieces.

Dumbbells of various weights, a medicine ball and a yoga mat can be all you need to create a versatile, effective workout. A TRX system and a door-mounted pull-up bar also are great space-saving options.

• Have a TV hookup. A home gym may benefit from a smart TV that you can use to stream workout videos or catch up on the latest news while running the treadmill or using the stationary bike.

A home gym is beneficial year-round, and can be especially valuable when social distancing guidelines are put in place.

- Metro Creative

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T

Real Estate… in the Time of COVID

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

o sell or to stay? To buy or to rent? To relocate to the Lakes Region or stay in the city when you can now work remotely?

These are some of the questions being asked by families since March of this year, when COVID-19 changed so much in our day-to-day lives. Staying at home came with an increased need to work remotely. The pandemic led those with second homes to make the decision to come north to their Lakes Region summer places a bit earlier than they normally planned. The reason seems to have been, “why stay in more heavily-populated areas where the virus was prevalent when we could wait it out in a quieter place?”

For those without a second home, some made the decision to move altogether to a place where there were fewer year-round residents, and a great quality of life. Among those places, the Lakes Region has certainly ranked high on the list of places when one is looking to relocate.

Thus, the need for housing has risen and homes do not stay on the market for as long as in the past. But what is the true status of Lakes Region real estate as we head into the fall season?

Says Frank Roche, president of Roche Realty Group, with offices in Laconia and Meredith, “Homes are selling at higher prices and at a quicker pace, but there is a lower volume of inventory.”

Roche has seen the market rise and fall over the years due to recessions and other factors, but it is unlikely he has experienced the increasing demand for homes due to a pandemic. This unusual circumstance has led to more people deciding to move to the Lakes Region, trading in urban lives for a quieter pace in the country. People are indeed re-evaluating their work, their lives and where they wish to live.

According to Randy Parker, principal broker (owner) at Maxfield Real Estate, with offices in Wolfeboro, Alton and Center Harbor, there are many buyers and limited properties. “The demand is wide,” he says, adding that anywhere there is space for living and for families to come to stay for a

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while or permanently, there is a demand.

Where are transplants coming from? Says Roche, “We are seeing people from southern NH, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and even Florida and California and other markets looking for housing in this area. We had an offer on a home from a potential buyer in California recently. It has been unbelievable.”

Pellet Stove This demand has created a challenge in the real estate market for realtors: How will they meet the need and locate available inventory?

Pellet Stove Those who want to move permanently to the Lakes Region are realizing they may need to make compromises. “They might want Lake Winnipesaukee property and decide to settle for a home on another area lake,” Roche explains. “There are choices here, but buyers need to be flexible.”

For those wishing to sell their home, Roche suggests there are things to do to make a property appealing to potential buyers. “Curb appeal has a lot to do with it,” he says. “Make sure you have good landscaping and the house color is appealing to make a good first impression.

Popular now are traditional homes with contemporary flair, lots of glass, decks, vaulted ceilings, and master suites on the first floor. People are looking for maintenancefree homes.”

Prices for average homes are ranging from $200,00 to $375,00, with waterfront Pellet Stove property going in the $1 million to $2 million range on average.

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Performance going very quickly. engineering excellence are infused into every design design engineering excellence are infused into every “It can be compared to the 1980s real estate and detail. From its compact frame and powerful Find out how you and detail. From its compact frame and powerful heat production, to its whisper-quiet operation and market,” explains Roche, “when the heat production, its whisper-quiet operation and groundbreaking newto Harman EASY Touch Control, Find out how you market was hot. We are seeing multiplecan bids onstay warm groundbreaking this is true luxury. new Harman EASY Touch Control, properties now.” this is true luxury. can staypower warm during Tim Galvin of Equine Homes concurs. (Equine during power Homes Real Estate is a real estate firm specializing outages! in equestrian and country properties throughout New harmanstoves.com outages!

England and Florida.) “In the pre-COVID market, harmanstoves.com area properties were snapped up very quickly. That trend is certainly continuing.

There are several factors DEALER INFO & LOGO that play into that dynamic, including statewide invenDEALER INFO & LOGO tory levels remaining low, the general status of the HAR-141 economy, and life style options and priorities.”

Galvin adds, “I would caution people about getHAR-141 ting into the generalization that ‘everyone’ is moving Pre-season savings end Thesoon. smartest pellet stove ever made. The Absolute43 up here. However, there does appear to be a perception is undisputed and confident. Performance and Pre-season savings end soon. that one reason individuals and families are considering engineering excellence are infused into every design and detail. From its compact frame and powerful buying in New Hampshire is to get away from more congested urban Sales • Installation • whisper-quiet Serviceoperation and heat production, to its settings.” groundbreaking new Harman EASY Touch Control, Sales •• Installation • •Service Concerning the average price of homes, Galvin explains, “In the Lakes STOVES FIREPLACES INSERTS this is true luxury.

