WESTERN HOME JOURNAL » Flathead Valley

An Old House Becomes a New Home

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:47:24 +0000

Aided by Carin Cross Design, A family rebuilds upon the ashes of their destroyed lakeside home. By Nancy Reece Jones

As smoke and flames billowed out of third floor windows of the old Victorian house, neighbors frantically hauled art, antiques, and whatever else they could carry out onto the surrounding lawn. Hours later after the fire trucks had gone, the skeletal remains of the huge structure looked starkly silhouetted against the mountains.

Although the fire didn’t consume the lower floors, the added insult of smoke and water damage rendered the house all but a total loss. The owners, who had been away at the time, had tough decisions to make in a timely fashion. The huge but stately lakeside house had been their dream home for 30 years, and seeing it in ruins was devastating.

After weeks of weighing alternatives, they decided to build a similar house with a smaller footprint that would better suit their empty-nest lifestyle and environmental consciousness. Yet, they wanted to retain the elegant feel of their former home and incorporate the artwork from their travels that had been salvaged by the neighbors, as well as original architectural elements that were able to be restored. “I was excited to be included early in the space-planning phase as the interior designer,” said Carin Cross, ASID, of Cross Design. “That’s the ideal time for me to ensure that a new plan will both flow well and meet clients’ expectations.”

With input from the architect, contractor, and Cross, the clients decided on several changes, including the elimination of an unnecessary third floor. Eliminating it improved the flow and livability of the house without compromising its graciousness. They also moved the master bedroom downstairs and added a cozy sitting room adjacent to it that opened onto the garden.

“We all spent hours poring over the recovered architectural items, including the original woodwork, paneling, mantels, railings, and lead windows to decide how best to integrate them into the new design,” said Cross.

Once she developed a paint palette that reflected the clients’ preference for pastels, they worked together to seamlessly blend the old and the new in the selections of interior surfaces, furniture, fabrics, and window coverings.

All the architectural and design elements complemented one another in the end, creating a beautiful home that was reminiscent of the original, yet contemporary and accommodating of the clients’ needs in the coming years.

Carin Cross is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers. For more information, call Carin Cross Design at 406-862-6277 or visit online at www.carincross.com.

Carin Cross Design | 750 W. 2nd St. Suite G PO Box 4968 | Whitefish MT 59937 (Map)

Phone: 406 862 6277 | Email: crossdesign@centurytel.net | Website: http://www.carincross.com

Montana Native Celebrates Business Success

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:35:07 +0000

Brewster McLeod Architects Offers Exceptional Design and Customer Service to the Big Sky State.

Five Successful Years of Business by Julie Bielenberg.

Fourth generation Montanan and Glacier National Park native, Jamie L. Brewster McLeod, is honored to bring the talents of her boutique architecture firm to the Big Sky State. Brewster McLeod is deeply connected to the Flathead Valley and the surrounding areas. Her great-grandfather was the first ranger under Major Logan in 1910, when the majestic Glacier National Park was established. He also gave the famous cowboy artist, Charlie M. Russell, his first job in the state as a Nighthawk on the Circle C Ranch in the Little Rockies of eastern Montana.

Brewster McLeod is thrilled by her return to Montana offering premiere architecture design and services. Her recent area project is a family compound implementing energy efficient design within a luxury custom home. Growing up in a national park and admiring the iconic architecture in harmony with the surroundings set the precedent for Brewster McLeod’s sensitivity towards design and construction. She states, “I always aspired to be an architect for the Park Service, building natural projects and renovating historic lodges. The extension of my firm into Montana is one step closer to achieving my greatest ambition.”

This year Brewster McLeod Architects celebrated five years of growing success in the Colorado markets of Aspen and Telluride. This was an opportune time to expand the talents of the firm into Brewster McLeod’s home territory of Montana. She is now offering architectural services in the Flathead Valley and Bozeman area where she received her Masters of Architecture. The extension of the firm will continue to revolve around two critical aspects, outstanding design and customer service.

Brewster McLeod understands the importance of one-on-one attention and the individual and unique interests of her clients. “We use Brewster McLeod Architects because they are creative and inspired a design that reflected the way that we wanted to live in our home. We have built several homes. Jamie Brewster McLeod is a great listener and is the most talented residential architect that we have ever worked with,” notes the Faktorows, a Colorado client.

When you are a client of Brewster McLeod Architects, you interact directly with Jamie to discuss your hopes and aspirations throughout the entire project—you are able to speak directly with the artist behind your masterpiece. Personalizing designs and inspiring clients to achieve their dream home is the driving force of her firm. An open communication channel has proved time and again that the best design results from collaboration between the architect and client.

The mountain firm specializes in larger luxury custom homes. Many of these projects include materials, tools and techniques that reduce carbon footprints and facilitate energy efficient homes. Every unique project allows Brewster McLeod Architects to create a unified interior and exterior combination that provides framework to capture personal dialogue. No two people are alike, and thus no two designs are alike either.

Through passion, talent, experience, and commitment, Brewster McLeod Architects is able to provide the perfect design experience and outcome, allowing each client to tell their story that will come to fruition with the firm’s talents. “Having gone start to finish on a project in Telluride, I have found Jamie’s attention to certain details critical to her success,” explains S. Scott Brown, a client of Brewster McLeod Architects. Brown goes on to say, “Her single client focus during the design phase of a project in conjunction with listening, speed and flexibility during construction was invaluable. Most of all it is her gift of combining space, form, texture and the environment into beautiful, unique homes.”

