NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. When Andy and Janice McWains grandson left his grandparents home for the last time before they moved Florida, he was overcome with emotion.

He kissed the house, Janice said, laughing. Im going to miss you, he said.

While doing the interview from the Sunshine State about their amazing ranch at 7674 Windsor Drive North in North Syracuse, the couple began to have similar feelings as their grandson.

We love the house, Andy said. We are attached to the property.

We are having reservations about selling, they joked.

The couple moved to the ranch, built at the end of a cul-de-sac, in December 2013 from a patio home in Radisson.

Janices elderly father was moving in with them and they had adopted a second golden retriever. They needed more space.

They would find it here.

The three-bedroom house has almost 5,000 square feet of living space set on almost two acres of property. There are 36 acres of vacant land, and full of deer, behind them.

(They were also friendly with the homes builder, Nick Paduano, and knew of his reputation for building quality homes.)

The main level is wide open and has a huge kitchen joining a large formal dining room and a spacious family room with a gas fireplace. Sliding doors lead out into a beautiful four-season room which Andy calls the highlight of the house.

The owners enjoy watching wildlife from the rooms 13 windows in a heated and air-conditioned space. There is even a second gas fireplace for cold days in winter.

Thats where you want to sit, Andy said.

Janice says that the homes finished walk-out lower level is like entering a whole new world.

We used to entertain big time here, Janice said. It was a major party house.

The couple says that they hosted four Christmas parties of at least 80 people each last year and have held parties of 125 people during the summer.

The area has a kitchen that mirrors the one upstairs and has a full bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub.

I wish it were it upstairs, Janice joked.

The way they filled the space might explain their grandsons attachment to the home.

The lower level was stocked with a custom billiard table, arcade games, pinball machines, foosball, and bowling machines.

The grandchildren especially liked the slot machines, hoping to learn a little money while visiting their grandparents.

The space leads out to the heated, saltwater in-ground swimming pool which they had installed in 2014.

No wonder the kids wanted them to stay there!

We miss it, Andy said.

They have already moved to Florida and are enjoying the warmer weather there.

For more information about this property, contact realtor Timothy Connors of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. His information is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 7674 Windsor Drive North, North Syracuse, N.Y. 13212

Price: $489,900

Size: 4,840 square feet

Acreage: 1.63 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $1,637 (based on this weeks national average rate of 2.93 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $16,342 (Based on assessed value of $422,785)

Built: 2005

School District: North Syracuse

Kitchen: The eat-in kitchen is open and allows for easy access from the formal dining room, spacious family room and all-season room. It allows for easy entertaining and keeps party conversations going. Owner Andy McWain says the kitchen can seat 10 people. There is plenty of storage space and a kitchen pantry. The kitchen has double ovens. The lower level has another full kitchen which mirrors the one on the main level.

Living areas: This 2005 ranch is in pristine condition and has had only two owners. It is immaculate, Janice McWain said. Wide plank oak hardwood flooring was used throughout and the home features solid wood doors and no square corners. It is described as being a one of a kind ranch with almost 5,000 square feet of space. Nine new closet systems have been installed since 2013. The main floor has a front living room, which has been primarily used as a home office, a formal dining room and a family room with a gas fireplace. A three-season porch was converted into a wonderful four-season room which the owners consider the highlight of the home. There are 13 windows there, hot water baseboard heat, air conditioning and a gas fireplace. The McWains enjoy watching the wildlife out back from there. The main level also has a laundry room.

Bedrooms: There are three full bedrooms in the house, with space for another in the lower level. The master bedroom has his-and-her California closets and a new ceiling fan.

Bathrooms: All new granite counters and sinks have been installed in the three full bathrooms. The master bath includes a bidet and a glass door around the bathtub. The lower level bathroom has a Jacuzzi-style tub.

Lower level: The walk-out lower level was kept open so it could host parties by the owners. The space was filled with pinball machines, slot machines and a custom billiard table. It was favorite spot for the owners grandchildren. The kids loved it, Janice said. It provides easy access to the back patio and swimming pool area. With a full kitchen and bathroom, the space could be used as an in-laws apartment.

Outdoors: This ranch was built at the end of a cul-de-sac in North Syracuse. It was built on 1.63 acres and there is plenty of room for outdoors parties. The owners have hosted events there with 125 guests. There are 36 acres of peaceful state land behind the house, full of deer. The heated saltwater in-ground swimming pool was installed in 2014 and was featured by Cannon Pools as being one of the best in Central New York. The home as an insulated three-car garage and the back of the home has another garage which the owners use to store pool equipment. They call the neighborhood very friendly and said they knew everyone. The home is just minutes away from two Wegmans and the airport.

Agent: Timothy Connors

Coldwell Banker Prime Properties

Address: 6263 Route 31, Cicero, N.Y. 13039

Phone: (315) 345-4058

Email: Tim.Connors@coldwellbankerprime.com

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

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House of the Week: Couple call their North Syracuse ranch their major party house - syracuse.com

About a mile from the ocean in Santa Monica, a brand-new home is shaking things up with a dazzling concoction of jagged lines and concrete finishes. Designed by architect Joe Flynn, the modern, blocky build features a massive wall of glass perched above the street, and inside, floating staircases navigate spaces with Italian tile, heated floors, skylights and smart home features. Out back, the landscaped patio tacks on a lap pool and spa.

The details

Location: 1767 Sunset Ave., Santa Monica, 90405

Asking price: $5.487 million

Year built: 2020

Living area: 5,400 square feet, four bedrooms, six bathrooms

Features: Landscaped walkway; high ceilings; polished concrete finishes; dining room with angled wood ceilings; kitchen with custom island; floating staircases; lofted office; wine cellar; media room; owners suite with private terrace; steam shower; outdoor fire pit; two-car garage

About the area: In the 90405 ZIP Code, based on 12 sales, the median price for single-family homes in October was $2.438 million, up 40.7% year over year, according to CoreLogic.

