Home by The Laker

fall 2015 • complimentary

Historic Beauty page 4 Small Spaces page 11 Homes on Parade page 15 Geo Thermal page 23 DIY Energy Audits page 32 Time to Move On page 40 Concrete Homes page 43 home • fall 2015 • 1

“A Showcase of Homes built by premiere Lakes Region Builders.”

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Historic Beauty in

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Artistic Homes

rtists love b e a u t y. Landscapes with sweeping views, sunsets that set the countryside aglow and serene old homes often draw creative people like a visual magnet. The Lakes Region has always attracted artists of all sorts to summer around the water or on the islands or the mountains. Some, however, choose to stay year round, finding just the right spot to settle permanently. It was that way with Bill and Trudy Storck of Tuftonboro. While they probably did not set out to find a home that was a bit out of the way, that is how things turned out. Their home sits at the top of a hill, and the view from the Storck’s home takes one’s breath away. The original portion of the historic

Tracy Leach Interiors 4 • home • fall 2015

home dates from the 1770s. “We were looking for a combination of an old and a new home,” Bill says as he and Trudy relax in their spacious kitchen. “The home is air tight and well insulated.” The couple, originally from Maryland (where Bill worked as a painter for many years and has known considerable success as an artist painting marine subjects) were ready for a move and started to search out a home in the area. They found a beautiful home in another Lakes Region town, but the setting just wasn’t right. With an artist’s eye, Bill knew the right place was out there and that the entire property would have to lure them in. Bill smiles as he recalls, “This was the last house we saw. We drove up and were taken in by the views and the beauty all around. We wanted a place with acreage and this property luckily needed very little done to it.” The fact that Bill is a working artist and Trudy a professional in her field means they are active people. Although they have altered some things in

the home, for the most part it was turnkey, which is appreciated by the busy couple. “I maintain regular studio hours and I approach paintings like a job,” Bill explains. His studio is currently a not-too-large but not-too-small room on the lower level of the home. A winding staircase leads to the place where Bill works on whatever painting might be in process. A charming cottage a stone’s throw from the house beckons and Bill says he sometimes uses it as a painting studio, but the couple is planning to most likely turn it into a guest cottage. With whitewashed, rough-hewn beams and an airy feeling, it is a wonderful, peaceful place. “It is from the 18th century and it was on site when we moved here in 2012,” Bill adds. The main house is deceptively compact; from the road it appears larger. Although steeped in history, modern conveniences make it a very livable home. The kitchen, for example, is certainly modern and well equipped. Sleek stone counters and modern appliances are a chef’s dream. But just steps away, the old-fashioned charm of the sitting room and other downstairs rooms is a nod to the distant past when the house was originally built. The garage is spacious and has three floors, although that also does not scream “modern and oversized.” Indeed, everything about the property calls

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one to sit quietly, to soak in the peace and beauty all around and to sense the long history of the place. Bill and Trudy are clearly in love with the home as well as the sweeping fields and incredible views of the distant mountains. Bill says the view is stunning when he and Trudy enjoy dinner on their back deck/patio area in the summer and fall, as the sun sets and the landscape glows with late-day sun. While some New Hampshire residents might dread the coming of winter, the couple is looking forward to the snow. They have discovered snowshoeing and the trails on their property are just waiting to be explored in the quiet winter months. Bill’s plan is also to get kayaks so he and Trudy can have access to the area’s waterways. “We want to drive up to the White Mountain area; there are gorgeous places to paint up there.” Some of those places are hard to reach by car but in kayaks, the couple will have greater freedom to locate the spots Bill has dreamed of capturing in his paintings. Bill has been a painter for years and originally studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He says he has learned from other painters and greatly admires the Hudson River School of Painters and the White Mountain School of Painters; both groups arose in the 1800s when landscape painters

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High Meadow Farm is an impeccable Colonial house dating back to the late 1700s, sitting on a hilltop with mountain views in 3 directions. The house has been carefully refurbished by the owners over the past year and is exquisite in every detail. The six-stall horse barn is also in mint condition. Much of the acreage is in Current Use Status. High Meadow Farm is one of the few grand hilltop properties remaining in New Hampshire and is not to be missed.

170 Acres – North Sandwich $1,150,000 Listing Agent –Lisa Wardlaw

Lamprey & Lamprey REALTORS® Inc.

249 Whittier Highway - Route 25 Center Harbor, New Hampshire Office (603)253.8131 • Toll Free (800)834.5759 This property is featured on the cover.

2015 Marks our 70th year of serving the Lakes Region home • fall 2015 • 5

traveled to remote forests and villages and produced stunningly beautiful paintings of the natural world. Had Bill been born at a time when those schools or genre of painting were born, he would certainly have been among the best of the painters. His landscapes of New Hampshire capture a still, tranquil beauty and his marine paintings echo the time when great ships sailed the coasts. Some things are different about the couple’s Lakes Region home compared to their Maryland residence, such as the fact that in Maryland, Bill’s studio was a stand-alone structure whereas in his current home, the studio is part of the house. With two grown daughters, Bill and Trudy appreciate the manageable size of their home but are happy there is also room when family comes for a visit. As Bill stands on the cozy little porch of the adjacent cottage, he gazes over the fields that seem to roll on and on until they melt into the hazy, distant mountains. “The previous owner cleared trees and stumps and he made the stone walls on the property. We are very lucky to have a home with so little that needs to be done to it.” It allows time for Bill to work on his paintings, which is indeed his fulltime job. When Trudy is not at work, the couple can be found gardening or

perhaps walking their property or planning some upcoming kayak adventures. Bill’s eyes gleam as he talks about some of the places he hopes to explore and to paint in the next year, accessible only by kayak or on foot. For this creative, active couple, home has become a place to pursue artistic work and to relax and embrace all New Hampshire has to offer. A couple on the other side of Tuftonboro would surely appreciate Bill’s paintings and the care the Storcks have put into their home. They too relocated to the area and are originally from elsewhere. And they too have created a beautiful, relaxing abode full of creative touches that make their home memorable and special. The beautiful home called Wingate Farm was built in 1805 and it is currently being offered for sale. Built in 1805, the immaculately kept and decorated home was originally a boarding house and then was owned by a judge who had 1,000 acres that encompassed property all the way to Lake Winnipesaukee. “We had a home in Wolfeboro,” says the woman of the house, who is also a highly talented interior decorator/designer. “We used to live in the area part of the year, but we eventually made the choice to live here year round.”

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As a native of California, she had always read Country Living magazine and loved the country homes she saw in various issues. “It was on my bucket list to own an old home in the country.” The owners saw lots of possibilities in the property. Although it was already very livable, the homeowners would surely tell you any creative person wants to put their own mark on their home. And what a beautiful, personalized mark this owner put on the rambling farmhouse and the outbuildings! About 15 years ago, the couple did renovations to the house and then further renovations a year or so ago. One is impressed immediately with the wide wooden board flooring on the first level of the large home. The homeowner laughs as she says, “We took the boards from the attic floor and brought them to use in the kitchen and one of the outbuildings. The rest of the house already had old flooring.” She stresses that a lot of credit goes to their carpenter/renovation specialist, Bill Allen of Old House Builders. “He did a great job and was wonderful to work with,” she says. Parts of the home were reconfigured and now there are four bedrooms and a dream of a kitchen, as well as a dining room, library and a fun and inviting upstairs movie room decorated with old movie posters and lots of comfy seating.

