Renovation & Design

Renovation & Design

Room to roam

Sometimes, a home's well-streamlined exterior can do a much too efficient job of masking what lies inside.

In the case of the Carlton F, a 1,907 sq. ft., two storey show home by Randall Homes at 259 Aldgate Road in River Park South, the same question constantly comes up, says Randall's marketing representative, Erv Single: 'where did all this room come from?'

"That's what everyone says once they've had a chance to walk around the home's main and upper levels," he says. "Almost to a person, the sentiment is that the house feels much bigger than it actually is. For that reason, this model has been very popular with young families, and families with kids in their adolescent stage -- there's lots of room for everyone."

That feeling of space starts right from the foyer, which is exceptionally wide (and high, as it stretches up to the ceiling on the second level). The feeling of width is augmented further by having a hallway (which leads to the laundry/mudroom and two-piece powder room) to the right; to the left is a surprisingly expansive formal dining room with a bay window and niche for a hutch or buffet.

At the same time, a one-third wall with smart maple capping separates the dining room from the foyer.

"This is the start of what I think is an excellent layout -- not only is the foyer large, but it also opens up on both sides to the powder room and laundry room and dining room. That promotes good traffic flow," says Single. "You can take the entrance straight ahead into the kitchen/great room area, or you can head right to hang up your coat and take a pass-through hallway into the kitchen. It's nice to have entry options."

While the home's central area -- that being the kitchen/great room section in back -- is decidely open concept in design, it isn't immediately visible from the foyer; a centrally-placed staircase neatly divides the foyer from the home's hub. Still, cutouts in the stair bannister -- which feature antique metal spindles -- allow for a sneak peak, and let light filter back and forth between the two areas.

"The staircase separates the kitchen/living room area from the foyer, yet maintains an open feel," he adds. "Our designers also went with nine-foot ceilings on the main floor to add further to the feeling of openness. The decor (beiges, browns and white with splashes of gold/bronze/dark brown patterns) fits virtually any home furnishing package. Finish level is also excellent (in this case upgraded maple).

Given that the Carlton F is "only" 1,907 sq. ft., the size of the kitchen/great room area comes as something of a surprise, albeit a very pleasant one. The kitchen, with its angled island preparation area (with eating nook for two) -- and large area at its rear for a four-piece dinette that is surrounded by glass on all sides -- is a gourmet's delight.

Wide aisles make for ease of movement while creating; meanwhile, light maple cabinets, black granite counter tops (with beige ceramic backsplash) and a rich-looking beige marbled vinyl floor combine with an earth tone palette of browns, beiges and white to draw you in to the space.

"One of the home's major features is the fact that it has such a bright eating area," says Single. "The island is outstanding for meal preparation and entertainment; you can have several people in the kitchen without anyone getting in the way. Most people are surprised at the flooring material; it's Dur Ceramic vinyl tile, which looks very much like the real thing -- it's just warmer, and more durable."

The great room is then subtly divided from the kitchen by a one-third bookshelf/display unit with maple capping and four slot wine rack on the end -- a Randall trademark.

"Just like the kitchen, the great room is bright, warm and welcoming. The design of the (full-length maple) entertainment unit, which contains the gas fireplace, really adds to the area," he says.

Upstairs, there's room to burn in the form of three bedrooms plus (in this configuration) a den. All three rooms are large, but pale in comparison to the fourth bedroom: the master.

"The master bedroom is very functional and roomy with a large horizontal window to let in lots of light; there's also tons of wall space for furniture placement," Single says. "The ensuite -- which has a big jetted tub and clear tempered glass shower enclosure along one wall -- is separated from the bedroom by a big walk-in closet. Again, the layout is exceptional."

Add in a fully developed basement with wet bar, sitting area, games section and a fifth bedroom and third full bath, and little wonder growing families have gravitated to the spacious, stylish Carlton F.

Size: 1,907 sq. ft. basement ready for development

Minimum Lot Size: 40' x 110'

Bedrooms: 3 plus den

Bathrooms: 3.5

Key Features: Open, yet subtly segmented floor plan; bright interior thanks to abundance of windows and high ceilings; high level of finish quality; main floor laundry; formal dining room; three large secondary bedrooms (den included); elegant master bedroom with bright, well-appointed ensuite; developed lower level with wet bar, sitting area, games area, fifth bedroom and four-piece bathroom.

