Category Archives: North Salem

All-cash deals make huge comeback | North Salem Real Estate

Call it the summer of the cash sale. All-cash home purchases skyrocketed during the summer months of 2013, with their share of total sales growing by more than 40 percent from the beginning of June to the end of August, amid sustained appetite from investors, a recent spike in interest rates and tight inventory.

Cash purchases accounted for 45 percent of sales in August, up from the 2013 trough of 32 percent seen in April and May, according to RealtyTrac data provided exclusively to Inman News. RealtyTrac That indicates that the market share of cash sales has increased 41 percent in just the last three months.

The recent meteoric rise in cash sales’ market share hit its fastest clip yet in August, with cash purchases’ share of total sales jumping 6 percentage points month over month to 45 percent. That’s the highest level that RealtyTrac has recorded since March 2012, right around when home prices hit their post-meltdown low.

Looking back a year, cash sales’ market share was up a whopping 50 percent in August, RealtyTrac said.

 

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http://www.inman.com/2013/09/26/cash-sales-share-of-total-purchases-skyrockets-by-nearly-a-third-in-2-months/#sthash.nABqVPhW.dpuf

Gorgeous Sagaponack Six-Bedroom is Yours for $10.95M | North Salem Real Estate

This house really is beautiful. We love all the white, which contrasts beautifully with the piano-finish floors (hopefully the new owners will have staff with Swiffers on standby). The kitchen and bathrooms are faultless, the pool and landscaping are perfection. There’s 1.6 acres in a great location, and six bedrooms and 7.5 baths inside. As for the artwork, we’re on record in favor of Damien Hirst dot paintings, but the Beatles? Unless you were actually in the Beatles (and that guy lives in Amagansett, not Sagaponack), come on. Also, photographers gotta be more careful with the wide-angle lenses. Yes, they can make the rooms look bigger, but they can also give a funhouse-mirror effect that’s offputting. Again, minor complaints in a stunning house. · Sagaponack Sanctuary With Style [Saunders]

 

 

 

Should you consider an adjustable-rate mortgage? | North Salem Homes

It’s getting harder for many first-time buyers to afford a home in many markets across the country. The average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage has climbed 16% in the past year, at the same time that the median home price shot up 14%.

In the past couple of months, lenders say, buyers looking to lower their monthly payments have started inquiring about adjustable rate mortgages, those riskier mortgages often blamed for the housing bust.

“We are definitely seeing more interest in ARMs,” says Malcolm Hollensteiner, director of retail lending for TD Bank.

Can they be trusted this time around? Who should consider these loans, which vary in rate after an initial fixed period? And who should stick with the standard 30-year fixed-rate loans?

In this September installment of Buying Advice, we’ll school you on the pros and cons of today’s adjustable-rate mortgages, check in with the latest housing statistics and help you understand origination fees when shopping for a mortgage.

 

 

http://realestate.msn.com/

Economists Expect Fed to Cut Asset Purchases Next Year | North Salem Real Estate

Businesses economists surveyed by the National Association of Business Economists believe there is an 80 percent probability the Federal Reserve will reduce its purchase of assets next year and 45 percent believe both purchases of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities will be reduced this year.  The Fed’s asset purchase program has been keeping mortgage rates are record lows in recent years.

In light of their expectations the purchasing program will decline next year, which is likely to raise mortgage rates substantially, the economists’ expectations for slower home price growth in 2014 relative to 2013.

Home prices are likely to grow 6% in 2013, which is an upward revision from the last NABE survey in May, when panelists suggested a 4.4% increase. Moreover, panelists suggest that home prices will grow at 4.8% in 2014, which is an increase from their 4% estimate for 2014.

They estimate that real residential investment will grow 13.8% in 2013, which is an increase from the 12.1% increase in residential investment in 2012, and that it will grow 14% in 2014. Moreover, housing starts are estimated to grow at 0.95 million units in 2013 and at 1.16 million units in 2014, which is an improvement from 0.78 million housing starts in 2012.

Regarding asset purchases, the economists believe that there is a 45% probability that the Fed will reduce both the monthly purchases of $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities and the monthly purchases of $45 billion in Treasurys and a 19% probability that these monthly purchases of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities will not be reduced.

