2011 MAX Awards of Excellence
Home Builders Association of Maryland
Gold Award, Accessible Living Bath Remodel

In recognition of excellence in design and construction of an accessible living bath remodel, top honors were awarded to Greenleaf Remodeling and Patricia L. Caulfield, AKBD, CAPS, for the Canton Cove Master Bath Project completed in 2011 presented by the Home Builders Association of Maryland.

The category, Accessible Living Award, was newly created this year by HBAM. The Gold Award recipient, a Canton Cove bath remodel, centered on the clients needs for an ADA compliant space. Living with a degenerative disease and using a walker, the client would eventually become dependant on a wheelchair for mobility. With this in mind, George Brown, President of Greenleaf, and designer Pat Caulfield, AKBD, CAPS, created a space that would accommodate both present and future needs. By incorporating a barrier free shower with a fold down teak seat, a hand held shower wand, a fixed showerhead and niche in the shower wall to house necessary items easy access was provided for the client.

The Kohler Purist collection in polished chrome was selected for contemporary appeal. Streamlined single lever fixtures allowed for ease of use mounted on an accessible wall mount sink outfitted with chrome legs for support. The commode, Kohler Persuade, completes the ensemble with the water saving capabilities of a dual flush. Grab bars on the walls installed both vertically and horizontally in coordinated chrome allow for assistance but maintain the element of high design. Accented with pale sand colored tile along with horizontal glass accents, the shower was transformed by creating a "spa feeling".

Greenleaf Remodeling is a full service residential remodeling company offering design/build solutions for both old and new homes. Their focus is to reduce the impact on the environment during the remodeling process by using sustainable building practices and materials while focusing on energy efficiency in the home. George Brown is a CAPS Certified Aging in Place Specialist and a Gilman graduate. Along with his team of talented craftsmen their strength lies in the ability to successfully assess, present and deliver viable solutions to their customers.

Greenleaf Remodeling is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, CAPS certified, HBAM Remodelers Association, Maryland Home Builders Association and is EPA Lead-Safe Certified. Please contact George Brown, President, for more information or Patricia L. Caulfield, Independent Consultant in the Kitchen and Bath Industry.
www.greenleafbaltimore.com
patcfield@gmail.com

Fairy Tales can come true: Embracing the Past

Fairy Tales can come true: Embracing the Past: Once upon a time there lived a lovely young couple with more than a couple of very young sons. They lived in a beautiful home built in 1929....

Embracing the Past

Once upon a time there lived a lovely young couple with more than a couple of very young sons. They lived in a beautiful home built in 1929. They embraced the value of keeping the integrity of the historic era of their home intact.

The very fortunate designer and remodeler that showed up at their door also appreciated this much maligned and neglected concept. Yet, this lovely young couple knew that as the boys grew, their privacy in their own bathroom would diminish as their sons needed a space of their own to practice their budding young manhood rituals.

  

And so, the designer and the remodeler set out on the odious task of reclaiming two baths to their former glory while allowing for contemporary function and effective use of the existing space.The challenge was further enhanced by the slope of the roof - another enchanting feature of this impressive home.

Armed with tape measures and tile, the re-creation began. A now stunning Master Bath was revived by incorporating a walk-in shower treated with glorious natural stone and glass mosaic inserts in a harlequin pattern. A hand held shower along with a fixed shower head allows for flexibility. Blocking was installed in the shower wall to accommodate a future grab bar - thinking ahead to an aging in place scenario, but currently fully equipped for ease of use in the present tense.

Since a delightful built in closet already existed in the room to house daily requirements, a classic Kohler Memoirs pedestal sink in a creamy Biscuit finish and commode completed the timeless appeal of this bath redo. A Roburn medicine cabinet added much needed storage with a dash of pinash and a double towel bar took up minimal residence on the wall. Soft finishes in satin nickel gave a retro glow to the room while toes were attended to as a heated floor kept the comfort level high. 

The beautiful ending to this fairy tale story set in a period home is really just the beginning for this lovely young couple with more than a couple of very young sons. They all lived happily ever after with a space to call their own - as the third floor bath remodel (to be unveiled soon) competed the needs of this traditional crew.

patcfield@gmail.com
http://www.greenleafbaltimore.com/
http://www.huntvalleytileandstone.com/

It looks good...: But does it feel good?

It looks good...: But does it feel good?: One of my goals in design is to make a space feel good. Not just make it pretty, but FEEL good and function well. In kitchen design there ar...

But does it feel good?

One of my goals in design is to make a space feel good. Not just make it pretty, but FEEL good and function well. In kitchen design there are guidelines that should be followed. We all know about the work triangle. This guideline exists in order to accurately place the three most common work sites at the most efficient distance  to minimize traffic through the work zone.

 

The three main work sites consist of the refrigerator - the cold storage site, the sink - the cleaning/prep site and the stove - the cooking site. Within the triangle, no leg should be longer than 9' or shorter than 4'. Based on the ergonomics of reach, steps taken and tasks to be performed this space not only functions well - but again - feels good. 

 

 In a recent kitchen remodel my clients and I went through countless scenarios of moving the primary work stations to effectively open up the room. During a visit with my client upon project completion her comment - "I can't believe how wonderful this space is to work in."

Yes, it is beautiful and yes it does function well. We flipped the refrigerator to the patio door side of the space off the initial entrance. The cooktop was relocated from the island  to the back wall to create a focal point with the decorative hood that is now vented to the exterior. The double ovens are adjacent to the island for ample landing space as my client is a wonderful baker. And she's about the size of an HB pencil.

A created hutch area with roll out internal drawers made for additional storage and the glass front cabinets above were lighted to bring a sparkle to the room. An island that was custom built was designed with the homeowners exquisite taste in mind. I repeated the shell motif she had throughout the home to pull elements from one room into the next to create a continuity within the home itself.

An added visual pop of a bay window behind the sink with granite running right into it expands the space and allows the seasoned chef a place to grow herbs even in the winter months.With light streaming in from the exterior, the space emotes a soft glow and brings the outdoors in. This provides yet another delectable element to stir the creativity in the pot of this talented cook.  

Her impeccable good taste and inviting meals are legend in her circle of family and friends and will be celebrated for years to come. Kitchen design is not only about moving boxes around a room. It's about gathering with family and friends and feeling safe - and good about where you are.   

http://franksgranite.com

http://www.keenerkitchen.com

http://www.huntvalleytileandstone.com

For further information kindly contact me directly at:

patcfield@hotmail.com

Seeing spots: On break from Clydesdale Integration Training the ...

Seeing spots: On break from Clydesdale Integration Training the ...: "On break from Clydesdale Integration Training the pair quickly found mischief in the form of an ice chest."

On break from Clydesdale Integration Training the pair quickly found mischief in the form of an ice chest.