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Top Ten Home Improvements
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A Welcoming Foyer ~ Gleaming Hardwood Floors ~ Upscale Fixtures ~ Spa Style Baths ~ Stone Slab Counters ~ Stainless Steel Appliances ~ Organized Storage Spaces ~ Effective Lighting ~ Achitectural Built-Ins ~ A Great Lawn
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Arbor in my garden
Outdoor Living
Outdoor living areas are a great addition to any property. With top retailers offering more and more upscale outdoor furniture, grills and accessories, the choices are endless. A couple of places I recommend visiting:
United House Wrecking 535 Hope St. Stamford -(203) 348-5371
Gorgeous and unique iron and teak furniture and accessories as well as concrete planters and garden art.
Smith and Hawken 1045 Post Road East, Westport, 06880 (203) 454-0010
Quality outdoor furniture and garden accesories.
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Restoration and Renovation
The New Haven area is rich in architecture. Colonial Farmhouses, Queen Anne Victorians, Tudors, Contemporaries, you can find them all here. Preserving them is a noble and rewarding goal.
Funding
Finding restoration funding can be challenging. Some homeowners use a combination mortage and contruction loan called a 203k and many lenders offer their own versions of this option. Grants are also available for qualifying properties.
The New Haven Preservation Trust offers information and some funding.
Other sources of funding can be found through the State of Connecticut. Contact the New Haven Colony Historical Society at (203) 562-4183 for more information.
Sources
A few for hard to find hardware and fixtures for historic homes I recommend are:
United House Wrecking -535 Hope St. Stamford - (203) 348-5371 Architectural salvage including old light fixtures, stained glass windows, doors, knobs, clawfoot tubs, etc. - hence the name "house wrecking"
Rejuvenation - Period authentic fixtures - even includes old fashioned style light bulbs!
Restoration Hardware A blend of new and classic fixtures and furnishings for today |
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Tulip "monsella" in my garden
Gardening in Connecticut
Gardens help soften the hardscape of outdoor rooms and make any space more welcoming. Here are a few wonderful places to visit...often!
Van Wilgens Garden Center 51 Valley Road. North Branford, CT 06471 - (203) 488-2110
Premium quality plants and displays that make you want to take everything home! Also a large Koi pond and a Glasshouse with tropical plants.
White Flower Farm Route 63, Litchfield 06759, 1-800-503-9624.
5 acres of beautiful display gardens and a retail shop of a gardener's dream. Pick up an idea or two to try your own garden.
Twombly Nursery 163 Barn Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468, (203)261-2133 |
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