The kitchen is bright and airy but well planned and the homeowner says it is a great space to cook and for guests to congregate. (It includes a handy butler’s pantry for added storage/workspace.) An antique wooden piece that is huge but not so big one cannot maneuver around it holds pride of place in the center of the kitchen. It is a unique kitchen island that any chef would dream of using as they prepared a large meal with plenty of room to spread out. Along with the main house, the outbuildings at the farm have individual uses as well. Perhaps the most unique featured outbuilding is the “1950s building.” It was originally to be used as a workshop for the man of the house, but he jokingly says he realized he wasn’t really a hobby/workshop kind of guy and would rather see the space used as something else. Certainly the interior decorator homeowner’s touch is felt in this wonderful space, where a recreation of a soda shop from the 1950s is the theme, complete with bright red Coca-Cola signs, chairs and other furnishings. The owner says with a smile that the grandkids love to use the building and it is a favorite spot. Speaking of grandchildren, the owners say they created the rooms in the home and the playful yet beautiful feel of the property with their beloved grandchildren and their daughter in mind, knowing it would offer the family

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a great place to visit and vacation. Also on the property is a wonderful little girl’s playhouse that would be any child’s dream space for a doll’s tea party. A pool house is located near the pool, a blue water oasis perfect for cooling off on a hot summer’s day. There is also a potting shed and another barn that the realtor who is representing the property says would make a wonderful horse barn. He adds that he can easily see the entire property as a home/farm for someone who keeps horses, due to the acreage and great fields and that gem of a barn. The listing information on the property says there are 78 private acres with sunset and mountain views, six luxurious baths, seven fireplaces, three porches, original Indian shutters and wide plank pumpkin pine flooring throughout. All systems have been upgraded and include new insulation and generator. Another barn on the site is where the homeowner’s monthly and very popular antiques and home décor sales are held for an eager public. Titled For Every Season, the sales are held at set times throughout the summer and fall. Two events are scheduled to round out the season: October 22-24-Frost on the Pumpkin and November 5-7-Thanksgiving Blessings. (Visit www.fesatwingate.com.)

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These days the grandkids are getting older and the owners are pragmatic. They feel it is time to move on, although they will stay in the area. They have fond memories of the weeks when the grandchildren would come and stay for part of their summer vacations, and dubbed the place Camp Nanny and Poppy. It seems time to find a new location to build more family memories. It is the hope of the homeowners that “a fun family” will fall in the love with the home and property and enjoy it just as much as they have done. As one looks at the old-fashioned apple trees, the gorgeous flower gardens, the lawns and fields, the charming outbuildings, the pool and the gracious old home, the creative hand of the owners can be seen everywhere one turns. Artists truly love beauty and that fact is nowhere more apparent than the homes created in these history-steeped Lakes Region properties. (For information on Wingate Farm, please contact Steve Bush at Maxfield Real Estate in Wolfeboro at 569-3128 or email: steve@maxfieldrealestate. com.)Photos on pages 4 & 5 Storck home; Photos on pages 6 - 8 Wingate Farm.

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Small Space Decorating In today’s world, it is all about living small. Tiny homes are very popular and there is even a TV show about this home trend. Millennials are embracing smaller living, but this trend creates the issue of living day after day in small places. Giving a design facelift to small spaces may seem challenging, but you can make more of every square inch with creative solutions. Light Small spaces need natural light. Try hanging curtains beyond the window frame and near the ceiling to let in more light. This drapery placement makes windows look larger and adds to the perceived height of the room. Add a large decorative mirror on an adjacent wall to reflect every sliver of available light. While conventional decorating wisdom doesn’t recommend placing furniture in front of windows, in a small room such as a bedroom, it makes sense to use windows as the focal point and center furniture in front of them. In tiny bedrooms, options can be limited, and it’s often better to create a strong focal point with a bed than to awkwardly push it to one side.

With layers of attractive and colorful bedding and pillows, the bed as a focal point can create quite a design statement. Focal Wall Every designer will tell you that light walls make small rooms feel larger, but there can be exceptions to this rule. An accent wall can bring definition and scale to a tiny space. The first step is to choose the right wall to paint. Depending on the room, it’s typically a fireplace wall, one that anchors a key piece of furniture, an interesting nook or a bookcase wall. Achieve sharp lines and professional paint results easily with a high quality painter’s tape that forms a micro-barrier against paint bleed. For drama, use darker shades to add depth to the room. However, keep furniture and adjacent walls lighter to prevent the room from feeling cluttered. For medium colored walls, a bright color or fun pattern on an accent wall will help enliven the space. Also, consider repainting trim a bright white to make the accent wall stand out.

Luxury Real Estate

WOLFEBOROPrestigious Winnipesaukee Waterfront Estate, 180° views, 4.5 private acres, 6 bedrooms, entertaining kitchen, Great Room, full mahogany covered deck, sandy beach, 2-slip covered docking and sunsets! Call 569-3128 $4,695,000 (4446155)

MOULTONBOROUGHBreathtaking Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront parcel includes a vintage 2-bedroom cottage and two lots of record. This rare offering also includes your own deeded island. $1,949,900 (4431721)

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ALTON- Winnipesaukee waterfront with covered dock with room for 3 boats. Wonderful deck with mountain views. Sandy shallow beach. Also a .44 acre lot across the street. Call 875-3128 $524,000 (4446253)

NEW DURHAM- Year round Merrymeeting Lake ranch with beautiful views and 100 feet of desirable shore frontage, pine paneled interior, cute as a button and turn-key with furnishings included. Call 569-3128 $414,000 (4428575)

WOLFEBORO- Cozy 2 bedroom cottage at Piping Rock in Winter Harbor has been well maintained, recently updated kitchen, beautiful sandy beach, assigned dock and good rental history.

TUFTONBORO- Excellent seasonal island property on Lake Winnipesaukee offers privacy, shoreline dock w/ deck-like structure plus seasonal dock, sandy bottom for swimming and easy access to the mainland.

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Land and Acreage WOLFEBORO- Beautiful in-town lot with pretty water views and 100 ft. on Lake Winnipesaukee’s Back Bay, town water and sewer, zoned for residential or commercial, includes dock permit. Call 569-3128 $448,000 (4397696)

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home • fall 2015 • 11

Smart Shelving Shelves, cabinets and pegboard racks can promote organization without exhausting limited floor and counter space. Bring cozy kitchens to the next level with shelving that reaches the ceiling. Install electrical outlets within shelving so you don’t have to move appliances to use them. Floating shelves allow you to show off favorite accessories, like cookbooks, vases and baskets, while boosting storage capacity. Repurpose old barn wood for a rustic look or utilize plumbing pipe for an industrial ® and modern design. Creative Storage Choosing with Diamond multiple functions is a must if you live in a small Diamond Vibe is a unique line brought to you by Diamond Cabinetry. For over pieces 30 years, has ® ® home or condo. Think multiple uses and let storage also serve as décor. Visit Looking for more Diamond ? ooking for more Diamond ? offered more designer-inspired colors and styles; more wood grain and laminate options; and more brilliantly garage sales and flea markets to find special pieces that you can repurpose. Diamond Vibe is a unique line brought to you by Diamond Cabinetry. For over 30 years, Diamond has amond Vibe is a unique line brought to you by Diamond Cabinetry. For over 30 years, Diamond has An old trunk suitcase can be a fashionable and functional side offered more designer-inspired colors and styles; more wood grain and laminate options; and more brilliantly engineered conveniences that capture the visual and practical vibe of the times. With everyorinch of meticulous fered more designer-inspired colorsthat andcapture styles; grainvibe andoflaminate options; andofmore brilliantly table or coffee table, while hiding odds and ends. Customize these pieces engineered conveniences themore visual wood and practical the times. With every inch meticulous to coordinate with your décor by adding a unique painted design using workmanship byand a lifetime warranty. workmanship backed bybacked a lifetime warranty. ngineered conveniences that capture the visual practical vibe of the times. With every inch of meticulous painter’s tape. (If you’re looking to preserve the item’s vintage appeal, make ® orkmanship backed by a lifetime warranty. sure you tape off any latches or distinctive details to prevent paint bleed.) Often the best design solutions are born of necessity; and with a little you by Diamond Cabinetry. For over 30 years, Diamond has imagination you can create eye-catching, functional rooms throughout your tiny house or apartment. tyles; more wood grain and laminate options; and more brilliantly

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Published by The Smiley Publishing Group, LLC, P.O. Box 119 Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896 | 603-569-5257 | thelaker.com Publishers of home, The Laker and Dining Out in the Lakes Region.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Dan Smiley ADVERTISING Jim Cande Mitch Hanson

Smiley Publishing Group, LLC. assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors. Advertisers will please notify the management immediately of any errors which may occur.

