interior home

Almost Back!!!

Hello again!!!! It's me, lauren, and I'm at my parents' house (with a computer!) and just wanted to leave a quick post. Things have been great at the new house- super-busy & exhausting in a good way.

The image above is from Calico Corners & represents a little more of what I'm looking for right now- color & pattern. (I'll explain in more detail below!)

We hit the kitchen the first weekend & tore out that funny stage/ petting zoon in the basement down to the studs. (Thanks goodness for my in-laws visiting!!!- my father-in-law is a workhorse and my mother-in-law really helped me get going.) Our (WONDERFUL) friends (a landscape designer & her husband) have been amazing & have helped us cut down dead trees & get started on the yard, which is a swamp (SERIOUS WATER ISSUES!! ) I put out our adirondack chairs under a dry spot in the yard and Christian & I and our dog Ashby have been enjoying them.

This is going to sound really crazy coming from me, but I have to be honest, having all white is DRIVING ME CRAZY.

No joke, it's killing me. Once I put up the drapes I started feeling better, but I'm really craving some bright color right now!! (I'm already way past the "base stage " and ready to get to the stage where I want to add my color!! hahaha) =The fabric below is 'Keira' which can be found at Calico Corners and we used on the guest bedroom drapes.

Ok, off to paint!! I'll have internet on Monday & will be back in full-swing. I've missed you all so much & feel very out of the loop!

xoxo,

lauren

ps- Thank you so much Camila for your posts while I way away!!!! (Hee hee I love all the ideas!!;)

xoxo

Architect Fees

Architects use various methods to establish their fees, depending on the type of services they provide, the location of the firm, and their personal preference. In some instances, more than one method may be used to calculate their fees, based on the type of the services provided. Some methods to calculate architect fees include:

A percentage of construction cost
An hourly rate, also called “Time and Materials”
A lump sum
A lump sum plus expenses
Unit pricing based on the area of the home
By the Sheet (the number of drawings generated)

Other factors architects consider are the size and complexity of the project, the difficulty of the site, the timeline, and what services are provided. Architects provide services far beyond a designer or draftsman. Architects are trained to correctly interpret their clients’ dreams, visions and objectives, explore all possibilities, study and respond to the site and its environment, and translate these into a home design that exceeds expectations.

Perhaps you have already designed your home and require little changes and/or aesthetic or structural expertise: in this case, a draftsman’s or designer’s services will most likely fit your needs.

However, if you would like to combine your wants, needs, and aspirations with your goals of energy efficiency and sustainability to successfully match your project objectives, research and interview green architects in your area. Hiring an architect is well worth your investment to ensure the end result is exactly what you wanted.

Residential Solar Energy is HOT!

Solar is the hottest thing in green homes today – and with good reason.

According to The Clear Mountain Solar Store, our local solar experts, “all the potential energy of the earth’s known oil, coal and natural gas reserves is equaled by just three weeks of solar energy. It is estimated that the solar energy that reaches the earth on a typical day could supply all the power the earth needs for a year.”

New government incentives and the explosive growth of the solar industry is great news for people building a new home or preparing a green renovation of their existing home.

Photovoltaic systems can be grid-tied or off-grid, are completely safe, reliable, and require minimal maintenance. Better yet, they produce no carbon dioxide or air pollution.

Heating water for our households accounts for about 25% of our total energy costs. A solar hot water system in New Hampshire and Vermont can produce 70% of your hot water needs and can save an average of 60% - 70% in energy costs, paying for itself in 3-5 years.

You can see even more savings by using a solar space heating system in conjunction with a furnace or biomass stove. Clear Mountain Solar explains, “active space heating systems are most affordable when sized to handle about half of a household’s heating needs. Systems designed to offer more are not cost-effective because most of the excess capacity is only used on the coldest winter days, remaining unused the rest of the year.” A solar space heating system can heat one room, a wing, or the whole home. With a return on investment is between 6-8 years, this type of system pays off quickly while you see the benefits immediately!

One of our one story home plans (pictured above) includes both a solar photovoltaic and a solar hot water system. Now is definitely the time to go green with solar energy!

