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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Layout: A Walk-Around
The House
 | The house is 42' x 28' with a total floor area of 1645'sq including the lower level. In the Pleasant Hills Estates community, the house is unique with its layout and orientation to both Victory and MacArthur drives. The covered breezeway is 12' x 20' and connects the house to the one-car garage.The house is 3/4 brick with siding on the rear facing the patio. The house presents brick to all angles visible from the street. The windows are all double-pane, double-hung replacement windows making the house very quiet from street noise. They also tilt in for cleaning and are excellent insulators from heat in the Summer and the Winter cold. Central air conditioning has kept the house cool in the recent heat wave and the natural gas heater is in excellent condition, both controlled by a digital programmable thermostat. |
| The front door steps are all brick with iron railings and a brick walkway leading to the steps from the driveway. Both front and rear doors have been upgraded with steel doors. The main picture window and side double-hung windows are Anderson windows installed several years ago. The roof is in excellent condition and the gutters are all LeafGuard® brand anti-leaf and debris gutters. Downspouts are all oversized to handle any downpour. The wood-burning fireplace flue is capped with the required spark guard. The utilities have all been updated with the latest wireless no-entry meters. Cable TV is installed (service is turned off) and the neighborhood FIOS service is mounted on the pole at the corner of the lot making a new connection simple. |
| Landscaping Front and side shrubs and garden areas have been excavated and replaced with topsoil and low-maintenance stone. There is no mulch to replace every year. Red crushed stone sits atop two layers of landscape material to eliminate weeds. All shrubs are new and are also low-maintenance. Azaleas and ground junipers are plant-and-forget. The large rhododendron on the corner was planted 50 years ago and blooms in late April. Around the corner are two Mountain Laurels and a "Walking Stick Tree" with its very unusual curly branches and interesting hanging flowers. Continuing around to the side garden are the two blueberry plants and a red azalea. When you first see the house, you can't help but notice the large Norway Maple trees that each have 30' canopies. Ringing the house, these trees were planted 50 years ago and provide cooling shade in the hot Summer months. A set of Adirondack chairs under the trees in the backyard provide an excellent spot for reading while enjoying the Robins and Cardinals visiting the two birdbaths. A red maple shades the backyard between the Norway Maples and the house providing maximum cooling in the summer. |
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| The Patio At this point, you will enter the patio walking through an opening in the granite and quartz wall. To your right will be the steps going down to the cellar entrance. The patio was designed and built by the original owner using concrete circles created on the property. The granite and quartz is from a Pennsylvania rock quarry and makes the wall a very unique addition. A water fountain was built into the wall for the neighborhood children but has been decommissioned in recent years.  |
| Accent flower pots are incorporated into the patio blocks and now support Coleus and Caladium plants. |  |
 | The large flower pot is made in the same motif as the concrete patio... it is poured concrete and was made exactly where it sits today. |
A flowering pink Korean Spice Viburnum is planted under the kitchen window. It flowers in late Spring with beautifully scented blooms. Enjoy them while they last because they are a fleeting precursor to Summer. |  |
| The Breezeway The breezeway is enclosed by very large screen panels allowing unrestricted airflow. All surfaces are covered in finished aluminum flashing making it easy to clean and again, very low maintenance. The ceiling is vinyl with recessed lighting and a remote-controlled outdoor ceiling fan. All lights are controlled by electronic dimmers from inside the house. The fan remote control is portable and can be carried to the breezeway then returned to its holder in the dining room. |  | |
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| The Lift The wheelchair/powerchair lift takes the rider from ground level to the back door landing and has a 550lb capacity. The lift is designed to allow a powerchair user to operate the lift without assistance. Two call buttons let the rider raise or lower the lift, enter and lock the loading gate then raise or lower the lift from the large controls inside the lift compartment. Since the lift does not get wet except in the most unusual weather events, the lift is in excellent condition. If the lift is not needed today, it can be disassembled and stored for your golden years! The backdoor steps are made from TimberTech Rosewood Earthwood composite material built over the original concrete steps. Installed to compliment the vertical lift, the iron railings are custom built to allow the lift gate to swing across the steps for safety. |
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| The Garage The garage is sufficient for parking any contemporary vehicle. The floor has been sealed and painted and a new window installed in the outside wall. The new entry door from the breezeway is keyed to match the kitchen door locks. One key opens all three doors (including the basement door.) The automatic garage door opener drives the original wood 8' door. The garage overhead light is switched from inside the garage or inside the house. The large steps provide easy access to the full attic over the garage which is perfect for storing those long-term treasures or seasonal tools. There is a security flood light at the outside rear of the garage with switches in the garage and in the master bedroom. Under the light is the 8' iron firewood holder (see the living room section for a description of the wood-burning fireplace.) |
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| The Driveway The circular driveway is worth a mention here. It allows you to drive in at one end and drive out the other. As a civil engineer specializing in roadways and concrete structures, the previous owner had this driveway built to his specifications. It is unlike most other residential driveways. It is built over 8" of crushed stone on top of 12" of select sand. The concrete is steel reinforced the same as I-95! |
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| The Utility Building The 16' utility building sits on the back side of the garage and provides storage for a riding lawnmower and those other power tools used around the house. Double doors on both ends allow the lawnmower to drive in one end and out the other. A stone path connects the front and back doors. Arborvitae planted in the yard will, in a few years, form a green curtain which will hide the utility building from the street. A flower garden the length of the building provides a colorful accent. |
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 | The Hedge The property line is marked by a spirea hedge that blooms in late spring with white flowers. The bush next to the cellar steps is also white spirea. |
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| The backyard in October |
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The House
Main Level
The main living level showcases the newly refinished hardwood floors in all rooms except the kitchen and the bathroom. The walls in all rooms have been painted with premium semi-gloss enamel. All woodwork is done in high-gloss white. The floors are finished with dark red oak in a satin finish. All baseboards have been replaced as have all heating, air conditioning and return air grates. All electrical switches and outlets have been replaced with new premium fixtures and covers. All interior doors have been replaced with French Curve high-gloss white doors hung with triple Baldwin Brass hinges and set with Baldwin Brass Classic Wave lever handles.
