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From the Editors Green Living ~ what used to be a trend is now the norm. In fact, Central Texas is the epicenter for sustainable design and building where environmental design practices help maximize natural resources while minimizing the impact on the environment. But green practices don’t begin and end at home construction. We are offered opportunities daily that can greatly reduce waste and consumption, from how we source our food to how we clean our homes, and even how we spend our vacations.

Our cover story features a home not only built to be environmentally responsible, but to also incorporate Universal Design theory, creating a home that will serve its owners well into their retirement years. Barley & Pfeiffer Architects, who designed this interesting home, are nationally recognized for being instrumental in making green design philosophy more common place in the North American building industry. Nestled into an Austin hillside, this home was thoughtfully designed to take advantage of natural light and prevailing breezes that flow across the property, and Panache Interiors created beautiful spaces that reflect the homeowners’ love of geology.

Sustainable materials were instrumental in the construction of a Horseshoe Bay home designed by Burleson Design Group for a retired couple looking to enjoy their ‘Golden Years.’ However, it was design principles utilized by early settlers that determined the home’s layout and position on the property. Inside, reclaimed wood and the homeowners’ collectibles convey the idea of a rustic lodge perfect for relaxing or congregating with friends.

We all crave a bit of sanctuary, a place to escape the frantic pace that our lives demand of us. Strategic suggestions are offered by four experienced designers on how best to create a perfect master suite that will become the retreat you desire.

It’s relatively easy to follow green practices at home. Hopefully we are all in the habit of recycling and minimizing waste in our everyday lives. But what about when we travel? We visit with three luxury hotel lines that tell us the great lengths they have gone to in creating a more eco-friendly environment while maintaining the level of luxury their guests’ desire.

Spring is here once again and, thankfully, we have had some substantial rainfall over the past few months. As a result, wildflowers are in full bloom, and gardens are beginning to overflow with fruits and vegetables of the season. Taking the family out to a pick-your-own farm is a wonderful opportunity to be outdoors while selecting fresh produce to prepare for family meals. We selected a few farms that offer pickyour-own produce and provide recipes from local chefs to make the most of your garden findings.

We hope that you are enjoying one of the loveliest times of the year in Central Texas.

Please be encouraged to recycle.

Trisha Doucette & Leslie Woods, editors P.S. Find us on Facebook at Urban Home Magazine: Austin – San Antonio

On The Cover: Faced with the challenge of designing a house on what appeared to be an impossible building site, Barley & Pfeiffer Architects considered topography, prevailing breezes, sun orientation and sustainable practices that minimized the impact on the environment, all while maintaining the beautiful panoramic views. Page 18.

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2012 | VOL. 7 | NO. 2 Publisher Louis Doucette Editors Leslie Woods and Trisha Doucette Contributing Editors Leonard Guerrero – ABOR David Davison – Austin NARI Justin Bravo – NARI San Antonio Karen Matuszewski – By Design, Real Estate Services & Custom Home Consulting Contributing Writers Claudia Alarcon, Sharla Bell, Jackie Benton, Julie Catalano, Mauri Elbel, Laura Jackson, Sue-Ella Mueller, Tavaner K. Sullivan, Dana W. Todd Advertising Sales Sandy Weatherford Gerry Lair Photography Merrick Ales Allison Cartwright/Twist Tours Daniel Nadelbach Design and Production Tim Shaw – The Shaw Creative Printing and Direct Mail SmithPrint Phone 512.385.4663, Austin - 210.410.0014, San Antonio Fax 830.981.8887 Business Office 4714 Cambridge / Sugar Land, Texas 77479 Sales Office 10036 Saxet Drive / Boerne, Texas 78006 Email louisd@urbanhomemagazine.com Website www.urbanhomemagazine.com Urban Home Magazine Austin-San Antonio is published by Big City Magazines of Austin, LLC. Advertising rates available upon request. All rights reserved by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent from publisher. Every effort is made to assure accuracy of the information contained herein. However, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Advertising is subject to errors, omissions and or other changes without notice. Mention of any product or service does not constitute endorsement from Urban Home Magazine.

The information contained in this publication is deemed reliable from third party sources, but not guaranteed. Urban Home Magazine does not act as an agent for any of the advertisers in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified remodeling, home furnishings or home improvement firm based on your own selection criteria. Urban Home Magazine, does not act as an agent for any of the realtors or builders in this publication. It is recommended that you choose a qualified realtor to assist you in your new home purchase.

Urban Home Magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that is a violation of the Fair Housing Act. All real estate advertising in Urban Home Magazine, is subject to the Fair Housing Act that states “We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation.

We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.”

© Copyright 2012 by Urban Home Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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April/May 2012

Contents

cover 18 Living on the Edge Photography by Allison Cartwright/Twist Tours and Alan Barley

featured home 28 The Golden Years Photography by Daniel Nadelbach

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trends 42 Decorating Suite Escape 48 Design Decorative Finishes 74 Entertaining Farm To Your Table

highlights

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36 Sun Sanctuary 56 Community Service: Urban Home Dream Home 62 Why This Space Works, Designer Spotlight: Laura Burton 66 A Better, Kinder Clean 68 Scents and Scent’s Ability 70 Hotels and the Greening of America

departments fabulous finds 78 Pick-Your-Own Farms

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essentials 38 New Products: Green Living 60 New Products: Healthy Living contributing editors 40 David Davison, Austin NARI & Justin Bravo, NARI San Antonio 54 Karen Matuszewski ,

By Design - Custom Home Consulting 81 Leonard Guerrero, ABOR 82 Advertiser Index

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Courtesy of Barley & Pfeiffer Architects

For decades, the steeply sloped lot on a hillside cliff in the Northwest Hills area sat vacant, appearing as an almost impossible building site. For 15 years, the Schwetmans walked past it. When it finally appeared for sale on the market, they snapped it up the same day and set to work hiring a team of professionals to build the house in which they planned to live out

Living on the Edge Minimizing Maintenance and Maximizing Sustainability

By Dana W. Todd Photography by Allison Cartwright/Twist Tours and Alan Barley

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Courtesy of Panache Interiors

their post-retirement years.

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haron Radovich, ASID, an interior designer with Panache Interiors, had worked with the couple on past projects and knew for this new home they desired an understated, elegant feel in a treehouse atmosphere. Because of the interest in using organic materials, Radovich suggested the homeowners hire Barley & Pfeiffer Architects, a firm well-known for pioneering sustainable design practices. The homeowners then chose Oliver Custom Homes to build their custom house.

Nan Schwetman says she and her husband set out to build a green home because they have always been environmentally aware and care about keeping things as they are in nature. A secondary benefit? Strikingly lower utility bills, she says.

Listening to the Land “This lot was a design and building challenge, but the owners chose it because of its tremendous views,” says Alan Barley,

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AIA, of Barley & Pfeiffer Architects. “The panoramic views are some of the best I’ve seen, and the lot is easily accessible.

“Sustainability begins with design. Ninety percent of effective green building decisions happen in the first 10 percent of the design process. One can learn to read what the piece of land is saying,” Barley adds. “Sustainability is about how the house interacts with the topography, prevailing breezes and sun orientation.”

Designing the house for minimal impact on the environment, Barley eschewed bulldozing the steeply sloped land in favor of planning a low-slung “flat” house that blends so well into the hilly landscape you can’t see it from the front street. Its 3,900 square-foot size and the fact it’s a multistory house go unnoticed by passersby. The steep topography influenced the linear design, which has visitors entering the home’s main living areas and master suite on the second floor. Keeping the frequently used rooms on the second story Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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Courtesy of Panache Interiors

The home is filled with natural stone materials, a nod to the homeowner’s interest in geology. Using nature as the inspiration, the homeowners requested a floor-to-ceiling fossil limestone fireplace in the living room and mesquite flooring in all the common areas.

Courtesy of Panache Interiors

Courtesy of Panache Interiors

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enables homeowners, even if they become less mobile over time, to freely move around in a barrier-free space where they can “age in place.”

The first floor, invisible from street level, steps down onto a rock shelf jutting out from the hillside, enabling the house to meld with its surrounding environment in true “green” fashion.

Annie Gillespie of Botanical Concerns designed retaining walls to shore up the rock exposed on the hillside where the house was positioned. “Each stone we used was hand hauled and bucketed to the site. We couldn’t use a wheelbarrow so it was quite a bit of labor,” she says. urbanhomemagazine.com

“The house organically fits into the site it’s on, so everything works together easier,” Barley says. “The property suggested the house’s layout. By following the land’s lead, the house is resource efficient through more effectively capturing natural sunlight and prevailing winds.”

Barley & Pfeiffer designed a wide, not deep house, allowing light to enter from two sides of the house to flood living areas throughout the day, negating the need for artificial lamps.

The architect designed the roof overhang, however, in such a fashion as to not allow any direct sunlight into the home to prevent unnecessary heat buildup in the summer months. urbanhomemagazine.com

In turn, that sustainable practice enabled the homeowners to install a smaller air conditioning unit which runs more frequently, better removes moisture and decreases utility bills.

Situating the house with its long faces to the south and north allows prevailing breezes from the south/southeast to enter the home, further reducing reliance on air conditioning and naturally ventilating the house. In the kitchen, for instance, small upper windows on the northern side of the house work with a southern bank of windows on the opposite side of the room to catch cross breezes. “This creates a thermal siphon to draw off heat as it rises and moves it to the outside,” Barley says.

Caring during Construction Paul Oliver of Oliver Custom Homes says the design’s fit within the steep landscape demanded a lot of steel be used as support. The inability to use a crane meant the construction team had to build slides to move materials down to the first floor building level. “We could have built it differently, but it Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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In the master bathroom, the material choices lend a spa-like atmosphere. The hard surfaces are a mixture of polished glass and fossilized stone. Bamboo tile is strategically placed to create “mats” on the floor. In secondary bathrooms, natural stone tile designs mimic river beds and waterfalls.

The powder bath’s purple onyx sink was moved from their previous residence; the homeowners could not leave it behind.

Courtesy of Panache Interiors

would have been built up prominently and would not integrate within the landscape,” he says. “From another sustainability standpoint, the steel will not have to be replaced.”

Neither will the HardiePlank® Artisan lap siding, which is mitered so there are no corner boards or chances for water to enter, increasing the sustainability factor through added durability. Other outdoor sustainable materials used in the construction process include: metal on the roof and some galvanized wall siding, a dual fuel heat pump with variable speed, damp blown cellulose for wall insulation with low toxicity and low allergen factors, one-inch thick outside insulation in the walls that “glue” the house together for lower humidity, a radiant barrier on the roof, an eco-friendly boric 22

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acid solution for spraying the framing, and a detached garage for decreased indoor air pollution.

Moving into the landscape, the construction team preserved trees and native groundcovers, digging them up and moving them for reuse around the finished house. Gillespie focused on installing native plants in the landscape to conserve water, hauling in four to six inches of organic topsoil to ensure the plants got a healthy start. “We played off the native plants already located on the site,” Gillespie says.

Relaxing the Rooms When designing the interiors, we wanted to integrate the 360-degree views and continue the sustainability goals,” says urbanhomemagazine.com

Courtesy of Panache Interiors

Radovich. She worked with the homeowners to fill the home with natural stone materials, a nod to the homeowner’s interest in geology.

As a focal point, the homeowners requested a floor-to-ceiling fossil limestone fireplace in the living room. The open floor plan demanded coordinating materials be carried into the kitchen for a harmonious atmosphere.

They first selected Verde Marinace granite for the island.

The granite, containing multi-colored river rocks, influenced the soft gray-green color palette that gives the home an overall relaxed feeling. They specified Ayers Green granite for the other countertops, its creamy background and green veining are complementary to the Verde Marinace. Radovich used a urbanhomemagazine.com

Courtesy of Panache Interiors

Courtesy of Panache Interiors

linear glass and creamy Paragon limestone mosaic backsplash to tie all the materials together. Mesquite flooring adds warmth to the palette.

Sustainability played a key part in material choices throughout. Even the light fixtures have a “green” factor as the team chose recycled glass content whenever possible, such as the Varaluz® breakfast table fixture.

In the master bathroom, the material choices lend a spalike atmosphere. The hard surfaces are a mixture of polished glass and fossilized stone. Bamboo tile is strategically placed to create “mats” on the floor. In secondary bathrooms, natural stone tile designs mimic river beds and waterfalls. The powder bath’s purple onyx sink was moved from their previous Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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The Schwetman Residence on Tour The 16th Annual Austin Cool House Tour Sunday, June 3rd, 10am-6pm Visit Txses.org for details.

Oliver Custom Homes 512.250.5889 Olivercustomhomes.com

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Botanical Concerns 512.371.9774 Botanicalconcerns.com

Panache Interiors 512.452.7773 Panacheinteriors.com urbanhomemagazine.com

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residence; the homeowners could not leave it behind.

“This house is sustainable by the climate and owners’ needs,” Barley says. “It is less about the architectural backdrop and more about the people living their lives in the home. A house should enhance the quality of life, and this one does.” v

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of the house to flood living areas throughout the day, negating the need for artificial lamps.

MARBLE

Barley & Pfeiffer designed a wide, not deep house, allowing light to enter from two sides

ONYX

T R AV ERT I N E

GRANITE

F I N E S T O N E G A L L ERY

Courtesy of Panache Interiors

What is

Universal Design?

