ESPJ Construction Specializing in Concrete and Masonry Services for Patios, Pool Decks, Driveways, and Walkways Explains Why Decorative Concrete is Such a Hot Trend in 2012

Northern Jersey, NJ (PRWEB) February 26, 2012

In the last several years, the use of concrete has drastically changed. Decorative concrete has definitely become a hot design trend for patios, entryways, driveways, and pool decks. Today, ESPJ Construction announced the benefits to adding decorative concrete to a home.

“Unlike pavers or natural stone, cement offers a wide range of options since it can be shaped, imprinted, textured, and colored to achieve any look,” says owner Giovani Espjo. “Even though concrete is a less expensive alternative than natural stone, its quality, durability, and strength are second to none.”

Here are just a few reasons decorative concrete is becoming so popular:

Increased resale value of property

The authentic-looking textures and appearances offer the beauty of natural surfaces without all the added expense. Stamped and colored concrete turns driveways, borders, walkways, patios, steps, and pool decks into beautiful works of art and adds instant curb appeal and aesthetic value to a property.

Ability to create custom looks

Color is yet another design option. Some companies such as ESPJ Construction offer a vast palette of color choices and even multi-colors to compliment any home’s exterior. In addition, homeowners can add simple or complex designs to concrete including borders, logos, names, numbers, or other motifs.

Requires less maintenance

Stamped concrete requires minimal maintenance compared to natural stone and other paving materials which saves money and time. In addition, concrete never needs resetting or replacing.

ESPJ Construction is an innovative company specializing in concrete stamping as well as pool copings, pool decks, retaining walls, patios, sidewalks, driveways, fountains, curbs, stairs, steps, waterfalls, and other custom projects. Their staff regularly attends seminars and conventions to stay up-to-date on all the newest products available.

With 17 years experience and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, their innovative design capabilities have earned them a reputation as one of the top concrete specialists in Northern New Jersey.

For more information about this state-of-the-art company, please visit their website http://www.espjconstruction.com.

About ESPJ Construction

ESPJ Construction and Concrete offers specialty concrete and masonry services perfect for patios, walkways, pool decks, driveways, retaining walls, home exteriors, entrances, and more. They serve New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

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Giovani Espjo
ESPJ Construction Corporation
(908) 925-4220
Email Information

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Top Morristown Concrete Contractor Announces the Benefits to Adding Decorative Concrete to a Home

An interior decorator was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Inner Ring Road, Koramangala, on Friday night.

Tarun Kumar Choudhary (32), a native of Bihar who had settled at New Byappanahalli here around seven years ago, was riding his two-wheeler when an unidentified car rammed the motorcycle. “As Tarun was not wearing a helmet, he died on the spot,” said a source from the Ulsoor traffic police. As the road was poorly lit, eyewitnesses could not note down the number of the vehicle, said the police.

Tarun leaves behind wife and two young children.

Four held

Four persons were arrested by the Devarajeevanahalli police in the early hours on Saturday for allegedly setting vehicles on fire in P&T Quarters . The arrested are Kumar (19), Abhishek (21), John (20) and Vishwanath (21), all residents of Kavalbyrasandra.

They allegedly set fire to two motorcycles, an autorickshaw and two four-wheelers by pouring kerosene around 12.45 a.m.

Commits suicide

The body of a 17-year-old girl was found hanging in a shed near her residence at Bandenallasandra, near Anekal, on Saturday morning.

According to the Bannerghatta police, Uma, who worked at a brick factory in Jigni Industrial Estate, hanged herself with her mother's sari. They were unsure of the reasons behind the suicide.

Uma was a native of Tamil Nadu.

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Interior decorator killed in hit and run

Floor and Decor Outlet announces the shipping availability of cost-effective home improvement PA products including flooring PA homeowners will utilize in their home improvement projects.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 26, 2012

Homeowners will have many options for Philadelphia flooring including PA tile and hardwood flooring PA residents can order for delivery to their homes. A wide variety of hardwood PA products are available from the online store including solid hardwood Pennsylvania residents will use, engineered hardwood flooring, laminate flooring and green products for floors Philadelphia homeowners can feel good about such as bamboo and cork. Underlayment products, wood adhesive, molding and caulk are just some of the products available to make installing hardwood flooring PA easy and convenient.

Tile products for flooring Philadelphia residents can rely on for durability include marble, travertine, slate and ceramic. Homeowners can also order additional tile to create accents and borders around their homes. Additionally, Floor and Decor Outlet provides materials for tile installation including sealer, backerboard, grout and mortar.