Agents: David and Anna Solomon, Douglas Elliman of California, (310) 279-7759

To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to jack.flemming@latimes.com.

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Home of the Week: A jagged structure in Santa Monica - Los Angeles Times

Garfield Township planning commissioners will discuss a proposed 168-unit apartment complex on Hartman Road and a planned bed-and-breakfast on Hainey Lane at their 7pm virtual meeting tonight (Wednesday). The board will also consider approving a construction extension for a planned 84-unit apartment complex on Garfield Road that has experienced project delays due to the pandemic.

Hartman Road Apartment ComplexThe owner of 6.19 acres of vacant land on the south side of Hartman Road west of Dracka Road hopes to build a 168-unit apartment complex on the site, complete with seven three-story buildings, a clubhouse, and a pool area. But while the project is similar to other high-density, multi-family developments nearby such as Liv Arbors it likely faces an uphill battle for approval because of being located on the more rural, agricultural side of Hartman, says Township Planning Director John Sych.

Township planning commissioners will hold a conceptual planning review of the proposed Mosser apartment complex tonight an informal first look at plans that allows commissioners to talk through the project and share feedback before developers return with a formal application. No decision will be made on the project tonight. However, developers will likely hear some tough feedback, according to Sych, who says the townships master plan calls for keeping the south side of Hartman more rural with lower-density housing as opposed to the type of bigger complexes that are just across the street.

When I look at the master plan, at some point there needs to be a transition to lower density, he says. I dont know if Hartman is a good place to allow too much more residential. Were really trying to encourage infill further north. While Sych acknowledges the need for more housing in the region, he says there are multiple other locations in Garfield Township along Garfield and LaFranier roads, as examples, and in several commercial areas where property is still available and dense apartment complexes make more sense.

If planning commissioners want to consider allowing dense housing on the south side of Hartman, Sych says the board could revisit the master plan and consider changing zoning designations for the entire corridor. That would prevent the township from spot zoning or changing the zoning rules for one particular property which Sych says undermines the purpose of a master plan. When you make a considerable deviation of the master plan, it weakens the plan itself, he says. So if we wanted to do something, we should evaluate the master plan.

The Mosser project is the second apartment complex in two months to be proposed for the area surrounding the Miller Creek Nature Reserve. The first, which planning commissioners conceptually reviewed in October, is a proposed 60-unit complex on vacant land behind the Baymont Inn between Hartman and South Airport roads. Sych says that project has attractive potential, being located near commercial properties and offering possible sidewalk and trail connections to the Mall Trail along US-31 and to Miller Creek Nature Reserve. That one, the location looks very well from our standpoint, says Sych. Its a nice fit. Developers M Brothers Northern LLC have not yet returned with a formal application following the October conceptual review, though Sych notes that planning commissioners raised questions about wetland impacts and sewer and water connections at that meeting that may take developers time to address in project plans.

Bed & BreakfastA couple with an organic working farm on Hainey Lane near the northeast corner of Cedar Run and Gray roads hope to open a small bed-and-breakfast on the site.

Matthew and Rebecca Ligon are seeking township approval of a special use permit (SUP) to turn a former mother-in-law suite into overnight guest accommodations on their property, called Blended Roots Farm. The couple bought the site in 2014 and started developing an organic farm on the property the following year, producing maple syrup and growing vegetable gardens, sunflower patches, and U-pick flower beds open to the public.

In their application documents, the Ligons say they hope to create walking paths through their expanding sunflower fields with signage and turn the farm into an educational community experience showing and teaching people how to grow, raise, and produce food for the community and their families. The bed-and-breakfast would not only help the farm reach its long-term goals of educating and possibly inspiring visitors from all walks of life, but provide a quiet, peaceful getaway for those looking to enjoy our way of life, the couple wrote. This would also showcase Garfield Township for our commitment to putting community and farming first.

Bed-and-breakfast establishments are permitted on agricultural land in Garfield Township with a SUP. Staff indicated the Ligons proposed project appears to meet SUP requirements, including being on owner-occupied property, having no more than eight guests at any time, having adequate on-site parking, not renting out any snowmobiles/all-terrain vehicles/other recreational equipment, and being at least 1,000 feet away from the next closest bed-and-breakfast. If planning commissioners find the application acceptable tonight, they will vote to set a public hearing for January 13, at which time they could approve the bed-and-breakfasts SUP.

Fox RunFinally, planning commissioners will consider offering a construction extension to Eastwood Custom Homes tonight for the development groups planned 84-unit apartment complex called Fox Run on the east side of Garfield Road between South Airport and Hammond roads. The complex is planned to include 84 two-bedroom apartments on approximately 4.3 acres of land, with amenities including a walking trail, dog park, and three playgrounds. The project was approved as a planned unit residential development (PURD) by planning commissioners in early spring 2019, giving developers two years from that date to begin construction and make meaningful progress toward completion. Developers can seek a one-year extension of that deadline if they can provide evidence they will be able to start construction and make meaningful progress before the third year is up.

According to Eastwood Custom Homes President William Clous, the pandemic and loss of labor caused by COVID-19 forced construction to be delayed this year. He is requesting a one-year extension of his PURD through April 2022, noting in a memo to the township that he intends to break ground in May 2021 and work towards completion in the following months. Township staff are supportive of the extension, agreeing in a memo to the board that the ongoing pandemic has certainly been identified as causing many disruptions across all industries and is certainly a factor beyond the control of the applicant.

