Nick Offerman: An unlikely folk hero

Posted on February 22, 2012 by WestComm

You may read this title and say to yourself, who is Nick Offerman? And that would be a valid question. However, if you know who he is, bravo, you are culturally up to date.

Nick Offerman, better known as Ron Swanson on NBC’s hit show Parks and Recreation, is an actor. But incredibly, this might only be his day job.

Mr. Offerman is also the owner of Offerman Wood Shop, which he operates out of his home wood working shop. After looking through his inventory, and seeing his work it’s safe to say that he is an extremely skilled craftsman.

So what can we take away from this? We aren’t Emmy-nominated actors with huge budgets for home decor and wood working. The biggest lesson that we can take away from this is that hobbies don’t need to be frivolous and unproductive. One of the greatest testaments to the American tradition is the ability to craft and forge things with our bare hands. To take ideas that only exist in our mind and create a tangible witness to our own intelligence and creativity.

Allow me to sprinkle that last statement with a dash of humility. One does not arrive at this skill set on day one. It takes years of learning and practice to hone any talent. A dollar and raw talent will still only buy you a cup of coffee.

What talents are we neglecting? What ambitions are we squandering? Don’t allow the hustle and bustle of your everyday life to deride your passions. It doesn’t need to be wood working, or anything to do with home decor. Find something that sparks your imagination and run with it, you won’t regret it.

Posted in DIY | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fireplace Addition

Posted on February 15, 2012 by WestComm

Nothing says winter like sitting around a roaring fireplace, letting your extremities thaw out after a long day outside in the cold. Unfortunately for homes that don’t already have a fireplace, it is a tricky and expensive addition. Fortunately there are options for home owners looking to add a fireplace.

Crafting a custom fireplace is a big project, but a worthy investment.

The first and most expensive option is to completely construct a traditional wood-burning fireplace.  This requires the expertise of a skilled mason and the total cost could approach $10,000. For an existing home this also means massive amounts of renovation work to existing walls and foundation. Obviously a project this big will change the structure of your house and the foundation needs to be a reformatted to support the firebox and the new chimney.

A second option is to go with a gas-burning fireplace. You can get a direct-vent fireplace, meaning you don’t need to build a chimney. Typically this system will cost about $4,500 for supplies and installation costs.

The third and least expensive option is to purchase a vent-free, gas or electric fireplace. These are stand alone “fireplaces” that serve as space heaters around your house. These vary in price depending on how fancy a setup you want.

All fireplaces require something to burn, whether it is wood, gas, gel, or an electrical current. Here is a great fuel calculator that comes in very handy when trying to calculate yearly costs for each type of fireplace.

It’s important to consider what limitations your house may have due to zoning requirements, and or neighborhood restrictions. Make sure you look into these before starting any project around your house.

Posted in Home Design, Remodeling/Renovating | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Long Term Vision

Posted on February 8, 2012 by WestComm

Remodeling can be a big project, and sometimes we lose sight of our homes suitability in the long term. No matter how big or small a project you’re undertaking, it’s incredibly important to consider how design changes will affect the long term usability of your home.

Architect Michael Klement uses the phrase “long life, loose fit” to describe his design strategies and it makes a lot of sense. Essentially the idea is to create a sustainable design that is useful in all stages of life. This strategy ultimately means making decisions on a long term horizon, rather than a short one.

So for example, say you were planning a remodel, but weren’t planning on adding any square footage to your house because you don’t need it. This strategy at the time makes a lot of sense. You don’t need any additional square footage, so save the money or put it towards something else. Well, unless you’re planning on staying in your current home for the rest of your life, you might want to consider what a potential buyer would find appealing in your home. Obviously there is a line between livability/preference and re-sale value but it’s important to consider these long term visions when making big decisions regarding the design strategy of your home.

How does this play out in smaller projects? It really is the same, just consider how a potential buyer would view the decision you’re about to make. Or look at it from the perspective of, “if I were a home buyer looking at this property, would this be something that I liked or disliked”. Typically just asking these simple questions will allow you to make better decisions when it comes to home design and future remodels.

For more information, and a great example of long term vision, check out this article from Remodeling.com.

Posted in Home Design, Remodeling/Renovating | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Lake Tamaha

Posted on February 1, 2012 by WestComm

Back in 2011 we looked at the various waterways in the Tuscaloosa area. And to be sure, we have some absolutely gorgeous natural surroundings, from Lake Tuscaloosa to the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa is an incredibly vibrant part of the world when it comes to natural beauty.

