Author: francesca-toscani

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Natural Tile & Stone

Granite, Travertine, Marble, Tile—everywhere, eternally! Its eye-catching beauty, timeless quality, and universality strike most visitors to Italy and the Mediterranean with awe. Natural stone has been used as a building material for eons because it weathers many different climatic conditions, just as it does in nature. Tile ranks with natural stone in its durability, while its design options are limitless and magnificent. 

Beyond beauty and durability, using natural stone and tile is a smart investment, being more trouble free and cost effective than many imitative products, and their sustainability makes these materials the best choice. So even if you’re not building the Duomo, but plan your renovation to last, you can’t do better than to use natural stone and tile products, both indoors and out.

The Many Shades of Green
‘Green’ and ‘sustainable,’ like ‘organic,’ have become buzzwords and their overuse has made many people skeptical. Basically, sustainable or green building is the result of a design process that focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use—energy, water, and materials. A green building reduces its impact on human health and the environment during its life cycle—from site selection through to eventual disposal or removal of its products.
 
The building industry is no different from others, having many products that claim to be ‘green.’ But natural stone is the original green building material. It is neither bonded by petroleum based resins nor does it emit VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into your home. Stone products can be cleaned with Ph-neutral dish detergent and are 100 percent recyclable, with after-use in other projects or crushed for roadbeds, etc. Tile, a manufactured product, has breathtaking beauty and longevity just as outstanding as natural stone. In addition to limitless design options, tile is also inherently sustainable, hygienic, and extremely durable. Sustainable production by quality manufacturers is on the upswing as are choices, including tiles composed of recyclable materials (glass, leather, etc.).
 
But, sustainability means more than recycled products. Clean water and its usage are major environmental concerns globally. Domestic stone fabricators utilize a filtration system for their wastewater, while cutting edge technology has a closed-loop, 100 percent water recycling system that dramatically lowers consumption. According to the Marble Institute (www.marble-institute.com), quarrying has improved enormously from an environmental perspective. The US, Canada, and Europe especially have reclamation plans in place for when operations cease. As a result, some of those beautiful state parks, golf courses, lakes, and recreation areas you see on ‘Sunday drives’ may be former quarries.
 
Much More than Green
While websites can educate, to get the lowdown on what’s happening locally Real Estate Weekly visited two area businesses that specialize in natural stone and tile—from the exquisitely rare to the sublimely staid. Pete Sandfort of SariSand Tile and John Cogswell of Cogswell Stone satisfied the quest for information, and their showrooms, the desire for beauty.
 
Entering SariSand Tile, you’re greeted with an array of texture and color that comforts with warmth and excites with possibilities. Tiles from many nations open a breadth of ideas and potential, and Pete Sandfort and the other designers are expert guides to help winnow the choices to a few that will make your project come alive.
 
Sandfort says that since the economic downturn, only one or two area custom builders specify sustainable building products, including tile. Most people, however, are interested in doing ‘the right/green thing’ and at SariSand you’ll see a wide array in a broad price range. Exquisite leather and glass tiles, ‘wood planking,’ and much more. Visit www.sarisandtile.com first and then visit SariSand Tile on Berkmar Court.
 
John Cogswell has been in the building and decorative stone business, literally from the ground up, for 22 years. Visiting Cogswell Stone in Palmyra, and speaking with him personally, is an education that is mandatory before beginning any project—interior or exterior. At the inclusive showroom and yard that exude an impression of solidity and beauty, your senses will be sated as you see and feel the difference between slate, soapstone, limestone, travertine, marble, granite, onyx, and others. Cogswell can show you what stone is best for your practical needs and guide you in design and product choice to achieve the look you want.
 
Cogswell is forthcoming about environmental differences of quarries—domestic and international—helping you make choices based on your values and the value you want for your project. Visiting www.cogswellstone.com is a good first step, but a drive to Palmyra is a must.
 
Sandfort and Cogswell agree that in the Charlottesville area, while the choices are many, only a few projects push the edges of design. But even if your tastes run to the more traditional or classic, SariSand Tile and Cogswell Stone can still help make your project unique. Visit them—you won’t be disappointed.
 
Francesca Toscani (Interior Editions) specializes in reworking and remodeling difficult kitchen, bath and other interior spaces to unlock their potential. francesca.toscani@yahoo.com; 434.823.1817.
 
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Stage It To Sell It!

