The Laker Home - Fall 2011

fall 2011 • complimentary

Great Home Ideas For Fall!

home • fall 2011 • 1

Thinking about buying in the Lakes Region?

Call us – Great deals are still out there!

WOLFEBORO - Sun-filled contemporary, 101’ on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, panoramic views, great decks and dock! $1,250,000 (2815336)

WOLFEBORO – True Perfection! Outstanding waterfront home boasts 150’ Crescent Lake with great sandy beach, very special. $998,000 (4042864)

WAKEFIELD - Magnificent Pine River Pond 3700+ sq. ft. Contemporary, lovely landscaped grounds with 100’ waterfront, walk-in beach, dock. $799,000 (4042863)

TUFTONBORO – Classic Winnipesaukee cottage, 76’ frontage, dock & wonderful panoramic lake views, wraparound porch. $599,000 (4055769)

WOLFEBORO – Rust Pond 2-bedroom vintage 1950’s cottage, 100’ of shoreline with deck and dock at water’s edge. $349,000 (4076824)

TUFTONBORO – Charming Lake Winni. access cottage in great community with 356’ of shared sandy beach and boat mooring. $169,900 (4013433)

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2 • home • fall 2011

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Turning Wood Into Art

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper When you grow up around something, it becomes part of you. Those who run antiques shops often say their parents were in the profession; writers are often the children of authors; doctors will tell you they had family members in the medical field.

That’s the way it was for Loran Smith of New Durham, NH. “I grew up in a small NH lumber milling town, so I was always around wood. And my Dad worked in a lumber yard.”

That background led Loran to a career that is as much a lifestyle as a profession. His incredibly beautiful and creative woodworking projects include custom cabinetry, making fine furniture and architectural millwork, all from a spacious workshop attached to his New Durham village home.

“I enjoy everything about woodworking, from the concept of a piece to the design and the physical work. I love to step back when it’s completed and feel the satisfaction of having made something beautiful and functional,” Loran says.

His work has been featured in many home decorating magazines and it’s easy to see why when one gets a glimpse of the skill needed to make pieces that range from dressers, desks, woodwork, chairs and much more.

“I got a college degree in electronic engineering,” he continues, “but I didn’t want a desk job. I wanted to travel and spend time mountain climbing.”

Loran worked with a homebuilder and eventually on his own, specializing in making furniture on spec. “I never went into electronic engineering!” he laughs.

Currently Loran is working on a big project in his shop that is nearing completion. It is a fireplace surround and bookcases for a home in Windham.

He will finish as much of the job as possible in his shop and then truck the pieces to the home site to complete the project.

“I have some furniture jobs lined up after I am done with this job,” he says. Clearly, Loran is always busy with a woodworking project and the prolific nature of his profession has meant he had to pull back from some of the outside commitments he previously had.

“I am a state juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen and I was vice president and a member of the NH Furniture Masters Association.” While he has not had the time to produce any pieces for the League recently, he says they have always been happy to sell his pieces.

The antique reproduction pieces Loran makes are true works of art and

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he’s learned the craft by reading as much about the old furniture makers as he could. He studies books that show antique pieces such as dressers and side tables, all done in various kinds of wood.

“I always use hardwood,” Loran explains. “I use tiger maple, cherry and mahogany primarily. I get the wood from distribution centers in NH and Pennsylvania for the best wood possible.”

One project Loran completed was a reproduction of an antique English

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fall 2011 PRODUCTION MANAGER Gina Lessard PRODUCTION Dixie Balzer Mark Dingman | TJ Governanti ADVERTISING CIRCULATION Jim Cande | Dick St. Onge Kathy Larson PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brad Lipe Assoc. Publisher Frances Lipe

Published by The Panoramic Publishing Group, LLC, P.O. Box 119 Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896 | 603-569-5257 | thelaker.com Publishers of home, The Laker and Dining Out in the Lakes Region.

Panoramic Publishing Group, LLC. assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors. Advertisers will please notify the management immediately of any errors which may occur. © 2011 All Rights Reserved.

No reproduction in part or whole without express written consent.

Cover Photo Courtesy of BILL HEMMEL/LakesRegionAerials.com For Advertising Inquires: 603.569.5257 | lkr@thelaker.com

4 • home • fall 2011

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clock. Loran’s clients had traveled to England and fell in love with a tall clock that dated from the 1700s. They took photos of the clock and Loran was able to reproduce it for them using hard-to-find plum pudding mahogany.

“Learning about antique furniture is an ongoing process for me,” Loran comments. “I am drawn in particular to early NH furniture and old NH homes. I love to make furniture by hand like they did back then. For example, it took me 500 hours to do a Serpentine front chest of drawers.”

Time is not the issue for Loran and he approaches each job with skill and precision.

“I really like the Dunlap style of antique furniture. The Dunlaps were a NH family of woodworkers that produced furniture in the 1700s and 1800s.

“I have actively researched those furniture styles that appeal to my own sense of design, namely Queen Anne, Chippendale, Federal, and Shaker,” Loran explains. “My furniture has been included in private collections throughout the United States and Canada, as well as at numerous juried exhibits, openings, and art shows.”

Loran pulls out a portfolio of completed projects and points to a tall, breathtakingly attractive desk he made for Senator Judd Greg. Tall, ornate shelves sit atop a traditional desk; the project took Loran 900 hours to complete and the Senator was very pleased when Loran delivered the piece to the Gregg home.

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Most of Loran’s clients are well-to-do people who can afford to pay for the many hours and the artistic eye and skill it takes to make a piece of furniture or other project. They are generally knowledgeable about the style of furniture they wish to have Loran make for them. “I find working in different styles to be very exciting,” he says.

With his two children now grown and out in the world, Loran and his wife have time to pursue outdoor treks and adventures.

Over the years, he’s learned the fine art of separating his work from family life. “I have to balance family and work. I stick to a 9am to 5pm, five day a week schedule to keep my woodworking projects exciting. When you spend 500 to 600 hours on any piece, you have to get away from it now and then to keep perspective.”

Working alone is not a problem for Loran. As with many artistic types, solitude is a necessity to create the objects that find their way into homes and businesses across the country.

Loran plans to continue making fine reproduction antique furniture and other pieces because it is less a job and more a way of life. “There’s always people,” he says with a smile, “who want fine furniture.”

For information and to see a portfolio of work, visit www.loransmithwoodworking.com or call 833-3037.

Why Do Some Daylilies Cost So Much?

By Les Turner I get this question almost every day in my daylily patch. That is on days when I have customers, very rare at this post-bloom time. Of course I have some daylilies, which are only now beginning their bloom season, even though daylily bloomtime has passed.

I love daylilies (and gardens in general) so much that when the season is over, a real sense of loss creeps up on me. I need to keep very busy to hold back the gloom. I want to hug these late bloomers and beg them to keep up the good work. On a very good year some of these late cultivars will do their thing until early October.

Major old guy digression there. Back to the point-why do some daylilies (or shrubs, bulbs, etc.) cost so much? Folks sometimes insist on seeing the daylily that is listed on my website at $90. Wanna see a daylily that costs that much! (Several this year ended up buying pieces of this plant, so is there a lesson there? Don’t look if you do not want to be tempted?)