Allowing individuals to express their specific tastes provides Brewster McLeod Architects the necessary tools to envision their ideal lifestyle design. Exceptional architecture and customer satisfaction is always at the forefront of every project, resulting in uniquely timeless and functional designs. It is the mastery of these skills that has provided growth and success for Brewster McLeod Architects.

Brewster McLeod Architects
970.544.0130
117 S Monarch St Aspen, CO

Full Article

Building With Nature

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:03:49 +0000

North Country Builders adds Beauty to the Natural Setting

“Our goal is to build homes that look as though they belong as naturally to the site as the firs and cottonwoods, as permanently as the weather-worn rocks, and as gracefully as the waving grasses,” explains Leo Keane, owner of North Country Builders, Inc. in Whitefish, Montana and a 30-year veteran of building custom homes, as he takes time from his day to talk. “We expect our homes to blend in with nature and not detract from or ruin the site.”

Give Life and Spirit to the Garden
For Leo Keane, building sustainably is an extension of who he is and how he approaches his profession rather than just a green builder’s checklist. Asked about his inspirations, he recounts a story that confirms his outlook. “Recently I visited an exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum, and I found a book entitled, The Home Book of the Picturesque by Washington Irving, dated 1851. I especially loved this quote: Leo goes on to explain, “Of course when this was written, homes were built from timbers hewn from the surrounding forest and upon foundations assembled with stones gathered from a nearby hillside by men and women caring for their families and farms. Then it occurred to me: this is what is missing from our mission statement, and this is what sets us apart from others doing business as professional builders.”

And what does their mission statement say about how North Country Builders builds homes? “Our mission has always been to focus on unique craftsmanship, enduring value, thoughtful guidance and communication, trustworthy and friendly employees, honest accounting, as well as the necessary references to the importance of budgets and schedules,” Leo responds.

“Yet, I’ve always felt that as a sought-after builder of fine homes in the Whitefish area, our clients should expect nothing less. In fact, I consider these the prerequisites of good building and good business. But even if budgets, schedules, and accurate accounting might keep me awake at night, these are not the reasons I jump out of bed in the morning.”

Putting it Into Context
That poses an interesting question. What does motivate a builder to jump out of bed every day and to excel? No one argues that building homes is a tough job. It is perhaps one of the few careers available to our modern generation that totally challenges one’s strength, agility, quickness, intelligence, creativity and problem solving. And that is just at the job site. Returning to the office requires juggling numbers, puzzling over blueprints, and mulling decisions on bids and proposals. Leo agrees. “A mentor once explained to me that this job is too much work not to be fun. If we didn’t love it, we would go crazy.” And so, a question to Leo–do you still love it and where is the joy in working this hard and accepting so much responsibility? “That’s true,” Leo answers. “The labor of building definitely does involve the successful assembly of all the complex and often unrelated challenges of creating a home from excavating properly to spending wisely. In fact, I often tell my clients that building their home is not all that much different than building a space ship.”

“But inevitably the final and enduring joy for me happens as the last of the dump trucks and big excavators have rumbled off down the road and the tools and trailers are no longer in sight. The home stands where only months ago there was nothing but piles of lumber and a hole in the ground. Now with freshly planted trees and graceful gardens growing around the new home, it’s time to employ the builder’s Golden Rule, Step Seven—stand back and check your work. That’s what makes my heart beat: when what we have built adds beauty to what was always naturally there.” Leo’s description aptly reflects his motivation for building with nature by giving life and spirit to the Garden.

Respect, Listening, and Caring
What Leo describes as North Country Builder’s mission is actually one step deeper than green building. It is green building and then some. While his building process takes full advantage of all that new technology has to offer, most importantly the company takes the utmost care to do the least harm or impact to the surrounding landscape, takes the extra time and effort to salvage or recycle waste products, clears the home site of litter daily, and acknowledges all employees with the respect they deserve as irreplaceable craftsmen and women.

The same attitude of respect extends to listening and caring about the client. “That’s my job, to make certain the client’s vision gets built, and to take complete responsibility for the project. The heart of this is listening and communication. For the homeowner, architect, and the trades, I am the listener and the conductor of information. I have been told that this is something our clients think differentiates us from other builders. When it comes to careful communication, we take it seriously, and we don’t skimp.”

North Country Builders is the thoroughly modern, go-to builders for thoughtful yet demanding clients. They believe that when they pack up their tools and drive away they have gotten it right when the home improves upon the landscape and the homeowners wave goodbye with smiles on their faces. Call North Country Builders, Inc. when you are ready to add “life and spirit” to your own special place in the world.

O. 406.862.5812 • C. 406.885.3999 • 844 Baker Avenue Whitefish, Montana • northcountrybuilders@centurytel.net www.northcountrybuildersmt.com

Buying Local

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:43:41 +0000

Buying Locally Benefits Shoppers and the Community

The owner of Buckeye Hardwood & Lumber Company explains how everyone benefits from buying locally.

Why should a consumer purchase from a local business? Hank Adams of Buckeye Hardwood & Lumber Company in Arlee, Montana is more than a little familiar with this question. “We hear it all the time: I can get flooring or molding at a box store or discount center for less money, so why should I buy from you?” conveys Adams, owner of Buckeye Hardwoods, a Montana owned and operated business. He says the answer is simple. “Our response is straightforward. We’re local, and our money stays in the local economy. We are here to assist you through your entire process of selection and installation, and we remain here after your project is complete. We know where your product comes from and that it has been cared for properly from the forest to your home. Lastly, like many small local businesses, we believe first and foremost in purchasing and producing quality products, as well as providing excellent service while offering competitive pricing.” With the struggling economy and much tighter budgets, it is easy to justify purchasing a lower priced item from a box store, discount center or online store. However, there are more reasons to keep your purchase local. “There are so many reasons to choose a local business, like Buckeye Hardwoods, over a business where you are just another number. At our business you are a person, not a number,” explains Adams.

