High Country Press
Home Magazine Home, Garden & Remodeling
RESOURCE GUIDE Summer 2016
Home Sweet Home Ideas For
Your Castle
Remodeling Tips • Landscaping Projects • Kitchen Trends HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME’S VALUE NOW! A Summer 2016
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High Country HOME Mag a zine
What others are saying ... Barnette, and Audrey n h Jo t u o b a u’d want ough of people yo d I can’t say en in k e h T . t people m building they’re grea . Not just fro rs o b h ig e n ng the to have a s s of decorati rm te in t u b rs. the homes, hoosing colo house and c ly n an incredib as e e b e v a h ld hat cou one that w They took w rned it into tu d n a e c n e we would peri I don’t think stressful ex d n a s u r fo ders. f fun ny other buil a really a lot o m h it w t a th have gotten
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H i g h C o u n t r y h o me M a g a z i n e
& Bonn
ie MacQ
ueen
539 Banner Elk Highway Banner Elk, NC 28604 828-898-2378 | www.barnettebuilders.com |
Summer 2016
EntErlinE & russEll BuildErs 828.295.9568 | www.erbuilders.com
Enterline & Russell Builders is a full service custom residential and commercial construction company…
Building some of the finest homes in the High Country since 1983
Residential Construction
For more than three decades, we have enjoyed the privilege of building many homes, churches, schools, restaurants, banks and businesses here in the Blue Ridge Mountains — places where our friends and neighbors live, work and play.
Commercial Construction
We are Enterline & Russell Builders, a full service residential and commercial building and construction company. As Blowing Rock’s premier general contractor, we engage regularly in projects in Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, as well as throughout the western North Carolina counties of Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Caldwell. Our staff of project managers, carpenters, painters and excavation and site work personnel are regularly engaged in general contracting, new construction, remodeling, renovation and earthwork. We believe in working hands-on, and the quality of our work shows in our meticulous attention to detail. Our talented tradesmen are backed by experienced industry professionals. While other contractors are in the business of making money, we’ve been working hard since 1983 to be the best construction company in North Carolina’s High Country. Whether you need help with maintenance, remodeling, renovation or new construction, Enterline & Russell looks forward to working with you and meeting all of your needs. Visit our custom homes and commercial projects in and around Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk to see firsthand the Enterline & Russell difference.
Contact us today for more information. Enterline & Russell Builders, Inc. Custom Home Builders and Commercial Construction P.O. Box 1492, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Phone: 828-295-9568 • Fax: 828-295-9477 NC General Contractors License #27989
Blowing Rock, Boone and Banner Elk NC Custom Home Builders and Commercial Construction Summer 2016
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Table of CONTENTS Dream House in Todd........ 18 Building a Legacy................ 54 David and Trudy Shell, a husband-and-wife team of flooring industry experts, have outfitted their own home with the products they stand behind as entrepreneurs.
Customer service is still the name of the game at New River Building Supply after 40 years of local business.
Made in the High Country.....58
Greg Seiz and his team of window treatment experts design and custom create their products from start to finish at their headquarters in Newland.
Decked Out.......................68
18
A Family Affair..................26
A Hound Ears community homeowner explains why it’s worth the investment to hire the team of professionals at Distinctive Cabinetry for your next project.
These trends in custom outdoor living style explain why deck and patio spaces have become an important part of life, especially here in the High Country.
Survivor Story.................... 72
Get the story behind a home that rose from the ashes of an economic recession and now stands tall among the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains.
54 Importance of a Contract........... 6 Permits & Inspections................. 7 Real Estate Numbers.................. 8 What’s New for the Kitchen....... 10
10
Mountain Luxury............... 34
Meticulous design and quality craftsmanship have brought to life this dream retirement home in the coveted Blue Ridge Mountain Club.
Written in Stone.........48
Legendary stonemason Carlyle England has passed the torch to the Hendrix family, which now owns and operates a thriving businesses he created.
72 Working Together............... 78
48
When the professionals behind this industry network aren’t busy bringing dream homes to life, they’re out making a difference in their community.
Index of Advertisers 1:16 Media.............................................828.773.8414............................ 4 Appalachian Energy...............................336.258.4233.......................... 66 Bailey Drapery & Design........................828.963.8110............................ 8 Barnette Builders....................................828.898.2378....Inside Front Cover Banner Elk Consignment Cottage.........828.898.5733............................ 9 Blowing Rock Woodworks.....................828.260.9784.......................... 43 Charleston Forge...................................828.264.0100............................ 8 Clean Cut Lawn......................................828.964.9267.......................... 47 Clean & Dry Solutions............................828.265.9534............................ 5 Consignment Cottage Warehouse.........828.733.8148.......................... 65 Dacchille Construction...........................828.964-5150.......................... 31 Dianne Davant & Associates.................828.898-9887.......................... 77 Drexel Grapevine Antiques....................828.386.1881............................ 8 Enterline & Russell Builders...................828.295.9568............................ 1 Farmers Rentals.....................................828.264.6044.......................... 32 Forget Me Nots......................................828.773.3763.......................... 46 2
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Summer 2016
Newest Tile & Stone Trends...... 14 7 Uses for an Arborist............... 16 Remodeling Your Home............ 30 Craftsmanship as Art................ 43 Professional Landscaping......... 44 Making Your Home Green......... 52
When You Need a
Professional!
Greene Construction..............................828.264.2611............................ 3 High Country Home Builders.................828.297.6566.... Inside Back Cover High South Builders...............................828.719.0506.......................... 33 Hutch Johnson Residential Designs......919.810.6029.......................... 42 Jeff’s Plumbing.......................................828.264.5406.......................... 11 LifeStore Bank........................................800.723.4718............................ 6 McKee Tree............................................828.898.3615.......................... 17 Mountain Lumber...................................828.963.7524.......................... 11 Mountaineer Landscaping.....................828.733.3726.......................... 45 Precision Cabinets.................................828.262.5080.......................... 12 Radon Control Services.........................828.265.9534............................ 5 ReNew....................................................828.719.5057.......................... 53 Stone Cavern..........................................828.963.TILE........................... 15 Town Home............................................828.263.1133.......................... 13 VPC Builders..........................................828.295-0707........... Back Cover
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CONSTRUCTION, IN E N E E C GR
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1 IN C E
Greene ConstruCtion 525 George Wilson road Boone, nC 28607 828-264-2611
A Little About Our Team
Our team is made up of several departments including company officers, accounting, finance & administration, estimating & project management. Within each department there are experienced and qualified individuals there to assist you. You will be introduced to the staff and the role each member plays here at the Greene Construction office. When choosing a construction company you are faced with several large factors to consider. By choosing Greene Construction you can feel at ease, because we are a uniquely qualified group of professionals that are dedicated to taking your project from the starting of a concept to completely finished in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Our track record speaks for itself, and our number one goal is to provide superior service, along with a product that not only are we proud of, but you will be too.
Commercial Work
Our commercial work involves projects where the public is served by our customer and therefore, we must always be thinking as the business owner and how best to serve the public from their perspective. This requires that both safety and function be a top priority.
Residential Work
A home is a large investment in the future. We have worked with many families for over 60 years helping them to build that future. We encourage making the house fit the land, not the reverse. This is the most economical as well a necessity in preserving the natural beauty of our area.
Industrial Work
Our industrial work is based on an individual’s idea for a product and their need for help in developing a facility to put that idea into production. We must always be thinking of material flow and personnel flow in the design and construction. We have had many opportunities to assist our local industries in putting their ideas into efficient and productive facilities.
Institutional Work
Institutional work in the High Country centers primarily on school, church, government and medical buildings. We have had the opportunity to work with these institutions in both design and construction. Our involvement has been from a customer’s need expressed, review of the need and how to solve, concept design of a solution and construction. Many times this is much more that a building, but a need being met that in turn serves our entire community.
Other Projects/Services
www.greeneconstructionnc.com
Part of the diversity that is Greene Construction includes working with individuals with special needs and projects. These may include driveways and walkways, parks which emphasize structures with a visual message or a fire pit on someone’s patio. We enjoy the challenge of adding a special touch to a vision. Summer 2016
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Celebrating
Home Ownership
“Y
our home is your castle” is a phrase that comes from English judge Sir Edward Coke in the 1600s. While lawyers have their own interpretation of the Latin phrase, the common meaning is essentially: Your home is your private domain. It’s where you set the rules and nobody can tell you otherwise – except maybe your wife. Owning a home – or a castle – is a beautiful thing. It’s where you spend most of your time, making memories with your family and friends. It’s where you establish roots within the community and where you hope your grandchildren will visit and play. But your home requires a lot of attention and love – and big ideas. Want a waterfall in your backyard? Go ahead. Dream big. Would you like to put up a hedge for privacy? That sounds like a dividend-paying idea. You can always modify your plans midstream. If you don’t like where the project’s going, you can tear it down and start over. After all, it’s your castle.
Looking for beautiful landscaping ideas, custom kitchen cabinets or the perfect tile for your bathroom? We have spreads on all of these topics and more. Looking to build your own deck or shed – and, of course, home – and want greater service than you can find in a big-box store? Our new magazine celebrates all of this. It features experts in the industry of designing, building, remodeling and furnishing homes. These folks can help turn your dreams into a reality. This home resource guide covers the latest trends and gadgets to the tried-and-true concepts. The Home Magazine will walk you through the building and remodeling stages, starting with the permit process and the importance of a binding contract. Coincidentally, I am going through the home building process, which certainly is a learning curve. It’s been stressful to get things done right. There’s a saying that once you build a home and figure out how everything works, you generally never have to do it again. We hope this guide comes in handy. In helping to publish this glossy, I know I learned a few things. We hope you enjoy perusing this guide as much as we enjoyed creating it, and hopefully, it saves you from some heartburn and frustration during your next building project. Jesse Wood, Editor
Professional real estate marketing requires professional real estate photography. Make a good first impression by including aerial images to your portfolio along with professional interior shots. Michael Haynes 4
Check out 116media.org for samples of our work.
H i g h C o u n t r y h o me M a g a z i n e
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www .116M edi a.or g
High Country
Home Magazine Publisher Ken Ketchie Editor Jesse Wood Art Director Debbie Carter Advertising Director Jeffrey Green A Publication Of High Country Press Publications
Radon Control Services
I N C O R P O R A T E D
Residential/Commercial Radon Testing and Mitigation
On the Cover:
Local, Family Run Business Since 1989! RadonControlServices.com
828-265-9534
Clean & Dry CRAWL SPACE SYSTEMS
Tate House In Blowing Rock, N.C.
by Todd Bush
Healthy Solutions For Dirty Crawl Spaces & Wet Basements
High Country Press Publications P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2262
The Solution
High Country Press Home Magazine is published by High Country Press Publications of Boone, North Carolina. All content Š 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction, either in whole or in part, is forbidden without written permission from the publisher.
The Problem
Our cover aerial photo is by internationally published High Country commercial photographer Todd Bush. Todd specializes in stunning architectural photography (for every budget) for; homeowners, realtors, builders, resorts, architects and designers. Additionally providing; scenic, lifestyle and product photography for over 25 years.
828-265-9534
CleanDryCrawlSpace.com Summer 2016
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Just in time for summer home projects!
5 Reasons to Have a Good Construction Contract
I
f contractors and construction crews are working on your home and property, protect yourself with some sort of binding contract. In case issues arise down the road, you’ll be thankful you did. It’s not uncommon for problems to surface, even in the simplest of projects. So it’s important for the general contractor, subcontractors and homeowner to consider how disputes or misunderstandings should be handled. Creating a contract with all parties involved allows the demands to be spelled out clearly and in the end is a deciding factor in doling out responsibility for various stages of the project. A contract also sets a timeline for completion. Designating a third-party mediator might be helpful in keeping the relationship between the homeowner, contractors and construction crews on the positive side. Below are some recommendations from Paul Capua, an AV-Preminent-rated lawyer, is founding attorney of Capua Law Firm in Boone and Miami, Fla. Capua’s practice focuses on U.S. & International construction litigation and arbitration. He’s represented contractors and institutional clients in state and federal court. Capua lectures and trains clients on risk management and contracting principles in construction matters. For more info about upcoming seminars, visit www.capualawfirm.com. Negotiating a contract forces the owner and general contractor to sit together, work through difficult issues, and make tough decisions when everyone is in good spirits. This “meeting of the minds” should be viewed as an opportunity to manage expectations and eliminate misunderstanding. (e.g., the plans show a retaining wall on the property, but it is not included in the control estimate. Who’s responsible?)
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General contracting is governed by the law of contracts. Therefore, contracts are a major and essential part of construction projects, large and small.
One of the fundamental aspects of risk management is understanding and protecting each party’s silo of responsibility. Contracts define the roles and responsibilities of the numerous parties involved in construction projects–e.g., owner, architect, engineer, contractors, etc., and so without a good contract, there is diffuse and unclear accountability, which creates problems. (e.g., who is or should be responsible for foundation problems, the structural engineer or contractor?).
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A good contract includes essential clauses specifically tailored to the project and risks.
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A good contract avoids “gotcha” clauses that create liability and unfairly allocate risk.
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Permits & Inspections T he B u i l d in g P e r m it P r oc es s
for Watauga County
How To Get Started - Permit Checklist Same In Most Counties - Please Consult Appropriate Authorities
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he Building Permit process begins with the Building Permit Application, which covers all types of construction including new construction, additions, decks, remodeling and renovations. Permit Fees will be calculated and upon payment of these fees, along with completed applications and required plans, the application will be ready to be reviewed by the Planning & Inspections staff. Upon approval of the Building Permit application and plans, a Building Permit will be issued by the Building Code Officials and work may begin on the project. The Building Permit must be posted on site for all inspections.
Frame Constructed Homes: ❏ Building Permit Application form ❏ Two (2) copies of plans drawn to scale that identify the name of rooms and all the work to be done. ❏ Two (2) copies of the Plan Specifications forms. One copy of the plans and specifications will be marked “jobsite copy” and returned to the applicant when the permit is issued. This copy is to remain on the job site. ❏ Copy of Authorization for Wastewater System Construction (Septic Permit) and Well Construction Permit from the Appalachian District Health Department. ❏ General/Self Contractor Form ❏ Lien Agent Form ❏ Workers’ Compensation Coverage Form ❏ Contractor Regulation Sheets. There is one form for each contractor working on the project. (electrician, plumber, heat, gas installer) ❏ Erosion Control Certification
Log or Heavy Timber Homes: ❏ Building Permit Application form ❏ Two (2) copies of plans stamped by a N.C. licensed architect or engineer. ❏ Two (2) copies of the Plan Specifications forms. One copy of the plans and specifications will be marked “jobsite copy” and returned to the applicant when the permit is issued. This copy is to remain on the job site. ❏ Copy of Authorization for Wastewater System Construction (Septic Permit) and Well Construction Permit from the Appalachian District Health Department.
Submittal of an application does not mean the Permit has been issued The following checklists are intended to assist you in obtaining a Building Permit. This list cannot include every unique situation but can be used for most typical projects. Supplying the most accurate and complete information on this list will prevent delays in issuing a permit and possibly reduce construction correction costs.
❏ General/Self Contractor Form ❏ Lien Agent Form ❏ Affidavit of Workers’ Compensation Coverage form ❏ Contractor Regulation Sheets. There is one form for each contractor working on the project. (electrician, plumber, heat, gas installer) ❏ Insulation Trade-off Sheet (ResCheck) ❏ Erosion Control Certification
Remodel: (Interior Renovations Only no change to exterior footprint) ❏ Building Permit Application form ❏ Plan or detailed list of work to be done. ❏ General/Self Contractor Form (if project is over $30,000) ❏ Lien Agent Form (Not required if project if under $30,00 or an existing single family residence occupied by owner) ❏ Workers’ Compensation Coverage Form (if project is over $30,000) ❏ Contractor Regulation Sheets. There is one form for each contractor working on the project. (electrician, plumber, heat, gas installer)
Addition/Deck: ❏ Building Permit Application form ❏ Two (2) copies of plans drawn to scale showing all work to be done. ❏ Two (2) copies of the Plan Specification forms. ❏ Appalachian District Health Department verification of
septic/well setbacks. ❏ General/Self Contractor Form (if project is over $30,000) ❏ Lien Agent Form (Not required if project if under $30,00 or an existing single family residence occupied by owner) ❏ Workers’ Compensation Coverage Form (if project is over $30,000) ❏ Contractor Regulation Sheets. There is one form for each contractor working on the project. (electrician, plumber, heat, gas installer) ❏ Erosion Control Certification
Storage/Garage: ❏ Building Permit Application form ❏ Two (2) copies of plans drawn to scale showing all work to be done. ❏ Two (2) copies of the Plan Specification forms. ❏ Appalachian District Health Department verification of septic/well setbacks. ❏ General/Self Contractor Form (if project is over $30,000) ❏ Lien Agent Form (Not required if project if under $30,00 or an existing single family residence occupied by owner) ❏ Workers’ Compensation Coverage Form (if project is over $30,000) ❏ Contractor Regulation Sheets. There is one form for each contractor working on the project. (electrician, plumber, heat, gas installer) ❏ Erosion Control Certification
Other permits such as Zoning, Watershed, Grading or Floodplain may also be required. Summer 2016
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TAX RATES IN AVERY & WATAUGA COUNTIES FOR 2015-16
Charleston Forge
If you are like me, after becoming a property owner, you might have smiled when that first property bill arrived in the mail. But – believe me – that wore off pretty quick. Luckily, Watauga County features one of the lowest tax rates in the state.