The reason most pricey items cost a lot is simply supply and demand. The pricey painting, the super-valuable antique car, boat, etc. The newly hybridized daylily which has very recently been released into the world is at first in demand while collectors grab them up. Then later when perceptive folks see their worth. Then as growers such as myself make the plant available, the supply catches up with the demand and the price drops. But some daylilies which have outstanding qualities of growth habit, beautiful blossoms, and Continued on page 22

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Waterfront Properties: Still in Demand

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper It’s been up, it’s been down, it’s been fantastic, and it’s been dismal. The Lakes Region real estate market, no matter what the economy, is a huge financial bonus to the area and its peaks and valleys affect all of us.

As the reasoning goes, if you can afford a waterfront home with a high price tag, you will also dine out often, buy high-end goods and boats and cars, and generally add to the local economy.

For the past few years, there is no doubt that real estate in the Lakes Region, as elsewhere in the country, has taken a hit. But is it really as dim as many assume it to be? Are waterfront homes selling at all and if so, what sort of person is buying?

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According to area realtors, conditions are improving; the upswing may be slight, but it’s better than the outlook in recent years. Homes with large price tags are selling, but the overriding factor, many realtors concur, is that the waterfront seller must price the home realistically. If that is done, the property will sell. Buyers must adjust their expectations to the reality of the market if they really want to move their property.

Adam Dow of Prudential SpencerHughes Real Estate in Wolfeboro knows the market well and comments, “Waterfront is selling. This year thus far, sales from January to July saw 69 waterfront homes sold; last year 59 homes sold.

Adam Dow That’s a good sign that we’ve sold more this year thus far.”

“Waterfront priced at $2 million and under is selling decently,” explains Chip Maxfield of Maxfield

is selling.

“Waterfront This year thus far, sales

from January to July saw 69 waterfront homes sold; last year 59 homes sold. That’s a good sign that we’ve sold more this year thus far.

”

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Real Estate in Wolfeboro. “Above $2 million is sluggish and we are not seeing as many buyers in that price bracket.”

Oddly enough, activity among buyers who can afford the $4 million and up range was very slow until three weeks ago, according to Chip Maxfield. “We had four or five very high end buyers recently. I had a single showing of a waterfront property in Wolfeboro and that person bought.”

While one would assume summer to be the busiest time for high-end home sales, Chip Maxfield says late summer and fall are the best times for waterfront home purchases. “People come here in the summer for a vacation and they take a look around. Then they come back to shop for property, hoping to get a better price in the fall.”

Says Adam Dow, “Lake Winnipesaukee is a special place and as long as people can afford it, they buy waterfront. Those buyers are looking for something special. I have some buyers coming up soon who are looking in the $5 million price bracket. These people are looking for more than just a waterfront home. They want a boathouse, a flat lot and sunset views. People are buying these properties for vacation homes with the idea in mind of having lakefront for retirement.”

Dow says waterfront buyers are looking “more for the land than the architecture. The land appreciates and the house may depreciate.”

“If the sellers come to where the market is, they will sell. They have to be realistic; gradually, we are seeing waterfront sellers bringing the prices of their homes in line,” adds Chip Maxfield.

Mary Lamprey Bare of Lamprey & Lamprey Realtors in Center Harbor offered her insight, “Laws of supply and demand are very evident in the market this summer. There is very high inventory and not as many buyers in the market. This is despite the fact that interest rates are at all-time lows for primary residences as well as for a second-home mortgage.

“In my opinion, the uncertainty about the economy and the way that our leaders in Washington seem to be unable to compromise, are creating more fear about the future. The media has also played a huge part in sending the message that the housing market hasn’t bottomed out and that prices may continue to fall. In this area, we didn’t see the same drops in value as other parts of the country (Florida, Las Vegas). Market value has dropped over the last two years.”

What sort of waterfront is selling these days?

Adam Dow says, “Price is a factor but people Chip Maxfield have to feel they are getting a good value for the price. The property must fit their needs. For example, a buyer might have an antique boat and need a boathouse or they might have young grandchildren and they will need a safe beach.”

This is why, in part, waterfront buyers must look beyond the home and include the land in their buying decisions. Explains Adam Dow, “Buyers should not be lured in by a great house. The property won’t move if the seller places too much value on the home because homes become outdated while the land will not. Sometimes the buyer will

come here in “People the summer for a vaca-

tion and they take a look around.

Then they come back to shop for property, hoping to get a better price in the fall.

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Michael Travis Knows Waterfronts Like The Back of His Yard.

All About NH Homes & Lakes www.WaterfrontAgent.net www.LakeHouseNH.net www.LakePhotosNH.com www.LakeFinderNH.com

Tel: 603-569.6060 / Cell 603.303.2599

Anyone can sell a good deal.

Not everyone can sell a great home.

Lakes Region Real Estate.

Not Your Average Market.

The Lakes Region of New Hampshire is blessed It takes Above Average Real Estate Agents to with a unique blend of the most desireable natuknow and negotiate in this market. ral beauty and some of the most exquisite real estate in New England--some argue the world. At Fine Home Trends in the Lakes Region the center is Lake Winnipesaukee with over

By Adam Dow 44,500 acres of pristine waters, 288 miles of shore- One of the first questions I get asked is “How is line and over 250 islands. The surrounding towns the market?” Lake Winnipesaukee has historiaround the “Big Lake” each Lake Winnipesaukee--Luxury Sale Trends cally been a great investment have their own history, their even in turbulent times. The own character, and their own chart illustrates market special views. trends for 2003-2010, which Surrounding this Grand Lake show this statement continare some of the most desireable ues to be true, even with the lakes that make up what is recent economic conditions. called The Lakes Regions. There Sales for 2011 continue the is some debate what lakes are upward trend. If properties included under this title. With over 1300 lakes continue to come on the market, I expect the statewide, some may consider the entire state of numbers to increase year over year. For sold homes database, visit www.AdamDow.com/Sold.

New Hampshire “The Lakes Region” New Hampshire is the fifth wealthiest state, Lake Region Rentals third highest number of second homes, consisBy Misty Couch tently rated the most liveable state, healthiest state, best place to raise children, the lowest I grew up in the Lakes Regions and have a unique poverty rate in the country, --the list goes on and perspective of the area. on. No wonder people flock here.

Vacations create memories to last a lifetime.

Finding the right place to call home for a week or more with friends and family is key to making a well deserved vacation a success. Owners of these spectacular properties can realize a tremendous return on their investment. Knowing how to manage rentals from bookings, cleanings and maintenance is a 24-hour job. Preparing and pricing a home for weekly rentals is what I do. To see homes available, visit www.LakeRentalsNH.com

So Many Lakes, So Many Questions

www.AdamDow.com Adam Dow / Tel: 603-569.6060 / Cell 603.515.9473

Misty Couch

Wolfeboro $5000/wk

Alton Bay $3000/wk

Moultonborough $8995/wk

Tuftonboro $5000/wk

By Michael Travis There is a whole different mind set to living on or near water. With over 1300 lakes and waterways, knowing which one is right for you is a daunting task with so many incredible choices. Visit www.LakeFinderNH.com for info on every lake, type of lake, quality of water, size, depth access, type of fish, maps, photos and more. Waterfront homes require a whole new set of information for buyers and sellers. My job is to be a resource.

