Natelli Homes » Additions

Time for a pool & pool house

Bob — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:17:54 +0000

The weather this January and February has been unique to say the least. We have had the predictable snow and windy cold days, but to have near 70 degrees this past Friday makes me think of summer. For those who planned ahead, they will be enjoying a new pool and pool house this summer to combat the intense heat of August in metro DC.

This project in Bethesda, MD, was planned last summer so we could coordinate the permits and begin construction in the fall. Overall winter temperatures were pretty forgiving for construction so we made good progress. The lot has some intense topography so retaining walls anchor the ends of the pool terrace. At one end, the pool house masks the fact that the project is cut into an 8′ tall slope. We used full masonry walls for the pool house to make it easy to clean and practically a maintenance-free structure. The walls will have a stucco finish with tile and stone accents.

A curvilinear concrete retaining wall with field-stone veneer levels the other end of the project and creates a lawn area adjacent to the pool for recreation and casual seating. You can see the stone masons taking advantage of the warm weather in the adjacent photo. We will excavate the pool soon which fits between the pool house and the wall in the photo on the left. The before and after images of this project will be dramatic so I’ll continue to share the progress as we get closer to completion.

Feel free to contact me at Bob@NatelliHomes.com or visit our website at www.NatelliHomes.com where you can find valuable coupons for the remainder of February.

New Bethesda Kitchen & Family Room

Bob — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:59:45 +0000

Arguably the most important rooms in a home are the kitchen and family room. Families tend to congregate, eat, play, laugh, argue, watch TV and use computers in these rooms. Dining Rooms are used a couple of times a year and Living Rooms almost have no purpose at all.

For this property owner in Bethesda, like the vast majority in the Washington, D.C. metro area, they needed an affordable expansion of the kitchen, family room and breakfast room. This project included a family room addition about 20 feet square that adjoined the kitchen and breakfast room. The family room connects to the kitchen through an open counter-top and two cased openings as you can see in the adjacent photo. The breakfast room is large enough to house a generous table and will include a wall-mounted TV and wireless computer connections.

This project is ready for the finishes. The drywall has been installed and primed, the sub-floor has been screwed and prepped to receive the wood flooring and equally important, the home is clean and safe. A clean project is a safe project. The windows are ready to be trimmed with casing and stool – this project is ready to continue on its speedy schedule. Check our posts in a week or two - I will be sure to include some photos of the completed cabinets and trim.

Feel free to e-mail me at Bob@NatelliHomes.com or visit our website at www.natellihomes.com. We have valuable on-line coupons for kitchens, bathrooms and windows that will not be available for much longer.

Quick & easy new Master Suite over a garage

Bob — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:36:01 +0000

Lots of people pause about renovating a home because they worry about how long it might take, interruptions to their family and perhaps the cost. One of the easiest additions is over an existing garage. If the existing home was constructed properly it should support the new living space. There is a lot of foot-print to work with and the demolition is minimal.

In this project located in Potomac, MD, we removed the existing roof and had the new room built in a manner of a few weeks. The Owners were concerned about disturbance during the forthcoming holidays, but good planning and project management got the job under roof well before the deadlines.

There is a lot of room over a garage. A Master Suite with closets and a large bathroom will easily fit in the space. Alternatively two bedrooms and a shared bath would work as well. The living spaces can easily be enhanced with dormers and vaulted ceilings. This is truly one of the most logical additions one can make if added bedroom space is a necessity.

The bottom line here is simple. Don’t overlook the obvious. There is easy inexpensive space over a garage. I’ll talk about the inside improvements in a future post.

Feel free to contact me at Bob@NatelliHomes.com or visit our website at www.NatelliHomes.com

Bathroom Design Option # 3 – A small addition makes a big difference

Bob — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:08:22 +0000

Next in our series of possible bathroom design options we look at adding a couple of feet to the back of the room and creating a shed dormer. We want to manage costs so the expansion will be minimal but still develop the necessary space. The sketch on the right is the same starting point we have for our other design options. Now let’s see what happens with a few extra square feet positioned in the right place.

We will incorporate a tub, full shower, two vanities and a toilet compartment in this expansion. The tub is generously sized with ample room on the deck for towel storage and decorations. The shower has a large seat and potential for multiple heads and there is room for a private area for the water closet. Having his and her vanities makes sense for many couples. The complement of quality cabinets on either side of the room, such as the WoodMode cabinets we feature, not only allows symmetry in the space but creates a focal point to the tub and window above. The added window could be the most valuable component. Large amounts of natural light flowing in the bathroom through a round or elliptical transom makes the room feel more connected to the outside. The ambient light in a room often negates the need for illuminated lights. Finally, look at the closets. They have more than doubled – something every family could use!

So now you have three functional options to the standard bathroom in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Each one has different priorities but none come at significant expense because they are designed and constructed in a logical and practical manner. With these designs you can bring your home from the 1940’s quickly into optimum design standards for your lifestyle today.

Feel free to contact me by e-mail at Bob@NatelliHomes.com or visit our website, www.NatelliHomes.com