Dollars Spent Locally are Spent Again Locally
Experts say that from the perspective of the local economy, buying locally is win-win and a great way to boost a lagging economy. Economic research has suggested that money spent in a local economy generally stays in that local economy at least twice as long as money spent at nationalized chains and discount centers. Hank Adams is a firm believer that this is true. “When a consumer makes a purchase through Buckeye Hardwoods, several things happen that boost the local economy. First, our business pays taxes to support the community infrastructure that we all rely upon. Our business employs fifteen people that live in our community, pay taxes and make local purchases. Most of our employees deposit their paychecks into locally owned banks, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses,” says Adams. “We also work directly with local contractors who also pay local taxes and employ local residents so the dollars reverberate with them, as well. It is easy to see that the money stays in the western Montana region longer than if it goes to an online store or an out-of-state discount center.”

Knowledge and Expertise Included in Purchase Price
Another advantage to a locally owned business is that owners and employees have an expertise and a passion for their products that is not found in large box stores. Small businesses will assist and educate a consumer and help the consumer gravitate towards the product that fits best. “Our goal is not to get you into the most expensive product or the least expensive product. Our goal at Buckeye is to find out what your needs are, what your budget is and get you into the right product. Take flooring, for example. We go through a series of questions with a customer, including where the flooring is going, the style of the house, the heating source, and then we can lead customers to the options that will best suit their needs,” explains Adams. “Our end goal is to have customers that are happy after our product is installed and in use, not just when they walk out of our door.”

Responsible Purchasing Decisions
Locally owned businesses are directly responsible to customers for purchasing the products they carry. Decisions on what and where to purchase are made on a local level instead of the national level. This can be especially important for the new “green” consumer, as local business owners can be pickier about where products come from and how they are manufactured and processed. As an example, Hank Adams is extremely selective about where Buckeye Hardwoods purchases products. “We know our suppliers. I have personally been to most of our vendors’ facilities and our vendors have been to our facilities. If there is a problem, I can go directly to the owner and get it resolved. The same is true for you as a consumer. If you buy from us and for some reason there is a problem, you can come directly to me and we’ll get it worked out,” he explains “We also know where our products are coming from. American hardwoods are what we consider the original green product and we’re proud of the fact that we know it was harvested responsibly. We know the people cutting the trees and milling the lumber and we have seen their facilities. We know they aren’t using child labor or unknown glues and chemicals in their processing. We also make sure the wood is properly dried and stored from start to finish. In short, we know the product,” Adams emphasizes. One example at Buckeye Hardwoods is Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring. It has been in the lumber business for three generations and it was one of the first few hundred companies to become FSC certified. Another supplier, Sheoga Hardwood Flooring and Paneling, is Amish-owned and thus uses less electricity and energy during their cutting and manufacturing process than most facilities.

Emphasis on Quality
Knowing the source of materials has other major benefits. Identifying quality is a priority and local merchants are more likely to stand behind the quality of their products. “Quality is critical. Choosing quality hardwoods for flooring or molding can be complicated, as an example of Northern Appalachian hardwoods versus Southern Appalachian hardwoods demonstrates. Hardwood trees grown in the south grow faster because of the longer growing season and therefore, do not have as tight of a grain as hardwoods trees grown in the northerly climates. The same species can vary greatly in density and color, so you have to be selective about what region you purchase from,” Adams explains. “We like to make sure our customers know quality is the foundation our products. Likely when they compare our pricing to box stores, they are really comparing apples to oranges—we do not offer the same products.” There’s a movement across the nation that agrees with Hank Adams that buying local products from local sources is just good, sustainable business. “When I make a purchase, I really try to go to a local business. I like knowing that I am a person, not a number and that the owner of a business is going to stand behind his or her product. The same goes for our customers,” says Adams. “It just makes sense.”

Buckeye Hardwood & Lumber | 93173 US Hwy 93 PO Box 620 | Arlee MT 59821 (Map)

Phone: 406 726 2008 | Email: chris@buckeyehardwoods.com | Website: http://www.buckeyehardwoods.com

Geothermal – The Heat is on

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:35:38 +0000

heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (hVAC) is an often misunderstood and under appreciated trade in the realm of home building or retrofit contracting. But all that is begin- ning to change as homeowners driven by higher utility costs, health concerns, and a true desire to shrink their carbon footprint are demanding homes that function more efficiently.

This requires looking at any building as an integrated system and understanding how the various components impact each other. The best trained HVAC contractors have been doing that very analysis for decades. At AirWorks, Heating and Cooling Professionals has been designing, installing, and servicing home and business mechanical systems in the Flathead Valley for 15 years in accordance with the best practices developed by ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) and endorsed by the EPA and DOE. Quite simply, AirWorks “creates healthier, energy saving, indoor climates” by controlling temperatures, air pressures, fresh air, and humidity.