• Will you be required to get flood insurance?

• What is a site assessment?

• Does the Shoreline Protection Act impact you?

• What are issues with septic systems and wells?

• How big can your dock be?

The only bad question is the one not asked.

Visit www.WaterfrontAgent.net for more info.

Investing in Income Properties Misty Couch / Alton Bay: 603-875-2020 / Wolfeboro: 603-569-6060 / Cell: 603-234-7651 Prudential Spencer-Hughes Real Estate / Email: Misty@SpencerHughes.com

By John Perrow If you're thinking about investing in real estate, experts say low home prices combined with low

©2011 Prudential Spencer-Hughes Real Estate, 22 S. Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH, (603) 569-6060 • 24 Mount Major Hwy, Alton Bay, NH (603) 875-2020

10 • home • fall 2011

interest rates make this the best time in years to become a real-estate investor. There are four financial benefits of investment properties: 1. Income (Cash Flow after expenses) 2.Principal reduction (loan amortization) 3.Income Tax saving and 4. Appreciation. The demand for rentals has risen over the past few years. For tenants, it is appealling to have maintenance free living. For owners, gaining passive income from places you live or from many units is a great financial plan.

Knowing how to analyze and understand the numbers is what I do for clients.

Visit www.JohnPerrow.com for more info.

Selling Life Styles, Not Just Real Estate

By Dennis Schauer They say, “If you are lucky enough to live on a lake, you are lucky enough.” I say if you live in the Lakes Region you are luckier than anyone. We are blessed with some of the most spectacular natural wonders and most desireable homes on and off the water. It has been a place of dreams. You can live where most people could only vacation.

You can also experience life here as it must have been like generations ago. I take joy in touring on the lake to see the amazing grand estates along the shores in my 1930 Garwood “Rag Top”. Visit www.WinniBoatGuy.com for more

Real Estate is a Partnership with Emotions

By Sharon Anderson So many people come to this part of New Hampshire to find their Lakeside Dream Home.

Helping buyers realize their dream requires local knowlege and guidance. Marketing homes the sellers have enjoyed is bittersweet at times.

Transferring a home from one family with fond memories to another is like inheriting the greatest gift. Emotions can be powerful. Keeping focus on the task at hand requires a partnership. My job is to make dreams come true. Visit www.LakesideDreamHomesNH.com

The Finest Touches of the Finest Homes

By Don Hughes What makes a home a showpiece? It’s all in the details. Case in point; 179 Springfield Point in Wolfeboro. Every inch is meticulously thought out. Every detail has a purpose. Every room has its own environment. To be inspired, visit www.SpringfieldPoint.com

New Hampshire has become a haven for retiring and active adults to flock to. Finding a very high end condo with the quality and amenities of the highest priced lake homes is rare. People who have spent a lifetime building businesses and family can enjoy the best of the Lakes Region near quality hospitals and steps from the center of town at Depot Square. For an exquisite example, www.DepotSquareWolfeboro.com.

The contributors of this article are licensed real estate agents for Prudential Spencer-Hughes Real Estate.

Please call them for more detailed information on the market and available properties. Visit our site at

www.SpencerHughes.com Alton Bay (603.875.2020) Wolfeboro (603.569.6060)

Real Estate begins with a good foundation.

www.JohnPerrow.com John Perrow / Tel: 603.569.6060 / Cell 603.832.3372

www.LakesideDreamHomesNH.com 37 Keewaydin Dr. Alton Bay

400 S. Shore Rd, New Durham

119 Echo Point Rd, Alton Bay

12 Mill Cove Rd, Alton Bay

More info: www.SpringfieldPoint.com

Sharon Anderson / Tel: 603-875-2020 / Cell 603.755.1297

The Finest Lake Homes On and Off the Lake.

Selling Life Styles...Not Just Real Estate.

42 Campfire Circle, Alton

22 Notla Lane, Alton

www.WinniBoatGuy.com

Dennis Schauer / Tel: 603-569.6060 / Cell 603.651.8840 Dennis Schauer’s 1930 Garwood “Rag Top”

More info: www.DepotSquareWolfeboro.com

Call Don Hughes, 603-569-6060 home • fall 2011 • 11

Continued from page 9 overpay for the structure just to get the land.”

Out of all the home styles from which buyers can choose, the hands-down favorite Lakes Region waterfront home is the Adirondack. Chip Maxfield shares, “Buyers of waterfront want a well-built home. Formal type homes are less popular than Adirondack. Buyers want a minimum of 3,600 square feet up to 6,000 square feet of living space. They do love the amenities such as an outdoor shower, grills, nice built-ins, cabinetry and hardwood floors.”

The type of buyer who is shopping for Lakes Region waterfront property is “all over the place,” says Adam Dow. “Some are retirees who summer here and winter in Florida. We are also seeing buyers from Boston who were successful and can afford, at a younger age, to buy waterfront. They have grown tired of vacationing on the Cape where the traffic is an issue.”

“Executive types are buying,” explains Chip Maxfield. “They come from the world of financing and high tech; it’s the same type of people as we have been seeing in the past in their 40s and 50s.”

Island property often stays in the same family for generations, but some of it is on the market currently. Mary Lamprey Bare says, “There are currently 26 active listings of island properties between $250,000-$1,295,000. Six properties have closed between $300,000 and $676,000 and four properties are currently under contract.”

Surprisingly, Chip Maxfield has seen sales interest on the smaller lakes in the area. “Crescent, Wentworth and Pine River Pond have all been active.”

Where do these real estate experts think we go from here? “It’s hard to say,” Chip Maxfield opines. “The waterfront market to date is average.

Whether the really high-end sales will kick in, I don’t know. I believe this may be the new normal, but the market for waterfront will continue to be successful if sellers price their homes for the present market.”

Adam Dow adds, “I think it will be steady to increasing as long as there is inventory for buyers to purchase.”

“The next few months will tell the story about the summer selling season as properties close that went under contract this summer and those few buyers that have been around this summer make the decision whether to buy or remain on the fence,” says Mary Lamprey Bare.

The conclusions one may draw when it comes to the current state of the Lakes Region waterfront real estate market are complex.

Homes are indeed selling, but certainly not at the rate they once did. Buyers of waterfront Mary Lamprey Bare must have an understanding of the new market and price their properties sensibly if they really wish to sell and move on.

We must take comfort in the fact that while sales are not through the roof as they were pre2009, things are not getting any worse. Indeed, sales are happening and the demographic that is buying these $1 million and above waterfront homes are probably spreading that wealth around in restaurants, stores and other businesses.

That is an outlook we can all feel good about.

are currently 26 active “There listings of island properties between $250,000-$1,295,000.

Six properties have closed between $300,000 and $676,000 and four properties are currently under contract.

Custom Aerial Home Portraits

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What's Included?

Custom Aerial Photo Shoot Digital image editing Personalized, private online proof gallery Three high resolution digital image files Custom printed enlargement up to 36" wide

Call (603) 524-0771 to arrange for your Home Portrait today!