PRODUCTION MANAGER Gina Lessard

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12 • home • fall 2015

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14 • home • fall 2015

Parade of Homes is Coming The Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Association (LRBRA) present the annual Fall Parade of Homes the weekend of October 10-12. The event is a tradition that began in New Hampshire in 2007 and has continued to grow each year and shifted from a statewide tour to a Lakes and Mountains Region event. The Parade of Homes is an opportunity to meet some of the area’s best builders, along with their product and service providers to learn how a home was designed, what materials and techniques were chosen and why, and what went into the construction. It allows the general public to walk through showcase houses and gather ideas for their dream home or provide great examples of what is possible in the world of remodeling. All nine of the Parade houses are decorated and ready to show off the latest colors, tiles, window treatments, exterior designs, floor plans and furniture trends to admire. And of course the moldings, doors, state of the art appliances, decking, insulation, home heating, home financing options, etc.; indeed, many of the products and services, even the homes themselves, can be duplicated for you. Information on just about every detail on the homes is available to make your own house a showcase home. Visitors will learn how energy-saving features like geo-thermal heating and cooling, radiant heat, back-up propane systems and even Hunter Douglas cellular shades can significantly increase your warmth and decrease your heating bills. Check out first hand rustic alder cabinets, cast iron farmer’s sink, master baths boasting walk-in terra-stone shower with granite seats, high performance Marvin Integrity windows and doors. Do you like granite or quartz countertops? See beautiful stone counters and more for yourself on display in some of the homes and special touches like

the bar that features a Keg-orator! If you are into wood, you will be delighted with a Brazilian teak deck, custom oak, mahogany and maple floors and even reclaimed wood from Coney Island’s Boardwalk and beams from the first teddy bear factory in the U.S. The event will run from October 10, 11 and 12, (Saturday, Sunday & Monday); tour hours are from 10 am to 4 pm each day. Tickets for the Parade of Homes can be purchased at the first house you visit. One ticket allows entry into all of the homes on the tour and the cost is just $10 per person. Children age 12 and under are free. A comprehensive Parade Guidebook will be handed out at each of the homes featuring all of the homes, with graphics, descriptions, maps and local sponsors of the event. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. With your help, last year Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Association was able to donate over $6,000 to the auction, helping more kids have a safe place to learn, laugh, and play; and more Lakes Region neighbors received the support they need to create a better future for themselves and their families. (childrensauction.com) The website www.nhparadeofhomes.com is designed to make visitor touring easy. View the map or click on view information on homes, for descriptions and directions. Presenting Sponsors of this year’s event include Meredith Village Savings Bank; Dead River Company and Marvin Windows and Doors! Visit all of the homes and enter to win some great prizes as well as cast your vote for your favorite home for The People’s Choice Award!

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603.539.3412 • ridgelinebuildersnh.com home • fall 2015 • 15

Preparing Your Home for Wi By Barbara Neville Wilson Last winter was pretty brutal in the Lakes Region. A sizeable Thanksgiving storm dumped up to a foot of snow, and the piles grew from there. February saw just two days above 32 degrees, and many smart residents headed south. How can you best prepare your property to ride the ravages of winter, especially if you’re able to leave it for a period during Mother Nature’s harshest months? We all know the cold weather basics: don’t let your pipes freeze, and make sure emergency crews can reach your property in the event of… well, an emergency. For many of us, though, our experience is limited to what we’ve lived through ourselves. To move beyond the basics, I went to Tim Runnals, owner of Camp Patrol. Tim is the current owner of the fourgeneration, 76-year old business and watches over nearly 100 properties from Moultonborough to Alton, Brookfield and Wakefield, and points in between. I asked Tim what he recommends all homeowners do in these weeks before winter, and one of the first things he mentioned was to clear the yard: put away all lawn furniture, boats and water toys. Take the gas grill inside, but, he cautions, it is illegal to store propane tanks inside. The risk of explosion is just too high. Don’t forget to disconnect your garden hose. Even as you bring items in from your yard, take time to take OUT any excess firewood from inside your house. Wood is a natural hiding and breeding place for unwanted rodents, spiders and unfriendly bugs.

16 • home • fall 2015

While we like to take our living outside in summer, it’s important to keep weather and unwanted guests outside the house in winter. Homeowners close to the water often choose to board up their ground floor windows to prevent breakage by storms’ flying debris, and homeowners in isolated places also may want to board windows to avoid tempting curious passersby to explore. Take a good look at branches on trees near your house. Be sure to remove any dead or weak ones that could threaten your house in windy or snowy conditions. Overhanging trees are also a natural rodent highway to your roof and chimneys. Take a few minutes to seal any holes in your foundation. Tim says mice can enter through a hole just the size of a quarter. Caulking or spray foam work well. Have you seen or heard signs of squirrels or bats in your attic? You’ll want to seal the varmints out before they get too comfortable and do real damage. Seal off entry points like your chimney, and around flashing and vents in your roof. Wildlife professionals and reputable exterminators can assist and make suggestions. If you are leaving your home vacant for any length of time, you can discourage rodents and insects from exploring your living areas by spreading dryer sheets throughout your rooms. A more organic solution is the liberal sprinkling of cloves all around. Tim reports seeing absolutely no signs of visitors in a house whose owners employed cloves. It used to be common for seasonal cottages to have their water pipes

inter? Take These Tips from a Pro drained each fall so they could leave the building unheated all winter. This has become less common, Tim says, and that’s probably good because lack of heat in a building leads to moisture and problems with mold. The price of heating fuel has been so high, though, that he understands why people are loath to heat a space not being used. He gives this advice: if a building is to be unoccupied, but you wish to avoid moisture build-up and conditions conducive to mold growth, drain and winterize the plumbing system, but leave the thermostat at 40 degrees to allow some heat to the interior, or if you can keep the heat at 55 degrees, just shut the main water valve off. In any case, if a house is to be unoccupied for any length of time, save fuel and money by turning off the hot water heater. There’s no reason to heat water no one is using. Outside the house: now is the time for a fall yard clean up. Many people neglect a fall clean up thinking spring clean up has to be done anyway, so why not leave it until then? Tim notes the fall clean up saves headaches in spring. “You’d be surprised,” he says. “If you hire a fall clean up and a spring clean up, a lot of times you could pay the same amount” in total. The work goes that much quicker in the spring if the leaves and organic materials haven’t started to rot. You also avoid the winter decomposition of organic material, like leaves and branches, which can lead to more invasive problems. If you have a dock, Tim says, you avoid a lot of trouble if you get a step lift (hinged) dock that folds up onto the shore in winter. Another option is to pull the dock. Neither of those options is always possible, however; so

since it’s important to protect your dock and, especially its footings, fall is the time to install bubblers. Since about 60 percent of Tim’s clients live on the waterfront, much of his fall is spent putting in the season’s bubblers. Run on electricity, the bubblers are basically small propellers that agitate the water and prevent ice formation. Bubblers save a lot of back-breaking work. Tim remembers having to chip six inches of ice after a bubbler had failed for just one day last winter. Tim tries to have all his clients’ bubblers in by October 15, and his busiest season runs December 1 to April 1, when he makes rounds dawn to dusk seven days a week checking bubblers and snow accumulation on roofs. Clearing snow off roofs is extremely important. Too often people think they just need to clear the three feet closest to the edge, Tim says, but the snow pack higher up the roof can still freeze and create an ice dam. Last winter was especially bad. If you’re not going to be in town, now’s the time to reserve the services of a reputable roof shoveler. For snow shoveling or any work on your property, protect yourself and your investment by making sure the contractor is properly licensed and insured. “Beware of cardboard signs” advertising such services, says Tim. No matter how much advance planning you do, however, the unexpected can always happen. Tim laughingly recalls the night of the 2011 Halloween snowstorm when he got a call from a security company that Continued on page 22 a client’s alarm reported an attempted

home • fall 2015 • 17

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Restorations and fine carpentry in Bristol

