Realtor® Judy Pitt, a sales associate with Wright Kingdom Real Estate in Boulder, was one of five winners chosen by the National Association of Realtors® as REALTOR® Magazine’s 2011 Good Neighbor Award winners. Pitt was selected for founding the nonprofit Kazi Yake (His Works) to address the need for clean water in Kenya.

“The Good Neighbor Awards program acknowledges Realtors® who are dedicated to strengthening communities through volunteer work and helping those in need,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “As a past Good Neighbor Award recipient, I know of the tremendous effort and time these winners devote to each of their causes. Judy is an extraordinary example of how Realtors® truly have a global impact, especially on communities in need.”

Through her nonprofit Kazi Yake, which translates from Swahili to mean “His works,” Pitt has spent 10 years trying to bring potable water and hygiene information to rural villages in western Kenya, where children die every day due to remediable ailments such as diarrhea, malaria, typhus, and cholera that are brought on by tainted water.

Kazi Yake initially focused on teaching simple hygiene practices and providing bio-sand filters for drinking water and rudimentary hand-washing stations. From there, Kazi Yake has grown in both scale and scope. This summer, the organization completed drilling a deep-water well to serve approximately 10,000 people whose only previous access to water was a contaminated river. More than 100 midwives trained by Kazi Yake now can instill good hygiene practices in new mothers, who then help prevent the spread of disease by passing these habits on to their kids.

“Out of clean water comes many things,” said Pitt. “One of those is healthy children. If you have best practices for midwives, for example, they wash the baby when it’s born and pass good practices on to the mother.”

Pitt was introduced to Kenya by Shem Okello, head of the National Baptist Convention of Kenya, who spoke at her Bible study class in Colorado. After many trips to Kenya, Pitt won the confidence of the locals by adopting their lifestyle. This closeness has led to Pitt being considered part of Okello’s family, to the point where she even has a Kenyan name: Judy Shida Taabu Okelo Okello. “I claim [Shem] as my ‘first family,’” said Pitt. “I have children named after me, which lets me do the teaching I do, because I’m considered a grandmother.”

Since her first trip to Kenya in 2003, Pitt has been back 11 times, spending up to two months at a time and bringing along as many as 20 volunteers. In addition to providing water and hygiene training, the volunteers help Pitt plan crops, repair roofs and build playgrounds. Pitt plans to settle there permanently after she retires from real estate.

Over the years, Kazi Yake has built 18 churches and trained many widows to run small tailoring or craft businesses. Pitt persuaded a Colorado seed company to donate 10,000 seed packets and send experts to train the villagers how to increase harvest yields. She is now raising money to build a medical clinic that will provide surgery, dental, and birth services.

Pitt and the other four Good Neighbor Award winners will each receive a $10,000 grant for their charity and a $2,000 Lowe’s gift card, and will be profiled in the November-December issue of REALTOR® Magazine. The recipients will received their awards on Saturday, November 12, at the 2011 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Anaheim, California.

“The Good Neighbor Awards honor Realtors® who are leaders in their community,” said Frank Sibley, REALTOR® Magazine publisher. “This year’s winners have literally saved lives, and inspire those around them to make positive changes in the world. We hope this award and the grant money will allow these Realtors® to expand their reach and help even more people.”

Celebrating its 12th year, the Good Neighbor Awards has been awarded annually since 2000 and is presented by NAR’s REALTOR® Magazine. The Good Neighbor Awards is sponsored by Lowe’s and HouseLogic.

Nominees were judged on their personal contribution of time, as well as financial and material contributions to their cause. To be eligible, nominees had to be NAR members in good standing. For more information about the Good Neighbor Award winners visit www.realtor.org/realtormag.

Cities have a sense of new and renewal too. Longmont is a perfect example. Historically it has been an agricultural town. The personality of Longmont reflects the morals and ethics of the people who live here. Farmers have a kinship with the land that sustains them. They are good stewards of mother earth.  They nurture their land and they nurture each other. Neighbors help neighbors. The city center is historically a place of meeting and gathering. Of commerce and community activities. Values are conservative. Change is pondered before being rushed into. This creates a stable nurturing environment that enhances the quality of life.