Pictured: Garfield Township Hall

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Garfield Township To Discuss Proposed Apartment Complex, Bed & Breakfast - Traverse City Ticker

Gig Harbor, Washington , Oct. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harbor Custom Development, Inc. (Harbor Harbor Custom Homes or the Company), (NASDAQ:HCDI), an innovative and market leading real estate company involved in all aspects of the land development cycle, today announced that it has appointed Walter (Wally) Walker to the Companys Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Walkerwill be an independent director in accordance with the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

In 1987, following a nine-year career as a professional basketball player, Mr. Walker began his financial services career at Goldman Sachs & Co, serving as Vice President of Private Client Services, becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst in 1992. In 1994, Mr. Walker returned to professional basketball in the front office to become President of the Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA. Beginning in 2001, he took on the additional role of CEO with the SuperSonics, and served as President and CEO of the Seattle Storm of the WNBA. Upon the sale of the Seattle franchises in 2006, Walker founded Hana Road Capital, LLC, an investment advisory firm in 2007, which he continues to own as well as serving as Chief Investment Officer. Since 2005, Mr. Walker has been a member of the Advisory Council of Stone Arch Capital, a Minneapolis based private equity firm. Mr. Walker also serves on the Board of Trustees of Smead Capital Management, a Seattle based mutual fund. In 2017, Mr. Walker was named an independent director on the Board of Directors of Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. Mr. Walker graduated from the University of Virginia in 1976 as an Academic All-American with a BA in psychology. and upon retiring as a player from professional basketball in 1985, he attained a Masters of Business Administration from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1987.

Sterling Griffin, President and CEO of Harbor stated, We are delighted to welcome Wally to the Harbor team as an independent Board Director. Wallys stellar collegiate and professional basketball career as a player foreshadowed his abilities and characteristics as a proven winner and leader which he transitioned from the court to Wall Street and the front office on some of the worlds biggest stages.

Mr. Walker commented, I am honored to be named an independent director at Harbor Custom Development, Inc. The Company is extremely well positioned to capitalize on the unique market forces that have driven home inventory to historically low levels, at a time when demand for suburban residential living is in high demand. I look forward to helping Harbor Custom Development, Inc. realize its potential, while representing the interest of its stakeholders.

About Harbor Custom Development, Inc.

Harbor Custom Development, Inc., dba Harbor Custom Homes, is a real estate development company involved in all aspects of the land development cycle including land acquisition, entitlements, construction of project infrastructure, home building, marketing, sales, and management of various residential projects in Western Washingtons Puget Sound region. Harbor has active or recently sold out residential communities in Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, and Allyn in the state of Washington. Harbor Custom Developments business strategy is to acquire and develop land strategically, based on an understanding of population growth patterns, entitlement restrictions, infrastructure development, and geo-economic forces. Harbor focuses on real estate within target markets with convenient access to metropolitan areas that are generally characterized by diverse economic and employment bases and increasing populations. For more information on Harbor Custom Development, Inc., please visit http://www.harborcustomdev.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as may, might, should, believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, predict, forecast, project, plan, intend or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Financial Services and Front Office Executive and Former NBA Player Wally Walker Appointed to Harbor Custom Development, Inc. Board of Directors -...

According to Redfin, the median sale price of U.S. homes in zip codes with a low wildfire risk has increased 101% since 2012, compared with an 88% increase for homes in high-wildfire-risk zip codes.

This disparity exacerbates the affordability crisis in low-risk areas, forcing homebuyers who don't have large budgets to look to more fire-prone regions for affordable homes. Redfin's analysis is based on its own housing market data and U.S. Forest Service data across 2,700 zip codes in California, Oregon and Washington.

Over the 12 months ending August 2020, homes in high-wildfire-risk zip codes sold for an average of 3.9% less than those in low-risk zip codes--$640,000 compared to $656,000. This is a reversal from eight years earlier. In 2012, homes in high-risk areas sold for an average 2.5% more than in low-risk areas.

Home prices in high-risk areas first dipped below prices in low-risk areas in 2015--three years before the Camp Fire became the most destructive wildfire in California history, destroying over 18,000 structures and killing 85 people.

Double-digit price growth in already expensive West Coast cities has likely driven homebuyers to look in more affordable, but fire-prone areas. For example, Bay Area homebuyers who are priced out of San Francisco, where the median home sold for $1.45 million in September, may feel forced into more high-risk areas such as Santa Rosa, where the median price in September was $690,000, or Sacramento, where the median price was $475,000.

"Buyers relocating to Sonoma County from the Bay Area for affordability and quality of life have made up more than 90% of my business since May, when more tech workers started to get permission to work from home permanently," said Sonoma County Redfin agent Sandrine Daligault. "One buyer moved from San Francisco to a neighborhood in coastal Sonoma, where he works remotely from a custom home with water views he bought for $1.1 million, unheard of for a home of that caliber in the Bay Area. Another client bought a home in Santa Rosa for $499,000 after selling his East Bay home for $700,000. He's a police officer who helped fight the Tubbs Fire in 2017, and he's not worried about wildfires."

People based in San Francisco make up a significant portion of Sonoma County home searchers: 13.6% of Redfin.com users looking for homes in Sonoma County were from San Francisco in the second quarter of 2020, about on par with 15% in the second quarter of 2019. The net increase in residents was the same during those two time periods, with roughly 440 more Redfin.com home searchers looking to move from San Francisco to Sonoma County than vice versa in the second quarters of both 2019 and 2020.

More than 4.5 million homes are located in areas across the states of Washington, Oregon and California that have a high wildfire risk, with a total estimated home value of $3.3 trillion.

Homebuying competition is more intense in areas with low wildfire risk than in areas with high wildfire risk. To understand how much more competitive the low-risk areas are, consider that 42% of homes sold in low-risk areas over the past three years went under contract within two weeks, while in high-risk areas, just 33% of homes found buyers as quickly.