Home Store
If you live within a municipality, you must pay both the municipality’s and county’s tax rate. Note that you will be required to pay a fire tax, which is used to fund fire departments that may one day save your home and/or family. In Watauga County, for example, the tax rate is 5 cents – except for the Todd fire district, which has a 7-cent rate.
FACTORY OUTLET
Watauga County:
$0.313 per $100 valuation + fire tax rate
TOWN RATES per $100 valuation
Monday thru Friday, 9am to 4pm 251 Industrial Park Drive, Boone, NC www.charlestonforgedirect.com
Boone: $0.041 cents Blowing Rock: $0.33 Seven Devils: $0.51 Beech Mountain: $0.732 Municipal Service District (Downtown Boone) $0.21 cents
Avery County:
$0.4472 per $100 (includes $0.067 cent fire tax)
TOWN RATES per $100 valuation
Drexel Grapevine Antiques
Banner Elk: Beech Mountain: Crossnore: Elk Park: Newland: Seven Devils: Sugar Mountain:
$0.54 cents $0.732 $0.24 $0.28 $0.49 $0.51 $0.46
*Avery County and Watauga County Tax Departments
Population, Households, Housing Units, Value & Building Permits
Collectibles, NC Pottery, China, Glass, Antique Fishing & More
U.S. Census Bureau figures
Pilar Harding Owner
Draperies | Curtains | Cornices Balloon & roman Shades Table Skirts | Dust ruffles | Pillows Drapery Hardware & Fabrics
Jeff Savage
P
OWNER / OPERATOR Between Boone & Blowing Rock
1 mile north of Tweetsie Railroad 3 miles north of Blue Ridge Parkway 3451 US Hwy 321S, Blowing Rock, nc
(828) 386-1881
Now Offering Hunter Douglas Window Fashions
www.drexelantiques.com 8
H i g h C o u n t r y h o me M a g a z i n e
nEW lOCaTiOn
10543 nC Hwy. 105 South, Suite #2 Banner elk, nC 28604 828-963-8110 baileydraperydesign@gmail.com
Watauga County:
Population: 52,560 (2014 estimate) Households: 20,224 (2010-14) Housing Units: 32,957 Homeownership rate: 57.4 percent (2010-14) Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $225,600 Building permits 2014: 243
Avery County:
Population: 17,773 (2014 estimate) Households: 7,174 (2010-14) *Housing Units: 14,027 Homeownership rate: 76.5 percent Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $144,700 Building permits 2014: 44 *Avery County and Watauga County Tax Departments
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Summer 2016
Real Estate A
Facts & Figures
Real Estate Market Near Pre-Recession Levels
s the economy continues to climb out of the pit that was the Great Recession, the local real estate market is no different. By most accounts each year seems a little better than the previous. The High Country Association of Realtors, a group of agents based in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties, reported that 2015 was the “busiest year” for real estate activity since 2007. The market started off pretty cool at the beginning of the year – as is normal. January featured the slowest month of sales in two years and also had a subpar median sale price of $168,500. But the real estate locomotive certainly picked up steam as the year progressed. Nearly two-thirds of the 1,598 home sales in 2015 were brokered in the second half of the year. The median price High Country Realtor® Report 2015 ended at $203,500, and the High Country Sales in 2015 Median sold price Association of Realtors reported that the total value of realtorincrease in number of homes sold in 2015 assisted home sales than in 2014 for 2015 was $404.2 RealtoR listings: 2,130 (as of January 10, 2016) million.
1,598 $203,500 16%
A 10 Year Look Back at Real Estate Sales & Trends Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Units Sold 1,833 1,732 1,200 963 889 959 1,153 1,217 1,305 1,503
Total Dollars Sold 502,276,952 529,444,993 352,736,090 253,736,338 227,189,730 252,845,381 292,891,931 315,426,991 309,448,139 378,102,650
Median Price 229,000 230,000 227,000 211,000 205,000 215,000 201,000 194,000 189,900 205,000
*Ashe County joins High Country Association of Realtors in 2010 This information includes residential homes and condos. Does not include land or lots. Includes Watauga, Avery and Ashe Counties. REALTOR-ASSISTED SALES, BY YEAR 2,000 1,600 1,200 800
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Looking for that perfect piece? Need to furnish a whole room? Stop by!
YOu’LL BE SurpriSED at What YOu’LL fiND ...
Banner Elk
Consignment Cottage
Downtown Banner Elk next to Edge of the World Outfitters 414 Shawneehaw Avenue, Banner Elk, NC 28604 consign@skybest.com / 828.898.5733 Summer 2016
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What’s New for the
Kitchen
Cooking In The “Soul” Of The Home The kitchen is where family memories are made: cooking pancakes with your kids on a Saturday morning or taking a stab at a heirloom recipe passed down from generations ago on a whim. It’s also one of the few interior areas – along with the master bathroom – that really make or break a deal in the real estate profession. So by a variety of measures, including the heart and the wallet, the kitchen is arguably the most important room in a home. Here are some ideas for your kitchen.
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To Use Gas or Electric?
tove technology has certainly advanced from the days of cooking on wood stoves. See the pros and cons of electric and gas stoves below:
Gas: A chef’s favorite range, the gas-powered stovetop allows you the ability to easily adjust the heat quickly from low to high settings. You can even operate in a power outage as you can simply strike a match to light the range. On the other hand, installation is more complex if gas needs to be piped in and the potential for a gas leak exists.
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Kitchen AND the Open Floor Plan
he integrated kitchen/dining area is an ongoing trend following in the footsteps of the open floor plan. No longer do designers and architects immediately wall off the dining room from the kitchen, and during remodels, those walls are likely the first things to come down. In general, the area feels more spacious and conducive for chit-chat at dinner parties.
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Metal Range Hoods En Vogue
o pile onto last year’s trendy metallic finishes of copper, brass and bronze, metal ranges are expected to “assume a more dominant role in the kitchen esthetics.” As interior designer Gail Drury told Houzz earlier this year, “Wood mantle hoods are being replaced with metal hoods or ones that are a combination of wood and metal.”
Convenient Door-in-Door Fridges Electric: Just plug in and cook. Electric stoves are easy to use with just the turn of a knob or push of a button. They also usually have a place to store pans in the bottom of the range, and the models with the ceramicglass cooking surfaces are stylish. While cleaning can be easy, some spills not addressed immediately, like sugar, can become tough to remove. They do cook slower and if the power goes out, you might go hungry.
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asy access and energy-efficiency are two advantages behind the door-in-door refrigerator concept. Instead of opening up the refrigerator and having to navigate all of the items, the door-in-door access allows you to just open the front chamber to grab the most popular items in the fridge. As Consumer Reports noted a few years back, this concept has staying power and its response from customers was positive: “The feature is mostly about convenience, though it could deliver small energy savings as well, especially if your kids like to loiter in front of the fridge with the door open wide while they decide between a cheese stick and yogurt pack.”
Making Your Appliances Disappear Has Never Looked So Good
DECKING WINDOWS CABINETS POPLAR BARK BUILDING MATERIALS DOORS FESTOOL
CABLERAIL
inspired by our mountains, customized by you!
W
hether you are a design fanatic or you just enjoy fine appointed details, there is nothing like integrated refrigeration that blends seamlessly with your cabinetry. Remove the clutter and impress dinner guests with hideaway components in the kitchen. The refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher can all be hidden in a custom cabinet – so can your pantry and other cookware. Underneath drawer-style refrigeration units are classy. You can also hide pull-out countertops. In case you need additional space to prep food or unload the groceries, just pull to increase your counter space. So if you are looking to integrate you kitchen even more, think creatively about hideaway options.
www.MountainLumberCompany.com | 828.963.7524
The Microwave Dilemma
W
hether to choose a countertop, over-the-range or built-in microwave is quite the quandary. The countertop version is obviously the easiest to install. They are also the cheapest option. Note that countertop microwaves take up finite counter space. While over-the-range microwaves don’t take up any counter space, they might require a professional electrician to help with install. Built-in microwaves are – as their namesake suggests – designed to be out of sight, such as surrounded by cabinetry, so you won’t have to stare at the microwave every time you step in the kitchen. Summer 2016
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5 New Cool Things For Kitchens T
Charles Viancin Silicone Lid Set
hese airtight, silicone lids put the fun in function. Acting as a suction cup, these lids work effectively on a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials including stainless steel, glass, plastic, ceramic and wood. Durable, these lids can withstand temperatures between negative 40 degrees and 428 degrees.
Herb Scissors and Cleaning Comb
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ooking for a way to cut herbs five times faster? Culinario’s high-quality herb scissors are ideal for cutting all kinds of herbs, leeks, scallions, and even garden grasses! Just put herbs between the five-blade scissors and cut! Then use the cleaning comb to remove the rest of herbs from the blades.
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Pot Scrubbers You Can Toss in Laundry
here are some stains and stubborn pots that require serious elbow grease. For those projects, we always use steel wool. But our steel wool tends to sit about getting grimy and unsightly over time. Now, we’re using these steel gray scrubber pads, designed just for Food52.com by Dot and Army. Made of polyester, you can throw them in the washing machine when they get dirty, so you can use them again and again.
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Quirky Nibble Cake Pan
aking cakes for a crowd can be a little nervewracking. Without cutting into the cake and ruining its presentation, how can you make sure it tastes good before serving it? The nibble pan is a smart solution for that problem — it’s a cake pan with a little silicone sidecar for baking a small amount of batter alongside the full cake.
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The Smart Kitchen Gets Brighter
he kitchen continues to raise its IQ. Who needs to stand in the kitchen and watch the oven work anymore? These days there are apps like a digital thermometer that alert your iPhone when the grub is done cooking. There’s also a fridge that features Wi-Fi and mirrors your smart phone in addition to freezing or chilling your groceries. The Pantelligent Smart Frying Pan is another example, which according to Wearable.com, gives you step-by-step directions and real-time temperature feedback with its free app. Don’t forget about motion-activated faucets. 12
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Custom Kitchen Cabinets At The Intersection Of Function, Style And Craftsmanship Are Custom Kitchen Cabinets
Function
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he kitchen is a high-traffic area where many moving parts need to coalesce. Each time, you walk in there you are likely to open a cabinet for one reason or another. Cabinets must hold up to spills, toe-kicks and, in general, rough treatment. In the end, they play a huge role in a frustration-free experience in the kitchen.
inspired by our mountains customized by you.
Style
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hether you are looking to paint cabinets a certain color scheme or showcase the grain and character of an exotic wood species, kitchen cabinets are capable of contributing to any style, theme or concept. Selecting the accompanying hardware is an important decision, too. The hardware not only adds a contrasting pop, but they are a tangible component to a set of custom cabinets.
Craftsmanship
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hat you could pull off the shelf at a big-box store doesn’t compare! The attention to detail and craftsmanship displayed in high-caliber cabinet shops across the High Country and beyond is exquisite, bar none. All you have to do is call up a woodworking shop to get started on a design specifically suited to your individual needs and kitchen layout. You’ll be pleased with the craftsmanship.
Planning Custom Kitchen Cabinets
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lot of planning goes into custom kitchen cabinets. Your kitchen and appliances must be measured, and molding profiles, stock and finishes must be selected. What type of door styles, hardware and drawer slides do you want? What about an island? Do you want cabinets made out of a particular type of wood or a composite material that is suitable to paint? Expect to pay more than you would for stock cabinets at a big-box store; custom cabinets for a typical kitchen can cost more than $10,000. This process doesn’t have to be difficult. A little communication goes a long way. Kitchen designers and general contractors are on hand to engage with both the homeowner and cabinetmaker. If you want to handle the process on your own, just pick up the phone. Cabinetmakers would love your business, and you’ll probably enjoy poking your head into their creative workshop. Summer 2016
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What’s New in
Tile & Stone Trends
The Bathroom & Beyond: Porcelain, Stone & Glass Tiles
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ile has come a long away from being just plain-old white ceramic squares in the bathroom. Today, tile shops offer a wide range of products made out of several materials including porcelain, metal, glass, natural stone, marble and more. You can even get tile that looks like wood and cement or features a mosaic of patterns and colors. Glass and metallic tiles for backsplash in the kitchen are en vogue for an upbeat or modern industrial look, while in the bathroom floor to ceiling tile is on the list of 2016 trends. Ledgerstone on interior walls and on the lower third of the exterior make for a nice look in the mountains. Travertine and antique onyx tiles add warm, neutral and earthy tones, and the installation of porcelain planks that mimic hardwood is a creative use of tile.
T y p e s o f T i l e
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• Slate • Fauxwood • Marble • Glass • Slate • Granite • Onyx • Pebble • Granite • Quartz • Travertine • Porcelain • Ceramic • Metallic
Cost Tile, Materials & Labor
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he cost of a tile job is broken down into three parts: tile, materials and labor. Tile costs vary, of course, but even if you choose a higher priced tile such as natural stone, the added cost will fall below that of the other project components. If you are undecided as to which price-tier of tile is a better deal in the long run, check out the example below: If tile cost $5 per square foot, the tile for a 100-square-foot bathroom floor will cost $500. Materials include backerboard, thin-set mortar, tile clips, grout and more – all of which may add up to more than $200. Finally, labor costs come into play, and you might as well hire a pro because they’ll do the job right the first time. Labor may cost you $8 per square foot. With labor and materials costing twice as much as the tile in this example, spending a little bit more or less than $5 per square foot for tile won’t make that much difference in the long run. You might as well choose the tile you really want. After all, we do spend a considerable amount of time in the bathroom.
Heated Floors
eated floors are no longer considered a luxury. Next winter, you’ll regret waking up in the morning to your bare feet chilling on an ice-cold bathroom floor. And if you look the look of wooden floors but want heated flooring in high traffic areas throughout the house, consider wood-look porcelain with thermostat-controlled, radiant heat underneath.
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Tools Needed for
DIY Tile Project
Tape Measure Notched Trowel Nippers Bucket Level Grout Float Rags Utility Knife Safety Glasses Sanding Block Tile Saw
Why Do Showers Leak? • Improper setting materials • Poor quality materials such as backerboard, grout, thinset, or waterproof membrane • Shower is incorrectly waterproofed • Shower floor is not properly sloped from the perimeter to the drain • Tile installer does not test the shower pan for waterproofness • Tile installer is unaware how to install a waterproof shower
Stone Cavern
VISIT OUR WEBSITE! www.stonecavern.com
TILE & Stone Showroom
828-963-8453
The High Country’s One-Stop Location for Sales • Design • Installation of Tile & Stone
TILE & STONE FOR ANY BUDGET
Design Consultation 25 different floor displays to help you visualize your tile dreams Check Out Our GallerY on our website ®
Located in Grandfather View Village at the base of Grandfather Mountain (across from Mountain Lumber) 9872 Hwy 105
Schluter Systems
INNOVATIVE INSTALLATION SYSTEMS FOR TILE AND STONE
828-963-TILE • CALL FOR MONTHLY SPECIALS • WWW.STONECAVERN.COM Summer 2016
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7 Ways That an Arborist can serve you Arborists offer a variety of services from creating sweeping views and
healing distressed trees to removing hazardous trees and cleaning up storm debris. Tree service companies employ knowledgeable and skilled professionals. Before you consider doing the work yourself, consult a certified arborist and save yourself from a potential trip to the emergency room.
You Can Trim Your Trees for a View Clearing for a Sweeping View
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view can add enormous value to your property or home in the mountains. But not every home is built on a meadow. This is where an arborist comes in. Tree service companies can enhance the view or outright make one by selectively clearing trees on your property.
Be Proac tive: Protec t Your Investment
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n most cases, it’s better to be proactive than reactive. An arborist can visit your home and point out hazardous trees surrounding your home – think diseased or dead trees, those with dangerous limbs or roots of a big tree compromising a home’s foundation. Cable bracing might be possible to save a tree you adore. Consider reaching out to an arborist to potentially save you money down the road. You probably won’t regret it the next time a 100-mph gust of wind blows through during winter.
Windbreaks, Privacy Fencing & Beauty
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he last two bullet points are bordering in the realm of landscaping, but they are essential amenities that tree services can offer. Trees can provide windbreaks and privacy fencing to your property. They can also beautify your property and home. Check with an arborist who can recommend and plant the proper trees for your exact situation.
Emergency Tree Service
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rees might look perfectly healthy but have structural defects that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Perhaps saturated soil and windy conditions create the “perfect storm” for a big tree to uproot and fall. Maybe storm debris is blocking your driveway and you can’t make it too work in the morning. Many arborists offer emergency tree services that even some forethought can’t prevent.
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Planting
hile arborists are famously labeled as “tree surgeons” and are visible in the aftermath of storms, they are also defined as cultivators of trees and shrubs. Consider hiring an arborist to help you plant trees, so they’ll be standing for generations to come.
Stump Grinding and Pruning
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tump grinding and pruning are just a couple more services that arborists offer. They have the proper equipment to safely grind stumps and prune trees that are way out of reach even for a basketball player or those standing on a ladder.
Heal Your hemlocks & distressed trees
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number of Western North Carolina arborists specialize in protecting and preserving Eastern Hemlocks, which have been ravaged by the hemlock woolly adelgid, a non-native insect that can kill a mature Hemlock in as little as a few years. Consider calling a certified arborist to figure out treatment options to help the hemlocks on your property. Of course, they can also provide services to heal other distressed trees.
