Philadelphian Honored for Kitchen Design

Philadelphia Inquirer

Joanne Hudson won a prize for her work on a 19th-century Center City brownstone.

The kitchen is the hub of most homes, evolving into an area that offers as much personal style as a living or family room, says a regional winner of a national design contest.

Joanne Hudson of Joanne Hudson & Associates Ltd. in Philadelphia is the Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey winner of the 2010 Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchen-design contest, beating 60 area entries. Hudson will receive $500 and a March 24-28 trip to the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Fla. During that visit, the winners of up to $15,000 in prizes will be announced.

"This is the first time I entered the contest," Hudson said. "I usually don't enter contests. My staff kept encouraging me to enter the contest. Finally, I said OK, I'll do it."

In the kitchen-design business, winning this competition is grabbing "the brass ring," says Doug Durbin, a judge and former winner. Judging is based on the integration of kitchen appliances, functionality, and aesthetics of the design, Durbin said.

Hudson's winning entry is for an urban kitchen in a Center City brownstone built in the 19th century. Originally the kitchen was in the basement, but it later was moved to the home's first floor.

In considering a new design, Hudson wanted to maintain the house's classic style. Her urban kitchen is unique because "it's respectful of the architectural space," she said.

The completed kitchen, 27 by 20 feet, features a butler's pantry for storing china and separate work stations for preparing food, cleaning, and entertaining. There are two islands, one with an ice shaver, a wine cooler, and stools for entertaining guests, Hudson said. The second is for preparing food.

"We didn't want it to look like a commercial kitchen," Hudson said of her plan.

David Stimmel, an award-winning designer, appreciated Hudson's design. "I like the positioning of the doorway. The light streaming through the French doors runs straight down the hallway," Stimmel said. "I liked how she concealed the kitchen appliances. It balances out the room."

The focal points of Hudson's architectural design are the French doors leading into the garden. Hudson wanted to give the room a "symmetrical feel," so it was essential that "everything line up" or "flow . . . ."

"It was important to the clients to have plenty of storage for linen, silver, and china."

Key elements in the design included using dark cabinets to reference the past, Hudson said. But to avoid creating a very dark room, she did not want to use the traditional dark oak for hardwood floors and woodwork. Instead, she selected raven-stained maple cabinets, a stone floor, and marble countertops. The end result was a "dramatic and contrasting contemporary kitchen," Hudson said.

Hudson, who grew up in Toronto, graduated in 1962 from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture in Winnipeg with a bachelor's degree in interior design. After graduating, she began working on commercial designs such as office buildings and hospitals. In 1979, she started her own business in Toronto.

She later moved to this area, and since 1984 Joanne Hudson & Associates Ltd. has been at the Marketplace Design Center. Now, she has three showrooms: Joanne Hudson Kitchens, Joanne Hudson Bath and Plumbing, and Joanne Hudson Tile and Stone. She is well known for her designs for kitchen remodeling in Pennsylvania.

Drawing has always come naturally, Hudson said. She still loves to pencil sketch. French designer and interior architect Andre Putman, whose clients include Bisazza and Louis Vuitton, influenced Hudson's interior designs. She described Putman's designs as "classic and beautiful."

"They are pure designs with an edge," Hudson said.

In April, she will travel to the Milan Furniture Fair to see the latest designs in kitchens.

"Life goes through the kitchen," Hudson said. Today, people use their kitchens for everything. "It's where life happens."

One Sweet Arrangement

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Music producer Leon Huff's Moorestown home is a serene, orderly getaway. The Sound of Philadelphia? "I'm a guy who really needs quiet."

The desk is huge, handsome, and perfectly, absolutely clear. Not a single stray paper, not a file, not even a pen rests on it. Yet this desk is in the working home office of an extremely busy man.

Leon Huff admits it - he's a neat freak, and it shows in his elegant Moorestown home, a place so immaculate it's hard to imagine anyone even lives in it.

The music producer and his wife, Regina, have created a world of striking furnishings, color schemes that blend as harmoniously as the undertones of mellow jazz, offering serene order.

"I love privacy and quiet, and we've found it here," says Leon Huff, who created a music empire with his partner, Kenneth Gamble, when they formed Philadelphia International Records in 1971. Credited with establishing "The Sound of Philadelphia," the company worked with artists like Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle, Chubby Checker, Michael Jackson, and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

Recently, a fire swept through the company's Philadelphia headquarters, causing extensive damage and corresponding heartache, and making the Huffs even more grateful for their home, which, they both suggest, is their sanctuary.

"It's not just the look and feel of this house, but also its peace and privacy," says Regina, a Camden native who also lived in Delran.

"I'm a guy who really needs quiet. I do like to get away from the world sometimes," says Leon, who describes himself as ". . . very happy with solitude."

