This older 1970s home in the Key West Subdivision in Charlottesville is being renovated to have a new primary bedroom suite and kitchen expansion. A new living room expansion is off of the rear as well. An exciting feature of this renovation project is the addition of an entertainment area below the primary suite, which will include a golf simulator. Stay tuned for updates on this space!
Our second project update is in Wintergreen Resort. Over the years, our client has enjoyed this home for family gatherings and ski trips, and they needed more space for their growing family. We helped to turn an existing open-air covered porch into two additional bedrooms and a bathroom. In addition to these bedrooms, there will be a large deck overlooking the mountains which will lead you to a new covered pavilion with a stone-covered fireplace. It’s easy to imagine those cozy, cold days sitting around the fire.
The beautiful Virginia leaves are changing to oranges and yellows, and fall is upon us. As we slip into cozy, chilly days, now is a good time to prep your home for the colder winter days ahead. It’s also a good time to make sure your home is healthy for the increasing amount of time we spend indoors. To get you started, here are 10 things you can do for your home this fall to help you improve its energy efficiency and safety and save you money.
The good thing is, you don’t have to do everything on this list to save yourself money and make your home safer, even just doing one or two things can help! So if doing all of these isn’t realistic for you, try doing one or two this year. Consider this a starting point for future updates.
1. Seal Windows and Doors
Ensure your home is energy-efficient and reduce the outdoor allergens in your home by sealing gaps around windows and doors. You can add weatherstripping to stop the air leaks, and a quick caulking job can prevent drafts and reduce your heating costs in winter. Use a windy day to help identify air leaks, or give us a call and Charles can help you find leaks with a free energy-audit.
2. Inspect and Clean Your Gutters
Late fall is the perfect time to clean out debris from your gutters to prevent blockages and water damage. All the leaves and twigs that have accumulated can create blockages which can lead to stagnant water, which attracts pests and provides a place for mold to grow. Once the temperatures dip below freezing, sitting water will freeze and expand, which can cause cracks in the gutter system and damage to your home’s exterior. Cleaning out your gutters can protect the structural integrity of your home and help avoid expensive repairs in the future. For more detailed information, check out American Home Contractors blog: “How to clean gutters in Virginia?“.
Before the winter storms, trim any deadwood and overgrown branches that could fall and cause damage to your home or power lines during high winds, heavy ice, or snow.
5. Check and Clean Dryer Vents
Lint buildup in dryer vents is a common fire hazard. Clean your dryer vent thoroughly to reduce the risk of fire, speed up drying time for each load, and help save electricity.
6. Service Your HVAC System
Schedule a professional inspection for your heating system to ensure it’s working efficiently. Replace filters and clean ducts for better air quality. Leaves can also pile up around your outdoor heat pump which can drastically reduce the efficiency of the unit, so make sure to check outdoors too.
7. Inspect The Fireplace and Chimney
If you have a fireplace, now is the time to clean and inspect your chimney. Ensure it’s free from debris or creosote build-up for safe use during the colder months.
8. Check Your Home’s Exterior for Damage
Look for cracks, gaps, or damage to siding, brickwork, and foundation. When water seeps into small cracks or gaps in the siding, brickwork, or foundation, it can freeze during cold temperatures. As water freezes, it expands, causing the cracks to widen. Repeated freezing and thawing can lead to significant structural damage, like crumbling brickwork, larger gaps in siding, or even foundation shifts. Addressing small issues now can prevent larger problems as temperatures drop.
9. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If you’re making your way through the list, why not ensure all your safety alarms are functioning properly? It’s always a good idea. Replace batteries and test the devices to ensure that they’re working when needed.
10. Winterize Outdoor Faucets
Disconnect hoses, drain outdoor faucets, and install insulated covers to prevent frozen pipes during winter. This small task can prevent major plumbing issues. Forbes Home gives a quick and easy How-To in their beginner guide: “How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets“.
Our clients approached us to find the most efficient way to add space to their modern vacation cottage in Luray. The cottage had two modest bedrooms and one bath, with a kitchen that allowed for one person at a time to prepare food. There was not space for sitting down with a larger group to share a meal together. The building site had challenges with only a small space for expansion. The list of challenges to achieve the goals was long but achievable.