By Thomas P. Caldwell

“Old houses and barns, you just can’t reproduce them,” says Charlie Carr of Bristol. “They’re well-built, and the aesthetics still has appeal.” Operating a carpentry business that specializes in taking down old postand-beam structures, as well as cabinetry and other fine craftsmanship, Charlie got his start in the business when he was ready to build his own home. He explained that he grew up in downtown Bristol where his family operated the Charles A. Carr Company, an oil and propane business started by his grandfather. The family originally lived in an old home on the site, built in 1819 by Ichabod Bartlett, before moving into a house on Summer Street. After they sold the oil business to Dead River Company, the new owners wanted to redo the parking lot and Charlie asked if he could take down the post-and-beam structure where he had lived. He carefully dismantled the building, labeling each beam so he would know how it all went together, and he rebuilt it on a 20-acre piece of land he had purchased on a Class VI road off Peaked Hill Road. “They say you can’t go home again, but you can take it with you,” Charlie joked. He put in solar panels for power, since the property is remote and accessible only by a private right of way. A huge center chimney with fireplace serves both to heat the home and as a solar collector that will help to radiate the heat collected during the day. “A few small solar panels handle all our needs,” Charlie said, pointing to a chest-style refrigerator, television, and computer. He originally used all recycled materials on the home, but he has been upgrading the building with modern touches such as positive solar glass. “I’ve been here 25 years now,” Charlie said. Shortly after building the house, he took down a carriage house on the Summer Street property his parents had owned, using the frame for a barn. He built his own timber-frame addition to the barn to serve as a carpentry shop, and to learn how all the joints go together, he said. The knowledge he gained from taking down and relocating those buildings would help shape his career, which includes cabinet- and furniture-making. He has taken on projects removing and rebuilding post-and-beam structures on Dick Brown and Whittemore Point roads in Bridgewater, as well as in Campton, Hebron, Hill, and Wentworth. “A lot of old houses, they need attention,” Charlie said, noting that, while the outside may not be salvageable, the frames have stood the test of time. He said it takes months to carefully dismantle, label, and reassemble a barn, then rebuild around the frame. Sometimes the job is just to strip a

house to the frame and then rebuild the exterior with modern touches. “I started right out of college,” Charlie said of his career as a builder and craftsman. He took 10 years off, working for the US Forest Service and doing ski patrols, but he returned to working with wood in the 1990s, and has been continuing that work in various forms ever since. In recent years, he has focused more on cabinetry and finish work, including building new windows as part of the Minot-Sleeper Library’s renovation and restoration work. He matched the original arch-style

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windows, a challenging and satisfying project for him which brought a lot of compliments for its quality. “There’s not a lot of architectural history in the United States, compared to Europe,” he said, “and the history of New Hampshire has a lot to do with post-and-beam and Cape-style construction. The Cape still has the right proportions, so it’s still popular today.” But, he noted, “We’re losing 1,000 barns a year across the United States. It’s worth saving them.” It is not uncommon to come across an old barn with a collapsed roof, and most often, it just sits there, year after year. But many people are recognizing that the frames can be saved and converted to modern uses. Old barns and other structures built with post-and-beam construction have become artists’ studios, shops, and homes. Sometimes they are rebuilt on the property, but it is not uncommon for someone to purchase the old barn and have it moved to a new location, many miles and sometimes many states away from where it originated. In the past, the NH Division of Historical Resources offered funding for reconstruction or rehabilitation, but after two rounds of funding, the agency has no further money available. The NH Preservation Alliance offers a Historic Barn Assessment Grant that provides matching funds to assess a structure’s needs but, again, there are no funds for the actual reconstruction. That leaves it up to individuals to decide whether to invest in such restorations. Gene Bank of Bristol, a photographer who owns the former John Smith house, hired Charlie to take a portion of his house down to the frame and rebuild it, creating more usable space. It is an example of repurposing a sturdy frame when the exterior no longer is viable. Those interested in restoring barns or old homes, or who want some fine-quality cabinets or furniture, may reach Charlie Carr’s House and Barn Restoration by calling 744-2852.

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Continued from page 17 entry. After slogging through the accumulating snow, Tim was greeted by police in the driveway of his client’s home. “There’s a sheep trying to get into the house,” the officer reported. “Excuse me officer, have you been drinking this evening?” he wanted to ask. He followed the policeman to the double-barred garage doors of the home to see the sheep flinging itself against the doors and setting off the burglar alarm. Startled by the officers, it ran away, circled the house, ran up a hill, and came back to make the attempt again. For five days he returned to the house and found the sheep. He made phone calls, “Has anyone reported a lost sheep?” and made contact with emergency services and farmers around the town. Finally he found the owner—five miles away! All ended happily. The sheep was returned home, the garage door was no worse for the butting, and the homeowners could sleep soundly, knowing their home was safe despite recent attack. It’s obvious Tim Runnals enjoys his work with Camp Patrol. He mentions that “all my customers are great people,” that the vendors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, fuel companies, landscapers “are all local guys

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and they all take care of customers’ properties like they’re their own.” He also says that all municipal departments in the area are “wonderful:” fire, power, rescue, police, highway departments…he can make a call and get a response right away. He points to a Sunday last winter when he found a nonworking bubbler on Keniston Island. In his investigation, he discovered that about half the island was without power. He called Wolfeboro Dispatch and within three hours a repair crew had responded on snowmobiles and power was restored. What is Tim’s advice to his clients and for anyone with property where winters are long and the weather is brutal? “Don’t take any chances.” Think ahead, make thorough preparation, and ask someone to keep an eye out when you can’t be onsite. Unique Gifts • Antiques • Country Primitives • Lodge Decor • Cottage Finds • Candles • Gourmet Foods

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Tapping Geothermal Energy to Reduce Home Heating Costs By Sarah Wright Everyone seems to be going “green” these days, or at least talking about it. There are countless articles about using wind energy or solar panels to save money at home, but few people understand geothermal energy and how it works. In fact, a geothermal heat pump can warm your home in the coldest of New Hampshire winters and save you money on your energy bill. But like most new technology, the high up-front cost is something to also consider. Exactly how does a geothermal heat pump (GHP) system work, and where does the heat come from? Well, believe it or not, just a few feet under the ground, the soil or water found there remains a constant 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, year-round. That little bit of warmth can be harnessed to help heat and cool your home. A geothermal cooling and heating system has three main components: the heat pump unit, the liquid heat-exchange medium (called a “loop”), and the air-delivery system (usually ductwork).

Fluid circulates through the loop, which is a series of pipes under the ground, and into the house. An electric compressor and heat exchanger pull the heat from the pipes and send it throughout the building. (In the summer, the process will be reversed, and the pipes will draw heat away from the house and into the ground where it’s absorbed.) Unlike ordinary heating and cooling systems, geothermal HVAC systems do not burn fossil fuel to generate heat; they simply transfer heat to and from the earth. Typically, electric power is used only to operate the unit’s fan, compressor and pump. The high-density, polyethylene pipe loop is typically buried horizontally at four to six feet deep, but can also be buried vertically, depending on the landscape. These pipes are filled with an environmentally friendly antifreeze/water solution that acts as the heat exchanger. The heated or cooled air is distributed through the house’s Continued on page 26 ductwork, just like conventional systems.

