Portfolio

---

Full tear out and rebuild. Customer chose simple, classic elements that will endure esthetically for many years. Electric radiant floor heat keeps the tile floor comfortable to the touch. The diagonal wall covering a roof pitch still allows sufficient space for recessed cabinets and lends interest to the space. Polished native green Vermont marble is an elegant choice for the wainscot cap and window stool and provides a shelf for objects around the pedestal sink.  

Full tear-out and remodel: Low ceilings, rough cut timbers and out of level conditions made for a challenging installation. Dark cabinets were replaced with light ones to brighten the room. Under cabinet lighting creates clear illumination for all the counter spaces. Appliance garage and discreet placement of microwave under penninsula keep small appliances out of view. Post supported granite peninsula counter leaves lots of leg room underneath for gathering around it on stools. Its cut away design on one side allows for easy movement around it. Design was a collaborative effort involving the owners at every stage. 

Customer wanted to update their master bedroom and also make it more energy efficient. Upon exploration of the ceiling we discovered a modified post and beam system, with a structural ridge beam carrying the roof load and posts hidden in the walls at the gable ends. The large ceiling beams were actually fastened there for decoration and served no structural purpose - the work of supporting the roof plane was handled with 2X10's behind the drywall. We discovered a large air leak along the entire ridge where the drywall met the ridge beam and the inspection port we cut sows how fiberglass "filters" escaping air and becomes stained over the years. Moisture from a dirt crawl space was another problem and high levels of vapor moving up through the room had caused the glue to fail on many of the doors.
The customer's request: 1. Seal out moisture in the dirt crawl space and insulate band joist with 2 part foam.2. Remove fiberglass insulation from the ceiling cavities. Air seal the ceiling plane, and refill cavities with dense- packed cellulose. 3. Repair or replace doors as needed.4. Get rid of green shag rug covering the floor and install a new cherry floor from trees grown on the land.5. Replace windows and update trim in entire room to a simpler square edge to match the rest of the house.6. Cover the outdated popcorn ceiling with a hand troweled plaster finish.7. Build and install a collar tie/king truss system, matching the hand plane marks and finish on existing beams. 8. Repair chimney and rebuild firebox at hearth: This is a historic replica of a modified Rumsford firebox, designed to extract maximum heat from the fire. 9. Build a new mantle to go with the trim.Lead on this project was Konrad Scheltema. Joey Birchmore's specialty is post and beam work and Glen Rozinski was the mason, who is knowledgeable in historic brick work. I supervised and participated in all phases of the project. The room was truly a collaboration between the customers and all of us- sometimes we couldn't look back and remember who had thought up which element or tecqnique. We are all very proud of project.

Customers wanted a bathroom that would serve as they aged, so a curbless shower in this small space made sense. There is a pocket door to further conserve space, and electric radiant floor heat. The long shower stall makes a doorless opening possible which further enhances manuverability in the room. The soaking tub and entire crawlspace floor are insulated and air sealed with 2 part foam, so the tub water won't lose temperature too quickly in winter and the room stays cozy.    
​    A much discussed aspect of this room was the height of the soaking tub. The original plan was to fully recess the tub, "Japanese style", so its rim stood only a few inches off the floor. We immediately began a conversation with the customer about how she would get into and out of such a tub. Many ideas about grab bars and even a swimming pool- type ladder were discussed. Finally, after simulating various heights with mockups, it was decided the rim of the tub should be the height of a standard chair.
The bather could then sit on its rim and swing her legs in, using grab bars either on the wall behind the rim or set on the rim itself- this would be determined after installation. When the tub was finally built and working, the customer had such an easy time getting in and out that we dispensed with grabs altogether. If someday in the future there's a need for grab bars, the walls are fully blocked to receive them at any imagineable spot around the tub, toilet, or shower.  Blocking for grab bars has become routine for me in all my bathrooms. Unless instructed not to do so, I block the room- it's just a good and inexpensive precaution. I also provide customers with a thumb drive of photos showing buried mechanicals and other features behind the walls in case service is required later on.