They believe that there is a 20% probability that the asset purchases of the $45 billion in Treasurys will be reduced, with no change in the monthly purchases of the mortgage-backed securities; and a 15% probability that the asset purchase of mortgage-backed securities will be reduced, but that the purchases of Treasurys will be unchanged.

 

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/09/

5 September Home Improvement Projects From Bob Vila | North Salem Homes

As another summer slips away, the days seem to straddle the seasons, alternating between warm breezes and brisk winds. So, too, do home improvement tasks. This month, the focus is primarily on the peripheries — clearing clutter in the garage, brightening a lackluster entry, gathering valuable seeds from the garden, replacing tired bathroom fixtures and closing up that vacation home.

Source: Carney Logan Burke Architects

Source: Carney Logan Burke Architects

No. 1: Close up the vacation house

For homeowners fortunate enough to have a vacation retreat, Labor Day weekend signals the start of the annual ritual of closing up the seasonal getaway. Although best practices vary by region, if you have an unwinterized rural cottage, beach retreat or mountain cabin, there are a few basic things you can do to help safeguard your house through the cold months ahead:

  • A few weeks before you leave, begin evaluating the condition of your home top to bottom, inside and out. Find out what broke over the summer (or what’s about to) and arrange to have repairs made. Tradesmen in towns with seasonal occupants are usually inclined to negotiate when the population ebbs.
  • On the exterior, check the foundation, siding and trim for cracks and crevices that could let in moisture or provide an entry point for unwelcome creatures. Closely examine where the roof overhang meets the house. Pests as teeny as wasps and as large as squirrels often seek to nest in the solar-warmed space of house attics.
  • Clear the gutters so that rain and snowmelt run freely away from the base of the house and, using a ladder or binoculars, inspect the roof for raised shingles, making repairs if necessary. Another prudent defense is to trim back any tree branches near the house that could cause damage in a strong storm.
  • Electricity should be shut off at the main, but leave on circuits that control such essentials as the alarm system. Also be sure to unplug appliances, especially the large and expensive ones, just in case lightning strikes. Gas can be turned off at the main, but for many homeowners, it’s probably safer and easier to call the utility and temporarily suspend service.
  • All water pipes should be drained. Accomplish this by turning off the main water supply, opening all faucets and leaving them open. Remember also to drain the supply hoses into indoor outlets like the dishwasher and outdoor outlets like the sprinkler system. If winter conditions are brutal in your area, take the precaution of hiring a professional plumber to do the work.
  • Inside, clean out closets and cabinets, leaving them open to ventilate. Remove and store all bedding in plastic (throw in moth balls if you have them) and, for protection against burrowing mice, cover all mattresses.
  • The kitchen deserves time and attention because food can attract animals and canned goods can explode if they freeze. Store nonperishable food in metal containers and relocate cans to the basement if possible, or take them back to your primary residence.

Go easy on yourself and get started with the close-down process sooner rather than later. Shutting the house properly in the fall helps ensure that your summer abode is healthy and sound upon your return in the spring.

Source: kohler.com

Source: kohler.com

No. 2: Update the bath

If you have a dated bath in need of new fixtures, you’ll have no trouble finding attractive replacements that suit both your taste and budget. But if you’re planning to replace the faucet yourself, be sure to take into consideration the configuration of your sink or vanity. Single-hole sinks fit either single-handled or smaller two-handled faucets. Center-set sinks feature three holes drilled within 4 inches and accommodate single-handled designs or two-handled faucets mounted on a plate or escutcheon. Widespread sinks, which have three separate holes at least 8 inches apart, accept larger two-handled designs. Knowing which configuration you have will make the replacement an easy DIY endeavor.

No. 3: Take advantage of the garden

Many veteran gardeners save seeds almost compulsively. Why? Because if you harvest the seeds from your own garden, you not only save money but also ensure that you have the varieties you love. And, saving seeds is simple enough for even novice gardeners. For flowers, cut heads once their seed pods have dried (or shortly before), then hang them upside down in a paper bag to dry. After allowing enough time for drying, remove the seeds, separating them as much as possible from the chaff and other plant material. For fruits and vegetables, harvest fruit seeds once the fruit has become fully ripe or overripe. Before setting the seeds out to dry, give them a thorough wash. Adjust your approach with podded vegetables like beans and peas. Let these seeds dry in their pods on the plants before you gather them. With a little time and preparation, you will have the makings for a successful planting season come spring.