By Dana W. Todd

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n addition to sustainability, another Schwetman family design goal was making their home friendly for easy maneuverability. Good universal design is creating a free flow of access throughout a home, suitable whether the inhabitants are able-bodied or have temporary or chronic disabilities. A universally-designed house enables its residents, despite physical capabilities, to live comfortably and assume responsibility for themselves whether they are nine or 90.

Universal design is more sweeping in scope than its predecessors – the accessibility movement and barrier-free design concepts – and includes both aesthetic and technological components. Required for many years in commercial structures financed by federal dollars, the concept is only recently catching on in the residential marketplace, particularly due to the aging Baby Boomer population.

“People came to work for large companies like IBM and Motorola in the ‘60s and ‘70s. They’re still here, living in houses that are paid for, and they want to retrofit their homes to stay independent and avoid assisted living facilities as long as possible,” says Bill McHugh, a certified professional remodeler and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). He focuses on helping active adults – those most likely to injure themselves – rework kitchens, bathrooms, lighting and general home navigation issues to avoid common tripping hazards. In addition, he adds transparent universal design components – such as pre-blocking in bathroom walls for grab bars and wheelchair accessible vanities – to erase hardships in future cases of limited mobility. His work with nursing and rehabilitation organizations has helped him better understand the necessary components of true universal design.

Industry-wide, universal design is being considered in renovation projects such as McHugh’s focus, but not practiced in new housing construction yet. “I have worked on many renovation projects where universal design concepts are implemented, but there has not been a high demand for universal whole-home design yet,” says interior designer Dawn Hearn, ASID, NARI, CAPS. Universal design is not only meant to ease movement for the 26

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Photo Courtesy of Barley & Pfeiffer Architects

elderly with impaired mobility. It is the process of designing for accessibility at all physical levels and all stages of life. It is also particularly helpful for those who have other conditions such as macular degeneration or a knee injury that mandates the temporary use of a wheelchair.

“My brother-in-law has Down’s syndrome and has trouble getting his walker through the doorways in many of the homes he visits,” says Hearn. “That got me thinking about aging-inplace and how simple choices – whether you choose a knob or lever on a cabinet door – make the difference in how long a person can comfortably stay in his home and not have to go to a care facility.”

For those who are interested in applying universal design to a custom home project, there is a Living in Place™ certification process to ensure a home is designed for ultimate flexibility as the family grows and ages. “The certification was founded to help homeowners and builders address the rapidly changing needs of the residential construction industry and the future needs of a demographically-changing America,” says Living in Place™ CEO Lynne Wilkinson.

For those implementing universal design, there is a return on investment (ROI), according to Hearn. “Elevators and special lifts are pricey, but often the homeowner’s insurance company will supplement costs. Some features have minimal additional expense associated with them – standard versus comfort height toilets or cabinet drawers versus doors,” says Hearn.

Hearn expects the ROI will increase as people discover the value of having a home designed this way. “It all comes down to people making mindful decisions. Universal design is good for everyone.” v Dawn Hearn Interior Design 512.930.0250 Dawnhearn.com Tier1 Group, LLC (design, build, remodel) 512.986.8306 Tier1-group.com Living In Place™ 512.658.8166 Livinginplace.co urbanhomemagazine.com

When John and Nancy Loftis decided to retire for good to their home in Durango, Colorado, they were looking forward to enjoying their horses, the beautiful, surrounding landscaping, and the many friends they had made there each summer over the past 19 years.

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hat they soon learned, however, was that winters in Colorado were a bit different than the summers and were usually filled with snow, snow and more snow.

“In January, I looked at Nancy and said, this is not my idea of the golden years,” laughs Loftis, a retired Houston oil and gas exploration man. So, the couple packed up the farm so to speak, and, along with their two Tennessee Walkers, headed for warmer weather hoping to find the perfect retirement retreat.

GOLDEN YEARS THE

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By Sue-Ella Mueller Photography by Daniel Nadelbach

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“We rented a condo on Lake LBJ in Horseshoe Bay and started looking at houses. But after looking at more than 25 houses, our realtor suggested building and said she knew the perfect architect,” said Loftis.

The Loftises met Wimberley architect Rick Burleson of Burleson Design Group at a site he had just completed. After looking at his work and spending a little time with him, the Loftises soon realized that not only had they found the right architect, but they had found one with a sense of humor as well. “When we first met him, he commented on the UT (University of Texas) jacket I was wearing. He told me he was an Aggie, but that if I talked real slow he could understand me and that he’d be doing all his drawings in crayon,” says Loftis.

With the partnership set up, the first step was finding the right property. Burleson accompanied the Loftises on their hunt through the Trails of Horseshoe Bay which has an equestrian center and riding trails. They soon agreed on the perfect spot. “The home site is about an acre and a quarter with a little creek running right behind it. The good thing was it had a lot of trees to work with. The challenge would be to mitigate the northwest solar exposure at the back of the house,” says Burleson, who believes, “one of the greenest things you can do is plan the house specific to the site and address the orientation aspects such as where the windows and overhangs will be.”

Leaving his crayons behind, Burleson set to work designing the optimal home in order to overcome the orientation complexity and save as many as he could of the 15 mature oak trees that were located in the building envelope of the lot. “It was almost magical. The open spaces were in just the urbanhomemagazine.com

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right spots and the trees were exactly where we needed them.

We were actually able to save all of them,” he says. “And the orientation drove us to the idea of creating a front courtyard facing southeast. We routed the house around the courtyard.

Both the great room and the study open up to the courtyard that has a beautiful stone path running through it.”

Another trick of the trade Burleson took in the design was creating a dogtrot home, two separate living areas connected by a large breezeway. “A lot of settlers in the south had dogtrots. They knew it was a great way to enhance the breezes. Fortunately, John and Nancy had a rustic style in mind and were very much on board with the idea,” says Burleson. “It was an opportunity for us to take the old and bump it into a modern house.”

The dogtrot design would allow for natural ventilation for the Loftises. Burleson also strategically placed windows in the great room and the master on opposing walls that would allow the couple to open the windows for a nice cross breeze.

“The basic floor plan was driven by a sustainable principle,” says Burleson. The plan included using cool, concrete flooring throughout most of the house. Not an unusual concept, until you consider the way it was incorporated in this particular home.

“The morning they poured our foundation, we had a hell of a storm. There were oak leaf prints everywhere,” says Loftis.

While most would be upset with this turn of events, Burleson and the Loftises turned it into a custom design.

“It was a great surprise and added to the ‘rustic-ness’ they were trying to achieve. In some places though, there were just too many leaf imprints. So, we honed the floors (a method of grinding off the top layer of concrete) and then stained them. It created an earthy look and made it look old,” says Burleson. As if Mother Nature wasn’t satisfied enough with having had her hands in things, the day they laid the concrete for the outside porch, a rare Texas hail storm hit, creating yet another unique texture. Burleson added his own touch by having it stamped and stained as well.

With the foundation laid, the home site began to take shape.

One side of the dogtrot serves as the main house. Inside the 2,200 square foot area is the great room, master bedroom and bathroom, a half bath, a kitchen with two islands, a study, and a small art niche. The guest side of the dogtrot which is about 1,400 square feet, includes two bedrooms, a kitchenette, two full bathrooms, a TV area, and an enclosed sleeping porch.

“We love entertaining and enjoy having overnight house guests. We all congregate in the main house, but we wanted our guests to be able to have their privacy too. This way, if they want to stay up until three in the morning they can. We call it our bunk house,” says Loftis.

Adds Burleson, “We fashioned the sleeping porch to look like it was originally an outdoor porch that the owners had decided 32

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to close in with windows. The interior wall of the room is actually the same stone that we used on the outside of the house and the ceiling is a reclaimed tin roof. It’s a very cool space.”

Each side of the dogtrot has its own operating air conditioning unit so that when there are no guests, the Loftises can close off that portion of the home. The design principles are carried over in both sides of the house.

“We used a great deal of reclaimed wood for the walls and the ceilings; three different kinds actually,” says Burleson.

“On a few walls we used a wood that was painted red at one time but has since faded. For the ceilings, we used a warm, brown wood that came from the inside of a barn that was never exposed to the outside. And then we have a gray wood that was on the outside of a barn and was exposed for years to the elements.”

The ironic tale, or at least poignant to the Loftises, is that most of the reclaimed wood came from an old barn in North Dakota. “Nancy grew up on a farm in North Dakota and, well, there aren’t a whole hell of a lot of people from North Dakota,” Loftis jokes.

While the reclaimed wood hailing from Nancy’s home state was a happy coincidence, the Loftises did come to the table with a few pieces of their own they wanted in the design of the house. Among those was a barn window Nancy brought from her family farm after the barn was torn down. Burleson asked if she would be able to get two more windows; he had the perfect setting for the old panes. The three windows are now housed in the gable above the kitchen and when backlit, allow shafts of light to filter through, highlighting the beautiful exposed trusses of the sloping cathedral ceilings.

“The clients came to us with cool stuff like the barn windows and the light fixture above the dining area which is actually a yoke for oxen,” says Burleson. “With the yoke, though, I have to admit, when John first came up with the idea, I was a bit skeptical about using it as a chandelier, but it turned out great.

Things like this add to the character of the house which is just an extension of their personalities.”

Loftis also met with a bit of skepticism from his wife and architect on the idea of adding limestone pillars to the side walls of the master shower. But once again, his idea proved to fit the home to a T. “I love the feeling of wood and limestone in a house. It blended well in our master bathroom and I couldn’t be happier with the results,” he says.

But just because you walk through the front door of the main house, don’t expect to see the master living or bath area unless you specifically ask for a tour. One of Burleson’s architectural trademarks is to lend a sense of privacy to homeowners.

“The great room is designed to convey the idea of a rustic lodge. It’s open on all four sides with the kitchen at one end, a fireplace at the other and windows along the southeast and northwest walls. You’re not able to see down hallways or see the Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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We’ve got great glass

www.VentanaMan.com 512-388-9400 1609 Chisholm Trail #100, Round Rock

other rooms. There’s just a sense of getting away from a typical house if you can’t perceive the other rooms,” he says.

What a guest can perceive with very little effort, however, is the attention to detail that both Burleson and the Loftises took in finishing the home. From the dusty red granite kitchen countertops that Nancy wanted to use from a local quarry to the widened alcove area Burleson designed specifically to showcase John’s collection of western art and on down to the primitive furniture the couple have scoured the state to find, it all seems to flow and fit just right.

“We both have a passion for primitive furniture and we have a great collection of some really neat, old stuff,” says Loftis.

“The net effect it has made on our home is that it’s very livable.

I can walk in here with road apples on my boots and it’s not going to make any difference. It’s just that comfortable.”

And that, at least for the Loftises, is what the golden years are all about. v Burleson Design Group 512.842.1308 Burlesondesigngroup.com Dauphine Homes 830.598.4663 Dauphinehomes.com urbanhomemagazine.com

Sun Sanctuary

By Sharla Bell Photography courtesy of Texas Sun & Shade

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Texas is synonymous with heat - jalapenos sprinkled over salsa smothered over a big bowl of chili, the intense old-school football rivalry played out on any given Friday night, that dreaded salutation from an angry pile of fire ants - but nothing says hot like the undulating heat waves of an August afternoon in Central Texas.

e Texans, even those of us that glory in a sunny spring afternoon, flee the terrible intensity of a mid-summer sun. It is the sun, that relentless, burning orb in the sky that defines our seasons in this state and makes energy efficiency incredibly difficult. Texas Sun and Shade has been finding solutions for super hot Texans for 25 years and counting. Even better, their awnings and shades offer both environmentally-friendly and cost efficient solutions to battling our Texas sun.

From Hill Country views to green and gold farmland for miles, we are blessed with a beautiful outdoors, but often we find ourselves looking through a pane of glass to enjoy the scenery around us. Retractable awnings allow homeowners to get out and enjoy the outdoors, protected from the unbearable heat and harmful rays of the sun. According to Ben Skoldeberg, owner of Texas Sun and Shade, “retractable awnings provide customized control for when you want the sun and when you don’t.” They can reduce temperatures behind the awning fabric by as much as 20 degrees, depending on the fabric and the location of application.

There are several types of retractable awnings, and each has its benefits. A retractable lateral arm awning extends and protects an outdoor living area, providing overhead coverage without any permanent structure. Skoldeberg explains that “an option with this type of awning is a drop valance of screen fabric, maintaining views while protecting from the sun’s harmful rays as it rises and sets.” Porch and window awnings are attractive solutions for shading porches and windows, allowing a drop of 165 degrees of coverage, and protecting from early or late sun. Porch and window awnings also provide an element of privacy. Finally, retractable roof systems provide overhead coverage as well as extend and protect outdoor living areas through a permanent support structure with retractable fabric. These structures are wonderfully suited to protect not only from the sun, but also the wind and rain, and can be as large as 42’ x 26’.

Regardless of the type of awning you choose, all of Texas Sun and Shade’s awnings are made using Sunbrella Awning Fabric – solution-dyed 100% Acrylic fabric in a wide variety of colors and patterns to match anyone’s home décor tastes. These mold and mildew resistant fabrics protect from 98% of the sun’s rays and have earned the “Seal of

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Recommendation” from the Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective UV protectant.