Region, the average selling price of a three-bedroom home, year to date, is STOVES • FIREPLACES •Union INSERTS 196Route Route 101 1203Union Ave. $316,199 and is on average on the market for as little as 59 days. Statewide, 196 101, 1127 Ave, Bedford, NH Laconia, NH for the same three-bedroom home, the average selling figure is $333,265 196 Route 101 1203 Union Ave. Bedford Laconia with days on market average dropping to about seven days.”

603-488-5918 Bedford, NHharmanstoves.com603-527-8044 Laconia, NH 603-488-5918 603-527-8044 According to Galvin, manufactured homes on a statewide basis aver603-488-5918 603-527-8044 age have a selling figure of $88,841 with days on market about 50 days.

Condominium units, according to Galvin’s figures, are selling on a stateDEALER INFO & LOGO wide average for $346,240 and are on the market about 64 days.

Galvin, when asked what a seller should consider when placing their HAR-141 home on the market, has some advice we do not hear too often, but it is

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very helpful. “Once you make the decision to sell your home, a change in mindset needs to take place. During the period of time when a property is on the market, sellers do much better when they move their mindset to it is no longer their home, but rather a commodity to be sold. That can be a difficult tie for the seller to sever.”

It may sound a bit heartless because your home is where your emotions and memories reside; however, you can hold onto your memories but step back from an emotional attachment to the house. A buyer may want aproperty for a different purpose than what yours was, for example. That is their decision and if you want to sell, you should see the house as a commodity, not something that necessarily needs to continue on as you had it.

“Sellers should also be prepared to adjust their sights with regard to individual perceptions and expectations around the issue of market value and sale price. The market changes and evolves continually. The market of today is certainly not static,” he says.

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Land also is selling well and the reasons buyers pick up acreage vary from wanting to grow their own food, privacy, retirement and even having the land to create a family compound.

Says Roche, “Land is indeed selling well. If a buyer can’t find a house to their liking, they can buy land and build the home they want to fit their needs.”

Christopher Williams, realtor with Lamprey and Lamprey Realtors in Center Harbor, says he was seeing many buyers coming from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York, before the pandemic, and that has continued during COVID. “The homes that seem to be moving the best are residential homes with some kind of water access. These are usually in the $300,000 price range,” he comments.

Williams adds that location is important, followed by the condition of a property, explaining, “Buyers right now want turn-key with little to no updating. The more work needed, the chances are higher that the buyer will move on to something else. New construction is a good mover as well.”

Concerning land sales, Williams says, “With the lack of inventory on the market, some buyers have turned to looking at land listings with the hopes of building just the right home. With the residential market price increasing, this option is looking better to buyers.”

Due to the ever-changing market, and the unique circumstances created by the pandemic, the Lakes Region has come into its own as a desirable place to reside. Whether for added privacy and a different lifestyle or to have a second home in which to relax and escape, buyers are shopping for property in the area.

It remains for sellers to ask themselves the tough questions: should I stay or sell, move on and downsize, perhaps rent or hunker down and embrace the home I have? Whatever the choice, real estate in the Lakes Region continues to be a hot commodity.

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9 Eagle Trace, Wolfeboro $475,000

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o e d i V in d es : n e a c r ive s m e o u i ns rog o o s o t d e em P s J H Au Rethe TVo’nsger Se L No

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elevision audiences during the early 1960s couldn’t wait to watch the next episode of Hanna-Barbera’s cartoon television show, The Jetsons. As television station ABC’s first color programming, The Jetsons lasted for 24 episodes. During those few months, we had the opportunity to view what fully automated houses, businesses, and transportation might look like someday.

Nearly six decades have passed. So, how close have we come to achieving the lifestyles of George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy Jetson? While many of the features found in the Jetsons’ space needle house and family vehicle are not ready for purchase in 2020/21, much of what the creators of the show imagined has come to pass.

An exciting array of products is now available for installation in homes by contractors or do-it-yourselfers. Some of these satisfy two principal needs concurrently…meaning many of the same products that are used for home automation also serve as part of a home security system. Here are some of the most popular devices and their uses.

Home security This is an area where contemporary technology has exceeded The Jetsons. Modern devices are smaller and lighter than the videophone equipment depicted on the television show. It won’t be long before ArtGlass, pioneers of augmented reality storytelling software, will bring to domiciles the same multi-dimensional software that is being prepared for museums,

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historic houses, and other cultural venues.

Chances are you have witnessed the popular television advertisement for Ring, a leading deterrent for property crimes in the home. In one such ad, a young man dressed in a hoodie is approaching the front door of a suburban house. While he is casing the place in preparation for a burglary, we hear the voice of a woman warning him that she has already notified the police about his presence on her doorstep. The man is horrified and runs away without gaining entry. In the last scene, we learn that the woman was not at home during this time. Rather, she was enjoying her favorite beverage, while sitting on a tropical beach hundreds of miles away. Meanwhile, the Ring’s system had captured high-quality images of the invader, storing them for seven days.