Downstairs
Access to the lower level is via the stairs immediately in front of the rear kitchen door. There is a safety half-door at the top of the stairs. Dual railings follow the stairs to the carpeted recreation room.
Recreation Room
The "recroom" is newly carpeted with light linen-colored berber carpet. The room is lit with two recessed lights.
Powder Room
Game Room
Walk-in Cedar Closet
The 8'x8' cedar closet provides storage for out-of-season clothes and is a great place to store that extra glassware or china.
Utility Area
The utility room holds the washer and dryer (included) and the double concrete washtub. There is room for a chest or upright freezer in the corner. There is easy access to the furnace and A/C unit and storage shelves for laundry supplies.
Workbench
One of the few unfinished areas in the home, the workbench is a re-purposed pharmacist's table and offers the homeowner an excellent area for fixing, building and tinkering.
The Attic
The attic is a great place to store Christmas decorations or other items with its easy access from the third bedroom's pull-down stairs. Approximately 25% of the attic has plywood flooring and there are two shelf units for small items. The attic is lit with three single-bulb fixtures controlled by a switch just inside the bedroom door.
The main living level showcases the newly refinished hardwood floors in all rooms except the kitchen and the bathroom. The walls in all rooms have been painted with premium semi-gloss enamel. All woodwork is done in high-gloss white. The floors are finished with dark red oak in a satin finish. All baseboards have been replaced as have all heating, air conditioning and return air grates. All electrical switches and outlets have been replaced with new premium fixtures and covers. All interior doors have been replaced with French Curve high-gloss white doors hung with triple Baldwin Brass hinges and set with Baldwin Brass Classic Wave lever handles.
- Living room The centerpiece of the living room is the original brick wood-burning fireplace framed by a custom-built hardwood mantel, surround and black granite tile hearth. It is lit by an overhead recessed light. The room is circled with crown molding. The large picture window and sidelight double hung windows are all Anderson windows. The room is lit with four recessed lights with dual remote infrared dimmer controls. To store wood for the fireplace, a firewood holder is included with the house and is located behind the garage. Just inside the front steel door is a coat closet with an oversized 36" door for easy access.
- Dining room Crown molding frames the ceiling and an eight-lite brass chandelier is controlled with 3-way electronic dimmers. The room is well lit from the three double-hung windows.
- Kitchen The kitchen has been totally remodeled. The cabinets are American Woodmark oak spice finish. The wall cabinets are ceiling-high and extra long providing extra storage and an easy reach to the bottom shelves. Specialty cabinets provide vertical storage for trays and cutting boards. A double-tub pull-out trash can is located next to the dishwasher.
- Master Bedroom The master bedroom is located at the end of the hallway and positioned to the rear of the house facing the patio. The three double-hung windows provide lots of light and airflow. All bedrooms include ceiling fans. The closet bi-fold doors are new and set with brass hardware matching the other interior doors.
- Guest Room The Guest bedroom faces the front of the house and also includes three windows, ceiling fan and closet.
- 3rd Bedroom The 3rd bedroom has a 6' closet with sliding doors, a ceiling fan and the pull-down attic stairs. The open-frame roof, plywood flooring and two shelf units create a large storage area for family treasures and Christmas decorations. Three attic light fixtures are controlled from the switch at the bottom of the stairs.
- Bathroom The bathroom has been remodeled with a new tile floor, tub surround, vanity and wainscoting. An ultra-quiet ceiling vent fan with night light is controlled by the three-switch fixture near the door.
- Hallway
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The Corian® counter tops and integrated twin sink give the kitchen a bright feel. Four over-counter recessed lights are controlled from a dimmer switch while a single recessed light illuminates the sink and is controlled by its own dimmer. The sink includes a new garbage disposal and pull-out faucet. Multiple quad GFI outlets provide plenty of power for kitchen appliances. The matching oak and glass table with two cane and brass chairs is included. An oak handrail is installed near one of the chairs. Two more recessed lights are installed over the kitchen table controlled by an electronic 3-way dimmer system.
The floor is new vinyl with an anti-bacterial surface. The Whirlpool 24" dishwasher and 1000 watt microwave are new. The Maytag gas range and oven is in excellent condition. The Electrolux Professional Series stainless steel refrigerator is included with the house. A large built-in pantry provides even more storage on permanent heavy-duty wood shelves. The pantry door matches the other interior doors with brass hardware. The pantry light is operated by opening and closing the pantry door. A kitchen fire extinguisher is mounted in the pantry. An indoor/outdoor "talking" thermometer is installed at the kitchen window for that extra touch of personality.
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| The hallway is lit with three recessed lights controlled by electronic 3-way dimmers. Crown molding continues through the hallway from the living room. Custom oak assist handrails are installed (see photo). The handrails can be easily removed and the few mounting holes covered if they are not needed by the new owners. Wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are mounted near the three bedrooms. The linen closet is located just outside the bathroom. |  |
Downstairs
Access to the lower level is via the stairs immediately in front of the rear kitchen door. There is a safety half-door at the top of the stairs. Dual railings follow the stairs to the carpeted recreation room.
- The Stairs
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The Attic
The attic is a great place to store Christmas decorations or other items with its easy access from the third bedroom's pull-down stairs. Approximately 25% of the attic has plywood flooring and there are two shelf units for small items. The attic is lit with three single-bulb fixtures controlled by a switch just inside the bedroom door.
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