In addition to protecting your family, retractable awnings are an environmentally-responsible choice. “They lower energy use and costs in the warmer months by blocking the sun’s heat and in the cooler months by allowing in more sun to help naturally heat the home,” explains Skoldeberg. The American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers confirms that an awning can reduce heat gain by 55-65% on southern facing windows and 72-77% on western exposures.

Furthermore, Sunbrella’s fabrics’ unique coloring process avoids harmful effluents associated with conventional dying processes as well as dramatically reduces water and energy consumption, making even the fabric itself a green choice.

Another option when looking to select a sun control solution, retractable exterior roll-up solar screens offer customized control for when you want to enjoy the sun and when you don’t.

“Exterior roll-up screens consist of solar screen material that rolls up into an aluminum enclosure, and they can protect from heat, UV rays and glare while reducing fading from flooring, furnishings, art and other treasures. In fact, these screens block up to 95% of the sun’s harmful rays while maintaining great views through the material,” adds Skoldeberg.

Because retractable exterior roll-up screens stop the sun’s rays and heat before penetrating the glass and entering the home or office, they can reduce temperatures behind the fabric as much as 20 degrees, lowering energy costs in warmer months by blocking the sun’s heat. In the cooler months, homeowners can enjoy the natural heat provided by the sun to warm their space, decreasing energy consumption and adding to the environmentally-friendly appeal of this product. Moreover, Skoldeberg maintains that automated retractable awnings and shades have been “green” for decades because of their simple function of being a protective barrier between the sun and the home.

The best way to stay cool in our Texas heat? Skoldeberg gives this advice: “Automated shading devices will shade the right windows at the right time of day which will reduce energy costs and lighting expenses while allowing openness of outdoor and interior spaces.” It’s a win-win! v Texas Sun & Shade 512.402.0990 Txsunandshade.com Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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essentials new products

Green living 1. Quatrine is known for perfecting the washable slipcover; offering over 300 rich fabrics to choose from. Quatrine green-fabrics include beautiful patterns and luscious textures displaying an uncommon variety of design and versatility available in environmentally conscious textiles.

Quatrine. 800.407.5120, Quatrine.com.

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2. Organic goodness by the bag! Great gardens are rooted in healthy soil. Dedicated to providing Texans with the highest quality mulch, soils and humus compost, these materials cultivate strong, beautiful, drought-resistant landscapes. Available locally at: New Nursery Austin, Round Rock Garden Center, Sledd Nursery and The Great Outdoors. The Ground Up. 281.970.0003, Thegroundup.com.

3. As water is essential to life, the quality of water you consume determines your quality of life. It only makes sense to use the highest quality water. Puronics®’

Supplied by

technologies include water conditioning, micro and ultra filtration, and SilverShield™ bacteriostatic carbon filtration. Terminator®, Filtramax™, and Salt-Free Clarius™ Systems feature food grade stainless steel tank construction providing a non-permeable surface for processing water. Backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Texas Water Solutions, Inc. 512.858.2525, Texaswatersolutions.net.

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7415 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78757 • 512.302.3700 www.kitchencraftaustin.com

4. An icon of the Europa Collection, Milano island enjoys the advanced technology of Zephyr’s DCBL Suppression System which transforms the Milano island into the quietest, most powerful and energy efficient range hood available today and enables the hood to consume 77% less energy but with 30% more power. All models in this collection come equipped with the most advanced electronic LCD controls and Bloom™ LED 68-year light bulbs that never get hot. The models exceed ENERGY STAR requirements. Zephyr. Zephyronline.com.

Uncomplicated Beauty. Competitive Affordability. Polished Service.

Come see what’s new at Kitchen Craft of Austin.

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5. Aspen is a designer’s dream. Its peaceful look complements many different styles from Asian to Contemporary to Traditional to Mediterranean and can also be used as an outdoor soaking tub as its natural finish will fit into any landscape. Aspen, like other Native Trails’ products, is handcrafted using recycled material by the finest artisans who have been using traditions passed down through the generations. Native Trails. Nativetrails.net.

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REMODELER’S ADVICE

Easy ways

to go green

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oing green doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) offers easy ways to conserve energy and do your part to protect the world’s non-renewable resources.

Easy ways to reduce energy consumption: • Program your thermostat to reduce heating/cooling when you’re not home.

• Cover windows with plastic sheeting during the colder months.

• Unplug unused items like coffee pots, clocks, computers or TVs. • Install compact fluorescent bulbs or LED lighting that use four times less lighting and last David Davison, eight times longer than regular President, Austin NARI bulbs.

• Add occupancy sensors or timers to rooms to shut down lighting when no one is around.

• Replace your AC filters at least once a month.

• Use low-flow faucets and insulate electric water heaters and pipes.

• Wash clothes with cold water.

Going green doesn’t end there! Other ways to go green Justin Bravo, include adding insulation, President, NARI San Antonio replacing windows and doors, installing new HVAC systems and updating your home with energy-efficient appliances. Green remodeling reduces heating and cooling costs, improves durability and efficiency, extends the life of your home and preserves the environment.

NARI is a proud supporter of green remodeling practices and encourages remodel-ready homeowners to choose sustainable options. To learn more about green remodeling, visit Greenremodeling.org. v

If a sustainable remodel is in your plans, contact NARI to find a contractor with the expertise to create the space of your dreams. Austin NARI: Austinnari.org, NARI San Antonio: Remodelsanantonio.org.

Watching 3D movies is currently a very popular trend. Unlike the 3D movies of the past, new technology and increased popularity have made 3D a hot commodity in the film industry. There are dozens of 3D movies released every year and audiences are very enthusiastic about watching them. The 3D we observe in movies is quite different from the 3D we experience in video games or other computer-generated platforms of media. 3D in video games creates a virtual “feeling” of 3D using software with advanced rendering techniques.

Cinematic 3D technology is also known as stereoscopic 3D. By incorporating aspects of real depth, through use of video-capturing techniques which mimic the viewers’ eyes, it creates an extremely intense and realistic experience.

For many years, the expense of 3D TV technology was out of reach for most people. Now that the cost of this technology has become more affordable, many are eagerly purchasing 3D TV systems for their homes. There are three choices for a home theater 3D TV system: plasma TV, auto stereoscopic 3D displays, and projection-based 3D large screens. All three systems have their own distinctive features. The plasma TV is a quite simple system that is very easy to set up. In auto stereoscopic 3D, viewers are not required to don 3D glasses, as display screens make use of lenticular sheets.

Projection - based 3D large screens provide a real cinema experience due to the big-screen effect. You can upgrade it to single DLP projectors which make use of Active 3Dbased systems.

If you’re interested in incorporating 3D into your new project, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

decorating n Trends

Suite Escape Turning your master suite into a relaxing retreat

By Mauri Elbel Photography courtesy of Studio 8 Design, Philippe Ho

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hilippe Ho of Studio 8 Design has a penchant for creating master suites reminiscent of his own homeaway-from-home: hotel rooms. With his business based in Orange County, California, and an impressive lists of clients scattered all over the world, it is no wonder Ho’s globetrotting has lead to an affinity for the sleek, streamlined aesthetic.

“I live from hotel to hotel, traveling quite a bit for work,” says Ho. “Luckily, many of my clients travel as well, and they tell me they want to come home to a place that has that hotel atmosphere yet it still feels like home.”

Fortunately for his clients, Ho has mastered the art of fusing classic with contemporary – creating brilliant interiors that ooze the spa-like feel of a modern hotel room while maintaining a cozy, intimate ambiance through thoughtfully selected details

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that represent his client’s personality and interests. Case in point: the posh yet peaceful bachelor pad he created for his Dallas-based client.

For this master retreat, Ho incorporated a clean, neutral palette of creams, light latte and a few touches of gold. The suite exudes a Zen-like feel from every corner – including the master bath which achieves a peaceful, spa-like ambiance with well-edited details such as crisp white linens, fresh orchid sprays and a high-gloss mural print of Buddha.

The master suite, although designed for a bachelor, is a brilliant marriage of masculine and feminine. The heavy bed achieves balance with quilted silk fabric bedding. The minimalist leather sofa is softened with the painting, The Stolen Kiss by French artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard, looming above.

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Unique, eye-catching touches such as the oval chandelier with crystals dripping from inside and a set of architecturally-crafted bowl-shaped wire art wrapped around small, round mirrors make the room interesting without being overwhelming.

“I like everything about this space,” says Ho. “This room has a very simple, spa-like hotel feel but at the same time, I incorporated a few pieces to make it personal. It’s a lot to take in, but at the same time it remains calm and relaxing.”

Keep It Simple When it comes to creating a relaxing master suite, Marcus Mohon is guided by two design principles: practicality and simplicity.

With a decade of design experience under his belt, the co-owner of Mohon-Imber Interiors has mastered the art of creating inviting spaces ideal for escaping from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“There is enough busy-ness from staring at iPads, iPhones and computer screens all day – you need a little relief from that,” he says.

“There is a virtue in the simplicity. Coming home and disconnecting. And a master is the perfect place to do that.”

Mohon views a master suite in the context of the entire house, a standard he follows for every room throughout a home. But he says a master bedroom is the place where personality can overlap with the character of the home, a design technique he achieves by handselecting interior décor that harmoniously blends into the overall aesthetic.

“Whenever we are picking furnishings for any space we are working on, I look at it in the context of the bigger picture,” he says. “The architecture, interior details and finishes, and the furnishings all have to speak the same language. A master bed and bath are almost one in the same – I use the same philosophy and approach. They should be complimentary and flow right into each other.”

With a classical design aesthetic for modern living, Mohon leans toward strong geometry and profiles, beginning with the shape of the bed or headboard. From there, he incorporates softness to the room and recommends solid upholsteries with great textures and washable European hotel bedding. He says furniture, such as a chest, can add character and warmth to a room. And family photos hold a place in the master suite, the most private space in the house where it is ideal to mix art with personal pictures of the kids. But above all, Mohon’s advice for designing a master suite is to be comfortable and stay simple. Along with numerous clients who have expressed a strong disdain for decorative throws over the years, Mohon advises against over-pillowing the bed.

“Many of the men I work with say they never know what to urbanhomemagazine.com

do with the pillows and frankly I don’t either,” he says. “You need four stacked pillows: two shams, two standards. Simple.”

Create a Retreat Megan Rice Yager is also of the belief that a master bedroom should be a comforting retreat from one’s busy life. Known for her sophisticated use of color, the San Antonio-based designer says choosing the correct colors for a room can make all the difference.

“I favor a muted palette of restful colors like blues, greens, soft violets or pinks,” she says. “I also really like dark walls in a bedroom. One tends to spend the most time in a bedroom after dark so colors such as bittersweet chocolate or warm grays can also create a cozy, enveloping feel.”

Dispensing with clutter in a master helps a person relax, she says. And lighting is another important component to consider when designing a bedroom.

“A mix of good task and ambient lighting is crucial,” says Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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Yager. “Excellent reading lights and a beautiful hanging fixture or sconces on a dimmer can be adjusted easily to affect the mood of the room.”

Favoring tactile fabrics for the master, Yager gravitates toward natural fibers, such as silks or velvets and selects classic white sheeting – in percale for a crisp hotel-sheet feel or sateen for a softer, silkier bed. She says down pillows and comforters are fabulous for regulating body temperature as one sleeps and serve a dual purpose of giving your bed a soft, voluminous look. Yager also notes the new trends integrating their way into the master – think technology, including remote controls that open and close curtains with the touch of a button, and mirrored furniture, which can add sparkle and reflection to a room at night.

Watch Out for Trends Lori Caldwell, an award-winning designer who has been working with interiors since she was 17, has a knack for creating timeless interiors that remain current despite ever-changing trends. While she’s a fan of the pops of color being infused back into the longstanding monochromatic color scheme used in the bedroom and those platform beds that pay homage to the retro era, Caldwell advises against getting carried away by every new trend.

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“You want to follow the trends but you don’t want to go crazy,” she said. “Platform beds are really neat but they aren’t going to stand the test of time. If you want to keep your bed for 10 to 15 years, don’t get a platform.”

She says nowadays a master suite doesn’t call for much furniture at all – just a bed, two nightstands, a flat screen with a small piece to conceal technology and perhaps a chaise or reading chair.

“People aren’t cramming their rooms full of furniture anymore – dressers are passé and armoires are gone,” she says.

“More recently, people want their master to be more like a spa – a place to unwind at the end of the day.”

A soothing color palette of soft grays, steel blues and taupes as well as soft fabrics with solid patterns help Caldwell create a calming effect in the bedroom. From an architectural standpoint, she says the design scheme should flow from the master bedroom to the bath with each space containing its own wow factor. From tray ceiling treatments and strategic window placement to linear fireplaces and clean-lined floating cabinets, she creates architectural interest by choosing one stand-out element to create and define a space without overwhelming the room. But Caldwell says no matter which elements you integrate into the master suite, the most important rule to follow is staying current in your design.