If you watch HGTV’s “Get It Sold,” you know that home staging doesn’t break the bank to make a huge difference in how your home is perceived—it revitalizes your space from dated to fresh, from gauche to graceful. For homes on the market that aren’t making the ‘presentation’ grade, this article provides the staging tools needed to help put that “SOLD” sign on the property. 

 
Anita Dunbar, associate broker with Montague Miller (www.anitadunbar-realtor.com), states that staging has had an undisputed, positive effect on the quickness of a sale. “I offer a stager to all my listing clients, who appreciate the advice and enjoy the results. Since 90 percent of all buyers preview homes on the Internet, this is actually the ‘first showing,’ so photos must present the home to its best advantage. Done well, the buyers will take a second look, where the feel of the home and the particulars really make the sale. However, if they don’t like the initial impression, they won’t explore further.” 
 
Mary Newton (http://marynewton.yourkwagent.com) of Keller Williams Realty agrees that staged homes sell faster and this applies to all houses—from the most modest cottage to the highest end, “land-heavy” horse farms. She tells us that “sometimes the barns are better built than the house, but staging can create the proper setting.” Newton favors a “light hand” in staging (not interior decorating) since staging’s purpose is twofold: “…to portray a comfortable feeling that a buyer senses when walking in, and a demonstration of a room’s use, i.e. desk in a study, bed in a bedroom. Buyers need to ‘get’ a house and it can be a mental challenge to fill in empty spaces. Doing it makes it much easier for them to say, ‘Yes, this is the house for us.’”
 
Liz Blankenship of Stage to Sell (http://stagetosellvirginia.com) concurs that all houses benefit by a stager’s professional assessment and light touch. She cautions against overdoing remodeling or decorating to sell, since tastes are so personal and the idea is to appeal to a variety of buyers. The prime motive is to freshen the home and make it livable for current, as well as future, owners, i.e., “Stage to Live.” When pressed for the most important recommendation to ready the home, she states unequivocally, “Clean and update. Get rid of the clutter!”
 
Everyone agrees that a staged home presents much better and, following the advice from professionals, homeowners can do quite a bit themselves. Starting with basics, the first rule of staging is to ‘de-clutter.’ Renting a storage space is a good idea since garage and attic should be clutter-free also. If using the garage, make sure it is clean, and the storage neat and organized. 
 
Clean means more than vacuuming, dusting, and giving the once-over to bathrooms and kitchen. Clean rooms sparkle and are dust-free (even lampshades and bulbs); scrub floors, baseboards, corners, appliances (inside too); pare down closets (a few empty hangers and open floor space give an illusion of space); immaculate kitchens, baths (scrub grout, no moldy loofahs); no smoking or pet odors. 
 
Updating means to de-clutter and rearrange unwieldy furniture. “Must-go’s”: border wallpapers from the 90s (remove and paint the walls); knick-knacks that are too period specific; wildly unique wallpaper or paint; living rooms as children’s playrooms are a turnoff (set aside a neat section in family room or bedroom); too many ‘collections’; too much of anything (furniture, books, photos, plants, clothing, etc.). 
 
Clutter-removal prepares you to let go and make your home accessible for others to claim. Yet, clutter is subjective and one may see ‘comforting treasures’ instead, so get others’ opinions. One objective way to de-clutter is to just start packing—books, dishes, gadgets, linens, clothes, photos, etc.—all items you will not absolutely need during listing. Clutter is anything that’s going to distract a prospective buyer from seeing the space and themselves in it. 
 
Finally, a few quick tips on the feeling to convey:
  • Living spaces: clean and not too impersonal. A few items show someone actually lives in the home.
  • Some kitchens can be made to look spiffed up without remodeling. But watch the staging: six Granny Smith apples or an opened bottle of wine with cork and two glasses half full is not realistic. 
  • Vacant rooms should have at least a vignette indicating their purpose. Use plants judiciously to soften corners.
  • Daily: make your beds, pick up clothes, clean the kitchen (empty dishwasher), and clean bathrooms. 
Essentially, staging is showing your home to its best advantage. Contemplate the message and lifestyle your home is to portray and create a setting for prospective buyers to enter and envision themselves living there comfortably. The upside to all this work: the home sells faster and you may permanently revamp your lifestyle.
 
Francesca Toscani (Interior Editions) helps you edit your home. She specializes in reworking and remodeling difficult kitchen, bath and other interior spaces to unlock their potential. francesca.toscani@yahoo.com; 434.823.1817.

 

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Decorating With Glass

In remodeling or redecorating, no matter the budget, we all like a little something that says, “This is MY home.” Decorative glass may be just the way to achieve that custom touch. This article gives an overview of practical and beautiful possibilities to help put your signature on your home—from the outside in.