In addition to saving on Pennsylvania flooring, homeowners will save on countertops PA residents may install. Pennsylvania granite countertops are just one of many products available from the Floor and Decor Outlet. With granite Pennsylvania guests will utilize in their kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms, homeowners will enjoy the longevity and durability associated with granite in PA.

To learn more about PA flooring and other home decor options, visit the store website. The store will ship directly to Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania cities, which will lower costs for homeowners who would otherwise have to special order the products from a home improvement store. The store also offers free design services and live chat services for homeowners who need assistance.

Vayu Media is assisting Floor and Decor to raise their web presence in the rapidly growing home flooring market. Please visit the seo company to learn about the most effective social, seo, and mobile strategies in the market.

About Floor & Decor: Floor and Decor is a leading specialty retailer in the hard surface flooring market, offering the broadest selection of ceramic, stone, tile, wood, and laminate flooring available in the industry. Floor & Decor sources directly from manufacturers around the globe to bring the world’s best and most innovative flooring to our customers at the lowest price in the marketplace. In addition, Floor & Decor stocks the necessary tools, decorative, and related accessories for flooring projects. Floor and Decor is focused on the residential remodeling segment. F&D's customers are primarily do-it-yourself consumers and professional contractors. The Company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Floor and Decor currently operates 30 stores in 15 metropolitan markets across the country. Stores typically range in size from 60,000 to 80,000 square feet, and each store stocks approximately 2,500 products.

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PR Department - Vayu Media
Vayu Media
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Floor and Decor Will Now Ship Their Flooring Products Directly to Homeowners in Pennsylvania

Should a roof exhibit any signs of decay, homeowners should address those issues immediately to avoid further damage. Metro Creative Services

Metro Creative Services

Replacing a roof is a costly venture few homeowners look forward to. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2010-11 “Cost vs. Value” report, the national average cost of a roof replacement is nearly $22,000, a costly endeavor considering the tenuous nature of the economy.

What’s more, homeowners who choose more upscale roofing materials can expect to spend almost $40,000 on their roofs.

Such costs make it no small wonder that many homeowners fear the dreaded diagnosis that their home needs a new roof.

While there’s little homeowners can do to reduce the cost of a roof replacement, there are warning signs homeowners can look for that might indicate a roof replacement is on the horizon.

Recognition of these signs can help homeowners be more financially prepared should the day come when the roof needs to be replaced.

• Algae — If the roof has lots of dark streaks and stains clinging to it, that is likely algae, which can grow on the roof for quite awhile.

Algae does not necessarily do any damage to a roof, but it does do some damage to a home’s physical appearance, as algae on the roof is not very pleasing to the eye.

Algae is most often found on the roofs of homes located in climates that have warm, humid summers. If algae is a problem on your roof, spray washing with a mixture of water and bleach can effectively remove it.

• Buckling shingles —Like algae, buckling shingles are another unsightly problem on a roof. But buckling shingles are more than just an eyesore, they actually might indicate significant problems. When shingles buckle, that’s typically because hot air from the attic is forcing the shingles away from the home. Continued...

Buckling shingles also indicate that the roof is poorly ventilated, which can take years off the roof’s life expectancy while driving up home cooling costs along the way.

• Granule loss — Granule loss is typically a byproduct of normal shingle wear and tear that results from inclement weather, such as hail. Older roofs might experience granule loss, but granule loss can also occur on a new roof if a defective roofing product was used.

Any granule loss, even if slight, should be addressed, as the side effects of granule loss include a weakened roof and leaking. If granule loss is not addressed, the consequences could be severe the next time a storm occurs.

• Mold — Unlike the warning signs already discussed, mold is not visible on the outside of the home. Instead, homeowners should look in the attic of a home to see if there is any mold growth.

If there is, the roof is likely leaking, and the health risks of mold growth in a home are substantial. Mold is not necessarily easy to detect, so a professional inspection might be in order if mold growth is suspected. If a professional determines mold is, in fact, present, then the mold will need to be removed and all options, including a roof replacement, must be considered to keep mold from coming back.

• Roof rot — Perhaps the most discouraging sign a homeowner can see on his or her roof is roof rot. Roof rot appears when a roof is in considerable decay and, if not addressed, its consequences can stretch far beyond the roof, damaging other parts of the home thanks in large part to water getting through the roof.

If roof rot is either not noticed or just ignored, it won’t take long for water to get through the roof and blaze a destructive path through the rest of the home.

Homeowners might fear a full roof replacement because of the cost associated with such a project. But if ignored, problems with a roof could eventually prove far more costly than the price of replacing the roof.

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Home & Garden: Five signs of roof wearPublished Feb. 26, 2012

ELYRIA — Charlotte Norris delicately descended the steps to the basement, pulled a thin cord to shine a light and made her way to a small room near the back of Monteith Hall.