 

 

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-09-09

 

Breezy Point Slow to Recover from Fires and Flooding | North Salem Real Estate

No place on the East Coast took a harder hit from last October’s Hurricane Sandy than the blue-collar neighborhood of Breezy Point, in Queens. When the storm surge swept over the low-lying streets, electrical power was still on—and soon, fires broke out. By the end of the night, nearly 130 houses burned. In all, some 350 houses were totaled by flood, fire, or both.

Nine months later, Breezy Point is far from recovering, reports the Huffington Post (“Breezy Point Sees Little Rebuilt After Devastating Superstorm Sandy Fire,” by Meghan Barr). “Rows of rectangular boxes sunk into the sand form a graveyard of wrecked homes. American flags waving feebly from the ground help mark where a street once existed,” the Post reports. “A perfect storm of government inefficiency, cumbersome permit laws, and general confusion has hampered the recovery effort in Breezy Point.”

The Wall Street Journal chimes in (“Recovery Is Choppy in Breezy Point,” by Josh Dawsey): “Some leaders and homeowners in Breezy Point, where all the homes are owned by a cooperative, said they had been stymied by city and federal rules.”

But the New York Daily News is focusing on success (“First new Breezy Point homes are starting to rise after Superstorm Sandy,” by Clare Trapasso) — highlighting the story of residents Rich and Tracy Whalen, whose modular house has just been set on a new poured concrete foundation. “The couple is racing against the clock to be in their two-story, three-bedroom modular home by Labor Day — right around the time their second child is due,” the paper reports. Whalen, a volunteer firefighter, told the paper, “This is our home. This is where we grew up. A little water’s not going to scare us away.”

For Christine and George Donley, an older couple, rebuilding is a hard slog — but they’re not giving up, reports NBC News: (“‘It will be beautiful again’: Breezy Point couple returns home, and recovers through rebuilding,” by Miranda Leitsinger). “Sixty-three years old sleeping on a mattress on the floor is tough,” Christine said as she presented the single habitable room of their Breezy Point home. “He sleeps on the couch, and this is where we live now.”

But Christine Donley’s determined: “”We will get through this,” she told NBC. “I am stronger than the storm. I am. It took me a long time to say that, but I said it the other night. I am stronger.”

Lenders Loosen up as Refis Tank | Mt Kisco Real Estate

In July, lenders loosened up their underwriting standards more than they have in yeas as purchase mortgages overtook refinancing as the leading source of mortgage originations according to Ellie Mae’s July Originations report.

“In July, the mix of purchase loans to refinances was 53% versus 47%: the largest percentage of purchase loans since we began tracking the data in August 2011,” said Jonathan Corr, president and chief operating officer of Ellie Mae. “This was a further indication that housing seems to be improving. Just six months ago, 73 percent of all mortgages were refinancings.

“Credit standards continued to ease in July,” said Corr. “The average FICO score fell to 737, from 742 in June 2013, and it is now at the lowest level since we began our tracking in August 2011. Similarly we saw slight increases in both loan-to-value and debt-to-income ratios last month-signs that lenders are willing to accept slightly more risk to maintain volume. Dent to income ratios also have risen to the highest level since Elli Mae began tracking mortgage data in February 012.

To get a meaningful view of lender “pull-through,” Ellie Mae reviewed a sampling of loan applications initiated 90 days prior (i.e., the April 2013 applications) to calculate an overall closing rate of 55.4% in July 2013, up from 54.3% in June 2013.

MONTHLY ORIGINATION OVERVIEW FOR JULY 2013

July 2013*

June 2013*

6 Months Ago
(January 2013)*

1 Year Ago
(July 2012)*

Closed Loans

Purpose

Refinance

47%

51%

73%

58%

Purchase

53%

49%

27%

42%

Type

FHA

19%

19%

18%

24%

Conventional

71%

71%

74%

67%

Days to Close

All

47

47

54

48

Refinance

48

47

55

48

Purchase

46

46

51

47

ARMs vs. Fixed, Length, Rate

ARM %

5.2%

4.0%

2.1%

3.1%

15 Year %

15.5%

16.5%

16.9%

15.3%

30 Year – Note Rate

4.357

3.918

3.634

3.870

*All references to months should be read as month ended.