In these tumultuous times Longmont has become a popular city to move to by anyone desiring a more mellow place to call home. Longmont is large enough to have all the infrastructure and amenities of large city yet maintain a sense of living on the farm, even if one lives in the ‘burbs. It is only a short stroll or bike ride to enjoy the numerous parks, trails and open spaces the city Fathers had the foresight to create even before it was trendy. I love traveling from my home to, say Boulder and being able to commune with nature along the way. This vision had as much to do with the desire to preserve the agrarian personality of the area as it did to attract new residents.

I recently met a retired couple, Ann and Vinnie, at the Golden Ponds recreation area this past weekend as they were out walking their dog, Tip, along the miles of paved trails around the four beautiful ponds framed by trees and the mountains in the near distance. Golden Ponds is a perfect example of the vision of city planners to turn a once abandoned open pit mine eyesore into both a beautiful park and a water conservation area. The winter melt fills the ponds to the brim in the Spring and helps sustain the land and people around them with water the rest of the year.

Anne and Vinnie moved here 12 years ago from Brooklyn, New York. “It was culture shock when we first moved here to be with our kids,” Ann said. “But culture shock in a good way. We were used to the frantic pace of New York City and did not realize how uptight we were until we settled in here and realized we could slow down and breathe.  We felt re-newed.” Ann and Vinnie live in Old Town Longmont in a 1917 bungalow a few blocks from downtown. They can walk to the shops and restaurants on Main St. which reminds them of the urban lifestyle of NYC or they can take a short drive to mall or the many stores out on Hover Street or Ken Pratt Boulevard, which also connect to major highways and interstates for their sojourns into Boulder or Denver. Longmont also benefits its residents by being large enough to offer modern comprehensive medical facilities, an excellent school system, vibrant arts and expansive recreational areas and activities.

I have heard the same story of slowing down and enjoying life here over and over by the new friends I have met here, a large majority of them also transplants like me from other areas of the country who were looking for a better quality of life and found it here.

When I moved to the Front Range my first order of business was to find a place to live. Not just a physical place to hang my hat, but a mental place to call home. I found it in Longmont and it’s Prospect neighborhood. New and renew.

What I like about the neighborhood is there are several tree-lined parks and a diverse mixed-use business district of shops and offices surrounding the main downtown park where many live upstairs and have their businesses downstairs.

In Longmont, there are numerous community events throughout the year including cruiser bike rides on the new St. Vrains Greenway to destinations like the Oskar Blues Brewery, art walks and charitable events for local and national causes.

People don’t just move to Longmont to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, lower cost of living here or a safe, stable place to raise a family. They actually like living here.

Longmont is going through growing pains for sure, but there is a renewed sense by the new generation of city planners that the future of Longmont lays in the nurturing morals and values of the Long timers who settled this area. What is old is new again. Longmont is renewing itself into what it used to be.

Rob Lagerstrom is a commercial photographer, videographer and freelance writer who recently moved to the Front Range from the Southeast.  His observations on the nuances of life are expressed in words and photos he calls Robservations.

A Robservation by Rob Lagerstrom

It collects interest on real estate escrow accounts and donates the money to nonprofit and public agencies that assist low to moderate income families with their housing needs.

RE/MAX Alliance has participated for a number of years in providing funds to CARHOF through their corporate and office escrow accounts.  “As always, we’re proud to give back to our community and help families realize the American Dream of homeownership,” said Chad Ochsner, Owner. “We look at our business as much more than helping clients buy and sell homes. We are also dedicated to helping families and to show our commitment to the community by supporting endeavors like CARHOF.”

In 2010, CARHOF donated more than $400,000 to support affordable housing in Colorado through grants.  Seventy percent of the revenue collected goes back to the community from which it was generated. Each local association of Realtors® determines which organizations to fund in their community.

Information about CARHOF is available online at: coloradorealtors.com/car_carhof_main.asp

For more information on specific offices, sales associates, or career opportunities with RE/MAX Alliance, please contact Kim Hawkins at 303.759.6636 or via email at kimhawkins@remax.net. Additional information is available online atHomesInColorado.com.
Follow RE/MAX Alliance on Facebook and Twitter.

Yeager Farm
Markel Homes is very particular when it chooses the sites for its new neighborhoods. The company develops properties close to open space, creating easy access to walking paths and bike trails. They prefer in-city locations near shops, restaurants and public transportation, giving homeowners the option to walk and bike rather than drive. They value mountain and open space views for their expansiveness, natural beauty and perspective. And they’re committed to building homes that retain their value as sound investments, with durable green, high-quality construction that lasts for decades.