From the curb, your home makes its first statement of “Welcome,” as well as affecting curb-appeal and value. Landscaping as part of a home improvement project is important, and you might want to contemplate a little something different than the usual shrubs, lawn, and mulch. A short trip to http://glassrecycled.com and their “GlassScape” gallery is an excursion into a realm of landscape design where the possibilities are endless. With recycled glass ‘mulch’ you can create special features—from the sublimely understated to a more exuberant proclamation.
 
As you walk up the path, the front door speaks yet another dimension of your home’s personality. No matter the size of your door(s), Vee Osvalds of Osvalds Stained Glass can create the dramatic or subtle, traditional or contemporary, tried-and-true or personally-designed entrance you want. For 30 years Osvalds has worked in this artistic medium and has done countless projects in new and restorative work. He delights in walking through your project with you—whether the front door, stained or leaded glass windows, a special panel, glass sculpture, or artwork. 
 
Adding decorative glass panels to a door that has glass provides even more insulation, but leaded and stained glass panels can also be cut into solid doors to let light in and to create privacy. At Osvalds’ studio you’ll see many glass options (wavy, antique, etched, water glass, etc.). He also has created projects using Dalle-de-verre glass, which is much thicker than standard glass. With richer and deeper colors, displayed in strong and direct sunlight, it allows the facets in the glass to sparkle.  
 
Even in this economic and building downturn, Osvalds notes that many people still opt to customize with glass in their homes: entrances, dividing walls, shower enclosures, back splashes, skylights, and, of course, windows and doors, but he does not recommend it for flooring or stair treads. It’s a special treat to visit his studio in the McGuffey Art Center (please call first—434-293-9547), and his website http://osvaldsstainedglass.com is an excellent introduction.
 
Possibilities for enjoying the beauty of glass continue once inside your home. For many years, frameless glass shower doors have been a cost-effective way to add a high-end look. But when you speak with John Pleasants of Glass Innovations (540-765-2955; 434-878-0025) you will immediately become aware of the exciting range that glass can provide throughout your home. A quick visit to (www.glassinnovations.com) shows the varied array of uses for every room in the house. Importantly, they have always used a clear polymer sealer applied to every shower as part of standard, high quality installation–preventing damage caused by hard water and making cleaning much easier.
 
With 16 years in the business and a degree in Fine Arts, Pleasants is highly adept at implementing custom designs and notes that, “…our focus is on shower enclosures, sandblast imagery and design, color coated glass for back splashes, shower walls, and even some countertops on bath vanities and bar areas.” For these applications, in addition to color, clients have a choice of ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ blasting. Pleasants tells us that positive blasting is the most typical method, in which the design (positive) is blasted, while what is not the design itself (negative) is left clear. Negative blasting blasts everything that is not the design (negative space), leaving the design itself (positive space) clear. 
 
With a portfolio brimming with examples of fine work, Pleasants says, “I also put ‘stock designs’ on the website—to spark the imagination of customers and to show lower cost options of designs that have already been created.” As homeowners considering custom touches to cost-effective remodeling, a call to John Pleasants of Glass Innovations is on the must-do list.
 
About nine years ago, several types of glass countertops for kitchens (some recycled glass) became an instant hit for persons who wanted a unique, high-end look. However, John Cogswell of Cogswell Stone (www.cogswellstone.com) agrees with others that this ‘hit’ might have partially capitalized on the ‘recycled’ label. While natural ‘green’ stone has continued to hold its value as practical and beautiful, along with some engineered stones, the use of glass has declined—especially for kitchen countertops. However, Cogswell Stone has installed some of these products, specifically “Ice Glass,” a terrazzo-like combination of recycled glass and cement, and Enviro Glass, which is a glass and resin mixture. Cogswell tell us, “We’ve done Enviro Glass countertops that are translucent and can be backlit. It makes a beautiful vanity application.” He suggests that 
homeowners visit their website and give him a call to discuss options (434-213-9547). 
 
Francesca Toscani (Interior Editions) specializes in reworking and remodeling difficult kitchen, bath and other interior spaces to unlock their potential. francesca.toscani@yahoo.com; 434.823.1817.
 
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GOOD NIGHT –  SLEEP TIGHT:  BEDROOM TRENDS FOR 2012

We spend almost a third of our day sleeping (or trying to sleep!) so if you’re not one of those fortunate people who can sleep anywhere/anytime, you might want to put ‘a good night’s sleep’ on your New Year’s Resolution list. To help you create the optimum environment where you can relax, unwind and disengage, here are a few things to consider if a bedroom update is on your list of things to do in 2012.  

