Category Archives: Stainless Steel Railing

Weston Estates home : Tuscan-style manor in Wayland

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Opulent details grace spectacular Tuscan-style manor in Wayland

By Laura Spinella

It seems an unlikely combination, European elegance and the comforts of home. Enter 139 Buckskin Drive, a lesson in the ultimate home owning experience. Originally built in 1977, this 5,288-square-foot Weston Estates home has undergone a monumental and meticulous renovation, emphasizing its intended European allure while accentuating livability and style. “This house meets the needs of so many buyers, elegant and stunning but also offering space that the entire family can use and enjoy,” said Realtor Sheryl Simon of Benoit Mizner Simon & Co. Real Estate.

Amenities begin in the marble-clad foyer, which features a patterned floor with hand-cut contrasting marble inlay. In this area and throughout the home are solid carved mahogany doors, enhanced in the foyer by ornate columns and archways. Additional entry highlights include a recessed ceiling where dual chandeliers and intricate millwork result in a definitive royal appeal. Similar elements continue in the 18-by-19-foot formal dining room, which is has an open entry from the foyer. Upscale millwork continues on the dining room’s coffered ceiling, an affluent and majestic find, as French doors open to the family-friendly backyard. A built-in china cabinet and lavish butler’s pantry offer classic features combined with traditional use. The butler’s pantry boasts mahogany cabinets, blue lapis marble and a hammered nickel sink.

These two areas transition smartly to a gourmet-grade kitchen which boasts a surround of honey-toned hardwood cabinetry finished in an earthy brown glaze. It lends Old World charm to the vignette, a fine complement to the millwork elements seen throughout, including the center island. Done in a darker solid stain the island, which offers breakfast bar seating, boasts carved angels serving as end cap corbels, a singular touch to this exceptional kitchen. Of course, everyday elements are also addressed in the 10-by-19 work area; appliances include a Wolf four-burner professional grade stove with center griddle, Electrolux dual ovens with warming drawer, built-in microwave and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. The floor plan flows seamlessly into a custom casual dining area with built-in curved leather seating. It brings a bistro effect to this otherwise large space, offering a cozy spot for family dining.

The open concept plan continues with a 22-by-24-foot family room, which features a stone carved fireplace with limestone hearth. Underfoot throughout is matte marble tile with exposed wood beams overhead. It drives home the true Tuscany feel of this home, marrying European design with the desirability of an upscale lifestyle.

Returning to the foyer, we move through a wide greeting hall, 18 by 14. The marble-clad space, with decorative center inlay, is a multifunctional room designed to comfortably accommodate the overflow from large parties. Accessible from this area is a mahogany study with fireplace and a herringbone cherry floor. From the hall, a subtle bank of stairs frames the entrance to the formal living room, which measures 20 by 27 feet. Opulence takes the lead here with raised millwork in gold leaf trim, an elaborate coffered ceiling, vintage marble fireplace and a spectacular raised view of the indoor pool. Additional first-floor amenities include a custom half bath with marble trim and high-end fixtures, mudroom entrance off the kitchen leading to a three-car garage and an elevator. It’s the perfect punctuation on this home’s amenities, offering instant access to all three floors with the push of a button.

However, it’s the curved staircase with Brazilian mahogany treads and intricate wrought iron rail that takes us to the second floor of this magnificent property. The high-end flooring continues throughout and into the master, which is the first of four bedrooms found on this level of the home. European influences continue, though it shifts to a slightly softer French provincial theme. A custom built-in houses an entertainment center, complete with mini-fridge and plenty of storage. At the far end of the 13-by-27-foot master is a stunning marble fireplace, complemented by arched French doors opening to the first of six Juliette balconies integrated into the rooms on this floor. Each concrete balcony boasts curved wrought iron rails and pleasant views of the grounds. The new master bath required a to-the-studs renovation, reflecting French influences with his and hers marble-topped vanities, a spa tub with marble column accents, a recessed ceiling with detailed millwork and a Turkish mosaic denoting the center of the floor. The master bedroom closet is room size and custom outfitted with a private balcony and ample dressing space. The three spare bedrooms offer generous square footage, each with an updated full bath that includes a spa tub as well as a variety of marble and granite trims.

While the lower level of many high-end properties has an exercise room or home theater, this one begins with the indoor pool. It’s not an amenity that the majority can claim, and an exceptional feature for a New England home where warm weather opportunities are limited. Here, pool party fun can be an everyday event. The spacious pool room boasts a 40-by-25-foot built-in with spa; it is accessible from the lower level of the home as well as the outdoors. It also features a full bath and key ventilation system that eliminates the chlorine smell often found in enclosed pool areas.