“Markel Homes is offering a variety of options at Yeager Farm for buyers who are looking for a brand-new home in a great location at a great price. We’ve created a series of new ranch and two-story floor plans, and buyers may choose to build with or without a basement, depending on their needs. Starting at $249,900, these are well-designed homes with exciting, open layouts and quality finishes” says Marketing and Sales Manager Asa Welch.

We offer a variety of larger ranch and two-story styles, starting in the $300’s, and we also custom build homes. There are a variety of lot sizes and locations to choose from – like quiet cul-de-sac streets with gorgeous views of Longs Peak.”

Everywhere you see the high-end, high-style touches typical of Markel Homes: distinctive, timeless architectural designs and tasteful interior finishes, professional exterior color packages, five-piece master baths and walk-in closets, vaulted ceilings, hardwood and tile flooring, kitchens with full-sized warm maple cabinetry and large center islands.

“Stepping inside one of our homes, you’ll immediately notice how light and airy it is. There’s an easy and comfortable feeling, an open and spacious floor plan. Tasteful design details catch your eye, and abundant, oversized windows fill the space with natural light.” says Welch.

Markel Homes builds a wide range of different architectural styles amongst many Boulder County locations. At Yeager Farm, the architecture tends to be more  traditional, with a streetscape that features Craftsman styles, Rustic elevations, stucco exteriors, and also some Colorado contemporary custom homes.

Green Built Homes
In addition to standard quality features, each Yeager Farm house is green-built to Energy Star® standards for a healthier home and planet. Markel Homes utilizes sustainable construction practices, resource conservation and renewable energy efforts, combined with high-performance home features, to help create a smaller carbon footprint. By reducing exposure to chemicals, allergens, mold and pests,  families can breathe cleaner indoor air and enjoy a more comfortable indoor environment. Plus, a longer-lasting and better functioning home requires less maintenance, while less energy and water use mean lower utility bills.

Attractive green features at Yeager Farm include low-VOC cabinetry and paints, eco-friendly and durable recycled-content and engineered building materials, advanced insulation systems, 92%+ high-efficiency furnaces, programmable set-back thermostats, ceiling fan prewires, Energy Star® rated appliances, high-performance windows, and water saving features like low-flow toilets, showerheads and bathroom faucets, and low-water use zone and drip irrigation systems for landscaping.

Location And Value
Yeager Farm is in a central, convenient Longmont location, within walking distance of schools and parks, and just a short drive to medical facilities— in an established neighborhood in the heart of Longmont. Old Town and Main Street, with its restaurants and shopping, are delightful destinations for a stroll.

“Residents love the location of Yeager Farm—in the heart of Longmont. They enjoy the convenience of its central location, the attractive architecture, open floor plans and unique features, and the quiet established feel of the neighborhood,” says Welch. “It’s fun for home buyers to have the ability to customize a new home at an affordable price-point, to make changes that suit their taste and select the interior finishes
they want—which they’re easily able to do, with our generous design center allowance and quality standard features.”

Living In Longmont
Longmont is a perfect setting for Yeager Farm. It offers beautiful mountain scenery and year-round outdoor recreation – hiking, biking, swimming and sailing, along with skydiving, ballooning, horseback riding and nearby world class skiing. The city boasts more than 1,500 acres of open space and parks and three public golf courses. Rocky Mountain National Park and Long’s Peak are just minutes away.

Twice in the last five years Money magazine named Longmont one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the United States – based on the quality of life it provides. The list comprises small livable cities with the best blend of good jobs, low crime, quality schools, plenty of open space, rational home prices and lots to do. Longmont also has won the National Civic League’s All-America City Award.

Longmont is home to several high-tech companies and a lively restaurant and brewery scene. It is conveniently located 37 miles from Denver, 16 miles from Boulder, and 30 miles from the scenic Trail Ridge Road. It offers the cultural amenities of a big city – theaters, art galleries, performing arts and a symphony orchestra – yet has a small, hometown feel. Urban culture, natural beauty, small town charm – Longmont has it all.

For More Information
Yeager Farm is located in the heart of Longmont near Francis Street and 15th Avenue. For more information contact Asa Welch at 303.817.4140 or Asa@MarkelHomes.

