Located just 30 minutes outside Golden Colorado in Golden Gate Canyon this Modern Mountain Home is a stunning example of custom home building. The owners purchased the land about five years ago and, once they finally decided where to build their house, they contacted F9 Productions with three goals for the home: efficiency, endurance, functionality.

Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright this modern styling of a Mountain home follows a simple layout using geometric shapes respect the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, as does the muted palette of the interior. The building frames the expansive view; it does not complete with it. 

As guests enter Douglas fir pine, polished hydronic concrete floors, and lots of glass greet their arrival. All the colors here are earth tones, making the visitors feel truly at home in this modern mountain home.

Built to endure the demands of the area the home was structurally designed to resister 100 mph wings and heavy Colorado snow with a steel post and beam system supporting the roof. To mitigate the ever-present wildfire danger, the exterior material palette is Corten steel, masonry, and glass, with Class A fire-rated Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roofing and Ipe decking.

Located in the center of the home the onsen room is a unique addition to the property. A large stainless-steel Japanese onsen (soaking tub) is nestled into the foundation, sitting upon its own concrete supports directly on the earth below. The polished concrete floor has been sculpted to allow the tub’s inset.

Decorative polished rocks have been used to fill in around the tub, removing any indication that the onsen is an immoveable part of the structure. And while the tub is behind that inner brick wall, a window has been placed in the wall to add a magnificent view of the valley to the ultimate relaxation spot.

Contractor/Builder: Tinker Homes
Onsen: Diamond Spas
Photo Credit: Jason Buss

Neighborhood: Golden Gate Canyon (Colorado)
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Approximate Square Footage: 2,116
Year Built: 2019

Windows/ glass panes: Sierra Pacific
Countertops: granite
Cabinets/ceiling: Douglas fir pine
Major appliances: Bosch
Oven hood: ZLine
Beverage cooler: Kalamera
Shower tiles: Marble
Exterior materials: Corten steel and CMU block from Recla-Metals
Interior walls: Brick and Plaster
Deck material: Trex

If you have not heard about hydrated lime as an alternative to dangerous pesticides, you are going to want to keep reading, and you might even want to take notes! Consumers, major growers, hobby farmers and gardeners have finally begun to heed the warnings about chemical based pesticides. Abandoning these long used dangerous pesticides, however, have left many wondering what to do about the flying, crawling, and burrowing insects that threaten the harvest in which they have invested so much time and money. An all natural pest deterrent, hydrated lime is a safe and healthy alternative to protecting your vegetation. If you are already interested in using hydrated lime, one of the most innovative products derived from hydrated lime is a brand new product called First Saturday Lime.

Working hydrated lime into your soil, pouring a border around your plots, or sprinkling the lime onto the plants themselves will drive bugs away and keep them away. Hydrated lime will not only create an inhospitable environment for the creepy crawlies and unfriendly fliers, but it will also dry out any larvae and eggs that may have been left behind! All this protection and from the ground to your table, a thorough rinse, and the plants are safe for consumption. This limestone based product works on lawns and flower gardens, too! Along with the insects that may wreak havoc on your vegetation, hydrated lime also acts as a deterrent to fleas, ticks, and mosquitos. Hydrated lime can also be used around the borders of homes, shops, barns and other areas where you might want to deter pests.

Limestone based products have long been used to balance the pH of soils with high acidity. Hydrated lime can do that, too. Testing your soils and applying the recommended amount will allow for you to sweeten your soil for plant growth while also deterring insects that can bring harm to your crop. If your soil has a perfect pH, however, you need not hesitate using hydrated lime for pest control. The amount of hydrated lime you need to deter pests is insignificant to the quantities needed to alter the pH of your soil.

ONE IMPORTANT WARNING! Hydrated lime can be dangerous to handle.
Applicators will definitely want to wear gloves when applying it and avoid inhaling the lime or getting it in your eyes. Dust masks and eyewear are recommended. You should keep your children and pets away from direct contact. Although hydrated lime will have no negative effects on your vegetation and its final purpose, ingestions and direct contact with hydrated lime is caustic to the human body. First Saturday Lime, however, provides the same effectiveness while being completely safe for both animal and human interaction!