Price: $370,000 (includes lot net GST)

lewys@mts.net

: Todd Lewys
April 20

Renovation & Design

Is there a tree house in your future?

Warmer weather turns our attention to the great outdoors or, for the children, the great backyard. And sooner or later, they may request a little something extra: a tree house.

Tree houses and other play structures are a joy for children -- a place to explore, to imagine, to keep younger brothers and sisters out. Unfortunately, they can also be a source of anxiety for parents.

But with the right kind of planning and construction, play structures can prove beneficial to adults as well. According to the National Association of Realtors, outdoor spaces have become a bigger part of the "curb appeal" that attracts buyers and can even increase a home's selling price.

We asked San Francisco artist and play structure expert Barbara Butler for her top 10 DIY safety tips on building a backyard play space for children. Whether you're planning to build a mini-mansion for your mini-me, or a simpler structure that houses imagination more than amenities, it's important to keep safety in mind.

1. Consult your local building codes and file necessary building permits before starting your project. Nothing is more frustrating for you or devastating for your child than finding you have to tear down the structure when it doesn't pass local standards. If there are no specific codes for tree houses or play structures, use building codes for backyard decks as a guide. In earthquake or hurricane areas, you may need to add tie-down hardware. Keep deck heights at a maximum of just over two metres off the ground and install a railing that's about a metre high.

2. Plan your space before you build and watch out for overexposure to the sun. Try to place your structure in a shady spot.

3. Round all of the edges on the structure to avoid sharp corners, and sand or grind wood surfaces down to reduce the possibilities of splinters.

4. Anticipate a child's natural tendency to explore. Avoid creating any entrapments in the railing for a child's head or torso. Avoid any gaps in railings larger than 9 cm by 14 cm.

5. Watch nearby greenery. Keep rose bushes and other thorny, spiky plants away from the structures and, especially, keep your eyes on trees.

6. Make sure overhead branches of trees are trimmed regularly, so that nothing will fall on the kids during play and keep tree branches out of reach of young arms. Nothing is more enticing to a child than the realization that if they stand on the roof or railing of a play structure, and stretch just a little, they can reach a previously unreachable upper branch. Make sure no electrical wires are within reach of the structure. Once kids get playing, they don't stop to think whether an overhead wire is part of the play structure or not.

7. Use only nontoxic materials on your structure. Use lead-free paints or stain the wood instead. Butler suggests staining instead of painting, as stains are easier to maintain; paint tends to chip and peel, while stains simply fade with time.

8. Remove any loose additions that kids may have attached to the structure. Talk to your kids and their friends about making "additions" to the play structure and set ground rules early that adding ropes, stairs, and towers won't be tolerated.

9. Design easy ways up and down for smaller kids, as well as challenging ways for older kids. Adults will also appreciate the easy way up.

10. Inspect your play structure frequently, before the spring and summer when kids start to play outside. Tighten bolts, check for damage, clean off debris and spider webs, inspect for splinters and peeling paint, and check the swing hardware.

A well-built, well-maintained tree house will amuse your children today and enchant your grandchildren in the next generation.

--Associated Press

Morris and James Carey
April 20

Renovation & Design

Future of home building revealed

Green, energy-efficient homes of Styrofoam and metal studs; a moisture-detection system warning of impending water damage; stretched, false ceilings that can be installed in two hours -- these are some of the innovative, new technologies for home-building, interior design and renovation in Manitoba.

All were showcased recently at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Architecture, and all have a French connection.

The Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM) organized a builders' symposium last week, featuring five Manitoba-based companies, providing them the opportunity to meet with the public and, more specifically, members of the architecture and construction industries.

In some cases, those presenting were landed French immigrants importing their European artisan know-how to Manitoba, while others' connection to Manitoba's bilingual community is merely geographic, a business based in a bilingual community.

"As our brand states: C'est si bon, Ensemble -- Together, we encourage co-operation between francophones and anglophones," said Rena Albaze, CDEM spokeswoman, who helped organize the event.

And in one case, the presenter was a company that will be part of the Manitoba government's contingent to Futureallia Quebec 2008, a business forum in Quebec City this May where new, technology-based businesses can forge partnerships with government and industry around the world.

Moisture detection

SMT Research Ltd. is based out of the University of Manitoba's Smartpark and will be a member of the province's contingent to Quebec later this spring.