“Life is so busy and we have so much stimuli going on, now it is more pleasing to have less,” she says. “Our lifestyle has infused into design, and I think that is why people are leaning toward more modern homes or a transitional look because there is less clutter. It is peaceful.” v Lori Caldwell Designs 210.408.2870 Loricaldwelldesigns.com Marcus Mohon-Imber Interiors 210.828.2194 Mohon-imber.com Megan Yager Design 210.369.8860 Meganyager.com Philippe Ho, Studio 8 Design 714.904.9250 St8de.com urbanhomemagazine.com

design n Trends

W Imago Dei Photo by Lynsey Creative

decorative finishes F

By TAVANER K. SULLIVAN

or as long as people have sought shelter, decorative finishes have been used to personalize, add character and complete a space. Whether the elegance of a plastered wall, the story of a mural or the mesmerizing detail of stenciling, all have stood the test of time and evolved into respected forms of art.

Houston-based Leslie Sinclair of Segreto Finishes compares decorative finishes to decorating a cake — the icing and detail polish and enhance the desired look and feel. When done correctly, a decorative finish brings everything in the room together.

Left: With the chandelier for inspiration, a painted medallion highlights the vaulted ceiling, creating a spectacular entry.

Top: An oversized pattern was adorned with embossed glass beads giving a contemporary edge to this luxurious master bedroom accent wall.

Right: By incorporating a lightly-layered, textural wall finish with hints of soft metallic and pearl highlights, Paige Thurgood from Personal Expressions created a dressing vanity area in the master suite at a downtown Austin, luxury high-rise.

Segreto Finishes

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Laura Britt Design Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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Segreto Finishes Above: Bringing artful touches to the walls and ceilings of a home transforms a new home into a place with history.

Segreto Finishes

“When you walk into a room, you should feel the room — the tile, furniture, light fixtures and walls. The walls or the mural should not be the first thing you notice. It should be a part of the room,” says Sinclair, who left the corporate world to raise a family and pursue her love of painting and beautiful spaces.

Jeremy Wells, co-founder of Imago Dei, approaches his decorative finishes in the same way he does his fine art, focusing on texture, composition and color. Because of his background in fine art, he pays particular attention to color theory, how layered colors create new colors and their affects on a space.

“You can’t pick colors in a vacuum. You have to approach it holistically and think about everything surrounding the surface that you are creating,” he says. “Take into consideration the light and the way it moves throughout the day and space, the flooring, fabrics, furniture and the use of the space.”

In decorative finishes, proportion and scale are just as important as color. For example, in his Houston office, Wells pairs a neutral, cool gray wall next with a smaller vivid and intense turquoise wall. An entire room of such a color would be exhausting, but in a small section, it is just invigorating enough.

“There is a delicate balance,” says Wells.

Top: Hand-painted paneling adds a touch of the unexpected, giving architectural interest to this dining room designed by Lisa Dalton.

Right: Subtle, cool hues were selected for the integrally-colored plaster treatment in this powder room to make it simultaneously feel both intimate and more expansive.

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Imago Dei Photo by Lynsey Creative urbanhomemagazine.com

When working with a large space, think subtle, and when going bold, think of sweets, Wells recommends. “If you eat too many sweets, you get sick. If you want to go bold, do it in small doses — an accent wall, a powder room, a vaulted ceiling.”

Bold and vibrant colors are perfect for ceilings, obvious architectural elements and powder rooms. Although small and windowless, powder rooms can be dramatic little jewel boxes, says Lisa Moon of San Antonio Murals.

Throughout history, ceilings with carved beams, ornate plaster moldings, beautiful murals and lively color combinations have often been the most decorated spaces, writes Sinclair in her book Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors.

Moon likens the creation of beautiful finishes to putting on makeup: No drastic color contrasts or strong changes. Keep it elegant. “You want the walls to be a work of art, yes, but they are still the backdrop for what’s in the room,” she says.

Austin-based Lynn Zwern of Amazing Faux Walls sees a movement towards more subtle whole-room finishes, adding power with strategic accent colors. A common mistake in decorative finishing is too much of a good thing, Zwern says.

Decorative finishes are often used to enhance good architecture and detract from less desirable elements. Sinclair, who has never liked the entry way of her Houston home, applied a cubic graphic to the parquet wood floors to draw attention away from its architectural flaws. “Now when I walk in, I don’t feel like I want to change it,” she says.

Influenced by the green movement, decorative finishes are moving towards more eco-friendly products, says Sinclair. This environmental awareness has manifested in more subtle finishes for furniture and walls, as well as the use of plaster which has been used for centuries.

Although very popular, plaster, thought to have originated in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago, is hardly a new technique.

The Egyptians applied plaster to the ancient pyramids; Venetians added marble dust to plaster to produce a heavier variety with a boosted sheen; and for Michelangelo’s renowned murals in

San Antonio Murals Above: Aged plaster over patina’d copper completes this entry, and matches the scale and drama of the Texas limestone walls.

the Sistine Chapel, pigment was applied directly to wet plaster, writes Sinclair.

“Nothing gives a large home character like beautiful plastered walls. They add an ambience that regular sheetrock just doesn’t have because plaster has a depth of color and several layers,” says Austin-based interior designer Julie Evans of JEI Design, Inc. Laura Britt Design, also an Austin-based interior designer known for her fresh and vibrant spaces, has been using decorative finishes instead of wall coverings for the last several years in spaces that call for a special accent.

For decorative finishes in her contemporary designs, Britt experiments with mixing mediums and experimenting with pattern and scale. For example, in Britt’s conference room at her design studio, she layered a beautiful metallic wash over earthy American clay plaster to add depth and movement.

In a model in The Austonian, a new, luxury high-rise condo building in downtown Austin, Britt took a very traditional damask pattern, enlarged it, and applied it to the walls of the powder room with a three-dimensional plaster texture. “It doesn’t feel like your grandmother’s boudoir; it feels like a modern take on pattern and scale,” she says.

Evans, who is known for her transitional spaces, recommends geometric shapes, stripes and diagonals - picture a wall of Missoni, and elements of nature such as branches, for a more contemporary look.

Although wallpaper is very much back in fashion, says Evans, you have more control over color and scale with a decorative finish. Additionally, a design change only requires a simple coat of paint versus the tedious stripping of wallpaper.

For a very modern home in Houston, Sinclair took the color from the warm gray walls and painted a graphic on the espresso-colored wood floors. The graphic was shadowed with a lighter gray to make it pop. Originally the client wanted a marble inset for the wood floors, but Sinclair’s graphic provided a much less expensive option.

For Moon, what makes a finish more or less contemporary is how it is applied to a space. For example, if plaster is applied in a linear Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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JEI Design, Inc. Photo by Mark Knight Photography Above: The silver finish painted over a natural cork wallpaper reflects light, creating a sophisticated, contemporary texture.

rather than a curved motion, the result will look more contemporary.

When creating decorative finishes, Wells offers three essentials to keep in mind: 1) Work with someone who understands the purpose of the space and has the track record to create and achieve a beautiful space. 2) Not all finishes are right for all spaces. 3) Think of the space holistically and design a finish that will be wellsuited for the room as a whole and does not compete with the other design elements. v Amazing Faux Walls 512.266.6668 Amazingfauxwalls.com Laura Britt Design 512.458.8963 Laurabrittdesign.com JEI Design, Inc. 512.330.9179 Julieevans.net Imago Dei 512.705.6005 Imagodeigallery.com San Antonio Murals 210.363.0515 Sanantoniomurals.com Segreto Finishes 713.461.5210 Segretofinishes.com 52

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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elve into the world of home design through the perspective of a decorative painter. In Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors, Leslie Sinclair shares her secrets of how fine finishes can transform and enhance any interior.

Filled with beautiful homes that serve as visual inspiration, the oversized coffee table book details the vast number of finishes available and offers tips on how to choose the right one for an array of design and architectural styles. Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors also gives a historical perspective on how beautiful paint finishes have been used for centuries to enhance homes.

Explore the breathtaking rooms within and enjoy a multitude of design styles by numerous talented interior designers, builders and architects. Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors showcases the many ways in which specialty finishes impart warmth, character and depth, whether the goal is to give new construction an established feel, update an existing home or fashion the perfect backdrop for contemporary or traditional furnishings and art. Available through Amazon.com.

Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors Author - Leslie Sinclair Segreto Publishing Primary Photographer – Wade Blissard Graphic Design and Layout – Muffy Buvens

CUSTOM HOME ADVICE

The one

“Green”

DON’T LET BUILDING YOUR DREAM Home TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE

feature EVERY home has!

By Karen Matuszewski, By Design – Custom Home Consulting

G

oing green. Everybody seems to be doing it – and for good reason. There are so many new products for us to choose from that will help make our homes and our lives more “planet friendly.” However, there is more to green building than roof composition and low-e windows! Every home has to be paid for, and whether you finance the purchase or pay cash – that’s the “green” that every home has.

Finding the right lender for your particular home purchase, especially when building a custom home, is vital and not all lenders are created equal. One lender, who is very good at financing the purchase of existing homes, may not be the best choice for the different phases of financing included in constructing a custom home.

Generally, the first phase of a custom home is the lot purchase, followed by a construction loan and finally the permanent loan. The construction loan generally pays off the lot loan and then allows for “draws” that finance the different phases of construction (slab, framing, mechanicals, drywall, etc.).

The payments on a construction loan increase as more money is “drawn” down to pay for the phases of building the home.

At the end of the construction process, there is a “take-out” or “permanent” loan. This final stage of custom home financing is the loan that you will have for the period of time you choose to borrow that money – typically 15 to 30 years, but there are also ARM’s (adjustable rate mortgages). For clients choosing to pay cash, financing vehicles that leverage cash while still providing the opportunity to take advantage of today’s historically low interest rates are available.

Working with the right lender for your budget, your financial situation and your timeline can mean the difference between an enjoyable custom home building experience or the nightmare of unexpected financing surprises. Interviewing lenders and staying current on what programs are available, which institutions are most competitive and which offer the best customer service is one of the areas of expertise that we offer. Let us help you find the perfect “green” option for your project. v Have a question about the home building or remodeling process that YOU would like answered? Send it to me at Karen_Matuszewski@ yahoo.com and you might find the next Custom Home Advice column written especially for you!

Using the services of a professional to help assemble your new home team can save you time, money and frustration. Karen and Rob Matuszewski are custom home consultants who have been helping clients build new homes for 10 years. They have earned numerous designations in home construction from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and can provide references and credentials. Call us today for your complimentary consultation.

Services include: Lifestyle Analysis • Community Selection • Lot Evaluation Builder Interviews • Architect Interviews • Plan Design Assistance Call in and talk to us live on Project Financing Options • Construction Visits Interior Design/Landscape/Pool Referrals • Current Home Marketing & Sale Representation Sundays from 6-7 pm • Interim Housing Assistance KJCe 96.3 FM & 1370 AM

HE S HE SAID S AI D

Coming up on the He Said – She Said Radio Show

“Gettin’ It Done at Home” April 1 – Urban Home Editors Trisha Doucette & Leslie Woods will be live in the studio to visit with us about the feature articles of this issue of Urban Home. Call in and talk to them!

Proud partners in the URBAN

HOME

Dream Home

By Design Custom Home Consulting

Karen & Rob Matuszewski

Real Estate Services & Custom Home Consulting Karen • Karen_Matuszewski@yahoo.com • 512.917.2653 Rob • txrpm@yahoo.com • 512.695.6498 www.KarenSellsAustin.com

April 8 – FAQ = Frequently “Avoided” Questions. Ever want to ask a question to a “man of the cloth” but NOT face to face? Here’s your chance! Easter Sunday - “Ask Pastor Mac” is sponsored by New Way Church.

April 15 – “Man Caves & She Dens”.

Everyone knows what a “Man Cave” is but what’s a “She Den”? Tune in and find out! Sponsored by California Closets of the Texas Hill Country April 22 – “Green Building & Design” – learn about simple, affordable green building & design techniques from Scott Branc of New Urban Homes and Stephanie Villavicencio of Bella Villa Design Studio.

April 29 – “Vampires and Vaults”. Join us as we learn from our friends at Lighting Inc. how these two things can help protect our homes.

May 6 – The “HBA Tour of Homes” is May 11-13th. Get the scoop on everything that will be on this annual home tour event that is not to be missed.

May 13 – LIVE from the HBA Tour of Homes – hear “on the ground” reports from He Said and She Said.

May 20 – “REAL Green Landscaping”.

Tired of a yard that won’t take the heat?

Don’t want to spend weekends doing yard work? Talk to the landscape experts from LandArt Garden Center and get your weekends AND your water bill back in line.

May 27 – “YOU Are In Control” - have the power when Lighting Inc. shares with us how to control all the lights and gadgets in your home.

Call in and talk to any of our guests on Sundays from 6–7 pm.

(512) 390-1370 or (855) 390-1370.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

you’re burning less wattage,” he adds. Added dimmer controls on the lamps ensure further energy savings.

Texas Water Solutions is installing a whole-house water purification and water conditioner system by Puronics® for pure tasting water and softer skin and hair. The system prevents calcium buildup and reduces soap, detergent and cleaning products use, making it environmentally-friendly.

The system is EPA registered and certified to NSF/ANSI 44 standards, and features a 316L food grade stainless steel filter tank for water filtration and conditioning. Silver ion technology embedded into the SilverShield™ Hygene® filter media naturally inhibits bacteria growth within the filter media bed.

