It’s natural to be curious about what a house looks like on the inside, especially one that you may have watched in its progression. Your imagination is piqued: you can get a sense of what the floor plan might be like, but wonder what creative solutions the architects and builders choose to incorporate, especially if it’s a modest-sized house. Now, what if this said house is a Habitat for Humanity House? This same curiosity applies, yet may be heightened, as many are aware that volunteers from the community, and the future family of the home, build the Habitat for Humanity homes.
This month, Columbia County Habitat for Humanity is putting the final touches on their third and fourth recently built homes; both are part of the Phase II Columbia Street Campaign in Hudson, NY.
What’s evident to the curious passerby of these homes?
Homes three and four are Federal style attached single-family townhouses. Their architectural style and features are in keeping with existing homes and buildings on Columbia Street and last year’s Habitat homes (Columbia Street Phase I, homes one and two) further up Columbia Street. As the sign in front of the homes indicates, many local businesses and organizations have made contributions in the form of goods, services and money—90% of these businesses are from Columbia County according to Brenda Adams, executive director of the Columbia County Habitat for Humanity.
If you look a little closer?
Each home is a standard 1,200 square foot home, shared Adams, featuring three bedrooms and a full bathroom on the second floor, a kitchen, living/dining space, and a ground floor gathering room and laundry room. They have curbside appeal.
What’s not so evident to the curious passerby?
These homes were built by hundreds of volunteers and the family who will own it. One of the benefits of having the homeowner contribute 300 hours of sweat-equity is that they gain an understanding of their house: how it was built, the materials used, what the systems are, and the proper use of tools.
Additionally, each homes’ open floor plan on the ground level allows for easy maneuverability and exudes a sense of spaciousness. The staircase leading to the second floor is much wider than most, allowing for furniture to be moved in easily and is partially open to the living area. The architects also designed the house to adapt to the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). The gathering room and laundry room can be converted into a bedroom and a bathroom to meet ADA handicap accessibility standards.
These homes also set a new standard for the Columbia County Habitat builds: they built the homes with studs 24” on center rather than 16” on center, which means they used less lumber in the framing; the windows are double paned and placed for beneficial cross-ventilation and more insulation and vapor barriers were used. In doing so, these homes will use less energy to heat and cool them and meet the new higher Energy Star ratings. They are eco-friendly and therefore, economically friendly for the new homeowners.
The Columbia County Habitat for Humanity not only builds decent affordable homes for qualifying working families in need of a “hand up, not a hand out,” they also sell the home to the family with a no-interest 30-year loan. They are putting “lights on the street,” meaning houses, remarked Adams, as vacant lots or abandoned buildings are brought back onto the tax rolls.
Creative fundraising and community awareness are important in the success of these builds. Past events have included: a fashion show, a book reading, brunches and luncheons with guest speakers, and they launched the ReStore in Hudson, selling quality, donated and surplus used building materials, furniture and appliances at a reduced price.
This March, in keeping with their creative fundraising and community awareness approach, a “BIG IDEAS/small spaces” new style designer showhouse will be open for public viewing in the 240 Columbia Street house. According to Adams, this idea is the “brain child of Timi Bates,” owner of Interiors by Timi in Hillsdale, NY.
Bates said that designers from the area are participating in this showhouse and have agreed to keep the design/staging of the rooms “realistic” given the scope and premise of the project and organization. Elaine Santos and Marc Bailey from Dennis Wedlick Architect; Melissa Cranna from Herrington’s; Lynn Opper of Opper Architectural Design & Consulting; Joyce Goldstein, Joyce Goldstein Gallery; Mitchell Motsinger of Sew & Sew by Mitchell; Shari Kline of Traditions; Karen Cedar, Karen Cedar Custom Interiors; Melinda Slover and Jasmine Northrup from liliandloo; Rick Lofreddo of Custom Crafters; Lowes; and Jessica Willis of the ReStore, are all contributing to the showhouse.
As the current trend in home building is towards smaller, environmentally green, versatile spaces, it will be interesting to see how this group of talented designers will choose to decorate and stage this Habitat home. It’s likely that those who visit will walk away inspired.
Home ownership is an accomplishment, especially one that you helped to build. It’s something to take pride in and to value. The hard work and effort of all those involved is evident in these Habitat homes. With the addition of a designer showhouse, we can see the potential of “BIG IDEAS/small spaces” proving that good things come in small packages!
Dates & Times
Showhouse dates: March 24, 25,30, 31 and April 1, 10-4 p.m., admission $10. A cocktail party is scheduled for Saturday, March 24th,, 5 p.m., admission $30. March 30th, Meet the Designers Night” 4-5:30, admission $20. All proceeds benefit the Columbia County Habitat for Humanity.
This posting is also published in the current, March, issue of Berkshire HomeStyle Magazine. You can also read it online at www.berkshirehomestyle.com.
On a Personal Note
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