At the CDEM symposium, SMT civil engineer Gamal Mustapha discussed a new moisture-detection monitoring system, developed by the company, already in use in buildings in Vancouver.

The new Manitoba Hydro building downtown will also employ the technology in its "living green" rooftop that will provide habitat for mosses, lichens, grasses and other plant life.

"This monitoring system will tell them if there's a leak in the roof, and instead of having to dig up the entire roof, which is costly, they'll know the exact location of the leak," he said to a group of about 30 people.

"Rather than spending millions to repair water damage, only a few thousand dollars would be needed to repair minor damage because of early detection."

Although it is presently used only in commercial and large-scale residential developments, Mustapha said it could have residential applications -- particularly in Winnipeg where water damage to basements is a common problem.

Build green with polystyrene

Move over lumber. Galvanized steel studs and expanded polystyrene foam (think Styrofoam) may be the future of home building, according to Onet Mercado, president of Green Building System Ltd.

First used for home construction in the Las Vegas area, the technology allows home builders to construct an environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient home in a matter of days instead of weeks, he said. The design is also light-weight, sturdy and less expensive than conventional building techniques using lumber, which is increasingly expensive.

"A typical 2000-square-foot house could have its perimeter walls and roof up in five days," he said, adding the company has already manufactured pre-cut panels at its plant in Manitoba for several buildings under construction in Alberta.

The Starbuck plant is the first of its kind in Canada, he added.

New ceiling, without the mess

Dany Esminger is a third generation woodworker from France now living in St. Anne. But he's given up wood for synthetics and now runs European Ceiling Solution. Using PVC-free, polyester-based membrane, Esminger can install a new ceiling overtop a damaged existing one in about two hours.

The material locks into a frame and is stretched flat, much like a canvas for a painting. The technique is popular in Europe, and the material comes in hundreds of different colours, finishes and patterns.

It can even be silk-screened, Esminger said, adding it can be framed to make several different geometric shapes -- vaulted ceilings and arches, for instance.

The fire-, water- and stain-resistant fabric can easily accommodate all light fixtures, and a sound-dampening version is also available, which is useful for commercial applications in areas with high levels of ambient noise.

A semi-translucent option even eliminates the need for framing around light fixtures. Instead, fixtures on the old ceiling underneath provide ambient, soft light.

One member of the audience asked how the lights would be replaced, to which Esminger replied the process is quite simple: the membrane can be unhitched from the frame and pulled back for access. The drawback being a professional installer should do it. Best to use LEDs, the audience member then said.

The best part is the old ceiling remains untouched, turning what would be a messy renovation and cleanup lasting a few days, into an afternoon project that doesn't require moving the furniture or sweeping up dust.

Craftsmanship from the Old World

Philippe Langlet's family has been in the painting and plaster moulding business since the 19th century in France.

Now residing in Lorette, he brings more than 100 years of tradition and family knowledge to Manitoba, offering several unique faux-finish options to customers that are normally seen in heritage buildings in France.

He can reconstruct and repair ceiling and wall mouldings in older homes, recreating precise details, such as intricate floral patterns and gold leaf.

His company, Stevenphil Painting and Decorating, also installs stretched fabric wall coverings for unique period finishes and trompe d'oeil -- a French technique that gives images on a wall a three-dimensional appearance.

A cultured stone

Rheal Rochon's fledgling business Dynamic Boulders, offering man-made stonework and water-feature solutions to Manitobans, isn't yet ready to open its doors. But he said he hopes it will be very soon. That is if enough interest for synthetic rocks -- made of cement and glass fibre or polystyrene -- exists in Manitoba.

Manufactured in Portland, Ore., the rock can be used for landscaping outdoors or decorative features, such rustic stone fireplaces, at a lower cost than natural stonework, he said.

A landscaper from La Salle, Rochon said he hoped to receive feedback from industry players about the potential for cultured stonework in Manitoba.

Providing entrepreneurs with exactly that kind of opportunity was the driving force behind the symposium, Elbaze said.

"The partnership with the Faculty of Architecture's Partners Program allowed us to connect these entrepreneurs with professionals from the industry."