Similarly, in low-risk areas, 35% of homes sold above list price, compared to 27% in high-risk areas. The tougher competition in low-risk areas makes it harder to buy a home where it's safer, and gives buyers another reason to shift their home search to risky areas where homes are more affordable and there's less competition.

Housing Market Competition by Wildfire Risk

"The lower cost of housing in wildfire-prone areas compared to low-risk areas is likely just the beginning of the consequences of climate change for the housing market," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "Right now, wildfires are still a rare occurrence for homeowners, but if fires and other climate disasters continue to happen more and more frequently, some housing markets will go from less desirable to untenable, yet they will remain the only option for many families."

If the trend of recent years continues and wildfires become even more frequent and destructive, migration to high-risk areas could slow. The gap between home prices and competition in high-risk and low-risk areas would continue to widen, making it harder to sell homes in areas with higher risk.

"Right now people are still migrating to places that have suffered through wildfires or smoke in the central valley and wine country in California and parts of Oregon because homes in those places seem like a good deal," explained Fairweather. "Homebuyers often look at the lower sticker price on homes with more fire risk and are driven to buy because it's what they can afford. Wildfire risk can dramatically increase insurance premiums, droughts can increase water costs and heat can increase cooling costs or make spending time outdoors unbearable. All of these factors can drive homebuyers away from fire-prone areas. Rising home prices in expensive cities also contribute to urban sprawl into high-risk areas. But the long-term costs of building homes in fire-prone areas can be both costly and deadly."

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Areas at High Wildfire Risk, Relative Affordability Lures U.S. Homebuyers - World Property Journal

Construction of the new upper school academic building at Sandhills Classical Christian School in Whispering Pines is expected to wrap up in December, a fitting Christmas present from the commercial builder attached to the project, Rhetson Companies.

Based in West End, Rhetson is a preferred developer for Dollar General stores and PetSuites of America, among other corporate clients. CEO Brian Clodfelter said Moore Countys growth has encouraged more interest and opportunities to bring his teams expertise closer to home.

We all live and play and raise our kids here. We have always been engaged in the community and have supported many local organizations through the years, he said. We also firmly believe that we are blessed to be a blessing to our community.

Clodfelter, who worked as a golf course superintendent with Pinehurst Resort for 12 years before going into construction, and his wife, Julianne, who was a nurse for 17 years with FirstHealth of the Carolinas, founded Rhetson in 2002.

When the economic recession hit a few years later, they shifted to commercial interests. The company grew its reputation by specializing in developing single-tenant triple-net properties, spanning from Georgia to Virginia, in addition to custom homes.

Rhetsons president, Richard Vincent, who joined the team in 2016, said they typically complete about 40 projects a year.

That is a lot. To have the manpower to execute projects on that scale, Brian spent 11 years building this machine, Vincent said. But for the last few years, we kept talking about doing more projects here.

This is our community. We love this area and we are proud to be here, and we are excited to be part of the positive growth that we have here, said Vincent.

The Rhetson Companies executive team including, from left, Richard Vincent, Julianne and Brian Clodfelter, and Lee Pittman, Jamie Encinosa, and Lottia Freeman.

Rhetson has been involved in developing the Sandhills Classical Christian School (SCCS) campus for three years. Future building plans call for a gymnasium, athletic fields and an administration building, in addition to academic buildings to serve several hundred students.

This is a good example of what we do a soup-to-nuts project where we work with a client from day one to develop their master plan and construction drawings, help them set a budget, and then build, Clodfelter said.

Gene Liechty, SCCS development director, said construction of the upper school academic building has been underway on-schedule and within budget.

Rhetson has been a terrific partner in several regards, Liechty said. If they say they can do it for X and in this timeframe, they get it done. The other thing is their commitment to excellence and communication. Every week we get a progress report of whats been done and what we can expect in the next two weeks.

Our experience with Rhetson has been nothing short of tremendous, Liechty added.

Clodfelter and Vincent said it is these types of business relationships that keep the Rhetson team energized.

We dont have a client or partner that we dont look at like a friend, Clodfelter said.

Other more recent Rhetson projects include construction of the new shopping plaza at Tylers Ridge, near the Southern Pines Ace Hardware on N.C. 22. Tenants include O2 Dental Group, and the corner is anchored by Roast, a new farm-to-table sandwich restaurant and market scheduled to open soon.

This was our first true from-the-ground-up shopping strip center, added Clodfelter.

In addition, his team redeveloped a commercial building at the corner of N.C. 211 and Juniper Lake Road last year, and constructed the new youth building at Christ Community Church on U.S. 15-501 near Pinehurst.

Rhetson is also in the early stages of developing a new residential subdivision in Moore County.

We love what we do. We are passionate about building things, creating value, and participating in our communities. We havent reached the finish line, said Vincent. We have used these past few months, the pandemic, as a time to be introspective. We see this as an opportune year to become stronger and more diversified, to grow and focus on local project opportunities.

See original here:
Local Roots Give Rhetson Co. Room to Grow - Southern Pines Pilot

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers, state by state, about how theyve built their businesses. Today, were chatting with Sioux Falls, South Dakotabased Lindsay Carmody about what its like to work entirely solo, which COVID-era client requests shes been fielding, and how she learned the pros and cons of having a storefront.

When did you know that you wanted to be a designer?When I graduated high school, I didnt really know what I wanted to do. I thought I might want to be a teacher, but quickly realized it wasnt creative enough for me. So I took a year off and had some time to think. Friends encouraged me to [pursue] this path, so I moved from the East Coast and enrolled at the Art Institute of Colorado, thinking, Ill give this a shot. And I just loved everything about it. While I was in school, I worked as a design assistant for a local firm in Boulder, and I learned so much being a part of that teamlooking at fabrics and wallpaper, learning about furniture and lighting, and understanding different kinds of design.

