Feature Enables - Photos & Ideas

Lake Home - "Best Achievement in Energy Efficiency"

This rustic style home on Hartwell Lake was designed and built for the owners to enjoy with family and friends during their active weekend lifestyle. The home was built on a narrow, deep lot that was semi-level on the roadside and steep on the lakeside. The back half of the lot heavily wooded with mature oak and poplar trees reducing the harsh sun’s heat gain on the home. The exterior utilizes fiber cement cedar shake and lap siding complimented by deep brown colors for the windows, soffit, trim and the large square columns. A nice balance of natural earth toned stacked stone rounds out the exterior materials completing the rustic casual lake living. The home 5400 SF is designed and built on thee levels each having a primary focus. The main level creates primary daily living for the owners. This level features an open plan with an entry, stair, dining, kitchen and living areas leading to a large lakeside screened porch. A master suite is privately tucked off its own hallway and allowing it to enjoy the lakeside as well with its own private deck. On the opposite side are two bedrooms, a study and a shared bathroom for each to utilize. An open carport for two vehicles was created with the motor court and connects to the mudroom/utility room giving the owners direct entry into their home. The upper level is for the grand children with an oversized bedroom, bathroom and loft area for play. The lower level is the considered the party level. Its primary feature is an elevated stage for the owner’s band opened to a large seating area, dining and kitchen for viewing and listening with direct access to another screened porch. Flanking each side is a theater and two additional bedrooms and bathrooms. Energy Efficient features include: • The majority of the lower level sunk into the site below grade • 6” thick walls utilizing advanced framing techniques • Foil covered roof sheathing • Extensive use of blown in cellulous • All windows & doors are double paned low E argon filed glass • Tank-less water heaters • Three separate high efficiency HVAC units with programmable thermostats and a fresh air ERV. Lastly the owner requested we make every effort to sound proof the home. Many materials and techniques gave a duel purpose and added to the energy efficiency. These items include: • 2x6 walls with staggered studs • Extensive use if rock wool acoustic batting • Tempered glass in all exterior doors and windows • ¼ thick Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) was installed on the top and bottom of the floor trusses and on all lower level walls. The combination of the design and detailing utilizing these specific materials enabled us to achieve a 5 Star Plus Energy Star Certification with a HERS Index Score of 50. This home received a the 2015 Pinnacle Award from the SC Home Builders Association for the “Best Achievement in Energy Efficiency” sponsored by the SC Department Commerce.

Julian Hodges - Gate Building and Architectural Milling

Truitt and White Window and Door Showroom

Julian Hodges - Featured Project of the Month by Truitt & White This month featured project brings you beautifully crafted gates and entryways from local craftsman Julian Hodges. For over 35 years, Mr. Hodges has been designing and crafting custom wooden gates in Berkeley and the greater Bay Area. His projects mainly feature old growth, vertical grained redwood or western red cedar which is air or kiln dried. The gates are fully mortised and tenoned (male / female joints) and a very powerful epoxy is used to glue the parts together. Wherever a floating panel rides in a dado, drainage is provided in the form of several holes that are out of sight that allow any rain water to be ushered out at the bottom of the gate enabling the gate to dry itself rather than staying damp which otherwise could lead to long term decomposition of the wood. Adding to the unique feel of each gate, Julian creates his own custom hardware from heavy gauge steel, which also provides a pleasing solid sound as it operates. All gates are then finished in a penetrating oil seal which optimizes the longevity and good appearance of the gates. For more information on Julian Hodges' work, visit www.julianhodges.com.

Wayne Ppol

Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute

HNA Hardscape Project Award Winner Wayne Pool Wayne, New Jersey Monello Landscape Industries Design elements and features include six multi level paver patios, three permeable paver patios, and a sunken pool bar and kitchen with seating inside and outside the pool. A 20 foot double water falls drops into a pond with glass panels that separate the pool from the pond enabling views of koi. A 24 in. by 30 foot running/trickle water wall over natural stone into the the pool is also features. Additional items include three built-in bistro tables, a 20 foot high boulder wall system featuring perennial garden plantings, and floating boulders built into the pool. Design challenges included a 12 foot high bar wall engineered with ¾ in. rebar and a solid concrete pour. Lower levels of the patio system were built and excavated below the water table level, so an extensive and creative drainage system was installed. In addition, water pumps were active during construction. Trenching was so extensive under and around the hardscape areas that all soil had to be removed from the site and replaced with compacted clean stone so there was no threat of future settlement. There was over 1500 cubic yards of soil removed from the site and over 1500 yards of aggregate trucked into the site.

