Thursday, June 11, 2015

For the love of logs: the ultimate green home



Originally Published in The New Buffalo Times

Did you play with Lincoln Logs when you were a kid? In case you missed out, Lincoln Logs are still available today as the familiar brown interlocking wooden toy building kits originally invented by the brother of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Beginning with a pile of logs of varied length you would set out with childhood enthusiasm to build a simple box log cabin or even more elaborate Lincoln Log dream home. During the building process you would experience design, the joy of building, and with your fully assembled sturdy Lincoln Log home came a youthful sense of pride and accomplishment. Your childhood imagination would set the fantasy location of your log home, the fun that you would share with your family and friends along with log cabin related activities such as hiking, canoeing and fishing.


  

America has a long standing obsession with log homes. Along our beloved Michigan and Indiana shoreline there is deep heritage of log home building dating back to the early 19th century when loggers along the Michigan Central Railroad constructed log buildings. In the 1930s a couple of enterprising men decided to turn Michiana Shores into a log-cabin town selling $1400 getaway homes and the land for only $395!


The Log Home Council of the National Association of Home Builders recently published data indicating that more than 25,000 new logs homes are sold each year. Over the last three years r close to fifty homes with some type of log exterior were sold along the Indiana and Michigan shoreline ranging in price from $139,000 to over $1 million. These days America's passion with log homes is all grown up. There are lovingly restored and renovated vintage log homes with updated conveniences and extraordinary modern rustic homes confidently labeled as luxury, "environmentally green" and energy efficient.
There are many styles of log exterior homes. Some made of flat cut logs assembled with "dovetailed" corners, others stacked with alternating logs extending to the corners called "butt and pass" and still others clad with "half log" siding systems. And then there is what many log home aficionados call the king of all log homes. "Full round log" homes assembled in a "saddle notched" interlocking pattern made with very large logs sporting the natural round log showing through from the interior and exterior of the home.


There are numerous examples of fine log homes and in next week's issue of The New Buffalo Times we'll take you inside 11587 Riviera Drive in New Buffalo Township where you'll learn more about how modern rustic living meets luxury getaway home just a short walk from one of the finest private association beaches in the area.

Here is a sneak peek: locally known as one of the best examples of full log home construction is the Riviera Log Cabin in New Buffalo Township. Much more than a cabin this 3,800 square foot luxury residence sits on one of the highest points in the Lake Michigan Riviera Community...


 
Rob Gow is a writer/ photo contributor with twelve years of experience as a Realtor in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Rob is affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, KoenigRubloff RealtyGroup in New Buffalo, Michigan.  Rob Gow can be contacted at robgow@shorelineadvice.com.





















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Monday, June 8, 2015

Inside Outdoor Living


Originally published in the New Buffalo Times


 Home buyers place top priority on how a home will "live" both inside and outside. Spending a relaxing evening outdoors, feeling the summer breeze is a must have experience for most. Decks, patios and porches make for exceptional outdoor living space as do those ultimate outdoor kitchens and the luxury poolside cabanas that have become so very popular. 


 On occasion, Midwest living calls for a bit of shelter from the bite. And thus some insect exposed outdoor living spaces remain unused during the buggy portion of our short summer season. For many homeowners the screen enclosed room is the champion of outdoor living spaces. Today we see screened rooms finished as if the outside was inside, complete with comfortably casual furnishings, lighting, art, rugs and accessories. 


What's the latest design trend in screened rooms? Enormous would be the answer. Some impressive designs include space for large dinner gatherings for twenty or more and plenty of space for living room scale furnishings. The screened room in this Galien River Lodge, on Water Street in New Buffalo, features views of the coastal marsh and a dramatic fireplace. Wood burning stoves and sophisticated gas heat sources that help to extend the outdoor living season from early spring to late fall. 

Screen rooms are on sale this season and all of them come with beautiful homes attached! Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff Chicago Realtor Jennifer Mills Klatt, says of her own poolside screened room connected to a charming Harbor Country getaway cottage on First Street in Lakeside Michigan, "We spend most our time on the pool deck and in our screened room during the summer months. It's our family gathering place morning, afternoon and evening". 


Architects Gary Bereryl and Dawn Heid designed their weekend retreat at Tryon Farm to capture the calm and beauty of the natural world that surrounds it. "Screened room living out in the countryside is all about taking advantage of the uninterrupted quiet and gorgeous open vistas."