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Continued from page 23 The box that contains the indoor coil and fan is sometimes called the air handler because it moves house air through the heat pump for heating or cooling. The air handler contains a large blower and a filter just like conventional air conditioners. But unlike air conditioners, GHPs have no outside condensing units, so there’s no concern about noise outside the home. A two-speed GHP system is so quiet inside a house that users usually do not know it is operating. GHP systems also provide excellent “zone” space conditioning, allowing different parts of your home to be heated or cooled to different temperatures. It should come as no surprise that this is certainly not a DIY project, but one that must be installed by a professional. How difficult is the installation? Geothermal heat pumps can be easily integrated with existing systems like traditional forced air or radiant floor heating, or be installed in a new building. Forced air systems will require a water-to-air heat pump while radiant heating systems will require water-to-water heat pumps. The size of the geothermal heat pump and ground loop required depend on the heating and cooling requirements for your home and is critical to ensuring the efficiency and performance of the system. When the installer evaluates your property, there are many factors to consider. Factors like the composition and properties of your soil and rock (which can affect heat transfer rates) require consideration when designing a ground loop. Soil with good heat transfer properties requires less piping to gather a certain amount of heat than soil with poor heat transfer properties. The amount of soil available contributes to system design as well—system suppliers in areas with extensive hard rock or soil too shallow to trench may install vertical ground loops instead of horizontal loops. The layout of your property, the landscaping, and the location of underground utilities or sprinkler systems also contribute to your system design. Horizontal ground loops (generally the most economical) are typically used for newly constructed buildings with sufficient land. Vertical

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installations or more compact horizontal installations are often used for existing buildings, because they minimize the disturbance to the landscape. So, let’s talk cost. The initial cost of installing a geothermal energy pump in your home is high. Installation can run as much as $30,000, but usually falls between $20,000 and $25,000. However, the pump can cut your energy bills by 30 to 40 percent and will pay for itself within five to 10 years. For further savings, GHPs equipped with a device called a “desuperheater” can heat household water as well. In the summer cooling period, the heat that is taken from the house is used to heat your water for free. In the winter, water heating costs will be reduced by about half. GHP systems also have relatively few moving parts and those parts are sheltered inside the house, so the systems are durable and highly reliable. The underground piping often carries warranties of 25 to 50 years, and the heat pumps often last 20 years or more. Geothermal systems require little maintenance. Periodic inspections, filter changes, and annual coil cleaning are the only things you’ll need to take care of. Additionally, renewable energy systems add value to the equity of your home. There are U.S. tax rebates for energy efficiency improvements, including a 30 percent federal tax credit, and many state and utility companies offer incentives. Visit the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org to find incentives in your area. To find a qualified installer, contact your utility company for recommendations, or try a search for a local dealer at http://www. climatemaster.com/residential. Installers should be certified and experienced. Ask for references from owners of systems that are several years old, and check them. *Most geothermal heat pumps are automatically covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy, but contact your provider to be sure. Even if you have coverage, it is still advisable to inform the insurance company in writing that you own a new system.

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MLS 4401393 $415,000 Sanbornton PRICE REDUCTION! Spectacular custom-built home located in one of Sanbornton’s finest developments close to Lake Winnisquam. Easy location for commuting. This home features a grand two-story foyer with open-concept design1st-floor master suite with Jacuzzi tub and French doors. Beautiful custom perennial gardens with greenhouse/potting shed & irrigation system. Large walkout lower level offers potential in-law suite. Oversized 2-car garage.

MLS 4431223 $650,000 Alton Truly a one of a kind property! Custom-built main house sits on a 32.2 acre parcel with 268’ of water frontage with a dock on tranquil Hills Pond also included is a .70 acre island on pond. Your own little Shangri-La! If you want privacy, an excellent place to hike, maybe have some horses or gardens, canoe, kayak, water-ski and so much more. Surrounded by fields, fruit trees, old stonewalls & trails home features a 4 car garage, 3-season porch, generator, a Tulikivi soapstone (Finland) woodstove, sauna & exercise room.

unheated homes in winter. “Paper will expand and contract.” If you must leave your art in an unheated home, consider taking it off outside walls where it will be most affected by the cold, and ice dams if one should cause leaks in your home. If the unthinkable happens and your art is damaged by water, carefully take the picture out of the frame so it can dry properly. This is an especially delicate task if the piece was framed without matte board. In such a case, it may be worth the cost to take your art to a properly trained professional who understands art conservation techniques. If unframed crafts get exposed to water and subsequently show signs of mold or mildew, try gently washing the object in soap and water and let it “cure” in bright sunshine until all sign of damage has faded. While you are out of town, you may want to consider storing your art in a dark closet. Why expose it to harmful UV rays if no one is there to enjoy it? Serious collectors who live in a house year-round make sure they switch out their framed art and handcrafted items on a regular basis to avoid prolonged light exposure. Of course, Barbara says, if you have framed your art with conservation glass, sunlight is much less a concern, as it blocks 99 percent of the UV rays. Artisans Corner gallery owner Sarah Copplestone and artist Martha Koons riffed on one another as they shared hints about caring for fine crafts: First off, they said, artisans’ materials simply do not like to be shocked.

MLS 4427133 $499,900 Gilford Charming reproduction Saltbox in one of Gilford’s most desirable neighborhoods. The kids will love the in-ground pool surrounded by a brick patio. Traditional layout with a center chimney boasting 2 fireplaces and a woodstove hookup, yet has a modern open and airy feel. Many built-ins, great wainscotting. Many extras like Radiant heating throughout, solid doors, master suite, plenty of storage and a workshop. A real treasure!

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Classic colonial farmhouse with gorgeous views. Located in a prime Gilford location, on a country road surrounded by fields. Gorgeous landscaping, stonewalls, beautiful mature trees, fields and fencing plus a summer cottage with a fireplace. Large and rambling interior with 7 bedrooms on 3 floors, many built ins throughout; a library, breakfast area & butlers pantry with china cabinets and sink. A wraparound porch with view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the mountains beyond. A true gem.

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Very special and unique offering; a lovingly constructed, maintained and restored antique home & 5 year old home on the same lot. An excellent family compound on a beautifully private lot with a spectacular view of Lake Winnipesaukee & the mountains beyond. Antique home is a special blend of old & new. Second home is exquisitely constructed by the finest craftsman, with custom features throughout.

Beautiful waterfront home with spectacular views of several mountain ranges & glorious sunsets. This home has it all at a very affordable price; kitchen with island & pantry that is open to dining & living room, which has a stone fireplace, wetbar, cathedral ceilings, exposed beams & sliders out to main level deck.. All rooms in the house have a spectacular view. Unfinished space above the oversized 2-car garage could be additional living space. There is an automatic generator, breakwater, U-shaped dock & beautiful crystal clear water to swim in.

Ellen Mulligan, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 32 Whittier Highway, Center Harbor, NH 03226 Office: 603-253-4345- ext. 124 | Cell: 603-387-0369 email: ellemulligan@metocast.net 28 • home • fall 2015

Art by Andrea Bravo Heidebrink

By Barbara Neville Wilson In an era when the disposable sofa and the HGTV vision of “for the moment” home design seem to reign, it’s the pieces with stories that actually make our house our home: the indigenous art picked up on a trip to the South West, the photo of great-grandma wearing her bathing frock at the family dock, the lovingly sculpted bread dough ornament from the young family’s first Christmas together, the hand-caned highchair occupied by generations of babies. As summer ends and we migrate back inside, it’s the perfect time to assess the ways we care for the possessions that make our house our home. We spoke to four ladies who offered sage advice about the care and feeding (yes! feeding!) of art and decorative items we prize: Sarah Copplestone is the owner of Artisans Corner in Wolfeboro; Barbara Gibbs owns The Art Place, right next to Artisans Corner on Main Street; and Martha Koons is an artist and craftsman from Tuftonboro; and Nancy Rowley is the director of the League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery. All four women agree that it is the extremes that most threaten materials used to produce fine art and crafts. Objects made of natural materials do best when kept in a balanced environment with air that is too moist or too dry. They don’t like an air temperature that is too high or too low and they don’t like bright sunlight. Since winter in New England is made up of extremes, however, we asked for helpful hints. Barbara Gibbs, a Certified Picture Framer and member of the Professional Picture Framers Association, particularly cautions against leaving framed art in

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Therefore, keep items made from hand-blown glass and crystal out of the dishwasher. These pieces have been created by hand from natural materials and may contain spots of stress or pits undetectable to the eye. When subjected to tremendous changes in temperature, these imperfections expand and can stress the object to the point of cracking or breaking. They laughed as they noted, “Even ‘unbreakable’ Corelle can break if there’s a weak spot.” Similarly, never place hand-thrown pottery directly from the freezer to the oven. If you heat your home with wood, consider getting a humidifier to maintain constant air moisture content. Some people keep an open container of water on their woodstove to do the work passively. When possible, keep wooden objects and furniture with glued joints far from direct heat. No matter what it may be treated with, wood naturally contracts in heat and expands in cold. Sarah always takes time before Thanksgiving to check the joints of her wooden chairs. She glues dowels that have contracted once or twice too often. Despite judicious application of her favorite Gorilla Glue, however, there have been times when guests have found themselves on the floor when long-suffering furniture joints gave way. Sometimes, when temperatures are kept too low inside, moisture collects in unexpected places. Martha recalled restringing a lampshade for a customer and finding rust all around the metal rim. Cold indoor temperatures had led to unseen condensation that then oxidized. A simple trick to avoid such bother is to spray paint the metal rim once the lampshade is strung. Both the Artisans Corner and the Meredith League Shop carry interesting crafts made of wool that insects and rodents love to chew on. Old-fashioned mothballs chase the pests away and can still be found in hardware stores and even WalMart. A more natural, and for some people, more pleasing, solution is cedar blocks or storage in cedar lined chests.

