Richard Herman is in the hospitality business and owns several upscale hotels in Florida and in other states as well as cattle ranches in both Florida and Missouri. Their farm in Ocala is by farm their most unique. The property serves as a 4-H demonstration project for the purpose of children’s education. They have been working with the Academy Prep of St. Pete which is dedicated to inner-city youths that are selected on the basis of need and achievement. Wife Diane spends her time on the farm raising Gypsy Vanners, a diminutive draft horse named after the job they did in Eastern Europe, pulling the wagons (vans) for gypsies that wandered across the continent. On the Ocala farm, there are several mules with a unique profession. Richard had visited the Hearthstone display at a Log & Timber Home Shows at the Orlando Convention Center many years ago. He was impressed that Hearthstone had stayed in touch with him over the years by mailings, invitations to shows, and periodic phone calls. When the time came to start serious consideration of the design of barn, Hearthstone responded promptly and professionally to Richard and Diane’s requests for information and a review of their ideas for their barn, which would serve as the centerpiece for their new farm. They wanted a multipurpose facility that could accommodate an educational environment and a large hall suitable for the fundraising events for his charities. Richard wanted a barn that reflected the look and feel of barns built at the dawn of the 20th century. Besides the rustic chicken houses and vegetable gardens, they have completely renovated a 1020’s era farmhouse to be as historically correct as possible and serves as the entry to the farm. “They very careful to feel us out, get comfortable with our capabilities, and be convinced that we could perform as promised,” said Project Manager John Ricketson of Hearthstone. Design Process There were some initial drawings that gave us a start on the basic shape and size of the barn. From there, it was a process of narrowing down the uses of each area and the spans that could be achieved. The barn was going to have the traditional “board & batten” exterior siding and a metal roof. There is a cantilevered ‘hay hood” on the north gable end above the large sliding barn doors that open into the foyer and horse stalls. The wings house a combination of areas, beginning with the large restrooms to accommodate crowds for events. Other parts of the wings have garage areas for the farm vehicles, feed room, tack room, wash rack, storage, offices, and smaller restrooms. Keeping with the look and feel of the turn of the century, Hearthstone developed a process for giving the timbers a surface texture that mimicked the circular cuts of timbers that had just come out of an old sawmill. This was easier said than done. Randy Giles guided his millwright (Wolfgang) in designing a machine that would do this effectively. The barn was delivered in October of 2014 and was erected over the course of two weeks, thanks to a hardworking crew (Eric Foster) and near-perfect weather. After the Hearthstone crew completed the erection and roof dry-in, it was time for the local carpenters to step up and install some light conventional framing on the gable ends before applying the roof fascia and exterior board & batten siding. Next came the big sliding barn doors, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling. Large rustic fixtures were hung from the great hall roof timbers. Exterior The board & batten siding was cypress and allowed to turn color naturally as rain hit it and the sun started working on it with UV rays. This method causes a much grayer look closer to the ground and less so where the roof overhang provides protection. The North end has some large limestone boulders and planters arranged around the pad with tall pampas grass. The planters provide casual seating before events and during outside receptions. The entire area was sodded with lush St. Augustine grass and split rail fences were added to enclose the barn area. The corrugated metal roof was a special order material that immediately rusted after being exposed to moisture. The layer of rust protects the metal from the elements. Interior The board & batten theme was carried throughout most of the interior with the timbers left natural to show off the circular saw texture. All of the tongue & groove decking was shipped in advance to allow the local painter to pre-stain it with a dark brown transparent stain that is a beautiful background to the light color Eastern White Pine timbers. “Everything was unique in this project” said Project Manager John Ricketson. “The setting on a small demonstration farm close to Ocala, the multipurpose design, the circular saw texture on the timbers.” The Hermans are very proud of their farm’s outcome. Richard sent a note to Randy Giles, owner of Hearthstone: “The Barn is fantastic, not a single problem, period. Next month, we have Jo Dee Messina coming in to help with a fundraiser for a local center for abused kids. Folks love the farm, ...... but that barn gets all of the attention. I would encourage you to use me as a reference for your sales team, feel free to extend my cell phone to any prospective purchasers.”