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McKee Tree Service Serving Avery, Watauga & the High Country since 1974
www.mckeetreeservice.com
828.898.3615
828.295.7230
A beautiful garden is not by chance. Services Include: Pruning Trees and Shrubs • Tree and Stump Removal • Tree Fertilization Crane Removal Service • Insect and Disease Control FREE Estimates and Consultation Estimates and consultations are free, so call today to find out how we can help add to the beauty and value of your home. Summer 2016
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Owners of Mountain Tile Build Dream Home in Todd S
By Jesse Wood
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ince buying Mountain Tile in 2010, David and Trudy Shell have always gone to considerable lengths to take care of their customers. They offer creative ideas and free estimates. Their expanded showroom in Boone features showers, sinks, floor and wall products made out of ceramic, porcelain, marble, granite and travertine. And in something that will help the Shells better connect with customers, they recently |
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built their first custom home in Todd that features many products offered by Mountain Tile. Naturally, the couple know quite a bit about designing, building and furnishing a new home, which in itself is a stressful, timeconsuming endeavor. “It’s a challenging process, and Trudy and I learned a lot about the building process,” David said. “This has just helped us understand and put ourselves in our customers shoes for a while,
With their dogs, Maggie and Sally at their side, Mountain Tile owners David and Trudy Shell sit in the living room of their custom home in Todd.
and hopefully, we can become a guide to customers for what we’ve done.”
Owners of Mountain Tile Build Dream Home in Todd A five-minute drive to Todd, where the South Fork and the North Fork of the New River coalesce, David and Trudy Shell’s brand new home sits amidst an Appalachian hardwood forest within earshot of a rushing creek. Inside, their mountain house features an abundance of beautiful natural stone – from antique onyx ledgestone walls to porcelain tile reminiscent of weathered hardwood floors. This, of course, isn’t too surprising because the Shells own Mountain Tile in Boone. The master bathroom features a gorgeous copper tub, that a travertine floor, countertop and sink accentuate. In the powder room, a handcrafted live-edge walnut slab countertop has an inset copper sink, and the kitchen is flush with chiseledSummer 2016
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The Shells described their dream home as a “nice mountain house.” We didn’t want it to be too rustic-y or too cabin-y. We wanted a nice mountain house, but not a log cabin.
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The Shells’ powder room is one of rustic elegance with a beautiful copper sink and walnut live-edge slab crafted by 99 Timbers.
edge granite slab countertops. And while the couple’s home features many other products showcased in the Mountain Tile showroom on N.C. 105, this is not just a story of tile owners lavishly outfitting a modest abode at wholesale prices. It’s also about a couple working hard, after being let go from both jobs during the recession, and having the confidence to buy a local business in a construction-related industry when everyone else was running for the hills. In 2010, the Shells were living in Hickory around the time the Great Recession had firmly put its imprint on the secondhome market, which is a significant portion of the economy
in the High Country. Several months earlier, David and Trudy were let go from their longtime jobs of more than two decades. David worked as a regional sales manager in the flooring industry for 25 years and Trudy worked for a company that distributed checks and business cards for most of that time. When David suggested buying Mountain Tile in 2010 and moving to Boone, Trudy essentially responded, “Are you crazy?” But after the shock of potentially diving wallet-first into the enterprise wore off, Trudy knew she had confidence in David, especially with his experience in the flooring industry. “Absolutely or I would have never gone along with it,” she said, laughing. When the Shells bought the business, the housing market was still tanking, but David said he believed the economy would soon stabilize and begin a steady climb out of the doldrums. “When everyone was thinking of selling, I had the confidence in the economy and the people of the High Country that business was going to come back,” David said. “I wanted to be a part of that.” In 2014 – after a few years in business – they leased the space next door in the existing shopping center on N.C. 105, which features Boone Paint and the Appalachian Blind & Closet Co., and expanded their renovated showroom to offer additional products, such as walls of ledger stone and a variety of sinks made out of fireclay, copper, nickel, travertine and marble. Though their home near Todd is located just off a two-
The kitchen features a leathered-granite island countertop with a travertine farmhouse sink. Behind the island and above the stove is an extra piece of an antique onyx slab that resembles a framed piece of abstract art.
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lane highway that connects Ashe County to Boone and Blowing Rock, the Shells home feels more remote than it actually is – kind of like a lot of homes in the High Country, where you are just a holler a way from the rat race. The Shells described their dream home as a “nice mountain house.” “We didn’t want it to be too rustic-y or too cabin-y,” David said. “We wanted a nice mountain house, but not a log cabin.” It features a sweet sliding barn door leading into the master bathroom, which features a mercury-glass chandelier. “I had to have my little bling,” said Trudy, pointing toward the chandelier. In the living room, covered in a wall of slate ledgestone that incorporates a fireplace with a thick live-edge slab mantle, is another chandelier. But this one is made out of deer antlers. “This is my splurge right here,” David counters, pointing at his prized chandelier hanging above the living room. Back in the master bedroom, David nodded toward the awesome sliding barn door near an unusual fan, the latter of which he described as “industrial.” It’s certainly not you’re your traditional ceiling fan. It’s smaller and has more of a modern look, sleek and black. Perhaps the contrast of the two – the sliding barn door and the industrial-like fan – epitomizes the style of home that the Shells envisioned. The success of their business and contacts in the industry certainly
Mountain Tile owner and homeowner David Shell stands with Randy Strombeck, owner of Moravian Falls-based RCD Construction. The Shells designed the home and Strombeck served as general contractor.
I do like the “ design. I like the open plan like this. It’s not cut up, has a really good feel, comfortable and is just really nice. – Randy Strombeck
The wall framing this outside fireplace is made out of ledgestone, a natural stone veneer panel that comes in a variety of finishes, profiles and textures. The Shells used ledgestone on the interior and exterior of the home.
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helped the Shells build their dream home about 15 minutes from Boone. They began building in April and thanks to the game plan by RCD Construction began moving in before Thanksgiving. Still, there is plenty of work to do, such as landscaping around the property and tiling the porch that leads to the backyard. Now, they are just waiting on the weather to break to seed the grass and plant flowers – the finishing touches that, David said, really turn a home into a home. The Shells designed the home for the most part, and RCD Construction acted as the general contractor. Randy Strombeck, 53, is the owner of RCD Construction, which incorporated in 1997, but Strombeck said he’s been in the construction industry since he was 13 years old. The son of schoolteachers, Strombeck said he started out in the industry “busting out concrete forms as a kid.” In 2000, Strombeck moved from Florida to Moravian Falls in Wilkes County. He’s built $150,000 houses and million dollar homes and everything in between. Building homes in a six-county area including Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties, Strombeck has built extensively in the Blue Ridge Mountain Club Development
The elk antler chandelier hanging above the living room was David’s idea. As he commented during a walk-through of the home, “This is my splurge right here.”
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The Shells’ master bath showcases many of the tile products that Mountain Tile offers. The stone installation is the work of William Roa Tile. Antique onyx ledgestone wraps the walls and the sink and floor is made out of walnut travertine (above, bottom left). Meanwhile, the standup shower features espresso vein-cut travertine with a sliced pebble floor (bottom right).
and Linville Ridge. “This is right in our sweet spot. We’ve built a lot smaller and a lot bigger,” Strombeck said of the Shell’s home. “I think most of everybody is building this same kind of size: 2,500 to 3,500 square feet. At least 80 percent of our clients are in this spot. This is really nice. Because he owns a tile store, we did a lot of upgrades that you don’t normally see, which makes it unique from that standpoint.” Walking through the living room, through the kitchen and past the pantry, we step inside the laundry room, which features another copper sink and a polished antique onyx 22
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Heated Floors – No Longer a Luxury
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ile is cold, especially on winter nights when you have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. So why not consider adding thermostat-controlled, radiant heat underneath your tile? David Shell, owner of Mountain Tile on N.C. 105 in Boone, did just that in his new home in Todd. David and his wife, Trudy, had the heat coils installed in the master bath and high traffic areas featuring tile in other parts of the house. The Shells will turn on the heat in the winter months in the High Country, which can range from October to May depending on a particular season’s climate, to morph cold tile into “warm-andtoasty” for bare feet. As David said, heated floors used to be considered a luxury only for the higher-end clientele but not anymore. He said homeowners, especially those who live in the High Country through the winter months, should definitely consider adding heat to the floors in the master bathroom and bedrooms. “They really used to be a luxury – as good as it gets,” David said. “But today it’s become so common. If you don’t have it, it’s almost viewed as a negative.”
Ledgestone as Accents
Natural Stone Veneer for a Rustic & Natural Look
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edgestone panels are thin, stone veneer, that bring an elegant look to any interior or exterior space without breaking the bank. Real ledgestone incorporates real, natural stone not faux or concrete into manageable panels. (Usually a 6 x 24.) Ledgestone comes in various finishes, from a rough cut, split face stone with a weathered finish, to a more modern sleek straight edge finish. The varying profiles of the stone give it depth and texture, while showcasing the natural beauty of the stone. Ledgestone can be installed directly over tile backer board using a quality tile thin-set, or using the traditional lathe system. The interlocking panel’s link together creating a uniform look, and making installation simple. Because ledgestone is not grouted, you don’t have to worry about cracked grout or crooked grout joints. Ledgestone is perfect for a rustic and natural look and is popular for exterior coverings and landscapes (foundations, columns, chimneys or outdoor kitchens). Ledgestone is also ideal for interior uses. It creates a unique and stylish look to meet anyone’s taste. Some interior uses are fireplaces, bar backsplashes and accent walls.
Stop by Mountain Tile and Stone to view our extensive selection of ledgestone and split face rock. Summer 2016
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Large earth ledgestone accentuates The Shells custom home in Todd, N.C.
floor. With a good nature chuckle, Strombeck answers his own question: “Who puts antique onyx in their laundry room? A man who owns a tile store.” As owners of a tile store, the Shells had a tough decision in selecting a contractor. Being in the business of cultivating relationships with contractors, the Shells knew feelings would be hurt in choosing a general contractor to manage their dream-home project. But in the end, David said it essentially came down to picking a long-term friend. “It was a very difficult choice,” David stressed, “to choose contractors because there are so many good builders in the area.” Asked about the home, Strombeck said he particularly liked the interior layout of the home. The Shells came to Strombeck with most of the design in place and Strombeck added a few tweaks. For example, he suggested making the office, which the Shells seldom use, smaller and utilizing that space in the living room. “I do like the design. This is a really well laid out house. When you come in [the front door], I like the open plan like this. It’s not cut up, has a really good feel, comfortable and is just really nice,” Strombeck said. As Trudy noted as well, friends who have visited their home have commented on how “comfortable” the home feels and how the size of the home seems to feel bigger than the actually square footage. “What folks say [when they visit] is ‘This house just feels comfortable.’ Which is what I wanted. It doesn’t look like a massive house from the street but inside it feels like a lot bigger house.”
The Master Bath There is general consensus among professionals in the real estate business that having a “well-appointed” kitchen and a luxurious, spacious master bath increases the likelyhood of selling a home. These two spaces are important, perhaps the most important spaces in a home. When meeting the Shells in their home, they asked where 24
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The downstairs guest area features heated porcelain tile that looks like natural wood.
to start, and I immediately said, ‘the master bath.” Not necessarily because of the previous paragraph but because that’s where I figured I would see the most tile and other products that Mountain Tile showcases. And, boy it didn’t disappoint. Antique onyx ledgestone wraps the walls of the bath. The framed spaces that hold the windows and mirror are trimmed out with the same textured antique onyx ledgestone. The shower is made out of antique onyx with a smooth, polished finish, which is much more smooth than the bricklayered-like look of the ledgestone. “To me that’s the favorite stone I sell,” David said. “Some people might not like it. It might be busy, but I think it’s beautiful.” The floor of the bathroom is walnut travertine – as are the sinks, which Trudy and David described as a “very neutral warm” look that meshes well with the rest of the bathroom. The countertop is a travertine slab as well. The ceiling has a “knockdown finish,” something that David said he liked because of the subtle texture. “It’s not flat, not popcorn,” David said. “It’s just a nice texture.” Hanging from that ceiling is Trudy’s bling, the mercury glass chandelier. The floor in the master bathroom – and other parts of
the house where tile or stone exist in high-traffic areas – is heated. A coil runs underneath the tile and is controlled by a thermostat. During the winter months – say October through May in the High Country – the Shells say they will turn up the heat to make their floor “warm and toasty” – instead of it being tiptoe cold. David said that heated floors are certainly trending upwards these days – enough so that they aren’t even considered a luxury anymore. It can be pricey to coil the entire house, but Shell said you should definitely consider heating the flooring in your master bathroom and even bedrooms. “They really used to be a luxury – as good as it gets,” David said. “But today it’s become so common. If you don’t have it, it’s almost viewed as a negative.”
The fireplace on the back patio is framed with ledgestone. Hollar’s Tile did the installation work. The custom oak mantle was crafted by 99 Timbers, a woodshop based in West Virginia.
A Guide for Customers If you’ve never built a home before or taken on a major home renovation, it’s tough to imagine all of the necessary forethought; each decision you make affects something down the line. There are so many interrelated parts to a home and with that comes a decision on almost all of them. For the Shells – aside from building their first home and enjoying the customization that comes with designing it yourself – they say that going through the homebuilding processes will definitely help them address concerns and needs of their customers in the future. As much as the Shells say they’ve tried to relate to customers in the past, they now realize how much more they will be able to guide customers through the process of outfitting their home with Mountain Tile products during their customer’s building projects. “It’s a challenging process, and Trudy and I learned a lot about the building process,” David said. “This is our first build, and I think it will help us understand when our clients come in stressed out, thinking over the thousands of decisions, stressed out over budget consciousness (because everything goes over usually). “This has just helped us understand and put ourselves in their shoes for a while, and hopefully we can become a guide to customers for what we’ve done.”
The flooring on the back patio surrounding the ledgestone fireplace is made of slate plank and installed by Hollar’s Tile.
99 Timbers crafted this custom live-edge slab table made out of maple. This table sits on the back patio, which is made of slate plank tile. Summer 2016
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The Distinctive Difference
A Story of Dreams, Inspiration, Transformation, Trust and Friendship By Pat & Leah Parks with Distinctive Cabinetry of The High Country
Irene and Henry Wansker of Hound Ears Community
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hat’s in a name? In our case, we like to think that our name, “Distinctive Cabinetry of the High Country,” actually means what it says and is not just some gimmicky moniker. The truth is, we wrestled with many names when we first opened our doors back in 2002. To be even more truthful, we almost didn’t go with this name. Other cabinet companies use this word as part of their name and we wanted to distinguish our company from theirs. Our final decision was to use the word “distinctive” and make it our mission to live up to the word, both in the quality of our custom cabinetry and, more importantly, in the personal way we would treat and interact with our clients. So, we stuck with the name and figured we’d let our work give it true meaning. You see, we’re a real family business; the Parks family business, to be specific – Leah, Pat, John and Dave Parks. We work together as a family and we work with our clients as if they are family. We be26
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Leah Parks (left) is accredited through the National Kitchen & Bath Association as a Certified Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer. Leah and Pat Parks (right) work closely with their clients, interior designers and contractors all the way from early planning through installation and completion of each new project.
lieve that building a beautiful kitchen starts with building a great relationship with our clients. The better we get to know them, learn what they need and learn what their dreams are, the better job we can do helping them fulfill these dreams. It seems our clients pick up on this personal touch and are able to relax and work with us more comfortable and confidently. Of course, it also helps that we offer professional certified design service with many years of experience and lots of happy clients. Our custom cabinetry designs, products and materials are of the highest quality. Our expertise at planning, managing, installing and completing a project to everyone’s satisfaction is, well, truly distinctive. Our goal is that by the end of a project, our clients become our friends. When we were first approached about writing this article, we did not want to be perceived as being boastful, and that can be tough. How do you tell your story without tooting your horn a little? So, we decided to let one of our clients help us out. That is where this story really begins. Back in the fall of 2015, Irene Wansker from the Hound Ears community stopped into our showroom to check us out and see if we were the right folks to help her completely remodel her kitchen. Irene and her husband, Henry, had been considering a few other cabinetry sources and were being very cautious about whom they might trust with this major task. After all, remodeling a whole kitchen isn’t just a matter of picking out some stock cabinets, counter tops and drawers. It’s a big, complex job. It truly demands a professional designer’s eye and skill to pull everything together, avoid the pitfalls and end up with just the right look, feel and functionality; and, let’s face it, it can be a little scary turning over that job to just anyone who happens to sell cabinetry. That’s because a family’s home is more than just a place where they live. It’s the center of their lives — the place where they nurture and build their family dreams. Their kitchen is always at the very heart of those dreams — where they come together, where they nurture their lifestyle, where they celebrate and where they entertain. In this case, Irene and Hank had done a lot of online research to narrow down their choices. That’s how they first found out about us. Why did they decide to include us on their list of choices? Maybe Irene should explain that. Irene Sawyer: “Before visiting anywhere, I looked at several web sites of cabinetry places here in the High Country. Some sites were, frankly, a little too hard sell. Others were too cold looking and feeling; almost lifeless and sterile; but Distinctive’s site seemed truly warm and friendly, yet also very professional. The site’s color design was appealing, the photo slide show of their work was very impressive, the information was clear and inviting, and then there was the photo of the Parks family. It wasn’t overly posed or retouched. It was just the four of them standing there as a family with natural smiles, as if welcoming me into their home. Very authentic! That’s what first made me feel like I could relate with them; that I could describe to them what I wanted, and that I could trust them to work with me comfortably, and that’s exactly how it went from there. We had an instant rapport and our conversations were all about what
Meet the Parks family of Distinctive Cabinetry of the High Country. Left to right are John, Leah, Pat (seated) and Dave. This is the family team that goes to work with you from day one to help your new kitchen and cabinetry dreams come true.