While we all know about Lake Tuscaloosa, and some of the other scenic areas, most people do not know about Lake Tamaha. We own and operate the lake, but this blog entry is not about selling Lake Tamaha (we believe it does that on it’s own).

Lake Tamaha with the Marina to the right.

It’s located adjacent to the The Retreat, a student housing complex that is extremely popular, yet the lake is still relatively unused.

So what’s available at Lake Tamaha? Well there is a marina, and we do own it, but the lake is so much more than just a marina. It’s a great place to get away if you’re frustrated with studying, or a good place to go for a walk after work. The lake also has a population of fish, so please feel free to come by and catch (and release) some of our fish (unlicensed anglers need not apply).

More than anything, we want to foster a culture at Lake Tamaha that is welcoming and a place where people get a chance to enjoy the outdoors. We hope that you can come see our little lake and take in more of Tuscaloosa’s natural beauty.

As always, please feel free to leave a comment or a ask a question in the section below.

Posted in Outdoors | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Walkability

Posted on January 25, 2012 by WestComm

Apparently the word “walkability” isn’t really a word. But in urban real estate it is a hot commodity. What is it? Walkability is simply the ability to walk to the things you need for your home and family (think: grocery store, convenience store, restaurants, shops, etc.).

So what’s the point? Other than being extremely convenient for urban households, walkability has been shown to raise home values.   The research also brought to light some very interesting, often overlooked truths about neighborhoods. Neighborhoods filled with people walking around appear safe and lively, thus driving up the home values for all the properties in that neighborhood.

In an urban setting it is important for people to be able to access all their necessities in close proximity, could this also be true for suburban settings, or in smaller cities? The study showed that this is also true, to a lesser extent, for small cities and towns.

This is not groundbreaking information. In fact, there is an entire movement within architectural/city planning circles called “new urbanism”. This movement is essentially a throwback to how neighborhoods were originally designed prior to the suburban sprawl of the 20th century. One of the foundational precepts of new urbanism is walkability. New Urbanists often create what are called “traditional neighborhood designs”. There is actually a community like this in Birmingham called Mount Laurel. Here is a great video that details New Urbanism and Traditional Neighborhood Design.

So how can these principles be put into practice for neighborhoods where it isn’t feasible to walk to the store or school? Does your neighborhood have walkways or sidewalks? If so, put them to use.

Posted in Outdoors | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Home Fire Prevention

Posted on January 18, 2012 by WestComm

Sadly there has been a rash of house fires in Tuscaloosa recently. House fires occur everyday across this country, and while many home owners have fire insurance, it is important to be proactive and diligent in preventing a house fire from happening. Here are a few simple steps to reduce the chance of a house fire:

Cooking: Experts say that 40% of fires occur due to negligent cooking practices. Make sure your outdoor grill is positioned away from siding, deck railing, and low hanging branches. Regularly remove the grease buildup in the tray below the grill, it can build up and cause fires. When cooking indoors remember to turn off your stove rather than leave it unattended, also make sure that no flammable objects (oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains) are close to a hot stove.

Smoking: If you smoke, make sure you properly dispose of your used cigarettes. Smoldering cigarette butts can spark a fire outside that could extend into the home. Cigarettes are the number one cause of house-fire related deaths.

Electrical: In an average year electrical fires cause over $868 million in property damage per the U.S. Fire Administration. To avoid this liability do not used damaged or loose electrical cords. Avoid running extension cords across doorways and under carpets. If you have small children in the house, make sure to have tamper-resistant outlets. This is often overlooked, but make sure you do not use bulbs that exceed a lamp’s recommended voltage.

Heating: Now that we are facing the start of the winter months, it’s critical that we examine how we heat our homes. No matter how you heat your home, you are introducing a new potential fire hazard. Make sure that anything flammable is at least three feet away from heating appliances. Keep your young children away from fires and heating appliances such as space heaters. Turn off your portable heaters when the device is unattended, this includes when you go to bed.

The above video is both sobering and informative.

As with a lot of things that come with being a home owner, planning and preventing a house fire is not exactly enjoyable. But it is important to be proactive about this, because not only are you protecting your investment, but you’re also protecting the lives of you, your family, and your neighbors.

 “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

-Benjamin Franklin

Posted in Home Security | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Patio Evaluation

Posted on January 12, 2012 by WestComm

Looking to add living area to your home? Outdoor living spaces are increasing in popularity every year. New home construction costs around $95 a square foot, but outdoor living spaces are significantly cheaper: decks cost around $33 per square foot, and patios are cheaper still at $15 per square foot. So how can you decide if your lawn is the right place for a new patio?