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Julian Hodges - Gate Building and Architectural Milling

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Complete Backyard Designed in East Islip NY

Gappsi

Complete Backyard Designed in East Islip NY The family in this East Islip home wanted a pool for entertaining that was built to last. Giuseppe Abbrancati, owner/designer of Smithtown-based Gappsi, Inc. suggested a gunite saltwater pool in a Sports Pool style design where both sides of the pool are shallow and the deep end is in the middle. “Gunite pools make a statement. They are a very customizable pool. That is why you see a sundeck, round steps, and LED lights inside the pool. You can shape the cement any way you want it and apply any finish. They are also highly durable,” says Abbrancati who has been building pools for the last thirty years. “The deepest part of this pool is six feet. It’s built like that so you can play volleyball in the pool and its fair ground,” he adds. Abbrancati designed a classic rectangular-shaped pool that is 16 by 32 foot in size and has that sleek modern look. “Everyone in the Hamptons has the gunite rectangular shape. It is the most elegant,” he says. The pool, he explains, is a cobalt blue diamond bright with quartz finish. Before the installation, the house - that is close to a hundred years old- had a simple concrete patio. in order to keep the character of the home, Abbrancati chose a brick looking veneer that would blend in with the existing bricks to make it look like the pool was always there. “I didn’t want the pool to look like it was an addition. I wanted it to look like it was built with the house 100 years ago,” he says. Travertine pavers were added throughout. Additional features of the property that Abbrancati built was a sunken down natural fire pit made from rocks and lava and an L-shaped bench for seating. 1. One of the corners of the pool features a blue stone counter three feet wide that is designed to enjoy snacks and beverages poolside. 2. Seating inside the pool with stools built inside the pool made from veneer with glass tiles is an ideal spot for socializing. 3. A twelve-foot long natural gas fire pit runs alongside the pool so you can roast marshmallows and eat smores right from the pool. The fire accent is also a beautiful decorative feature that adds ambiance. 4. A sundeck is accessible on the shallow end of the pool and an ideal place to place a lounge chair. 5. To keep the pool pristine an ‘auto-cover’ was installed. With a push of a button - located next to the sliding door- the auto-cover opens and closes. 6. The pool has a gas heater and the temperature can go as high as 104 degrees. The average setting is between 80 to 85. The heater goes on automatically and the technology enables the homeowner to set the temperature that is comfortable for them.

COUNTRY CHARM

The Outdoor Kitchen Design Store

Wallingford, Ct. Living beyond the walls of your home outdoors seamlessly to capture the serenity of the morning sun and after evening dinner gatherings were on the menu for this great family. The idea at hand brought forth by outdoor living fabulously designer Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES were graciously accepted and the work began to not only enlarge the deck space but to capture value centers for Outdoor culinary, evening bar and Alfresco and the convenience of a nearby splash in the hot tub surrounded by granite and even a remote Fire feature above the hot tub. All these features part of the recipe for Living Outdoors fabulously. If you look close enough you can see the masonry details in which Preferred Properties is known for. The elegance of Stone surrounding Brown Jordan's cabinetry in Java color shows the insightfulness of masterful outdoor Kitchen builder Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. The sprawling outdoor grill island has plenty of work or play space for that matter highlighting DCS grill, plenty of storage, two drawer refrigerator and a trash pull all capped off with large swirling granite counters. A nice touch here is the top shelf designed for sight lines from entering the back yard, wind blockage for grilling, receptacles, and even night lighting underneath to illuminate at night. The second area is the sprawling bar and beverage Alfresco up against the house. Even the top shelf mimics the octagon bow window shape. The stone and granite details surround a nice layout of outdoor cabinetry for user convenience. The third area more of a splash to the outdoor living fabulously label is a Sundance spa enabled by a step down into from the deck. The new Deck and multi level stone surround with Remote firewalls keeps the fire visible from the house and poses as a privacy screen and back drop for the hot tub. These subtle features and design ideas by our team make the homeowners feel absolutely fabulous about the newly unfound space. For more great outdoor kitchens go to THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES. www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com or call right away at 1-855-GET OUTDOORS

Before & After-Coastal Master Bathroom

Bathroom Remodeling Teacher

After: This bathroom turned out beautifully! 12x12 porcelain tile graces the shower walls, with a corresponding mosaic border. Brushed nickel accessories accompanied with a clean quartz countertop polish the space. The wood style tile flooring matches well with the wall tile. These are the before and after pictures of a large master bathroom remodel that was done by Steve White (owner of Bathroom Remodeling Teacher and SRW Contracting, Inc.) Steve has been a bathroom remodeling contractor in the Pittsburgh area since 2008. Steve has created easy-to-follow courses that enable YOU to build your own bathroom. He has compiled all of his industry knowledge and tips & tricks into several courses he offers online to pass his knowledge on to you. He makes it possible for you to BUILD a bathroom just like this coastal style master bathroom. Check out his courses by visiting the Bathroom Remodeling Teacher website at: https://www.bathroomremodelingteacher.com/learn.