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HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

Four Generations A Tradition Of Fine Craftsmanship

Recession Boosts Self-Reliance Build Your Own Chicken Coop

Condominium Design More Than Meets The Eye

Special Section to: The Valley Gazette

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• November 5, 2009 •

Hersam Acorn Newspapers •

KNECHT WOODWORKING

A tradition of fine craftsmanship by Robin E. Glowa

knowledge that would greatly influence his future projects. He fondly reminisces about his days working with owner Hap Shephard. “Every day I went to work in this great old factory with 20-foot ceilings that smelled like Eastern white pine,” he said.

When furniture is well-built from strong, sturdy materials, it stands a good chance of lasting for generations. When fathers pass on skills well-taught to their sons, the result is fine craftsmanship that will last for genToday Neil’s factory is a charming workshop erations. in the woods of Monroe. Here he crafts cusNeil Knecht is a fourth-generation wood- tom pieces for a wide range of clients, with worker, carrying on a family tradition of an emphasis on quality construction that exemplary craftsmanship begun by his will last a lifetime. “When you make joinery great grandfather. “My great grandfather the way it’s been done for 200 years, you was a piano maker,” says Neil. “Knecht and make pieces that last,” Neil said. Lockwood Pianos was his company. There was a limited quantity of his handmade pianos, and I have to say that I am sad I never got to see one of them.”

Knecht continued on page 8

Neil is a man with great appreciation for both natural and architectural beauty. “When I was a kid,” he said, “I didn’t intend to do this. But I was always artistic, interested in sculpture and carving in particular. Eventually my carving turned into furniture making. It just so happened that when I graduated high school, I was only 17 and was extremely fortunate to step into an apprenticeship with Maurer and Shephard in Glastonbury.”

Greene and Greene-inspired mahogany media cabinet displays the beauty of handcraftsmanship.

Maurer and Shephard is a nationally recognized firm specializing in historic preservation and high-quality custom millwork. It produces pieces for both historic homes and commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. With this auspicious training, Neil gained a wealth of

A desk and book shelves are customized to ﬁt the space. — Susan Knecht photos

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• November 5, 2009 •

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CONDOMINIUM DESIGN

More than meets the eye by Joanne Greco Rochman Picture this. You walk into the brand new model of a condominium and it’s so picture perfect, you just want to move right in. The furniture and accessories are in just the right spot with well-placed accent lighting, and the space looks and feels open, airy and like home sweet home should be. Anyone who has checked out models of condos can identify with this. They are irresistible. However, a dream design like this doesn’t happen overnight. It’s not an architect or a builder who brings in some furniture with trimmings. Rather it’s a highly specialized interior designer — someone like Claudia Coopersmith of Newtown. A prominent interior designer, Claudia has designed many a private home, restaurant and business throughout Fairfield County. However, it wasn’t until Ronit Glantz of Robik Glantz Builders LLC asked her to design a model for the Shelton-based Crescent Village that she experienced the challenge first-hand. “It’s different from other projects because essentially you’re designing a home for people whom you don’t know anything

The interior design of a condominium must have universal appeal.

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about,” explained the artist/designer, who usually gets to know her clients well. This was new territory.

Starting with nothing more than drywall, Claudia chose wood floors for the kitchen, living room, dining room, powder room and downstairs hallways. The units feature nine-foot ceilings on the first floor, spacious walk-in closets and carpet in all the bedrooms and study (if applicable). Claudia designed them all.

“First, I made up a storyboard for lighting, paint colors, flooring, cabinetry, area carpets and so on,” she said. “I use four or five different ideas for all my projects. I do a storyboard for all the rooms including the bathroom and big items like countertops and area rugs.” Because so many different personalities will be coming through this showcase condominium, Claudia adheres to a classic design. “It’s eclectic but classic. I don’t want anything to become dated. I don’t want some fad that’s in one year and out the next,” she stressed. “I am also very conscientious about the budget allocated for the design, and I work within those parameters,” she said, adding that it’s the visuals that sell the condos. More than 85 families now call Shelton’s Crescent Village home. Ronit Glantz, who had heard about Claudia’s smart, clean designs, is a well-known and highly regarded general contractor and developer. She holds a degree in business management, and with her engineer husband developed the team of Bryan Robik and Ronit Glantz. Robik Glantz Builders, based in Fairfield, has a reputation for high-quality building standards. “Someone recommended Claudia to me,” said Ronit, who couldn’t praise her enough. “She is the first designer I have ever worked with who came in UNDER budget,” she said. “As if that isn’t wonder-

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The kitchens feature stylish granite countertops with breakfast bar, hardwood maple cabinets, recessed and pendant lighting. The bathrooms have designer ceramictiled floors, a ceramic-tiled shower in the master bath, and a Kohl cast-iron tub in the second bath, which has tiled walls. There’s also a Kohl pedestal sink in the powder room and vanity lights in the bathroom.