 Whether it is for lounging, dining or gathering the popular screened room has been escalated to nearly a must have status. If you are shopping for new home or considering enhancements to your own home, think about living on the outside and potential resale value of inside outdoor living spaces.

capture the calm and beauty of the surrounding natural - See more at: http://www.tryonfarm.com/build/#sthash.Wvieof3E.dpuf
Rob Gow is a writer/ photo contributor with twelve years of experience as a Realtor in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Rob is affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, KoenigRubloff RealtyGroup in New Buffalo, Michigan.  Rob Gow can be contacted at robgow@shorelineadvice.com.

Tryon offers environmentally sensitive homes of exceptional spaces and thoughtful details. A team of architects has created smart, modern and distinctive designs that capture the calm and beauty of the surrounding natural world - See more at: http://www.tryonfarm.com/build/#sthash.JG2seGiy.dpuf
Tryon offers environmentally sensitive homes of exceptional spaces and thoughtful details. A team of architects has created smart, modern and distinctive designs that capture the calm and beauty of the surrounding natural world - See more at: http://www.tryonfarm.com/build/#sthash.JG2seGiy.dpuf


capture the calm and beauty of the surrounding natural - See more at: http://www.tryonfarm.com/build/#sthash.Wvieof3E.dpuf
Tryon Farm is a sprawling historic landscape that has been transformed into a modern country escape for folks who want to live in wide-open spaces, while staying connected to Chicago, Lake Michigan and the beach. - See more at: http://www.tryonfarm.com/about/#sthash.tKSvxTdN.dpuf
 

 


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Thursday, May 7, 2015

Getting your home ready for Spring



Originally published in the New Buffalo Times-April 16, 2015


 “A home is one of the most important assets you’ll ever buy.” 

Warren Buffett, CEO Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.



Whether you are considering selling your home today or years from now, the best way to protect your most important asset is to keep your home in great shape year round. Spring is a perfect time to take a look inside and out and set your priorities for maintenance and home improvements that will help you increase the value and attract the most buyers when you are ready to sell. 
Start at the curb: A well-kept yard, means the home is well-kept on the inside. Spruce up your home’s exterior with well-placed trees, shrubs and flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. 
Make Small Fixes: A broken railing or leaky faucet, gives the impression that other things in the house have not been cared for. Replace missing tiles, fix torn screens, touch up holes or cracks in walls. Replace cracked windowpanes and moldings. Making repairs like these won’t cost a lot of money, yet they will have a huge impact on the value of your home. 
Paint: One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to spruce up your home. Start with the front door and then move inside. Getting a fresh coat of paint on walls will instantly brighten them up and make the home look fresh and new. Wake up drab rooms with a splash of color. Or use more neutral colors for a current, updated look. Painting has one of the biggest returns on your investment of any home improvement project. 
Lighten Up: A low-cost but effective way of showcasing your home is making it appear brighter. Replacing low wattage light bulbs with brighter ones and actually changing some fixtures out completely can open and brighten up a room instantly. Adding a lamp to a dark corner can open up and add space to the entire room. 
De-Clutter: De-cluttering doesn’t mean getting rid of everything, but it definitely means organizing and managing your things. Often rooms have too many pieces of furniture. Remove at least one piece to open up the room. Reduce the amount of books in shelves, and remove vases, and some objects from tables. A good rule of thumb is to place no more than three decorative accessories on any one surface. Don’t forget to de-personalize as well. Buyers like to envision themselves living in the home.
Clean: Cleaning the house is one of the most essential tasks you can do. Set aside a few days each season to clean rooms from top to bottom. The kitchen and bathrooms need to be immaculate. Cleaning the windows, is a simple inexpensive way to bring more light into rooms and make even older windows look new again. Clean blinds. Shampoo rugs. Dress the beds. Dust shelves. Counters, sinks, tubs, and appliances should sparkle. Clean all switch plates. A bright, spotless house will make your home much more appealing.   

Ensuring that your home maintenance is up to date, and your house is clean, well-organized and pared down, means you have will more time to enjoy all the amenities that Harbor Country life has to offer and when you want to sell your home it will be ready.  

Resources: Realtor.org

 
Rob Gow is a writer/ photo contributor with twelve years of experience as a Realtor in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Rob is affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, KoenigRubloff RealtyGroup in New Buffalo, Michigan.  Rob Gow can be contacted at robgow@shorelineadvice.com.





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