Search results for "Reduce lack" in Home Design Ideas

Timber frame homes offer unique challenges during a remodel. What often makes them beautiful and attractive to most homeowners, also makes them challenging for space requirements.
Context: The lovely couple that owned this home were struggling with some interesting floor plan challenges that just didn't work for their family. The loved the beautiful timbers and woodwork of their home, but the dramatically sloping ceilings on the second floor, particularly in the bathroom, just didn't work for this 1 1/2 bath home. Needing to use the skylight to approach the toilet was a less then ideal scenario. Although the bathroom footprint was more then adequate, the sloped ceiling only made half of the space useable. Check out the Before/After post on our blog to see the photos of the house pre-renovation. As much as they loved all the wood features in their home, another challenge they had was light. The wood ceiling made everything inside the house darker, even with a fantastic array of south facing windows, there were spaces in the home that felt dark and small. When they contacted us they wanted to know how could they make their brighter and more inviting, were there solutions to the 2nd floor sloped ceiling issues, and if they were going to do all of this work, how could they make their home more comfortable and efficient. A nagging water leak in the upstairs bathroom spurred them into action and here is how we solved their dilemma.
Conclusion: First, we added a little dormer to the rear of the house so we could get full headroom in nearly all of the upstairs bathroom! Then we decided to extend that dormer one more timber bay over to create a walk in closet with natural light and plenty of space. Since we were contemplating energy efficiency, we resolved a nagging issue that is present in a lot of timber frame construction, air tightness. Commonly found in timber frame construction, fiberglass insulation is installed in the rafter bays and board ceilings are installed over top. Unfortunately, board ceilings are anything but air tight, and fiberglass insulation needs to be in an airtight cavity for maximum effectiveness. So we were able to solve two issues at the same time for this homeowner. We removed the board ceiling and fiberglass insulation, we dense packed the rafter bays with cellulose insulation, and installed sheetrock in place of the boards. The boards were salvaged for re-use by the homeowner, and the space and light quality was dramatically improved. Some may think that losing the board ceiling took something away from the space, but what you'll see in the pictures is that it highly accentuates the heavy timbers and really makes them stand out in a beautiful way. Now with this added airtightness, better insulation, and brighter space, the homeowner hardly runs their wood stove, and it's so quiet in the space, an added bonus from changing the insulation. It became necessary to also add a sheetrock ceiling to the living room to hide the plumbing from the new bathroom layout above. Changing this ceiling gave the homeowner some real quality lighting that was lacking in the living room before. The brighter ceiling and new lighting layout completely transforms the living room into a space you want to hang out, even though the layout didn't change at all. When the homeowner saw the finished spaces she said "I can't believe this is my house, I want to live in this house"
Energy Efficiency: I touched a little on the efficiency above, but like all projects done with Mottram Architecture, we always want to leave you with a little extra. Timber frame construction with board ceilings and fiberglass insulation are notoriously leaky! If you want to know what we think about fiberglass insulation, check our our blog post on Why Fiberglass Insulation Sucks. By installing cellulose insulation and covering it with sheetrock we were able to greatly reduce the heat flowing out of this home. It not only improves cashflow it improves the comfort level in the space. Who wants to sit in their living room and feel a draft? Let us remind you, we are not saying cellulose insulation is an air barrier, we use the sheetrock to help with that, but it does significantly reduce the air flow over fiberglass insulation. And when we reduce the airflow, we reduce the heat flow. And when we reduce the heat flow, we reduce the need to re-heat that drafty air from outside. When it comes to energy efficiency the first and best place to start is air infiltration. We greatly reduced the air infiltration with the new insulation, but we also added a hat and warm boots. What I mean by that is, we improved the insulation in the roof, and we installed insulation in the basement. Maybe it's a silly analogy, but when you think about keeping warm, we always start with the hat and boots! With sustainability in mind, the next project will be to add a deck to the front of this house with rain catchment barrels from the metal roof. They are planning to plant a garden in the spring and the rain catchment system will help to irrigate the new garden.
Builder: East Shore Builders
Photographer: Michael Eric Berube

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine.
Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home.
The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living.
This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut.
Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