How to reach them

SMT Research: 480-8579 or info@smt-research.com

Green Building System LTD.: 783-7906

European Ceiling Solution: 204-422-5968 (Steinbach)

Stevenphil Painting and Decorating: 204-878-2868 (Lorette)

Dynamic Boulders: 736-3045 (La Salle)

: Joel Schlesinger
April 20

Renovation & Design

Sustainable living starts in the home

Tyler Vreeling isn't into guilt. The up-and-coming designer is one of the principals behind Edmonton-based Fat Crow Design and its White Moose line of furniture and accessories, already winning rave reviews for imaginative yet sustainable designs.

"I just find that there's a lot of guilt trips put on, trying to convince other people that they're living unsustainably. I'm trying to bring that to light and say that we don't have to feel negative about the way we live, but there are certain actions that we can take to live more sustainably," he says.

For Vreeling, design is about life cycles, choices, and thinking from cradle to cradle rather than cradle to grave.

He uses White Moose as an example, explaining that as a designer, you have to decide how long the product is going to last -- and that guides the materials that you use and, therefore, the price that you need to charge.

"Our price point is higher because we're using true materials such as solid wood and stainless steel. I want this furniture to last hundreds of years -- it's not something that will be tossed out."

The key consideration, he says, is analyzing the life of a product: what sort of energy, time and materials does it take to extract the material, produce the item, ship it, use it and maintain it -- and what are you left with in the end?

Vreeling cites an example from a 2007 trade show, where his booth was next to one selling outdoor furniture made from natural products: grass seeds, chaff and resin.

"This is great," he says. "However, those products break down very quickly. They only last about two to five years. On the other hand, if you bought something that was made of, for example, stainless steel, it's a very destructive material. It takes a lot of energy to produce, it robs materials from the Earth, but when it's all said and done, that piece made out of stainless steel is going to last for 200 years if the owner treats it well. That's more sustainable over its life cycle than growing the grass, cutting it down, creating the resin, packaging the product and then shipping it from overseas."

Vreeling wants everyone -- not just designers -- to think critically and honestly about their lifestyles and the products that go into them.

"It's not always easy, because it might mean change," he says, "but change can be positive. My grandparents settled the land I grew up on seven hours north of Edmonton -- at the time, there was no electricity, no running water and just a simple dirt road."

Over the years, his grandparents saw the advent of running water, electricity, a paved road, television and even the Internet.

"All of a sudden they now live in a decent house that's heated and they don't have to stoke a fire -- they've experienced positive change in their quality of life for their entire lives," he says.

To make the next change facing our society -- that of greater sustainability -- just as positive is possible if we shift our thinking.

Vreeling notes, for example, that when we throw our garbage bag in the back alley or the front curb and it disappears, it's often out of sight and out of mind. Instead, he suggests we should think of ourselves as a little human ecosystem, taking responsibility for that ecosystem and what we're doing within it.

"Are we contributing to an excessive amount of waste, or is there something that we could be doing to use that to reduce that waste -- is there some way that we could live a little more consciously about what we're using and how we're using it?" Vreeling asks.

We don't necessarily have to sacrifice our quality of life, he says, but other sacrifices might need to be made -- perhaps in terms of the time or research that we need to invest in finding out about the products we use: where they were made, how far they've travelled and whether they can be used for something else when we're finished with them.

"This isn't something that needs to be feared," he says. "We can take a little bit of responsibility for ourselves and still maintain our identity as normal people. I'm not trying to be a renegade, but if no one talks about it, no one thinks about it and if no one thinks about it, no one's going to do anything about it."

-- Canwest News Service

Yvonne Jeffery
April 20

Renovation & Design

Seal unused chimney top and bottom

QUESTION -- This past winter I replaced my home's gas hot water tank with an electric model and also replaced my low efficiency gas furnace with a high efficiency furnace. My question concerns the now unused chimney, which has been dripping condensation into my basement all winter. I don't consider simply capping the basement end of the chimney, as the furnace installers have done, to be a proper way of dealing with the unused chimney. It seems to me that without sealing the chimney off and insulating at the attic level, my unused chimney is virtually like having a 5 inch diameter hole in my home's outside wall.

I would think this would be a common situation with furnace retrofits but solutions are hard to come by. It seems HVAC and government literature dealing with retrofits quite conveniently avoids the issue altogether or simply states "seal off the unused chimney".

What is the proper way of dealing with the resulting unused chimney from a furnace retrofit?