As a performance based contractor they are equipped to test and quantify your home for its energy efficiency using combustion analyzers, blower door, and duct blasting diagnostic tools. All components of your home have either a resistance to heat flow (example: insulation) or conductivity (example: concrete walls). There are numbers associated to the heat flow through any of these building components such as windows, doors, ceilings, floors, walls, and fireplaces. A thorough inventory of the number and size of these components, including orientation, must be taken. These values are then entered into a specialized computer program to determine equipment sizing and energy modeling. The blower door test is useful in quantifying how much air leaks into the home through gaps and penetrations in the building envelope. This is another important input for the software. The output of the program is the heat load calculation. This data is required for the HVAC contractor to properly “size” and design a mechanical system that meets the physical requirements of the structure and the life style impacts of the homeowners.

Between the heat load calculation, the architectural design, and homeowner needs (including budget) AirWorks can determine what type of equipment, distribution, and control methods will most completely create an efficient and healthy mechanical design. If one word best describes the current offering of heating and cooling products, that would be innovative. Our industry has seen amazing improvements across the board as manufactures strive for higher and higher efficiencies. Computer based controls can now “learn” to increase performance. Many new alloys, stainless steel and thermoplastics have been used to create durable lightweight equipment. Newer refrigerants and improved heat exchanger designs have dramatically improved capacities and efficiency. What all this means for the consumer is a broad spectrum of products that when properly applied, will make one more comfortable and save energy.

AirWorks Inc. has been involved in every facet of HVAC in the last 15 years, but the current thrust has been heat pumps technology. This is being driven by customer demand which is being accelerated by numerous federal and state tax incentives, utility rebates, and the desire for the lowest operating cost possible. Even without the incentives they are attractive, but the kick back money makes the decision to do the right thing easier. There are three major design concepts in modern heat pumps: air-to-air, ductless, and geothermal. When doing research on heat pumps, understanding the nuts and bolts is not as important as proper application of the technology.

MODERN HEAT DESIGN

AirWorks specializes in doing the calculations to ensure the right fit for maximizing performance. Analyzing the homes heat loss, current operating costs, available budget, and payback periods will help determine the best system design. A careful consideration of these various factors will help ensure the best outcome for the money invested.

Air-to-air heat pumps consist of an outdoor unit much like a standard A/C unit. They are designed to absorb heat from the outside air and reject that heat into the home. There is an incredible amount of heat energy contained in the relatively cool outside air. This energy is absorbed and concentrated through the refrigeration process to provide very efficient heating in all but the very coldest outside temperatures. Typically this heat is distributed through ducting and this technology can be easily combined with fossil fuels such as propane and natural gas. A standard installation would be adding an air-to-air heat pump to an existing gas furnace. This allows the heat pump to provide the majority of the heat at greater efficiency, and as the outside temperature approaches zero, the gas furnace takes over. This design is called “Dual Fuel” and takes advantage of the heat pumps most effective temperature range and gas furnaces run more efficiently at colder “steady state” operation. AirWorks now offers a system that can be powered by solar panels. In fact, up to twelve solar panels can be installed to deliver excess power through the heat pump back to ones electrical panel to actually turn the meter backwards. This comes with computer monitoring software that continuously reports the effectiveness of the solar panels.

Ductless heat pumps are a type of air-to-air heat pump that do not require duct work. If one has visited Europe or Asia you would have certainly seen them. The distribution of heat or cooling in these systems is done by a small evaporator unit(s) mounted on inside walls with connecting refrigerant lines and wiring to a remote outside condensing unit. The noise level is almost inaudible in most modes of operation. Automatic dampers slowly oscillate providing uniform comfort by reducing air temperature stratification in the room. Built-in air cleaners wash the air as it is being heated or cooled. The visibility of the indoor unit is the only objection to this type of system. However, they do blend in quite well and there is the option to use a concealed indoor unit hidden above a closet. Multiple indoor units can be connected to a single outdoor unit. This flexibility allows these systems to condition the whole home or only specific zones or areas.

“Geothermal heat pumps get a lot of press because of their outstanding efficiency. This exceptional efficiency is possible due to the fact that the ground has a relatively consistent temperature year round below the frost line.”

This makes heat extraction much easier even in the coldest above ground temperatures, unlike an air-to-air heat pump. Heat is absorbed from the ground in two ways. A closed loop system consists of a series of polyethylene tubes that circulate water treated with antifreeze. This water absorbs the ground heat and delivers it to the indoor heat pump unit for concentration and distribution to the home. Ground loops can be installed vertically or horizontally. Soil type is critical to effective heat transfer, so knowing the geology is critical and may mean that geothermal is not a viable option. Moist loamy soils are best suited. Horizontal drilling has been a game changer where ground loops are concerned. A utility drill is used to bore under your property well below landscaping, outbuildings, trees, and driveways. The plastic tubing is then pulled back to the home with minimal surface ground breaking. The other way to extract the ground heat is with an open system, which utilizes well water. Ground water is pumped through the heat exchanger of the heat pump, removing 6-8 degrees of heat and discharging that water into a reinjection well. Open looped systems are less costly to install up front because they do not require excavation or great coils of piping. But again proper geology is important. Water temperature and pressure is critical to a successful application. Geothermal technology can be added to most existing radiant floor systems and forced air systems to vastly reduce operating costs.

Whether you are thinking of building a new home or remodeling an existing gem, AirWorks has the tools and expertise to test and verify the thermal efficiency of the building and mechanical systems. At AirWorks, lowering operational costs while improving comfort and air quality is the highest priority.

