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Country Club Lane Renovation

This renovation began with a house on a great Lake Norman lot, but basically no view of the lake.  Enter John Marshall Custom Homes and architect Michael Neff.  We added a new family room on the rear of the house, together with a master suite and outdoor living area.  The kitchen was relocated and completely […]

Tighten It Up!

As we’re wrapping up construction of 631 James Alexander Way, a number of tests for both ENERGY STAR and LEED certification are conducted. These tests help to verify that the house performs as designed, with the result being not only a more efficient home, but also a comfortable and healthy home as well. This video […]

Santa’s Here!

Every year the week before Christmas Santa Claus comes to Davidson and is driven around town on a fire truck.  Typically Santa rides on what looks like a 1940s era truck, but this year he pimped his ride and visited Davidson’s neighborhoods on a new ladder truck. How Santa manages to be in so many […]

Do Judge A Book By It’s Cover

Last week I was giving a talk and tour of our first LEED-certified home to a group of Davidson College students. I was making the point that a green home can (and should) look like a ‘normal’ home, and I mentioned that I’d once seen a home built out of old tires by Dennis Weaver. […]

It’s Good for You, But You Can’t Eat It!

We just finished applying spray foam insulation to the green home we are building at 631 James Alexander Way in Davidson. Spray foam insulation is the bomb! I remember saying that when I was interviewed by DavidsonNews.net about the first LEED-certified home we built (233 Catawba Avenue in Davidson). I got this sheepish expression on […]

618 James Alexander Way

I was really struggling with a paint scheme for this home.  I knew I wanted lots of color to go with the Arts and Crafts style, but didn’t want to get too terribly far out.  I put up several sample patches on the siding until the house looked liked Dolly Parton’s ‘Coat of Many Colors.’ […]

15515 Holly Trail Lane

Several years ago I visited a 1920s home in Charlotte.  On the back was a sleeping porch.  I’d never seen one before, but I fell in love with it.  I love sleeping outside, and still sleep with the windows open whenever possible.  Shortly after I saw the Stones River Farm plan, and fell in love […]

I’ve Been Framed!

Framing is always one of the most enjoyable parts of building a house (right next to seeing the joy on a homeowner’s face when they see their finished home, and almost as enjoyable as getting paid). This is when the rubber meets the road so to speak, when the lines of the blueprint are translated […]

Do It Again

Green building is about much more than the house itself. The location of the home is important, and using the home as a tool to educate the public about the benefits of green building is also critical. The process by which a home is built also determines whether a home can be considered ‘green.’ Site […]