Then, she walked into a small, dusty room with a low ceiling and pointed to the concrete block wall.

It stood out from the other sandstone walls of the room.

“We think it was right here,” she said. “It faces the back of the house and the Black River. It could have easily been the place where slaves came in on the Underground Railroad. All John Monteith would have to do is hide the door to the room and no one would know he was an abolitionist hiding slaves.”

Click any image to view larger.

The tunnel or any remnants to definitively tell historian where the tunnel may have been had since been closed up, but Norris, a longtime member of the Elyria Woman’s Club, the home’s owner since 1954, was happy to show off the spot that helped to solidify the home’s place on the National Register of Historic Homes.

It is also that bit of history that Norris would like Elyrians to remember because Monteith Hall, sometimes simply described as the “old white house on East Avenue with the big pillars” is in need of work to maintain the 177-year-old historic gem.

“This home has gone through a lot of remodeling over the years, but people are still very impressed when they see the house,” she said. “There is so much history here worth preserving.”

That is why the Elyria Woman’s Club will hold three fundraisers in coming months to raise money for the soon much needed repairs.

Norris said the money will be used to fund the repair and restoration of the pillars and pilasters on the front of the house. They are peeling and cracking. The last time they received any work was at least 20 years ago. Now, the work that needs to be done will cost between $20,000 and $30,000.

“There are no other structural problems with the home. It has held up well over the years because all of its owners have taken good care of it,” she said.

Built in 1835, the home is one of the oldest homes in Elyria. It was built by the Rev. John Monteith, an ordained minister and a staunch abolitionist.

Norris said Monteith gave fiery anti-slavery sermons and speeches and was never silenced by the threats of those who opposed his views. He worked with other abolitionists in Oberlin and Elyria, and he used his home as a place were runaway slaves could receive food, rest and hide until going on to Lake Erie.

Monteith Hall then became the home of former Elyria Mayor Nahum B. Gates. He married Sarah Monteith in 1841. Their son William N. Gates and his wife, Ada, totally remodeled the house in 1898. That is when the pillars and pilasters were added on the front porch.

After Gates’ death in 1913, his widow donated $25,000 to help build the Gates Hospital for Crippled Children, now the Gates Medical Center, which is a part of EMH Medical Center in Elyria.

Norris said a lot of work — much of it completed by club member Betty Bergman Camp — was done to document and preserve the home’s history. Restoring the pillars and pilasters is just another step in that process.

ELYRIA WOMAN’S CLUB FUNDRAISERS

For reservations or information on any event, call (440) 322-0524 or (440) 322-3644.

WINE TASTING EVENT

What: There will be a variety of wines, a hors d’oeuvres buffet, a Chinese auction, a 50/50 raffle and a special guest, a survivor of the “Titanic.”

When: 7 to 9 p.m. March 24.

Where: Monteith Hall, 218 East Ave.

Cost: Tickets are $20 each with advance reservations, or $25 at the door.

SPAGHETTI DINNER

What: Caterer Jennifer Ehlke will prepare the meal. Guests are allowed to bring their favorite wine (and glasses) to the event.

When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 21.

Where: Monteith Hall, 218 East Ave.

Cost: Tickets are $12 for adults, and $6 for 12 years and younger.

FASHION SHOW AND LUNCH

What: The show will begin with fashions from Midway Mall’s Christopher & Banks. Lunch will follow at noon. There will be musical selections by area singers and door prizes.

When: 11 a.m. May 12.

Where: Monteith Hall, 218 East Ave.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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Elyria Woman’s Club raising funds to preserve historic Monteith Hall

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 26, 2012

Today, the Bathroom Boss publicly announced an innovative approach to residential bathrooms, which aims to create a spa-like environment in the homes of their clients. Most recently, The Bathroom Boss made this experience possible by installing the state-of-the-art Kohler DTV shower system which includes smart features such as warm-up mode time and the ability to pause water flow.

The $25,000 bathroom remodel for Joe Marrone was located in the prestigious Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, named one of the top 25 “Top Earning Towns” by CNN Money and “The Best Place to Live in the Suburbs” by Philadelphia magazine.

“The Bathroom Boss came with a great reputation from people I knew,” says Joe. “He also had some great references on his website. The owner, Mike Treacy, did a total remodel from design to finishing work. He listened to my suggestions and I was involved every step of the way. From start to finish, he was professional, knowledgeable, clean, and very accommodating.”