Among the pleasures of living at Crescent Village is the luxurious clubhouse.

ful enough, a couple insisted on buying the first model she designed.” Claudia laughed as she recalled that couple. “They bought everything in the place, right down to the candlesticks,” she said with a chuckle. Of course, that meant the designer had to create and embellish yet another model. “The second was completely different from the first one,” she said, adding that she thought it was even better. This talented designer seems to have inherited some of her father’s talent. “He would be laughing and surprised to learn that I’m doing interior design for businesses,” she said. “My dad attended the Art Student League in New York, and he designed the Castro Convertible showrooms. I grew up

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Before she started designing, she was a muralist, but now says firmly that she doesn’t climb ladders anymore. Designing the model condo proved to be quite an interesting task, though. “The biggest challenge I faced was having my palette at the exact right scale,” Claudia explained. “I have to showcase the space and not overpower it with trappings.” She used the fireplace in the condo as an example. “I want to show off the fireplace as a focal point, not the painting above the fireplace.”

Since prices range from $379,900 to $550,000, Claudia couldn’t resist designing for the rest of the higher-end condos. Not knowing who will end up living in these condos is definitely a challenge for any interior designer. However, she uses classic design with a less-is-more attitude and respect for her budget, rendering a beautiful and affordable home too perfect to resist. Call Claudia Coopersmith at 470-4237 and look for her Web site (a work in progress) at coopdesign.com. See Robik Glantz Builders at rgbuilders.com; for information on Crescent Village in Shelton, call 926-1333.

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with his designs and paints,” she recalled. “I still have his brushes and some of his artwork.”

Claudia considers each room a canvas. Because Ronit was so delighted with the interior designs, she commissioned Claudia to do the clubhouse as well.

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• November 5, 2009 •

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RECESSION BOOSTS SELF-RELIANCE

Build your own chicken coop by Fran Sikorski As I approached the home of my daughter Andrea and her husband, Kevin Plona, in Barrington, N.H., I heard a sing-song “chick, chick, chick-eee, chick, chick chick-eee” repeated over and over by my seven-year-old grandson, Cameron, who was calling their soon-to-be-laying hens back to the chicken coop for the night, where a double-safety check would be made against predators — foxes, coyotes, raccoons, hawks. It was time to put two Golden Laced Wyandottes, two Araucanas,three Buff Orpingtons and one Golden Speckled Hamburg to bed, and batten down the hatches. A little extra work if the chickens have been roaming free-range before bedtime, but the rewards will be great once the hens start producing organic eggs. As families combat the recession, chicken coops dot the landscape in New Hampshire, along with abundant organic vegetable gardens. They are reviving the tradition of selfreliance by producing their own healthy, nourishing food. In order to cut food costs, homesteading has returned to New England, and families are spending more time together enjoying morning-fresh eggs and the tasty benefits of large organic gardens. Andrea and her family began readying a coop for their chickens, which were shipped from a hatchery last spring. They arrived like little balls of yellow fluff that eventually turned to colors of an artist’s palette.

Raising chickens are part of a homesteading trend for families. — Andrea Plona photo

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VOL III, ISSUE 11

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The first plan was to build a coop from the ground up, which was abandoned when the cost of the building supplies was added up. Instead, Andrea found a shed on sale that could be modified to include a run, nesting space, light for winter warmth and to stimulate the laying process. Andrea’s mother-in-law, Suzanne, who has been in the building business, spent a weekend with them to consult on modifications and see the project through.

By eight weeks, the eight Plona chickens were moved into their new home, and every day look forward to a freerange outing in the backyard. The insulation, ventilation, lighting, nesting perches, litter collection and protection from the elements and other animals were all completed. Soon there will be pastel-colored eggs every morning. Other benefits are food scraps recycled to feed the chickens and high quality fertilizer for the garden.