PROFILES OF CLOSED AND DENIED LOANS FOR JULY 2013

Closed First-Lien Loans

Denied Loans

(All Types)

(All Types)

FICO Score (FICO)

737

702

Loan-to-Value (LTV)

81

84

Debt-to-Income (DTI)

24/36

28/44

 

 

 

 

Lenders Loosen up as Refis Tank | RealEstateEconomyWatch.com.

North Salem, developer reach tentative settlement in fair housing case | North Salem Homes

Kearney Realty and Development and the town of North Salem have reached what they termed a conceptual agreement to allow the developer to pursue its application for an affordable senior housing development off Route 22 and settle state and federal legal cases against the town.

Kearney, based in Carmel, had moved to intervene in the fair housing case between Westchester County and the federal government, arguing that the town was not living up to its obligations and should also be brought into the case. North Salem had approved a zoning amendment to the land proposed for development that officials said clarified existing language requiring an assisted living center alongside affordable housing. But the developer argued it added a new and impermissible burden to the construction of the housing required under the settlement.

Kearney had also filed a case in state court challenging the zoning change as a violation of previous legal settlements of  cases challenging North Salem zoning for blocking affordable housing.

In a letter to the judge asking for a postponement of the dates for the parties to serve papers, Kearney’s lawyer, Robert Spolzino of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, said the two sides have made substantial progress in reaching a resolution.

Kearney said he couldn’t talk about the specifics of the agreement.

But “we’re hopeful that it will get done,” he said.

 

http://northernwestchester.lohudblogs.com/2013/09/04/north-salem-developer-reach-tentative-settlement-in-fair-housing-case/

10 Stylish Options for Shower Enclosures | North Salem Real Estate

A shower is one of the first things you notice when you step into a bathroom, so make sure your enclosure not only matches your style but also accentuates your bathroom.
We’ve all seen or lived in a home with the ever-so-famous enclosure framed in polished brass, but there are tons of other options with which to surround your shower. Whether you go for framed or frameless, or with no enclosure at all, choose your style wisely.

traditional bathroom by Specialty Tile Products

Add to ideabook
1. Frameless glass shower enclosure. This is a very popular option right now because of its flexibility; a frameless glass enclosure lends itself to any style, whether it’s a clean, sleek design that appeals to modern tastes or a simple and understated one with an elegant and classic look.
The glass itself is fairly easy to clean and maintain; it’s even more so if you get glass with a finish baked on that repels soap scum and water spots. Overall, frameless glass is a great way to showcase your shower.
modern bathroom by Robert Nebolon Architects

Add to ideabook
2. Aluminum and glass shower enclosure. Need a little something more to spruce up your shower? Don’t be afraid to be unique and try a shower surround that has flair. Created with glass panels set into an aluminum frame, this shower enclosure mimics the look of the tile in the back of the shower. The dark metal mixed with the clear glass gives the enclosure an eclectic feel.
traditional bathroom by J Allen Smith Design/Build

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3. Glass block shower enclosure. Eliminate the need for a door with a glass block enclosure. Glass block surrounds are versatile, and there are textured patterns on the blocks themselves. They have strong lines and give your bathroom a clean, cool look.
The options are virtually limitless with glass blocks. You can find different block styles, thicknesses and even colors.

Historically Sensitive Renovation over $300,000: Search and Rescue | North Salem Real Estate

 

Project Info

Designer: Judy Mozen / Handcrafted Homes, Roswell, GA Contractor: Judy Mozen, Randy Urquhart / Handcrafted Homes, Roswell, GA

Priorities

• Restore and repair an exterior façade using similar designs and, where possible, like materials

Launch Slideshow

Design-builder Judy Mozen, owner of Handcrafted Homes, faced the daunting task of restoring and repairing the exterior of the historic Beaux Arts home of Asa Candler, the founder of Coca Cola.

Search and Rescue

Play Slideshow >>

Search and Rescue

  • Design-builder Judy Mozen, owner of Handcrafted Homes, faced the daunting task of restoring and repairing the exterior of the historic Beaux Arts home of Asa Candler, the founder of Coca Cola.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp7C01%2Etmp_tcm17-1999197.jpg

    Design-builder Judy Mozen, owner of Handcrafted Homes, faced the daunting task of restoring and repairing the exterior of the historic Beaux Arts home of Asa Candler, the founder of Coca Cola.