Starting at $450 • LakesRegionAerials.com 12 • home • fall 2011

Country Braid House 462 W. Main Street Tilton, NH • 603-286-4511 www.countrybraidhouse.com Open Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 9-4 Wool Braided Rugs Made On Site Gently Used Hooked and Braided Rugs Rug Braiding Supplies and Wool

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A Lakes Region Parade of Homes

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper We all dream of owning a beautiful home, of laying our head on the pillow at night in a comfortable bedroom, of waking to the sun streaming in through the windows. What could be better than walking through the door of your new home after a hard

day at work?

Whether you are in the market for a new home or you are in the dreaming stage or simply looking for a fun way to spend a fall day, the NH Parade of Homes is the place to go for home ideas and entertainment.

Says Kendall Buck, vice president of the Home Builders and

9 North Main Street Downtown Wolfeboro, NH 603-569-6159 • www.theartplace.biz

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456 Laconia Rd., Rt. 3 N, Tilton, NH 603-524-1975 • 800-550-1975 • email: ablestoves@metrocast.net home • fall 2011 • 13

Remodelers Association of NH, the group that puts on the event, “We started doing the Parade of Homes in NH in 2007. Similar Parade of Homes had already become popular in other parts of the country put on by homebuilder associations in the last 25 to 30 years. But the event was rather unheard of in New England.

We were the first to develop an event that showcases the best builders and remodelers in the state.”

The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of NH is a group of industry professionals dedicated to providing qualityhousing opportunities through education, vision and advocacy for the betterment of our communities. The HBRANH is comprised of nine “local” associations strategically located through-

out NH. With a combined membership of nearly 1,100 companies, employing over 60,000 NH citizens, every aspect of the building industry is represented in the Association.

What will visitors see during the NH Parade of Homes, which takes place in the Lakes Region on October 8-10, and in the southern region of NH Oct. 1516? Explains Buck, “It is up to member builders to decide to enter a home. There is a fee to do so and ground rules must be followed. We encourage each builder to work with decorators and landscapers to make the home look as beautiful as possible.”

Belknap Landscaping has been invited by Cargill Construction to execute a comprehensive landscape construction project for their Parade of Homes entry. The home is located at the base

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Eclectic Home Decor

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We Are the #1 Kitchen Dealership in New England!

Come in and have Dianne, Carolyn or Philip design your dream kitchen, bath or home office, and join our hundreds of satisfied customers throughout the Lakes Region.

Custom Cabinetry for Your Kitchen, Bath, Office, Entertainment Center and More Please visit our Website at www.kitchensnh.com

Fred Varney Company

Visit our expanded showroom on Grove and Center Streets in Wolfeboro, NH 603-569-3565

Showroom Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9-5 • Saturday 9-1 • Evenings by Appointment

Landscapes for Living

Fall Is for Planting ...Trees, Shrubs, Lawns & Bulbs!

Homeowners and commercial property managers are discovering a new gardening season: Autumn.

Native plantings thrive through harsh winters and provide subtle, four season landscape interest. Belknap Landscape offers property owners alternative choices for landcare, providing naturalized plantings and organic materials, all at the best time of the year for planting....

Fall is, in fact, THE BEST TIME for planting!

It’s proven to be the most effective time of year to plant shrubs, trees, bulbs and certainly the best time to re-seed a lawn, start a new lawn or lay down sod. Plantings from September through late October in northern areas are treated to a less stressful environment with moderate temperatures, sufficient rains, and mild days followed by cool nights.

Soil temperatures are optimal for root growth and will con-

tinue to grow even after plants drop their foliage (deciduous plants) well into November and later before the ground freezes. You'll see fewer plant losses attributed to lack of acclimation to the cold than a landscape installed in the spring, when plantings run a higher risk of loss due to the summer's heat and dryness.

Professional gardeners and landscapers have always valued fall for planting trees and shrubs, seeding lawns and setting out spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils.

Lakes Region residents are never more aware of trees than in autumn, when leaves turn brilliant shades of red, gold and orange and it is the perfect time to ask Belknap Landscape for assistance in selecting colorful trees for dramatic effect in your landscape next year.

Call BLC Sales Manager Jerry O’Donnell, at 603-528-2798, ext. 15 or contact him at: jerryo@belknaplandscape.com

Unique Holiday Lighting Displays BLC Outdoor Decor specializes in Commercial Christmas Decorating, Holiday Light Displays, Banners, & Flags. Our most prominent client, Tanger Outlet Mall - Tilton is also our most dramatic example of tasteful, effective decorations.

We are the area's leader in commercial holiday decorations, lighting and "custom made products" If you need a custom made display - call us! Our suppliers can custom-build anything you have in mind.

We also provide residential holiday and special event lighting and decorating products, installation, maintenance, take down and storage. With Belknap Landscape, you can choose from a wide variety of beautiful and creative designs for holiday or any special event.

Design Consultation Our Professional design consultants will meet with you to determine your lighting needs. We can assist in designing a display, discuss and expand on your ideas, and offer advice as to the best type of lighting for your project.

Products Belknap Landscape is a proud distributor of Rileighs Outdoor Decor. We carry their full line of lighting and decorating products.

Installation If you have ever decorated, especially outdoors, you know that it can be time consuming as well as dangerous. Wouldn’t it be nice to have it all installed for you? www.belknaplandscape.com

Customer Service We stand behind our products and labor, with up to a 5-year warranty on products. In the event that there is a problem with the display we stand behind our products.

Service and Maintenance How many times have you unpacked lights to find bulbs broken, missing or malfunctioning? Our service technicians will replace bulbs, repair damage and do any necessary wiring to insure a safe and lasting display.

Take Down and Storage The task that everyone dreads...taking down the holiday light displays. We wrap and safely package your lights for storage.

We are the Festive Lighting Experts!

Belknap Landscape is your local holiday lighting specialist.

We are proud to offer our holiday decorating services to the Greater Lakes Region. Our professional design consultants will meet with you to determine what will best suit your design needs. You may contact us directly to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. Ask for Gerry O’Donnell Call BLC Sales Manager Jerry O’Donnell, at 603-528-2798, ext. 15 or contact him at: jerryo@belknaplandscape.com

Special Pull-Out Section

home • fall 2011 • 15

Fertilize In The Fall?

That’s the best time to fertilize!

Now is the best time to ask us about Fall fertilizing and to arrange for BLC's 2012 turf, plant and tree healthcare programs. This allows BLC property management experts to assess your property's needs before the snow arrives.

After a stressful, dry and hot Lakes Region summer, considering Fall fertilization for your turf, planting beds and large trees is a smart decision. BLC offers fertilization programs to help expedite this recovery. Not only will your turf and plants respond more rapidly, our programs will help them get a jump on Spring by coming out of winter dormancy as healthy as ever! One of the best times to fertilize your plants and grow a lawn is in the Fall.

Why Is Fall Fertilizing Important?

Taking time to fertilize in the Fall will strengthen the root systems on lawns, plants and trees, giving them a strong base on which to thrive next spring. Belknap's Turf care division knows cool season NH grasses recover from summer stresses like drought, heat, and disease in the Fall with proper fertilization...