Now in the final countdown to completion, visitors can preview the Dream Home at the Homebuilders Association of Greater Austin’s 2012 Tour of Homes to be held May 1113. Unless it is snapped up before then, it will be available at a price of $1.085 million during the tour, and builder Kurt Racca will be available on-site to answer questions.

Situated minutes from the new Highland Village waterbased social center, the scenic Rough Hollow community contains sports, water recreation, and close proximity to golf, shopping and dining opportunities.

Proceeds from the sale of the Dream Home benefit Ronald McDonald Charities of Austin & Central Texas. v Photography courtesy of Rough Hollow Lakeway

URBAN

HOME

Dream Home

A Lean, Green Dream

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Project Partners Andersen Windows - Bob Garcia 210.218.5991 Andersenwindows.com Eaglewindow.com California Closets - Jill Siegel San Antonio: 210.829.1991 Austin: 512.441.6061 Californiaclosets.com Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. - Jeff Wilde 512.445.5140 Ferguson.com

By Dana W. Todd

ooking at the view through the Urban Home Dream Home’s modern Mediterranean-inspired windows, the rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country are not the only green things the new homeowner will experience. In our last issue (February/March 2012), we described the sustainable features included in the Dream Home’s kitchen and bathrooms, including Kohler’s WaterSense-rated plumbing fixtures and faucets.

Part of the home’s construction process and materials are green, too, according to builder Kurt Racca of Markee Construction, who is constructing this year’s Dream Home in the Canyonside enclave of the Rough Hollow master planned community. “I’m using 2x6 walls throughout the house, which increases structural strength and adds an extra insulation factor,” says Racca.

The use of 2x6 beams is typical in commercial, but not residential, construction. Thicker exterior wall cavities provide more room for insulation, increasing energy efficiency on hot summer days and the occasional cold spell. Typical 2x4 stud

If you’re interested in making the Dream Home your home, call real estate consultant Karen Matuszewski at 512.917.2653 before the Dream Home is opened up to a new group of potential buyers at the 2012 HBA Tour of Homes.

Land Art Garden Center - Sherri Pfenninger 512.264.2622 Landartgardencenter.com Photo by Rob Matuszewski

wall construction allows for about 3.5 inches of insulation, while a 2x6 wall increases insulation capability to 5.5 inches.

“Most of the beams are made of recycled materials,” Racca says. “Even the roof plywood is recycled.”

Inside the house, Lighting Inc. is installing recessed LED lighting throughout the entire home for a clean look and efficiency, totaling about 100 lights according to Scott Bailey of Lighting Inc. “Each light lasts about 50,000 burning hours, which means the homeowner will only need to replace them every 15 to 20 years depending on usage. That’s less contribution to the landfill,” Bailey says.

“LED lamps do not output heat into the room like halogen lights, so in turn the air conditioning unit runs less. Overall, urbanhomemagazine.com

Lighting Inc. - Scott Bailey 512.491.6444 Lightinginc.com Miele USA - Phyllis Cox 512.791.9664 Mieleusa.com Service Tech Audio Visual - Lisa Hall 512.456.2800 Servicetechav.com Texas Water Solutions - Tom Crawford Austin: 512.858.2525 San Antonio: 210.977.8300 Texaswatersolutions.net Wilson AC & Appliance – Gay Lynn Wilson 512.894.0907 Wilsonappliance.com urbanhomemagazine.com

At Rough Hollow, there are so many ways and places to play. Families enjoy the pools, learning to fish on the lake, hiking, tennis, golf, games in the neighborhood and dining at casual restaurants or the 5-star Hudson’s on the Bend.Teens love wake boarding on Lake Travis and mountain biking on trails. Moms love gatherings at the fitness center, including babysitting for yoga classes!

Meet the Dream Team Karen Matuszewski – Project Coordinator As a custom home consultant, Matuszewski put together the team that will design, build and sell the house. She is a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) certified green professional and certified new home sales professional, and co-chairs both the HBA Benefit Home project and the 2012 HBA Tour of Homes.

Karensellsaustin.com Kurt Racca – Home Builder Racca, along with partner Mark Schuh, are the principals in Markee Construction, Inc., a custom home company specializing in homes between $800,000 and $1,500,000 with a focus on energy efficiency in materials and design. Creating a home that works for their clients’ lifestyle, personality, and sense of style and budget is a Markee Construction, Inc. trademark. 512.480.9312 Design Visions of austin – Project Architect Founder and partner Curtis Raymond, Jr., along with founder and partner Chad Faucheux, have 18 years of combined experience in the realm of high-end residential architecture. “The homes that we create are not about the designer or draftsman but about the family’s lifestyle and their day-to-day use of the home. Being a smaller firm allows us to be personally involved with each project from start to finish,” says Raymond. Designvisionsofaustin.com Rough Hollow Lakeway – Development Rough Hollow Lakeway is an evolving waterfront community with limestone cliffs and spectacular Lake Travis views. The options are endless with the ability to purchase custom home sites, Yacht Club Villas, custom homes and semi-custom homes.

With the marina, the yacht club, air park, restaurants, the waterthemed Highland Village and Country Club amenities, Rough Hollow offers a lifestyle and a place you will never want to leave.

Roughhollowlakeway.com Austin - San Antonio Urban Home Magazine – Project Media Partner

Urban Home magazine is a bi-monthly, upscale home lifestyle publication that has been published in the Austin market for over 5 years. Its content focuses on local architects and builders, home related products and services, and is presented to readers in a very engaging editorial format. Urbanhomemagazine.com Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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Golf Greens

Nursery

22101 State Hwy 71 West, Spicewood TX 78669 512-264-2622 Monday-Saturday 9-6 • Sunday 10-3 9 miles west of Hill Country Galleria Mall Next to Angels Restaurant

Locally owned and managed, Texas Water Solutions is the exclusive dealer for Puronics®

Water Features

Fountains

www.LandArtGardenCenter.com

Outdoor Living

Water Conditioning Systems.

Given Hill Country water, the Puronics® Terminator™ is the intelligent solution for high quality water providing great taste, softer skin and hair, without calcium build-up in the home.

Puronics® stainless steel water conditioning systems are EPA registered and certified to NSF/ANSI 44 standards.

Puronics systems feature a 316L stainless steel food grade tank with SilverShield™ bacteriostatic protection, and carry a Limited Lifetime warranty.

Austin: 512.858.2525 San Antonio: 210.977.8300

TexasWaterSolutions.net

Equipment Sales and Repair

Landscape Supply

essentials new products

healthy living 1. Green by Design provides a thorough analysis of what it means to build green and features full-color photographs and line drawings of floor plans of successful sustainable homes. By providing people with knowledge, inspiration, and the ability to ask the right questions (and understand the answers), Green

by Design puts home builders and owners on a path to creating beautiful, environmentally responsible homes that they can be proud to live in. Gibbs Smith.

800.835.4993, Gibbs-smith.com.

T

1

he 2012 Tour of Homes is Central Texas’ ultimate open house, featuring spectacular homes from the best builders

in the area. Spend a day or the entire weekend

experiencing/viewing

some

of the most unique custom, production and remodeled homes in a variety of price ranges.

2

Builders and remodelers of all shapes

2. Molly Mutt dog beds are an exciting new approach to keeping textiles out of our landfills. Cover your existing dog bed with the Molly Mutt dog duvet, or fill it with the old clothes and bedding you’ve got laying around your house. The stuff sack and waterproof liner armor make it simple to grab old soft stuff, throwing it in a stuff sack or amour & covering it all up with your Molly Mutt duvet.

Molly Mutt. Mollymutt.com.

and sizes will be there to showcase their favorite homes, most innovative designs, architectural flourishes and distinctive floor plans. This rare opportunity to see the widest depth and breadth of Central Texas homes anywhere, while interacting

Dylan Martin

with the people who built them, is

3. Guided by Southern heritage and hospitality, Roux Maison is a new collection of eco friendly home laundry products that utilize natural ingredients to produce fabric specific detergents. Roux Maison’s fragrances are custom blended with 100% natural essential oils that are synthetic and preservative free. The result is a deep natural clean that individuals can feel good about bringing into their home. Roux Maison. Rouxmaison.com.

3

something you won’t want to miss!

Tour Information

HOMES & REMODELING

New Urban Home Builders

Dylan Martin Custom Homes

2012 Tour Dates:

Scott Branc

and Remodeling - Dylan Martin

Friday, May 11

512.626.0360

512.692.9212 • 512.350.1088

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

www.newurbanhomebuilders.com

www.dylanmartinhomes.com

Jimmy Jacobs Custom Homes

VII Custom Homes - David Lyne

512.930.4041

512.215.2939

www.jacobshomes.com

www.VIIhomes.com

Saturday, May 12

4. IF Design creates permanent floral arrangements created from natural flowers and paper utilizing water-based dyes created to be non-toxic to the environment. Whether you choose from the over 1,000 possibilities in the annual catalog, or take advantage of special custom services it is the perfect way to add a handmade splash of color to your home. Beadboard Upcountry. 979.830.8788, Beadboardupcountry.com.

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

4

Sunday, May 13 Noon - 6 p.m.

Ticket prices: $5 Adults, Kids 12 and under are free

5. Celebrating joyful moments with a touch of Southern whimsy, FarmHouse Fresh® Honeysuckle Blood Orange Custard is 92% natural, vegan, gluten-free and, best of all, from right here in Texas. This delectable cream is made up of aloe gel and shea butter with live strawberry fruit cells to soothe even the severest dry skin. FarmHouse Fresh. Farmhousefreshgoods.com.

Tickets available at: Online at TourofHomesATX.com and at each of the Key Communities

For more information call: Bounce - 512.524.2953 5

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works WHY THIS

SPACE Designer Spotlight: Laura Burton of Laura Burton Interiors

By Mauri Elbel Photography by Merrick Ales

Austin designer Laura Burton’s weekend lake house perched on the Colorado arm of Lake LBJ is not just a place of retreat for her family of five – it is a testament of the green design philosophy she has been instilling into her business over the years.

Designed and built by Burton and her husband, their second home was created by following green building guidelines throughout all facets of the process.

From the pre-construction research down to the finishing interior details, Burton’s timeless, energy-efficient lake house proves going green is not only better for the environment, but is beautiful as well.

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What is your philosophy on green design?

One of the core tenets of green design is to be as gentle on the environment as possible in order to preserve the long term health of the earth, its inhabitants and its resources. As a designer, this can be a challenge because clients typically contact us when they want to change their surroundings with new layouts and furnishings, which is not always consistent with being environmentally-friendly. As designers, we can be responsible and influential by educating ourselves and our clients on which choices will be

most efficient and durable, and least taxing on our resources. Repurposing existing pieces and purchasing previously-owned items discourages wastefulness, and selecting recycled products, buying locally and purchasing from sustainable vendors are great options when buying new.

How did this philosophy translate in the design/build of your personal lake house?

The neat thing when designing this lake house was that my objectives as a designer wanting to be green overlapped with our personal goals as a family. The house is very energy urbanhomemagazine.com

efficient, which is not only good for the environment, but also a bonus for us financially because it cuts down our costs of owning a weekend home. We used green elements throughout the planning, construction and furnishing of the house. We dimensioned to minimize building waste, and we specified a number of advanced materials and construction techniques to maximize the performance of the home. For the interiors, we used items we already had and supplemented as needed. I had accumulated lighting, plumbing fixtures and tile from various projects over the years, and my husband and I had inherited furniture and artwork from family. During the building process, we sorted through each week’s construction waste to recycle whatever we could.

Can you give us a run-down of some of the green features you incorporated?

Beginning with site selection, we situated the house urbanhomemagazine.com

to disturb as few trees as possible and preserve an existing structure. Energy efficient windows and spray foam insulation for the entire building envelope help keep utility bills down.

The plumbing and light fixtures were chosen to conserve water and energy, and the HVAC system was selected and properly sized for optimum efficiency. In the kitchen, we installed Energy Star® appliances, a recycling center in the cabinets, and a water filter that serves as an alternative to bottled water. Low VOC paint was used to preserve indoor air quality, and we selected durable and sustainable materials on the floors and counters that will last for years to come. Even the design style itself was selected to be classic and timeless for the sake of longevity. When it came time to furnish, we used mostly existing or re-purposed pieces, and the few items we purchased new came from vendors who are members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, an organization that promotes sustainable practices.

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www.dawnhearn.com Dawn F. Hearn, ASID 512.930.0250 Texas Registered Interior Designer #9501

• New Construction • Remodeling • Furnishings

Tell us why you chose a minimalist décor for the main kitchen and living areas.

This lake house was designed to be our place of escape – a weekend retreat for our family and our friends who come to visit. We wanted to make it as simple, uncluttered and relaxing as possible. I wanted to escape from the fast-changing design trends and pressures I have to deal with on a daily basis and resist the urge to re-design, which is why we chose timeless materials and went with white rather than colors.

While a minimal approach is what I gravitate toward, the trick is creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that doesn’t feel bare. Clutter definitely stresses us out, especially with having three kids. My husband and I edit everything that we take to the lake house – we only take things we will use.

Have you noticed any unforeseen benefits of going green?