It’s important to be extra vigilant when dealing with objects made from materials that are tasty to humans, for pests think they’re tasty too. Sarah recalls retrieving a box of the store’s bread dough Christmas ornaments after storing them from the season before. She opened the box to find only the price tags inside. The mice had eaten every morsel! Too, she says, apple head dolls are really not made to last more than one season. If they escape being eaten, humidity and moisture can disfigure their faces beyond recognition. While most humans don’t eat soap or candles, mice generally find them irresistible. According to Martha, the better it smells to us, the better it tastes to them. If you must store soap or candles season to season, put them in airtight containers. Many of us bring out fine silver just once a year and spend precious time polishing. Sarah suggests storing it in airtight bags between uses to decrease exposure to airborne, tarnish-producing Sulphur or buying anti-tarnish paper from your local jeweler. Although Sarah mentioned toothpaste as a substitute for silver polish “in a pinch,” Martha disagreed, saying that applying toothpaste on anything with a shiny surface could cause irreversible pitting. Nancy, from the Meredith League shop, added this advice, “Leave your treasures to people who will appreciate them.” Sometimes those people are relatives or friends, but sometimes it’s a complete stranger who will protect and most enjoy your unique handcrafted object. She recounts her own journey, reviving two wicker chairs she found in an antiques shop in Moultonborough. “They were from the estate of an older couple on Moultonborough Neck. None of their family wanted them, but I saw them and they just called out to me. I had to paint them and I had to have someone reweave parts of the wicker, but I love them.” The stories are important. “It may not be a story you know, but if you think about how many people have sat in those chairs… I just keep thinking about that older couple. I think they’re happy I saved their chairs.”

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How to Conduct a DIY Home Energy Audit This fall, why not consider making needed improvements in your home to help increase energy efficiency and save big in the long run? Here is a short checklist for a DIY home energy audit. Seal Air Leaks According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sealing air leaks around the house can save up to 30 percent of energy costs annually. To find leaks, conduct a thorough visual inspection for gaps and cracks by baseboards, where the walls and ceiling meet, around door frames, and near cable and phone line wall plates. Spot a gap? Caulk it. Use painter’s tape for a cleaner job. Hold the caulking gun at an angle for best results, and apply in a continuous stream. Improve insulation around windows and doors with weather-stripping.

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Measure the gap you need to fill to identify the width of weather-stripping needed and determine whether you should apply it from the inside or outside. Before starting, read the package instructions to ensure you’re using the right materials. Cut to size and install. Lastly, check if your fireplace flue is open. If so, close it when not in use for additional savings. Make Smart Upgrades One quick way to check your windows for inefficiencies is to look for condensation, frost and other moisture. The Department of Energy also recommends closing your windows on a dollar bill. If you can easily pull the bill out, the window might be losing substantial energy and may require repair or replacement. Additionally, ENERGY STAR reports that homeowners who choose windows that have earned the ENERGY STAR save an average $101-$538 a year when replacing single-pane windows. If it’s time for an upgrade, look for ENERGY STAR qualified windows that offer innovative technologies and improve energy efficiency. Exterior remodeling companies like Window World, an ENERGY STAR partner, offer more high-performance options featuring technologies like a Warm-Edge Spacer System, which blocks escaping heat between glass layers. Additionally, the company sells windows made with high-performance Low Emissivity Glass, featuring a microscopic silver coating that actively blocks heat gain during the summer and heat loss during the winter. To further improve efficiency, Window World’s replacement windows also contain Argon gas between their glass layers. Because Argon is denser than air, it acts as an ideal insulator.

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Change Behavior Do an audit of not only your home’s features, but of the occupants as well. Are lights left on in empty rooms? Is the television on when no one is watching it? From switching to cold water laundry cycles to taking advantage of sunlight for warmth and light -- modifications of energy and cost-saving resources don’t need to be a sacrifice. To save energy, improve the comfort of your home and do your part to be more environmentally conscientious, conduct a do-it-yourself energy audit. You’ll likely discover many areas in your home that should be improved.

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Kona Mansion Inn

History for Sale By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper The wealthy that walk among us are different. They have the vision and means to create big things and to leave their mark on a community. Such was the case with Herbert Dumaresq, a Boston multi-millionaire and part owner in the Jordan Marsh Company. Like that other Lakes Region multi-millionaire, Thomas Plant, (the creator of famed Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough), Dumaresq started life among the working class and rose through the ranks. Both men had the drive to achieve great things: Plant worked in the mills and ended up owning an empire and Dumaresq started as an office clerk while in his teens at Jordan Marsh and ended up a joint partner with Eben Jordan, the company’s founder. (Dumaresq was married to Jordan’s daughter, but the match ended in divorce.) Most likely Dumaresq visited the Lakes Region for upper-crust vacations over the years. Like many wealthy people, he probably came to the area to relax and found peace and quiet in the rural area around Winnipesaukee. He liked the area and when it was time to retire, he shopped around the Lakes Region for a place to get away from Boston’s hustle and bustle.

In the 1890s, he bought a huge parcel of land – about 2,000 acres – in Moultonborough with lake frontage. It was rich farmland and it seems certain Dumaresq wanted to create a gentleman’s farm; he named the estate Kona Farm. Dumaresq envisioned a mansion on the property and set to work to create a wonderful retreat; he hired well-respected Boston architect Harry J. Carlson to oversee the design. No expense was spared in the construction of the home featuring fieldstone with mock Tudor styling. Nine-foot high wrought iron and bronze lamps, purchased from an estate in France, lined the driveway and must have created quite a beautiful sight when they were lit. Furnishings at the rustic, yet elegant Kona included a large mahogany desk in Dumaresq’s study, once owned by Napoleon. Dumaresq eventually remarried and likely had a great life at Kona Farm, as a gentleman farmer. (The original estate had the main house, three boathouses, two barns, and various outbuildings. All in all, it was a vast holding.) Dumaresq lived on the property until the Great Depression laid

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waste to his empire. He was forced to sell his beloved Kona and returned to Boston where he resided until his death at age 104. During Dumaresq’s time at Kona, the farm had barns, stables, waterfront, boathouse, and more. He must have hated to give it up, but

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he wasn’t alone. Down the road and up the mountain, Thomas Plant was experiencing economic difficulties as well and ended up penniless in old age. Kona passed through the hands of various owners and along the way

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became a wonderful inn and restaurant. Weddings and parties were held in the former mansion, amid the splendor of Dumaresq’s original mansion. In the early 1970s, the Crowley family became the owners. The inn continues to operate, and repeat customers enjoy meals in the restaurant in the summer season at the Kona Mansion Inn. There is a golf course as well and guests who discover this unique property return again and again. The property is now for sale and offers a special buyer a very versatile and unique piece of real estate. According to information at www. suebradley.com, the 85-acre property includes a boathouse, a residence with living quarters and four bedrooms, the Kona beach with 20 boat slips, the mansion with 37 guest rooms, dining room and convention area, a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, rolling lawns and additional cottages. Traces of the grandeur of Dumaresq are everywhere on the property, from the elegant drive to the views to the red terra cotta tiles on the roof made by a well-respected company from Ohio. Certainly Dumaresq did everything right in the construction of his estate, because the style and features such as the tiles on the roof are echoed in the grand Castle in the Clouds architecture. Thomas Plant’s mountain top estate was built not long after Kona. One cannot help but wonder if Plant, impressed by Kona’s grandeur, copied some of its style in the construction of Lucknow (Castle in the Clouds). A visit to the incredible Kona Mansion Inn is a testament that the wealthy, such as Herbert Dumaresq, certainly do things differently. The lucky person to purchase the unique estate will gain not only a piece of property, but also a wonderful way of life steeped in a unique history. For information on the Kona Mansion Inn, visit www.suebradley.com or call Sue Bradley at Coldwell-Banker Residential Brokerage at 581-2810 or email suebradley@metrocast.net. (Photos in this article courtesy Coldwell-Banker Residential Brokerage/ Sue Bradley.)