?--Roy Olynick, e-mail

Answer -- I agree that it is becoming more and more common for homeowners to discontinue the use of old chimneys after installation of high efficiency furnaces. You have raised an excellent point, which may not be dealt with properly by some HVAC contractors. I don't think that sealing an old chimney is a very difficult task and will give you my view on the necessary steps to stop your dripping.

The answer to your question will largely depend on the location and composition of the existing, unused chimney in your home. Older, brick chimneys with metal liners may have to be treated differently than metal B-vent chimneys. If an older brick chimney is located on the exterior of the home and if it goes up more than a single storey, it can be much more difficult to close up. Since you have not provided me with much of these details, I will explore possibilities for the various types of common, older furnace chimneys.

The simplest style of chimney to deal with would be an interior bungalow B-vent chimney, which is simply a double-walled metal pipe running from the basement, up through the house and attic and terminating above the roof line. The easiest option to seal this old vent would be to climb on the roof, remove the metal rain cap and install a properly sized flat metal cap in its place. This cap should be screwed in place and sealed with caulking to prevent blowing off or leaking. This cap, combined with the sealed bottom of the vent in the basement, should be sufficient to prevent most condensation leakage situations. By sealing the bottom, the HVAC contractor has limited the amount of warm air that can leak up the chimney from the home, but it does nothing for cold air intrusion from above. Sealing the top and bottom will prevent convective currents while preventing any warm air that does leak into the vent from the home coming into contact with very cold air entering near the top.

If this does not completely stop the dripping, there may be some additional thermal bridging going on with metal chimney itself. In that case sealing the floor of the attic, or the metal flashing in this location, where the B-vent goes through may stop the dripping. This can normally be accomplished by installation of rigid foam or blown-in foam around this area to insulate air seal the metal chimney. This may be difficult to accomplish, depending on the access to the attic and another alternative may be chosen. Complete removal of this type of chimney, or at least below the main floor ceiling of the home, is an option. This may be very practical if the roofing on the home is older and in need of upgrading. It may be little additional work to remove the old chimney and patch the roof sheathing, rather than properly sealing the old, unused chimney flashing to the new roofing.

If your home has a brick chimney that is not installed outside the exterior wall, it should have a metal liner inside the flue for the older gas-fired furnace. This metal liner may be treated the same as the B-vent and capped at the bottom top to prevent condensation. I did this last summer in my own home and it stopped some leakage I was experiencing, after upgrades identical to yours. Alternatively, this metal liner may only be held in place by mortar at the top and the bottom of the brick chimney and removal may be quite simple after chipping away the old mortar. If the liner is quite rusted in any location, it is a good idea to remove it and cap the top of the chimney with a metal flashing or thick mortar bed. The bottom opening in the chimney should also be patched with mortar or fine concrete mix to prevent air intrusion from the basement into the old brick structure.

If the metal liner from your old furnace exits through the foundation wall into an old brick chimney, especially on a two-storey home, further action may be required to prevent condensation. Follow the same recommendations for an interior brick chimney, but additional insulation may be required to completely eliminate the condensation. Installation of moisture resistant insulation, such as extruded polystyrene or blown-in polyurethane foam inside the bottom of the old cavity will do the trick. If the chimney is simply capped at the top and bottom, there still may be small openings that allow warm air to leak into the cavity. This moist air can quickly condense near the bottom of the chimney in the winter due to extremely cold outside temperatures. Maximum expansion poly foam may be an ideal solution for this area as it can be blown into the cavity and will continue to expand and fill any gaps after the bottom of the chimney is capped.

Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the President of the Canadian Association of Home Property Inspectors - Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be e-mailed or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P. O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.

trainedeye@iname.com

Ari Marantz - Ask the Inspector
April 20

Renovation & Design

Going green? Don't be colour-blind

If you've been sold on something "green" for your home renovation, be careful of the hype.

There's a lot of conflicting information about what's good for the environment and what's not -- and there are plenty of big claims, says Metropolitan Home editor-in-chief Donna Warner.

"People aren't aware because the information is not clear," Warner says. "It's really important to get professional help; it may be expensive, but it can save you money in the long run."

In a special "green" issue of the magazine, Warner and industry experts, including two architects, a planner and an interior designer, weighed in on what's green and what's not:

-- Make sure that the house is properly sealed to reduce energy use but also ventilate it properly to avoid indoor air pollutants.