We worked through a few design options to set the priorities vs the budget. The biggest challenge with any renovation project is balancing what has to be done to achieve the goals with what could be done in addition to the goals. Changing out some of the windows and part of the siding allowed for the functional parts of the house to be finished. A phase 2 will upgrade the remaining parts of the modern cottage in the future.
The end results are clear – it is a beautiful and restful destination. The kitchen now feels very large with the vaulted ceiling, has space for gathering, and multiple people can work at the same time. The exposed beams bring the warmth of wood into the space while the white cabinets reflect the light, making it a bright space to be in. The large primary suite added a new luxury bathroom and sitting area. This space connects to a closet and laundry room. The exterior blends into the landscape and the rear deck will be used as an expansion of living space during the warm months.
Planning an addition and renovation has many questions that we have learned to ask to help prioritize the goals. We know how to balance budget, design goals, and functional requirements. This project is a great example of how to amplify a small footprint project to make it beautiful and functional for the life our clients want to live in this place.
A high percentage, 90% or more, of the houses built in the United States are not designed by an architect. Builders and developers that have expertise in efficiency of building make the design decisions. These homes do not look at quality of life, value added to the occupants, energy efficiency, or even the land they are sitting on. These houses don’t maximize the potential for natural light or think through how a particular family might live in the spaces created.
A house designed by an architect can significantly improve the daily lives of those living in the home. First is the functional layout of the house, which, when working with an architect, will go through careful consideration. The client is asked many questions about how they live and how they want to live. This is a time to dream of what could happen if the house you live in facilitated the life you want. Think about getting a home that captures the view of a sunrise while you comfortably sit and sip your morning coffee. What about when all the family comes together to celebrate and the home is sized to adapt, making a large group feel welcome and comfortable where daily the spaces are just right for your small family.
Architects will also focus on the aesthetic appeal of the whole home, details within the home, and help coordinate space to space. Thinking through bringing in natural light and ventilation will make the home warm and inviting. Of course, there is also the focus on building science that helps with indoor air quality and energy-efficiency. With an architect you will get the right spaces in the right places for how you imagine your dream life. The architect will balance budget concerns with quality goals. They will look at the land and how the house should sit in that space and make the home as future flexible as possible.
In a home designed by an architect there will be little things that you might overlook that make life easier. Window in the right place and right size, HVAC system that cleans the air you breath, and a kitchen that allows for gathering. The home will be a lifetime home and not just your new home.
Our most recent Elk Rock Meadow custom home is moving along and now has walls, windows, and a roof. This Craftsman Style house is being built by Herr and Company.
The driveway brings you into the site and towards the front of the home. From there you can see the barn on the left and the incredible front porch. The two-story home on a partial basement will feature craftsman-style details including stone bases on the tapered columns. The barn on the left will allow our clients to have flexible workspace for their future hobbies. The two-story structure has garage bays and an open plan second floor.
The house entry is recessed giving plenty of room to greet guests while framing the view through the back of the house and out over the valley beyond.
The den in the back opens up to a large deck area where you will be able to enjoy some amazing views.
Pictured below is the house wrap that protects the walls from bulk water while allowing vapor to move through the assembly. This is an important element of the building science strategies used to make this home durable, efficient, and comfortable.
As the house continues to take shape we will post updates. To see past blogs about this project, you can visit Here and Here.
Our Charlottesville office has moved back downtown and we celebrated with a ribbon cutting. This Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce event was a great way to introduce our new space to our clients and celebrate moving back downtown. Our company was founded 35+ years ago in Albemarle County and soon moved to the downtown to better serve our clients. Getting back to the downtown neighborhood was a goal for us as we love being in the heart of the business district.
This space allows us easy access to meet our clients and friends on the downtown mall for lunch and to support other locally owned businesses. The little blue house has a great location at 910 E. High St and our sign along the road is already getting a lot of attention.
Our new space features a first floor accessible conference room.
It also has private office space and an open studio.
Ray brought in a vintage bookcase that fits perfectly in the space and has some beautiful details.
If you missed the ribbon cutting, please stop by to see us. While we will not have food out for every visit you can always check to fridge to see if James packed his lunch – just tell him Charles said it was ok for you to eat it. I am sure he will not mind.