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The kitchen is the perfect place for family time, entertaining and socializing. With all this activity, it’s bound to get a little disorganized. What’s more, the kitchen is actually listed as the “germiest” area in the home, according to a study by NSF International (the National Sanitation Foundation). Have no fear! Simple solutions can combat common kitchen cleaning conundrums. A Messy Pantry It’s no secret that many homeowners keep pantry doors shut for a reason -- it can get a little chaotic inside. Kick the clutter. If an item has been in the pantry for three months or more, you likely won’t use it. Toss expired items and donate any nonperishables you aren’t going to use. Next, wipe down pantry shelves to remove dust and crumbs from hardto-reach corners. Before restocking shelves, lay down a non-adhesive shelf liner to protect newly cleaned shelves. Soon, you’ll have a clean pantry you’ll want to show off. Refrigerator Leaks Between fresh produce, dairy, meat and leftovers, there’s a lot going on inside a fridge. Make it a habit every few months to wash the inside of your refrigerator, even the shelves and drawers (a location where many stubborn spills tend to be forgotten). A natural cleaning solution, is best for this area in the kitchen. A natural solution is safe to use on a variety of surfaces throughout the kitchen, so you can be confident that it won’t leave behind

harsh chemical fumes or residue. Dirty, Smelly Sponges Sponges are a kitchen staple, and also the germiest item in the entire kitchen, according to NSF research. And after only a few uses, they can develop a foul-smelling odor. Luckily, there’s a quick fix for getting a sponge back in proper cleaning condition. Simply wet the sponge and pop it in the microwave for two minutes to eliminate germs. Ta-da! It’s ready to use. Grimy Cabinets and Streaky Surfaces From greasy little hands going in for snacks to frequent opening and closing during meal-prep, grease and grime on kitchen cabinets and door handles can accumulate quickly -- spreading germs and making your kitchen look dirty! To disinfect and deodorize cabinets first, remove any excess debris and then use enough wipes for the surface to remain visibly wet for four minutes. For food-contact surfaces, rinse with clean water. To clean hard, nonporous kitchen cabinet exteriors, wipe the cabinet on the outside and let it dry. Making it a practice to wipe down cabinets weekly will prevent a lot of grease and build-up in the long run. Carve out an afternoon for cleaning remedies that will knock out the mess and pesky germs in no time.

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Home on Wheels – Camping Fun By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper The tiny home movement has taken hold in a big way but it has been popular with camping enthusiasts for years. Retro campers from the 1950s, 60s and 70s are hot commodities on the market presently, and many people are buying and fixing up the older campers. For Jane Thibeault and Don McIver of New Hampton, it started with an invitation to spend a few days camping. It was an innocent offer from Jane’s son to join him in northern NH, although Don and Jane had not been camping in years. “We found we loved it – sitting around the campfire and relaxing.” Says Jane. Don and Jane had been camping in the past, and Jane says, “Don used to camp in a tent and I had a pop-up camper when my kids were growing up. They loved it and I think that’s why my son got into camping as an adult.” Don says they decided to “pick up a small camper and we found one on Craigslist on the internet.” Jane and Don traveled to Pittsfield, NH to check out the 1965 Cerro Scottie camper and found it in disrepair. Jane laughs as she recalls, “The ceiling was bad and there was a hole cut in the floor because the owners took the camper on the ice for winter ice fishing!” Although the camper was in less-than-great shape, Don and Jane bought it anyhow. Luckily Don has a talent for fixing things and Jane is a good decorator/seamstress. Together they turned the little camper – which they named Harvey the RV – into a charming vacation home on wheels that turned heads wherever it went. Although they say they didn’t put a ton of work into the camper, but fixed it up to their liking. They had Harvey for three years and took it to campsites at the ocean and at lake sites. “We sold it after three years,” Jane says, “because the ceiling

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was low and Don, who is tall, could not stand up straight in it!” The woman who purchased Harvey came from Pennsylvania and couldn’t have been more thrilled with her purchase. “It is not good to let them sit in the yard; they need to be used,” Jane says. Even before Harvey sold, Jane and Don had already bought a second camper, they set to work fixing it up The camper is a 1972 Scotty HiLander, which they nicknamed Angus the HiLander. Equally as eye catching as the couple’s first camper, Angus sports a retro style with white and blue paint on its exterior and the same intense blue trim inside the camper. Angus had some issues when Don and Jane purchased it, such as the original sink area needing an update. Jane says storage is always a major concern with a little camper such as Angus and they have addressed that issue with clever built-in storage here and there inside the camper. Originally, a bed large enough to fit two adults was built in above the existing lower double bed area, but since Don and Jane usually don’t bring others on their camping trips, they had little need for the second bed. Don added storage where that bed had been. A teeny bathroom just about large enough to call it a closet-sized space was removed and now serves as much needed extra storage for clothing and camping supplies. “Wherever we camp, they have showers and bathrooms, so we could easily do without the bathroom in the camper,” Jane explains. It took Don and Jane many hours to refurbish Angus to the condition it is now in, but it was well worth the effort. The sink, stove and range hood were replaced and although the early campers often came with an icebox, Jane says theirs is now equipped with a dorm-sized refrigerator which fits seamlessly in one wall. The appliances are a bright blue, which might look

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That would take the fun out of the vintage camping; for Don and Jane, camping is indeed all about the fun. If you happen to spot a charming little blue and white camper, circa 1972, ambling down a NH byway, pulled by a truck with a happy couple on their way to a new adventure, you probably have come across Jane and Don. Remember to smile and give them a thumbs up when you pass, and you will get a smile and a wave in return as Angus transports them to another weekend of camping fun. (To learn more about vintage camping, visit New England and Beyond Vintage Campers on Facebook.)

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Don and Jane with their charming little camper. too loud elsewhere but seems just right in the little retro camper. Jane has decorated the dining table with dinner plates and coffee cups straight out of the early 1970s and for an added blast from the past, a sleek bright blue plastic radio holds price of place on the table. The camper is pulled by a pick-up truck (Angus weighs about 1,400 pounds). It is powered inside – the lights, refrigerator, etc. – by electricity, which is obtained at whatever campground they visit. Don stresses he isn’t interested in “restoring” campers, which would mean that everything had to be redone to its original condition and style. Rather, he and Jane have enjoyed fixing up their campers and retaining as much of the period design as possible, but not getting hung up on everything being exact.

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’ve been a lover of rustic junk for many years, perhaps more out of necessity than want. As a college student with an apartment to somehow furnish, my meager belongings barely included a second-hand chair, a bed and liquor store boxes to hold my clothing and books. Luckily for me, back then, my parents were antiques dealers and collectors, although they never called their hobby and eventual occupation anything other than buying and selling. My father always seemed to have a garage full of “stuff” where his truck should have been kept. The truck, alas, was relegated to the front drive in all sorts of weather while the interior of the garage housed chairs, desks, tables and assorted old furniture and china he had amassed at yard sales, auctions and “dickering” as he called it, with other dealers. Usually my father let me have my pick of end tables, Victorian night stands, chipped paint bureaus and gate legged tables, but now and then when I spied some really fine piece of antique furniture, it was off limits no matter how hard I begged. My father had one particularly fine old piece of furniture – a desk with more little drawers and hidden compartments than I could count. He got it from another dealer in a nearby town and he was incredibly proud of that desk. Of course I wanted it beyond all else, but it was too expensive for my father to give to me when he could sell it to some honest-togoodness collector. Indeed, he sold the desk after keeping it and shining it up in grand style. He received a good price; much more than I could ever have given him.