The model home and sales center is open on weekends from 11-5. Directions: From 15th Ave and Francis St, go east on 15th and left on Grant Drive. The sales center is located on the right-hand side, at 1504 Grant Drive. For more information about Yeager Farm, visit MarkelHomes.com.

Written by Judy Finman for At Home

Stevens partnered with Environments for Living™ (EFL), which requires the builder to meet specific building standards designed to result in homes that are safer and more energy efficient, comfortable and durable than conventionally built homes. For builders who meet these tough standards, and the buyers of their homes, EFL offers a comfort and energy usage guarantee.

Sopris Homes, building since 1994, became the first builder in Colorado to guarantee both comfort and energy use on all its homes.

High-performance homes
Besides systems-engineered whole house design and quality-controlled construction, a high-performance home relies on performance testing to assure that the home is healthy, comfortable, affordable, energy efficient, durable and environmentally responsible.

Sopris homes are built for high performance. Tighter construction methods reduce energy loss from the home. Every exterior wall is insulated with blown-in insulation for a superior thermal envelope. HVAC systems use high-efficiency furnaces and air conditioning, with multi-zone heating and cooling that allows you to control each level of your home independently. High-efficiency furnaces exceed 90 percent efficiency. Fixed and casement windows have an airtight seal. Low-E coatings provide superior comfort and reduce the size of furnaces and air-conditioners. Sopris’ mechanical ventilation system supplies fresh filtered air for indoor air quality. Custom ductwork is engineered for each home, and all heating and cooling is done through ducts rather than building cavities; ducts are sealed and then tested for tightness. For durability and mold prevention, drainage planes are installed on the exterior walls to avoid water infiltration, and the home is covered with a layer of waterproof material.

Environments for Living™ (EFL)
EFL requires strict performance testing of each Sopris home. Confidence in the builder’s engineering, materials and workmanship allows EFL to guarantee that the temperature in Sopris homes will not vary more than three degrees between rooms in the same heating zone, and the energy used to heat and cool the home will not exceed a guaranteed usage.

David Bell, director of building science for EFL, works with builders like Sopris Homes to build performance-based homes. “I give them performance specifications they must meet, and training for their subcontractors to implement our program. We take a systems approach; the builder must implement seven items necessary to build a high-performance home – how the home performs in terms of comfort and efficiency. Each home is rated by a third party using the HERS rating.”

The seven key areas the EFL program addresses are: tight construction, fresh air ventilation, improved thermal systems, right-sized HVAC systems, air pressure balancing, internal moisture management, and combustion safety.
EFL also provides each homeowner with a manual, explaining how EFL homes differ from conventionally built homes, and the “science” behind key features like the home’s thermal envelope.

Bell adds: “The fact that Sopris is participating in the program, and the things they are doing, are a testament to their commitment to build a quality house. The homeowner should enjoy comfort [for] years.”

HERS testing
Robby Schwarz, of Energy Logic, does all the performance testing for Sopris Homes. “We quantify the energy performance of houses for Sopris,” he says. “We do quality control, energy code compliance, and program compliance for Energy Star and EFL. With the HERS index scoring system, the lower the score, the better…100 is equal to a new, code-built home; 0 means it uses as much energy as it generates.” The maximum score Sopris will accept is 69 to 70, which means it is 31 percent more efficient than a new home built to standard code.

To earn the Energy Star label, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Sopris has been very consistent in meeting the standards of Energy Star and EFL,” Schwarz says.
Energy Star calculates estimated energy savings from a menu of options. EFL goes further – designing a whole house approach to ensure that energy saving features complement each other to achieve the desired effect when they performance test every home, so they can offer an energy-use guarantee. They also inspect to be sure these items were installed correctly during construction. They tell how much energy is being used to heat and cool the house. This can be related to a dollar amount to judge whether the home’s energy bills will be lower.

Energy Logic uses a four-step process: They look at the house plan and build a computer model of the house. From that they can estimate and quantify whether it will meet the energy code and Sopris’ internal requirements, and they can make recommendations. Next, in three onsite visits, they do a duct-leakage test to determine how airtight it is and how well it will do in delivering energy to the house; that the insulation has been installed correctly, checking the air barriers, windows, ventilation systems, and more; and, a week before the house closes, performance testing and giving an analysis.