How did that help you transition into the workplace?I was luckyI was hired there right away after I graduated. The firm did some residential, which was my big focus, but also a lot of ski resorts. I worked there for a few months, and then in 2004 was offered an opportunity as an in-house designer for a company in Greenville, South Carolina. A group of builders had formed this company because of the amazing growth happening there, and they asked me to be the sole designer working with over 40 of their clients, designing selections for these semi-custom homes. It was an opportunity that I felt like I couldnt pass up.

Thats amazingIll bet you had to think on your feet quite a bit in the early days.I had an incredible experience there in my early 20s. I learned a lot, fast, not only about making selections, but about working with clients, organizing spec sheets and drawings for contractors, and working quickly. The turnaround for each home was eight months to a year.

Were you customizing the homes with the clients, or were the properties being developed to sell?It started out where we had X amount of finishes that we allowed our clients to choose from. I had made all of those selections, and then each client could pick from those selections. At the beginning, I really tried not to go outside of the box, but as things unfolded, some of the homes became truly customized. I was working with clients on the cabinet layouts, the cabinet finishes, the paint colors, the flooring, the countertop style, the tile for the bathrooms, the tile layoutall of it. I did that for a good three or four years. It was a lot of work, but also a wonderful experience. And then it evolvedI took on a business partner, we formed our own business and got into furnishing model homes for this company. I learned how to run a business with employees, and even had a storefront to sell goods. Then, in 2008, I decided to step back and work on my own.

Carmody mixes black, white, wood and brass accents in the kitchen.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

What made you decide to go back to working solo?I think it was knowing that I was so young. I needed a little time-out to think about what I wanted to focus on. I mean, I was working on these incredible homes, but I also wanted to try to focus on a few projects and develop truly custom homes and have a more personalized, one-on-one relationship with my customers. Greenville was growing and changing rather quickly, and I started feeling like I might want to just work from home and focus on a few great homes at a time. So thats what I tried to do.

Thats a major reset. Howd it go?It took a little bit of time. The struggle was mostly in marketing myself, as opposed to being a builders designer. And then I met and married a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He swore he would never move backbut of course we did. We didnt have family in South Carolina, and after we had our first baby, we realized that South Dakota was actually another place that was just starting to grow and boom and that there was opportunity here for both of us.

We decided to move to Sioux Falls in 2014. Even after being here for six years, it still is amazing to me that there are so many people moving here. There is a lot of workthe city is continuing to grow and expand, and builders are extremely busy here right now.

What was it like to start over like thatagain, no less?It was definitely hard at first. Not only did I have to get myself out there to meet customers, I also had to meet new sales reps [and tradespeople]. I feel very lucky because Sioux Falls is a great community for forming relationships. People were so willing to pass on my name and information. I also did some advertising in local home magazines to get started, and an announcement in a local paper shared that there was a new business in town. I tried to emphasize, Here is a designer who grew up on the East Coast, has lived in Colorado, and did design work in South Carolina, just trying to show that I can bring something new to the table in South Dakota. Otherwise, I had to get out there, start mingling and form new relationships. From there, it grew.

A chartreuse sofa offers a jolt of color in an expansive black-and-white living space.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Where did your early clients come from?[My first leads] came from family, which Im lucky to sayI realize that doesnt happen for everyone. And then I met a couple of builders that I really tried to get to know, first and foremost, thinking that would be a good way to get my name out there. I honestly havent done any marketing since we first moved hereits really been returning customers or happy customers sharing my name with their friends. I feel very lucky. But also, thats been my biggest focus: not only trying to show customers something new and a little different, but truly forming relationships with them and making sure that ultimately, theyve been happy with the entire process.

Do those builder jobs ever become more than the finishes and cross over into furnishings?It depends. Thats something that is very different here: In South Carolina, a lot of customers would first seek out their architect to design the plans for their homes, then the builder that theyd want to work with, and then they would hire an interior designer to work with the builder on all the selectionswhich could then turn into custom window treatments, furnishings, bedding and lighting. Here in Sioux Falls, its often the builders who are designing the floor plans and the layout of these homes.

So theyre filling the role of the architect and the designer.Yes. I dont know why thats the way things are done here, but a lot of builders have the designs drawn up with the homeowner. From there, some clients decide that they would like to hire an interior designer to work with their builder; others are OK with making selections with the help of their builder and then hire a designer to help with the furniture and window treatments. But Im someone who really likes to be there from the ground up.

Theres a returning customer who I absolutely adored working with three years ago, and she and her husband have decided to build again. Were going to start brainstorming the layout of the floor plan and the design of the home with the builder, and that truly excites me, because I think a designer can bring a lot to the table [in those early stages of the process]. There have only been a few jobs in Sioux Falls where I was involved from the very beginning, but thats what Id like to do more of.

The living roomCourtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

You mentioned that the housing market is really booming and that there are people moving inwho are they, and what are they looking for?A lot of my clients that have just moved here are doctors. We have two wonderful hospitals in Sioux Falls, so I think a lot of people are moving to work there. Amazon is coming to Sioux Falls, as well, and I think thats going to also generate a lot of business, and the banking world in Sioux Falls is pretty well-known for generating new business and people moving in, as well. Its definitely a little bubbleI dont know that most people really understand or know about it until theyre here, but its been pleasantly surprising to see how Sioux Falls is changing and growing.

How do you shop, and what resources are available to you locally?That is a little tricky here. The closest design center is in Minneapolis, but we have a lot of sales reps that come to town quarterly or twice a year to show new product lines, fabrics, furniture and lighting. The biggest thing is really for designers to try and make it to High Point or Vegas markets and to have relationships with the sales reps.

