Few would deny that an entry door, like a person’s face, is one of the most important elements of a home. A visitor looks for the entry when searching for a building, sees it up close when entering, and touches it when entering and exiting the building, and this happens hundreds, maybe thousands of times. … Read more
I emerged from my truck into a lush summertime landscape of tall grass surrounded by carefully planted yet unruly flower gardens surrounding a cozy home and numerous outbuildings. It warmed my heart to see signs of life everywhere I looked. There were paths with vine covered archways and children’s toys lying about, abandoned wherever they … Read more
It has been awhile since my heart and my head have been in a place that would allow me to continue this thread of posts. For the past ten years or so, I have been living and working in a place where the wooden structures that I so love are a rarity. For a number … Read more
Repurposed Barns Another Form of Energy Efficiency Recently I visited the beautiful old home of a friend who just happens to also be a well known historian. We toured the grounds of his gentleman’s farm, surveying a collection of ‘antique’ buildings, which included the old hen house, a grainery, the cow barn, and last but … Read more
Building or Renovating a House Can Be A Daunting Task or A Great Adventure For most people, a major renovation will be the largest project, in terms of time and expense that they will undertake in their lifetime. Although it does get easier after the second or third project, should you be a serial renovator, … Read more
Capomastro – Italian for master builder: He who maintains an experienced eye and steady hand in all aspects of construction, from concept through completion. The Capomastro respects the balance between structure and aesthetics, practicality and creativity. He works hand in hand with architects, designers, and owners to maintain fluidity of process and the integrity of … Read more