The impressive three room bathroom featured an ergonomic hot tub, a Fresca modern glass vanity, polished porcelain floors, and textured porcelain tile in the 5’ x 7’ shower. In addition, the former old radiator was removed and a thin German designed Runtal radiator was installed. The bathroom was designed for simple living with a touch of class and modern charm.

“We realize that few spaces in the home are as personal and practical as a bathroom,” says Mike Treacy, owner of The Bathroom Boss. “We are very careful to understand our clients’ vision and work with them to make their dream a reality. In addition, we spend a great deal of time researching the latest bathroom designs, products, and interior decoration to keep up-to-date with all the trends.”

Although the Radnor project was an extensive remodel, The Bathroom Boss can create a personal space that is unique and within budget for any bathroom remodel, large or small. With a team of experienced home remodelers, they are able to care of all aspects of the remodeling process including the design, electrical, plumbing, tiling, lighting, and accessories.

What’s more, they treat their customers like royalty. With every complete bathroom remodel their clients receive a set of monogrammed bath towels and with every major master bathroom remodel clients receive a bottle of champagne and a gift certificate for dinner.

“I am very courteous about being in someone’s home,” Mike adds. “I realize this is not their workplace, this is their home where they live. I am meticulous about my work and handle all the finishing touches myself.”

To learn more about this impressive company, please visit their website, http://www.thebathroomboss.com.

About The Bathroom Boss

The Bathroom Boss has the manpower, knowledge, and experience to complete any bathroom remodel. They are careful to first understand a client’s vision, and then work with them for the entire project to make their dream become a reality. Their prompt, professional service at affordable prices has quickly earned them a reputation as one of the top bathroom remodelers in Bucks and Montgomery County.

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Radnor Bathroom Remodeling Contractor Launches New Approach to Bathroom Improvement That Aims to Create a Spa-Like ...

Nissa Blocher didn't have to see the grand three-story twin in West Philadelphia to decide to live there. The then-medical resident trusted her fiance, Victor Brubaker, a contractor and old-house aficionado who had been searching for the right house with good bones.

She had only two conditions - that the house have a garage and a way to get into the basement from the outside - and this house had neither. So it goes sometimes.

Still, the dignified, circa-1902 classical revival house was within walking distance of Clark Park, a market, a pet store, and several restaurants. For Nissa, who was attending the University of Pennsylvania nearby, and Victor, a former chef, that was too good to pass up.

"I just fell in love with all the intact original details: the leaded-glass windows, the wood trim, the mantel, the window seat," says Victor, who now runs his business, Victor Brubaker - Builder, out of the dwelling's second-floor office. "It's completely coincidental I moved back here."

Originally from West Philadelphia, he spent most of his childhood in southern Africa, where his father did missionary work. He worked in the restaurant business for 20 years before turning to architecture and "rehabbing homes before it became a spectator sport."

His first house was a fixer-upper, a 1920s bungalow in Trenton. Victor went on to rehab several Italianates in that city's historic Mill Hill district, where he admits to developing a passion for cast-plaster molding, one of several additions to the new house.

Nissa, who grew up in a Spanish-style home in St. Louis and went to medical school in Phoenix, had rehabbed a house in Arizona, even teaching herself how to do electrical work.

That was one of the things that attracted him to her, Victor jokes. The couple met online, and one of their dates revolved around pouring a concrete slab in a basement.

They bought their 2,600-square-foot West Philly twin in spring 2005, commuting from New Jersey for six months while $80,000 in renovations were completed. They updated plumbing and electrical service, installed new windows and central air-conditioning, refinished the floors, repaired the roof, and remodeled the 21/2 baths.

Outside, Victor restored the porch, drawing attention from neighbors as well as honorary citations from the University City Historical Society.

Kitchens are important to Victor, who graduated from the Restaurant School in Philadelphia and cooked at the French eatery Lahiere's in Princeton for 10 years. The rehab of this particular kitchen included reconfiguring the layout and setting the work space off from the path to the back door.

"Kitchens can be made too big sometimes," he says. "You just want enough space for two people to work comfortably."

They chose black limestone counters, a subway-tile backsplash, a farmhouse sink, and a commercial range. For contrast, they embraced a 100-year-old maple butcher block and an iron pot hanger, and turned the underused back staircase into a first-floor pantry and second-floor linen closet.

Most noticeable is the bar separating the kitchen from the dining room. They constructed it from salvaged oak paneling and closet trim from a historic home on Sansom Street undergoing improvements.

"He can churn out a whole party from this place. It still respects the period," Nissa says.

The living room is painted a lively green and dominated by a leaded-glass bay window and double doors that lead to the dining room.

In the mudroom, a dog cage is covered with ribbons from their pet's agility training, Nissa's latest hobby. The golden retriever - who came with the name Jimmy, after Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins - can open the back door.