Tens of thousands of Americans have purchased home security plans.

The Xfinity Home app guarantees 24/7 monitoring, real time alerts through a cell phone, and high-quality live video with options to provide additional security cameras and view multiple parts of the house through a television set, iPad, or lap top. Packages can be customized based upon the size of one’s home and the contracted length of service. Also, these systems can be equipped with monitoring stations providing battery and cellular system backup. They can be linked to Xfinity X1 cameras, thermostats, lights, locks, smoke detectors, and more.

Video calling Almost unimaginable for the homeowner of the mid-20th century, video calling has been here for approximately two decades, in the form of Skype, FaceTime, and other platforms. These technologies have made it possible to eschew in-person conferences, and to stay connected with that grandchild who lives on the opposite coast. Let us not forget that the iPhone and iPad have relegated traditional landline telephones to museums.

Robotic housekeeping help In The Jetsons show, the family had a robot maid (named Rosie) on

. · · · · · · · · · · · ·

wheels and she performed all the family’s chores. In many of today’s homes, owners utilize either the iRobot Roomba or the Eufy Robo Vac 11S Max to clean floors. The best of these are equipped with dual edge brushes, a rotating brush, and powerful suction, and will return to a port where it recharges while emptying waste material into a receptacle.

Personal assistant Do you need the answer to a troubling trivia question, or to determine what the weather is before heading outside? Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are equipped to capture an array of information and share it with their owners. (Several months ago, I witnessed Alexa in action. My granddaughter wanted to hear the words to Baby Shark, the song that has taken nursery schools everywhere by storm. With the simple command, “Alexa—play Baby Shark,” my daughter was able to make my granddaughter very happy. However, several months later, my daughter thought it would be fun for her toddler to sing Baby Shark along with my wife and me—a three generation moment that would make Peter Benchley envious.

That was forestalled when the little one refused to allow anyone but Alexa to sing with her. And, by all means, don’t say anything that might be sensitive in front of Alexa, because Big Brother isn’t the

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only one who’s watching,) Entertainment and exercise A smaller and smaller percentage of people remember the days of the television antenna rotor. Depending upon where you lived in relation to a television station’s tower, it was essential to focus the television antenna in exactly the proper direction. The only problem with that scenario was the antenna was situated on the peak of a house that could be several stories tall. In the early years, this necessitated one member of the household climbing a ladder to the rooftop—rain or shine. He or she would start turning the antenna until the best possible picture appeared on the family’s black-and-white television screen. When the picture was as close to clear as possible, someone would call up to the roof with the good news that it was time to climb back down. Years later, the rotor, an electronic box with a dial, allowed home owners to rotate the antenna from the comfort of one’s living room or den.

Cable television displaced the antenna, and made possible the streamlining of viewing services. These days, Sling and a number of other providers are making cable passé, as they deliver entertainment in the form of television shows, movies, and a wide range of programming, on an à la carte basis. Meanwhile, Alexa can control all of this. You no longer need to experience the stress of standing and walking to each of your devices.

Do you remember how difficult it always was to meet your athletic trainer at a crowded gym? It’s no longer necessary to leave the friendly confines of your house. The Mirror offers you an opportunity to receive expert, personalized instruction by just standing in front of a full length, high tech mirror. The device provides coaching from professionals who will correct your posture and encourage you to keep going long after you would ordinarily stop. It connects to Bluetooth options that allow you to provide access to six household members. Are you looking for a similar

experience on a bicycle? Peloton has the answer for you.

Health and hygiene Wearable health technology is a current focus of home automation.

Demand for consumers to monitor their own vital signs has tripled since the beginning of 2016. FitBits, Smartwatches, and wearable monitors such as electrocardiograms, have become mainstream. These collect data of users’ personal health and exercise habits. Ultimately, it is hoped that insurers will join this growing trend for improved public health. (Warning…be advised that smart toilets are here! I don’t even want to know what those will measure.)

Climate control as part of a smart house Remember the days when it was necessary to unwrap yourself from a warm blanket so you could adjust the wall thermostat on a cold evening?

In a smart home, Smart Thermostat, Alexa, and others are able to change the temperature—adding heat or air conditioning—by simply using your voice to guide them. What’s even better, everything you may want to do— change channels, turn on your coffee maker in the morning, lock your doors, turn off or on the lights, control your thermostat, turn on your favorite music, change television channels, or be alerted that there is a water leak, an open window or other problem—can be done from a singe device.