 
At the Threshold
You open the door to your bedroom and you see …???  You feel …??? If your current bedroom doesn’t invite you to relax, be healed and re-energized, then it’s time to make changes. Some of those changes, such as re-organizing the room or adding new bed linens and curtains, can be very simple and do not require that you throw out everything and start over. Some bedrooms, however, might need more intense remodeling and if that’s the case, you will want to seek a professional to guide you. Whatever route you choose, it’s important to remember that your bedroom is ‘your personal real estate’ and you’re the one who must feel good, relaxed and calm in it, no matter the style. 
 
What’s Happening with Bedroom Design?
Where new construction is concerned, Americans are downsizing their homes in order to keep pace with the economy. David Barista, editor-in-chief of Professional Builder and Custom Builder magazines said in recent years the trend definitely is pointing in the direction of smaller homes. In fact, the median size of new U.S. homes fell from 2,277 square feet in 2007 to 2,135 square feet in 2009, according to the National Association of Home Builders. This doesn’t mean the number of rooms are being cut, but it does mean that the size of those rooms is growing smaller by ten to fifteen percent. Despite that shrinkage, some basic wish list items remain the same. 
 
That being said, if you don’t intend to buy a new home but want to make an addition to your current home, the popularity of adding first floor master suites is a growing trend, especially as baby boomers age and find it easier to navigate a single-story home.  While a master suite addition is one of the most expensive home improvements you can make, you can expect to recoup about 63 percent of your investment on a midrange master suite addition, and 53 percent for a high-end job, based on national averages. Payback depends more on how it compares with other houses on the block. If your neighborhood is filled with empty nesters with two-bedroom houses, you probably won’t recoup your investment in a luxury master suite. But if master suites additions are common in your area, you’ll recoup more.
 
If you add a master suite onto your first floor, you’ll spend a good portion of your budget on site excavation and foundation pouring. If you can take advantage of existing space—such as building over a garage or converting an unfinished attic or basement—you can save between 20 percent and 60 percent on construction, and increase your return.  A good rule of thumb is only do the work if you plan to stay in your home for at least three to five years.
 
Eco-Friendly Rooms
New trends in bedroom design often echo those of the fashion world, incorporating eclectic, eco-friendly surroundings that combine a sense of serenity with more lively adaptations of traditional design style.  Many homeowners are mixing it up, blending different periods and styles to reflect their personal taste.  This adds character and individuality to the room. You don’t have to have matching beds and dressers any more. Eclectic style enlivens the bedroom and adds interest. This is a trend that will last because you can always switch pieces out or add new pieces when the urge strikes you or the styles change. There are a number of shops in Charlottesville and surrounding areas that are virtual treasure troves for unique pieces that speak to you.
 
An eco-friendly bedroom is a trend that won’t go out of style any time soon. Eco-friendly home products are becoming more widely available. From paint and flooring to energy-conscious lighting and resource-saving furnishings, many manufacturers are doing their part to bring environmentally aware products into the home.
 
As a matter of fact, several have made calm, healthy environments for sleep part of their life’s work. At Savvy Rest (www.savvyrest.com/dealers) makers of quality organic mattresses, toppers, and pillows in Ivy Commons, Michael Penny discussed the importance of mattress selection. Penny has been involved with yoga and other healthy disciplines for years and started educating about, and selling, organic mattresses as an extension of this lifestyle approximately eight years ago. Knowing the body’s physiology, he sees that having the correct mattress to match your body’s needs is the first step toward quality sleep. Clients may come with physical problems that need special attention on mattress construction, or as couples who have dissimilar mattress needs. Penny helps you choose a mattress that is custom made to your specifications – even on different sides of the same bed – and one that will have a 20-year warranty, triple the usual mattress life.
 
Also, being a proponent of clean indoor air quality, Penny said that the more he learned about ‘off-gassing’ of toxic chemicals and pesticide residues in traditional mattresses, the more it became, “… my life’s work to create a healthy, comfortable alternative.” For persons who are not ready to buy a new mattress, Savvy Rest has certified organic wool toppers that are a pleasure to lie upon and will give your body more of the support and comfort it needs, as well as organic custom pillows.
 
Walking around the Savvy Rest showroom, one feels a sense of calm and peace transmitted by the soft wall colors and bed selections made of natural woods and other materials. Penny says he does not ‘decorate’ with a design philosophy per se but wants clients to feel safe and welcome both at the showroom and at home.
 