Resources:
Renewable Energy Resource Center, Burlington, VT

Clear Mountain Solar Store, Claremont, NH

Branching out

In my continuing search for the perfect housewarming gift I was hit with an idea during my daily walks with the pups. I know that Lauren loves to bring the outdoors in and I’ve never seen someone get so excited to see Forsythia’s branches so I figured why not try to find a gift will keep on giving year in and out, she can use it to decorate, and add a touch of girly color.

Enter my latest idea:

A small quince tree that she can plant in her yard:

I love the way the branches look with the pops of pink throughout the brown branches. Maybe these little branches were inspiration for the whole pink plus brown trend!

Close up shot of flower:

Don’t you already see Lauren out there snipping away at the branches and making some amazing arrangements inside her Treehouse?

Apparently there is a special way for you to force your branches to bloom. Click here for a little how-to from Martha of course!

Hope you all enjoy your weekend! I’ll be back on Monday with some more ideas, which I’m sure will end up being PINK!

xoxo

Camila

Bonin Architects Hires Intern Architect

I'm very happy to announce a new hire for Bonin Architects: Christopher Timberlake has joined our firm as an Intern Architect.

Chris obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Studies and his Masters degree in Architecture from Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont. Timberlake was an architectural designer for a national manufacturer of timber frame homes for five years, and for the past year was head of their design department. Chris is knowledgeable in sustainable design, green building materials, and energy efficient homes.

Chris's professional experience, together with his enthusiasm for architecture, will be a great asset to our company. He's already hit the ground running, working on a few of our current green home designs. Stay tuned!

The Perfect Houseguest

Hello Everyone,

It's Camila from High-Heeled Foot in the Door since Lauren is a very busy lady this week fixing up her lovely Treehouse and without internet access til Mid-May I thought it would fun to come on over and entertain you all!

While it may seem that me and Lauren are a bit opposite in our design styles we are really quite similar. We both love clean lines, the mixing of old and new and having a room reflex your true style. I just like to throw a little okay maybe a lot more color into the mix.

So while the cat's away the mice will play! Let me know what you would like to see more of here. I'm going to channel my inner Lauren and try to find you all some wonderful eye candy that would make Lauren proud.

Now off to the first matter at hand.

Since I currently have Lauren working away on her guest room. (Purely for selfish reasons, because I want to visit her as soon as possible!) Due to this I have been on the hunt for the perfect housewarming gift.

My current front-runner is this:

The book is a dinner game of sorts. During Proust's time he came up with two questionnaires that were meant to allow the reader to discover his/hers fears, fantasies, favorite poets, writers, embarrassing moments, etc. The books features answers from a number of celebrities along with having blank questionnaires that your guests can fill out.

I'm not totally sold on this idea, but I like it so it's on my list, but the search continues.

What are your go-to gifts for a new home owner?

AIA is Walking the Walk in Green

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is changing the way we think about buildings, specifically with regard to energy usage. Buildings currently account for nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions, a fact we simply cannot ignore. AIA architects are leading the way by integrating sustainable design practices in all of their projects, thereby being able to reduce energy consumption to less than half.

This is a strong stand, but a necessary step toward achieving a 50% reduction from the current consumption level of fossil fuels used to build and operate new and renovated buildings by the year 2010. To meet this goal, the AIA started the "Walk the Walk" movement by saying, "We strongly believe that the time for talk has passed, and now it is the time to walk the walk.

AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to reduce our national and global carbon footprint. By using sustainable design practices and techniques, such as proper siting, building form, glass properties and location, material selection and incorporating natural heating, cooling, and ventilation and day-lighting strategies, architects design building to operate with far less energy than today’s average home with little or no additional cost.

AIA Architects "walk the walk" on sustainable design. Bonin Architects & Associates is helping you to walk the walk. Are you building a green home in the near future, or thinking about building an addition to your existing home? Call us or visit us at one of our upcoming events, including home shows, green events and seminars, and a Home Tour (May 16th )of an energy efficient home built with SIP Panels by Murus. Learn more about how you can lower your home’s energy consumption and play an active role in, well … saving the earth.