The Huffs first saw the home they now own several years ago, when it belonged to former Eagles football player Lito Sheppard and his wife, Nicki. As social guests of the Sheppards', the couple recall being smitten.

"I loved it the minute I stepped inside," says Regina, who felt comfortable with the open flow, the private yard, and the expansive feel.

When Sheppard was leaving the area, the Huffs signed on the dotted line, leaving behind a home in Washington Township, Gloucester County, decorated in muted beiges. They were ready for a bit more sparkle.

With the assistance of designer Georgio Savva of Cherry Hill's Unique Interiors, they set out to create their home remodeling vision. Because Savva also had worked with the Sheppards, he knew the home well and could guide them.

"I've always liked Moorestown. I used to ride my bike here when I lived in Cherry Hill," says Leon, who was born in Camden and lived in a modest rowhouse with small rooms, with his father's barbershop in the basement. "I'm not spoiled, and neither is Regina. We both feel very fortunate to live in this beautiful place."

The couple, relative newlyweds, married in 2005 after their earlier marriages ended in divorce. And there's no mistaking that their taste for glamour came to the fore when they moved into the property in April.

The living room is a study in art deco with walls in sea-mist blue with a cocoa glaze, the handiwork of Lillian's Paintbrush in Moorestown, a company owned by Lillian Beretta that specializes in custom paint finishes. The company did all of the customized walls.

In the living room, accessories in metallic tones complement the walls, and a lush curved sofa is done in raw silk. The curvy motif is repeated in an area rug over the lacquered mahogany wood floor. Art by the Phoenix Art Group, a collective of Arizona artists who will custom-match any palette in original artwork, unifies the room, which might easily be a 1950s Hollywood mogul's lair.

The foyer boasts a remarkable sculpture of a joined male and female in silver and bronze, and a three-dimensional wall piece of gleaming acrylics and stainless steel. Across from the foyer is the large dining room. Ultramodern chairs with flashes of silver and high-gloss Italian lacquer anchor the collection of Murano glass that Regina has been collecting, in her word, "forever." Murano pieces crop up in other spaces, but the dining room is the showcase.

From the contemporary kitchen, with wood cabinetry with raised panels, a Murano light fixture, and granite counters, there are spectacular views of woods and trees, and of a deck, with restaurant-style grill, and kitchen appliances that are custom-made for parties.

"But we still order in a lot of pizza," confesses Regina, who patronizes a popular spot on Main Street.

Leon's home office with its pristine desk holds treasured photographs, including one of Michael Jackson as a preteen that is "a cherished possession," he said.

A family room with soaring ceiling and double-paddle fans is spare in furnishings, and blends chocolates, cocoas, and beiges for sophistication and serenity. This is a room to kick back in and chill, but one that can also put on company manners for Sunday sports or family gatherings.

Upstairs, a master bedroom in pale beiges has as its centerpiece a four-poster bed that looks straight out of a European castle. In a home full of showstopping art, furniture, and accessories, this suite is still one of Regina's favorite spots, and another haven for her Murano glass.

But the crown jewel is the gigantic lower level, a kind of playground for all seasons. Every recreational toy is in this space, from a massive pool table and customized game table to a bar, full movie theater, and lounging area.

The feature the Huffs love most is one of the few that remain from the Sheppard era. Seems Sheppard and his wife commissioned a jazz mural, also from Lillian's Paintbrush, that stretches across two walls of the lower level. "When I saw that, I really had a feeling that we were meant to be in this house," Regina Huff says. "The music theme of that mural made it seem like an almost magical match."

Also displayed on the lower-level walls are the gold and platinum records won by Gamble & Huff's performers. The late Teddy Pendergrass, who was extremely close to Huff, has a wall of his own.

There's a far less public room on that lower level that is one of the most precious to Leon. While it's basically a storeroom, in it are the many honors, awards and memorabilia of a full life in the music industry. But even in this home, there just aren't quite enough walls to display it all.

Those cherished reminders of Philadelphia International Records have taken on even greater significance since the Feb. 21 fire that destroyed some of that glorious past.

Finally, tucked away in a corner of the expanse is a simple room "decorated" with basically just one piece of furniture: a barber chair.

That chair is not just a successful entrepreneur's reward - a place for the luxury of home haircuts - it's also a nod to Leon's past.

"My father was very important in my life. And our Camden home had that basement barbershop," Leon says. "So when I come in here, I'm reminded of that other life, one that taught me a lot that's important."

Leon gets a bit nostalgic for that life sometimes. "Those were happy days back in Camden, and I don't ever want to forget my roots," he says. "Roots matter."