Is there a big design community in Sioux Falls?There is, actually. There are other designers that I have met and I have worked with or just bounced ideas off of, which is nice. There is a designer in town who has a storefront, and they will let outside designers come in and shop with them and use their style library, which is wonderful. I think it just comes down to the fact that there is plenty of work here for all of us, so theres just no reason we cant work together and share the same resources. There are some higher-end furniture showrooms here that have in-house designers, as well, but they definitely encourage outside designers to come in and shop with our clients and go through their resource room, too, which is quite nice.

Floor-to-ceiling glass-and-steel shower doors command attention in the master bath, while a chandelier adds a touch of glamour.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

A pretty black-and-white powder room.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Left: Floor-to-ceiling glass-and-steel shower doors command attention in the master bath, while a chandelier adds a touch of glamour. Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors | Right: A pretty black-and-white powder room. Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

You mentioned that you briefly had a storefront in South Carolina. Is that something you would have considered in Sioux Falls, as well?I struggle with this. Every year, I think, Maybe, I should ... The nice thing about it is that it does give you a little bit of traction from just people walking around town and gets your name out there more if you show your goods in a storefront. But the hard thing is keeping up with inventory, making sure that your windows always look fresh and updated with new thingsand it definitely requires having employees to help with that. The other downside is you have to pay for those goods, and I think the cost of upkeep is just more, and thats a little scary right now. I am really liking having relationships with designers that have the storefront, but I very much like working in my little office space out of my home and the luxury of making my own hours if need be.

It can be hard to sell someone furniture without being able to show it in personwhen youre looking at things in a catalog or online and telling a client, Hey, I have used these lines X amount of times, Im comfortable with them, and its good quality. Ive tried to invest in some lines that Ive sold to others in my own home, so Ive been using those as show pieces. It allows me to bring a customer to my house and say, Hey, this sofa is from so and so, you can sit in it, see how comfortable it is, see the quality and the craftsmanship of it. And thats been helpful.

So instead of opening a storefront, your home is your own private showroom.Yes, exactly. Now, is it all the way to where Id want it to be? Not quite. But I think I would still say I would choose to continue the way its been going.

Do you have a team right now?Its just me. Ive been working on my own for eight years now, and its worked well. If business got to be so busy that I needed to hire someone, Im not opposed to thatIve had employees beforebut so far Ive been able to manage on my own.

What is the secret to working solo?I am naturally a driven go-getter who cannot sit still. Its maybe a curse, but maybe a blessing, Im not sure. With work, I definitely feel like its either feast or faminethere are times when Im so busy, and then there are times where its either steady or a little quiet. I think naturally wanting to always be busy and on the go, Im learning to understand and accept that its good to pace myselfto have those slow moments that [help] me get ready to be busy again. It was slow for the first couple of months with COVIDa lot of jobs were stopped and clients wanted to [pause and] regroup later or finish up [early]. Business was sort of at a standstill. But now its busy again, which is great.

Another view of the master bathCourtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Carmody tucked away the laundry behind a sliding door.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Left: Another view of the master bath Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors | Right: Carmody tucked away the laundry behind a sliding door. Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

Do clients want different things now?I dont know if things are different, but Ive found that clients are definitely interested in updating things now that they are at home. Im working with a customer who wants a screened porch with a fireplace because she wants to enjoy her backyard more. Maybe thats part of COVID and not travelingtrying to enjoy outdoor space and just being at home.

I also have some clients that have decided they need new window treatments, and a couple other clients are doing bathroom and kitchen renovations with the idea that theyre going to want to sell their homes and downsize. People are saying, We have been talking about some of these upgrades for a while. Nows probably a good time to do it. Or they realize that theyre going to be retiring soon and they need to update their home to be able to sell and move on to something else.

How many projects are you typically working on at one time?Typically four to six at a time, but theyre all different. Right now, one client would like just some new drapery in her living room and dining room; another project is being the designer and contractor to renovate a master bathroom. I also met with a lady today who wants to just get a new countertop and backsplash and refinish her kitchen cabinets. But in general, four to six projects is a good number for me to stay busy and be able to manage it on my own.

And how long do each of those projects typically take?So, like this master bathroom, Im anticipating about a month and a half from start to finish. For the screened-in porch with the fireplace, that could be maybe a two-month project. ... Now, with the returning customer thats looking to do it again, that could certainly be a year, year-and-a-half project as far as working with the builder from the ground up and then making selections. It may be even a two-year process. It just kind of depends.

In another project, bold turquoise and coral accents augment a warm, layered living space.Courtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

How do you decide what you say yes to?I guess Ive never had to turn down anything. I dont know if thats good or bad. Some designers out there have a certain design look that they focus on, but my goal is to have a mix of different clients as far as style and taste. Yes, I have my own particular style in my own home, but really what excites me is just trying to do something different each time. Its hard for me to turn down any job.

As a funny example, I just finished working on a fraternity. Never in a million years would I have ever thought Id be designing a fraternity! The job came through a builder about two years ago, and I think it just challenges me. There truly isnt a job that Ive turned down. Ive always just said, Well, lets take a look.

Where do you see the most opportunity to grow?I just want to continue to learn and try and push clients to do something thats more cutting-edge than what has been going on. That can be hard to do sometimesbecause were not close to a major city like New York or Chicago, its not as easy for people to see those things. So, [my goal is to] learn to comfortably get clients to naturally trust me and [to implement] what Im learning as a designer.

How do you help people uncover what their kind of aesthetic is?I dont like to come into a clients house and say, Well, all of this needs to change. Its definitely [about] trying to say, Well, hey, we need to work with what you currently have, and then trying to mesh that together. I first say, What is your main goal? For this one kitchen, for example, my client said, To brighten it up. But the trick is to brighten it upbut not [to the point] where its so drastic in comparison to the rest of the house. So we talked about ways we could make things lighter but still tie [the design] in with what she already had.