If the lawn has been properly fertilized in the late summer, grass can store carbohydrate reserves in the stems, rhizomes, and stolons. Carbohydrate reserves help grass resist winter injury and disease, and serve as a source of energy for root and shoot growth the following spring. A BLC late fall fertilization will also provide better winter color, enhanced spring green up, and increased rooting.

BLC Technicians apply a balanced, complete Fall fertilizer and a broadleaf weed control, followed by lime, the latter if a BLC soil test deems it necessary.

Soil test samples may be taken from several locations in your lawn to determine the nutrient profile and pH level of your soil. We will send you a copy of the results and any recommendations to modify your soil chemistry, if needed.

Belknap Technicians will insure optimum turf health conditions!

What About Fertilizing Shrubs and Trees?

Fall is also a great time to fertilize shrubs and trees - most all trees and shrubs need fertilizer, because most of them are located in turf areas where they compete for nutrients. The balance are usually in mulch beds that use up nitrogen as the mulch decomposes. We stand ready to take care of proper fertilizations in your planting beds and to execute deep root feeding for your most valuable landscape investment - your trees.

Trees should be fed just like your vegetable-producing and ornamental plants, and fall - early winter is the time to do this. Some argue that most trees appear to do very well in the forest, although they obviously are not fed by anyone. Trees growing in your landscape are growing in an artificial environment, competing for nutrients. There’s no turf or grass in the forest, only the forest floor, rich in decayed leaves and organic litter.

16 • home • fall 2011

Lawn Insect, Disease and Crabgrass Control ...

Our trained technicians will inspect lawn areas on each visit for indications of pest problems and advise of such problems. If such problems arise, optional lawn care services we provide include: Lawn insect & grub control - identify and control of surface insects such as chinch bugs, sod webworms, or subsurface insects (i.e., grubs) will be made only in the event that we find a problem.

Lawn fungus control - help control fungal pathogens in the turf grass.

Crabgrass control - post emergent application to reduce growth of crabgrass once it has germinated.

Other Recommended Turf Services...

The experts at Belknap Landscape Company's Turf Management Division want you to enjoy the pleasure provided by a thicker, greener, healthier lawn. Well-maintained turf grass will provide a comfortable, safe setting for your leisure activities, games and sports.

Slice seeding - this is a method of mechanically inserting seed directly into the top ¼ to ½ inch of soil. This process increases turf densities, thereby enabling the turf to better compete against weeds and other pests and/or diseases.

Core aeration - this mechanical process is designed to reduce soil compaction. The reduction in soil compaction increases the ability of turf-grass roots to absorb oxygen, nutrients, and water leading to a healthier, thicker lawn.

For advice and consultation with planting and fertilizing, please contact: Andrew Morse, Director of Landscape Management Operations at 603-737-0015 or email Andrew for more information at andrew@belknaplandscape.com.

Waterfront Property Owners, Rest Assured...

BLC has a proven commitment to Protecting Water Quality!

Our staff considers themselves stewards of the local environment and are intimately aware of NH state laws prohibiting the use of pesticides (weed control, grub control, fungus control, etc.) within 50’ of the water. The law also prohibits the use of fertilizer within 25’ of the water, but lime may be applied up to the waters edge.

Belknap Landscape stands ready to adhere to state and local requirements for construction projects within 250’ of the waterline, while turning your dreamscape into a landscape Call Stephanie Sanford, NH Certified Landscape Professional (NHCLP), Landscape Designer and Waterfront Permitting Specialist at 603-528-2798 ext. 28 or email for more information: steph@belknaplandscape.com

Special Pull-Out Section

www.belknaplandscape.com

We're Planting Wildflowers This Fall!

The Right Knowledge and Tools Insure Success...

Considering planting meadows or wooded areas with wildflowers? Fall is, in fact, the optimal time for wildflower planting. On the other hand, planting successful fields of wildflowers requires skill and the right equipment.

While a daunting task without the correct training, Belknap Landscape's crews & tools make it easy to accomplish terrific wildflower planting results. Belknap Landscape's equipment fleet includes a Brillion agricultural seeding machine, operated by skilled BLC employees. Not many NH Landscape Design-Build companies can say that, if any. Utilizing the right equipment ensures good soil-to-seed contact for improved germination, critical for such landcare improvement investments.

Belknap Landscape provides services to many Lakes Region, NH high profile property owners. We choose the very best wildflower seed supplier in New England - Vermont Wildflower Farm in Charlotte, Vermont. Chris and Diana at Vermont Wildflower only offer exclusive, hand packed proven mixtures and premium wildflower seed. In turn, they recommend Belknap Landscape whenever a New Hampshire resident calls for a landscape contractor.

How does the process work?

Belknap focuses on soil testing to guide us through the correct seed mix selection, optimum seeder machine settings and the subsequent fertilizations.

For site work reviews and quotes on planting this fall, contact: Hayden McLaughlin at: hayden@belknaplandscape.com or call 603-528-2798 ext. 11

Preserve Your Trees! - Belknap Landscape has the tools and skills...

Trees in your landscape provide shade, windbreaks, wildlife habitat and a distinctive New England ambiance. Belknap Landscape Company's Arboriculture Division is dedicated to preserving the health and vigor of one of most valued landscape features of your property.

BLC Tree care specialists provide the following services: large tree pruning, large tree removal - with crane or by hand, cabling/bracing of weak limbs or crotches, vista pruning, and complete health care packages.

We also offer waterfront tree surveys in compliance with the revised DES Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act. Make Sure Your Treecare Provider Has The Right Equipment Make sure your tree care provider has access to the latest equipment, technologies and training Our Altec 26-ton crane has a reach of over 140 feet. In addition to tree work, our skilled operators will set construction materials, large signs and assist in any other project where the use of a crane will speed completion in a timely and efficient manner.

Who Do I Call??

Choose a TCIA Safety Certified Professional such as Belknap Landscape Co.

www.belknaplandscape.com

Homeowners who would like a professional tree care specialist to assess their trees should contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). Belknap Landscape maintains employees with the TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professionals credential (CTSP), providing municipalities, institutions, and the public a means of discerning between BLC and our competition when gathering estimates for projects. This provides the discerning consumer with a means of finding a reputable tree care company.

TCIA also has the nation's only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. please contact: Andrew Morse, Director of Landscape Management Operations at 603-737-0015 or email Andrew for more information at andrew@belknaplandscape.com.

Special Pull-Out Section

home • fall 2011 • 17

Dreary Masonry Walls Transformed!

Unbelievably Natural Stone Look Adds Instant Appeal...

StoneMakers Vertical Wall Systems...

Belknap Landscape's Masonry division has been running hot all summer with StoneMakers decorative concrete installations all over the Lakes Region.

StoneMakers is an additive we mix with traditional concrete, giving that concrete stability so our masons - artists in natural stonework - may now carve indestructible, natural looking concrete into all kinds of interior and exterior hardscapes - retaining walls, water features, patios, steps & walkways, indoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits, and more. The end product looks just like stone and is permanently stained to match weathered stone for a naturalized appearance! Tough as nails, this is a product that refuses to disappoint.