Whether you are planning to install a smart house system on your own, or contract with a professional, it is recommended that you start by consulting one or more of the numerous excellent websites that will help you to understand how much of an investment in time and money needs to be made. Once it is time to move forward, I always recommend that the advice of local professionals is your best step. Locally, see Knight Security, (www. knightsecurityalarm.com), Gilford Home Theater (www.gilfordhometheater.com), The Sound Resort (www.thesoundresort.com), and/or Mango Security Systems, Inc. (www.mangosecurity.com).

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Options Abound When Shopping for Home Siding Home improvement projects run the gamut from minor repairs to complete overhauls. Replacing exterior siding is one of the most significant home improvement projects homeowners can undertake. Such a project can give homes a completely new look, which is why choice of siding is such an important decision.

Homeowners have many siding options to choose from, and the following guide can help them make the best choice for their homes.

Vinyl siding Vinyl siding is easily maintained and among the more budget-friendly siding options. According to the home improvement resource HomeAdvisor, vinyl siding is made from a PVC plastic that does not rot or flake. Siding professionals note that the technology used to create vinyl siding has changed considerably in recent years, making this option more diverse than traditional vinyl siding. So homeowners turned off by the potentially plastic look of vinyl siding might be surprised at how different modern vinyl siding looks compared to the vinyl siding of yesteryear.

Fiber-cement siding The home improvement television network HGTV notes that fiber-cement siding has grown in popularity among homeowners in recent years.

This material does not require much maintenance and it’s non-flammable and resistant to termites. HomeAdvisor notes that fiber-cement siding can create the look of wood, stucco or masonry, making it a versatile option capable of creating various looks. In addition, fiber-cement siding is known for its durability, with some products coming with warranties lasting as long as 50 years.

Wood siding Homeowners have many choices if they prefer wood siding on their homes. Cedar, cypress, fir, pine, and spruce are just a handful of the many wood siding options homeowners can choose from. HomeAdvisor notes that cedar shingle siding offers a natural look that blends well in wooded and waterfront landscapes. Wood clapboard siding is another popular option, though it tends to require more maintenance than cedar shingle siding.

Homeowners who want wood siding should discuss their options with an experienced siding professional, as many factors, including the choice of wood, must be considered before making a final decision.

Stone and stone-veneer siding Many homeowners fall in love with the natural appeal of stone, but the price tag, which tends to be costly, may not be as awe-inspiring. HGTV notes that stone can be difficult to add to an existing home, and doing so may drive the price up even further. Stone siding is durable, and there are many options, including solid stone and natural stone cladding, that make this an option capable of providing an array of looks. Stone-veneer siding is less expensive than natural stone and also comes in an array of styles. As is the case with wood, stone siding options are so extensive that homeowners are urged to discuss each one with a siding professional before making their decisions.

These are just a handful of the many siding options homeowners can choose from. Siding can give homes a completely new look, making choice of siding a significant decision worthy of careful consideration.

- Metro Creative

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Everything Old Is New Again

By Leigh Sharps

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s the tried and true saying goes, ‘Everything old is new again’, or ‘If you wait long enough, the old styles will always come back’ and it certainly applies these days to home restorations, renovations and new construction as well.

Making the new look old, and rebuilding to preserve the old, are the goals of the most popular construction companies, as well as for homeowners and buyers.

Attitudes and building trends began changing in the early 1990s, when suddenly everything in life, from the environment to food and beverage choices, was centered around organic and a ‘returning to the roots’ fervor. These days the term is ‘green’, meaning the human race is becoming (and should become) more environmentally and ecologically responsible by making lifestyle decisions and changes to protect the environment and at the same time keeping the earth’s natural resources for the current and future generations.

One of the most obvious ways this is happening now is for new home construction and old renovations/restorations to use salvaged or antique woods. In the construction field, there is now a paramount tendency to move toward making ‘the old new again’. This current hot trend is centered around ‘salvaged’ lumber. Other terms for the same are reclaimed, salvaged, rescued, recycled, up cycled, redeemed, regenerated, recovered, distressed, regained, reconditioned, converted, restored, remodeled and a decorating term known as ‘shabby chic’.

Whatever term you’d like to use, this wood is generally high quality, coming from different sources such as old barns, factories, retired ships and boats, stock farms, warehouses and stores. (Wood is the second oldest type of building material, second only to brick. The use of wood became increasingly high during the Industrial Revolution and further increased after World War II.) Many contractors have become experts, out of customer demand, at mixing old woods with new lumber, which can be made old to blend in or finished in different ways to look as old...or conversely, as new, as a homeowner desires.

Salvaged wood is the IT hot trend The trend for the last few decades to return to the vintage and restored look can now be seen inside and outside homes, businesses and town historical buildings in New Hampshire. Nowhere in the area can this trend be seen as much as in homes and camps around the lakes. A busy construction company with a minimum of four or five projects ongoing and up to 10 projects in the summer, is K-Mac Builders Incorporated in the Squam Lakes area. The company is busy in Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Sandwich and Holderness, with employees numbering up to 40; the faithful being with him for the entire 40 years since the company began.(His family had always summered on Little Squam and one of his earliest jobs was mending and building docks for Squam Livery. “I knew then that I would always be in construction and I would always stay in this area.”)