-- For your flooring, select recycled tiles or wool carpeting.

-- Remove your shoes at the door because toxins that get carried in them can worsen indoor air quality.

-- Paint should be non-toxic and have low VOC (volatile organic compounds).

-- Buy durable products that last a long time to avoid having to replace them.

--Associated Press

: Monika Mather
April 20

Renovation & Design

Space-age appliances

French doors. Steam saunas. Cranberry hues. You might think we're talking room decor, but in fact it's all about appliances: refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, microwaves and dishwashers. These shiny, streamlined new models from LG are making our old white workhorses look mighty clunky.

Take the DirectDrive-motor washing machines, for example. Never mind the belts and pulleys of old-style washers: these use an electromagnetic motor that not only spins the front-loading drum, but produces electricity at the same time.

"It's so environmentally efficient that if I unplug this unit and simply rotate the drum by hand, it generates its own electricity," says Frank Lee, manager of public affairs for LG Canada. He demonstrates, and sure enough, the LED panel lights up as if the machine was plugged into the mains.

These machines also make doing the laundry foolproof: Load them with clothes and soap, and they extract the right amount of soap needed for that load.

New this year is the introduction of steam into the clothes dryer, raising the drum temperature to sanitize the laundry and remove odours.

"There's no source of water," Lee notes. "Heat is the special ingredient."

Steam technology is also being used in LG dishwashers.

They also use a special lower-pressure cycle for delicate items such as stemware.

Sticking to the kitchen, Lee demonstrates a microwave door that opens out and up, much like the rear door on a minivan, allowing door access with a minimum of clearance.

"We learned from the car industry," he says. "In Asia, there's a real demarcation of public and private space. In western Europe and North America, that demarcation isn't as clear -- people do end up coming into the kitchen, so (designs have to take into account that) you can have two to three people standing in front of the appliance who are not actually using the appliance."

For ranges, LG now offers a ceramic top with customizable elements, including a "bridge" connecting two elements that's ideal for evenly heating a skillet, plus a warming zone. You can also look for warming drawers for dishes under the oven, dedicated heating coils for fans in convection ovens and sealed elements on oven bottoms to make cleaning easier.

"Great design doesn't have to be locked up in a lot of technology," Lee notes, demonstrating a fridge with two French (swing-out) doors for the fridge portion and a bottom drawer for the freezer. "Make sure it's a sealed bottom, otherwise you're always losing ice chips and peas down there," he says.

The fridge puts the icemaker in the door to save space, and adds vertical vents and sensors in the centre back of the fridge: If the sensor reads a sudden warmth (such as leftovers being placed in the fridge), it sends extra cool air to that section.

Lee also notes that while most North American kitchen fridges are 32 or 36 inches wide, LG has designed a 30-inch fridge specially for the Canadian market that will fit in almost any kitchen, no matter how tight the space.

Another space saver is the European-inspired laundry unit that both washes and dries your clothes. Running on 110-volt power rather than 220, it's ideal for cottages, boats and rental units.

Still in the design stage is the four-door fridge, but it's not far off: think two french doors for the fridge and two bottom drawers for the freezer.

It's all too cool.

For more information, check lg.ca. The appliances are sold widely, at home furnishing, appliance and electronics stores across Canada.

--Canwest News Service

: Yvonne Jeffery
April 20

Renovation & Design

Considering home designs? Don't forget facade

This impressive home, Plan DBI-24138, by Homeplans, part of Move, puts its best face forward with its attractive facade.

Inside, the foyer is flanked by a formal dining room with built-in cabinets and by a study, which can also be used as a bedroom. The open kitchen has an eating bar serving the living room, plus a breakfast nook for casual meals.

Tucked away in its own wing, the master bedroom has a walk-in closet and a private bath with a garden tub. Upstairs, two additional bedrooms, complete with walk-in closets, share a view of the living room from a balcony.

Details

Bedrooms: 3+

Baths: 3

Upper floor: 516 sq. ft.

Main floor: 1,736 sq. ft.

Total Living Area: 2,252 sq. ft. Garage: 646 sq. ft.

Exterior Wall Framing: 2x4

Foundation Options: Slab

A downloadable study plan of this house is available at http://www.houseoftheweek.com. (The Free Press assumes no responsibility for transactions made with Houseoftheweek.com)

--Associated Press

April 20