“The best comparison is to standard new-home construction,” Schwarz says. “Sopris does a tremendous job exceeding standard new-home construction that meets both Energy Star and EFL [requirements]. They stand behind it by offering energy-use guarantees.”

Net-zero energy-use homes
Sopris Homes designs and builds near-zero and net-zero energy homes, too. If you begin with a Sopris Home that meets EFL standards, you already have the most efficient structure and materials in your home. The next step is adding solar and geothermal.
A Sopris home near Boulder, built for near-zero energy-use, has turned out to be a zero energy home. This 6,624-square-foot high-performance solar and geothermal home pays no energy bills. After living in the house for a year, the owner was producing more energy than he was using.

“We’re currently building another home near Boulder that may also be zero-energy, and we have another in the design stage that will have a passive solar greenhouse to collect heat and distribute it to other parts of the house,” says John Stevens.

“We’ve been studying and implementing EFL energy-efficient building practices since 1999. We’ve got the foundations for energy efficiency in the design and construction of the house’s thermal envelope. The less energy the house requires [because it is well built], the less energy you have to produce on site. The more energy that is produced on site, the closer to zero the energy use will be. The zero-energy home can include  photovoltaic (solar) for electricity, and geothermal for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water.”

Geothermal heating is one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool a home, by tapping the relatively constant temperature of the earth. It uses less energy than conventional heating or cooling systems, which translates into savings on utility bills.

Dan Rau, president of Colorado Geothermal Drilling, which designs and installs geothermal systems in homes, works closely with HVAC contractors. Almost two years ago Rau installed a system on the first Sopris net-zero home. “There is very little maintenance on a geothermal system,” he says. “You just change the air filter. The operational cost is lower than a standard conventional natural gas heating system. Installing geothermal is an added expense the owner does upfront on a new home or on a retrofit. It pays for itself.”

He points out, “The way Sopris is going about building a home, they take the whole house into consideration. The better they build that building envelope, adding extra insulation, and the construction they do, the less it costs to install and to operate a geothermal system.”

Educated Homebuyers
How much do homebuyers know about the importance of choosing a high-performance home – one that is built on sustainable systems that deliver net-zero or near-net-zero efficiencies that reduce the costs of ownership and lessen a home’s lifetime carbon and materials footprint?

Robby Schwarz comments: “I find it interesting that people know more about the technology of their cell phone or their car than they do about the biggest investment they make: their home. Comfort, durability, safety and efficiency: Builders like Sopris are building these into their houses, and homebuyers should bring these into their buying decision.”

For more information about Sopris Homes, call 303.527.0000 and visit www.soprishomes.com.

By Judy Finman for At Home

This year’s list was determined by a survey conducted by 5280 Magazine and Five Star Professional. All Denver-area residents who purchased a home valued at more than $150,000 over the past 12 months and over 5,000 5280 magazine subscribers participated in the survey. Additional surveys were also sent to mortgage and title companies for their feedback and evaluations. Fewer than seven percent of all licensed real estate agents in the Denver area were recognized as a Five Star Real Estate Agent for 2011.

The following list of RE/MAX Alliance agents have been nominated for their excellence in overall customer service, client communication, finding the right home, integrity, negotiation, marketing the home, market knowledge, closing preparation and overall customer satisfaction.

Deanna Albright, Bryan Benham, Craig Bennigsdorf, Tim Bohac, Gregory Brownell, Cheryl Bustin, Tammy Camalick, Duane Caraballo, James Carroll, Kevin Chambless, Tammy Christian, Bernie Clarke, David Colson, Ron Cooper, Sherri Curry, Karen Cutrell, Leanne Dalton, Chris Davis, John Demaray, Joe DiVito, Amanda DiVito-Parle, Dave Dombrowski, Ainslie Dougherty, Mandy Dowell, Robert Dunlap, Frank Duran, Paul Erdmann, Jeffery Gazaway, Mary Gedack, Chris Grund, Wesley Hardin, Jeffery Harmes, Kristine Holvick, Cathy Howrey, Erik Ingvaldsen, Mary Jane Ogle, Janine Kahler, Sneed Kaker, Diana Kearns, Michael Kearns, Meena Kikkeri, Mark Kruse, Crystal Lawrence, Jim Leuschner, Karen Levine, Lenny Maiocco, Robert Martin, Beth Mason, Xenia Matteson, Marlene Maxon, Andre Mazur, Fran McGrath, Patrick McGuire, Zach McGuire, Debbie Meschke, Lin Miklas, Rex Miller, Becky Moore, Kelly Moye, Andrew Muller, Janice Nelson, Peggy Nelson, Karen Nichols, Steven Noel, Ereka O’Hara, Tom Raff, Peggy Reed, Margene Ricciardi, Mark Risley, Mary Rosinski, Dave Savoie, Deborah Schmidt, Timmie Schones, Kathie Shandro, Kirk Shillington, Archie Shrout, Wendy Sims, Shelly Slocum, Neil Spencer, Thomas Tripp, Rene Vellinga, Sheila Weaver, Liz Willoughby, Jodi Wilson, and Jennifer Zimmerman.