Spend a few days just studying your lawn. What areas offer the most shade? Where do we spend the majority of our time outside? These are just a few questions that you should keep in mind when planning a new patio. Also, it is important to decide how this space is going to be used. Will you be entertaining friends and family frequently? If so, it is important to consider how they will all fit and flow on your patio.

Make sure to check into local zoning and area regulations when it comes to remodels. Residents of Westervelt Communities will have to have their plans approved by the Architectural Review Board before they begin their project. It’s also important to contact local authorities that will come to your job site and inspect for underground wires, pipes, etc. This service is typically provided free of charge.

Your patio must serve as an extension of your home. It must carry out the same design themes in order to provide a cohesive setting for you and your family. This is an issue that people sometimes overlook. Landscape architects and other professionals can help you design a patio that works perfectly with your home. Attention to these small details may make the difference in your project adding value to your home, or detracting from your home.

We might be in the depths of winter right now, but this is the time to start planning a spring build. By properly planning, you will ensure that your outdoor space’s value is maximized.

Posted in Home Design, Home Ownership, Landscaping, Remodeling/Renovating | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Homeowner Resolutions

Posted on January 4, 2012 by WestComm

Aren't we all a little like this sometimes?

Typically I’m not a huge fan of New Years resolutions. Not because I’m against setting goals and working to achieve those goals, but because usually the motivation behind those resolutions are not always valid. Let’s take losing weight for example. In of itself, this is a good thing. But usually when people make this a New Years resolution, the motivation is more vanity than health conscious.

Motivation is a big deal. What drives us to do the things we do? I’ve often heard the saying “What you care about is what you spend your time and money on”. This is so true. Where do you spend your time and money?

There are some obvious things that should top this list; faith, family, and relationships should be the foundation that we build our lives on. One of the most important areas that we can invest time and money into, outside of our true foundation, is our home. If you’re a homeowner it’s important to develop a plan for 2012. How are you going to increase your home’s value and livability? Not only is our home an investment, more importantly it is where we live and build our family.

HouseLogic.com has a great guide to some various home improvement ideas for 2012. Rather than making a resolution solely for yourself, you should make one for your home and all the people that call it that.

Posted in Home Ownership, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Kitchen Cabinet Redux

Posted on December 28, 2011 by WestComm

 

This video is great because it illustrates the potential impact that a new cabinet design can bring to a kitchen. You don’t need to break the bank either with a whole new cabinet system, you might just need to spruce up your existing set-up. With a little elbow grease you can completely change the personality of your kitchen.

By updating your cabinets you are maintaining the value in your home. It’s imperative that we are pro-active about protecting our home’s value, and this is a pretty simple step towards doing just that.

Have you ever given your cabinets a face-lift? How did your project turn out? Let us know in the comment section below!

Posted in DIY, Home Maintenance, Remodeling/Renovating | Tagged | Leave a comment

Holiday Prep How to:

Posted on December 21, 2011 by WestComm

It’s Christmas time and that means relatives and guests from all over are coming to stay with you. How should you prepare yourself for the coming invasion? Here are a few ideas that you should consider before Christmas Day is here:

Are you prepared for Holiday guests?

1. De-clutter: Remove all unnecessary items from around your home. If you’re running short on time you can neatly put these things in out of the way closets or in the garage, then you can sort and organize after the Holidays.

2. Safety: Will your guests be bringing small children? If so, it’s important to make sure that they are bringing all the necessary baby gates and cabinet locks. It would also be prudent to move any toxic cleaners out of the bottom cabinets, and put them somewhere out of the reach of small hands. Also, consider your exterior lighting. Sure, you can navigate across your property with your eyes closed, but what about people who have never visited before? Make sure there is adequate lighting around walking paths and near stairways.

3. Sleeping Arrangements: If you have more sleepers then rooms, you will need to add sleeping space. Inflatable mattresses are fine for a night or two, but if you have any long term guests, it might be time to buy a roll-away bed, or a cot. Also, consider putting ceiling fans in all of your guest rooms. This will allow individual guests to customize the temperature in their room without bothering with the thermostat, which will affect the rest of the people in the home.

4. Bathroom Storage: Move all toilet paper, towels, and general toiletries out of hiding so that guests can access them easily. Also, outfit each tub with a bath mat to prevent falls, and each toilet with an easily accessible plunger to prevent any embarrassment.

The Holidays are an incredible time to serve the people that we love. It is our sincere hope that you take this time as a great opportunity to love the people closest to you, and hopefully these little tips helped serve that goal in some way.

Have a very merry Christmas!

From your friends at Westervelt Communities.

Posted in Holidays | Tagged | Leave a comment