Henry and I truly hoped to have when all was said and done. “Another thing that helped gain my trust — and I’ve never told this to the Parks before — was that they never ‘prequalified us’ by jumping right into questions about our budget. That’s usually a big turn-off for me. When people start pressing me for my budget, it’s as if they are measuring me up to determine how much of their time, attention and quality of service they can afford to give me; but the Parks never asked that. They let me come to that decision after we talked about everything else, and after they had given us a full picture of options to fit our vision. From there, we worked closely together through all the steps and stages of design planning, scheduling, cabinetry building, all the interior construction needs, and everything else that’s required to get the job finished to our satisfaction; and, by the time it was all done, Henry and I and the Parks ended up as good friends. That’s more than what we’d hoped for, but it was a great bonus on top of getting a beautiful new kitchen that will be a source of enjoyment for us for many years to come.” “Let me back up a little and give you an idea of what a challenge it was for all of us. You see, when Henry and I bought our Hound Ears home, we knew there was some remodeling to do. Plus, we wanted the place to look and feel like ‘us.’ Most of the remodeling we had in mind was pretty obvious and fairly simple, but that kitchen was another story! In the first place, it was an outdated design that partially opened up into the livSummer 2016
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BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE … old kitchen was dark, dysfunctional, dreary, outdated. The dark cabinets, counter tops and walls combined with the exposed fixtures and minimal lighting gave the old kitchen a drab appearance. The refrigerator and range were on opposite sides of the kitchen making food preparation a chore.
AFTER … the new kitchen is bright, functional, warm, timeless. The close proximity of the cooking island range and refrigerator hidden within beautiful cabinetry makes cooking and entertaining a breeze. The polished granite counter tops and travertine wall backing along with the cabinetry and ceiling lighting work beautifully together.
ing room. In the second place, it wasn’t a large kitchen, so any re-design would have to make the most of the available space. It would have to be both attractive and highly functional to work. In the third place, it was dark — very dark! Dark wood cabinetry with solid doors, dark trim, minimal lighting and some really awful green pattern wallpaper, and all that darkness made the kitchen look even smaller. “On top of that, the appliances were unattractive and poorly placed. The range was at one end of the kitchen and the refrigerator was on the other, and neither was located next to where you would normally prepare food. It was an aerobic workout just trying to get food items back and forth from refrigerator 28
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to range. It did not feel or function like a place you’d want to prepare a wonderful meal, and it wasn’t a kitchen you’d want to show off when entertaining. “So, with that in mind, you can imagine how determined Henry and I were not to make any mistakes when choosing a custom cabinetry source. This kitchen needed a solid professional designer’s eye and skill. It needed someone who could truly understand what it would take to transform that outdated, very dark kitchen into a warm, open, bright and highly functional family kitchen. It needed the Parks, and we were more than satisfied. “Our home took on a whole new life once our kitchen was completed. The glass door cabinets with their inte-
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rior lighting, the up-lighting above the cabinets, the under cabinet light and ceiling lighting fixtures all added new dimension, texture and character to the setting. The polished granite counter tops, light maple painted and glazed wood cabinetry and travertine wall sections are all subtle variations on a soft color theme, yet there’s just enough contrast to make everything distinctive, inviting and beautiful. Now, the appliances and food prep areas are all strategically located close together to make meal preparation easy and fun. Our new kitchen truly compliments the living room and the rest of the house, and makes entertaining something to look forward to. What more can I say? We love it!”
Distinctive Cabinetry’s Parks family is often known for becoming more than just cabinetry designers to their clients. In many cases, they end up as friends. And that’s what happened with the Parks and the Wanskers. Seen here (L to R) are Leah, John, Dave & Pat Parks with Henry & Irene Wansker. A new kitchen and new friends! All that’s left to do now is…celebrate.
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We truly enjoyed working with and getting to know Irene and Henry. They were open to ideas and had great ideas of their own. The whole process was a mutually creative effort with everyone listening and contributing, even when they weren’t in town. Of course, our job was to first create the right design strategy, recommend the right cabinetry, meet with the contractor to help develop the construction and installation timeline and then hand-hold the process all the way through to completion. Part of our job was in coordinating with the contractor to help minimize the “downtime” when Irene would not have a functioning kitchen. All the preplanning helped make that seamless. There were several home visits to pick out paints and verify measure-
ments. Plus, we communicated often via phone or email concerning lighting choices, such as decorative pendants, functional lighting cans, electrical outlet choices, tile and countertop selections and complimentary plumbing fixtures. We also discussed wrapping beams and revitalizing areas in the current space to make it all tie together. This helped the entire space look fresh, new and inviting. From beginning to end, the whole process took about four months. This time included design and product selection, choosing a contractor, complete remodeling and all the finishing touches. By the way, that’s a very important factor for anyone wanting a new kitchen — whether it’s a remodeling job or all new home construction. It’s essential to
he Parks family of Distinctive Cabinetry of the High Country has been serving this area with exceptional custom cabinetry for over 14 years. Leah Parks is accredited through the National Kitchen and Bath Association as a Certified Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer. Along with the rest of their team, Leah works directly with building contractors, interior designers and home owners to help plan, design, manage and install custom cabinetry, appliances, fixtures and lighting for kitchens, bathrooms and any other room in the home where beautiful cabinetry is desired. Their new showroom is located beside Mountain Grounds Coffee and Tea at the GrandfatherCenterinTynecastle,3990N.C.Hwy.105 S, Suite 9 in Banner Elk, NC 28604. To learn more, you can call 828-898-9663, visit their website at DistinctiveCabinetryDesign.com or visit their showroom.
start planning early for what you want in order to have a completed project when you need it. Pre-planning is key. We welcome new clients who walk in with ideas already in mind. Magazine or web photos of kitchens, cabinetry and appliances are always helpful; or, if you are starting from scratch and have no specific design ideas in mind, that’s fine, also. We’ll ask a lot of questions, listen to your answers, visit your home and find the right plan to fit your needs, lifestyle and dreams. Just like with Irene and Henry, we’ll work closely with you all the way until it’s done and you’re as happy as they are; and, just maybe, we’ll also become great friends along the way.
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Interior lighting and up-lighting, along with glass doors and light stained wood, not only make everything warmer and brighter, they make the cabinetry itself more functional.
udge Henry B. Wansker and Irene Sawyer Wansker are originally from Columbus, Ohio. Hank is a retired U.S. Administrative Law Judge and Irene is a realtor. Their beautiful, recently remodeled home overlooks the golf course at Hound Ears Club, where they are fulltime residents. The Judge is an avid golfer, and both enjoy hiking, driving tours and entertaining friends, especially now that they have their new kitchen. Their other housemates include a black lab named Rocky, a chocolate lab named Holly and two cats named Sophie and Jennie.
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Ideas for
Remodeling your Home Remodeling Ideas for Each Part of Your
Home
Adding a Garage Door Replacement
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he High Country’s brutal weather – winters of ice and snow – have me thinking about a garage whenever I am standing outside in freezing temperatures pushing snow and scraping ice off of my car. A garage also gives you a place to store your tools, landscaping equipment and Christmas ornaments. Before you act, consider your motivations and open your wallet wisely as the higher the cost of a garage addition, the lower the general return on investment. On the other hand if you already have a garage, replacing the garage door has a 92 percent ROI, according to Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value report.
A Butcher-Block, Quartz Island
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kitchen island provides space to have a snack or chat as the chef if whipping up a fine meal. Islands also provide extra space for prepping big meals or for kids to help make cupcakes. Use butcher block as the top and you have an instant cutting board. Or consider quarts, perhaps the trendiest countertop on the market for being a hygienic, stainresistant, scratchproof product.
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Big Ideas for Small Bathrooms
o you want to a bigger bathroom but lack the space or funds for an addition. There’s more you can do in the bathroom than just replacing a cluttered vanity with a pedestal sink. (A floating vanity will add some toe room, however.) Consider vaulted ceilings (if that’s an option) or add a window. More space above and natural lighting will help with elevator-like claustrophobia. Also, consider open shelving, which won’t feel as bulky as closed cabinetry, to the ceiling for an efficient use of space.
Turn Your Deck, Patio Into an Outside Bar
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his idea might be the most fun after its completed, and like everything else in life, it can be as simple or complex as you like. A finished, two-inch thick live-edge slab of maple or pine would serve your elbows well. Just add a few stools and maybe a mini-fridge. Or you can upscale the project by turning the deck space or patio into an outside pub with grilling amenities, a liquor backsplash and taps ready to pour craft beer for you and your friends. 30
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Remodeling Ideas for Each Part of Your Home Motorized Window Fashions
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ave you noticed that the homes interior – the furnishings, carpentry and household items – deteriorates at a faster rate than they what was accustomed in decades past? More windows and stringent EPA regulations these days all contribute, but window fashions can prevent the damaging effects of UV rays in the home. Blinds, shutters, awnings, interior and patio-screen shades are all options. Consider motorized window coverings, but plan for wiring before the drywall; you’ll be happy you did.
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Open Floor Plans
pen floor plans are all the rage these days. The openness lets your home feel bigger, allows for more lighting and more direct traffic patterns. But what if you own an older home, built without knowing how vastly our lifestyles would change in the ensuing years? You can tear down those walls – just make sure they aren’t load bearing and watch out for the plumbing and electrical. Half walls and knee walls can open up your home, too.
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Reinvent Your Attic Space
ttics have angles unlike most other rooms or spaces in the home. Consider turning a grungy attic into an inviting, cozy nook. A movie lounge? Include comfortable seating and a big-screen TV. A kids’ play area? Already sized for kids, just throw some beanbags in the corners and add some toys. A home office away from home? Just add a worktable and any necessary wiring to create a quiet work area separate from other parts of the home. All are possibilities to reinvent a space usually cluttered by stuff we haven’t looked at in years.
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Cost vs.Value Best Return on Investment Projects In its 2016 “Cost vs. Value Report,” Remodeling surveyed real estate professionals on what projects featured a higher return on investment. Among the top year-over-year trend increases for this year are fiberglass entry-door replacement (upscale range), two-story addition and garage door replacement (upscale range).
Here is a listing of how national renovations stack up for costs recouped, according to Remodeling.hw.net’s latest report. The price tiers are for midrange homes and upper scale homes, and the percentage shows how much costs will be recouped if will be selling your home soon.
Estimated Cost Examples Mid Range Construction - Average Size House - Using Contractors
Garage Door Replacement: $1,652.00 Window Replacement (vinyl): $14,725.00 Window Replacement (wood): $18,087 Grand Entrance (fiberglass): $3,126.00 Major Kitchen Remodel: $59,999.00 Bathroom Remodel: $17,908.00 Bathroom Addition: $42,233.00 Master Suite Addition: $115,810 Deck Addition: $10,471
Midrange Price Tier
Attic Insulation: 117% ROI Manufactured Stone Veneer: 93% Garage Door Replacement: 92% Entry Door Replacement (steel & fiberglass): 91 & 82 percent Roofing Replacement: 77% Siding Replacement: 77% Wood Deck Addition: 75% Two-Story Addition: 69% Family Room Addition: 68% Basement Remodel: 66% Major Kitchen Remodel: 6% Bathroom Addition: 56%
Upscale Price Tier Garage Door Replacement: 90% ROI Window Replacement (vinyl): 73% Window Replacement (wood): 72% Grand Entrance (fiberglass): 70 Major Kitchen Remodel: 62% Bathroom Remodel: 58% Bathroom Addition: 57% Master Suite Addition: 57%
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Remodeling Ideas for Each Part of Your Home The Front Door
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f we are talking first impressions, the front door has to be at the top of the list. Compared to other renovations or replacements in the home, a front door is relatively cheap and offers a high return on investment. In fact, a steel entrance door recouped a 91 percent ROI, which is higher than a deck addition and nearly all other remodel projects, according to Remodeling’s “Cost vs. Value” 2016 report. Or if you want to just spruce it up, slap on a new coat of paint and voila.
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To Remove Old Roof or Not?
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nce you figure out what roofing style you want – cedar shake, asphalt shingles, metal, etc. – for the remodel, think twice about whether or not you want to tear off the old roof. Obviously disposing of the old shingles is labor intensive and will cost more, but there are advantages for removing the existing shingles. For one, you will notice any defects in the framing of the roof and if any condensation is happening in the attic. Also, the “rafters and structural parts” are more likely to become overstressed with an extra layer of shingles, according to Consumer Reports.
Exterior Siding Options:
inyl is easily the most popular siding option on the market. Vinyl is durable, versatile, easy to clean, relatively cheap and the color palette is endless. But if vinyl is not intriguing to you, consider these other types of siding. Some pros and cons are listed: Metal: Low maintenance, fire resistant, modern look but… can be noisy, more expensive Wood: Natural look, variety of woods and style, but… high maintenance, rot prone Fiber Cement: Impact-resistant, high fire rating but … higher installation costs Stone Veneer: Cheaper than real stone, easier to install but…not as durable Brick: Lifetime durability but… mortar joints will need repointing
“Home is where one starts from.”
– T.S. Eliot
Let’s Get Started!
Design/BuilDing services general contractor specializing in new Home construction & remodels since 1986 in the High country
828-719-0506 highsouthbuilders@yahoo.com Summer 2016
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Photography by Michael Haynes of 1:16 Media
Barnette Builders Story by Jesse Wood
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erched on a cliff in decade, Bob and Wendy the Watson Gap chose Blue Ridge Mouncommunity of the tain Club after almost set6,200-acre Blue Ridge tling on another lot elseMountain Club developwhere. Bob, who is CEO ment resides Bob and of Agile Networks, specifiWendy Brick’s dream recally noted the connectivtirement home. The Bricks ity fiber that BRMC offered spent five years looking was a huge decision in purfor the ridgeline property, chasing the property. “It’s one that features 50-mile certainly a beautiful place vistas off the back deck, [the High Country] and it’s where the hot tub is faba wonderful community, ulous in the winter or on the Blue Ridge Mountain An aerial view of Bob and Wendy Brick’s home shows the vast cool summer nights. “We Club,” Brick said. “We love acreage that surrounds it in the Watson’s Gap subdivision of were out there in the evethe fact that we are close Blue Ridge Mountain Club, one of the most coveted residential ning [on the Fourth of July to both Boone and Blowcommunities in the North Carolina High Country that sits that first summer] and all ing Rock and everything equidistant between the towns of Boone and Blowing Rock. of a sudden, we saw firethose two communities works popping up. Next have to offer.” thing, you know there were eight different fireworks displays Near Boone and Blowing Rock, Watson Gap is a ridgeline … coming from Tweetsie, Boone and all the way up,” hom- community of two dozen homes designed by Hutch Johneowner Bob Brick said. son, a residential designer based in Durham and Boone, and Originally from Ohio and residing in Charlotte for the past built by Barnette Builders, a premiere homebuilder with of34
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Situated on a challenging lot that slopes in all four directions, this four-story home was carefully designed to slope along with the property, making it hard to tell just how big the house is when you pull up to the driveway.
fices based in Banner Elk. The couple decided on a set of plans designed by Johnson specifically for Watson Gap, and all the parties met to brainstorm the project. Though each home features the same architect and builder, the homes are all constructed for a specific plot on the ridge. “John Barnette [owner of Barnette Builders] was real good at kind of looking at the lot and the home plan,” Brick said, adding that Johnson and Barnette then customized according to the characteristics of the land. “I just love the layout of the home … The home is for sure a quality home, and we are really pleased with how it turned out.” According to Johnson, the Bricks property was Summer 2016
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Bob and Wendy’s home in this rustic community features many natural elements, ensuring that these Ohio natives feel right at home in the North Carolina mountains. The homeowners were careful throughout the design process to be sure that their dream home would blend well into Mother Nature’s beauty.
Pictured here on the left, you can see a lower living area of the Brick’s home, which has been decked out in hues of bright red and memorabilia reflecting the couple’s love for all things Ohio State University. To the right, an upstairs nook is pictured, which has become home to several instruments and a collection that pays tribute to The Beatles, one of their favorite bands.
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one of the “more unique and challenging lots” at Watson Gap because the topography significantly slopes off in multiple directions. Although you don’t really notice from the front elevation, the Bricks 3,800-square-foot home features four levels – the lowest of all is a garage for an ATV that exits to the southwest via a gravel driveway. In fact, the home was specifically designed to prevent a “tall, hulking mass” from looming on the property. “The house
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staggers with the grade and that helps to conceal exactly how much space is in that house,” Johnson said, adding that the contour of the land naturally lent itself to four stories. The driveway of the home leads to a two-car garage, to the back deck via boulder steps and along the front entrance, which is lined with mature poplar and hardwood trees, standing only feet away from the siding and front door. The front elevation, which is
“I just love the layout of the home.” Homeowner Bob Brick said of his Barnette Builders-built home
a mulchy area with rock outcroppings, slopes mostly toward the road. While those trees could have been leveled and area seeded with grass, instead an oasis was created working around Mother Nature. “That was really important to us. [Wendy] was really insistent that we keep as many trees as we could because sometimes what happens is a community lot gets totally cleared and built on,” Brick said. “Especially there in the front, it just creates a much nicer setting.” (Creative landscaping also exists in the rear of the home, below the two decks, one of which features the stone fireplace and the other a hot tub. Boulder steps lead from the driveway and the top deck all the way to the lowest level. At the bottom, where the ATV is parked, exists a fenced in area with grass, rock outcroppings and mulch. It’s an ideal spot to let the dogs loose and give them some fresh air. “I can let them out any door in the house and not worry about them running out to chase a deer or turkey,” Brick said.) Once entering the front door, your gaze flows through the open floor plan and wall-to-wall windows and sliders before settling on the breathtaking views. Entering the home, the kitchen to the left features granite countertops, including an island and a range with a custom vent that is stuccoed and wrapped with distressed barnwood timbers. The stove’s hood is an unsuspecting centerpiece of the kitchen, and tempting the senses in the dining area is “Coffee and Tea Café,” a self-serve operation inspired by Wendy. In the living room, a giant moose made out of wicker hangs above the stone fireplace. The mantle is a maple-wood slab; thick pine timbers frame the interior.
