Custom Home Building

AREAS OF SPECIALTY

• Energy efficient homes through the use of active and/or passive solar design, as well as other construction technologies and materials.
• Low maintenance homes, in terms of both design elements and material selection.
• Emphasis on design that maximizes use of space, such as eliminating unnecessary hallways and incorporating storage in spaces that are commonly left unused.
• Contemporary and modified timber frame designs.
• ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) exterior wall construction.
• Emphasis on designing a home to complement a specific site’s features and exposures.

HOW WE WORK

We can provide, in-house, virtually all aspects of construction, including such things as custom cabinetry, custom staircases and a variety of unique and whimsical details that make a home truly "custom". We can create virtually anything the Homeowner can imagine.

To see what we have done to our custom home, click here to see a description of
Energy Efficient Features, Low Maintenance Features, Practical Features, and Fun and Unique Features.

Smith Residence

ENERGY EFFICIENT FEATURES

• Passive solar construction includes many windows on the west and south sides, few windows on the north and east sides, and large roof overhangs.
• Solar panels are embedded in the south roof. They heat water both for domestic use and for radiant floor heating.
• Hydroelectric power available from lake dam.
• A large water wood stove in the basement shop provides additional hot water, as well as providing a convenient and economical way to dispose of wood scrap.
• A second wood stove in the great room is both functional and decorative.
• Three 4X8" raised skylights surrounded by stone planters let natural light down from the main deck to the basement shop.
• Walls are of pour-in-place concrete forms for R-30 insulation.
• Ceiling fans in virtually every room.
• Two whole-house fans draw hot air out of the house in summer.
• Many materials were "recycled" from the Habitat for Humanity Resale Store to save cost and support a worthy cause.
• Low flow toilets.
• Energy saving appliances.
  

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LOW MAINTENANCE FEATURES

• Stucco exterior over pour-in-place concrete form walls.
• Architectural metal roof.
• Coated concrete deck.
• Aluminum deck railings.
  

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• Circular driveways eliminate the need to ever back up a vehicle.
• Raised countertops in kitchen and baths.
• Built-in under-counter composting in kitchen.
• Recycling "chutes" provide an easy way to dispose of recyclables directly from the kitchen to various concealed receptacles outside in the carport.
• Pass-through firewood bin from outdoors directly into great room eliminates mess.
• Instead of awkward attics and crawl spaces, storage is placed in second floor overhead areas and around north and east walls (also provides additional insulation value).
  

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• Master bath shower door opens directly onto private exterior sun deck.
• "Ship’s knees" (large 90° braces made from a continuous tree root and trunk section) used for both decorative and functional support.
• Exposed beams throughout the house were milled on site from pine and oak trees felled on the property.
• Fire pole down the center of the main staircase for sliding from the second floor to the basement shop.
• Natural light shafts surrounded by glass blocks.