Owner Kevin McBournie is a prominent contractor with extensive expertise in using ‘reclaimed’ wood as well as vintage windows, doors, fixtures, hardware, lighting, paint, and wallpaper. His opinions on furnishings and even appliances are appreciated as well. He says he has been lucky to work with homeowners who know his background and past projects and are aware of the end product they will receive. His history of restoring, rebuilding and renovating projects in the Lakes Region (from Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam to the Squams), are examples for possible customers.

One project is in Sandwich. The location in the Rattlesnake Channel in Sandwich has a view of the mountain of the same name popular to hikers.

“The main house on the hill was basically a square porch and another small building on the shore was called the ‘bunkhouse,’” said McBournie.

The bunkhouse was “basically falling down,” he said. “We just couldn’t save it, so we did a total re-build on the footprint and returned it to how it

originally looked, using all reclaimed woods and and history reports say they were used as ballast features.” It is now a small day-camp with a little in the bottom of ships,” said McBournie. “All the kitchen and an indoor/outdoor porch. “Something ceilings (some tin), the walls, the doors...everyfor the kids to just come down and hang out.” thing is at least 100 years old, coming out of old The main house has been completed with the buildings and kept original. Every joist, all the original porch remaining and reconstructed into a bookshelves are just the way they were.” (The living room with a stone fireplace. It was finished property had two small houses; the main house with all reclaimed wood, windows, doors, hardware was destroyed when a tree fell through it and the and fixtures. Mixing reclaimed wood and new other, next door, was taken down board by board and brick by brick and moved over about 120 feet wood is an art, but McBournie always has a few onto the foundation of the original house). That tricks up his sleeve: In the bunkhouse, he ‘made’ basic shape grew from tasteful, and vintage, ada large beam by fashioning boards into long horiditions to the estate it is today. Taking nearly four zontal square shapes and fronting them with old years, McBournie said the owners pretty much barn boards. Paul Maggi has been McBournie’s left him alone for two years while the basic framgo-to architect but he says he often ‘goes off the plans’ with his own ideas (and a homeowners’ pering work was going on. “They were pretty cool. mission) and that’s how he comes up with such They let me change things and make the plans ideas as making outside windows into indoor wall better. Paul (Maggi, Architect) gave me the ideas and we went from there.” dividers and outside windows which wholly retract into the sill leaving just the screen with no winThe Howards spent more than two years, while dow frame or pane grid disruptions to the views. the home was in the end stage, to track down just Some window frames have been re-manufactured the perfect furniture, wall adornments, lighting, with mirrored panes for wall adornment. He has appliances, etc. which are all authentic or expert even created a hidden sunken ‘playroom’ for kids Stained glass panels in front of windows .reproductions (like the wallpaper). “The last behind what appears to be a closet door. two years they went literally all over the country A showpiece lake home searching down just the right pieces of furniture and lighting they wanted,” said McBournie.

An exceptionally distinguished lake home on Big Squam in Holderness Every detail has been attended to: all the windows in the house even belongs to George and Austine Howard. “All the brickwork in this large have the old ‘wavy’ glass. Six-foot tall arched porch windows have been home comes from buildings that were once torn down from the old New turned into room separators, replacing solid walls. The main staircase, Hampton school. The bricks originally came from overseas in the 1700s

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with original reclaimed risers, treads and newel post, features unique painted panels. New ones had to be added to complete the designs and those were made expertly to match the old, completing the desired vintage image of this true lake premiere showplace.

A channel house A house anyone boating through the channel that adjoins Big and Little Squam Lakes cannot help but see (at the northern end) belongs to Bob Murphy. His house Y O UtwoA R renovaE INVITED TO has undergone major A Color & Presentation tion/restoration projects over Design the years (both being done by K Mac).

“It was partly a rip-down, the Tin roof sheets. ranch level part, and we left 2,500 ft.

OF standing. It ended up being 6,000 sq. ft.THE upon completion,” McBournie said.

Murphy could not have been more pleased with his ‘new’ home. “Kevin did an absolutely superb job of taking a ‘modern’ ranch style home and creating a lake house that looks like it has been there for a hundred years ….which was our objective. Kevin worked closely with us and the architect to help generate the complicated task of designing the home to fit on an existing foundation. But where Kevin really shined was in his passion for the authentic details. After we were already into construction, Kevin made many suggestions for improving the design and finishes. We trusted

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Kevin’s eye, and we went with his every suggestion. We are thrilled with what Kevin created for us.”

An old farmhouse uses small vintage features to highlight a family home Any home, not just upscale lake homes, second homes and lake camps, can add small, tasteful vintage finishes to ‘up-cycle’ just one room or a whole house.