For more information call AirWorks, Inc. at 406. 257.1341
or visit www.airworksmt.com

Smart Building

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:58:31 +0000

Landscape Architecture:

A Crucial Component in Smart Building

Design, ecology, and construction are at the core of Landscape Architecture. We are trained to be stewards of the land while applying function, aesthetic design, and value to any project. Today our clients are looking for ways to incorporate sustainable practice and advanced building techniques in order to create the ultimate vision for their finished project. At White Cloud Design we are advancing our creative design and innovative details to meet and exceed the status quo. Sustainability is an important part of our business philosophy.

Good Design does not necessarily mean the project should cost more. By being involved in the planning and design of a project, we add value and efficiency, allowing projects to save time, resources, and money. We take the time and sweat the details early in the design process to meet the project goals and budget requirements. Ultimately, time spent in planning leads to a high quality product and an efficient construction process.

Design that works with Ecology
Design is one component of the building circle. At White Cloud Design we look at the whole project to find practical and innovative solutions with strong design intent.

It is the Architecture, the Site Resources, and the Ultimate Goals that drive any project. Design is all about problem solving and function. Function has value. From Consulting, to Project Coordination to on-site Construction Administration, we strive to create the best design solutions for each individual project. Whether we are approaching a raw piece of land or re-imagining an existing landscape, each project has unique design challenges, strengths and ultimate goals.

Ecology that Works with Construction
The fundamental ecology of each site drives the design. Plants, Water, Soil, and Stone are unique elements in each site. These resources, along with the specific regional context, are some of the factors that we integrate in order to enhance the landscape.

An understanding of the site and the design elements of the project help us achieve Integrated Design Solutions. This can include the integration of native vegetation, site restoration, on site water management, the inclusion of renewable energy resources, and a thoughtful use of the unique attributes of each individual site. White Cloud Design has worked extensively within the Rocky Mountain West. This inherent understanding of our unique mountain environment informs and supports each design decision that we make. The natural world is the ultimate inspiration for our design philosophy.

Connect with your Environment
Construction is the implementation of the design and planning process. We take the time to create pertinent site details which aid in a creating well implemented project.

With our years of experience in the industry we are knowledgeable in construction practices and know the value of the contractor’s skill in building our designs. We work with design details and contractors to evolve designs into practical solutions with accurate application to the site. This provides a high level of design detail within an efficient, sustainable project.

White Cloud Design provides fully integrated site design, from site consulting and redesign on small projects to total site planning.

We apply Strong, Smart Design, Wise use of Resources and a full understanding of the Project Goals to create beautiful, innovative, functional, and practical design solutions.

White Cloud Design | 715 Blue Heron Dr | Whitefish MT 59937 (Map)

Phone: 406 863 2828 | Email: info@whiteclouddesign.com | Website: http://www.whiteclouddesign.com

Sustainable building practices gain momentum

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:56:15 +0000

Here’s a statement, and you identify whether this is cutting-edge green building theory or a pioneer sentiment promoted by our great-grandparents: We should approach construction, renovation, and the operation of our homes and buildings in a healthy, energy-efficient manner and conserve resources. Maybe both? While there is a lot of buzz and a fair amount of confusion about what it means to build sustainably or green, the values behind it are straightforward. People build green homes because they are healthy, they use fewer resources, homes have a longer life because of quality build practices, and buildings save considerable energy.

A movement toward green building in Flathead Valley is gaining momentum, propelled by the hope of committed entrepreneurs trying to make change, the deeply rooted local values of respecting and conserving the land, and experienced professionals eager to embrace a new and different future for the built environment. Different from the past, this new movement is employing some exciting technology and new materials and financial incentives are propelling more favorable economics.

Forces at work
As people recognize how their personal decisions have broad ramifications on the Earth’s resources, a number of forces are coalescing behind the green building movement. The United States’ domestic oil supplies have peaked and are on the downside, forcing more reliance on foreign sources. With less abundance and world competition for the remaining quantities, prices are rising. At the same time, evidence is mounting to demonstrate that fossil fuel use is behind green house gases and planetary warming.

The environmental impacts of buildings can be staggering. These figures from the US Green Building Council indicate that in the US buildings account for:

70% of all electricity consumption
39% of all energy use
39% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
40% of raw materials use
30% of the waste output (136 million tons annually)
12% of drinkable water consumption

Green building is one answer for lowering this high level of consumption.

What is green?
Buildings can be green as a result of goals or intentions of the building programs, and there are independent certification programs that verify that the building and the process has met a set of standards for green building. The explicit certification standards vary by the agency making the certification and by the level for which the building is being certified (such as silver, gold, or platinum).

Green building goals benefit the health of the building’s occupants through better air quality and less toxic materials; they benefit the community by lowering infrastructure requirements; they enhance the value of the building, and lower operating and life-cycle costs; they result in lower water and power use; and they support a better environment by conserving natural resources and protecting ecosystems.

Local Leadership
In the Flathead Valley, support for green building came concurrently from a number of directions. One was the Green Building Guild, which got its start a few years ago when a group started meeting informally to talk about how they could build differently, better, and in accordance with their personal values. “We were seeing things built that just didn’t perform as well as they should, and we were talking about healthier, energy-efficient buildings with solar design,” recalled Dave Fischlowitz, member of the Guild and owner of Fischworks, a green design concept center and green material source.

About the same time, a statewide group started meeting and after discussions eventually embraced the relatively recent standards and green certification process of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. As a result, Flathead Buildering Association, the local NAHB’s Chapter, has an active, 30-member Green Committee. Local builder Brad Reedstrom is a member, and his firm, Bigfork Builders, was part of the first group to be nationally certified by NAHB. Reedstrom says the real impetus for building green is coming from the consumers. “Our clients are concerned about cleaner and healthier homes as well as energy efficiency,” he said. “We’re confident we will see much more support for green in the future. However, what we realized during the training is that we were already doing a good job, especially with energy efficiency, and there’s not a big gap between what we have been doing and certification.”