Belknap Landscape now offers the StoneMakers sculpted concrete exclusively in Belknap, Carroll and Grafton Counties. This product allows us to create truly unique, hand crafted hardscapes within your outdoor living spaces at half the cost of traditional stone.

See stunning Landscapes created by BLC...

The New Hampshire Parade of Homes is your tool to explore the exciting opportunities in the new home market.

Proceeds from the tour support the non-profit Granite State Independent Living, which works to identify and improve issues affecting people with disabilities.

Cargill Construction has just completed a new home and chose Belknap Landscape to execute a comprehensive landscape construction project. The home is nestled at the base of South Mountain, a part of Loon Mountain in the development of "South Peak Resort."

The lot features dramatic outdoor living spaces and lowmaintenance natural landscaping with year-round views of Franconia Notch from the sun deck and screened in porch.

An Especially Attractive, Low-cost StoneMakers Upgrade The latest StoneMakers concrete additive is turning into the most popular landscape problem solver - a product line designed to turn your exposed concrete foundation walls into an attractive addition to both your home and your landscape. This latest technology allows BLC to "parge coat" your foundation's vertical walls up to 3 ½ " thick, carve any stone pattern you wish and color all in one day. The results speak for themselves....

Commercial Applications, too...

Looking for instantaneous, customer friendly property improvements at a reasonable cost? Visit the Tanger Outlet MallTilton to view a few of the many possibilities. ...sand in the playground area stays in the playground area, thanks to a like-stone-look cobble edging. On the flip side, mulch stays in the mulched areas.

BLC sculpted flatwork enhances standard concrete slabs at the Customer Recreation Area - custom-colored and carved to our client's specs...

A professional, indestructible low-maintenance look.

To learn more and to obtain a quote, with no obligation, please contact: Craig at: craig@belknaplandscape.com or Call 603-455-5904.

Lakes Region Parade of Homes October 8-10, 2011 www.hbranh.com

Belknap Landscape Company, Inc. www.belknaplandscape.com 18 • home • fall 2011

Special Pull-Out Section

Village West 25 Country Club Road Unit 302 Gilford NH 03249 603.528.2798 • Fax 603.528.2799

www.belknaplandscape.com

Continued from page 14

of South Mountain, a part of Loon Mountain in Lincoln. The lot of the home has outdoor living spaces and natural landscaping with year round views of Franconia Notch.

The finished homes are either brand new or remodeled and range in style from classic and spacious Adirondack design to compact yet desirable residential homes to a large Colonial; there is something for everyone on the Parade.

In normal market conditions, according to Buck, builders would construct a home solely for the Parade of Homes and not show it before the event. In the current market conditions, however, builders may have been showing the home leading up to the Parade of Homes. Either way, the homes are among the best in NH and are well decorated and landscaped.

“The Parade rules state that the home must have been built in the last two years,” Buck goes on to explain. “The first year of the Parade, we had 32 homes and this year we have 16 to show.

It’s due to the economy that we have fewer homes, but we are very pleased with the turnout of builders and the wonderful homes that will be on the Parade this year.”

Coordinating the event takes up to a year and it is in part because NH is somewhat different than many states that do a Parade of Homes. “Many states have a small geographical area and the homes are not spread out. NH is a rural state and the homes are indeed quite spread out. That’s why we decided to run the Parade of Homes for two weekends, each focusing on the different area of the state,” says Buck.

There are guidelines for a Home Builders and Remodelers

Meet Our Agents

Association of NH member to enter a home for Parade consideration. “Members who want to participate must meet the qualifications set out in the guidelines. A committee that works on all aspects of the Parade handles public relations, inspecting the chosen homes to make sure they are set up properly for the public to come through and other logistics.”

Although there are fewer houses in the Parade than in prerecession 2007 when the event started in NH, Buck says it has grown in many other ways. “It is growing in recognition and the buying public. People come here who know what a Parade of Homes is because they’ve attended them in other states. They are looking for a home, or maybe thinking about a home for the future.

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home • fall 2011 • 19

“Now that we’ve had a few years under our belt of doing the Parade of Homes, people return to the event each year,” Buck comments. “It’s become an annual event to look forward to and people know the builders will be there to talk about the homes.”

Marketing for the event is intended to reach new homebuyers. “There are real buyers out there,” Buck adds. “But you don’t have to be in the market to buy a home to attend. Anyone can come to the Parade of Homes. It’s a chance to get out and look at some beautiful homes on a fall weekend.”

It is also a good opportunity to learn about and see up close energy efficient homes that are earning certified green labels and also a few condo style homes that are great for retirement or second-home purposes. “We have quite a variety this year,” says

Big Boat?

No Trailer?

No Problem!

Buck. “There will be a few log homes and that style is always extremely popular with the public.”

The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of NH is a trade organization that has over 600 professionals among its membership. It is the voice of the housing industry in NH and works for reasonable regulations of homes. The group also lobbies at the state and national level and provides professional development and education to its members. “We just celebrated our 50th anniversary,” Buck adds.

If you are looking to get out and enjoy the October fall foliage and to see some gorgeous, well-built homes as well, the Parade of Homes is just what you’ve been dreaming of.

For information on the NH Parade of Homes, visit www. hbranh.com or call 228-0351.

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Where Buyer’s Meet Seller’s Sponsored by CENTURY 21 Lakes Region Realty | 603-253-7766 | Offices in Moultonboro and Meredith 20 • home • fall 2011

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318 Whittier Highway (Route 25) • Center Harbor • 253-4381

www.emheathhardware.com home • fall 2011 • 21

Continued from page 7

Pumps | Tanks | Filters | Sales | Service

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Water For Life

which pass on desirable qualities to seedlings, remain in demand and command a higher prices for a longer time. I have one daylily for which, several years ago, I paid over $200, purchased as a new release directly from the hybridizer, this plant became and remains my all-time greatest bloomer, grower, money-maker. (This year the poor thing is again reduced to a starter plant, since I sold off parts at $40 throughout the summer) I have bought many others which offered great promise but did not deliver. These earn their place in my compost pile. End of story. ALL my remaining plants cost somebody big bucks when they were new. The really good ones, some award winners, I retain and sell. I keep the best of the best for my gardens and customers.

However, the real joy is that yesterday’s new and costly beauties, via the magic of plant division can be purchased NOW at a reasonable cost, with no wear and tear, no loss of shine. Same plant, same beauty-comes with a life-time guarantee. Way better than cars, houses and other necessaries of life, which lose value starting at the moment of purchase. Many times I have shared the joy of folks who still have daylilies or other garden plants previously owned by grandparents. Treasures, indeed.

But, to be fair to my business, a quick review of my inventory on www. merrymeetingdaylilies.com will demonstrate that only a few of my available cultivars are costly, that, in fact, most are roughly comparable in cost to garden center offerings.

So a bargain is a bargain, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the older plant is of no less value to the world because of its age. There must be a suitable adage re human value and age, but I will save that for another day.

(If I remember!) Happy Gardening!

Les Turner, founder of Merrymeeting Gardens and currently owner/ digger at Merrymeeting Daylilies, is a retired college dean who has lived in NH since the ‘60s and in New Durham since 1985.