An example of unique uses for not only salvaged wood but recycled furniture, lighting, bathtubs, wall decorations and appliances, is the 1850 farmhouse on the Pemigewasset River in Bridgewater owned by Tate and Kelly Conkey and family. Tate says the homestead was in his family and had been rehabbed with a mixture of items from different decades. “An eclectic mix, shall we say!”

A Master Carpenter for entrepreneur Alex Ray, (see note below) Conkey developed his taste for the old and antique from his father as well as his own long career being a Lakes Region auctioneer. “I believe in making a place look as close to how it looked originally and make items look like they always belonged. I like history and I admire the way people worked with their hands and hand tools and all the time and effort it took to build and make things. I hate to see things just discarded when they could be recycled and reused.”

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1795. Built in the late 1700s, this majestic New Hampshire farmhouse is steeped in history and has charmed many for generations. The well cared for property offers plenty of room with just over 23 acres, part of which includes well-maintained, fenced, open fields. The main house has 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, and 7 working fireplaces. The 4-car garage has room for storage and there is a 45' x 34' period barn as well. Don't forget the bunkhouse for summer guests! Enjoy the fresh air, beautiful vistas, and mountain views. There is room for whatever your passion is. Come, take a look! 3 Lots of Record (The lots are 6 acres, 12.75 acres, and 4.46 acres.) Frontage on both North Line Road and Ledge Hill Road.

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Some unusual and, now, popular restyling at their homestead includes a barn-discovered claw foot tub, a wooden footed vanity made into a bathroom console with an above-surface sink, rippled and rusted tin sheets from a farm shed roof now the ceiling in a dining room, old columns from a farmer’s porch framing the entryway into the same room and a barn beam holding tear drop lights (now making a comeback) over a butcherblock island. A large gilded painting frame holds narrow barn boards for a background highlighting an iron sunburst fashioned from old tractor parts and bearings.

It is conclusive that everything old, everything tried and true, everything proven and made to withstand time, will forever be a mainstay in this country’s society, even as modern-day technology marches on.

NOTE: Entrepreneur Alex Ray, founder and owner of the Common Man Restaurant and Inn enterprise has been a stalwart supporter of restoring and renovating in his chain of restaurants, inns, diners and

a movie house. He has stayed true to each building’s roots, using reclaimed wood, vintage furniture, lighting, etc. and has incorporated appropriate historical artifacts in each business.

Besides the contractors who respect the art of restoring and re-creating homes and camps, kudos are also due all the owners of businesses in this state who honor our heritage by saving pieces of history, one building at a time!

The area vintage wood source is Sharpslumber.com in Ashland.

Some area new wood suppliers include: R.P. Williams, Home Beautiful, A & B Lumber, (Ashland Lumber/Bellettes) Middleton in Meredith, Winnipesaukee Lumber and Brookside Building.

Area restoration/renovation and rebuild contractors: Sharpe Brothers of Holderness, Ben Bullard of Sandwich, Tom Gosling in Sanbornton, Sky’s Carpentry in Moultonborough and K-Mac Builders Incorporated in Holderness.

By Leigh Sharps Here are the latest top decorating picks 1. Porcelain claw foot tubs 2. Pedestal sinks 3. Bathroom furniture like overstuffed chairs or wicker/rattan chairs or rockers 4. Expansive windows instead of tiny ones 5. Deep colored walls rather than white or neutral colors 6. Ornate sink basins, such as porcelain/colored or flowered basins or with patterns painted like pottery 7. Wooden privacy screens made from old exterior house shutters

8. Separate hot and cold taps with the old porcelain handles or made from copper or brass 9. Stained glass windows instead of clear windows 10. Curtained claw foot tubs when there is no shower 11. Any type of houseplants, especially in unique containers. Think: old advertising tins, old fruit crates, old porch jardinières, antique umbrella stands, etc. Certain plants thrive in warm, moist spaces like bathrooms.

Making a comeback, too, is the art of macramé for hanging plants or wall hangings.

12. Sink console (what you put your sink into). Instead of a usual cabinet, consider old wooden bureaus, Colonial washstands, and old marble

Decorating Ideas for an Old or New Home with The Newest ‘Old’ Trends

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top bureaus, which lend themselves especially well to hold sinks (either above the surface or sunken).

13. Decorative lights over sinks: antique teardrop lamps, matching sideiron sconces, old hanging globes, and electric ‘kerosene/oil’ type looking lamps. Or on the ceiling, old 1950s porch lights or Victorian glass flowered globes on new ‘retro’ looking fixtures.

Living areas: Some vanished trends now returning for new uses 1. Record cabinets: storage, bookshelves, bars 2. Hoosier cabinets and butcher blocks can be used in living areas as well as the kitchen or even on a four-season porch.