Above, you can enjoy this view from the upstairs loft, which overlooks the great room by the main entrance to the home. Below, you can take a closer look at the living room and the staircase that leads up to the loft.
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“It’s a lovely home. It’s absolutely gorgeous sitting right there on the ridge.” Residential Designer Hutch Johnson on the Bricks home, built by Barnette Builders at Watson Gap Leading out the main area, sliders open to the top level of the back deck, which features a stone patio and fireplace. The master bedroom on the southwestern end of the main floor features a sweet sliding barn door, which offers an apt illustration of modern rusticity. Steps near the front entrance lead to both the upper and lower living areas. Downstairs the red-and-gray color scheme of the Ohio State Buckeyes’ paraphernalia dominates. Another stone fireplace is centralized before sofas, adjacent to a big-screen TV. Stone wraps the staircase. On the top floor, the Bricks turned a gable-induced, hallway loft space into a musical nook. Beyond the instruments and a mini ode to The Beatles ode is a guest room with six built-in bunks. Perfect for a kids’ sleepover or larger overnight gatherings, each bunk features its own lighting. Natural lighting, on the other hand, is a core concept of Johnson’s home design, and while the Bricks’ home has plenty of windows, Johnson particularly noted the window placement at the staircase and the design of the decks. He mentioned that one of the main goals in this design was to create a flexibility and livability that extends from the inside to the outside of the home. The decks were built in such a way that they don’t impede the view from when you are inside the home and looking out or when you are enjoying the view from the deck. In addition, the decks were also built in a manner that maximizes natural light entering the home. Instead of narrowing the field of vision and telescoping the lighting, the Bricks’ home does the opposite. As for the staircase, as you turn the steps from the main living area to OSU territory, a window looks out to the front of the home and as you turn again, the sliding glass doors and wall-to-wall windows in the lower living room, welcomes you with a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The quarters remain open. “One thing I strive for whenever you have a staircase down to a quote-un-quote lower level is to try to have natural light, so you don’t feel like you are going to a basement,” Johnson said. “You feel like you are going to another level of the [living space].” Designed and built with rustic elegance in mind, the Barnette Builders-built home definitely feels like a modern home in the mountains. The exterior materials for the siding and roof include natural materials such as natural stone, cedar shakes, poplar bark, cedar board and batten and possibly copper. Though the rustic-look is simple in nature, the complexity of the roof piques your curiosity. “One thing that is critical for that house especially, and 38
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In every room of the house, including the bathrooms that are pictured here on both pages, rustic, natural elements are paired with modern luxury in every detail.
for all the houses in Watson Gap, is that the roof lines make that house incredibly interesting – what makes it step down the hill,” Johnson said, adding that most homes are predesigned for simple roofs. “It’s a whole lot easier to build a square box,” Johnson said. “But that wasn’t the case for this house or for any of those houses.” The Bricks’ house features five different gable elevations in the front. “The roof line is incredibly complex and it is what makes the house interesting,” he said. The roof’s visuals, he said, weren’t too fussy. “It has a good relationship from one side to the other,”
Johnson said. “I call it, ‘The house talks to itself.”
Attention to Detail Just as with the Bricks home, Barnette approaches all of his projects with a meticulous attention to detail. John Haynes knows this firsthand. Haynes developed The Headwaters at Banner Elk, a 920-acre development bordered by the Pisgah and Cherokee national forests. About 10 years ago, Haynes invited Barnette to build a section of cottages within The Headwaters, and soon enough Barnette was
The juxtaposition of rugged and refined design choices create welcoming, relaxed environment that’s perfect for mountain living.
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The pairing of rustic and luxurious elements is carried over into each of the home’s bedrooms, creating a perfect environment for rest and relaxation. One bedroom, pictured below, even includes several custom built-in bunk beds, which are great for accommodating overnight guests and younger family members.
building a home for Haynes. Haynes said that although the cottages he built for The Headwaters featured a more affordable price point than the other homes in the development at the time, Barnette and his crew didn’t cut corners. “They put in the same amount of energy to the details and quality as if they were building a million dollar house,” Haynes said. “I have several testimonials from those who purchased the Woodlake Cottages and everyone was very pleased with the craftsmanship and experience of working with John. It was such a good experience that when it came time for my wife and I to build our personal dream home in Twin Rivers, we had John build it for us.” Barnette comes from the school of hard knocks. At the age of 16, he left home. He started painting for a living before going out on his own. Eventually his painting business grew to the point where he had
Designed and built with rustic elegance in mind, the Barnette Buildersbuilt home definitely feels like a modern home in the mountains. 40
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Windows have been strategically placed in every room of Bob and Wendy’s House to guarantee that the homeowners can enjoy the panoramic mountain vistas that their property offers. When you walk from room to room, a beautiful view is found around every corner. Can you think of anything you’d rather see first thing in the morning?
200 employees and was bidding on huge commercial painting contract jobs throughout the Southeast. But Barnette was drawn to the carpentry and trim-detail aspects of a home and started Barnette Builders, which is recognized today as a premiere builder in the High Country. Barnette takes pride in the craftsmanship and Haynes said that customers admire the unique touches Barnette puts into each house. Haynes talked about Barnette being very much handson and how his creativity shines through when it comes to the finishing details, such as the story of one home where Barnette dropped a giant cypress tree trunk in the middle of a 20-foot diameter entryway. to serve as the main stairway support. John’s interior-designing wife, Audrey runs the office for the company. She performs anywhere from the seemingly mundane but important paperwork, such as the budgeting and reports to the homeowners, to the more exciting: assisting with interior design, color selections and even furniture purchases. Audrey is also available to oversee the delivery and furnishing of the home, so the house is immediately ready for its new occupants. Haynes, who today is a consultant and broker based in Black Mountain, said another great testimonial for Barnette Summer 2016
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Builders is the repeat business Barnette has secured over the years. In the early years of The Headwaters, John built a custom home for one of Haynes’ clients. When the land next to the client’s new home became available, Haynes said the client then sold his Barnette-built home in order to build an “even bigger and more complex” home next door. “It was a lengthy design process and John was there in meetings with the clients and their architect holding their hands through the way,” Haynes said. “You don’t often hear of that kind of long term relationship, and that’s a strong statement as to John’s integrity and capability.” Barnette Builders’ offices are located at 539 Banner Elk Highway, near the Elk River Country Club. Barnette Builders, which builds across the High Country, has the ability to build for any budget, from a 1,200-square-foot home to one 10 times that in size. For more information, click to www.barnettebuilders.com or call 828-898-2378.
The Bricks’ house features five different gable elevations in the front. “The roof line is incredibly complex and it is what makes the house interesting.” The 3,800-square-foot home features four levels.
Hutch Johnson WHJ DESIGN
Residential Designs Durham, NC Blowing Rock, NC 919-810-6029 hutch@hutchjohnson.com www.hutchjohnson.com
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Hand-Made
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Craftsmanship as Art
Get It Made in the High Country
ot much can beat Made in America – except for, perhaps, Made in the High Country. These days it seems like everything is made somewhere else and purchased on some kind of device. But plenty of local craftsmanship exists. John Northrup and his team at Blowing Rock Woodworks are creating one-of-a-kind pieces in the village. In fact last year, the company was a Martha Stewart’s American Made program nominee. Inside the wood shop, his team will craft a conference-room table out of a giant live-edge slab one day, and the next project might be eye-popping cutting boards created from a variety of contrasting hardwoods. In Newland, Greg Seiz started processing his own shutters after a Charlotte company couldn’t keep up with the demand from Seiz’s clients. This was in the late ‘90s. After opening a warehouse with a spray booth, Seiz found that he was able to process a higher quality product than he could order. Today, Seiz sells his products at Carolina Window Fashions in Avery County and Appalachian Blind & Closet in Boone.
Where rustic chic meets affordability ... and very envious neighbors
Charleston Forge is another celebrated local manufacturer. More than 30 years ago, Art Barber started the company by selling his hand-made baker racks. The namesake remains true as the steel is forged, welded or textured on site. Today, Charleston Forge has a full catalogue of handcrafted metal and wooden furniture that is sold throughout the world. No assembly line exists as each piece is crafted, one at a time by a crew of blacksmiths, welders and painters. As Philip Holman, marketing director of Charleston Forge said, “‘Made in America’ is not just a phrase here. At Charleston Forge, it’s a passion and the result of a desire to create beautiful furniture and to come to work every day feeling good about what we make and where we make it.” As you can see, the folks behind these operations really care about the process and strive for quality. But these are just a few of examples of the local craftsmanship that exists in the High Country. Throughout these pages, you’ll find other illustrations of landscapers, stonemasons, architects and others who treat their craft as art.
Blowing Rock WoodWorks North Carolina BlowingRockWoodWorks.com
828-260-9784
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Use a Professional in
Landscaping
Landscaping
No job is too big or too small for companies. They can seed, plant and mulch by hand or excavate swaths of land, moving giant boulders to make a natural-looking swimming hole. While mowing and weedeating lawns in the summer comes to mind when thinking about landscaping services, these talented professionals offer much more throughout the year to help maintain the beauty of your property. Boulder gardens, calming waterfalls, stone patios and a seasonal array of colorful flowers are just a few landscaping ideas you can incorporate in the backyard. All create a juxtaposition of sights, sounds and textures.
BEFORE
T
o make your yard beautiful, sometimes you have to bring in the big machinery for landscaping work that is outside the scope of lawn maintenance. No need to fret though. The excavators, backhoes, mulchers and track loaders – not to mention all the attachments like augers, buckets, forks and blades – will have your property looking spectacular in no time.
Waterscapes
AFTER
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ountains, waterfalls, birdbaths, swimming holes and ponds are just a few ways to make a splash with your landscaping. Consider bringing in landscape and irrigation specialists to turn a vision into a reality – while utilizing water as efficiently as possible.
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Bring The Landscaping Indoors
ave you ever thought of installing one of those Zen waterfalls inside your living space to enjoy throughout the year? Bring nature into your home by contacting a licensed and certified landscaper and irrigation specialist.
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Stone Patios, Pillars and Fire Pits
reate borders, pathways and communal areas with stone. Flagstone patios look great and feature a durability that will last for years to come. Let these natural stone paths lead through visually striking gardens, toward an outside stone fire pit, where the cool nights of the High Country disappear. Stone pillars coupled with shrubs also manipulate sightlines and create fenceless borders.
Custom Landscaping to Turn Your Yard Into the Garden of Your Dreams!
As the premier landscaping company in the area, we have all the facilities knowledge and experience to do outstanding professional landscaping projects. We are now open year round and look forward to helping you with all your landscaping needs.
• Landscaping • Residential • Natural • Formal • Irrigation • Mulching • Waterfalls • Hydro Seeding • Commercial • Licensed Sprayer • Yard Maintenance
Hwy. 105 in Linville at the foot of Grandfather Mountain 828.733.3726 | www.mountaineerlandscapingcom Member: NC Nursery & Landscaping Association Summer 2016 |
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Landscaping
More about
We called around so you don’t have too. Here’s an idea of approximate costs for landscaping equipment rentals and materials such as mulch, sand and gravel in the High Country. Costs will certainly vary.
Outdoor Lighting
A
dding outdoor lighting is an effective way to add dramatic flair to your landscaping as dusk approaches. Illuminate your walkways for safety and showcase your beautiful landscaping during stunning sunsets. Then just sit back and listen to nature – and the tranquility of the adjacent creek or your manmade waterfall.
Materials
Take Advantage of Boulders
D
uring excavation for your home site or landscaping areas, construction crews will likely uncover giant boulders, especially in the High Country and surrounding WNC. These heavy, heavy rocks can add to a rustic, elegant entrance or, depending on the shape, can become the perfect sunbathing rock. Much of the cost comes from the labor involved in hauling these rocks to the jobsite – not necessarily the rock itself. So take advantage of any boulders found during excavation and consider adding them to your landscaping designs. Other neat ideas for big rocks are boulder planters, fire pits, fountains and seating.
Pine Mulch ................... $25/per yard Red Dye Mulch ............. $38/per yard Screened Topsail .......... $40/per yard Topsoil Mix.................... $45/per yard Red Mortar Sand ........... $70/per yard Granite Gravel ............... $40/per ton Decorative Boulders ..... $95/per ton
Equipment Rentals Roto Tiller...................... $32/per day Backhoe Mini . .............. $180/per day Stump Grinder .............. $265/per day Track hoe ...................... $200/per day Pressure Washer ........... $45/per day Lawn Trimmer ............... $26/per day Leaf Blower ................... $29/per day
Forget-Me-Nots Landscape Gardens, Design and Stonescaping
Unique, Artistically Crafted Dry Stone Work and Vibrant, Natural, Gardens Stone Walls, Steps, Paths and Patios Rock and Boulder Gardens – Boulder Walls and Steps Rain Gardens and Drainage – Erosion Solutions
NATIVE, NATURAL LANDSCAPES: boulder gardens & walls • drystack stone walls • drylaid stone paths & patios ponds & waterfalls • flowering trees and shrubs attracting birds & butterflies hardy unique conifers • organic perennial flower, herb & vegetable gardens edible landscapes • rain gardens • drainage & erosion issues mowing & weedeating • full landscape maintenance
Always Full Maintenance – 32 Exceptional, Reliable Years Bob Gow – 828-773-3763 • Jamal Gow – 828-964-5448
Website: forgetmenotslandscape.com • Email: forgetmenotslandscape@yahoo.com 46
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L andscaping M aintenance What It Takes To Have a Green Yard in the Mountains How does the neighbor across the street have such nice looking, green grass. Well, he either knew what he was doing or called in a pro. If you don’t have the know how, call in a professional landscaper to make your lawn the nicest on the block. Fertilizing: Feed you lawn with fertilizer in the spring when the soil temperature hits 55 degrees; this is about the same time that grass starts growing. Wait four weeks for the second feeding, and thereafter fertilize every six to eight weeks through October. Cutting: Mowing is a science. Here are a few tips from the pros: Only mow the top one-third of the grass blades at a time by adjusting your mower height. Wait until your lawn is dry, Vary mowing patterns to avoid stomping on the same spots, and then leave the grass clippings on your lawn to provide nutrients for the soil. Disease Control: Diseases that infect lawns usually do so when the blades of grass are wet. Consider watering lawns in the a.m., which leaves the grass plenty of sunshine to dry out thoroughly. If you are already watering properly and mowing at the correct height, fungicide application may be the next step. Sunlight: Don’t plant any grass underneath rhododendrons. Grass generally needs four to six hours of direct sunlight per day, but some cool season/shade tolerant grasses are able to thrive on less sunlight. Be sure to check the label of the grass seed, and when you do mow in the shade, leave the grass blades one inch or less taller than in the sunny areas.
Landscape Design & Maintenance Hardscapes & Installations Seasonal Clean Ups & Leaf Removal Snow Removal & Ice Management Commercial & Residential Service Clean Cut Landscaping & Lawn is a full service company located in Boone, NC offering services to Blowing Rock, Banner Elk & all the surrounding High Country areas. Providing landscape design, installation and year round maintenance allows us to accommodate any request. Offering an array of services to both commercial and residential properties, sets us apart from the competition. With service being our foundation, we aim to exceed all expectations.
info@cleancutboone.com | 828.964.9267 | www.cleancutboone.com Summer 2016
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Grandfather Stone & Landscaping, Carlyle:
The Legendary Stone Mason
By Jesse Wood
office lobby as a few weeks later, tractor trailers were making deliveries every few days. arlyle England, 68, never “It just absolutely went wild intended on retiring twice. for six years. It was all she A burly, bearded mountain and I could do to keep that man, England is strong as up. She would load one truck an ox. As one tale goes, he up and I would go deliver. By took on a job that 12 other the time I got back, she might stone masons turned down. have another truck ready to In 2006, England decided he go,” England said. “I never was done hammering and ever thought it would grow to chiseling stone and hoisting what it did. It was just an acsmall boulders for a living. He cident.” was ready for retirement. But England’s career in stone first he had to offload about masonry also seemed to haptwo-dozen pallets of rocks pen by fate. When England lying about. He didn’t foresee, was a young man in his 20’s though, that this would lead to Now retired, Morganton-native Carlyle England made a living off he built a home in Morganhis second career. of stone for more than 30 years. Before starting ton, where he was born and “I rented that piece of land (and eventually selling) Grandfather Stone in Foscoe in 2006, raised. He cleared the land down there from Bobby McEngland was a master stone mason. with a chainsaw, and a sawClean,” England said of a vamill turned the logs into twocant parcel along N.C. 105 in Foscoe that would become the home of Grandfather Stone by-fours. England decided he wanted stonework. So he went and Landscape Inc. “He owned [the property], and I said, into the backyard and dug up an old liquor still to build his ‘I want to rent it just long enough to sell these 25 pallets of living room fireplace. Then he went into the river and pulled rocks,’ and we wound up staying there six years,” England up river rocks to build a matching fireplace in his bedroom. said, laughing with his wife, Angie, at how Grandfather Stone “That’s how it all got started,” England said. “People would say, ‘Who did that for you?’ and I said, ‘I did it.’” began. Before Grandfather Stone, England operated Creative Within two or three weeks, England said he picked up 100 more pallets with his truck because of the demand. It wasn’t Rock Masonry. He did jobs in Morganton for a few years belong before truckers had their own coffee mugs hanging in the fore working primarily in the High Country. For 13 years, he
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England’s projects over the years have ranged in magnitude from patios and driveways up to massive works of art in gated communities, some of which, as pictured here, have taken several years to complete. 48
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made the hour-and-half commute to the Boone area before deciding to buy a house near Foscoe in 1992. He worked on jobs big and small – from an outdoor patio that might take a few days to a five-year project in a gated community. While he’s worked across the Southeast, perhaps his most notable local project is along the Blue Ridge Parkway. He set the stone for the Linn Cove Visitor Center near the famous viaduct. In 1991, Creative Rock Masonry received a letter of recommendation from the U.S. Department of Interior, which manages National Park Service Land, including the BRP, for England’s work on the visitor center in the winter of 1989: “England’s work was very satisfactory and his skills are those of a craftsperson. The granite stones he used on this project were difficult to work with as each stone required several hours of special tooling to achieve the specifications and standards acceptable to the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Project Inspector Roy E. Jones wrote. “Although the weather [near Grandfather Mountain] can be severe and very changeable, Mr. England’s ability to adapt to the adverse conditions kept the project on schedule … Mr. Carlyle England was professional in his workmanship and produced quality rockwork. I would highly recommend Creative Rock Masonry for masonry projects.” In addition to commercial, residential and governmental projects, England produced exquisite stonework for his own home. His 200-foot driveway is made out of giant sandstone boulders. The stone driveway took seven years alone to build. A couple giant boulders resting on stone pillars greet you along the driveway. A picnic table and benches made out of stone sit in a grassy section in front of their home. His garage/workshop features stonework along the exterior, including a giant heart-shaped stone that Carlyle and Angie saved from all of the stone they moved through the years. His craftsmanship is impressive. England mentioned that having a knack for the work and a good eye is the secret to being a great rock mason. It’s simply about knowing which rock to chisel and where, he said, so you can fit, like a puzzle, any stone into a particular project. “That and a good strong back, I’d say,” England added. When asked what it is about backbreaking masonry work for him to be able to stick with it for so many years, England replied like an artist, which, of course, he is: “I like visualizing it in my mind. I like doing it. As long as I am healthy and feeling good, I like doing it. But what I really like about it is when I am done and I can walk up in the front yard and stand there and look at it and maybe show it to somebody else, that’s what I like about it … That’s my art. You can look at Angie’s art. She’s painted every picture in [our living] room and every rock lying around here. That’s her art. But my art is rock.”