After their brand new construction was completed, this family had a beautiful and comfortable home that truly fit their needs. However, this new construction lacked an outdoor living space, which left the backyard feeling stark and bare. With this blank slate, we were able to create a relaxing environment for this family to enjoy.
Faced with the challenge of using every square-inch of this small space, Native Edge was able to design a landscape that left this family worry-free. We incorporated a low maintenance composite decking system, modern raised metal planters, and a bubbling urn water feature to tie this peaceful landscape together. The poor drainage of the lot gave us the opportunity to create a striking cat walk and drainage feature, which left ample room for their vegetable and herb garden hobby. There is even a nook for the family dog to enjoy!
Find the right local pro for your project

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

BEFORE...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

BEFORE...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

BEFORE...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

Timber frame homes offer unique challenges during a remodel. What often makes them beautiful and attractive to most homeowners, also makes them challenging for space requirements.
Context: The lovely couple that owned this home were struggling with some interesting floor plan challenges that just didn't work for their family. The loved the beautiful timbers and woodwork of their home, but the dramatically sloping ceilings on the second floor, particularly in the bathroom, just didn't work for this 1 1/2 bath home. Needing to use the skylight to approach the toilet was a less then ideal scenario. Although the bathroom footprint was more then adequate, the sloped ceiling only made half of the space useable. Check out the Before/After post on our blog to see the photos of the house pre-renovation. As much as they loved all the wood features in their home, another challenge they had was light. The wood ceiling made everything inside the house darker, even with a fantastic array of south facing windows, there were spaces in the home that felt dark and small. When they contacted us they wanted to know how could they make their brighter and more inviting, were there solutions to the 2nd floor sloped ceiling issues, and if they were going to do all of this work, how could they make their home more comfortable and efficient. A nagging water leak in the upstairs bathroom spurred them into action and here is how we solved their dilemma.
Conclusion: First, we added a little dormer to the rear of the house so we could get full headroom in nearly all of the upstairs bathroom! Then we decided to extend that dormer one more timber bay over to create a walk in closet with natural light and plenty of space. Since we were contemplating energy efficiency, we resolved a nagging issue that is present in a lot of timber frame construction, air tightness. Commonly found in timber frame construction, fiberglass insulation is installed in the rafter bays and board ceilings are installed over top. Unfortunately, board ceilings are anything but air tight, and fiberglass insulation needs to be in an airtight cavity for maximum effectiveness. So we were able to solve two issues at the same time for this homeowner. We removed the board ceiling and fiberglass insulation, we dense packed the rafter bays with cellulose insulation, and installed sheetrock in place of the boards. The boards were salvaged for re-use by the homeowner, and the space and light quality was dramatically improved. Some may think that losing the board ceiling took something away from the space, but what you'll see in the pictures is that it highly accentuates the heavy timbers and really makes them stand out in a beautiful way. Now with this added airtightness, better insulation, and brighter space, the homeowner hardly runs their wood stove, and it's so quiet in the space, an added bonus from changing the insulation. It became necessary to also add a sheetrock ceiling to the living room to hide the plumbing from the new bathroom layout above. Changing this ceiling gave the homeowner some real quality lighting that was lacking in the living room before. The brighter ceiling and new lighting layout completely transforms the living room into a space you want to hang out, even though the layout didn't change at all. When the homeowner saw the finished spaces she said "I can't believe this is my house, I want to live in this house"
Energy Efficiency: I touched a little on the efficiency above, but like all projects done with Mottram Architecture, we always want to leave you with a little extra. Timber frame construction with board ceilings and fiberglass insulation are notoriously leaky! If you want to know what we think about fiberglass insulation, check our our blog post on Why Fiberglass Insulation Sucks. By installing cellulose insulation and covering it with sheetrock we were able to greatly reduce the heat flowing out of this home. It not only improves cashflow it improves the comfort level in the space. Who wants to sit in their living room and feel a draft? Let us remind you, we are not saying cellulose insulation is an air barrier, we use the sheetrock to help with that, but it does significantly reduce the air flow over fiberglass insulation. And when we reduce the airflow, we reduce the heat flow. And when we reduce the heat flow, we reduce the need to re-heat that drafty air from outside. When it comes to energy efficiency the first and best place to start is air infiltration. We greatly reduced the air infiltration with the new insulation, but we also added a hat and warm boots. What I mean by that is, we improved the insulation in the roof, and we installed insulation in the basement. Maybe it's a silly analogy, but when you think about keeping warm, we always start with the hat and boots! With sustainability in mind, the next project will be to add a deck to the front of this house with rain catchment barrels from the metal roof. They are planning to plant a garden in the spring and the rain catchment system will help to irrigate the new garden.
Builder: East Shore Builders
Photographer: Michael Eric Berube
Michael Eric Berube, Maine Virtual Home Tours