While I had researched sustainable practices for my business and advocated green strategies for my clients, I had never lived in a green environment. One of the surprise benefits is 64

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that the indoor air quality is superior. From the big elements like the windows, extra insulation and low VOC paint to the smaller elements such as clean-burning soy-based candles and green cleaning products, the whole house just feels and smells so fresh and pure. I notice it every time I walk in the door.

How has this lake house worked for you so far?

Honestly, I just love the simplicity and the sense of calm it evokes. And it has proven to be a perfect family gathering space, for groups both large and small. We spend all day out on the lake, and in the evening, we sit together and play board games at the reclaimed pine dining table or cozy up with popcorn on the sectional and watch a family movie. That is exactly what this house was designed for: making special memories with family and friends while being as gentle on the environment as possible so that we can all continue to enjoy it for years to come. v Laura Burton Interiors 512.322.9888 Lauraburtoninteriors.com urbanhomemagazine.com

• Accessories • Consultation • Space Planning

A Better,

Kinder Clean

F

By Jackie Benton

or Jessica Brorman, spring time is the perfect time to make a clean sweep through your home – literally. By making one simple change and sweeping out old cleaners that contain harsh and toxic chemicals, and committing to using natural, earth-friendly products in your household cleaning regimen, Brorman says that you’ll find you are not only making a healthy choice for the planet, but a smart choice for yourself. And she would know in her position as the buying merchant for Treehouse, a store dedicated to helping Austinites be smart about sustainable living.

“The number one reason why we carry these products is that cleaning your home in the right, healthful way plays such a big part in the health of your home,” says Brorman. “Toxic cleaners, contribute to the health problems we have. I think if you’re using the right kind of stuff without ‘nasties’ in it, that is a big step from what we’ve been doing to ourselves and our homes for the last sixty or seventy years with conventional, chemical cleaners.”

But there are naysayers out there: not everyone believes that natural cleaning products are as effective as their chemicalladen counterparts. Surely, they argue, there’s a reason why commercial cleaning products rely so heavily on chemicals?

And what about the expense – natural products cost more, right? But, Brorman has a message for those who doubt the clean green team: eco-friendly cleaning products are not only safe, but affordable and extremely effective as well.

And as for the idea that the word “natural” is synonymous with “more expensive,” Brorman says that is another myth.

“We want to educate people that they can purchase natural cleaning products without hurting their wallets. Most of our products are competitive with commercial name brands out there, but we have non-toxic, fragrance-free items.”

Reduce, reuse and recycle is the mantra Treehouse lives by. Some of the products featured in Treehouse require the initial purchase of a plastic, reusable spray bottle, and then the purchase of refill packets, which reduces the amount of plastic waste. Other cleaning products include a low phosphate laundry detergent, that, when combined with the use of special pipes fitted to a washing machine, allows the grey water to be recycled to water the lawn and garden. “On the far end of the laundry spectrum, we have soap nuts, which are brown round nuts that serve as a detergent alternative, and are great for people with severe skin problems, especially if they are very sensitive to most detergents. We have a wide range of products to meet everyone’s needs.”

One of the innovative cleaning products featured at Treehouse has its roots here in Texas. Branch Basics, by Three Branches Healthy Living, is a non-toxic, all-purpose cleaner that uses a combination of coconut, plant-based enzymes, 66

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

purified water, folic acid and a small amount of food grade alcohol to create a concentrate that can be diluted and used for a variety of cleaning projects. Owners Allison Evans and Kelly Blackstone formed the company with Evans’ aunt, Marilee Nelson, after all personally experiencing the effects of toxic cleaning agents in the home.

“I love the natural cleaning subject, talking about a natural diet is more glamorous, but natural cleaning is the change you can make in a day and shouldn’t affect kids and picky eaters. Home is the only place we really have control over our environment,” says co-owner Allison Evans.

Her business partner, Blackstone, agrees. “Home is a place to restore and relax. We don’t need a different cleaning product for every use. With Branch Basics, you’re able to degrease and penetrate very harsh stains and greasy items, clean counter tops, windows, produce and more – it’s completely non-toxic.”

As for what to do with those old chemical cleaners, Evans advises that you rid your home of them to prevent out-gassing of toxic volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. “You want to get them out of your house and put the good stuff in. You want to reduce your exposure to these harsh chemicals in your home.

Not only are the effects of these chemicals not tested, they are not tested for how they interact.” v Treehouse, the Smart Home Improvement Store 888.799.5779 Treehouseonline.com Three Branches Healthy Living 713.489.5531 Threebrancheshealth.com

C leaning U p Y our A ct

So you want to clean up your act, literally and figuratively, and make the switch over to natural cleaners – but don’t know what to do with your assortment of harsh, chemicalladen cleaning agents? Pouring your unwanted household hazardous waste down the drain, dumping them on the ground or sending them to the landfill defeats your newfound goal to preserve the environment. But, don’t despair! Correct environmental action is as easy as a visit to your local household hazardous waste facility. The facilities listed here can take your paint, oil, household chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, cleaners, household batteries, car batteries, aerosol cans and pool chemicals, in addition to other items. Be sure to call ahead for particulars, such as hours of operation, disposal fees and specifics regarding materials that can be accepted and in what quantity.

City of Austin Hazardous Waste Facility 2514 Business Center Drive, Austin, Texas 512.974.4343 (Facility) 512.854.4496 (Travis County Coordinator)

City of San Antonio Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Center Permanent Site: 7030 Culebra Seasonal Site: 1800 E. Bitters Rd., San Antonio, Texas 3-1-1 or 210.207.6000 urbanhomemagazine.com

Scents and Scent’s Ability T here’s never a second chance to make a good first impression. Yet, there is a more subtle kind of first impression that can’t be seen with the eye, because it involves the subtleties of scent. Scent is an important part of the ambience of any home or workplace, and aromatherapy, which makes use of essential oils and other aromatic combinations, is a powerful tool in helping create and establish a desired mood or impression of a space. The holistic use of aromatherapy has been documented for thousands of years, and focuses on creating well-being and balance through the combination and use of scent. Essential oils can also be used to cleanse the air rather than mask unwanted smells from tobacco or cooking.

Using scent in the home can be as easy as adding a few drops of essential oil to water in a diffuser, or into a bowl of hot water.

A few drops of essential oil added to water in a spray bottle may be used around the house to freshen the air. Spraying a home’s entry way with a “welcoming” scent such as lemon, lime, orange, bergamot or grapefruit is especially effective and pleasing to guests. And, of course, the tried-and-true method of burning candles fragranced with essential oils is another easy way to fragrance the air.

Scented cotton wool balls can be placed in drawers, back shelves, cupboards or linen closets to not only help maintain a fresh scent, but also deter moths and other insects. Ordinary cleaning routines can become extraordinary when favorite scents such as orange, lemon, mint or lavender are used.

Eucalyptus, lime, tea tree, cypress, cinnamon and rosemary are other cleaning favorites.

When choosing the scent for your home, think of the mood you are creating, advises Melissa Gonzales, owner of Morning Star Trading Company, an aromatherapy and massage supply store in South Austin. “It depends on what your purpose is: whether you want to sedate, uplift or center yourself – it affects your choice of scent,” says Gonzales.

“Aromatherapy works on the limbic system of the brain,” says Gonzales. “When you walk into someone’s home, you may recall memories from another place or time. It’s because we are transported by scent.”

Gonzales says those new to aromatherapy may want to start with scent blends or synergies, and then use these as a cue to create their own mixes. “If you’re not already an expert, scent blends or synergies are often helpful, or you can go with single note fragrances such as bergamot or orange. Eucalyptus is a nice scent to put in steamers to help open lungs a bit, and mustard seed, wintergreen and thyme combined sooth aching muscles.

“Citrus has a cleansing effect, and makes people feel energized. For an effective stress reliever, you can combine citrus with lavender and/or sandalwood, which have a sedating quality. There are also certain meditation blends that help 68

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center your mind. There’s a reason why frankincense is used in religious ceremonies – it deepens the breath, rejuvenates and uplifts your spirits.” v Morning Star Trading Company 800.357.1727 Morningstarcompany.com

The Steamy Side of Aromatherapy

There’s no such thing as ordinary when using the ThermaSol® Aromatherapy Steam Head to create an inhome spa experience on demand. Once the shower space has been converted into a combination shower/steam room by installing a steam generator and control panel, and properly enclosing and sealing the shower, the ThermoSol®’s patented retractable steamhead disperses favorite aromatherapy scents evenly throughout the shower space. The installation is actually easy and does not require any more space than that of a regular shower. Aromatherapy oils can be added to infuse the steam with the scent of your choice.

The system’s retractable steamheads are permanent fixtures that rest flush against the wall and are available in 14 designer finishes with a choice of contemporary, modern or traditional design. The thermostatically-controlled steamhead automatically protrudes from the wall when the generator is activated and the temperature changes. After the steam shower, the ThermoSol® steamhead retracts.

To find out more about the ThermaSol® Aromatherapy Steam Head, visit one of these shops in the Central Texas area: Allen & Allen Company Lumberhardware.com

Moore Supply Co. Mooressupply.com

Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. Ferguson.com

Morrison Supply Morsco.com urbanhomemagazine.com

Photo by Shane Kyle

Photography courtesy of Montage Deer Valley

Courtesy of Grand Hyatt San Antonio

Photo by Shane Kyle

Hotels and the Greening of America Eco Chic Equals Innovation

A

ccording to a recent report from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), hotels represent more than 5 billion-square-feet of space, nearly 5 million guest rooms, and close to $4 billion in annual energy use. By their sheer size and scope alone, hotels have tremendous opportunities when it comes to making changes to protect our environment, as well as huge responsibilities.

However, hotels also have a very delicate balance to keep when it comes to being green. At the end of a long day of traveling, business meetings or even the fun of touring a new location, 70

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By Laura Jackson

most hotel guests look forward to being pampered—perhaps enjoying a nice, hot shower with a full-blast showerhead, rather than the water-conserving, low-flow version. Hotels have to look for creative, yet effective ways in incorporate a multitude of green initiatives, without compromising the guest experience.

Necessity Is Still The Mother Of Invention To promote the company’s global commitment to the environment, Hyatt has created local environmental ambassadors, called Green Teams, to implement a wide range of green initiatives urbanhomemagazine.com

at individual hotels across the country and world. This company understands that reducing resource consumption, emissions and waste across properties worldwide represents just the tip of the iceberg. So Hyatt provides its Green Teams with the resources they need to succeed, including training on environmental guidelines and best practices, as well as an online forum for Green Team members to share their successes and promote creativity among all its hotels.

In a single year, the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio recycled a remarkable 390,187 pounds of paper, plastic, metal and glass through the hotel’s single-stream recycling program. By planting 450 square meters of grass on its rooftop, the Hyatt Regency Kyoto plans to reduce the hotel’s CO2 emissions by three metric tons per year. In Seattle, their innovative designs are estimated to reduce water use at its hotel by approximately 2.4 million gallons per year.

And these accomplishments represent just a tiny sampling of their tremendous dedication to our environment.

Protecting Natural Beauty Mark Slyman, Montage Hotels Director of Sustainability, urbanhomemagazine.com

explains that all of their hotels’ green operating principles are rooted in the company’s deep commitment to preserving the inherent beauty of their unique destinations, while at the same time providing the ultimate guest experience. This prestigious luxury hotel collection, with locations in Laguna Beach, CA, Beverly Hills, CA, and Park City, UT, understands their responsibility to protect the beautiful communities they are a part of. “Whether our canvas is beach, mountains or city, we strive to honor the unique gifts of each setting. Through our sustainable hotel and resort development, Montage is committed to caring for and enhancing the astonishing environments we are so privileged to steward, that we ourselves are guests wherever we may go.”

Montage Deer Valley has earned the prestigious honor of being the first hotel in Utah to achieve Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for New Construction. Earning the distinguished LEED rating is based on a multitude of sustainability assessments, but some highlights include diverting Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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Photography courtesy of Starwood Element Houston

In 2006, Starwood made history with the launch of its new brand, Element Hotels, representing the first major hotel chain to require all of its hotels to pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification. However, all of their Element hotels are cleverly designed to still be as appealing aesthetically as they are eco-friendly, never compromising on comfort or style.

83% of their construction waste to recycling programs, using recycled products for 15% of the hotel’s building materials and planting over 460,000-square-feet of the building site with native or adaptive plant species.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has selected Montage Deer Valley as a pilot for its national ER3 (Environmentally Responsible Redevelopment and Reuse) Program.

Eco Power Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide includes such wellknown hotels as St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Westin, Sheraton, W, Le Meridien, Aloft and Element. They have also implemented a wide variety of green initiatives that may never be noticed by their guests, but can definitely add up to significant environmental change.

Examples of their eco initiatives include water efficiency measures, lighting, recycling, green housekeeping, and sustainable food and beverage. In fact, green initiatives are even changing the way hotels such as the St. Regis conduct business meetings. In our digital age, using electronic sales tools, instead of paper ones, amounts to some significant environmental savings by the year’s end.