Amazing views of the Hudson River were the focus of our 2011 renovation of this three-bedroom condo for a popular TV personality. A large-screen TV is tucked behind closed doors in the living room to accommodate the client’s desire to host viewing parties for televised sporting events. Renovating and decorating this space was quick and effortless, as we’d worked with the client on three other projects over the previous 10 years.

As a central focus of the project, the Kitchen remodel addresses both the challenging flow of the rooms and outlines a seamless connection to the existing interior character. The original Kitchen entrance from the back hall featured a central set of stairs that divided the room. The new design removes these stairs opening up the Breakfast Banquette, Kitchen, and Butler’s Pantry into one expansive, flowing space. The Kitchen is now equipped with multiple seating areas and additional surfaces for food prep and service to support both casual gatherings and catered events. The new Kitchen design incorporated traditional finishes such as natural stone and neutral color tones, complemented by white cabinetry and millwork.

Young Life’s Mountain Lodge is a well-built, 3-story structure with capacity to sleep up to 50. ADA compliant with full commercial kitchen, huge living area and game room. One acre total including contiguous 3/4-acre lot on Donner Pass with development opportunities. A perfect place for retreats, family events or corporate housing. Surrounded by endless outdoor recreation options from skiing in winter to boating, rock climbing, hiking and biking in summer.

Young Life’s Mountain Lodge is a well-built, 3-story structure with capacity to sleep up to 50. ADA compliant with full commercial kitchen, huge living area and game room. One acre total including contiguous 3/4-acre lot on Donner Pass with development opportunities. A perfect place for retreats, family events or corporate housing. Surrounded by endless outdoor recreation options from skiing in winter to boating, rock climbing, hiking and biking in summer.

Young Life’s Mountain Lodge is a well-built, 3-story structure with capacity to sleep up to 50. ADA compliant with full commercial kitchen, huge living area and game room. One acre total including contiguous 3/4-acre lot on Donner Pass with development opportunities. A perfect place for retreats, family events or corporate housing. Surrounded by endless outdoor recreation options from skiing in winter to boating, rock climbing, hiking and biking in summer.

The owners of this waterfront property were in search of an estate that would afford retirement in style. They envisioned Sunday family dinners, pool parties for their grandchildren, and philanthropic galas with one hundred guests. Our charge was to design a residence that could support events of a grand scale without losing the intimacy of their home. Taking our inspiration from the shingle-style homes on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod, we developed a layout that responds to the 270-degree water views and the mountains beyond.

Young Life’s Mountain Lodge is a well-built, 3-story structure with capacity to sleep up to 50. ADA compliant with full commercial kitchen, huge living area and game room. One acre total including contiguous 3/4-acre lot on Donner Pass with development opportunities. A perfect place for retreats, family events or corporate housing. Surrounded by endless outdoor recreation options from skiing in winter to boating, rock climbing, hiking and biking in summer.

Constructing a Man Cave or Game Room Following the 2014 Super bowl, did you question the space you hosted the event in? Was everyone crammed in, continually running to the fridge or complaining that they couldn’t hear the program? Now is the time to consider renovating this space. Whether it be converting the garage into a Man Cave or offering the kids a unique space of their own, this new room can be constructed to include all the luxuries of today’s new technologies. Hidden speakers under the drywall, rubber flooring, and Apps that your phone controls such as lighting and sound. Additional items when renovating to consider would be - 4 (or duplex) outlets or quads for those locations that have not only the TV but also Wii, Xbox and Playstation to plug in. - A separate entrance to this game room preferably with wider doors. - Concrete floors & textured walls. - A bar or kitchenette that contains a small fridge, sink, wine cooler, and don’t forget the ice maker! This renovated “Sports” room will be your home’s showcase! Vanco Construction provides high-quality renovation services with capabilities that complement each and every family member’s preference. Call us today at (973) 994-0616

Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Orange County

Imagine a cake stand that can take you from serving desserts at your most posh event to holding your trinkets and candles in your living room. Elegant and versatile, the Isabelle Collection white cake stand will stand out at an upscale party or work effortlessly against your everyday décor. At 12-inches wide with our signature ornate design, this cake stand can hold a variety of sized cakes, desserts, or décor pieces. The stand comes in two easy to assemble pieces.

Tall built-in cabinetry in a black wood-grain finish sits flush beside the walnut-toned acoustic slat wall in the Lebanese American University (LAU) New York seminar room. Designed by Studio 1820, the floor-to-ceiling cabinet has handle-free doors and vented lower panels, so equipment and event supplies can be stored out of sight while staying ventilated. The slat panels use staggered horizontal reveals that step with the edge of the carpeted stage, a subtle detail that ties the wall to the room’s layout. Soft gray carpet tiles and a crisp white wall keep the palette calm, while a black-and-white framed photograph adds character. Hidden storage like this keeps a multipurpose room clean and uncluttered between events.

Young Life’s Mountain Lodge is a well-built, 3-story structure with capacity to sleep up to 50. ADA compliant with full commercial kitchen, huge living area and game room. One acre total including contiguous 3/4-acre lot on Donner Pass with development opportunities. A perfect place for retreats, family events or corporate housing. Surrounded by endless outdoor recreation options from skiing in winter to boating, rock climbing, hiking and biking in summer.

Young Life’s Mountain Lodge is a well-built, 3-story structure with capacity to sleep up to 50. ADA compliant with full commercial kitchen, huge living area and game room. One acre total including contiguous 3/4-acre lot on Donner Pass with development opportunities. A perfect place for retreats, family events or corporate housing. Surrounded by endless outdoor recreation options from skiing in winter to boating, rock climbing, hiking and biking in summer.

Amazing views of the Hudson River were the focus of our 2011 renovation of this three-bedroom condo for a popular TV personality. A large-screen TV is tucked behind closed doors in the living room to accommodate the client’s desire to host viewing parties for televised sporting events. Renovating and decorating this space was quick and effortless, as we’d worked with the client on three other projects over the previous 10 years.

Young Life’s Mountain Lodge is a well-built, 3-story structure with capacity to sleep up to 50. ADA compliant with full commercial kitchen, huge living area and game room. One acre total including contiguous 3/4-acre lot on Donner Pass with development opportunities. A perfect place for retreats, family events or corporate housing. Surrounded by endless outdoor recreation options from skiing in winter to boating, rock climbing, hiking and biking in summer.

Photo: Caroline Sharpnack © 2017 Houzz
Example of an eclectic living room design in Nashville

Inheriting your childhood home can be a fortunate event. It can also present a unique set of problems. Built in the 1960’s this raised ranch was typical of so many homes across America. The now new Owner wanted a new vision. The requirements included creating a Master Bedroom Suite, addressing its Front Entry, and removing the ground floor built-in garage. Nestled into a beautiful residential lot that now had mature trees and landscaping it was important to reshape the proposed work with the Landscape in mind. The house underwent a full Interior and Exterior Renovation including siding, doors and windows, new Bathrooms, and an overall rethinking of the interior flow. In this case we called it “Raising the Raised Ranch”. All photos © Nadia Tarr

The home of Nobel Prize and Pullitzer Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck is located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Each year they host the Festival of Trees holiday event. I was selected to decorate the large library. The tree depicted holiday traditions throughout the world. Different framed photos were hung, along with traditional holiday decorations. A sleigh filled with gifts and books sits adjacent to the tree. A bircage filled with seasonal decor is the focus of the seating area. Two carolers adorn the fireplace.