Masculine Influence (110)When Lester Anixter moved from chilly Chicago to sunny Montecito, Calif., he found a contemporary house he wanted to update. Tour the home that Anixter personalized with the help of its original architect, Jack Warner, while maintaining the integrity of the original design.
Then, check out the Versailles, Ky. abode of Mark Coughin. The spacious 2,200-square-foot home was designed for function and has a contemporary feel emphasized by its large windows and abundance of light.
Next stop: Dorchester, Mass., where Douglas Truesdale found a fixer-upper in a three-story, shingle-style home built in 1909. The house had been divided into three separate apartments by its previous owners, and it needed serious work. Truesdale opened the first floor entryway, created a two-level home and retained the separate third floor apartment. With an eye for color and light, he lightened the woodwork, stained the floors and used classic Biedermeier furniture in his newly renovated home.
Finally, tour a modern 6,800-square-foot Atlanta home. The home's high ceilings, large tinted windows and skylights, and nearly an entire wall of glass make the interior feel more like a courtyard than an enclosed room. The house's pool, tennis court, whirlpool and steam shower help make it a beautiful example of modern living.
Winter Home Facts:
- More than $120 billion is spent remodeling each year in the US.
- Limestone requires sealing because it is soft, porous and stains easily.
- Maple wood is extremely durable—it is used to make bowling pins and bowling lanes.
- Dutch Delft tiles date back to the 1620s. Authentic Delft pottery bears a royal stamp.
Resources:
Montecito and Santa Barbara Volume I : From Farms to Estates
by David F. Myrick
Montecito and Santa Barbara Volume II : The Days of the Great Estates
by David F. Myrick
MontecitoVillage.com
See what Montecito has to offer
www.montecitovillage.com
Quaint Quarters Facts:
- The average cost per acre of land in Versailles, Ky. is $2,700.
- In feng shui, bright, airy rooms with lots of natural light promote good "chi"—and positive energy flows through windows.
- Through placement of art and furniture, you can create an intimate space in a room with large walls.
Resources:
The Feng Shui House Book : Change Your Home, Transform Your Life
by Gina Lazenby, William Spear
The Feng Shui Advantage
Feng Shui your home
www.fengshuiadvantage.com
Rose Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast
While looking for your piece of heaven in Versailles you can stay here.
www.rosehillinn.com
Bye-Bye City Facts:
- Some distinguishing traits of shingle-style homes include unadorned doors and windows, large porches, continuous wood shingles and steeply pitched roofs.
- Stripping existing fireplaces may expose lead paint; contact the EPA for guidelines.
- Biedermeier furniture was designed for the urban culture of the early 19th century. It was named for "Papa Biedermeier," a cartoon character who was a symbol for the middle class.
Resources:
The World of Biedermeier
by Linda Chase, et al
Shingle Style: 155 Home Plans from Classic Colonials to Breezy Bungalows
Biedermeier-Vienna
www.biedermeier-vienna.com
The Doctor's In Facts:
- In feng shui, stairs leading directly to a home's entrance can symbolize carrying away a family's wealth.
- Renaissance artists used stucco for mural art called sgraffito—a method of scratching a top coat of plaster to reveal an undercoat of a deeper, contrasting color.
- The paintings of Henry C. Porter are in the private collections of Bill Cosby, Iman, and the late Sammy Davis, Jr.
Resources:
The American Dream/ The American Nightmare: The Authoritative Guide to Building Your Custom Home
by John L., Jr. Dogdill, J. J. Cogdill, Kelly A. Bowman
C.R.I. Homes Inc.
Build your own dream home in Atlanta.
www.crihomes.com
How to Plan, Subcontract and Build Your Dream House
by Warren V. Jaeger