Some of England’s projects have required the use of large machinery to move and place the rock. Others have featured intricate detail on a smaller scale. From pools and patios to fireplaces and walls, this guy has done it all.
Foscoe Welcomes The Hendrix Family A few years ago, Carlyle and Angie’s six-day, 60-hour workweeks at the stone yard came to a halt. England was hospitalized in Charlotte for nearly six months because of a ruptured pancreas, but the phone never stopped ringing. “She was down there with me the whole time,” England said. She would drive back to the High Country to load trucks for customers and then turn right back around for Charlotte. “People just wouldn’t let us quit,” England laughed. Summer 2016
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Over the years, Carlyle England and his wife, Angie, saved unique-looking stones for personal projects, including this giant heart-shaped rock placed on their garage. England, of course, did all of the masonry work, but the heart stone didn’t require any chiseling.
Visit the England home and you’re likely to find a variety of unique stones that have found a temporary home there until the right project comes along. One such stone is pictured here. Below it, Carlyle’s own 200-foot driveway is pictured, which he has constructed of giant sandstone boulders.
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While England was preparing to retire a second time, his medical condition expedited that process. One day, Carlyle saw Mike Hendrix at The Peddler steakhouse in Boone. Hendrix was a customer of Grandfather Stone, and they got to talking. When Carlyle disclosed that he was selling the property, Mike showed some interest. In 2013, Mike and family members purchased the business together. Hendrix operates the family-run Hendrix Manufacturing in Woodleaf. In 1975, Hendrix began building pallets at night with pre-milled lumber. He and another fellow would nail the pallets together, making about 100 per week in the beginning. Since then he’s opened a sawmill operation and expanded multiple times. Today, his family business has 30 employees and can use 10 tractor-trailers full of logs in a day. “Now, we have logs coming in on one end of the mill and pallets going out the other,” Hendrix said. Hendrix hasn’t been without health problems of his own. In 2013, he underwent bypass surgery. With everyone fussing to him about “slowing down,” Hendrix decided to spend time at the home he built several years earlier in Valle Crucis, and he got to thinking that Carlyle’s stone yard would give him something to do in the High Country. “The slowing down lasted about 3 weeks,” Hendrix joked, “and I’d seen right then and there that it wasn’t for me.” Grandfather Stone & Landscape Inc. is a family-owned business with a mission to supply Boone and the surrounding communities in the High Country with quality masonry and landscaping products. A new product the company offers is pine and hardwood mulching. The company offers a full line of natural stone and boulders – from the local to exotic, from the dark and light, from the crab orchard to limestone. Grandfather Stone emphasizes stocking a few pallets of 40 different
Upon England’s retirement from the business, Mike Hendrix and his family purchased and took the reigns of Grandfather Stone, which is pictured here and is located along N.C. Highway 105 in the Foscoe community.
kinds of stone rather than treated just like the guy buyvice versa. ing the tractor-trailer load.” You can buy one Grandfather Stone is stone by the pound or a located at 9643 N.C. 105 6,000-pound boulder. River in the Foscoe community. rocks, gravel, veneer, flagThey are located beside stone, tables, mantles and Mountain Top Golf Cart slabs are among the variand The Riverside Spa. ety of rock styles offered. Business hours from April Grandfather Stone also ofthrough November are fers stone cut to custom diMonday – Friday, 8 a.m. mensions and delivery. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 Hendrix said that cusa.m. to 3 p.m. December tomers include folks who through March: Call for an The Hendrix Family will literally buy one stone to appointment. finish a patio or someone purFor more information, click chasing a tractor-trailer load of stone. “We try to do whatever to www.grandfatherstone.com, call 1-844-GF-STONE or email they want,” Hendrix said. “The person buying the one stone is sales@grandfatherstone.com.
Established by Carlyle and Angie England and now operated by the Hendrix family, Grandfather Stone offers the right materials for any project, whether you’re building stairs or walls, a fireplace, a patio or something more unique. Summer 2016
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G
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P
What’s New reen uilding ractices Easy Ways To Make Your Home Green You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on solar panels or an electric car to color your life “green.” Below are some easy ways to conserve energy and save money at the same time.
Programmable Thermostats
I
Switch To LED or CFL Lights T
he average household has more than 50 light bulbs, and just replacing one light bulb with an energy-efficient one can save homeowners $30-80 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb, according to the federal Energy Star program. Quick Tip: If you aren’t changing all of the bulbs for whatever reason, consider at least changing the bulbs in fixtures that are used the most.
Energy Audit & Weatherization
M
any companies and nonprofits offer energy audit services, which will access your home’s energy usage. Professional energy auditors will also conduct a blower door test to find areas of the home that aren’t airtight. Low-cost weatherization improvements include simple fixes like weather-stripping doors and windows. One of the most cost-effective measures to increase the energy efficiency of an older home is to blow loose-fill insulation into walls and attics. It’s among the highest return on investment projects out there.
t sounds boring, but a programmable thermostat will conserve energy and save you money. This is perhaps the easiest and least noticeable change in using less energy. If nobody is home during the work or school hours, set the thermostat according to your family’s schedule.
Look for the Energy Star Label: Windows, Doors and Skylights
B
efore you buy windows, doors and skylights for a remodel or new construction, look at the NRFC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label on Energy Star qualified products. These labels will tell you the energy performance per U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and air leakage. The U-factor is the rate at which a window conducts nonsolar heat flow and SHGC is the fraction of solar radiation released as heat into the home. Also if you purchase an Energy Star product, make sure it qualifies for your region of the states.
Low-Flow Toilets, Faucets
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lder toilets use more than double the water per flush as the standard toilet does today – 1.6 gallons per flush compared to the 3.5 gallons per flush. Save thousands of gallons of water per year by upgrading to a water-efficient toilet. Also consider installing low-flow showerheads and faucets.
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How Healthy & Efficient is Your Home?
Source: ConsumersEnergy.com/myhome
An Inexpensive Home Performance Assessment Can Save You Big Dollars
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our home consists of many inter-related systems. In most homes - even new homes - these systems are out of sync and deficient, leading to excessive energy consumption, discomfort (hot/ cold), high humidity, poor indoor air quality, and even serious safety problems. Whether you are building a new home, in the market to buy or sell, or living in an older home, reNew Home is your partner to maximize the health, comfort, and durability of your home while enjoying energy bills lower than you thought possible. We work directly with homeowners, or with your builder or realtor, to provide a range of services to meet your needs: • Energy Audit • Sustainable Retrofits • New Home Certification • Design Consulting • Moisture Assessment • Home Diagnosis
John Kidda 828-719-5057 rwww.renewhomeinc.com renewhomeinc@gmail.com Summer 2016
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New River Building Supply
Serving Homeowners and Contractors
Decades
for
By Jesse Wood
W
hether you are a professional homebuilder or a do-ityourself homeowner, New River Building Supply exists to serve you on your next project – from stocking the right tools and materials to complete the job efficiently to helping you design and build the log home of your dreams. No job is too big or too small. The family-owned company has been in business in the High Country for 43 years and operates stores in Boone and Banner Elk with a sawmill in Patterson, Caldwell County. Customer service is the name of the game at New River, and when you walk into their stores, knowledgeable staff will greet you, ready for any questions you might have. Because the average employee has worked at the company for two decades, you know they will be helpful. With competitive prices and the ability to order just about anything that isn’t in stock, there’s no need to throw your hardearned dollars at the big box stores, where you might walk into a department and have to lean on a buzzer for 15 minutes before help arrives. “We provide service from the largest builder to the smallest repair job in your home,” New River Building Supply President Perry Yates said.
History of New River Building Supply In 1973, a group of local contractors and citizens incorporated New River Building Supply. Thirteen years later in 1986,
Phil Templeton and his son-in-law Perry Yates, who at the time was working as a program supervisor at the Department of Corrections, started Boone Cedar & Timber, a wholesale division offering milled Douglas fir, white pine and redwood cedar to a five-state area. In 1993, Templeton bought out his other partners in New River Building Supply. That winter, following the blizzard of 1993 that pummeled the High Country with three feet of snow, Templeton merged New River Building Supply and Boone Cedar & Timber, partly because some of the company’s buildings collapsed due to the blizzard of the century. Yates, who is the current president and co-owner, took over as general manager around that time. A decade later in 2003, New River Building Supply opened a second store in Banner Elk, and in 2006, Yates relocated the sawmilling operation just down the mountain to Patterson,
Whether you are building a home or making a small repair, New River Building Supply has the products to get the job done. Well organized, the store and exterior is chock-full with tools, building materials and an array of practical retail items.
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“The citizens of Watauga County have been good to me. We want to see our area grow and be good for everyone. We just want to be known for not only good prices but good services and being fair to people.” – New River Building Supply President, Perry Yates which sits between Lenoir and Wilkesboro on Highway 268. Yates undertook an extensive renovation of an old dilapidated Skill Craft building and cleaned up the 17-acre property that had been overgrown and neglected. On the property’s border, easements were donated for the Happy Valley Greenway Trail and a canoe put-in along the Yadkin River. “A lot of elbow grease, a lot of long nights and Saturdays to get this place up and going,” Yates said of the Patterson mill. Around the time the milling operation moved to Caldwell County, New River Building Supply opened a design center on N.C. 105. Just as the operation got onto its feet, the Great Recession arrived and the design center ended up closing in 2012 because of the economy and bad timing, according Yates. “At one time at our peak we were 122 employees, and today we still employ around 50,” Yates said. “It really hurts when you have to let people go that have been with you for 15 years and
because they’ve become family. Lots of sleepless nights and worrying, but we have survived and are a good, solid company today.” Yates stressed that attention to detail
with customers and “good, honest” customer service is what has contributed to the company staying in business for the past forty years. “We thank the Good Lord for our blessings, trusting us and giving us a great company and letting us survive the recession and the housing crisis, but without our customers we have nobody,” Yates said. “The customers and public pay our paycheck and I think our attention to detail and personal service separates us from our competition. We care, and we try to make the customer happy and that’s why I think we’ve been successful.”
From Professional Builders to DIY Homeowners At New River Building Supply, Yates wants you to be greeted with a “How can I help you?” as soon as you walk in the door. It’s all about relationships, he says. And while residential homebuilders make up about 80 percent of New Summer 2016
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that people can look through, and we can work with them on [plans] that were drawn by an architect.”
New River Exclusives, Log Homes, & Other Services
New River Building Supply President Perry Yates has been at the helm since 1993. In an interview, Yates noted that the customers, his great staff and the Good Lord have all contributed to the success of New River Building Supply over the past 43 years.
River Building Supply’s business, Yates said his company makes the effort to treat every customer looking for a particular plumbing attachment or the proper screw as they do a busy contractor with a backlog of homes to build. “We try to treat them just as important as the guy who walks in and builds four or five homes a year. We all care about the people who are our customers,” Yates said. “It’s all about relationships. I think the name of the game is good, honest customer service.” Yates is accessible daily at either location in Boone or Banner Elk and if you aren’t able to stop by, Yates and staff are just a phone call or email away. In particular, Yates touted his staff, which on average has worked at the company for two decades. “We have great sales people from out front, contractor sales to the
accounting staff, yard people and delivery people,” Yates said. “Our people are knowledgeable and all have been in the business a long time.” As for deliveries, New River Building Supply will work with you to deliver materials in stages, so that nothing is sitting in the elements prior to installation or is in the way during construction, and they can even service you during the designing and planning stages, prior to the groundbreaking. “We try to clear the board of every order every day and try to get it to where there is less than an hour wait period if at all possible on every delivery that comes to your jobsite,” Yates said. “We can help build your dream home from the ground up, delivering in stages so you don’t have anything sitting outside. We offer log homes. We offer the timber frames. We have a book of plans
The New River Building Supply stores in Banner Elk and Boone are chock-full with a wide variety of items, spanning birdseed and Carhartt apparel to screws, nails and plumbing attachments. It also features a complete selection of hand tools and power tools. While the New River doesn’t have the space to stock every tool or product that you might find at a big-box store, it’s capable of special ordering just about anything you might need. Just ask! But New River Building Supply also has exclusive products, products you won’t find anywhere else locally, such as the American-designed ceramic Big Green Egg, dubbed the “most versatile cooking device ever ... a grill, an oven or a smoker.” It’s log home division, New River Log Homes can turn your dream into a reality, those house plans into the log cabin of your dreams. Just send over the plans to staff at New River Building Supply and choose from among the styles of logs offered. New River Log Homes offers logs made out of the highest quality western red cedar, Douglas fir and eastern white pine. It also offers the products to maintain your log home through the years. Need to design a kitchen or bath? Well, New River Building Supply is a onestop shop with professional software to “design your new kitchen or bath with precision and accuracy” and top-of-theline kitchen and bath cabinets, made by manufacturers with a keen eye for detail
New River Building Supply operates a lumber mill in Patterson, and the lumberyards in Banner Elk and Boone can supply you with all your building needs. All of the lumber is ordered with sustainability in mind.
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and quality – all for a competitive price. Need doors and windows? New River Building Supply can service you there as well as it supplies high quality doors and windows from a variety of vendors that offer products within most any budget. Building a deck? New River offers the decking lumber, deck stains and waterproofing coatings. The decking comes in a variety of materials such as pressuretreated lumber, composite, PVC, Ipe, cedar, Cumaru, redwood and low-maintenance decks. The lumber mill in Patterson can turn raw materials into the style and size that fits your project. The mill can handle Exclusive grills are among some of the specialty or non-building related retail items that just about any milling size needed up to New River Building Supply stocks, including the Big Green Egg and the Primo Ceramic about 3 foot in diameter. Grills. In fact, New River can provide all of your summer grilling needs. As for the western red cedar and Douglas fir that comes from British Columbia for Humanity project, donates money, tools and materials to and the western U.S., as a certified green builder Yates said he ensures that all of the lumber is ordered the construction program at Watauga High School and gives with sustainability in mind. Those companies have good nursery scholarships to local students in an effort to train the next generation of tradesman. and forestry programs and replant what is harvested. During Watauga County Habitat for Humanity’s Home “That’s real big to me. I’ve been to the mills out West for Builders Blitz in 2014, New River Building Supply donated Doug fir and cedar. After I see the mill, the first thing I want to $10,000 worth of materials. Just this past summer, New River know is, ‘Are you replanting?’ We get our cedar from British Building Supply donated another $10,000 worth of materials Columbia, Canada and have it trucked in by railcar, and get our Doug fir anywhere from Oregon all the way up through the for the Rotary Gazebo in Memorial Park in downtown Blowing Rock. The company has also donated materials for the Alpine State of Washington [also by way of railcar].” Also, don’t forget to check out the complete lines of roof- Tower at Watauga High School, for multiple Boy Scout coming, siding, decking, engineered wood, standard lumber, munity service projects such as the entrance improvement at pressure-treated lumber, doors, windows, exclusive grilling the Hunger and Health Coalition and picnic tables for the Parkway Elementary School playground – and the list goes on. products and more. “We are very community minded,” Yates said. “We want to shop as local as possible but we also want to help as many Giving Back to the Community New River Building Supply is well known for giving back to as possible and give to the community in return such as the the community. Although you won’t hear Yates bragging about gazebo in Blowing Rock.” The Boone store is located at 3148 N.C. 105 and can be it, the company frequently contributes to projects that benefit reached by calling 828-264-5650. The Banner Elk store is lothe entire community. cated at 2340 Tynecastle Highway, and can be reached at For one, the company is a Summit Sponsor – the highest828-898-5650. Find New River Building Supply online at http:// tiered sponsor – of High Country Home Builders Association, www.newriverbuilding.com. an organization that participates in an annual local Habitat New River Building Supply doesn’t have the size of the big-box stores, but the store is brimming with the vast majority of tools or materials needed to complete a project. Staff can also special order just about anything else. The prices are competitive. Plus, you’ll feel good shopping local.