A third force is local enthusiasm for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Saddlehorn, a development by Bigfork with a strong commitment toward sustainable development, is using the national LEED program as a standard. “Saddlehorn engaged the services of Kath Williams & Associates of Bozeman to ensure that the development and its homes are as green as possible,” said Clint Walker, Saddlehorn spokesperson. Williams has served as past president of the World Green Building Council and is a principal force behind implementing the LEED standards in Montana, nationally and abroad. Saddlehorn is trying for the difficult-to-reach Platinum level LEED certificate for its Welcome House, which according to Walker would be a first for Montana.

Certifications
There are three certification processes for green construction in practice in Flathead Valley. In addition to the new NAHB program that just earned statewide support, there is the federal Energy Star program (US EPA and Department of Energy) and the previously mentioned national LEED program through the US Green Building Council.

Homes can certainly be built according to green principles and not be inspected and certified. The advantage of a certification program is that an independent verifier signs off that the conditions for certification have been met. This is a condition for some financial incentives, which is not surprising where money is involved.

Financial Incentives
Incentives to build green are coming from a number of sources. Utilities recognize that conservation is the favored way of gaining supply for their increasing demand. Green homeowners save on water, heating, electricity and maintenance costs, and so qualify for better mortgage terms. State and federal policy-makers have put tax incentives in place, as well.

NorthWestern Energy has a handy online calculator for energy use to encourage reduction. Their benefits vary somewhat by service area, but generally include: $30 for a programmable thermostat; $120-310 for high-efficiency natural gas equipment rebates; $100 for a gas convection oven as a replacement; varying amounts for improving boiler and furnace equipment; efficient water measures (water tank insulation, low-flow shower heads, and faucet aerators) rebates or installation complimentary for participating in an energy audit; free weatherization starter kits; varying rebates for switching from electric to gas hot water heating; and a rebate for energy efficient new construction.

At Flathead Electric, customers can sign up to purchase renewable energy for $5 per month. It offers the following incentives: a $750 rebate on electrically-heated manufactured homes meeting standards; a $1,000 rebate for new construction or retrofit commercial lighting; $1,000 for air source heat pumps; a ground-source heat pump rebate; $60 for a high-efficiency electric hot water heater; and Energy Star appliance rebates ranging from $25-$70, and including clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and freezers.

There are positive mortgage programs for green. For VA Energy Efficient Mortgages, the VA (Department of Veteran Affairs) offers financial incentives for energy-saving home improvements for the loans it guarantees. With the Fannie Mae Energy Efficiency Mortgages, borrowers can get funds for energy-efficient improvements and add 5% to the home’s value if it is Energy Star® rated. The FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage allows homeowners to incorporate the costs of energy-efficient improvements into their new or refinanced FHA loan.

In the tax code, the federal government extended the Residential Energy Efficiency Federal Tax Credit through 2008 for a maximum credit of $500. The IRS also offers the Residential Solar and Fuel Cell Federal Tax Credit for solar and fuel cell systems, including up to $2,000 each for solar electric or solar hot water heating.

In Montana, the Department of Environmental Quality offers a guide to save energy. The State offers a 25% energy conservation tax credit, a residential Alternative Energy Systems credit up to $500, as well as substantial help to businesses pursuing alternative energy.

What to expect in the future
Right now, costs for sustainable building materials are going down. Experts in green materials like Dave Fischlowitz attribute it to more and better competition. In addition, with oil costs high, alternative products that are not petroleum based are reaching parity. Fischlowitz says exciting new products are being offered daily: things like solar collecting roofing and windowpanes, and the future should be only brighter. The New York Times Magazine (Oct. 5, 2008) identified world-changing green products now being developed with venture capital funds that will soon be marketed for wind generation and energy conversion and storage.

Ann Glimm, co-chair of Flathead Building Association Green Committee, is definitely optimistic. “Everyone is acknowledging our need to conserve. With the momentum green building is gaining and the way costs are going down, I think that when the dust settles in the next five years, it will be the standard.” ~ By Ann Zimmerman

What makes a building green?
Green building checklists vary by organization, and the checklists can be detailed and lengthy since they specify how the work will be verified. This is a macro list of the concerns that appear on most checklists. While with green building one usually thinks of new construction and homes that pursue certification, this offers some possibilities for those who just want to remodel, upgrade or be more environmentally conscious.

Passive and/or active solar design

Energy efficient heating, cooling and air distribution

Healthy indoor air quality through ventilation; use of low VOC carpets, pads, finishes and paints; non-formaldehyde and low toxic adhesives; and carbon monoxide detectors

Moisture management with roofing, barriers, and downspouts

Durable, long-lasting roofing materials and insulation

Energy-efficient water heating

Energy-efficient dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and kitchen appliances

Skylights and energy-efficient lighting and controls

Water conservation

Structural framing techniques and materials

Preserve trees and natural features, reuse topsoil, and leave a substantial portion of large lots undisturbed

Insulated foundations and thermal envelope (walls, floors, and ceiling areas)

Energy-efficient windows and doors

Cooling overhangs, sunscreens, awnings, window coverings, covered porches, fans and ceiling fans

Recycled content for building materials or building materials from renewable sources

Renewable energy through wind-energy contracts, solar, photo-voltaic generation, geothermal temperature-balancing systems

Local sources for building materials

Reduce, reuse and recycle through sorting and separating discards at the job site

Make it Yours

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:40:20 +0000

Carin Cross Design leads you
through the integrative design process with comfort and style in mind.