    600

    James Lawrence

    Design-builder Judy Mozen, owner of Handcrafted Homes, faced the daunting task of restoring and repairing the exterior of the historic Beaux Arts home of Asa Candler, the founder of Coca Cola.

  • The homes exterior was in a massive state of disrepair with serious structural damage: wood rot, lack of structural support in many places, brick work that needed tuck-pointing.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp76EF%2Etmp_tcm17-1999194.jpg

    The homes exterior was in a massive state of disrepair with serious structural damage: wood rot, lack of structural support in many places, brick work that needed tuck-pointing.

    600

    James Lawrence

    The home’s exterior was in a massive state of disrepair with serious structural damage: wood rot, lack of structural support in many places, brick work that needed tuck-pointing.

  • After a lengthy search Mozen discovered three brothers in Chicago at Renaissance Roofing who owned an old government press. Handcrafter Homes hand delivered sample of the original metal tiles. The brothers made  on by one  4,240 pieces of galvanized steel tiles, 720 pieces of valley and eave, 257 pieces of decorative hip/ridge, and 4 decorative finials. The pieces were coated in Kynar finish.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp72D8%2Etmp_tcm17-1999190.jpg

    After a lengthy search Mozen discovered three brothers in Chicago at Renaissance Roofing who owned an old government press. Handcrafter Homes hand delivered sample of the original metal tiles. The brothers made  on by one  4,240 pieces of galvanized steel tiles, 720 pieces of valley and eave, 257 pieces of decorative hip/ridge, and 4 decorative finials. The pieces were coated in Kynar finish.

    600

    James Lawrence

    After a lengthy search Mozen discovered three brothers in Chicago at Renaissance Roofing who owned an old government press. Handcrafter Homes hand delivered sample of the original metal tiles. The brothers made – on by one – 4,240 pieces of galvanized steel tiles, 720 pieces of valley and eave, 257 pieces of decorative hip/ridge, and 4 decorative finials. The pieces were coated in Kynar finish.

  • The roof had a major valley rafter cut in the attic that had to be restructured. The valley pitch had to be altered slightly to control the flow of water to the hidden gutters.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp6AB8%2Etmp_tcm17-1999187.jpg

    The roof had a major valley rafter cut in the attic that had to be restructured. The valley pitch had to be altered slightly to control the flow of water to the hidden gutters.

    600

    James Lawrence

    The roof had a major valley rafter cut in the attic that had to be restructured. The valley pitch had to be altered slightly to control the flow of water to the hidden gutters.

  • One obstacle was removing old plaster pieces, which were held together by lead paint and crumbled when touched. Mozen commissioned knives to be made to reproduce the mouldings; they used resins to create the pieces. So much structural damage existed on the columns, capitals, and entablature that they had to be locked together with 2x4s to secure them during the repair work.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp672C%2Etmp_tcm17-1999186.jpg

    One obstacle was removing old plaster pieces, which were held together by lead paint and crumbled when touched. Mozen commissioned knives to be made to reproduce the mouldings; they used resins to create the pieces. So much structural damage existed on the columns, capitals, and entablature that they had to be locked together with 2x4s to secure them during the repair work.

    600

    James Lawrence

    One obstacle was removing old plaster pieces, which were held together by lead paint and crumbled when touched. Mozen commissioned knives to be made to reproduce the mouldings; they used resins to create the pieces. So much structural damage existed on the columns, capitals, and entablature that they had to be locked together with 2x4s to secure them during the repair work.

  • Hidden gutters had leaked behind the cornice and frieze  soaking and rotting the wood all the way through to the framing behind the interior entry hall plaster and gold painted crown moulding.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp6363%2Etmp_tcm17-1999185.jpg

    Hidden gutters had leaked behind the cornice and frieze  soaking and rotting the wood all the way through to the framing behind the interior entry hall plaster and gold painted crown moulding.

    600

    James Lawrence

    Hidden gutters had leaked behind the cornice and frieze – soaking and rotting the wood all the way through to the framing behind the interior entry hall plaster and gold painted crown moulding.