BEFORE...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

BEFORE...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

BEFORE...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

AFTER...
Amazing Backyard Transformations! Pool Renovation from dull to Dazzling!
This amazing transformation is the result of a pool renovation by Paragon Pools in Las Vegas.
The homeowner was seeking to update the pool with a more vibrant look. The pool renovation included a redesign of the spa spillway, new tile, new interior finish, and flagstone accents on the spa, spa steps, and seating bench.
Before and after photos.
Designers:
Joseph Michael Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Fellow, PHTA Builder of the Year 2012
Joseph Anthony Vassallo, CBP, PHTA Builder of the Year 2021
If your pool is more than 10 years old… you could benefit from a pool renovation.
New technology:
• Reduce utility consumption with energy efficient equipment, LED lights, and remote connectivity with smart phone app
• Better health by reducing chemical use with the introduction of UV and Ozone water quality systems and
• Improve safety with the latest safety devices and by replacing old drains with VGB compliant drains
What about an overall facelift to enhance the appearance and versatility of the backyard space.
• Is the interior finish/plaster chipping or stained?
• Do you have missing, cracked, or calcified tile?
• Discolored, uneven, or chipped decks?
• Water features that no longer work?
• Do you lack in-pool sitting space for your family and guests?
• Have you dreamed of having a wet deck to place a lounger on?
• Would you love to have a swim up bar for entertaining?
Serving these areas and communities: Lake Las Vegas * Boulder City * Henderson * Seven Hills * Anthem * MacDonald Highlands * MacDonald Ranch * Silverado Ranch * Green Valley Ranch * Inspirada * Southern Highlands * Summerlin * Sun City * Aliante * North Las Vegas * Sky Canyon * Centennial Hills * Providence * Spring Valley * Paradise, and others.

Homeowner had been considering construction of a pergola for quite some time, but was reluctant to do so due to lack of rain protection. Although there are several pergola kit retrofit products that meet most of their goals, none of them were a good fit by matching all. The desire was for a retractable patio awning that aesthetically matched a pergola, but was retractable, and provided protection from both UV and inclement weather on their south facing patio. Part of the goal was to provide a flexible outdoor entertaining area, but also to integrate a front drop shade to help reduce the summer's afternoon sun from entering the space; as well as the bay window and sliding doors.
The "Gennius", a waterproof retractable awning by Durasol Awnings was selected by the homeowner for aesthetics and function, with a solar screen drop shade integrated between the upright support posts.
As young parents, it was of utmost importance to find a durable fabric for the drop shade that not only blocked an adequate amount of sun, but retained as much view of the pool for safety when deployed. Mermet brand Natte was chosen for the drop shade. Both the retracting fabric roof and the integrated drop shade are operated by radio controlled motors and hand-held remote control.
The homeowner now has complete control of the area, with on-demand protection to suit their tastes.

Homeowner had been considering construction of a pergola for quite some time, but was reluctant to do so due to lack of rain protection. Although there are several pergola kit retrofit products that meet most of their goals, none of them were a good fit by matching all. The desire was for a retractable patio awning that aesthetically matched a pergola, but was retractable, and provided protection from both UV and inclement weather on their south facing patio. Part of the goal was to provide a flexible outdoor entertaining area, but also to integrate a front drop shade to help reduce the summer's afternoon sun from entering the space; as well as the bay window and sliding doors.
The "Gennius", a waterproof retractable awning by Durasol Awnings was selected by the homeowner for aesthetics and function, with a solar screen drop shade integrated between the upright support posts.
As young parents, it was of utmost importance to find a durable fabric for the drop shade that not only blocked an adequate amount of sun, but retained as much view of the pool for safety when deployed. Mermet brand Natte was chosen for the drop shade. Both the retracting fabric roof and the integrated drop shade are operated by radio controlled motors and hand-held remote control.
The homeowner now has complete control of the area, with on-demand protection to suit their tastes.
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