A view from the living roomCourtesy of Lindsay Carmody Interiors

On the budget and billing side, how do you approach those money conversations with clients?There are times when I do say, Do you have a budget in your mind? or Do you have an idea of what this will cost? Some clients will say, Yes, I have a budget, and others will say, I truly dont know what this will cost. I think a lot of times, people truly dont know what it would cost to have custom drapery or how much fabric costs a yard.

Are people coming to you with the right budget earmarked? Is that a hurdle, typically, or has that been pretty workable?That has been pretty workable here in Sioux Falls. On certain jobs, we may have to scale back or say, OK, lets see if we can find something thats similar but costs less and still looks great. Or we do things in stages. But its kind of a rare situation where Im not moving forward with a customer on some things that theyve discussed.

Whats your biggest challenge at the moment?Ive been lucky [to get new business by] word of mouth, [but] what I struggle with when it is slow is marketing. I wish I learned a little bit more of how to market [myself] and get people to know who [I am] are and what [I] do. Im constantly struggling with that: Is it social media? Is it constantly posting? Or is it once a job is complete, making sure you have great photos to put on your website? Is it trying to get to know other builders? Is it trying to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce, or is it mingling more? Which, obviously, is even harder now with COVID. So, the marketing is [a consistent challenge].

Whats keeping you inspired right now?Im addicted to Pinterest and seeing whats out there. Im gravitating a lot toward designers that are mixing things. I love looking at kitchen designs [and] colorsthings like the latest trends and paint colors for cabinets.

I truly feel very blessed to say that I love what I do, and I know that there are a lot of people working jobs [where they] cant say that. It does have its challenges of being self-employed and [not knowing] when the next job is going to come in, but then it always seems to work out, and then theres some new, exciting things to be a part of. Its never the same thing again, and thats whats so exciting about itits always changing.

To learn more about Lindsay Carmody, visit her website or find her on Instagram.

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How this South Dakota designer learned to appreciate the slow moments - Business of Home

Every day, duPont REGISTRY features the finest luxury real estate and showcases Homes of the Day across all of our social media platforms, including our Instagram: @dupontregistry_homes. Mansions from around the globe are highlighted through our partnerships with luxury real estate experts, both domestically and internationally. Our top properties are the most highly-engaged posts from the week these are the most-liked listings our followers have selected. Be sure to follow, like and comment to see your favorite listing here next week!

Luxury real estate experts: if your listing deserves to be showcased, submit it here!

Astonishing gated estate located inside The Lakes most prestigious neighborhood. A Colorado Modern masterpiece built in 2019 by Thomas Construction, sitting on a one-of-a-kind point lot with 379 feet of shoreline and 270 views of main channel, yet offers cove protection for the cruiser dock and large wave-break. The home offers the finest in construction materials and stunning features. Just a few include Zo-E windows, leathered granite counters, heated/cooled pool with natural gas torches surrounding, elevator and 25-foot vaulted ceilings with custom wood beams. The 7,952-square-foot home also features two master bedrooms, a beautiful office, 4.5-car garage spaces with epoxy floors, a workout room with 13-foor ceilings and a glass wall overlooking the lake! Garage/man cave with auto lift and loft/office. Total privacy with a calming waterfall and stream running through property, creating an outdoor oasis for entertaining your guests by the pool, hot tub, gas fire pit, fireplace and outdoor kitchen. TURN KEY! 20 minutes from Lee C. Fine Airport.

Welcome to Motorsport Heaven! Luxury Trackside Villa at the World-Class Thermal Club Private Motorsport Facility

This three-level Villa with four gorgeous bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half baths, features a twelve-car garage for family fun and racing.

Enjoy your spacious rear entertainment deck and watch the excitement on the racetrack below. Or, simply unwind after a thrilling day on the track and watch the sunset over the mountains.

The Thermal Club offers 5.1 miles of track on three separate circuits, karting and autocross for the motorsport enthusiast. Club amenities include a gourmet restaurant and bar in the beautiful Tower Building complete with a four-story observation deck. A Trackside Storage Garage and Tuning Shop are available for your mechanical and storage support. Unlimited seat time for members. Guests are allowed with certain restrictions.

The Motorsport Village also includes a Fuel Island and Car Wash. Members Club Campus includes swimming, tennis, fitness and a Poolside Grill. Spa services are available for off-track relaxation. A 48-room hotel accommodates overflow family and guests.

Located just minutes from Highway 111, the Thermal Club is close to world-class golf, tennis, shopping, dining, hiking, biking and all that the desert has to offer.

This waterfront oasis built in 2011 is on a sought-after cul de sac with breathtaking views of Holly Pond and beyond from almost every room. Everyday you wake up at 10 Nickerson Lane is a staycation with the stunning views of ever-changing scenery and wildlife outside your windows. This house was thoughtfully designed throughout to ensure a waterfront view from almost every room in the home. It features a custom chefs kitchen with imported beautiful Azul Macaubus custom marble from Brazil, three fireplaces, heated infinity pool with spa, six bedrooms, two offices, Teak floors on all four finished levels and outdoor decks, additional in-law suite in the finished 2,000+-square-foot lower level, custom en-suite bathrooms, balconies with glass railings, three family rooms and a movie theater. This is the perfect house for entertaining with all the amenities including a wet bar, stone fireplaces, stereo surround sound and Chihully style hand blown glass chandeliers.