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Green Never Tasted Better Lucky for hotel guests, finding the freshest, most local food products to create culinary masterpieces is considered very green these days. At Hyatt’s properties, healthy, sustainably-sourced menu options include such items as free-range beef and seafood that adheres to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Guidelines, as well as Rainforest Certified coffee in guest rooms. At Montage Resorts, the majority of their mouth-watering dishes feature local produce and organic products. Montage Laguna Beach maintains a specialized garden providing seasonal herbs, fruits and vegetables to supply their chefs with the freshest ingredients available, herbs for the mixologists to use in creating their luscious cocktails, as well as herbs for spa therapists to utilize in custom treatments.

Adding carefree color to landscapes since 1981.

Promoting Long Term Sustainability All around the nation, hotels are creating programs and policies that serve to replenish and conserve our precious natural resources.

It’s comforting to know that even when you are away from home, either for business or pleasure travel, there are so many hotels dedicated to preserving our environment and promoting sustainability for generations to enjoy. v Grand Hyatt San Antonio 210.224.1234 Grandsanantonio.hyatt.com

Manuel

Flores

Montage Hotels Montagehotels.com

Landscape Designs and Consultations

Starwood Hotels Starwoodhotels.com

www.floresflowers.com • info@floresflowers.com urbanhomemagazine.com

entertaining n Trends

Central Texas is blessed with an abundance of fruit year-round, but spring and summer offer the biggest bounty of fresh, locally- grown fruits. Farmers’ market stands and pick-your-own farms brim with strawberries in March and April, followed by blackberries in May, and peaches and plums as early as mid-May and June. Blueberries will make a brief but delicious appearance in June and July, and figs will be plentiful July and August, when apples will start showing up and continuing into the fall.

S Farm to Your Table Enjoying fruits at the peak of season

By Claudia Alarcon

trawberries The quintessential fruit of spring should be used liberally in any spring-themed party. But don’t stop with the strawberry shortcake. Make seasonal place settings by adding strawberries to small baskets and labeling with name tags; your guests can snack on them while you get everything ready. Or freeze a few slices in ice trays and serve these dressedup ice cubes in tall glasses of fresh lemonade.

You can also use a few whole or sliced berries to make an eyecatching ice bowl. Find two glass, plastic, or stainless steel bowls; one should be small enough to fit inside the other with about an inch of space between them. Arrange strawberry and citrus slices, whole blueberries, edible flowers and a few fresh herb sprigs around the inside of the larger bowl and place the smaller bowl over them. Tape the two bowls together so they stay in place. You may need to add weight to the smaller bowl to keep it from floating up. Carefully fill the space between the bowls with filtered water to about 1/2 inch from the top and freeze for about 30 minutes or until ice crystals form on the water surface. Using a wooden skewer, add or reposition fruit and flowers periodically as the water freezes.

Freeze overnight. Remove the bowls from the freezer and allow them to stand at room temperature until they separate easily. Remove the tape, unmold the ice bowl and return it to the freezer until needed. Use it to serve a fresh fruit salad, chilled seafood or a lively punch.

Austin-based cookbook author and TV personality Marie Saba shares her tips for choosing strawberries: “Strawberries should be bright red and firm. Green or yellow patches on the fruit indicate that it is not yet ripe. Although it is tempting to reach for a basket of big fat strawberries, the smaller berries actually have better flavor. Of course, avoid berries that have soft spots, bruises or mold. Store ripe (bright red) strawberries uncovered in the refrigerator; if not fully ripe, store them in a closed paper bag on the countertop overnight. Always wash them just before serving or using in a recipe.”

urbanhomemagazine.com

Peaches Summer in Texas means peaches, but don’t relegate them just to dessert. Peaches can also be used in a variety of savory ways. One option is to slice them in half with the seed removed, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with chopped fresh rosemary or thyme, sea salt and cracked pepper. Grill them cut-side down for about two minutes or until they get nice grill marks. Turn them over and grill for a few more minutes, until heated through and slightly soft, and serve them with grilled pork or chicken or, of course, topped with vanilla ice cream.

Valerie Broussard, staff forager at Trace at the W Hotel in Austin shares her tips on picking the best: “Perfectly ripe peaches will be fragrant and juicy; they should be firm but give slightly when gently pressed. Ideally, they’ll ripen on the tree - they will soften after picking but won’t get much sweeter. If you’re buying fruit rather than picking it yourself, look for fruit that has been handled carefully and is free of bruises. Avoid peaches with greenish undertones as they were probably under ripe when picked.”

Figs These exquisite fruits grow well in our area and chances are you know someone with a tree in their yard, but unfortunately, figs are largely underutilized. Here’s a simple idea: stuff them carefully from the bottom with a piece of goat cheese or blue cheese, wrap in prosciutto or serrano ham and secure with a toothpick. Broil or grill for about five minutes or until prosciutto starts to crisp and the figs warm. Serve immediately as an appetizer, over salad greens lightly tossed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or as an accompaniment to roast pork. If you are lucky and have access to a fig tree, use the leaves to line serving trays and platters for a Mediterranean look, or wrap fish or chicken and grill or oven-roast to add a unique aroma and flavor. Figs are delicate, they don’t travel or store well and they don’t ripen once picked. Look for Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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fruit that is soft to the touch, has slightly cracked skin and shriveled stems (meaning they are perfectly ripe) and a deep, uniform color.

Blackberries Blackberries are ubiquitous in cobblers and ice creams, but because of their high acidity they are an excellent addition to savory dishes. An easy way to incorporate them into your cooking is to blend them thoroughly to make a puree, then strain to remove the seeds. Add this to BBQ sauce — whether you make it from scratch or to enhance a store-bought product — or to vinegar-based salad dressings and marinades. Adding sugar to taste and reducing in a saucepan yields a syrup that can be used over pancakes or in summery cocktails. Or keep it simple and toss whole berries with a splash of balsamic vinegar and a pinch of sugar and serve over ice cream or cheesecake.

John Lash, owner of Farm to Table, which distributes locallygrown farm products to area restaurants, cafeterias and grocery stores, is partial to blackberries grown in Poteet, a small Central Texas town known for its impressive berries. Look for plump, unblemished berries with a deep dark color and no green or white spots — these mean they are unripe and likely sour. If you pick-your-own be sure to wear gloves and mind the thorny branches or you’ll destroy your hands!

Lavender Although very much en vogue these days, lavender has long been used as a key ingredient in herbes de Provence. Lash explains that lavender is part of the mint family and is well-suited for the Central Texas climate as it doesn’t need much water or rich soil and can withstand harsh summer conditions. His company maintains a unique partnership with Gonzalo Garza Independence High School in Austin, where horticulture students grow the lavender that Farm to Table supplies to many area restaurants.

Lavender’s heady aroma and herbal flavor complements rich creams, oils, butter and eggs, making it perfect for vinaigrettes, dressings, marinades, ice cream and all kinds of baked goods.

Lavender infused sugar and honey are easy to make. For lavender sugar, add about one tablespoon crushed or chopped lavender buds to two cups of sugar. Place in a glass jar, shake to mix and store for a couple of days. The sugar will pick up the lavender scent and flavor and can be used on anything. For lavender honey, heat 8 ounces of light honey in a double boiler. Add eight tablespoons of fresh lavender buds, or four of dried. Stir on low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to partially cool.

Strain and pour into in a jar. Use as you would regular honey. v Farm to Table 512.568.2071 Farmtotabletx.com Marie Saba Mariesaba.com Sustenio at Eilan Hotel Resort & Spa 210.598.2950 Eilanhotel.com Trace at W Austin 512.542.3660 Traceaustin.com 76

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Recipe Corner

Simply Superb Strawberry Shortcakes

Courtesy of Marie Saba Note from Marie: My mom often made strawberry shortcake for us when we were kids. It was my favorite dessert, especially in the summer. Instead of cooking the strawberries, I merely marinate them in sugar. This process softens the berries and brings out the juices, leaving you with the vibrant red filling and a sweet sauce to pour over the rich buttery cakes. Add a spoonful of lightly sweetened whipped cream for an extra indulgence. Serves 8 Ingredients: 1¾ cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup plus 6 tablespoons sugar, divided 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into eight slices 1 large egg 1/3 cup plus ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, divided 4 cups fresh strawberries Topping: 1 pint heavy whipping cream 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Preheat oven to 425°. Place the flour, ¼ cup sugar, baking powder and salt in a food processor; add butter. Pulse until the mixture looks like cornmeal (do not over mix). In a small bowl, whisk the egg and 1/3 cup cream. Pour into the food processor; pulse until dough holds together (dough will be soft and slightly sticky).

Using a spoon and your hands as needed, form 8 small biscuits about 3 inches in diameter and ¾ inch thick. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Brush remaining cream across the top of each biscuit. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

While biscuits are baking, wash, hull and slice the strawberries into a large bowl. Add the remaining sugar and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap. Marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.

For topping, in a small mixing bowl, whip the pint of cream.

When cream is almost whipped, add sugar and vanilla; continue whipping until firm. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Remove biscuits from oven. Cool for 10 minutes. Slice biscuits horizontally in half. Spoon strawberries and juice over the bottom halves; place top halves over the berries. Add a dollop of whipped cream. urbanhomemagazine.com

John Herdman, Sustenio Executive Sous Chef

Roasted Pork Loin

with Peaches, Lamb’s Lettuce Pistou and Roasted Pecan Crumble Courtesy of Trace at W Austin For pork: 2 pounds pork loin 1 ¼ gallons water 1 ¼ pounds kosher salt ¾ cup honey Mix water, salt and honey to make brine. Brine pork loin for 20 minutes, remove from brine and pat dry. Roast in a 350° oven to desired temperature (145° for medium, 160° for well-done). Remove from heat source and let stand 10 to 15 minutes before carving. Reserve pan jus.

For Pistou: 1 pound lamb’s lettuce (arugula, watercress or any bitter green will work) 2 cups extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves minced garlic ½ cup parmesan cheese Zest of one lemon Combine in food processor to the texture of chunky pesto.

Fig-Hibiscus “Agua Fresca” with 10-year-old balsamic

Courtesy of David Gilbert, Executive Chef, Sustenio at Eilan Hotel Resort & Spa Inspiration: When we were asked to come up with something fig-focused, we had to take a small step back and think beyond the classics. The food and cocktails in Sustenio all have a story or personal inspiration from the culinary team whether that is from a recent international trip or life experience. An ingredient as simple as a fig can bring the finest creativity out in the Sustenio culinary team — we collaborated for several days, and tinkered around with concepts—arriving at a fun and interactive cocktail of sorts for the readers of Urban Home Magazine.

I pushed the boundaries of applying basic chemistry and physics into something everyone can make at home. Feel free to add a little bit of your favorite distilled spirit - but the drink is designed to be refreshing with or without the alcohol.

Essentials to start with: Soda Syphon & Soda Chargers (purchase at a local kitchen store or online at Amazon.com)

For Roasted Pecan Crumble: 1 cup butter roasted pecans 1 ounce butter 3 ounces bacon fat 1 ounce honey Salt and pepper to taste Roast pecans in brown butter until toasted, drain off fat and season with salt and pepper. Add to food processor and process only until slightly chunky. Mix in bacon fat and honey by hand.

Ingredients: 10-year-old balsamic (purchase online or from Gaucho Gourmet in San Antonio) 1 ounce Flor de Jamaica (hibiscus flower) 1.2 quarts of cold purified water 1 cup of quartered figs - Black Mission figs are ideal because of the color and sweetness although brown turkey figs can be used as a substitute 2 tablespoons of piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar) or substitute with 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar.

To serve: Fresh or grilled peaches Leaves of greens used in pistou 4 pieces pork jowl, guanciale, pancetta, or well-marbled bacon, fried until crisp Arbequina olives Slice pork and divide into four plates. Drizzle with reserved pan jus and pistou. Sprinkle with pecan crumble. Top with thin slices of fresh or grilled peaches and garnish with a few leaves, Arbequina olives, and a strip of crisp-fried bacon.

Serve immediately.

Method of production: Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pot, place heat on low and gently simmer for 20-30 minutes until the water reduces by 1/3. Allow liquid to cool with ingredients inside. Strain cold liquid through a fine mesh sieve — cheesecloth or coffee filter inside sieve removes all sediment but is not mandatory.

Place strained liquid inside soda syphon and inject with soda charger. Shake the soda charger several times and keep refrigerated or serve immediately. Garnish with A DROP of 10-yearold balsamic and small, diced fig for texture.

Follow Chef Gilbert on Twitter @beyondthekit

urbanhomemagazine.com

Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

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t

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04 2012

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a statement “ Make without saying a word.

Texas

Fa

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Let one of our window covering experts inspire you to make your own statement.

Destination:

Pick-YourOwn Farms

Hill Country Lavender Photography by Tasha Brieger

By Julie Catalano

Marburger Orchard

Markley Family Farm Photography by Mikie Farias

What a difference a year makes. With rain making a welcome return to Central Texas, spring is bursting out all over. What better way to celebrate than with luscious fruits ripe for the picking. Fresh vegetables, too. New to PYO (pickyour-own) farms? Always check each farm’s website – or better yet, call ahead – for hours, directions, payment methods, pet policies, and a “picking calendar” of what’s available and when. Bring

knowledgeable, and ready to help you find, pick and enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of their labors.