Before Buying that Beach Castle, Do Some Digging

The Washington Post / Harvey Jacobs

My father, channeling both Mark Twain and Will Rogers, used to tell me, "Buy beachfront property -- they're not making any more of it." For generations, that was pretty darn good advice.

Over the past 25 years, we saw modest oceanfront homes in places like Bethany Beach, Del., or Duck, N.C., once costing a few hundred thousand dollars, soar in value to many millions of dollars. Annual appreciation of 20 or 30 percent was common. Prices doubled every three or four years.

Traditional one-story, three- or four-bedroom beach cottages were leveled to make room for palatial eight-, 10- or even 12-bedroom mega-mansions that more accurately reflected the best and highest use for the now immensely valuable oceanfront sand upon which they were built.

Then the great real estate bubble burst and property of every variety and location suffered terrible declines in value. Beach property, often held by the most affluent, took far longer to feel the effects of the bust. But those effects are now certainly being felt. Property values all along the Delmarva Peninsula have declined by as much as 40 to 50 percent from their peak. The amount of time it takes to market, sell and settle a beach condo has also increased to nearly a year, according to Veronica Bishop, spokeswoman for the Coastal Association of Realtors, which tracks the Ocean City marketplace.

But in every catastrophe there is opportunity. For investors, second-home buyers or retirees who have been sitting on the sidelines for years, 2010 may be the time to dive into the beach market. Prices are now almost back to 2001 levels, and buyers previously priced out of this market may now be able to afford their dream home. In addition, the sheer inventory of available homes is quite favorable to a beach buyer.

But before taking the plunge, home buyers must heighten their level of due diligence. It is no longer acceptable to simply make a cursory home inspection and perhaps a pest inspection and then hope for the best. Today's savvy buyer must also inspect the financial and legal integrity of their town and especially of their condo or homeowners association.

While this may sound a bit extreme, small towns and community associations are experiencing severe budget shortfalls. Cuts in services must be made -- and they could affect that location's desirability. For example, if a town had decided to close off portions of the beach to save on cleaning costs, or if it could no longer afford to hire lifeguards, a beach-home buyer would certainly want to know about it. Such quality-of-life decisions are made in public forums. Official minutes of meetings and printed budgets are all publicly available, often on the town's Web site. A beach-home buyer should obtain and review these records before making the investment in a home.

A buyer also should consider inserting a clause in the purchase offer making it contingent upon the buyer's receipt of and reasonable satisfaction with these public documents. Should this review reveal unacceptable financial or legal circumstances, the buyer should have the option to cancel the purchase offer and have his earnest money returned. Then neither party should have any further liability under that contract. Condominiums and common area associations are already legally required to make most of these disclosures.

Although beach-home prices may seem like a bargain now, the total cost of ownership and deferred maintenance must be factored into the overall buying decision. Total cost of ownership includes real property taxes, water and sewer charges, and insurance premiums, including for liability, casualty, hurricane and, if available, flood insurance.

In recent years, insurance premiums have become a much larger percentage of the total cost of ownership. For community associations, total cost of ownership also includes homeowner's, condo or recreations fees and may include special assessments for maintenance, repair or replacement of common areas. Reserve accounts should be established to ensure that common area associations have sufficient funds on hand when major items such as roofs, elevators, parking lots, pools, tennis courts, decks or swimming pools require replacement, or the beach needs replenishment. Prudent planning and management of reserve accounts can avoid the need for unwelcome special assessments.

Under normal economic circumstances, these costs are apportioned among all the homeowners in the town, or among all the members of the condo or homeowners association. So long as all of the residents pay their taxes and fees, these towns or community associations have the wherewithal to maintain, repair and replace the amenities that make the beach such a wonderful place to relax.

However, in these dire economic times, more homeowners are walking away -- or being forced away -- from their financial obligations. As a result, beach towns and common area associations are feeling the pinch.

Because beach properties are subjected to harsh natural elements, items such as paint, caulk, weatherproofing, windows, doors, awnings, storm shutters, decking, siding and roofing, as well as exposed hardware such as hinges and locks, require almost constant maintenance. Owners must also be vigilant for signs of less-visible problems such as termites, mold or shifting sands and, if necessary, treat the problem immediately. All of these repairs cost money. With the number of foreclosures and other distress sales occurring, the money for this maintenance is often not available and this essential maintenance is simply not being done.

Now is the time to buy at the beach, but only after performing additional due diligence. That should include structural, pest and even environmental or geological inspections; review of budgets, financial statements (focusing on delinquent accounts), reserve accounts and even bond ratings by a certified public accountant; and a legal audit of meeting minutes and any litigation involving the town or common area association. Go out of your way to hire a reputable home inspector.