As a passion project of fourth generational Oklahoma farmers, the goal and end result was to formulate a safer but stronger derivation of hydrated lime, and thus an incredible alternative to the harmful substances growers across America have been using for hundreds of years. With children of their own and a heart for a new and healthy culture of farming and gardening, painstaking hours of formulating, testing, and trying again and again resulted in a product that can be harmlessly handled by adults and children alike. First Saturday Lime can even be safely used in animal habitats like horse stalls, dog pens, and chicken coops to sanitize and quell odors.

Bugs are always going to want to bug you and your plants, but do away with the chemicals and try hydrated lime for a safe and natural solution. If you want the safest and strongest alternative, don’t forget to try First Saturday Lime.

Photo’s provided by Pexels.com.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute is an international trade association working with power equipment manufactures around the world, and they are the foremost experts on helping home and business owners protect their assets. These tips from OPEI can help you ensure your home is protected from extreme weather.

Take the time now to prepare for the upcoming winter an ensure your home is fully protected no matter what kind of weather heads your way this fall.

How to protect your home from stormy weather

Plan out what kind of equipment and tools you need to repair your home. 
Survey your property. Consider the damage a storm might cause and make a list of what tools might be needed to weather the storm or make repairs afterwards. You might need a chainsaw, pole pruner, generator, or UTV. Take time to think through a strategy for clean-up efforts.

While the weather is good, make sure everything is in working order.
Make sure all equipment is in good working order. Check snowblowers, generators, chainsaws and anything else you might need in your particular area. If necessary, take your equipment to an authorized service center for maintenance or repair. There is nothing worse than trying to use something for the first time in the season and discovering it is broken.

Create an emergency repair Go Box
Avoid the scramble for sturdy shoes, safety goggles, hard hats, reflective clothing, flashlights with working batteries and work gloves. Round them up now and store them in an accessible area with your equipment.

Stock the correct kind of fuel and charge any batteries
Gas stations may be closed after a storm, so it’s important to have the proper fuel for your equipment. Store your fuel in an approved container. Use the type of fuel recommended by your equipment manufacturer. It is illegal to use any fuel with more than 10% ethanol in outdoor power equipment (for more information on proper fueling for outdoor power equipment visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.com).

Ensure that everyone in your home, including children, understands basic safety precautions
There are some fundamental safety tips everyone should follow year-round. For instance, observe the safety zone, which means keeping bystanders and power lines (those above you and any that might have fallen down) at least 50 feet away from your work area. Also, if using a chainsaw, understand kickback, which may happen when the moving chain at the tip of the guide bar touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. Always stand with your weight on both feet, and adjust your stance so you are angled away from the blade. Hold the chainsaw with both hands. Never over-reach or cut anything above your shoulder height. Always have a planned retreat path if something falls.

If you have a portable generator, make sure you know to use it safely and have a place outside for it to run
Generators should never be used in an enclosed area or placed inside a home or garage, even if the windows or doors are open. Place the generator outside and away from windows, doors, and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. It should have plenty of ventilation. Keep the generator dry and do not use it in rainy or wet conditions. Before refueling, turn the generator off and let it cool down.

Looking for more tips? Check out this graphic from OPEI

CLEAN YOUR DRYER DUCTS

A survey from Erie Insurance conducted online by Harris Poll, shows one in five Americans (21 percent) admit they never clean their clothes dryer ducts, unless they have a problem. Laundry is part of life’s weekly grind. But did you know that dryers cause roughly 15,500 home structure fires, 29 deaths, 400 injuries and $192 million in direct property loss each year? The most common cause of dryer fires is failure to do a thorough cleaning. Because a lint trap is not a foolproof method for catching all the fuzzy stuff from clothes, lint can gradually build up and catch fire in the heating element or exhaust duct.

FIX UP YOUR FURNACE

Cold weather will be here before you know it, and it’s important to get your furnace checked…not just to make sure you have heat when frigid temps set in, but to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. From 2009-2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 56,000 structure fires per year in homes that involved heating equipment. These fires resulted in annual losses of 470 civilian deaths, 1,490 civilian injuries, and $1.0 billion in direct property damage. Thirty-six percent of homeowners have their furnaces inspected and serviced at least once a year.