Coops are built to accommodate the number of chickens occupying them. A dog house with modifications would be adequate for three to four chickens, according to Andrea’s friend Amy, who has now added ducks and rabbits, having begun with chickens, the entry level for homesteading. Two years ago she purchased doors for $15 apiece and built a chicken coop.

Things to know: No fancy tools are required to build a chicken coop. There are many plans to choose from on the Internet, and you can save money by building your own by using recycled materials that are cheaper and environmentally friendly. Be wary of cheap materials that will cost you more money in the long run. Andrea and Kevin, novices of the neighborhood chickencoop planners, are now sharing information with other friends to encourage them to start their own homesteading projects. They are also looking forward to the day the first eggs appear in the nesting boxes, and to who will be the first gatherer of eggs. The frying pan and buttered toast will be waiting inside.

Laying stages for hens are from six months to a year and a half. Roosters are not necessary to produce eggs, and are used mainly for breeding purposes, according to Andrea. When the laying period subsides, some owners use the chickens for meat, and others, who don’t want to part with their chickens, continue to feed and enjoy them. “It will be interesting to see what people do with their chickens when they are not producing,” said Amy.

For more information on raising chickens and building chicken coops, go to backyardchickens.com.

Chickens come in a variety of colors, as do their eggs. — Andrea Plona photo

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Knecht continued from page 2 He went on to say, “The reason I can stay in business is many people would rather have one piece that lasts rather than a roomful of ‘box’ furniture that eventually gets thrown out. When I design something, I have the ability to custom size the piece to the space. If a table is needed for a tiny alcove or a media center for a massive wall, I can create that. Seldom can the ‘big box’ builders address that type of situation for a reasonable cost. I’m able to complete that project for a fraction of the cost,” he added. “I’ve noticed that a lot of people can be intimidated by talking with a craftsman,” Neil said. “I have always encouraged homeowners to call me; I’m happy to stop by and see what I can do. I do a lot of discussing with customers. I’m glad to share my education so they will end up with a unique and well-built piece that completely suits them and their home.” Whether it’s a reproduction mahogany newel post, a mortise and tenon sash fashioned from Spanish cedar, a rich French-oak library complete with elegant window seat and radiator enclosure, linear redbirch counter stools, or a simple yet stunning Arts and Crafts bathroom vanity in cypress, Neil creates an array of sensational one-of-a-kind showpieces for local homeowners.

Cypress proved an outstanding choice for this Arts and Crafts style vanity.

He has used many exotic woods for particular projects, but he is a local boy at heart when it comes to hardwoods. “My personal bent is to use woods from our part of the country,” he said with enthusiasm. “We have so many fantastic options right here in New England. I really enjoy local hardwoods — maple, cherry, black walnut. I really love white oak — it’s a fantastic species. The way it’s sawn makes each piece different.

When asked if he had a favorite project, Neil quickly replied, “That would have to be the front door of the carriage house of Hawk’s Nest! Hawk’s Nest was a wealthy couple’s summer home in Ridgefield. It burned to the ground in the 1930s, and the carriage house was the only building left standing. What a great building! It has curved eyebrows over the top of each window, big proportions, lots of stone. But not a very special front door. We designed a door that was correct for the time period from mahogany. It’s gigantic — 2-1/4 inches thick, 41 inches wide and seven feet tall!” Brian Lavoie knows just how beautiful one of Neil’s front-door designs can be. Brian and his wife, Patti, were the owners of a very special home in the heart of the historic district of Stratford. It was built in 1885 as a one-room schoolhouse, and Brian and Patti put tremendous effort into restoring it. One day while Brian was in the process of replacing doors and windows, Neil and his wife happened to be walking by. Neil stopped to compliment Brian on the work he was doing. Brian said, “Next thing I knew, Neil was telling me that he was a cabinetmaker, and he was going to help me build the front door — with mortise and tenon joinery and any kind of wood I wanted. I can tell you that the guy is an absolute artist,” Brian said. “The door turned out so beautifully; it was made from Eastern white pine. The reproduction hardware ... everything was so perfect. This door completely transformed the look of the house! Neil is the kind of guy who has such a passion for his work, he really gets you excited about it.”

Knecht’s Woodworking is at 101 Pepper Street, Monroe; 414-9174. To view a sampling of Neil’s work, visit knechtwoodworking.com.