  • Engineer Clint Shaeffer at Quinn and Associates detailed the sizes and spacing of repairs to the structural wooden columns. The new staves were made and hand-sanded into place to preserve the design of the tapered columns.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp5F7A%2Etmp_tcm17-1999184.jpg

    Engineer Clint Shaeffer at Quinn and Associates detailed the sizes and spacing of repairs to the structural wooden columns. The new staves were made and hand-sanded into place to preserve the design of the tapered columns.

    600

    James Lawrence

    Engineer Clint Shaeffer at Quinn and Associates detailed the sizes and spacing of repairs to the structural wooden columns. The new staves were made and hand-sanded into place to preserve the design of the tapered columns.

  • The curved porch demolition exposed a completely rotten structure, and a previous owner had cut joists to install lights and a fan.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp5BEE%2Etmp_tcm17-1999183.jpg

    The curved porch demolition exposed a completely rotten structure, and a previous owner had cut joists to install lights and a fan.

    600

    James Lawrence

    The curved porch demolition exposed a completely rotten structure, and a previous owner had cut joists to install lights and a fan.

  • Mozen couldnt find a ready-made tile that was  porcelain without a bevel. She researched until she found a small entrepreneur who was able to make the field tiles in a snowflake design and the Greek key border. She created a CAD drawing assigning two layout patterns that would allow the craftsman to make one sheet of snowflake and one without  to keep from having hundreds of little tile pieces to install.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp544C%2Etmp_tcm17-1999182.jpg

    Mozen couldnt find a ready-made tile that was  porcelain without a bevel. She researched until she found a small entrepreneur who was able to make the field tiles in a snowflake design and the Greek key border. She created a CAD drawing assigning two layout patterns that would allow the craftsman to make one sheet of snowflake and one without  to keep from having hundreds of little tile pieces to install.

    600

    James Lawrence

    Mozen couldn’t find a ready-made tile that was ¾” porcelain without a bevel. She researched until she found a small entrepreneur who was able to make the field tiles in a snowflake design and the Greek key border. She created a CAD drawing assigning two layout patterns that would allow the craftsman to make one sheet of snowflake and one without – to keep from having hundreds of little tile pieces to install.

  • The porchs tiled floor before its restoration.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp4E50%2Etmp_tcm17-1999181.jpg

    The porchs tiled floor before its restoration.

    600

    James Lawrence

    The porch’s tiled floor before its restoration.

  • The curved porch restored to its original elegance.

    http://www.remodeling.hw.net/Images/tmp4631%2Etmp_tcm17-1999180.jpg

    The curved porch restored to its original elegance.

    345

    James Lawrence

    The curved porch restored to its original elegance.

Solutions

This circa 1910 Beaux Arts home was built for Asa Candler, the founder of Coca-Cola, in Atlanta’s Inman Park neighborhood, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Handcrafted Homes was tasked with restoring and repairing this highly damaged and neglected 10,000-square-foot home’s exterior.

Design-builder Judy Mozen says the team’s greatest challenge came from the requirement to restore using similar designs and materials. “The search for products and in certain instances, for the craftsmen to create these products, necessitated an elaborate investigation that preceded the actual beginning date of the work.”

Mozen created mock-ups when necessary and contacted craftsmen across the United States. She found three brothers in Chicago–Renaissance Roofing—with an old government press who made 4,240 pieces of galvanized steel tiles, 720 pieces of valley and eave, 257 pieces of decorative hip/ridge, and 4 decorative finials.

She discovered a small entrepreneur at American Restoration Tile in Arkansas who was able to make the porch floor’s field tiles in a snowflake design and the Greek key border. To prevent having hundreds of tiny pieces to install, Mozen created a CAD drawing for two layout patterns, one with the snowflake and one without.

Craftsmen commissioned special knives to help reproduce the mouldings and an Excel spreadsheet helped them keep track of all the various designs. They also had new staves made and hand-sanded into place to preserve the tapered columns’ design.

Judges’ Comments

This is a fabulous restoration. They truly restored the exterior of this house using original materials; where there was wood they used wood, they didn’t use fiberglass. You can see the marks in the scrolls on the capitals. How often do you see an exterior tile floor? They restored it and it looks incredible.

This was the best binder in the whole competition. They did a great job of pairing up the before and after shots to tell the story through the binder.

 

 

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http://www.remodeling.hw.net/awards/search-and-rescue.aspx?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=jump&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RDU_081513&day=2013-08-15