While there is never any guarantee that one's beach investment will be a winner, undertaking this heightened level of scrutiny will increase the beach-home buyer's chances of making a prudent investment that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Harvey S. Jacobs is a real estate lawyer in the Rockville office of Joseph, Greenwald & Laake. He is an active real estate investor, developer, landlord, settlement attorney and lender. This column is not legal advice and should not be acted upon until legal counsel has been consulted.

Eco Lawn Service Opens in Scotland

Horticulture Week

The Great Lawn Company has launched with eight franchisees offering environmentally-friendly domestic lawn care in the Edinburgh and Glasgow areas.

Founded by ex-greenkeepers Ian MacMillan and Andrew Turnbull, the company has adapted the range of chemical-free lawn care products and petrol-free reel lawn mowers offered by All Turf Management to meet the needs of the domestic market.

Turnbull said:  "We intend to compete with the likes of Greenthumb when we roll out nationally with a focus on being family friendly.  When you have companies doing lawn care and spraying people's lawns with all sorts of chemicals - for the kids to then go and roll in; to us that's just not right."

Turnbull has been producing carbohydrate nutrition mixes in Belfast and MacMillan has trialled them on turf grass in Scotland over the last two years.

They plan to trial the business model with the eight franchisees for another year before rolling out nationally in 2011.

Five of the eight lawn service franchisees are ex-greenkeepers and all have undergone an intensive training course in carbohydrate nutrition.

Turf care machinery dealer SGM have already endorsed the new business and they have opened their premises to house the product range and for training and help in the management of the business.

'Man Cave' Comes with Casita Option

Calgary Herald

Cool room part of unique show home

Did you hear the one about the guy who walks into a show home and says: "I'm looking for a man cave?"

He tours the home, comes back and says: "I found one, right here."

That's pretty much what happened to Debi Ulansky, area sales manager for Brooklyn Custom Homes, at the company's show home in Monterra on Cochrane Lakes by Medallion Development Corp.

The man cave the visitor was looking for was the developed lower level of the Villa A bungalow, which has been finished as party-central in the 1,698-square-foot upscale home.

It's a cool room. There is a quiet sitting area tucked away into a corner, as well as a large bar area with stainless steel appliances, a sink and a granite-topped bar that will seat six.

There's also a games area in the show home with card and pool tables -- and a really neat media room.

Decked out to look like a 1950s soda shop, the room has an eating bar on the games room side. Inside the room are three aluminum-framed retro cafe tables -- and John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John singing a song from the movie, Grease, on the TV screen.

But there's something else that sets this home apart. It has a casita option -- a small detached bungalow at the front of the home with a gate that opens onto a courtyard between the 312-square-foot casita and the home, itself.

"The casita can be used as an office, fitness room, crafts room or garage -- whatever the buyer wants to do with it," says Ulansky, adding that the idea was brought to the Calgary market by Brooklyn officials after trips to Las Vegas and Arizona.

The Villa A, one of four villas available from Brooklyn, has a base measurement of 1,662 square feet. But the addition of three options, including the casita, brings the size up to 1,698.

The Prairie-style elevation used on the show home is one of two available. The other is Craftsman.

Ceilings on the main level are 10-feet high and doors are eight-feet high. On the lower level, ceilings are nine-feet high.

Stepping into the foyer of the home, Oxford-stained maple flooring stretches into the great room straight ahead.

Pillars with frosted glass panels separate this room from the kitchen and hallway. A large fireplace in the great room has a cultured stone face and a maple mantel.

Opposite the great room is a flex area that has been finished as a spare bedroom.

At the end of the hallway is the carpeted master bedroom. The adjoining ensuite has a linoleum floor, as well as a stall shower, a soaker tub wrapped in ceramic tile, a granite-topped vanity with twin sinks, and a carpeted walk-in closet.

Back down the hallway past the great room is the kitchen with espresso-stained maple cabinets. There's also a corner pantry, linoleum floor, stainless steel kitchen appliances, and granite countertops.

Other features include a wine rack and ceramic tile back-splashes.

The central island is finished with a granite top and has a flush eating bar for two. It also holds the microwave oven, as well as storage drawers. Adjacent to the kitchen is a dining nook with a door leading to the rear deck and tucked inside, a handy ironing center.

The garage entry is behind the kitchen, along with the laundry room and bathroom with tub/ shower.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

BUILDER: Brooklyn Custom Homes; the Villa A.

AREA: Monterra on Cochrane Lakes.

DEVELOPER: Medallion Development Corp. PRICE: The base price of the model is the mid-$700,000 range with lot. The price of the show home -- with lot, GST, upgrades and furniture -- is $857,000. 

DIRECTIONS: From Cochrane, take Highway 22 north and then left on Cochrane Lake Road. 

HOURS: The show home parade is open from 2 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and noon to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays. It is closed Fridays.