Incorporating Feng Shui
We all know the experience of walking into a room and feeling that something’s not quite right; it’s a little off-kilter. In the last 20 years or so, some Western interior designers have turned to Feng Shui (fung shwai) for guidance in design and decor. This is an ancient Chinese system of siting a home and placing objects. Its purpose is to have the ch’i (loosely translated as life’s energy) circulate easily, thereby promoting good health, happiness and, subsequently, good fortune. At first glance, some people may be deterred by Feng Shui’s seemingly endless injunctions and hard-and-fast rules, but in a broad and elemental sense it can be compared to our Western concept of ergonomics—systems designed for simplicity of movement and functional utility. 
 
Sally Fretwell is an expert in color selection and Feng Shui and gives a more ‘design and decorating’ organic take on the subject. To create healthy as well as beautiful spaces, she developed her own paints and primers that contain no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Her color palette is created from nature photographs and, as a Feng Shui expert, she agrees that the important element in design is for the homeowner’s energy to flow smoothly. 
 
However, Fretwell’s design philosophy on bedroom color does not differ from other rooms, since she is absolutely clear (and her clients agree) that it almost doesn’t matter which color you choose as long as it has warm tones added to it. Warm tones, even in blues, whites, and grays, will pull color and light in, as opposed to reflecting, and allow you to feel as if you’re enveloped by color. 
 
Fretwell strongly advises to consider the ceiling as the 5th wall of the room. If your ceiling is the typical flat white, it can destroy the ambiance of the whole room, defeating the purpose of remodeling. Off-white tones with warm hues are better for ceilings, while there are special times when the color of the ceiling can be a lighter shade of the walls, continuing the design upward. But the ‘must’ is a warm tone so that the ceiling is not reflected down onto the room and “…shouting back at you!”
 
As for light or dark, soft or hard colors in the bedroom, Fretwell feels that contrary to popular belief, dark colors are very appropriate for bedrooms and they will not make the room look smaller. A deep color can actually make it feel larger because it pulls warmth in and absorbs light, giving depth to the room, while light colors are not necessarily ‘softer’ and more relaxing that dark colors. All shades can be ‘relaxing’–even the energizing ones of yellow and orange. And sometimes, as Sally says, “… people who have difficulty getting moving in the morning may need more of an energy boost than calm and serenity. So, one size does not fit all in bedroom color.”
 
Fretwell’s website, www.sallyfretwell.com, contains information to help you get started to create your own safe haven.
 
You Can Do It
Overall, there are numerous ways to update your bedroom and the new trends in bedroom design make it easy. Bring in new accessories. Install new lighting fixtures. Reupholster traditional chairs in a contemporary fabric for a bit of eclectic punch. Paint a piece of garage sale furniture. Put new eco-friendly linens on the bed. Paint the walls a soothing modern color or give the room a punch with a bright color on one wall. 
Bringing your room up to date doesn’t have to cost a small fortune.  However you decide to employ today’s bedroom trends, finding peace and relaxation under your roof is something everyone can do. 
 
A cursory look at decorating books and websites dedicated to color impact, gives an overall view of the ‘right’ color for your bedroom, with variations that can be adjusted to personal preferences and styles. All paint companies have their “Trends for 2012” colors and “Searchers-on-the-Quest” for the perfect night’s sleep can visit the websites below to get started on their New Year’s resolution. Good luck and good night!
 
Francesca Toscani (Interior Editions) specializes in reworking and remodeling difficult kitchen, bath and other interior spaces to unlock their potential. francesca.toscani@yahoo.com
 
Link Me Up!
  • Behr Paints: www.behr.com
  • Benjamin Moore: www.benjaminmoore.com/
  • Farrow & Ball: http://us.farrow-ball.com/new-colours-2012
  • Pratt and Lambert: www.prattandlambert.com/
  • Sherwin Williams: www.sherwin-williams.com
  • Valspar-Eddie Bauer Series: www.valsparpaint.com (strong, bold, nature-oriented)
  • Easy Feng Shui: www.easy-feng-shui.com/bedroom_colors.html
  • www.ehow.com (sums up the general feeling for colors to enhance a good night’s sleep)
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Old/New Green: Cost-effective Eco Ideas That Add Value

And until the 1950s, the typical American household lifestyle, without Jefferson’s sophistication, was what we could call green. Recycling, reusing and restoring items were standard procedure—nothing fancy or ‘alternative’ about it.