Naturally, the main interior of the lower level also houses the aforementioned perks, including a newly installed home theater. The home stays true to its Tuscan inspiration, decorated in a European motif, featuring a full-size movie screen and an impressive array of leather lounge chairs with stadium seating. A lower-level family room with a fireplace separates the home theater from the exercise room, which connects to the pool area. Located to the rear of the footprint is a full bath and bedroom, well suited as an au pair suite or in-law quarters.

Additional amenities include central air, interior surveillance camera, surround sound, intercom system and a security system.

from milforddailynews.com

A series of undulating lines and circles for interior house in Toronto

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Home’s harmonious design features curve appeal

DEIRDRE KELLY

487 St. Germain Ave., Toronto
List price: $2.659-million
Taxes: $8,192.87 (2011)
Agent: Diane Stead (Sotheby’s International Realty Canada)

“I never repeat a design” says Paris Rosenberg, an interior designer whose client list reads like a who’s who of Toronto society. “But what I try to do with each of my homes is make you feel like you are spun around. You don’t know you are in a long, narrow house. The space opens up to you and embraces you, like a hug.”

That is true of this house, the designer’s own, whose interior is a series of undulating lines and circles, as seen in walls, floors, windows and other architectural details. The repeated pattern animates the space, lending it an overall feeling of harmony and continuous flow. The circle motif also transcends boundaries. For her eclectic postmodern interior design, Ms. Rosenberg has drawn inspiration from a wide variety of stylistic sources, from the columns of ancient Greece to the circular patterns of art nouveau seen in custom wrought iron work on both the inside and the outside of the home.

The home also boasts dollops of art deco glamour in the form of a magnificent black-and-white, second-storey spa-like ensuite that Ms. Rosenberg, who has been designing her house in stages for more than a decade, completed in the spring.

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house was built from scratch starting in the late 1990s. A postwar bungalow used to sit on the leafy 40- by 151-foot lot located close to the corner of Lawrence Avenue West and Avenue Road that she purchased in 1989, renting out the old house for almost a decade while she focused on honing her designing skills on other homes throughout the same neighbourhood. She eventually demolished that structure to make way for this one, which offers almost 4,000 square feet in interior living space above grade.

Some of her design ideas were novel for their time, among them a stainless steel countertop and backsplash in the custom lacquer kitchen, and floor lights installed in the front-of-house dining room. The living room is sunken and features space-saving built-ins with drawers and doors that slide into walls, the contents invisible to the eye. “I’m a practical designer,” Ms. Rosenberg says cheerily. “I approach building a house from a woman’s perspective: You can never have too much storage.”

While some of these ideas have since been emulated, there’s one element of the interior design that can’t be replicated: the wall of large-scale glass blocks that Ms. Rosenberg has installed in the kitchen behind a custom stainless steel vent she also designed. The 10- by 10-inch blocks feature abstract designs and come from Germany, where they were produced in the 1960s and 1970s. When the company went out of business, Ms. Rosenberg purchased the entire stock. “The blocks are now my signature,” she says. “In every house I design, I use them as an accent.”

The staircase connecting the first and second floors is a marvel in design. Made of wrought iron and steps that look like stacked books, the staircase rises sinuously, a curving line of beauty. The wall below is mirrored, and gives the illusion that the book-like stairs are opening up as you look at them. The iron work contains the circle imagery that is hallmark of the interior design, some are whole, others squished to lend the design an air of whimsy. “I am very detail oriented,” Ms. Rosenberg says. “But sometimes I think that design is too serious. I like to play with design in creating a statement.”

An elegant and picturesque property in Santa Rosa Valley

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Stunning estate complements splendor of Santa Rosa Valley

By Lisa Strickland-Meade

The Santa Rosa Valley is the backdrop for an exquisite estate that has it all: flat level full-acre lot, small orchard, private location, pool, spa and more inside.

Ideally located in the Santa Rosa Valley, the pastoral rolling hills and valleys between Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, a sprawling estate home is now available to those homebuyers looking for an elegant and picturesque property.

Visitors will feel welcome from the moment they pass through the beautiful gated entry into the community known as the Santa Rosa Valley Estates in Camarillo.

Driving through this peaceful area of estate homes and the surrounding lush, green scenery, one arrives at the home located at 10332 Oatfield Way. A long driveway, flanked by swaying, tropical palm trees introduces the refined, yet welcoming, feel of this spacious full acre property.

With four bedrooms and three and one-half baths, this two-story, 3,232 square-foot home offers the perfect amount of space for families or for those occasions when guests stop by. The home has an overall feeling of spaciousness, distinctive charm and hospitality.