3. Bold (but not bright) wallpaper…choose from retro patterns, some with large flowers but with muted patterns 4. Brass or copper light fixtures 5. Carpeting: Shag carpeting. However, do not think the wall to wall stuff...just nice area rugs, small and tasteful in rec. rooms...also faux-fur area rugs are gaining popularity in rec. rooms and on indoor/outdoor porches, and always popular are machine-made or handmade braided rugs and runners.

6. Wall paneling...ALWAYS wood. Narrow or wide pine, Douglas Fir, yellow heart pine, etc.

7. Shaker or Shaker-type cabinetry 8. Bring the old porch furniture inside: wicker, rattan, bamboo, rocking chairs in unsuspected spots like a bathroom, love seats in living rooms and rec. areas or inside/outdoor additions. They bring a natural, airy feel to rooms and a real homespun look, especially if they are handmade pieces.

Wicker porch planters, too, look at home inside as well as on a porch outdoors.

9. Flooring: hardwood flooring is the IN choice. It has always been popular, but it has had a huge resurgence in the past decade. Why? Hardwood is durable and strong, and can be refinished in many ways and also, many

times over. It can also be installed over a wood sub-floor. It can be more time-consuming than manufactured flooring due to the different steps involved. The installation, sanding, staining and finishing steps can take three or more days, but these floors literally will last forever.

Several types of wood are popular for floors: Pine (yellow pine, Southern yellow pine, old growth heart pine and new growth heart pine). Heart pine has a distinctive beautiful pattern. New growth means it comes from a long leaf pine tree 75 years old or less. Old growth pine means it comes from a long leaf pine tree that can be 4-500 years old. Also, old growth pine can come from centuries old mill buildings, warehouses, factories and some beams and planks have been found underwater from old-time timber companies who used to transport logs on rafts to nearby sawmills.

(Water, in fact, actually preserves wood best due to lack of oxygen and parasites which can rapidly deteriorate wood logs or artifacts on the surface or underground. That is why Native American dugout canoes found submerged in water or waterlogged areas after thousands and thousands of years are so well preserved.)

Other good woods to use are oak (red and white), walnut, hickory, maple, (curly is the prettiest), cherry, mahogany and Douglas fir.

10. Painted finishes on furniture can be beautiful, but use light and muted, not bold, colors. You can find cheap bureaus/tables/wardrobes, etc. at thrift shops, salvage yards, barn and yard sales.

More ways to make your interior new house old: 1. Crown molding (narrow or wide or stepped) is the trim once used in older homes that runs around the entire top of all four walls. It can match trim around doors and windows or not! Can be lightly painted in neutrals or left natural, too.

2. Wainscoting...an actual economical way to change the look of an entire room or just one wall or two (this is wooden paneling that comes up about waist high around rooms).

Squam Lake Waterfront MLS#4802207 Offered for $4,495,000 A truly magnificent property on Squam Lake! There is a spacious, open patio facing the lake, along with a very inviting screened porch. A pathway leads down to a natural sandy beach and beyond is the one-bay boathouse large enough for a good sized motor boat and storage for kayaks, plus a dock. In addition, there is an all-weather tennis court. The interior of the house has beautiful cherry woodwork cabinets, plus Douglas Fir beams and floors, and the detail work is exquisite. There are three bedrooms in the main part of the house, the master being on the first floor. Over the garage is a wonderful separate apartment with an additional 3 bedrooms and a family room. In all, one can easily sleep 13! This is a special property in every way! In addition to the privacy of the location, it is a 10 minute drive to Meredith or Center Harbor for shopping.

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3. Kitchen counters and floors - opt for natural materials like wood or stone counter tops and ceramic /slate or hardwood floors.

4. More kitchen ideas: butler pantries, stoves with storage underneath, breakfast nooks, fireplaces in the kitchen and china cabinets used for items other than china such as books or collectibles.

Old farmhouse sinks are bigger and handier than modern sinks and there are so many choices for faucets, etc. like single hot and cold with white porcelain handles.

Kitchen cabinet ideas: metal tool chests, metal school and factory lockers and filing cabinets.

4. An easy change or fix to do at any time in your current new or renovated home: change the pulls on kitchen cabinets, closets, old sideboards (now used for book or music storage), end tables...try old porcelain knobs with designs like little blue flowers, or brass.

5. On doors and bigger furniture, like large desks/bureaus/blanket chests, etc. consider the old glass doorknobs; these became popular in the early 1900s and through the two World Wars and the Depression years.

6. Make a staircase a main feature of the house again: replace handrails and newel posts with more elegant and fancier woodwork (again find them in salvage yards/barn sales).

7. Upgrade light and outlet switches with nickel or brass plates, or wooden ones with rustic country scenes or with wild animals (bear/moose/ deer). Find hand-carved ones at craft fairs or online.

8. Swap generic lights over a stairway with chandeliers (hanging teardrops, etc).

9. Wallpaper is in again—Victorian or Colonial inspired in muted tones and patterns, but you don’t have to do an entire room, you can just use it on one or two walls or half walls.