Upstairs, the office is lined with stately bookshelves and flooded with natural light. A minimalist desk sits in the middle. As with all the other rooms in the house, the walls were repainted from baby blue and decorated with art and antiques from the couple's travels to Bolivia, Vietnam, Morocco, Turkey, and Cambodia. One wall features a poster from a recent mountain-climbing trip.

A nearby fireplace, lined in magenta tile, is covered with a wooden overmantel flanked by two griffins. The piece was stolen during construction but recovered a day after they were married - the pair found it in a Lancaster antiques mart.

Standing on the landing of the original staircase, the couple say they occasionally muse about moving closer to Nissa's endocrinology practice in Elkins Park, or to northwest Philadelphia, where many other grand old houses can be found.

"Every time we think about moving, they open a new restaurant down the street," Victor says.

Holding the banister, they say that they are content with the neighborhood and the house - and that, really, there's only one thing missing.

"We have to find the little pineapple that goes here," Nissa says.

Is your house a Haven?

Tell us about your haven by e-mail (and send digital photographs) at properties@ phillynews.com

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Rehabbing an old gem in West Philadelphia

1:00 AM

By Kelley Bouchard kbouchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

FALMOUTH -- When Dick and Pat Traynor bought their modest, one-story ranch on a bluff overlooking the town landing and Casco Bay in 2010, they anticipated adding a small second story to accommodate visiting children and grandchildren.

The retired couple figured the town would approve the plan, since theirs was the only house in the waterfront neighborhood that didn't have a second or third story. They were wrong.

Neighbors who live behind the Traynors fought the expansion plan when it went before the Board of Zoning Appeals. They pointed to the town's unusual 2006 ban on additions that would have "a significant adverse impact on water views" from nearby properties. The Traynors ultimately withdrew the plan and settled for a much smaller, ground-level expansion.

"It got so acrimonious, we gave up on the idea of having a second story," Dick Traynor recalled. "Our house is still the runt on the Falmouth waterfront."

Repeatedly faced with similar battles over precious water views, Falmouth officials are again rethinking seaside zoning regulations. They'll take a first step on Monday, when the Town Council receives a proposal to create a Waterview Overlay Zone. Future proposals promise to be controversial, including one that would turn back the clock on house- and lot-size requirements set in the 1960s.

The reason for the conflict is clear -- waterfront property values have skyrocketed in recent years, and tax bills on lots in the Foreside neighborhood are two-and-a-half to nine times higher than elsewhere in Falmouth. But while many communities have wrestled with the value of water views -- and government's role in protecting competing interests of private property owners -- Falmouth may stand alone in passing zoning specifically designed to preserve private water views.

In a search of communities across the United States, Falmouth officials found none that went beyond protecting public "viewsheds," such as forested hillsides and scenic highways, according to Amanda Stearns, Falmouth's community development director.

In Maine, Camden has zoning that protects scenic coastal corridors and landscapes, and Bar Harbor protects vistas in its Town Hill and downtown districts. If pressed, municipalities may choose to protect private water views under more general zoning language that limits a project's negative impact on neighbors' property values.

"Towns usually don't get involved," Stearns said. "We didn't find other communities that expressly assist residents in protecting their water views. In most communities, unless you buy waterfront (property), you risk losing your water view."

Protecting water views

Falmouth moved to protect water views in 2006, after a number of waterfront property owners built larger homes that obscured upland neighbors' views. The Board of Zoning Appeals asked the Town Council to review the zoning last fall to make it more clear and less cumbersome.

"The board's reasoning is that 'significant adverse impact' is so ambiguous that it should either be amended to provide greater clarity or repealed," wrote Jay Meyer, appeals board chairman, in an Oct. 19 letter to the council.

At least one board member worried that by enforcing the zoning, the board is effectively taking away property rights and granting view easements to neighbors without compensating property owners who are being denied permission to expand, Meyer wrote.

Councilor Tony Payne, chairman of the committee that's reviewing waterfront zoning, shares the appeals board's concerns.

Payne said the only sure way to prevent a neighbor from obscuring a valued water view is to buy view rights, just as people buy easements to run a sewer line or build a driveway across a neighbor's land.

"A view easement is attached to the deed, so it preserves property rights in a legal way and makes it an economic decision, too," Payne said.

Still, Payne said, current waterfront zoning is unclear and unfair to both residents and the board, and it needs to be fixed.

"We're trying to be mindful of property owners' rights," Payne said. "The question is, where do my rights end and where do my neighbors' begin and what am I allowed to do with my property?"