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THE I JEWELRY I BOX ■

Insuring your jewelry by Joe Brandt Just to set the record straight, unless you follow the rules (rules? what rules?), insuring your jewelry may not have the result you expected. Almost every insurance company has rules and guidelines for insuring jewelry under your homeowner’s (or renter’s) policy. Unfortunately, most people realize they don’t have the coverage they thought they had until “something happens,” and it’s too late. No two insurance companies have policies that are alike, so it pays to know the requirements and what your exact coverage is. If you are unable to understand or read the “fine print,” you will need to have your insurance agent explain it to you. (Please note that it is not an agent’s job to be sure you understand everything in your policy, but he or she does have to answer questions you have regarding the policy.) For instance, your policy covers you up to a certain amount, past which you need additional insurance, which is sometimes called a “rider.” When this is part of an existing policy, it’s the least expensive form of insurance. But unless your company has a copy of a bill of sale or an insurance appraisal, the rider is not worth a nickel, with a few exceptions. Let’s say you are insured for a $1,500 bracelet, and it is lost or stolen. (Always be sure to get a police report.) Will the insurance company send you a check for $1,500? Not necessarily. Some companies will give you a replacement bracelet. Sometimes you’ll get only the wholesale value of the item. How can you know? Read your policy. Some insurers require appraisals to be current, and some don’t. (With the dramatic increase in the price of

gold over the past few years, it’s a safe bet that most of you are underinsured!) Traveling with jewelry may sometimes be problematic. Jewelry that’s in an unattended suitcase is not likely to be covered by insurance — locked or not. Going out of the country? Check with your insurance company because some policies cover your jewelry for domestic travel only. Q: I lost the center diamond of my engagement ring. I had the ring on my insurance policy, but the insurance company says they won’t pay for it. Can I sue them?

A: Of course. The trick is to have a safe professionally installed, which means bolting it to the floor or wall from inside the safe. That way, a thief would have to take part of the house with him, and few burglars are prepared to do that. Also, you should first check with your insurance company. You may need to have a UL-rated safe or an alarm system (or both) before you get a

price break on your insurance. The money you save on your policy may not pay for the expense of the safe, but having it does offer a certain peace of mind. Please address questions to JLBCO@hotmail. com (“Jewelry” in subject line).

Joe Brandt is a local resident and owner of J.L. Brandt Company, in business since 1928. He is a consultant to retail jewelers and provides advisory service to the public. He is the author of the book Protecting the Family Jewels.

A: In all probability, no. If they are denying your claim, it may be because they consider the loss of one diamond to be a partial loss. Some policies do not cover that, and it will say so in the policy. Check before you take any action.

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Q: I read in a consumer magazine that it really doesn’t pay to insure anything below $2,000 since you’ll always have a deductible to deal with anyway. Do you agree?

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A: Not at all. Let’s say someone steals your jewelry box, and you lose everything you weren’t wearing that day. A dozen pieces of gold jewelry could easily be worth some serious money, but because no single item was of high value (except for the engagement ring you were wearing), you had not bothered to list any of it. Suddenly, you’re out $1,000 or more, even with the deductible, but you would have been covered, at no additional cost, if you had submitted bills of sale or appraisals. Always consider the aggregate value.

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Q: When I asked about security, my jeweler suggested I buy a small safe, saying I might get a break on the cost of my insurance if I keep my jewelry there. Couldn’t someone just steal the safe?

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HOME I OF THE I MONTH ■

HarborViews LOCATION: This Colonial in Milford has charm galore and water views from most windows. PROPERTY: Situated across the street from Fort Trumbull Beach, it’s a short walk to the yacht club, downtown and train station. HOUSE: Built around 1910, it has been carefully renovated to retain its vintage details. Both the living room and dining room have fireplaces, and the kitchen is state-of-the-art with a breakfast nook. There are three bedrooms, two full baths and one half bath. GARAGE: None. PRICE: $1,275,000. REALTY: Coldwell Banker Milford. Agent: Linda Wilson, 203-783-8740. Photography: Wayne Ratzenberger.

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SONG OF DAVE JONES, THE AMERICAN SAILOR Red skies divine, Sailors drink wine Sound of propeller, Fish for the teller Span of the wake Life span of make Bows dip Anchor chains rip The sky is always blue, night and day, Dark, dark blue at night, a blue-gray hue at dawn’s sky, a light blue sky by day A gray blue sky at dusk — Joseph Taylor Falco

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