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22 • home • fall 2011

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Between A Rock and A Fireplace

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper The life of a creative person can be challenging, exciting and sometimes difficult. But when you have the calling to create things, the desire to make something with your hands and mind becomes more important than a steady paycheck or a 9 to 5 lifestyle.

It’s always been that way for Tom Estes of Gilford. Early in his life – age 14 to be exact – he discovered masonry and has never looked back. He always loved rocks and digging in the ground for stones. To this day, his eyes light up when he speaks of chiseling open a rock and discovering the colors and patterns within the stone.

“I grew up in Fort St. John, British Columbia,” Tom says. “My great-grandfather was a mason and I guess I take after him. I always liked the woods and different kinds of rocks. When I was 14 I started to work as a stone mason.”

Admittedly Tom was young, and he did not work all the time

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as a mason because he was in school. Slowly, he learned the art form of chiseling stone, laying bricks and building stonewalls and fireplaces.

“As I got older, I had different jobs, such as working in the oil fields. I’ve owned by own business, Tom Estes Masonry, for 22 years now,” he comments.

Tom loves the creativity of making things with stone, especially fireplaces. That gleam of excitement comes into his eyes when he talks about making functional, warming and really beautiful fireplaces.

His wife Pat supports him in his creative endeavors and it does not

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home • fall 2011 • 23

take much to get her to reveal a dream of Tom some day creating a huge fireplace for a home they would live in.

“I enjoy the creativity of masonry work,” Tom says. “I do murals in brick, I’ve made granite benches, stonewalls, fireplaces and even brick houses.”

While many craftsmen would find transporting rocks to Lake Winnipesaukee’s islands for installation to be impossible, for Tom it’s all in a day’s work. He’s known for his island masonry work, including digging rocks, splitting them, carving the rocks and completing jobs for island residents.

“I built a stone fireplaces for a customer on Rattlesnake Island,” Tom recalls. “It took six to seven months. I did a fireplace on Mark Island that was a big project. There are other island projects as well that I have completed.”

Getting the stone to the islands can be done, according to Tom, with the right equipment. “I have it hauled by barge and it takes special equipment to move the rocks. The areas are challenging; the Rattlesnake Island fireplace weighed in at 48,000 pounds.”

Although he has had a crew of up to six guys to help with projects, these days Tom works mostly on his own. “It’s satisfying work.

Masonry is very hands-on; there are few books that teach how to do it. You have to get the feel of the material. It’s really a dying art form.”

Tom goes on to say he has great respect for any craftsman that does a beautiful masonry job. “I look at Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, and I just marvel at the skill it took to cut those stones. It’s not easy to cut stones in that shape.”

To achieve the wonderful stonework masonry Tom does, he says it’s a lot about using your eye to see what might be possible. Laying out the stone on a job must be done correctly.

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Doing it right seems to come naturally to Tom, but in reality it has taken years of practice to become a master of the craft. He has worked recently on a restoration job for a historic commission in charge of the old mills in Dover, NH. He, along with the other masons who bid on the job, was required to do a test brick wall. Tom passed the test and won the job.

Historically significant projects, as well as fireplaces, seem to be favorites for Tom. He respects the work done long ago by stonecutters and masons, whether it be a very old stone walls, like those seen all over New England, or a historic building with skillfully-laid brickwork.

As well as continuing to do intricate masonry jobs, Tom dreams of passing on all he’s learned over his lifetime to someone who wants to learn the art form.

“It is a dying art. Not many people do masonry work these days. I would love to be able to teach what I know to someone just starting out.” Tom’s lifetime of knowledge and experience doing all kinds of masonry projects should indeed be passed on.

Pat names off the many jobs her husband has completed when asked the sort of work he does that especially impresses her. “He did two brick houses in Dover with fancy archways, the projects on Winnipesaukee islands, fireplaces in various locations; just so many jobs.”

In the future the couple dream of building a home that will allow Tom to focus all that creativity on a personal project. “I’d love to build Pat a house with a beautiful fireplace. The kind that is open to the living room and kitchen; sort of a pass-through fireplace.”

He says there is nothing as beautiful as a well built, warming fireplace. It is sure, with the stones and bricks available to him, that Tom would fashion a real work of art for his wife to enjoy.

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Tom adds that he gets calls from homeowners who enjoy the outdoors and want to take their living spaces outside. He installs patios and also has built wonderful pizza ovens and barbecue areas from stone and brick.

The life of a creative person like Tom can indeed be challenging.

His body, he admits, has felt the stress of the work over the years.

“It does wear on the body, because there is a lot of heavy lifting that puts stress on the back and hands. But I really enjoy the creativity of the job,” he says.

As for the future, Tom plans to keep working. “I’m not stopping anytime soon,” he laughs. “I like to make my own schedule, to plan my jobs so I can go fishing if I want!”

Those interested in learning more about Tom’s masonry or to speak with him about a project can call 293-4587.

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home • fall 2011 • 25

Home Renovation is a Dirty Business

by Joanne Zatzkin My husband and I renovate houses and have been doing so for many years. From the beginning of our marriage wanderlust would hit every two or three years and off we’d go in search of a wreck of a house that we could live in while we attempted to create a livable and stylish home.

In the beginning, we attacked projects on our own, but after a while, as our renovations became more and more involved, we sought out professionals to help us tackle the big jobs. It was simple enough to find houses in need of help back in those days. If a house was particularly unsightly, the scourge of the neighborhood and generally falling down, our friends who had no interest would tell their brokers that they knew of a couple who might be. That would be us.

When any given house we lived in was finally complete, right about the time that the neighbors were thanking us for classing up the block, and just when we’d gotten the house precisely the way we wanted it (not to mention finally being able to remember my new phone number), we’d get the itch and start looking around for a new project.

Living in a house that is always under construction has it’s own unique set of problems. And by problems I don’t mean just finding

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the cash to fix something, or plumbers and electricians who don’t show up when promised. I’m referring to construction dirt – more specifically, anything that lands on a flat surface within the house that needs dusting or sweeping before a human can breathe without a mask or eat a sandwich without a plate. Also defined as any dirt that comes into the house and threatens the beauty of a completed room.

On one of our earliest projects, our painter was working on the exterior of our house when my second child, Jake, was just a few months old. Danny was painting trim at the open nursery window and the new baby was napping. I had to run to the store for diapers and it seemed natural to ask Danny to keep an ear out for the baby for the next 8 minutes.

The painter had already said he’d be working on that side of the house for at least an hour and so it sounded like a win/win situation.

And it would have been, if Danny’s radio hadn’t awakened baby Jake, causing him to remove the window screen and come into the nursery to pat Jake on the back.

Our painter inadvertently left a few tarred heel prints on the newly installed nursery carpet, having stepped on the still soft, new driveway before coming up his ladder. But how could I be mad at the sweet and gentle man who comforted my newborn? Somehow I managed.

That same baby grew through toddlerhood asking each day if ‘the

worker-men’ would be coming to play. Most days the answer was yes. Jake enjoyed watching the carpenters pull down walls, put up kitchen tiles and sand wood floors – from a safe distance, of course. He found it far more interesting (and dirty) than anything going on in his nursery school.