Three proposals

On Monday, the Town Council will receive a proposal to create a Waterview Overlay District encompassing the Foreside and Flats neighborhoods east of Route 88, including Mackworth Point. The proposal was developed by Stearns and the council's Community Development Committee.

If approved, all property owners in the overlay district would need a conditional use permit to expand a single-family structure, demonstrating that a project is compatible with the neighborhood and won't have a significant adverse impact on others' water views.

Under current zoning, all nonconforming uses in town need a conditional use permit. Under the proposed change, nonconforming uses outside the Waterview Overlay District would need only a building permit from the code enforcement officer.

Falmouth officials are developing a second waterfront zoning proposal that would introduce a neighborhood negotiating process to the review of projects in the overlay district, Stearns said. Neighbors could sign off on a project or municipal staff would help negotiate a resolution before presenting it to the appeals board.

A third proposal, destined to be the most controversial, would call for changes in the dimensional requirements within the overlay zone, so the size and placement of homes would be more in keeping with the historical appearance of the waterfront area, Stearns said.

Many waterfront homes built at the turn of the last century were one- or two-story cottages set on small lots. Town zoning passed in 1965 established a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet, she said, and the maximum height allowed in the waterfront area is 35 feet.

Town officials would review the sizes of houses and lots throughout the overlay district and establish reduced dimensional requirements reflecting a majority of properties, Stearns said. The new requirements would stop short of regulating architectural style.

"This would be a huge step," Stearns said. "The current requirements take the neighborhood character away. This would be a return to the seaside village character. It would say that we like the form of the neighborhood as it is, so we want to perpetuate that."

For better or worse

The three waterfront zoning proposals are liable to get mixed reviews.

Matt Manahan, a land-use lawyer with Pierce Atwood in Portland who represents some of the Traynors' neighbors, said the first two zoning proposals make sense, but the third could make matters worse.

Manahan said trying to legislate the character of the Foreside neighborhood would make waterfront zoning more subjective and the project-review process more time-consuming, expensive and controversial.

"If you try to determine what the neighborhood character is, you may protect some water views but open the area to more intensive development," Manahan said.

If the concern is that some people will build "megamansions," he said, then reducing the height limit should be enough.

Manahan represents Christopher Green in particular, whose house at 11 Ayers Court is located directly behind the Traynors' house at 20 Burgess St.

The tax bill on Green's two-story, 1,456-square-foot cottage, built in 1900, helps to explain why he fought to preserve his water view.

Like all non-waterfront properties in the Foreside neighborhood east of Route 88, the $329,000 assessed value of Green's 3,000-square-foot lot is 2.5 times higher than average lots elsewhere in town, said Town Assessor Anne Gregory.

The lot's assessed value is an additional 50 percent higher because Green has a water view, which accounts for $100,000 of his total $486,000 property assessment, which includes $157,000 for the house. His view accounts for $1,292 of his $6,279 annual tax bill.

In comparison, the Traynors' waterfront lot, which measures less than one-third of an acre, has an assessed value of $743,000 - nine times higher than average lots elsewhere in town, Gregory said. There are 87 waterfront lots in Falmouth that are assessed at this rate.

The Traynors' total property assessment is $899,000, including a 3,178-square-foot house assessed at $155,000, and their annual tax bill is $11,615.

In the wake of the appeals board battle in 2010, the Traynors have tried to come to terms with the limited use of their property.

Dick Traynor, an 83-year-old lawyer, dons a wet suit and swims daily, May through October, off the beach in front of their house. They both enjoy walking the hills throughout the Foreside neighborhood and relish their beautiful views of Casco Bay.

But Pat Traynor, 75, is still angry and says she wouldn't have bought the house if she had known they couldn't add a second story. Dick Traynor struggles to be more forgiving, noting that while zoning prevented them from building an addition with a 25-foot-high peak, they could plant evergreens that would grow 90 feet tall.

"This is an emotional, vexing problem," Dick Traynor said. "I don't envy the Town Council or the appeals board one bit."

 

Continued here:
Falmouth again rethinking seaside zoning regulations

Nationally known decorator feels at home in W.Va.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Even with a résumé that includes HGTV, the "Rachael Ray Show" and the Oprah Winfrey Network, decorator Kristan Cunningham can still relate to West Virginians with her designs that make a house feel like a home.

Cunningham is a 1995 graduate of Sherman High School in Seth. She attended the University of Charleston for a couple of years and then took off for Hollywood. But she's never severed her West Virginia ties.

Her journey began in south Florida, but when her mom remarried, she and her brother were given the option of moving to Southern West Virginia. It's a move Cunningham is glad she made.