“We are delighted to see so many of our hard working agents nominated for this wonderful award,” said Chad Ochsner, Broker Owner of RE/MAX Alliance. “It is a true testament to the power of quality service and professionalism ALL RE/MAX Alliance agents provide and display for their clients.”

This year’s entire list of real estate agents was published in a special section of the September issue of 5280 Magazine.

For more information on specific offices, sales associates, or career opportunities with RE/MAX Alliance, please contact Kim Hawkins at 303.759.6636 or via email at kimhawkins@remax.net.  Additional information is available online at www.HomesInColorado.com. Follow RE/MAX Alliance on Facebook and Twitter.

This successful and growing north Boulder community offers sublime views, trail connections, a neighborhood park, and a pleasing variety of architecture, from traditional Colorado Craftsman or European Country, to contemporary designs.

Easy Living in New Duplex Homes
Now in its final building phase, Northfield Commons showcases low-maintenance, “lock-and-leave” duplex homes that look and feel like single-family homes – but without the yard work and upkeep. They highlight the best cutting-edge green building technology and high-style design.

Attractive features include private fenced-in outdoor patios and yards, stunning mountain views, rooftop decks, quality construction and high-end interior finishes. Each home is unique, offering home buyers plenty of choices amongst a variety of styles, floor plans and design details, including a long list of beautiful upgrades and inclusions.

A collaboration of Coast to Coast Residential Development, Markel Homes Construction Company, Hendricks Fine Homes and Accent Properties, each home at Northfield Commons meets green-built and Energy Star® standards for eco-friendly living and increased energy efficiency—thereby lowering energy costs for homeowners. Indoor air quality is improved by taking measures to protect against airborne particulates, allergens, chemicals and pollutants. Water conservation efforts, resource efficiency and homeowner education allow residents to enjoy improved overall comfort while helping to reduce pollution.

Trails, Parks and Recreation
Four Mile Creek Trail and Wonderland Creek Trail are easily accessible from the Northfield Commons bike path. Both trails lead to Open Space. The focal point of the community is a beautifully landscaped park, with picnic tables and half basketball court, within walking distance of every resident. Pleasant View Fields Sports Complex borders the eastern edge of Northfield Commons, North Boulder Recreation Center, a variety of gyms, restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops are all nearby.

“Having been raised in Boulder myself, I love how the homes at Northfield Commons show off the scenery of this area – with features like huge windows and roof-top decks for enjoying the views,” says Sales Manager Scott Steward. “And, with so little maintenance, residents are left with plenty of time for hiking, skiing, climbing, bicycling and more.”

SIX AVAILABLE DUPLEX HOMES
Available now for move-in, priced in the $600,000s, and now offering a $20,000 Buyer Incentive
through December 31, 2011:

• Built by Hendricks Fine Homes: 3255 and 3257 Ouray Street
Contemporary home with unique details throughout and an open main level floor plan. The attractive kitchen with large center island, walk-in pantry, slab granite countertops, bamboo cabinetry and stainless appliances, has easy access to the enclosed back patio for outdoor dining. Upstairs includes two bedrooms, spacious loft space, plus a south-facing, entirely vaulted master suite with large balcony and spacious master bathroom.