10. Replace existing outside doors and garage doors, get rid of metal garage doors and switch them out to wooden doors; vintage wooden doors

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with stained glass or sidelights will grace your outside doorways.

11. Large barn doors on rails can be used indoors to separate rooms (or on garages) or instead of ‘French doors’ leading outside...you can still leave glass or screens to let light in when they are pushed aside.

12. Tin. Change ceilings with tin, any size or color squares; also sheets of rippled tin from outdoor farm building roofs are also now being used for ceilings.

13. Rustic beams or distressed wood made to look like beams. Can be placed just about anywhere, in any room, inside or outside!

A few more enduring ideas: Kitchens: All kinds of retro appliances are available and popular in colors like the avocado from the 1970s, buttercup yellow, cherry, pink lemonade and beach blue. Hamilton Beach mixers and glass straw dispensers look chic on a shelf or counter, as do old advertising or repro signs on the walls.

Making a comeback are wood stoves in the kitchen, not necessarily cook stoves, but heating stoves that have flat surfaces for cooking.

Vintage ladders: book shelves, night stands, to hang pots on, leaning towel bars and magazine racks.

Salvaged wood ideas Barn door dining tables, barn wood cabinets, beech flooring from shipping crates, driftwood headboards, wood slab dining table with industrial metal legs/base and stool, shelves and cabinets made from old fishing boat wood/planking.

NOTE: Tips have been compiled by the author from sources such as Bob Villa of ‘This Old House’ TV fame, (also the Bob Villa newsletter) New England Antique and Style magazines, on-line sites, and the author’s own ideas).

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home | fall 2020 | 61

Why Residential Real Estate is Attractive in the Suburbs This year has culminated in a number of factors that are reshaping the landscape of U.S. real estate. A housing shift is occurring in various cities as some people are trading urban areas for the suburbs or rural places.

As more people work from home in the current climate, the aspects of city living that are appealing to millennials and young professionals, such as theaters, bars, and restaurants, are either closed or restricted.

Real estate analysts say the outward-bound residential trend could continue as the pandemic persists. For anyone considering a move out of the city, there are some key factors to consider, says Jadon Newman, CEO of Noble Capital (www.noblecapital. com), a private lending and private equity firm.

“The demand to live in rural and suburban areas is increasing compared to urban demand, which marks a big change from where it’s been,” Newman says. “But the cost of city living was getting expensive before the pandemic, and now the exodus is being expedited.”

People are rethinking whether they want to live in high-rise rentals with common spaces as amenities, as opposed to being in a single-family house of their own with space and a backyard, Newman says.

“Sellers in the suburbs and rural areas are realizing the surge in new demand, and it may increase if there’s a second wave of the virus,” he says.

Newman says those considering a new home or a second home should keep in mind these trends in the current economic climate: Good values in suburbia. Depending on geography, some areas took a

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hit early in the pandemic, and the housing market is surging back and median home prices have risen recently. Newman agrees with analysts who say suburban housing could be a better investment for homebuyers than an urban dwelling, given the uncertainty around the coronavirus and its multiple effects on dense population centers. “Much of the value of homes outside of the central city is in the structure and the fact that there is room to build more of them,” Newman says. “Home prices outside of densely populated urban areas tend to follow construction costs, so there shouldn’t be much movement in those prices.”

Falling urban home prices. As a result of more people leaving the city for the suburbs, economists say home prices in urban areas may fall as a result. “But it’s too early to count out urban areas altogether,” Newman says. “We’ve had other periods in history where cities survived societal and technological transformation.

Meanwhile, relative bargains may be had in some markets if one wants to consider a city condo or property to rent out.”

Low interest rates. “Interest rates are the lowest in history,” Newman says, “if you’re looking to own a home it’s a good time to buy. And it’s also a good time to sell. For sellers, with demand especially high to move to the suburbs, limited supply, and low interest rates, there is incentive to buy.

Homes in many regions aren’t staying on the market for long.”

Investing in small-town rental properties. Newman says because the virus has disproportionately affected major cities, smaller towns that have been far less impacted may be ideal for investing in a residential property that can be used as a vacation rental and additional source of income.

“There could be a larger shift away from urbanization toward investment in remote locations,” Newman says. “For buyers of second homes, those well removed from urban centers can be reasonably priced and make more sense as people prioritize safety and more space.”

“Home ownership has traditionally been a way for families to build equity, which is more difficult now in densely-populated areas where home prices are high,” Newman said, “This is one of the best times in our country’s history to build wealth with your home in the suburbs where prices are often more affordable.”

Jadon Newman is the Founder & CEO of Noble Capital Group, LLC (www.noblecapital.com). With a 20-year career in real estate and finance, he specializes in private lending, private equity, investment real estate and strategic venture capital.

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