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Appalachian Blinds & Closet Co. Protect Your Greatest Investment With Window Treatments Privacy & Preservation, Mixing Aesthetics and Function
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or nearly 40 years, Greg starters, today’s homes feature Seiz has worked in the bigger windows and more of window-treatment industry. them. In the past 20 years, 40 to He’s done it all from designing 50 percent more glass is used and finishing to retailing and inin new homes than those built in stalling blinds, shutters and other the ‘80s and ‘90s. That percentwindow fashions. About a decade age doubles if you go back to ago he noticed the interior of peothe ‘30s, according to the NationBy Jesse Wood ple’s homes and furnishings fadal Association of Home Builders. ing – deteriorating faster than ever before. Always striving to A second factor is that finishes are more eco-friendly; they be the smartest guy in the room, Seiz commissioned a third- tend to be more water-based as opposed to solvent-based party company to figure out why this was happening. The re- because of today’s environmental regulations. “So with a search prompted a 110-page PowerPoint presentation that combination of more exposure to less-stable products, we are Seiz condensed into an educational pamphlet for his custom- seeing things breaking down, fading and deteriorating at such ers at Carolina Window Fashions in Newland and Appalachian a rapid rate than ever before,” Seiz said. Blind & Closet Co. in Boone. The home, of course, is the biggest investment most Seiz found that three key factors contribute to the fading of people will ever make, and that’s not necessarily counting floors, cabinets, trim, furniture, upholstery, drapes, carpeting, the antiques, heirlooms and irreplaceable items inside. Why antiques, artwork and other valuable items inside a home. For let the sun’s ultra-violet rays wreak havoc when the damage is preventable? “My whole thing was to find an answer for people on how to preserve and protect their investment. I got real tired of people coming to me and showing me what had already been done,” Seiz said. So after educating himself on what was going on and finding solutions to stay ahead of the curve, Seiz changed the way he engaged customers. Today, when he visits a home, he immediately pulls out a compass to gauge solar orientation, and when they walk through all of the rooms in the house and the homeowners say, for example, we want to leave this wall of exposed glass open because of the lovely view, Seiz will sit down with them and share Local window treatment expert and business owner Greg Seiz is pictured his knowledge. in the showroom of Carolina Window Fashions in Newland. 58
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An employee applies a finish to a work in progress in the Newland manufacturing center’s OSHA approved spraying room.
“I’ll show them: ‘This is what is going to happen. This is what has already happened. I’ve done tons of research and here are some solutions we can offer that are very minimalized. You’ll hardly even see them and they won’t take anything away from the view when you are here,” Seiz said. “But when you are not, boom, everything comes down. There’s more protection, close to full, therefore your artwork, flooring, furniture is all being protected.” For some customers like the seasonal residents who are gone for months at a time, the window-treatment systems are
logical to prevent unnecessary fading while the home is boarded up for the winter or another time period. But these systems also are relevant for the every-day resident. They contribute to energy efficiency and increase the privacy of your home. Plus they block the glare of the sun, which is easy on the eyes and also notable because of the advent and popularity of LED and plasma screens on TVs, computers and other devices.
In The Beginning In the mid-‘70s, Seiz attended technical school for au-
The business boasts a fleet of vehicles, pictured here, which offer all of the benefits of a traveling showroom. These vehicles allow employees to travel to the customer’s home, take any necessary measurements, ensure the selection of the perfect color and style and install the custom products, often without requiring the customer to leave their home. Summer 2016
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Seiz and his team are careful to ensure that every custom product fits seamlessly into the customer’s home and complements existing décor and details. Custom designs can be tailored to suit any home, any taste and any style.
tomotive refinishing and restoration. “I wanted to restore wanted to raise their children in a nice area – and Delray antique cars,” Seiz said. But the work wasn’t initially satisfy- Beach wasn’t that place. After vacationing in the area and ing, so he went to work with helping a carpet company his father, who was designdevelop a store in the High ing interiors for commercialCountry, Seiz knew enough timeshare units, which were of the “lay of the land” to extremely popular in the open Carolina Window late ‘70s and early ‘80s. He Fashions in Banner Elk in immediately jumped in on 1997. every level from being a purHe started selling wholechasing agent, installation sale shutters for a company crewmember and warehouse out of Charlotte and within manager. As he explains, this six months, he had overwas his real-world education. sold their capacity of being After his father’s company able to deliver. “I really didn’t folded, Seiz went to work for want to get into manufactura blinds company in South ing but the market was sayMiami, where for three years ing we want a high-grade, he learned the ins and outs high-quality product that Excellent service added to great products makes for an ideal customer of the industry. At the tender you are going to deliver. That experience with the Carolina Window Fashions and Appalachian age of 21, he opened his was another thing of not havBlinds team. Pictured here in the Boone showroom own vertical blind factory ing the quality-control mech(from left) Greg Seiz and Jason Dewitt. in Pompano Beach, Fla., anisms,” Seiz recalled. which with his budding enSeiz knew all about mantrepreneurial skills and excellent timing was bought out after ufacturing, and he knew finishing. He visited O’Hair Shutters several years by a subsidiary of Hunter Douglas, a premiere in Texas and took the company’s weeklong course. A couple dealer of window treatments. weeks later he found a vacant 7,500-square-foot warehouse In what’s become a familiar story of how folks arrive in the in Newland, bought equipment and set up a spray booth. “I High Country, Seiz and his wife moved here because they hit the ground running. I’d measure it, sell it, order it, build it, 60
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Seiz and his team also specialize in custom designed, manufactured and installed closet cabinetry, shelving and organization systems. The Closet Shop offers customers the perfect opportunity to explore closet system options and see firsthand why careful designing makes a difference in the home.
finish it and install it,” Seiz said. “I was a one-man show in its own circumstances, he said. So whether he first encounthe first two years.” ters a customer at the home, in the gallery or over the phone, Nearly 10 years later, Seiz said he could “see things turn- he’ll engage in what he described as a “whole-qualifying ing” south as the Great Recession started to root. At one process.” This evaluation period is one that you won’t find point, he was standing in a gated community staring at a with competitors. During this process, he’ll walk you through number of new homes that he didn’t have an opportunity to bid on. Considering the quality of the products and services he offered, Seiz knew he at least deserved that chance. So he became a retailer to be able to market directly to the end user, the homeowner, while still selling and processing wholesale window fashions. While this proved to be the right call enabling him to grow his business through the Great Recession, Seiz understood that Boone was the economic hub of the High Country. Boone with the campus of Appalachian State University is already established in that regard. For Seiz to continue to grow his business, he knew he needed a gallery in Boone. But that was the territory of Appalachian Blinds and Closet Co. So The Boone storefront is a great way to see, touch and experience the wide variety Seiz sought to acquire his competitor. of products offered. A quick trip to the showroom and you’ll have a vast array For several years, Seiz engaged in of design options at your fingertips. talks with Stobie Dunagan, founder of Appalachian Blinds and Closet Co., hoping to buy him out. In 2013, Seiz finally acquired the com- the needs versus wants, and he’ll differentiate between the pany, keeping Dunagan on as general manager. “He was a big various levels of importance. part of what made it successful and why people came. [Cus“Then we start connecting lots of dots that they wouldn’t tomers] like [Stobie], and I felt if I could bring in my business think would really play into window treatments and closets, practices and systems, it would be a nice mix,” Seiz said. but what we found are very relevant,” Seiz said. For example, do you have kids, grandkids or pets? What direction does What’s In It For The Customer? the house and its windows face? Will you reside in the home That was the first thing that Seiz asked when I met with all year round or are you a seasonal resident?” him at his showroom in Boone. Every home and family has “All of those are evaluating pieces as to what is the intenSummer 2016
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The team can also help you add value and comfort to your outdoor spaces by installing custom awnings, which can be retractable and motorized for convenience.
The Efficient Adjustable Closet The efficacy of an adjustable closet system is unmatched in a home by the ability to improve the use of space by 50 percent. And living in the High Country, which has four seasons, it’s also necessary to move clothing around depending on whether it’s the dead of winter or the dog days of summer. Seiz said that his customers “just rave” about how much they enjoy having a well-organized closest, one that is easy to use and one where everything has its place. “You greatly improve the usable space and if you figure out the cost per square foot of what you paid to build the house, closet systems are a damn bargain and half because they make that square footage you use very efficient,” Seiz, adding that it’s also aesthetically pleasing to walk into a well-organized closet.
tion. Big pictures. Not just, ‘Hey, I want some wood blinds.’ We have 30 product lines and three different companies. It can be very overwhelming and confusing if they are not walked through that process in a very systematic way in helping to discern and make decisions. One decision then leads to the next one.” Seiz said. “So often people walk into a place and pull the cart before the horse, and they start directing the person that’s in there and who is not a professional. You walk into one of the box stores and say, ‘I want this and the guy there probably has a week of training and maybe one hour or two on the Internet and now he’s considered a professional.” But they find out he’s not. Later, they’ll say: “I didn’t know these systems could be motorized or featured cordless lifts.” “Well, you didn’t ask?” “I didn’t know I was supposed to ask. You are the professional.” “Well, no, they really are not professionals,” Seiz said. “We are because of our 30 plus years of experience. I have master installers, guys taking this stuff apart and rebuilding and who have been trained by the factories for over 10 years.” From the simple and modest to the
Each custom closet design is measured and created to meet the specific needs of the homeowner.
complex and extravagant, the two companies, Appalachian Blinds and Closet Co. and Carolina Window Fashions, serve homeowners building or remodeling abodes under $100,000 to multimillion-dollar estates. “We can put them in campers, and we do, and we can put them in a single-wide mobile home,” Seiz said, adding that 10 price points exist along his product lines. “Because of the volume we do out of this store – we do just window treatments; we are a premiere Hunter Douglas gallery – we get the absolutely best discounts and promotions that we pass onto the end user. So, yes, there are very inexpensive window treatments that scratch that itch. That do it perfectly and we are able to do that all day long very, very well.” Seiz operates in a 100-mile radius of the High Country: in places like Winston-Salem, Kingsport, Tenn., Cookeville, Tenn., Asheville, and Hendersonville. “And it’s not that we are going out there and marketing,” Seiz said. “Those jobs are all coming from referrals.” Jason DeWitt, marketer with Appalachian Blind & Closet Co., added, “One of the easiest jobs is when I start gathering testimonials. Why are [past clients] so easy to testimonial up? Because of their previous experiences.”
The manufacturing process is completed in Newland from start to finish. Products are developed right here in the High Country. Team members carefully mix and blend paints and stains to reach the perfect color and style for the particular design they’re working on, and finishes are applied in the onsite OSHA approved spraying room. To complete the process, the products hang in an environmentally controlled area to dry before installation.
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Greg Seiz meets a customer and welcomes them into the showroom that is connected to the Newland manufacturing center and serves as the company’s headquarters.
As Seiz replied, “Everyone loves to be treated well, and everyone notices when they are not.”
staff are able to pigeonhole certain products to meet the needs of his customers. Seiz will also educate the customers on not only what this or that product will do but just imMobile Showrooms & More portantly, he will tell you what a product isn’t designed or Appalachian Blinds and Closet Co. and Carolina Window manufactured to accomplish. Fashions will come where you “One of the things that to are. Aside from the three inme is way more important than stallation vans, Seiz has two me telling you what something sales vans that are essentially can do and all the features mobile showrooms featurand benefits – and this kind ing all of the product lines. of compliments a program we Home appointments are usuoffer called the ‘Right Choice ally when most of the sales Promise’ – is that I need to are closed because it always make sure that you underhelps to see the colors, samstand what it won’t do, what ples, textures and the applicaare the limitations of it and the tion exactly how it will feel or tradeoffs of one versus the look in the home. other,” Seiz explained. “This is “What we encourage folks real important to the end user to do is come in here [showthat they have an understandProducts pictured here are part of the Boone showroom’s room on N.C. 105 in Boone] ing and our highly educated selection of roman shades, which are a popular option to get an idea, to show you on window treatments when here in the High Country. what we can do, the capabilithey come in here.” ties, meet the team and see the programs and specials we have. But in your house is Before You Build In life, a little bit of planning generally saves you money where we really fine tune the right product, the right color, the and hassle down the road. This statement is no more exright texture,” Seiz said. During the qualifying process – the Q&A – Seiz and his emplified than when building or renovating a home. You will 64
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The Appalachian Blind & Closet Co. location in Boone is situated in a easily accessible minimall between other home improvement storefronts, making it a convenient place to stop for folks who are working on renovation projects.
have hundreds of decisions to make during the building process. For this reason, Seiz gives customers another pamphlet, a 12-page document titled, “A Personal Planning Guide for Building, Remodeling or Moving into Your New Home.” As a benefit to customers, this guide expands further than what Carolina Shutter Fashions and Appalachian Blinds and Closet Co. sells or services. It serves as a place to compile a room-by-room prospective of the entire project and is also a place to jot down planning ideas. And window-fashions are apart of this process and should be incorporated into the overall plan of the home – prior to the interior of the home being wrapped in drywall. Note that because of the necessary wiring from all parts of the house with window placement, automated systems should be apart of the electrical planning of the construction or renovation. It’s seems obvious but you never know. “I can’t even tell you on many jobs we’ve done where
the end-user customer client knows they want to have automated, integrated window treatments in the rest of the house and it had not been planned; the proper wiring had not been pulled; and the system development never was handled or considered,” Seiz said. “So then you end up in a brand new multi-million dollar home doing retrofits. It’s extremely disappointing to know that just a small bit of planning and a discussion - ‘Hey, let’s bring in that guy, too. After all we are roughing in the electrical and low voltage.” Seiz, of course, was referring to saving his customers time, money and hassle with a little bit of pre-planning.
The Consignment Cottage Warehouse
“From Classic Traditional To Unique Eclectic...and Everything In Between...” 66 Pershing St., Newland, NC / Open Winter: Thurs-Sat 10-5 • Summer: Wed-Sat 10-5/ 828-733-8148 / theconsignmentcottagewarehouse.com Summer 2016
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Your Outdoor Living Experts!