"That's where my formative years were," Cunningham said recently in a telephone interview. "When I brag on West Virginia, and I try to as often as possible, I try to shine that bright light on the best things the state has to offer.

"I brag on Tamarack, of course The Greenbrier, Lewisburg, so many other places. I love to tell the world how wonderful West Virginians are!"

Oprah at one time had a shelter magazine, called O at Home, and they did a story on Cunningham.

"It was called 'Kristan Cunningham Heads to the Hills,'" she said, and it featured favorite places the young designer liked at home in West Virginia. "They eventually featured some really important people on that page, but we were the first one."

At the time, Cunningham was hosting HGTV's "Design on a Dime," an early show for the network. She called it "old-school HGTV."

"We carried our own chop saws, etc. We really did all of the work ourselves, without much of a crew."

When she says "we," she's referring to her longtime partner and fiancée, Scott Jarrell. They've been together for 15 years; he's from Madison and went to Scott High School. Although their paths almost crossed many times in their youth, they met at UC and have been collaborating ever since. The couple lives in Los Angeles with their dogs.

Five years ago, Cunningham left HGTV to become the go-to designer for the "Rachael Ray Show." Additionally, she was doing segments for a Los Angeles-based show, "The Talk."

Now she's looking forward to a new show debuting on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, in May. While she can't disclose the show's premise, she can say that filming took her to small towns all over the country.

"We were in Iowa, Alabama. And we're not 'Gossip Girl,' only relating to big-city life. We like to help people in their own homes in their own towns. We make it a point that Kohl's or HomeGoods are the local places where people shop, not designer showrooms.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Even with a résumé that includes HGTV, the "Rachael Ray Show" and the Oprah Winfrey Network, decorator Kristan Cunningham can still relate to West Virginians with her designs that make a house feel like a home.

Cunningham is a 1995 graduate of Sherman High School in Seth. She attended the University of Charleston for a couple of years and then took off for Hollywood. But she's never severed her West Virginia ties.

Her journey began in south Florida, but when her mom remarried, she and her brother were given the option of moving to Southern West Virginia. It's a move Cunningham is glad she made.

"That's where my formative years were," Cunningham said recently in a telephone interview. "When I brag on West Virginia, and I try to as often as possible, I try to shine that bright light on the best things the state has to offer.

"I brag on Tamarack, of course The Greenbrier, Lewisburg, so many other places. I love to tell the world how wonderful West Virginians are!"

Oprah at one time had a shelter magazine, called O at Home, and they did a story on Cunningham.

"It was called 'Kristan Cunningham Heads to the Hills,'" she said, and it featured favorite places the young designer liked at home in West Virginia. "They eventually featured some really important people on that page, but we were the first one."

At the time, Cunningham was hosting HGTV's "Design on a Dime," an early show for the network. She called it "old-school HGTV."

"We carried our own chop saws, etc. We really did all of the work ourselves, without much of a crew."

When she says "we," she's referring to her longtime partner and fiancée, Scott Jarrell. They've been together for 15 years; he's from Madison and went to Scott High School. Although their paths almost crossed many times in their youth, they met at UC and have been collaborating ever since. The couple lives in Los Angeles with their dogs.

Five years ago, Cunningham left HGTV to become the go-to designer for the "Rachael Ray Show." Additionally, she was doing segments for a Los Angeles-based show, "The Talk."

Now she's looking forward to a new show debuting on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, in May. While she can't disclose the show's premise, she can say that filming took her to small towns all over the country.

"We were in Iowa, Alabama. And we're not 'Gossip Girl,' only relating to big-city life. We like to help people in their own homes in their own towns. We make it a point that Kohl's or HomeGoods are the local places where people shop, not designer showrooms.

"It's not a great decorating tip if the viewer isn't able to use it," Cunningham said. Her producer, a product of the big city, was amazed by the generosity and hospitality of the people in the small towns they visited.

"Scott and I were in towns like we're from, so it wasn't unusual for us," Cunningham said.

She's in post-production for the show now, doing voiceovers and final editing, awaiting the May premiere.

Cunningham fondly remembers friends and neighbors in her hometown, including Paula Smith, who still lives there and who works in Charleston.

"She's like my second mom, and her husband, Fred, and my stepdad, Jeff, who's Boone County born and bred, were best friends," Cunningham said. "Paula and my mom, Susan, were good friends. I was more lucky than most as I have parents who think I put the stars in the sky -- Paula and Fred and others were like extra parents to my brother and me."

When Cunningham was at UC, she had a family member looking out for her there as well.

"My grandfather, Forrest Thomas, was a security guard at UC. He used to visit me at the design studio with soup his wife, Charlotte, had made. It was wonderful."