• Built by Coast to Coast Residential Development: 3173 Ouray Street
Craftsman-style home with show-stopping rooftop deck featuring unobstructed Flatirons views over the neighborhood park. Plenty of additional outdoor space includes the master balcony, covered front porch and large back patio. The main level has an easy floor plan designed around the way we live, with a stunning gourmet kitchen with high-end finishes and appliances, large island for eating and prepping, open to the living room with cozy fireplace, and quick access to back patio/yard. Upstairs offers a luxurious master suite and two more bedrooms with jack-and-jill bath.

• Built by Markel Homes: 3755 Silverton Street
Abundant natural light, vast and well-placed windows, open living spaces, contemporary design and warm, yet sophisticated interior finishes give this home an inviting and comfortable feel. Large rooftop deck means usable outdoor space, with sweeping mountain views. Open main-level floor plan with home office, vaulted great room, large and tasteful kitchen featuring extra-large peninsula for casual eating and built-in desk/laptop space. Sliding glass doors lead from dining room to fully enclosed back patio with trellis and enclosed yard.

• Designed by Markel Homes and Built by Coast to Coast Residential Development: 3625 and 3627 Silverton Street
Rooftop decks with wet bars, contemporary architecture with metal and stucco accents, large and unique windows, main-level home offices or guest bedrooms with nearby ¾ baths. Spacious master suites feature vaulted ceilings, large 5-piece baths and walk-in closets, open and livable floor plans; kitchens flooded with natural light and plenty of storage, and convenient to patio and garage.

Contact Information
The Northfield Commons sales office and model homes are located in the southwest corner of the neighborhood at Kalmia Avenue and Silverton Street and are open daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Call Scott Steward at 303.442.0309 or visit www.NorthfieldCommonsBoulder.com.

By Judy Finman for At Home

Mary Fruehauf accepts Apollo Award at International Casual Furnishing Association's Award Ceremony Held in Chicago

When Mary Fruehauf, president and owner of Fruehauf’s in Boulder, found out that her store had been selected by the International Casual Furnishings Association to receive their annual Apollo Award, “I was texting everyone as fast as I could to tell them the news, it was so exciting!”

Recipients of the Apollo Award are chosen by manufacturers, sales representatives and other retailers in the casual furnishings industry to recognize businesses that have shown excellence in retail sales and marketing and a commitment to outstanding customer service. Fruehauf’s was chosen as the winner in the Single Store category.

This was the first time a store in Colorado had won the award, which made the recognition even more special, Fruehauf says. “Typically, this award is won by stores in larger markets, like Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas. They tend to be big stores and more people know about them.’

To go toe-to-toe with the big stores, Fruehauf’s, which was opened in 1978 by Mary Fruehauf’s parents, had to really stand out. “Our store looks different,” she explains. “It’s not just a box in a strip mall, it’s visually interesting. It was designed by a local architect and complements the neighborhood. We have wonderful employees who stay with us for a long time and we work hard on our customer service. We try to improve all the time.”

“As a store in Boulder, we are fortunate with a community where people really enjoy the active, outdoor lifestyle. It’s beautiful here. I don’t think we’re ever going to hear someone say ‘Oh, let’s just stay inside this season. Let’s not sit outside on the patio or cook on the barbecue.’ We went to Chicago to pick up the award for everybody, really. It was our store, our employees and our community who won this award. This has been a difficult year for many businesses, and yet we have had one of our best years ever. We are very thankful.”
The 52nd annual awards event was held in Chicago’s historic Field Museum. “It was a little scary to go up on stage and speak to the huge audience in this very elegant setting,” Fruehauf says. “I hadn’t really written an acceptance speech, but I had a few things that I wanted to say. It wasn’t as hard as I thought, actually. Our general manager, Mariah Maydew thanked our peers for their recognition, and I wanted to tell everyone how lucky we are to be in this great outdoor industry. Outdoor furnishings have improved so much, from the old easy-to-break plastic chairs and such, to today’s comfortable recliners in new materials.”

Fruehauf’s annual Holiday Open House, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m., is a great way to kick off the holiday season. The event started in their first year, as a way to thank all the builders, plumbers, contractors and neighbors who had helped the store to get started. “Now, it’s a chance to thank our customers, and for people to get in the holiday mood and start thinking about decorating their homes. We have over 200 Christmas trees decorated in just about every theme possible, and the whole store has lots of holiday lighting. Sometimes I think you must be able to see us from outer space,” Fruehauf says with a laugh. “People tell us that they have been coming to our open house since they were little kids.”