Building a home may be your dream, but the process itself can be overwhelming. Often endless sourcing options, both local and online, and the complex interplay of design decisions and tight construction schedules can quickly transform that dream into a nightmare.

As an interior designer, my role is to help you visualize what you want and walk you through all the necessary steps to making it a reality. Because I consult on an hourly basis, I can move in and out of the process as needed. Done correctly, the design process is rewarding as well as fruitful, resulting in a new home or remodeled space that both reflects and enhances your life. A successful space flows well, respects the architecture, utilizes natural light to its best advantage, and blends colors, textures, and finishes successfully. Above all, it is a place you want to be. A popular misconception is that interior design is just about selection of color schemes, countertops, window treatments, and fabrics. To the contrary, integrated interior design embraces every aspect of a building.

In my work, I like to think of the design process as broken down into four stages: defining concept and overall project scope; considering space planning, lighting, and color; executing interior details and finishes; and adding furniture, art, fabrics, rugs, and window treatments. The progression of these stages, like the design process itself, is fluid: it folds back on itself as decisions are shifted and new choices made.

Defining the concept and overall scope of the project is an exciting and often underrated first step. I listen intently to what you envision and together we thoroughly explore your needs and expectations. Do you want a vacation retreat for two, or a place that can easily accommodate visiting family and friends? Is entertaining a priority? Do you want to emulate the look of a mountain cabin or prefer French Country?

This conceptual stage may seem to take an inordinate amount of time; however, it lays the groundwork for all design decisions. A well-established concept ensures that everything works together harmoniously so that the total is more than the sum of its parts. Without it, you’re apt to make decisions in isolation or as dictated by the construction schedule, which can lead to a fragmented result. Thoughtful planning also pays off in spades by saving you frustration, delayed schedules, and costly change orders. Once we’ve formulated a design concept, we’re ready to consider space planning, lighting, and color. Space planning involves anticipating activities and routines to create comfort and order. Do the spaces flow naturally into one another? How will you carry groceries into the kitchen? Will your kids study in their bedrooms or at the kitchen table? Will the mudroom be large enough to handle all your sports equipment?

Looking over the plans at this point enables us to ensure that the flow and transition from one space to the next suits your lifestyle. This is the time to tweak or customize generic designs for a kitchen, bath, or entry. A 4-foot range won’t fit into a space allocated for a 3-ft range, for example. All pieces of the design puzzle need to be integrated into the overall vision of the project. Effective lighting is a careful blending of natural, ambient, and task light, with an occasional accent light for emphasis. Lighting includes not only fixtures but also recessed lighting. Good lighting is like an English garden that doesn’t appear orchestrated or contrived, but as though it was effortless. Coming up with a color palette can be a daunting task. You’ll have to live with these colors, so they must represent your taste, not mine as the designer or the current trend. A color palette consists of a number of different colors or several colors with their various tones, shades, and tints. All interior finishes—stains, flooring, natural stone, and fabric—need to complement the color palette. An element of the planning process is identifying an anchor for the design. An anchor is a starting point or a focus around which other design decisions (e.g., color and style) are formed. Sometimes this anchor is readily apparent as a special item you want to highlight or material you’ve already chosen. Examples might be a favorite painting or sculpture, reclaimed lumber for flooring or mantel, an heirloom piece of furniture, or dramatic chandelier. When an anchor isn’t obvious, you might start with kitchen cabinets. It’s useful to begin in a room with a specific purpose, such as the kitchen, rather than in multi-use and living areas that can present more of a design challenge.

At this point in the process, we’re ready to tackle interior detailing and finishes. Interior details include built-in bookshelves, entertainment centers, cabinets, mudroom cubbies, and other architectural elements. Finishes include the gamut of stains, cabinet and door hardware, door style, trim package, fireplace materials, countertops, plumbing fixtures, kitchen appliances, and floor surfaces. It’s critical that all design decisions are sequenced so that materials are on hand when needed. The design process must anticipate and accommodate the construction schedule, not be driven by it or delay it. I’m always mindful not to be a thorn in the contractor’s side by causing a holdup while awaiting delivery of some essential item or material.

With interior detailing and finishes well underway, it’s time to select furniture, art, fabrics, rugs, and window treatments. Because the internet affords clients innumerable choices, you can spend endless amounts of time with sourcing decisions. I can streamline this process by pointing you to excellent local and online sources as well as help you balance aesthetics with budget considerations. The design process takes time, planning, and hard work, but my goal is to make the experience seamless and positive. Your dream—a place that is comfortable, life-affirming, and mirrors your personality—can be both manageable and attainable with Carin Cross Design. ~ By Carin Cross and Nancy Reece Jones

Carin Cross is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers. For more information, call Carin Cross Design at 406-862-6277 or visit online at www.carincross.com.

Carin Cross Design | 750 W. 2nd St. Suite G PO Box 4968 | Whitefish MT 59937 (Map)

Phone: 406 862 6277 | Email: crossdesign@centurytel.net | Website: http://www.carincross.com

Modern Meets the Mountains

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:43:23 +0000

“Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space”

Collisions and mountains aren’t strangers. Mountain ranges form as great plates of land collide, yield and uplift. Swirling clouds collide with the mountains and weather brings the sculpting forces of wind, snow, rain, and water. In the design community, modern architecture and contemporary interior design are in a collision course with the mountain lifestyle and traditional mountain building practices, birthing the new design movement of Mountain Modern.

“Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space,” asserted Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a pioneering master of modern architecture along with Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. Modernism emerged at the beginning of the century with influences from Art Nouveau, the early work of Frank Lloyd Wright, and industrial design, according to architectural historian,Spiro Kostov. Drivers were new materialism, standardization, prefabrication and an available material palette of concrete, steel and glass thanks to preceding industrial advances.

Philosophically, the modernist movement pursued freedom from the past, similar to the political movements in Europe immediately after the First World War. The new emphasis was on function, honest expression of structure and materials, and a rational approach to design. This included suppressing all ornamentation and historic allusions and style. In keeping, the forced symmetry of classical architecture was abandoned in favor of balanced asymmetry. The pioneers of modernism adopted a fitness of purpose expressed in a desire to simplify and eliminate the superfluous. Less is more became a repeated saying of Mies van der Rohe.

As exemplified by the International Style, modern urban architecture turned inward. The buildings were anchored to the site, but did not extend to define the spaces around them or to create interaction with the streetscapes. While designers aimed at efficiencies in places to live and work, the buildings did not connect with their inhabitants emotionally or by tradition. Mies van der Rohe reported he searched and distilled until he reached an architecture that said “almost nothing.”

As with most movements, modernism continued to evolve as new designers pressed it forward in fresh directions and some of the early practitioners extended their thinking. The U.S. also honed its own version of modernism after World War II. Especially in California, modern residential architecture became more conscious of the sites as rooms articulated to terraces and patios for outdoor living, and some architects began to specify outdoor spaces and landscaping.

While there have been other important subsequent architectural trends and movements, a minority of practitioners have continued undeterred in the modernist tradition. However, in the last decade, there has been a considerable resurgence of public interest in mid-century modernism and the current modernists’ work. The other major shift is taking modern architecture to the mountains.

Until this time, mountain architecture and interior design has largely followed in the traditions of climate-tested designs like cabins, lodges, and chalets that use the abundant local materials of stone, logs and timber. These are designs that are immersed in custom and tied to comfort.

Now, mountain meets modern. It is an exciting time for new creations using the modern materials of concrete, glass and steel juxtaposed with traditional mountain timber and stone. The simplicity of the finishes and interiors draw the occupants’ eyes to the outdoors where windows function like a room’s art. It’s a consequence of the performance of new materials and a shift in our aesthetics to simple lines and homes that blend into the landscape. It is fresh, new, daring design filled with individual innovations and creativity from the talented architects, designers, and builders of the area, complemented by artwork placed to complement and emphasize the design. ~ By Ann Zimmerman

Sustainable Beauty

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:27:02 +0000

Using eco-friendly fabrics and re-claimed objects,
Donna Shanahan InterIor Design creates understated elegance for a Saddlehorn residence

A new private residence in the internationally recognized Saddlehorn Community in Bigfork, Montana is nearing completion. This 4000 square foot high performance home incorporates modern building practices along with advanced materials and systems meeting requirements. These practices include both the building construction as well as interior finishes and furniture. This residence is currently registered with the USGBH (United States Green Building Counsel) and the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. According to Chris Connolly of Montana Build, “specific heating and cooling systems were used, maximizing the furnace efficiency”. Low VOC (volatile organic chemicals) paints and stains were used reducing off gassing for a healthier indoor environment for the residence.

Partnering with the mechanical sustainability, the interior surfaces continued to incorporate natural products. Concrete countertops were used throughout the house, re-claimed barn board from old Montana barns and snow fences became wainscoting and main living area floors, adding a rich warmth to the interior. Other floor surfaces were done with stone from local quarries, and wool carpeting in bedrooms were installed over green building healthy pad re-cycled from rubber and hair fibers. The cabinets for the kitchen and library are re-claimed barn wood from Montana, other cabinetry is ESP Certified (Environmental Stewardship) from KCMA.

The decorative lighting throughout the house was custom designed and fabricated from shed antlers found in the area, old wagon wheels decorated with rusty old pans, tobacco cans and barbed wire. In the powder bath, a re-furbished old gate with metal rods was fitted with a mirror, setting off an antique cabinet with copper sink and faucet.

Donna assisted the owners with choices of comfortable upholstered furniture of eco-friendly fabrics such as leather and cottons which also helped create the understated elegance. Artfully crafted hickory tables and chairs were used for larger furnishings, while accessory tables and cabinets were constructed from old wine casks in deep colors from the wine. Others were made from old re-claimed fence posts for legs and the drawer pulls from seasoned old leather bridles. Chris adds, “when the landscaping is finalized it will incorporate much of the roof runoff into the irrigation system. The remaining surface water will run into French drains and percolate back in the ground”.

Donna and Marissa worked closely with many local craftsmen in the area. According to Marissa, “we had many long brainstorming sessions to achieve the perfect look, but it was fun when the pieces were finished.” Donna says, “the clients, Fiona and Simon Morrell who reside in England, were very savvy and worldly, having a strong opinion of the overall look, reflecting their tastes and lifestyles.” ~By Donna Shanahan & Marissa Shanahan

Donna Shanahan Interior Design | 547 Electric Ave. | Bigfork MT 59911 (Map) | Phone: 406 837 4301

Email: donnadesigns@centurytel.net | Website: http://www.shanahaninteriors.com