Qualified Remodeler Magazine

MAR 2013

Qualified Remodeler helps independent remodeling firms to survive, become more professional and more profitable by providing must-have business information, namely best business practices, new product information and timely design ideas.

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A frog pond is lined in limestone and set into a Crab Orchard stone terrace. A custom-designed limestone bench includes a flat "shelf" carved into the back as a place to set beverages. Outdoor Living: Gold more than a physical extension of the house. "The homeowners had a sophisticated design aesthetic that was evident in the home, but there was previously no way to bring that outside," he says. "This project not only enhanced their living environment; it brought their personalities outdoors." Anchoring the Plan To more clearly define the area, the architects designed an independent folly — a small ornamental structure popular in 18th century English and French landscapes. Although follies originally were considered fanciful because they served no obvious pur- The custom-made solid limestone table was craned into place atop a terrace of locally sourced gray Crab Orchard stone. pose, this folly achieves multiple objectives. The designers used it as an object to anchor one corner of the yard and form a perfectly square open courtyard off the home's existing terrace. A fence hugs the far edge of the folly to separate the more contemplative space of the courtyard from the pool and to provide a protective enclosure for the owners' dogs. Standing as a small pavilion, the folly's interior is equipped with a television, service bar, small refrigerator, dishwasher and fireplace for intimate dinner parties, football games or simply as a miniature retreat outside the house. "It was so fun to design a small-scaled building that had to be incredibly well-resolved to complement the home and bring clarity to the landscape plan," recalls Wade Weissmann, owner and principal of Wade Weissmann Architecture. "It's a jewel-box of a building." Made of stone and brick punctuated by windows, the entire shell is solid, load-bearing masonry. The Wills Co. erected a steel structure first and then built the masonry skin, each piece of which had to be meticulously fabricated to precisely fit together like a puzzle. "The shop drawings were so efficient; we worked together to make sure all seams were perfect, all details and radiuses were resolved, and the pinning was precise," Weissmann says. Locating noisy mechanical equipment in the yard was not an acceptable option, so the folly relies on energy-efficient "The homeowners had a sophisticated design aesthetic that was evident in the home, but there was previously no way to bring that outside. This project not only enhanced their living environment; it brought their personalities outdoors." —Wendell Harmer, co-owner and general manager, Wills Co. ForResidentialPros.com QR March 2013 33

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