SWEEP YOUR CHIMNEY

Nearly half (46 percent) of people who own a home with a fireplace never have their chimney cleaned (swept), unless they have a problem.Unclean chimneys are a leading cause of structure fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, which recommends an annual chimney inspection. The NFPA research shows the leading factor contributing to home heating fires (30 percent) was failure to clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys. In the 2009-2013 period chimneys resulted in $25 million in direct property damage each year. Improper cleaning can also lead to other serious issues including potential for carbon monoxide, fumes and possibly soot to enter the living spaces of your home.

GRILL WITH CAUTION

Football season is a great time to toss some burgers on the grill. If you’re a renter, before you even consider grilling, check with your landlord to see if it’s allowed. Grill fires can start in a number of ways. To prevent a fire, clean the grill after each use. You should always keep it a safe distance from your building (at least 10 feet away) and away from trees. Place the grill on a solid surface that can’t burn, such as concrete or asphalt. And never walk away from the grill while cooking, as a spark or small flame can easily spread. Use long-handled spatulas, wear flame-resistant mitts and never wear loose-fitting clothes near an open flame.

REMOVE THE X-MAS TREE WHEN THE HOLIDAY IS OVER

Nearly 40 percent of home fires ignited by Christmas trees occur in January — long after gifts have been unwrapped. To show homeowners what can happen when a dry Christmas tree catches fire, Erie Insurance and the Erie Fire Department staged a fire in a vacant home. The result? A Christmas tree fire can fill a room with toxic smoke in just 30 seconds and burn down an entire living room in one minute. In this particular staged scenario, the home was completely engulfed in flames and smoke in just five minutes. Proper care and maintenance of a Christmas tree can go a long way to make sure you and your family, as well as your home, are protected this season. Make sure your tree is properly hydrated and water it every day. A dry Christmas tree can catch fire and burn faster than a newspaper. The longer you keep the tree in your home, the more dried out it gets. One out of every three Christmas tree fires in a home is caused by electrical problems. Make sure to inspect the lights for damage, tossing out any that have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked wires. Don’t forget to check smoke detectors, too, so you can be alerted in the event of an emergency. Keep your Christmas tree at least three feet away from any heat sources, including fireplaces, furnaces or space heaters. Instead of using real candles this season, opt for battery-operated, flameless candles. They look, smell and feel like the real thing without adding risk.

When this happens, picking the best solution for your family is important and that’s why JD Power awards are such a wonderful resource for homeowners to refer to. For over a decade JD Power has annually released satisfaction studies that evaluate major home appliances like washer, dryers, stops, refrigerators and more. Award winners are named based on overall customer satisfaction.

This year, six unique brands were selected across 11 segments of products. “The fact that there are six different well-recognized brands stepping into the spotlight shows how competitive the appliance market has become and how a manufacturer can be successful when focusing on the right set of products,” said Christina Cooley, Director, Home Improvement and Technology Practice.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Most families spend most of their time in this room and cooking is a daily necessity that the entire household revolves around. Selecting the best appliances for your kitchen means finding ones with longevity and ease of use the entire family can enjoy.

2018 JD Power Winners – Kitchen Appliances

Side-by-Side Refrigerators: LG
French Door Refrigerators: Kenmore
Top-Mount Freezer Refrigerators: LG
Dishwashers: Maytag
Freestanding Ranges: LG
Cooktops: Bosch
Wall Ovens: Bosch
Over-the-Range Microwaves: Bosch

No one likes doing laundry but this chore is a task that MUST be done. Using a washer and dryer that will stand the test of the dirtiest clothing and ensures everything comes out clean is key to a happy home.

2018 JD Power Winners – Laundry Appliances

Top-Load Washers: LG
Front-Load Washers: Samsung
Clothes Dryers: Kenmore Elite

For more information about the J.D. Power Appliance Retailer Satisfaction Study, visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/us-home-improvement-retailer-satisfaction-study.

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