The design lends itself to entertaining large and small gatherings or perfect for a cup of coffee and bird watching on one of the many private Teak balconies.There is a formal living room with fireplace as well as a formal dining room with custom wall and ceiling molding throughout. An additional secluded guest suite has its own private balcony for lounging. Ascend the staircase retreat to the master suite with fireplace, spa bath, steam shower, two custom walk-in closets and private balcony with a spectacular view of the entire property. There are four additional bedrooms on the second level, three of which have en-suite baths and private balconies facing the water. There is a full finished third floor that is the length of the house and adds an additional 800 square feet of living space, as well as a 2,000-square-foot lower level with a large second family room, private movie theater and bedroom with en-suite full bath.

This is your private lake paradise! The brand new 6,400+-square-foot stunning home was designed by renowned architect Brad Wright of Wright Designs LLC, offering superb craftsmanship throughout the home that features: wavy pine siding, stack stone, Pennsylvania bluestone pavers, timber frame porches, tongue and groove cypress floors and ceilings, custom iron windows, copper chimney pots, European French oak floors, custom iron railings, custom cabinets by Morgan Creek, makers of fine handcrafted cabinetry, quartzite counters throughout, marble tiles in the master bath and more. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom and two-half-bath home features a Chefs kitchen with Wolf and Subzero appliances and a custom reclaimed oak island top. Outdoor kitchen features Wolf grill with rotisserie and phenomenal lake view dining area.

There are three masonry fireplaces including a limestone fireplace in the great room. The steel case glass doors bring the outdoors in, offering the best front-row lake-view seat from the spacious screened porch. The lower level family and game room take you out to the fantastic pool with tanning ledge, built-in seating and retractable cover. There is a custom wine cellar, outdoor shower, a lake locker room with ice maker and refrigerator, and a lower-level cart garage with storage and key pad entry. There are three spacious suites with private baths on the terrace level. The max dock with built-in steps is perfect for a 7,000-pound boat and jet ski. This fabulous lake home offers an oversized three-car garage, a central vac with 11 inlets, five HVAC zones with 14 and 16 seer system, irrigation via lake pump, and upper and lower level laundry room. It is the ultimate lake paradise youve been waiting for. Membership option is available.

This modern mountain home with natural finishes spans more than 6,000 square feet with five bedrooms, six bathrooms and endless vistas.

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Mansion Monday: Top 5 Mansions of the Week - duPont REGISTRY DAILY

Construction will begin next month on a new mixed entertainment area coming to The Commons in Oxford.

Developer David Blackburn announced this week thatconstruction on the first phase of theproject, which will be completed in three phases, will begin this fall with dirt work.

The Blackburn Group itself will be building new corporate offices as part of the project, which will also feature retail locations and a freestanding restaurant.At the center of the design is alargemusic andoutdoor entertainmentvenuewithraised stage anddrop-down videoscreenwith anopen lawnsurrounded byadditionaloutdoor seating, a playground, fountain and landscapingthat includes shade trees and overhead lighting and partial shading.The entertainment venue will be nestled inside the development, separated from traffic and parking lot area.

A two-story 14,600-square-foot building will host ground floor retailand office space, whilean equal sizesecond story willpartially house thenew Blackburn offices.In addition, a 6,000-squarefoot free standing restaurant will feature indoor, outdoor and rooftop seating. It will be located adjacent to an outdoor event space.A residential component is also included in the project.

We are excited about the next steps in Blackburns vision of building spaces forcommunities to come together. With the most recent success of leasing out The Terrace at OxfordCommons so quickly, we cant wait for The Commons to become a jewel to an already incrediblearea,said Frank Dyer III of Gill Properties, who handles the leasing of retail space in the development.I am sure that residents of Oxford Commons and citizens of Oxford will enjoy something newand exciting in this vibrant city.

Amaster plannedcommunity, Oxford Commonsfeatures a variety of retail centers and mixed use residential and business spacefeaturing tree-lined streets and winding walking trails.To date, approximately 125 homes have been built in the roughly 500-acre area, with another 750 planned in the next two decades.There are six distinct residential options for residents ranging from townhomes starting in the $240,000 range to semi-custom homes starting in the $380,000 range to Estate Custom Homes.

Whether you are looking for boutique shopping, local flavors, or open outdoor spaces to relax and unwind, The Commons will be the place to be. We look forward to the evolution of this great development and making connections with business owners looking to be part of this vision, said David Blackburn, President of The Blackburn Group.

He noted that interest and enthusiasm among businesses to locate in the space.

The most recently completedportion of thedevelopment, a16,000 square-foot neighborhood retail centercalledThe Terrace at Oxford Commons, is now fully occupied with businesses opening throughout the summer.New businesses include: 20-20 Lux Day Spa, Core Cycle and Outdoors, Endurance Physical Therapy, Foxs Pizza Den, Heartbreak Coffee, Oxford Commons Home Sales and Design Center, and The Citizens Bank.

For more information, visit http://TheCommonsOxford.com.

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"The Commons" entertainment area breaking ground this Fall - The Oxford Eagle - Oxford Eagle

For the second year, Mantell-Hecathorn Builders has been selected as Grand Winner of the Department of Energys National Housing Innovation Awards. Local builders Hunter and Greg Mantell-Hecathorn, principals of Mantell-Hecathorn Builders, had the honor of receiving the highest award in the 2020 Custom Home for Buyers category.

To be considered for this award, a home must meet the technical requirements of the DOEs Zero Energy Ready Homes program. Homes earning this recognition feature advanced levels of comfort, health, durability and are ultra energy efficient. The quality of homes built to this standard is ensured by rigorous inspections, diagnostics and checklists.

This home received a HERS score of 14, making it 86% more energy-efficient than most new homes built to code in Durango. It is also certified by the EPA for Healthy Indoor Air Quality, using non-toxic materials and providing continuous fresh air. This is the fifth year an M-H Builders home has received HIA recognition.

More information can be found at http://www.m-hbuilders.com and https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-experience.

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Mantell-Hecathorn Builders named Grand Award Winner by Department of Energy - The Durango Herald