In the last half-century we’ve become a throwaway culture, but due to global recognition of climate change, many ‘eco’ and ‘green’ ideas and products have surfaced. Some add value to our homes; some are not yet cost-effective if resale is a prime factor. Some are easy to set up and use; others require technical installation and know-how. And some are just common-sense ideas that we may have forgotten. We’ll look at a few here that will help us work with the climatic elements, as well as adding value to our homes.

Water
As weather patterns change, major concerns for the southern United States are heat and continuing drought. Winter 2011 was bitterly cold and dry, while summer baked us mercilessly with little rain. Consequently water conservation has been on everyone’s lips, rain barrels proliferate, and you question if you should invest in a few to place at your rainspouts. The unequivocal answer is: if you’re going to use the stored water for gardens and lawns, by all means get the barrels. They are not expensive and credits are available (check with Albemarle Service Authority: www.serviceauthority.org) and they are easy enough to install. However, it is not recommended to use the water for drinking unless you have it tested.

But the operative words for cost-efficiency are ‘use the stored water.’ Research and experience show that the barrels require a bit of care and effort and some people let them sit while they develop mold, algae and provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes. They can freeze and crack if they’re not emptied and to get enough pressure you might need a pump or at least raise the barrel for better water flow. Websites that give good information and answer your questions are: www.cleanairgardening.com/rain-barrel-buyers-guide.html; www.rainbarrelguide.com/got-rain-barrel-questions.

Other effective and inexpensive water conservation tips that add value are:

  • Fix water leaks. One faulty faucet wastes at least three gallons of water per day, one ‘running toilet’ up to 30 gallons.
  • Install low-flow toilets and showerheads. Thirty (30) percent of indoor residential water use is flushed down the toilet with older models. Many new models use one gallon (Toto, Kohler) and have dual choices. Low-flow showerhea ds start around $8, have great pressure, and can slash consumption by 50-70 percent.
  • Gray-water recycling (kitchen, shower and bath sink drainage) may be cost-effective if added while building or doing extensive remodeling, but otherwise is not a prudent investment. Traditional conservation of water usage is better.

Heat & Cold
 With the heat and cold we’ve been experiencing many people wonder if there still is a “Temperate Zone.” But no matter the zone, season or weather, the sun plays a most important part in our lives and it is with the sun we must learn to live.

Time-honored and cost-effective solutions for protecting against the heat are:

  • When building, face the home to the southeast if at all possible.
  • Landscape with deciduous trees on the south, east and west; with evergreens on the north and northwest.
  • Shades, curtains, blinds on sunny windows.
  • Install ceiling fans (adjust blades for season: summer, counter-clockwise) or portable fans in every room.
  • Tune up air conditioners or HVAC; check filters monthly. Efficiency can save up to 30 percent on cooling costs.
  • Consider a new, much more efficient HVAC system if yours is over 10 years old.
  • Reflect heat with a ‘white’ or light-colored roof. Dark roofs absorb heat.

Working with the sun during cold weather can be the reverse of the above, i.e., open shades, etc. on the south side; switch fan blade direction; remove window air conditioning units. If remodeling, cost-effective additions that add to your present comfort and to later resale value are:

  • Low-E window replacement (especially on the north side);
  • Exterior door replacement (not wood);
  • New HVAC system with minimum 13 or 14 SEER;
  • Supplemental warm floors (electric heating under tile, linoleum, and even some wood floors); and
  • Efficient fireplace inserts to circulate heat.

Standard, time-honored steps to winterize include weather stripping or caulking older windows and doors, and sealing leaks around outlets, etc. For more green remodeling ideas you can check these websites: www.hgtvpro.com ; www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/

Of course, the big green and eco news is working with the sun to reduce electric consumption through solar panels. Over the last 30 years there have been major developments in solar products (including roof tiles) and whether these are cost-efficient depends on too many factors to list here. Generally, the consensus is that they help substantially in very sunny climes and moderately in our mixed environment. For a full analysis of your particular situation, it is best to study websites to become familiar with the concepts and terminology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel) and then to contact several local solar businesses (www.getsolar.com; www.dasolar.com; http://altenergyincorporated.com/).

While we don’t live at Monticello, our homes and their value are ultimately important. Implementing old & new green can only add to that value.

Francesca Toscani (Interior Editions) specializes in reworking and remodeling difficult kitchen, bath and other interior spaces to unlock their potential. francesca.toscani@yahoo.com; 434.823.1817.