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

Sweet Berry Farm Marble Falls, Sweetberryfarm.com, 830.798.1462 Open six months of the year (March, April, May,

Sweet Berry Farm

June, October, November), Sweet Berry Farm features “six acres of strawberries, oneand-a-half acres of blackberries, and two acres of miscellaneous vegetables,” according to owner Dan Copeland, who with wife Gretchen opened Sweet Berry Farm twelve years ago. The Marble Falls native says that springtime at the farm “is more laid back, more geared toward the fruit – strawberries and blackberries – and having a good, relaxing time.” May brings the small, red new potatoes, grown in big supply for PYO. “Lots of people have never picked their own potatoes before.” Fall is more festive, with hay rides, pumpkin painting, and a couple of acres of pickyour-own zinnias. Spring and fall field trips are geared to pre-K and up, and feature planting activities, feeding the animals, scarecrow stuffing and more. Check out the Texas Maze (call ahead to see urbanhomemagazine.com

Visit our new showroom LOCATED IN THE SHOPS AT THE GALLERIA

&

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FREE INSTALLATION

FREE ESTIMATE

PHONE 512.608.0302

Hill Country Galleria

2244

hat and rain gear (just in case). Owners are friendly,

Fredericksburg, Marburgerorchard.com, 830.997.9433 A Hill Country tradition for 34 years, peaches are the primary crop at Marburger Orchard. But if you hurry, you might catch the end of strawberry season, which started “unusually early this year,” according to owner Gary Marburger, and will start to “taper off after the first week or two of April.” Blackberry lovers (the fruit, not the device) need to move quickly too, with the season starting the second week of May and lasting “for only about five or six weeks.”

Late May to early August is

peach season – they have ten varieties – but Marburger has a caution for pick-your-own peach newbies: “Different varieties ripen at different times, and sometimes people think of us as a grocery store where they can come anytime they want.”

Nature doesn’t work that way, and a freeze or a hailstorm can change things overnight.

Check the website, he says, or call, “to make sure we have something available at the time you’re planning to come.”

As always, we provide professional estimates and installation at no charge.

620

water, snacks, sunscreen,

Marburger Orchard

Bastrop Gardens

Our new showroom has a fantastic selection of blinds, solar control window film, automated shades, plantation shutters, custom draperies and much more.

HWY 71

HWY 71 shops at the galleria

12918 SHOPS PARKWAY, SUITE 700

We are located at the intersections

austintatiousblinds.com

the Shops at the Galleria (across

BEE CAVES, TEXAS 78738

512 608 0302

of Bee Caves Rd/Hwy 71/Hwy 620 at from the Hill Country Galleria) next door to Barbeques Galore.

if it’s finished) – a four-and-a-half acre maze in the shape of Texas with “destinations” to match up on your game card.

Says Copeland on his website: “It can be pretty difficult.” But very fun.

Bastrop Gardens Cedar Creek, Bastropgardens.com, 512.303.5672 Deena Spellman prefers the title “creative director” to “owner.” “It’s much more fun to be a creative director,” she says. Her approach to her four-and-a-half acre Bastrop Farms is certainly multilayered (“like an onion”) what with it being a nursery, landscape firm, irrigation firm, heirloom tea room and pick-your-own farm all in one. The Ohio native with degrees in botany and horticulture has a real mission to educate. “We try to teach people about eating living food, grown in season, eating five colors a day and eating small portions.” Eating within two to four hours of picking “is when you’re going to get the most benefit from the vitamins, especially in the leafy greens.” Heirloom tomatoes, peppers and eggplants get planted in the spring, and “by Memorial Day weekend we start picking tomatoes.” The beauty of going to “a mom and pop” operation, like hers with husband Jeff Long, is “that’s where you find your expertise. Not only are you eating something grown locally, you’re supporting your community.”

And learning how to grow it yourself, “if you want.”

REALTOR’S ADVICE

Love Creek Orchards Medina, Lovecreeknursery.com, 830.589.2588 When Baxter Adams started experimenting with an apple orchard at his ranch, the skeptics scoffed. “They said, ‘You fool, you can’t grow apples in Texas.’”

That was 30 years ago, and Adams and wife Carol are having the last laugh with about a dozen varieties of apples at Love Creek Orchards, their PYO farm in Medina. “People love it here,” he says. “We furnish containers and show them which trees to pick, coach them a little bit, and then turn them loose.” Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Jonathan, Granny Smith and more start coming in from early July through early November. Blackberries are the farm’s first ripe fruits starting in early May, followed by peaches, figs and oriental persimmons. Down the street from the farm is the Apple Store (featured on the Food Network) with its gift shop, Patio Cafe, and famous “Five Pounds of Apples” pie. But Adams’ pride and joy is the magnificent bigtooth maple tree of Lost Maples foliage fame, sold in five-gallon containers. “We’re the biggest bigtooth maple propagators in the country. When I first saw them I said that’s the most beautiful tree I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Hill Country Lavender Blanco, Hillcountrylavender.com, 830.833.2294

Markley Family Farm New Braunfels, Markleyfamilyfarm.com, 830.629.4877

“We grow pretty much everything,” says Bryan Markley, owner with wife Becky of Markley Family Farm in New Braunfels. “Squash, bell peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, lettuce, green beans, spinach, onions, everything. When people come I have a list of what’s available.” Some – like tomatoes and strawberries – are grown hydroponically, that is, in stackable pots using a soilless mix of coconut fiber and vermiculite. The decision to go hydroponic was a necessity (“we have a heavy clay soil, not right for strawberries”) that came in handy during the recent drought. “Instead of watering the whole ground, you just water the individual pot.” Herbs include basil, mint, thyme, sage, oregano, spearmint, chocolate mint and more. If you’re not into picking your own, Markley offers a very popular Farmer’s Basket co-op program (CSA - Community Supported Agriculture). “People pay for produce in advance and then pick up a basket of freshly-picked vegetables.” But you’ll need to be patient. “We have a pretty big waiting list.”

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Mmmm, lavender. Just the word evokes calm – which lavender is purported to induce and which we could all use more of. Owner Tasha Brieger’s two-and-a-half acres of culinary variety Provence lavender (lavandula intermedia) promises a soothing experience of cut-your-own blooms, starting in mid May into early July. “We supply scissors and tell you how to do it. It’s really easy.” Brieger admits this season may be “a little smaller because we lost some plants last year, but we held up fairly well. I’m thinking we’ll have a decent bloom.” Completely chemical free, the bunches can be hung and dried.

“You can either cook with the whole buds, or grind them up to use as a powder” for teas, sugars and other flavorings. A full line of lavender products are available in the year-round store on the square in Blanco. “If you call ahead you can have lunch in the lavender field,” says Brieger. “People love it, especially when it’s blooming and gorgeous and all purple and it smells good.” Mmmm. v picktexas.org Texas Department of Agriculture. Information on PYO farms, a Texas Fresh Produce Guide and listings of farms by counties. texaspeaches.com Hill Country Fruit Council. Ripening dates, recipes and listings of fruit orchards and vegetable farms. urbanhomemagazine.com

Your “Green Insurance”:

The ECAD

Ordinance

By Leonard Guerrero, Chairman, Austin Board of REALTORS®

T

he growth of the green building movement, along with rising utility costs across the country, has changed the way consumers buy and sell homes today. More now than ever, energy efficiency is a key component in determining one’s ability to afford a home.

But definitions for “energy efficient” seem to change constantly — how do you find out which green improvements that your current or prospective home may need to meet the most current energy standards?

For this reason, the City of Austin enacted the Energy Conservation Audit & Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance in 2009.

By requiring energy audits to be conducted and promptly disclosed prior to sale on most properties 10 years and older within the city limits and serviced by Austin Energy, the ECAD Ordinance helps homebuyers and sellers become better informed on the energy efficiency of their homes.

If you’re looking to sell, an ECAD audit will tell you if any energy efficiencies are present in your home. The option of making your home more energy efficient will often increase the overall value of your home and make it more attractive to potential buyers.

According to Austin Energy, 41 percent of homeowners felt an energy audit helped them sell their home. Completing the audit while you’re still preparing the property for sale will also simplify the selling process once there is an offer on your home.

The ECAD Ordinance also simplifies the home buying process, equipping prospective homeowners with valuable information about the energy efficiency of the homes they are considering.

ECAD audits can show you what kind of energy efficiency improvements a home may need and what its utility bills will mean to your total cost of homeownership.

Contact your local REALTOR® to find out if your home requires an audit, how to satisfy the audit requirement quickly and efficiently and find an approved auditor. I also encourage you to visit www.austinenergy.com/go/ecad to learn more about the ordinance as well as view Austin Energy’s Guide for Homebuyers, Home Sellers and Homeowners to learn about available Austin Energy incentives that can help homeowners meet the ECAD requirements or qualify for an audit exemption. v

A DV E R T I S E R I N D E X AUDIO VISUAL

Service Tech Audio Visual www.servicetechav.com 512.456.2800

ASSOCIATIONS

Austin NARI www.austinnari.org 512.708.0637

NARI San Antonio www.remodelsanantonio.org 210.348.6274

CARPET & FLOORING

Schroeder Flooring & Carpet Specialists www.schroedercarpet.com 512.462.1551

CLOSET DESIGN

California Closets of the Texas Hill Country Austin: 512.441.6061 www.californiaclosets.com/austin San Antonio: 210.829.1991 www.californiaclosets.com/san-antonio

CONCRETE REPAIR

Trim-A-Slab www.trim-a-slab.com 512.943.7655

CUSTOM HOME CONSULTANTS

Jimmy Jacobs Custom Homes www.jacobhomes.com 512.930.4041

Stone Systems of Central Texas www.stone-systems.com 512-295-2950

Markee Construction, Inc. 512.480.9312

Wilson AC & Appliance www.wilsonappliance.com 512.894.0907

New Urban Home Builders www.newurbanhomebuilders.com 512.626.0360 Texas Casual Cottages by Trendmaker www.texascasualcottages.com 979.278.3015 VII Custom Homes www.VIIhomes.com 512.215.2939

HOME REMODELING

Case Handyman & Remodeling www.austin.caseremodeling.com 512.300.2273 CG&S Design-Build www.cgsdb.com 512.444.1580 Hill Bros. Custom Homes & Renovations www.hillbrosconstruction.com 210.621.7990

By Design Custom Home Consulting www.karensellsaustin.com 512.917.2653

KM Builders www.kmbuilders1.com 210.680.5626

CUSTOM METAL WORK

Lone Star Remodeling & Renovations www.lonestarsa.com 210.690.4663

Christopher Voss – 4th Generation Craftsman, Inc. www.christophervoss.com 210.843.4332

DEVELOPMENTS

Realty Restoration www.realtyrestoration.com 512.454.1661

FURNITURE & DESIGN

Bella Villa Design www.bellavillads.com 512.443.3200

Rough Hollow Lakeway www.roughhollowlakeway.com 512.617.1776 Catrina’s at the Ranch www.catrinasattheranch.com 830.755.6355 / 210.535.3070 IKEA IKEA-USA.com/livingroom

INTERIOR DESIGN

Dawn Hearn Interior Design www.dawnhearn.com 512.930.0250

GLASS & WINDOWS

Panache Interiors www.panacheinteriors.com 512.452.7773

GRANITE & STONE

The Bath & Kitchen Showplace www.bkshowplace.com 512.454.4619

Anchor Ventana www.ventanaman.com 512.388.9400

Fine Stone Gallery www.finestonegallery.com 210.889.4809

HOME BUILDERS

KITCHEN & BATH

Homewerks www.homewerkssa.com 210.499.5760

Buffington Homes www.mybuffington.com 512.844.6813

KitchenCraft www.kitchencraftofaustin.com 512.302.3700

Dylan Martin Homes & Remodeling www.dylanmartinhomes.com 512.692.9212 / 512.350.1088

Miele www.mieleusa.com 1.800.843.7231

Foursquare Builders www.foursquarebuilders.com 512.944.4520

Morrison Supply Company www.morsco.com 512.928.1110

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Urban Home Austin – San Antonio

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Land Art Garden Center www.landartgardencenter.com 512.264.2622 Manuel Flores www.floresflowers.com Pearson Landscape Services www.pearsonlandscape.com 512.386.5900

LIGHTING

Lighting, Inc. www.lightinginc.com Austin: 512.491.6444 San Antonio: 210.541.8500

OUTDOOR LIVING

HomeField www.homefieldliving.com 830.626.1971

Out Back Patio Furnishings www.outbackunlimited.com 830.798.9761

POOLS & WATER FEATURES

Liquid Assets www.liquidassets-pools.com Austin: 512.444.5444 San Antonio: 210.680.7665

REAL ESTATE

Austin Board of Realtors www.austinhomesearch.com

VOSS CHRISTOPHER

FOURTH GENERATION CRAFTSMAN, INC.

Phyllis Browning Company www.phyllisbrowning.com 210.824.7878

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

Design Visions of Austin www.designvisionsofaustin.com 512.583.0059

WATER TREATMENTS

Texas Water Solutions www.texaswatersolutions.net Austin: 512.858.2525 San Antonio: 210.977.8300

WINDOW COVERINGS & AWNINGS Austintatious Blinds & Shutters www.austintatiousblinds.com 512.608.0302 Texas Sun & Shade www.txsunandshade.com 512.402.0990

urbanhomemagazine.com

210.843.4332

www.christophervoss.com