My third child, Jed, came along four years and two homes later. The home of his youth had a series of renovation projects in the works most of the time. That was our longest renovation, ending a few years after Jed graduated from high school.

His childhood assumption was that everyone had a dumpster in their driveway at all times. (As an aside, we only did projects in that house every couple of years, so there were actually small gaps in the dumpsters’ comings and goings.)

It was during our 18 years working on that house where I learned to snap a line, shingle, tape, tile a backsplash and put down a kitchen floor. That was also the house in which I learned that no amount of plastic sheeting hanging in a doorway will keep construction dirt out of dressers drawers, pillow cases, kitchen cabinets or hairbrushes and toothbrushes placed ANYWHERE in a house being renovated.

Our present renovation is different from the rest. Besides the fact that the kids are grown and gone, there is no longer any worry about fiber in the form of sawdust floating around in our cereal, or plaster in the party punch bowl - because we’re not living in the house we’re renovating.

Finally! No muss, no fuss, no paint on my pants! It’s a treat not to be breathing in the day-to-day plaster dust. I don’t have to shake out my clothes before getting dressed. How genteel I’ve become.

However, these halcyon days of watching construction from afar and staying fresh and clean are almost over. When it comes to landscaping the new house, I’ll be one of the ‘worker men’ on the job.

A little dirt under my fingernails is something this newly minted gentlewoman can deal with.

Still, I’ll miss the days of vacuuming the stovetop before making dinner for the family, though I’ll never miss getting tar out of a child’s hair.

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Custom Heirloom Furnishings

By Christine H. Randall As I was trying to assemble a mail-order bookcase a few months back, made from the finest pressboard and plywood available and coated with a thin veneer of oak-colored stain, it occurred to me that it probably would have been a smarter decision, both in an economic and aesthetic sense, to have invested in a quality piece of furniture that would last several decades or even a lifetime, rather than opt for an inexpensive piece that I would most likely have to replace in just a few years.

As I picked up a hammer to try to “help” an oversized screw get into an undersized hole, I realized that I am most likely not the first person to come to this conclusion, and if this thought has also occurred to you and you are looking for attractive heirloom quality, custom-made furniture, be sure to check out Eric Johnson’s Furniture, located on Route 3 in Campton.

Eric Johnson’s Furniture, a family owned and operated business, specializes in handcrafted 17th and 18th Century antique reproduction furniture, using hand-picked and defect-free pieces of tiger

maple and cherry, along with some walnut and mahogany. “We use solid wood in all our pieces,” explains woodworker/owner Eric Johnson. “There is no plywood or veneer of any type in our furniture. Each board is hand chosen for figure and color.”

High-quality pine is used as a secondary wood for drawer sides and bottoms and the backs. As for assembling, Eric notes on his website, “Traditional joinery is very important. Most of the joints made in the 17th and 18th centuries cannot be improved upon. The proof of this is all the excellent 250-year-old antiques. Therefore, all of our dovetails are cut by hand (no jigs or dovetail machines).

This is a very time-consuming detail, but an extremely important one. Hand-cut dovetails are not only stronger; they have finer, more delicate details. Pegged mortise and tenon joints are used in all face frames and door frames. This is a locking joint that is just about impossible to break.”

Eric constructs beautiful hutches, tables and bookcases of all sizes, night stands, and

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s Made in New Hampshire entertainment centers, as well as smaller items and accessories including frames, mirrors, wall display shelves, and clocks. All pieces are handcrafted in Eric’s woodworking shop next door to the gallery, and then custom finished to his client’s specifications with a dye stain and several layers of a top lacquer coat for protection.

Eric says that he can produce exact reproductions in the Queen Anne, William and Mary, and Shaker styles for clients, but he adds that people often will often ask him to change the size or other aspect of the piece to fit in with their home décor, so most pieces are not true reproductions. “The furniture from the Queen Anne period is elegant, stylish, and classy, almost understated,” notes Johnson. “Aesthetics, along with function, are stressed, as opposed to the more ornate styles of later periods.” Johnson also likes to add his own designing touches to the furniture.

Eric has been making custom furniture for over 14 years, the last 12 professionally. He is a self-taught craftsman who, while living in Alaska, began making furniture for his house during the long winter months.

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“I was living in Alaska, working as a summer fishing guide, and I needed something to do during the long winter months, so I started making my own furniture for our house,” Eric explains. As word got around about the quality of his pieces and demand grew, Eric and his wife Debbie decided to relocate their family to the East Coast and go into the furniture business fulltime.

All of the wood that Eric uses comes from New England and is cut and milled locally.

Eric has even used wood cut directly from a client’s property for a project. Eric’s wife Debbie notes that even the components and other products used to make the furniture are high quality and are often found locally or within the New England area.

“Folks are putting a higher priority on the reality that we use only the highest quality American-made components and products to enhance Eric’s attention to quality craftsmanship,” Debbie says. “We use old-fashioned milk paint from Massachusetts, and handforged and cast brass hardware from Connecticut. Even our lacquer is manufactured in Vermont, where we go and purchase it I won't just LIST your property... I will SELL IT!!

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directly from the factory where it is made.

“As Eric mentioned, all of our wood is cut and milled locally, and Eric takes it from rough cut to the finished product right here on our Campton property. The few custom parts that Eric doesn’t make himself are done by other local craftsmen. We have been “shopping local” long before it was trendy simply because it makes good sense and assures that we can continue to offer our customers the highest quality products that we know how.”

Debbie admits that while the current economic downturn has had somewhat of a dampening impact on the high-end furniture business, there are also some interesting trends developing.

“One silver lining that I see is that folks are re-thinking purchases both from a "what is important" perspective as well as an emphasis on supporting the American craftsman perspective,” says Debbie.

“For example, some of our interested clients are really quite young, but are putting value on buying a product that is made to last and be a future heirloom, rather than just fulfilling an immediate need or want. Therefore, they are saving up and purchasing once for life, rather than something that will end up needing to be replaced in 10 to 20 years due to style changes or wearing out. We have seen an increased interest from younger families who want to make a qual-

ity investment that will outlast them.”

The gallery in Campton is one of three places that you can find Eric Johnson’s furniture and accessories. Eric also is a member of Artistic Roots Gallery in downtown Plymouth, and during the summer months, he has several smaller pieces available at the Squam Lakes Artisan’s Gallery in Holderness. In addition, you can also order custom-made furniture from Eric’s website www.ericjohnsonsfurniture.com, and while some items need to be shipped to his customers by an outside carrier, he prefers to deliver most of his finished pieces to clients personally, whether they live locally or as far away as Ohio and South Carolina.

“I’ve delivered as far west as central Ohio and as far south as South Carolina and Tennessee,” Eric says. “Not only do I feel more comfortable delivering the pieces myself, I also enjoy meeting the clients, some of whom I’ve only “talked to” previously on the internet.”

The Johnsons can be contacted either through their website or by calling (603) 726-4980, or you can drop by the gallery most days between 9 am and 5 pm (it is recommended that you call ahead) at 2249 U.S. Route 3 in Campton, about two miles north of Exit 28 off of I-93.

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32 • home • fall 2011