Cunningham works with a Northeastern furniture company, Raymour & Flanigan, creating design plans and product guides that can be used by salespeople when showing the furniture line.

When she talks of her years in West Virginia, she's less of a proud parent and more like an outsider who became an insider.

"It doesn't come from born-and-bred pride, like my husband, who was born and raised in West Virginia, who grew up next to his grandparents. My pride comes from someone who was taken in by an entire community."

She's as proud of her work as she is of her West Virginia roots.

"Young girls are writing to me instead of Britney Spears! When they run up to me in Target, I'm so thrilled. HGTV has done that for these girls. They watch me use power tools, do it myself, and they are interested in design.

"The average household now doesn't settle for a ho-hum home. They have access to good design, everybody now talks about a little bit about design."

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.

See more here:
Nationally known decorator feels at home in W.Va.

Bulletin Board

Calendar of events relating to homes and gardens.

The Garden is for Lovers: Blooming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and orchids steam up the conservatory daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Wednesday at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. Included in garden admission of $7-$11. (804) 262-9887.

Lewis Ginter Programs: Increase your gardening know-how with programs at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave.:

March 6: Ginter in the Morning, seasonal garden walk, 10 a.m., $15; members free. March 8: Organic Vegetable Gardening, 5-7 p.m., $20-$31. March 8 or 10: Freestyle Ikebana Workshop, 9:30 a.m.-noon, $45-$56. March 13: "Back to the Future — Designing Without Floral Foam," lunchtime lecture by designer David Pippin, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., $40-$51; light lunch included. Begins March 15: Cut Flower Care and Handling, two sessions, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 15 and 22, $55-$66. Begins March 15: Container Gardening, four sessions, 4-6 p.m. March 15, 22, 29 and April 5, $100-$111.

Registration required for all classes. To register or for course information, visit http://www.lewisginter.org or call (804) 262-9887, ext. 322.

2012 Orchid Show: Virginia Orchid Society spring show and sale, "Jewels of the Jungle," continues with displays, lectures, workshops and sale of orchids and supplies, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Strange's Garden Center, 12111 W. Broad St. Free. http://www.vaorchidsociety.com or (804) 360-2800.

Rose Society Meeting: Richmond Rose Society meets for a talk by Don Penzler and question-and-answer session by consulting rosarians, 2 p.m. today at Children's Hospital, 2924 Brook Road. http://www.richmondrosesociety.com or (804) 330-2404.

How to Grow Food from Seeds: Learn basic vegetable gardening techniques in a seminar sponsored by Chesterfield Historical Society's Heirloom Seed Exchange, 1 p.m. Tuesday or 10 a.m. Saturday at Castlewood, 10201 Iron Bridge Road. $25 (includes planting of seeds participants take home). 768-0616.

Ikebana of Richmond Meeting: "The History of Ikebana of Richmond," talk by Doris Roberts, at a meeting of the organization at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Garden Hall, Maymont, 1700 Hampton St. Free. (804) 285-3085.

Virginia Native Plant Society: The Pocahontas Chapter meets for a talk by Lou Verner on "Conservation Restoration in the 21st Century — Why Native Plants Hold the Keys to Success," 7 p.m. Thursday in the education building at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. Free. (804) 741-7838.

Richmond Home & Garden Show: Hundreds of exhibitors of home and garden goods and services plus garden displays, guest speakers, seminars and demonstrations from noon-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 4 at Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave. $9; 16 and younger free. Vendor and schedule info at http://www.RichmondHomeAndGardenShow.com or (804) 425-6556.

Crape Myrtle Pruning: Learn the proper way to prune the summer-blooming small trees in a hands-on workshop sponsored by the Chesterfield County Office of Cooperative Extension at 10 a.m. Saturday at Chesterfield Technical Center, 10101 Courthouse Road. Free; registration requested; bring pruners and dress for the weather. (804) 751-4401.

Richmond African Violet Society Meeting: Program features "Soil Recipes: What Works for You?" 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at Friends Meeting House, 4500 Kensington Ave. Free. (804) 740-5322.

Full Moon Hike: Nighttime tour of Maymont's grounds and gardens, featuring the Japanese Garden, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 9 at Maymont, 1700 Hampton St. $17-$22; register by March 8. (804) 358-7166.

"Japanese Gardens in North America": Lecture by Kendall Brown on the late-Victorian era rise in the popularity of Japanese gardens that was part of the time's fascination with all things Japanese, followed by reception, 6 p.m. March 13 in the Garden Hall, Maymont, 1700 Hampton St. $5-$10; reservation recommended. (804) 358-7166, ext. 329.

Pat Row

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Home and garden event calendar