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Such beautiful pieces were beyond my reach, but all the dusty, rustic pieces were always mine for the taking and I appreciated their wobbly, chipped paint charm. My fellow college students loved the old tables and chairs and sometimes even a faded Oriental rug or ornate rusted lamp as much as I did. Over the years, I continued in this rustic, nothing-matches carefree style. I guess I never noticed that the chairs didn’t match and I had more little end tables and retro curtains and odd lamps than anyone I knew. My collection of crazy artwork was just as jumbled – from Sunday painter scenes of mountains and cottages and lakes to old-fashioned portrait photos of large families to posters and prints garnered at auctions and estate sales, I embraced and collected sometimes by category but more often just by sheer luck. Along the way, I found an occasional gem such as a fine old Cigar poster I discovered in back of a faded World War II poster. The Cigar poster is very collectible and I display it proudly, loving the story of how it waited, hidden for years, for someone to discover its graphic beauty. Because I love history and antiques, I endured (and thus my family endured) the wobbly legs on tables and the weird pieces of old furniture that decorated our home. My son, on a recent visit, said laughingly that he always dubbed our decorating style as rustic because “it’s full of weird, fun stuff and nothing matches.” I was taken aback by that assessment and suddenly began to look around the house with fresh eyes. “Oh my,” I said to myself, “he’s right! Why do I still have the TV on that rickety old, red paint chipped gate legged table? And what about the oddly shaped, long and narrow old table spray-painted a strange and slightly shimmery silver? Why do I still use it as a sideboard in the dining room?” I walked through the house, and my surprise and slight distaste grew as I saw mismatched bureaus, rugs, a desk my husband uses because I

got it at a yard sale thinking it was just right for him, even though it is old and creaky. Allowing myself to really look at my home was a shocker. It is looking worn out and what I had proudly thought of as eclectic is indeed very mismatched and a jumble of styles. I decided the varied paint colors, the creaky chairs and lack of cohesiveness was depressing and might explain why I don’t have guests over as often as I used to. Might I be a bit embarrassed by my jumbled-up house? The answer was yes. Don’t get me wrong – I am not a hoarder and I cannot tolerate a lot of clutter, but I had certainly, as if by osmosis, caught my parents collecting bug long ago. It was a fun way to live when I was younger and money was tight, but it just might be time to move on to a newer, fresher style. Looking around, I realized I could let go of some of the old furniture I had held onto for years. I think I wore the badge of “I got that for a dollar at a yard sale” far too long and too proudly. Was there really, I had to ask myself honestly, any pride in knowing I got a table that is ready to fall apart, for a few bucks? Did I really want or enjoy some of the weird, Sunday painter artwork I had collected like a fiend that was still hanging on my walls? “I went to art school, for gosh sakes,” I muttered to myself. “I was taught to appreciate art work that is effective, not a painting done by some old guy on a Sunday afternoon because he was bored.” I decided to pare down my collection of “weird art” as I fondly call it. I would allow myself to keep a few nice pieces with great yard saling stories attached to them, such as the three etching/drawings pasted to an illustration board that I got years ago. (I had convinced a second-hand shop owner to let me to go through a shed on her property in search of picture frames. Low and behold, there was the illustration board with some intriguing

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I will always be a looking drawings pasted lover of junk; it’s true. to it. I got it for a song My parents instilled a and when I looked up the sort of sixth sense in me artist online, I discovered to spot a fine antique in he was a minimally known a pile of junk in a barn Impressionist era artist. about ready to fall in. I His work isn’t particularly have their skill of diving collectible or worth much, for the goods, climbing but the story of how I over trunks and piles of found the drawings and the lumber and even an old, delight in imagining how rusted car or tractor now his artwork made its way and then, to grab a piece from Europe to a shed in of 1930s pottery or an northern New Hampshire old, fine painting. But makes the piece definitely I have learned to hold worth keeping.) back on grabbing things I But a lot of other things know I can’t use or don’t need to go. I decided then really love. and there to dig into my “Let someone else pocketbook and purchase love them,” has become a new sofa, which is my motto and as I something we have needed occasionally attend a for ages. yard or estate sale, I first Once the new sofa ask myself if I really love arrived, we decided the the item I am thinking of old TV needed to go too. purchasing. If the answer One thing definitely leads A stack of old wooden crates for sale at a flea market. is no, I am indeed happy to another and it is exciting to let someone else love the to see the possibilities in item. And in my effort to let go, declutter and move on, that motto has refreshed rooms helped along by new furniture, which in some cases can served me well. mix with antiques.

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“Someday, every American will live in a concrete house.” That was the prediction of Thomas Alva Edison, who held a patent for single pour concrete homes. He had some success with the homes including a whole neighborhood of homes in Phillipsburg, New Jersey where the Ingersoll-Rand Corporation built employee housing. Building a home from concrete does have some advantages including less noise, fire resistance, pest and insect resistance, and best of all they’re practically disaster proof. Despite these advantages, the world has yet to move to the concept of building exclusively with concrete.

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One of the main reasons, much like in Edison’s day, is the overwhelming cost associated with the forms. Builders needed to invest nearly $175,000 in 1906 dollars to secure all the equipment needed to build one of Edison’s single pour homes. However in 1966, a Canadian named Werner Gregori filed for a patent for what would become known as insulated concrete forms (ICF) in North America. The concept of wrapping concrete in insulated foam helped solve the heating cost associated with the Edison model. Today, ICF foundations and homes provide superior heat retention in comparison to concrete by itself; though some ICF producers have been known to exaggerate their energy efficiency. With nearly a dozen different ICF companies producing a variety of products, the price of the forms has dropped significantly in recent years due to competition. Having so many manufacturers has created new problems, professional builders tend to gravitate to two or three of the major brands leaving the remaining companies to pitch their product aggressively to the do-it-yourself crowd. So much so, that some ICF producers liken the assembly of their products to LEGO blocks. In a live-free-or-die state like New Hampshire, the concept of building a super energy efficient home at a low price can be appealing. Yet enjoying Sunday afternoons with your child assembling plastic blocks is likely not a good prerequisite for building your own home out of concrete. There’s much more to consider before taking on a project of building an ICF home than just the cost of the forms. You will need to purchase the ancillary supplies needed to buck-out window and door openings, reinforcing steel bars to strengthen the overall structure and each manufacturer has a unique tie system to hold the foam pieces together equidistantly. Plus in most cases, you will need supports to hold your forms in place during the pour which will most likely require the need to rent a concrete pump. In some instances,

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the distributor selling you the forms will rent or lend you these supports. In other cases you may be forced to create your own which can be easier for a ranch style home versus a Colonial. Another important tool to have on hand during the pour is a concrete vibrator to ensure that all the holes fill with your cement. Having a void beneath a window or door opening could cause costly repairs and compromise the structural integrity and energy efficiency of your home. If you’ve never built a home before, you might want to hire a professional with experience if you’re considering a concrete home. Once it’s poured, concrete is very unforgiving. If you have some building experience, and you’re looking for a new challenge, building an ICF home may provide you with the home of your dreams. (Maybe even better than your dreams when you factor all the positives that can be obtained from a concrete home.) Most blueprints today can be ordered for ICF construction and just about any home you can conceive of could be built from this type of construction process. Though Edison’s prediction is likely never to come to fruition, there is an increase in the number of homes being built out of ICF. If you’ve built an ICF home and would like to share your story with us, we’d love to hear about it. If you’re considering building an ICF home, we’d love to hear about that too. Feel free to reach out to us at dan@thelaker.com.

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