A DIVISION OF
336-258-4233 66
www.gbenergy.com
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Complete Outdoor Kitchens Decorative Stamped Concrete Concrete Countertops Acid Staining Epoxy Floor Coatings
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Backyard Heaven Barbeques, Grilling & Entertaining
Outdoor rooms are becoming a popular home upgrade
Go Outside & Live
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itting comfortably with friends or family in the backyard on a cool summer mountain evening with a warm fire and dinner sizzling on the grill is pure pleasure, and it’s why so many more people are turning their yards and decks into inviting outdoor living spaces. You can call it the new “outdoor room.” In fact, in a study done by Saber Grills, surveying 1,500 homeowners, 83 percent said their outdoor living space is their favorite place in the home, and in the summer it’s the most used place just behind the kitchen, way ahead of the game, living and dining rooms. It doesn’t matter 68
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Anyone can easily create an outdoor room
if your home is valued at $75,000 or $775,000, the outdoor space is considered an essential part of the home. As consumer interest in the “outdoor room” continues to grow, hearth, patio and barbecue manufacturers are developing stylish, full-featured products to enhance the comfort, convenience and pleasure of entertaining or relaxing outside – no matter the climate or season. Manufacturers now have extensive product lines that can help extend a home’s living space both literally and visually. There are barbecues and fireplaces in all sizes and styles
Fireplaces add warmth on cool mountain nights
A quality grill anchors the space
“By changing the way installations occur, outdoor kitchens are more affordable than ever and can now be installed on a smaller level." | High o u statement ntry HOME Mag a zine A simple grill Summer island2016 can make a Cbig
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level,” says Sebastian. And anyone can easily G&B Energy and Designcreate an outdoor room. In Cast Concrete have identified general, the concept encom5 Outdoor Living Trends for passes a grilling and eating 2016: area, pulled together with a hearth product, such as a 1. Multiple Cooking fireplace, firepit or chiminea. Appliances Some outdoor rooms are One grill just isn’t cutting similar to indoor kitchens, it for most homeowners anywith expansive counter space more. Outdoor spaces are and full food preparation arnow featuring a combination eas complete with sinks and of gas grills, charcoal grills, plumbing. It’s even possible wood-fired grills, and smokto add a dishwasher and a ers. Homeowners are even refrigerator to make trips inbuilding grills into islands or side to clean up or grab a A well-appointed grill island with multiple prep surfaces, cabinets. Not only are people cold drink a distant memory. buying more and more high large grill, side burner and refrigeration Landscaping, lighting and end, elaborate grills, they are sculptures are additional elealso falling in love with full-scale outdoor kitchens including ments that can help create a cohesive feeling within an outpizza ovens, refrigerators, warming drawers and much more. door space. Outdoor kitchens are continuing to replicate indoor kitchens Outdoor rooms are often created over a period of years to with all the accessories and features. accommodate large wish lists on limited budgets. During the first year, install the hearth product and define 2. Sophisticated Seating the grilling and eating areas, then accessorize the next year. Outdoor furniture that looks like indoor furniture is a fast Finish off the project with the installation of landscaping. growing trend. Today’s outdoor living spaces are much more Anthony Sebastian of G&B Energy/Appalachian Energy & than just a few patio chairs. We are talking upholstered, fade DesignCast Concrete of Boone and Wilkesboro says that in resistant and weather resistant outdoor furniture. Homeownthe past, outdoor living projects have typically been costly, ers want outdoor seating that is as comfortable and stylish time consuming and reserved for the more affluent con- as their indoor living rooms. They are also looking for built-in sumer. With today’s new products and materials, time and seating structures or those that double as seating such as cost are dropping. “These projects are not typically a “do-it- benches and seating walls. yourself” weekend project,” says Sebastian. “Like a room in 3. Fireplaces, Fire Pits and Fire Bowls your house it is usually a good idea to use a contractor who Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and fire bowls complement can coordinate the different tradesmen and keep the project any outdoor area. Homeowners love fire features for their on schedule and budget.” functionality, aesthetic appeal and warmth — both literally and G&B Energy has recently opened a new concrete diviemotionally. In fact, according to Better Homes and Gardens, sion, DesignCast Concrete, that fits nicely with their propane more than half of all millennials have open-fire features in their and hearth-product business. “We partner with DesignCast outdoor space! and can now manage the entire project and work with trade Newer versions make fire amenities more accessible partners to arrange for plumbing and electrical connecwith compact design and fewer venting concerns. Gas firetions,” Sebastian said. “At DesignCast Concrete we handle places, fire pits and fire bowls make an outdoor space even the stamped concrete patio, fireplace and or grill island conmore functional by offering an elegant glow with the flick of struction using Eldorado Outdoor Building blocks, concrete a switch. This ease and ambience is a huge selling point for countertops, grills, storage drawers, gas connections. This many homeowners. approach saves time and 4. Customized Lighting money.” Lighting is a key compoEldorado Outdoor buildnent of any outdoor space, ing blocks eliminate the need and we can see that homfor a foundation as they can eowners are making it a pribe installed directly on top of ority. Layered outdoor lighting a 4” concrete pad. They bolt seems to be a big trend starttogether to allow for a quick ing. First, you put the general one-day installation and at the lighting into the space, which end of the day, they are ready is the light that fills the area for stonework. “By changing — such as a wall-mounted the way installations occur, light. The second layer of light outdoor kitchens are more is added for function, safety, affordable than ever and can and security. These lights can now be installed on a smaller 70
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G&B Energy and DesignCast Concrete recently finished up this project in Wilkes County. The installation features a Saber Grill and side burner, a custom wood fireplace, multiple storage options with ample counter space. The finishing touch was the tiered stamped concrete patio. be placed around a path and in the landscaping or can be built into your outdoor-kitchen area. This second layer of lighting adds a nice and fun touch to your space. 5. Decorative Stamped Concrete More and more people are seeking out decorative stamped concrete for their outdoor spaces. This trend has been going strong for the past couple of years, but we are now seeing homeowners choosing even bolder concrete options for their homes. Homeowners are continuing to be drawn to concrete for its value, longevity and low maintenance costs. One of the best features of concrete is the never-ending array of colors and styles. Stamped concrete can be made to look like other paving materials such as brick, wood, travertine, stone, and cobblestone. Sebastian says these trends as identified by the industry’s trade foundation, are part of the exciting treads that are making patio lifestyle much more affordable and a relaxing . . . Other interesting tidbits from the Saber Grills Survey Study is that 9 percent of the folks surveyed who had an outdoor room had TV’s installed, and 49 percent had Wi-Fi, 47 percent had special lighting and 35 percent, who called themselves adventurous entertainers had two grills and invited frequent guests over to try out new recipes. Other fun results from the study The majority of grill owners use their grills year round (60 percent). Nearly all (97 percent) of grill owners used their grill in the past year. Eighty percent of households own an outdoor barbecue, grill or smoker. Sixty-one percent of households that own a grill own a gas grill, followed by charcoal (41 percent) and electric (10 percent). The male head most often makes the decision (62 percent) to cook, lights the grill (73 percent) and cooks (68 percent) on the grill. Whether male or female, nearly 78 percent of consumers cooking on the grill consider themselves to be extremely proficient or proficient in most situations. Across the board, males are most likely to make the decision to purchase a grill (66 percent). ď Ž Summer 2016
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Survivor
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By Linda Kramer – Photography by Kevin Meechan
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veryone remembers the impact the 2008 economic recession had on the housing market. It stretched as far as a quiet mountain town in western North Carolina. Here, in an upscale golf community, construction began optimistically on a majestic home. This story is one of survival. It’s about how a luxury home rose from the economic ashes of the times and lived to reign triumphant. Known simply as Lot 19, the house was born as a spec home in 2007, under construction by a local builder. The builder fell victim to the times and abandoned the project in 2008. For five years of mountain winters and isolation, the house sat ghostly, and then in 2013 everything turned around. The house came under new ownership and architect Jeff Harbinson of Harbinson Architects out of Winston-Salem and Steve Silver of Boone Construction, Inc. in Foscoe were hired to finish the design and construction. At the time the home was abandoned, it was approximately 50 perecent finished with only a roof, framing and a partial exterior completed. With their combined 60-year work history, Harbinson and Silver utilized their expertise at navigating the quirks of mountain terrain. They were wellequipped and confident in taking on both the design and construc72
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tion challenge as well as the very short deadline they were given. In fact, Silver commented, “The hardest part of the job was meeting the deadline.” Jeff adds, “We were hired alongside the contractor with a short schedule to get underWhen Harbinson and Silver took over the project, the house was only half finished. They began with the existing framing and roofing and completed the job
Summer 2016
way, about a month. It was completed on schedule in the first part of 2014. Jeff says, “After assignment, we quickly produced schematic plans. The main alteration to the original design was moving a two car garage to a different location to better accommodate the steep terrain and then revising the garage into a sixth bedroom suite. We also added a detached two-car garage at the main level of the house. Other revisions included a new kitchen design, a master bedroom area and a bar downstairs.” So the work began with a structural clean-up and exterior fireplace repairs to the 6,500 sq. ft. ,6 bedroom, 8 bath, 3-story home built on a steep, sloping lot overlooking the manicured greens of the golf course with a long-range view of Beech Mountain. Pam McKay, ASID, of Dianne Davant & Associates in Banner Elk, pulled the interiors together in a most unusual way with her always unmistakable sense of style. Pam is known for her use of bold color to create unique and muscular statements, but the home owners in this case, preferred a lighter touch with a neutral palate, so Pam subdued the interiors creating a quiet mountain flavor. Most mountain homes reflect a strong, rustic feel, so the minimalism here catches one by surprise. The use of paint on the interior walls and ceilings instead of wood
Two outdoor decks total over 1,400 sq. ft. Each has a fireplace and a long-range view of Beech Mountain. Summer 2016
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kept things simple while the it shows few signs of a chaluse of natural stone, cedar lenging beginning. It was roofing and trim, poplar bark personally satisfying for me siding and shingles providto be a part of its resurreced a contrasting rustic statetion and final grandeur.” ment. The combination of No one could have contrasts worked and Pam imagined the future outsays, “For me, this unique come of Lot 19. It had been approach with a neutral apwritten as “doomed” by plication was a pleasant and many. They were all wrong. unexpected diversion. This Today, the house stands as subtle look is currently trendan elegant testament to the The kitchen reflects the current design trend of mixing cabinet finishes. ing and prevalent in the detransformation and survival sign world right now. It was There are eight different wood finishes here installed by Banner’s Cabinets of a time of hardship and of Banner Elk and several different types of granite used on the a welcome exception to the thrives today because of countertops by Classic Stone. This prep area of the kitchen has a copper usual rustic mountain look.” the perseverance of its new sink surrounded by pale green tinted cupboards over white oak custom Architect Jeff Harbinson owners and all others who counters. Surf green granite slabs extend up the walls as back splashes. reflects on the project. “ made it happen. Cupboards are stocked with handmade pottery by Teresa Pietsch. Building are highly resilient This is about a house that creatures, able to withstand would not die; and if survival a lot of abuse. This house is a testament to that fact. After sitting is the foundation of endurance, then complete triumph is the end unfinished through five winters in a harsh mountain environment, game. The game is over.
A dramatic chandelier by Ashore looks down on this luxurious and comfortable living room with its soft hues and clean, transitional lines. 74
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A downstairs game room is everyone’s favorite place to gather. A pub table sets easily for play and the room is warmed with a Tim Turner painting and a comfortable leather sofa
Architect Jeff Harbinson reflects on the project. “ Buildings are highly resilient creatures, able to withstand a lot of abuse. This house is a testament to that fact. After sitting unfinished through five winters in a harsh mountain environment, it shows few signs of a challenging beginning. It was personally satisfying for me to be a part of its resurrection and final grandeur.” No one could have imagined the future outcome of Lot 19. It had been written as “doomed” by many. They were all wrong. Today, the house stands as an elegant testament to the transformation and survival of a time of hardship and thrives today because of the perseverance of its new owners and all others who made it happen. This is about a house that would not die; and if survival is the foundation of endurance, then complete triumph is the end game. The game is over.
A comfortable and practical radius banquet is nestled into the island of a large, open kitchen in the background which defies traditional kitchen design. The table, custom made by LORTS, has two finishes ... stain on top and paint on the bottom.
In the living room soaring ceilings and natural light, sparse color and minimized patterns create a quiet retreat at ease with its setting. The look is subtle. Muted colors mixed with plush textures create the owner’s desired softness. Large wood panels provide a subtle backdrop behind the gas fireplace with a natural stone finish. Over-sized windows bring nature in. Light levels are filtered and the intensity is adjusted with remote-controlled shades by Hunter Douglas supplied by Carolina Window Fashions. Summer 2016
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Simple transitional lines are enhanced by cowhide poufs which add texture to the neutrality of the master bedroom.
The master bath, an exercise in simplicity on the main floor shows off the luxury of a marble tub and custom cabinets by Banner’s Cabinets and Classic Stone.
Elegant dining in this formal room with simple-lined upholstered chairs and a distressed table custom made by LORTS. The warmth of walnut flooring is enhanced by the richness of plush herringbone drapes. Light fixture over the table provides a subtle hue by Visual Comfort.
Resources Stone masonry by O1 Masony Inc. Wood Floors by Ashley Hardwood Flooring Tile Work by Livingston Tile Painting by Mountaineer Painting Cabinets by Banner’s Cabinets Countertops by Classic Stone Harbinson Architects 1311 Brookstown Avenue Winston-Salem, NC 27101 p: 336-692-5577 jeff@harbinsonarchitects.com Boone Construction Company Inc. 189 Calloway Road, Foscoe, NC 27607 828-963-8607 www.booncc.com Steve Silver, President Dianne Davant & Associates 828-963-7500 www.davant-interiors.com 5111 Highway 105 Banner Elk, NC 28604 76
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High Country Home Builders Association
Gives Back To Community By Jesse Wood
T
he High Country Mackey said. Home Builders AsIn early 2016, the sociation is a proHCHBA also donated fessional organization of materials to the Watauga homebuilders and assoHigh School construction ciates in the construction technology department to industry – from general build the Pioneer Cottage, contractors to painters, which could serve as a plumbers, electricians, playhouse, workshop, designers and more. storage shed or man/ The organization woman cave. formed in 1979, and its The structure was rafvery first president was fled off to benefit the HCHW.H. Horner, who recently BA Construction Technolpassed away. The organiogy Scholarship Fund, zation owns the Builders which serves to support TOP (left to right): BCS Custom Builders Amber Williams, HCHBA Executive Plaza on the N.C. 105 Bylocal youth interested in Officer Jennifer Mackey, Sarah Grady of Sunny Day Homes, and Dawn Wilson pass, which was built durpursuing a career in confrom Watauga Heating & Cooling. BOTTOM (left to right): Neil Brunson of ing the organization’s 25th struction technology. 84 Lumber, HCHBA 2016 Vice President Jim Rogers of Appalahian Custom anniversary in 2004. At the HCHBA’s anBuilders, and HCHBA President Chuck Perry of PerryBuilt, The property was a fornual Past Presidents’ Chili mer dog kennel before the Cook-off in late Februand offer them to the community,” Perry organization had the foresight to purchase said. “Whether that is working on a Habitat ary, the group presented $1,200 worth of the property in December of 2002, and for Humanity house or building something checks to Jason Matthews, the construcwith the skills of 300 contractors and build- that you know is helping somebody. Or tion technology teacher at WHS, to benefit ing professionals, they were able to com- even working to grow our organization, the the Watauga Education Foundation for loplete the project less than 2 years later. cal scholarships and the construction debetter we are, the more work we can do.” Today, the HCHBA rents out the banEach year, the HCHBA embarks on partment at Watauga High School. quet hall and three office spaces within projects that benefit the High Country HCHBA Member David Moore prethe building and utilizes the building for community. For example, a couple years sented the checks to Matthews and menHCHBA functions. Currently, the asso- ago the organization participated in a tioned that the relationship between the ciation has roughly 150 members spread national Home Builders Blitz at the local nonprofit and the construction program at throughout the construction industry. One level with the Watauga County Habitat for WHS was mutually beneficial. of those members is Chuck Perry of Per- Humanity. HCHBA members and other “We are always looking for ways to give ryBuilt. He’s the current HCHBA president. professionals in the construction industry back to the community,” Moore said, addPerry said that he enjoys networking with joined forces to build a home in 30 days in ing that the association “naturally gravitatother professionals in his industry and the local Habitat’s GreenWood neighbor- ed” to local youth interested in a career in participating in the goodwill that the orga- hood, located near Green Valley School. the construction field. “It seemed natural nization and its members offer to the comThis year, the HCHBA is shelling and to partner with kids learning and trying to munity. roofing a four-bedroom home in the Green- get into a field that we are in.” “I enjoy the camaraderie and the peo- wood community. As of March, the HCHBA In response, Matthews talked about ple I get to work with day in and day out, and its members have donated $15,000 of the skills gap between youth and the and the initiatives that this organization materials and labor for the project. construction trade that exists locally and sets forth speak to me – about [utilizing] “That’s our big give-back project this across the nation and how the high school our resources as builders to take our skills year,” HCHBA Executive Officer Jennifer is trying to meet this demand.
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Built and owned by the High Country Home Builders Association in 2004, The Builders Plaza is a meeting hub for the construction-industry community and self-sustaining investment. The facility is located on the N.C. 105 Bypass.
“Its really a neat thing to see a student actually get something, when he or she gets it and the emotion on their face is telling,” Matthews said, adding that he encouraged any of the contractors to come and speak to the WHS construction class, to talk about their field and to mention what kinds of workers are being sought. Matthews noted that prior to the chili cook-off, his students participated in a regional Skills USA competition and came in first and second place. The funds donated to the class at the chili cook-off would help fund the trip to the state competition. “This will definitely help with that,” Matthews said. “We are really appreciative of this.” There were also a few “spontaneous” donations announced by HCHBA members at this meeting. The winning bidder of the Pioneer Cottage raffle was HCHBA member Jeffrey Voss of Jeff’s Plumbing and Repair, and he announced that he installed the new structure in the Brookshire Park area for the entire community to enjoy. Stacey Miller, a new building inspector for the Town of Boone, won another raffle for a Simpson Strong Tie tool at the meeting but gave it to Matthews for the students to use. Then Buck Wellborn, owner of Wellborn Insulation, capped off the giving spree after he stood up and announced that his company would donate $1,000 to benefit the students learning the construction trades at WHS. “We strive to be a true nonprofit and give back to the community all we can” Mackey said. “It’s a great organization, and I love being a part of it.” Aside from networking and giving back to the community, the HCHBA also keeps tabs on its own members and on legislators in Raleigh for the benefit of the consumer and to advocate for the construction industry as a whole. Mackey explained that its members are held accountable by their peers – and just aren’t any other contractor you’ll find off the street. “We feel very strongly
Neil Brunson of 84 Lumber, an HCHBA board member, holds up the plaque recognizing the local building organization for its 25 years of Adopt-a-Highway service along the Avery and Watauga border on N.C. 105.
WHS Construction Technology teacher Jason Matthews received two checks of $600 from the HCHBA for the Watauga High School Construction Technology Scholarship and the Watauga Education Foundation. Summer 2016
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HCHBA President Chuck Perry (left) stands with WHS student Devin Hollars, who won first place in the state in the SkillsUSA carpentry competition, and WHS construction technology teacher Jason Matthews at a Watauga County Board of Education meeting, where Hollars was recognized during the spring semester. One of HCHBA missions is to give back to students who are following in their footsteps.
about working with other members, and [our members] are held to a higher standard,” Mackey claims. “People are watching and paying attention to what they are doing. They are held accountable for what they do.”
Want To Join HCHBA?
By joining the High Country Home Builders Association, you automatically become a member of the North Carolina Home Builders Association and the National Home Builders Association. Memberships costs range from $150 to $450. Here are some other benefits: • Cost savings on materials and local, point of sale rebates, only available to HBA members. • A respected professional membership that gives your clients peace of mind in choosing you for their projects. • A web presence on the HCHBA website and access to HBA logo’s for your marketing efforts. • An opportunity to network and socialize with your peers and clients at our monthly meetings and social events. • Educational opportunities to keep you abreast of the latest technical advances in your industry, changing regulatory/code requirements and to offer professional designations to those interested. For more information about the High Country Home Builders Association, whether you are a consumer or a professional in the industry, click to www. highcountryhba.com or call 828-297-6566. Using materials and resources donated by the High Country Home Builders Association, the WHS construction technology class made the “Pioneer Cottage.” The cottage was raffled off as a HCHBA fundraiser for the Construction Technology Scholarship Fund, which benefits students pursuing higher education within the construction trades. As fate would have it, an HCHBA member, Jeffrey Voss, of Jeff’s Plumbing & Repair, won the raffle and had it placed for the community use at Brookshire Park.
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RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL REMODELING GREEN BUILDING
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