You are invited to come enjoy free refreshments, the a cappella sounds of New Wizard Oil Combination, the holiday exhibits, and tour the Dream Backyard to see the collection of complementary products from local suppliers that you can choose to create your very own perfect outdoor living space. “It’s kind of like a year-round home and garden show that changes with each season,” Mary Fruehauf says.

For more information, visit Fruehauf’s at 1665 33rd Street. in Boulder, Fruehaufs.com or call 303.449.9551. Fruehauf’s is open seven days a week.

Article written by L.L. Charles for At Home

Sustainable, local and recyclable: If you are considering a building or remodeling project, one of the best and easiest ways to make it environmentally responsible is by selecting the right materials. Some materials are more sustainable than others. You can use recycled or re-used materials, for starters, or materials like bamboo flooring that can be harvested and produced sustainably. Using locally grown wood from tree farms or locally made products also helps reduce the carbon foot print of your remodeling project.
Engineered products: Some engineered products, such as engineered floor joints not only use less wood but provide better strength and performance. They also help reduce waste because they can be ordered to specific lengths eliminating some waste at the jobsite.

Chemicals and toxins: Be sure to avoid materials with chemicals that are dangerous to the environment and/or your health. Some of these chemicals are toxic when eventually disposed of or that leach into the soil as weathered.  Some emit vapors that can be harmful to those living in the home, especially those with allergies or chemical sensitivities. Sometimes using prefinished items such as wood flooring will let you get the floor and finish you want but the materials have had time for the harmful and generally volatile vapors to be released prior to installation.
Durability and lifespan: Another thing to think about is the lifespan of the material. Some do not last as long, which means replacing them more often with more waste going to the landfill.

Green design and engineering: The design of your new home or remodeling project and placement of the home or project on your lot can also affect how green the project is.  By placing windows and overhangs in the right places and considering trees, landscaping, the direction and angle of the sun (and the placement of windows), your home can be made more green.
Energy Efficiency: No article about green building would be complete without mentioning the many ways in which your project can become more energy efficient. This includes making sure your home is properly sealed and insulated. It means selecting the right heating and cooling systems. Landscaping around your home to shade you in the summer and protect you from winds in the winter.
If it sounds like you have a great many options for going green, you’re right – you do. Don’t let it intimidate you, though – your green remodeler or green builder can help you understand your options and decide on which materials make the most sense for you to use when you’re beginning a remodeling project.

For more information on making your home environmentally friendly, contact Melton Construction at 303.473.9542,
or visit www.MeltonConstruction.com

Courtesy of Melton Construction

Dr. Trey Rogers knows a lot about grass. The proclaimed “Sultan of Sod” teaches turfgrass science at Michigan State University and has put his knowledge to use at athletic facilities all over the world. So he knows that the fall is the perfect time to start prepping your lawn for spring. The time you invest into your yard during the cool season will mean less work and a better-looking lawn when the warm weather rolls around. Here are Rogers’ “must-dos” for when the days get cooler.

Plan for Spring
Plan the changes now. Do you need to separate those overgrown perennials? Does a tree need trimming? This is the time to remove and replant bulbs and divide clumps of plants and share them with neighbors. Mark out flower beds or draw up a map so you will know what you have next spring and be able to distinguish the plants you want from the weeds you don’t.

Seed the Lawn
Fall is the best time to fill in bare patches on the lawn or even to establish a new one. It’s possible to seed through mid- to late fall, but early in the season is best to assure success. Buy high-quality seed and match the type of grass already growing in your yard. Fertilize the new grass about one month after the grass begins to sprout; this encourages strong roots.

Feed Your Lawn
If you live in the northern half of the U.S., you have what is classified as “cool-season” grass, and if you were to only fertilize once a year, this is the time to do it. Use a good nitrogen-and-potassium combo fertilizer. The warm soil temperature combined with cooler days, longer nights and rainfall make this the perfect time for lawn growth and recovery. In fall, grass spreads horizontally, filling in thin spots.

Compile Compost
Create a compost pile with leaves to create a rich soil additive for next summer’s garden. Leaves can provide the necessary “brown” (carbon-rich) element for the compost pile, which you combine with the “green” (nitrogen-rich) component that comes from such items as coffee grounds and fruit or vegetable waste.

By: CTW Features