Custom touches appear throughout, especially the use of beautifully crafted wrought iron. The gorgeous, scroll-worked wrought iron banister railing is a striking focal point upon entering the soaring foyer of the home. Several impressive wrought iron light fixtures and chandeliers continue the custom feel throughout. With an eye towards comfort and convenience, quality built-in cabinetry is thoughtfully placed throughout the home, as well as an intercom system and a central vacuum system.
Splendor of Santa Rosa Valley
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The huge master suite is the only bedroom downstairs and thus offers the ultimate in privacy and comfort. On cool, winter evenings, curl up in front of the master retreat fireplace with a good book. During warm days, escape to the backyard haven for a dip in the pool via French doors and a serene, lattice covered walkway. The sumptuous master bath offers every luxury and features the use of gorgeous stone and tile. Enjoy the jetted spa type soaking tub or separate shower. From there, wander through the huge, walk-through closet with custom built-in cabinetry and storage.

An entertainer’s dream, this property is ideal for gatherings — large or small, formal or casual, inside or out. Its flat, level lot provides for plenty of parking, in addition to possible RV storage with electrical and water hook-ups. Manicured lawns in the front and backyards bring to mind summer lawn parties. The lovely entertainer’s backyard winds along the back of home, taking advantage of the wonderful mountain views and is lushly landscaped with various sized palm trees. A sparkling, free-form pebble-tec pool and cascading spa invite people to come on in and enjoy a refreshing swim and some fun in the sun. Lattice covered patio areas, a fire pit and a built-in barbecue provide the ultimate in outdoor entertaining or casual, family time at home. From here, step down into your very own, fully mature fruit tree orchard. The orchard area uses a clever watering system, utilizing reclaimed city water, which allows for a substantial savings on the homeowner’s water bill.

The entertainment friendly features are numerous inside the home as well. With its gourmet kitchen, complete with double oven and five-burner stove, granite counters and breakfast bar, there is plenty of room for the serious cook. There is a light and bright eat-in dining nook in the kitchen area. The residence also boasts a large, formal dining room, with a stunning wrought iron chandelier, for those more formal occasions. The large, built-in bar and entertaining area are the real deal with a built-in wine captain, double sink, dedicated ice maker and soda/water plumbed dispenser and plenty of bar height seating. There also is a place here for a large flat screen television, bringing a new level of fun, comfort and convenience to hosting those sporting event or screening parties.

With its private, unspoiled location, abundance of land and generous and private floor plan, this home is sure to please homebuyers looking for a luxurious, entertaining-friendly home in a peaceful setting. The estate at 10332 Oatfield Way in Camarillo is well-priced at $925,000 by listing real estate broker JoAnn Tattersall with Active Real Estate.

from vcstar.com

50th anniversary of Finelli Architectural Iron & Stairs

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Finelli Iron & Stairs marks 50th anniversary at Solon headquarters

Finelli Architectural Iron & Stairs, a family-owned manufacturer of custom-made wrought iron products and curved wood staircases, celebrated its 50th anniversary in business last week.

Since 1961 Finelli has evolved from a start-up business in a Bedford garage to a multi-million dollar company operating out of a state-of-the-art facility in Solon.

After originally immigrating to America in 1947 from Roseto Valfortore, Italy, Michael Finelli, Sr. eventually started Finelli Ornamental Iron as a way to provide for his family. Michael’s desire and strong work ethic laid the foundation for what has become an industry-leading company.

“What started out in 1961 as a business in my father’s garage has steadily grown and grown over the years and we are now very excited to be celebrating our 50th year in business,” said Frank Finelli, president of Finelli Architectural Iron & Stairs.

After initially offering custom-made wrought iron products, in recent years Finelli has expanded to include a 5,000 square foot wood shop where expert carpenters craft curved grand staircases and trim products.

Over the years, Finelli has won numerous awards for its expertise and craftsmanship, including the National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association’s prestigious Ernest Wiemann Top Job honor on several occasions.

“Finelli Architectural Iron & Stairs will continue to serve the people of Northeast Ohio and beyond from its headquarters on Solon Road,” Frank Finelli said.

from cleveland.com

Historic buldings destroyed by fire

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‘Demolition by neglect’
Fire renews debate on historic buldings

In 1917, the wrought iron railings on its balconies were handsome and strong. The four-story apartment building at 906 N. Mesa, built for about $15,000, was a new, modern place to live. Residents probably rode the trolley to work or school, or sometimes walked a few blocks to San Jacinto Plaza to sit under the shade trees.

Ninety-four years later, the once-graceful railings are twisted scrap metal buried under a mountain of bricks and debris, what’s left of the building owned by a group named DDDG Investments.

Officially, a fire of unknown origin brought its demolition, but for those fighting to save El Paso’s historic Downtown, it is another case of “demolition by neglect.”

An El Paso architect calls it a travesty that owners are allowed to own landmark buildings without maintaining them. And the city’s new historic preservation officer, in town just six months, says taxes here are too lenient, and it’s time to think about using the tax code to encourage property owners to restore their buildings.

It’s a debate that’s sure to heat up over El Paso’s long, hot summer.

from elpasoinc.com