steve's White Mountain Blog

Yes...We got that big February Snow dump that the weatherman said we would...Whoo Hoo!!

The snow in the Hemlock required a quick cross country spin this Morning before getting ready for a full day of real estate appointments at Loon Mountain today. While some of you are stretching  in front of the morning news - or the more ambitious are taking a morning jog...I was off for a quick cross country ski in the woods.

The View of the Pemigewasset River in Woodstock was significantly enhanced by last nights six inch snow fall.

I have gotten several messages regarding my decision to sell my plow truck two days ago...this snow fall will require me to pay for a service. So the question I keep getting is "Why didn't you sell the truck earlier" we certainly could have used the snow before now!

One of the custom homes we designed and built at Loon Mountain - Located on the South Mountain side with ski to your door access for the trails...So whether you cross country - down hill, or prefer fly fishing in the Pemi...we have a property for you.

Please feel free to try our property search site -by opening the MLS icon on the bottom of this post. We specialize in Mountain and lakes properties in The White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Riverside Snow shoe at Sunset, recreational activities are abundant in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

My Ski pass and my health club membership are blacked out during school vacation weeks. As a resort Realtor I love to get out with my clients, but occasionally a quiet walk in the wood alone is just what the doctor ordered.

This lone three mile snow shoe was decided after hearing a tale from my friend Kate – who hurt her knee attempting to help a slightly inebriated condo owner on a night snow shoe.

On to the pictures…Half of these shots are taken along the Pemigewasset river in my back yard and continuing up Glover brook from where it flows in to the “Pemi” in Woodstock NH.

Do we have enough snow to really snow shoe? Yes – but that is not the only reason to strap them on. You see the modern shoes have ice cleats on the bottom – so the shoe spreads out your weight to stay on top of the snow and the metal claws hold you firm on ice and while going up or down steeper slopes.

Evidence of Beaver along the river – it appears this one has bitten off more than he can chew.

The Frozen Water falls will be revisited in the spring and I promise to share those photos as well.

Back home in time to catch a little bit of a sunset.

 Hope you enjoyed my Snow Shoe Photos...Open the MLS icon to see all area listings in the White Mountains of New Hampshire - Steve Loynd.

Given the choice most people would choose new construction over settling for someone else’s’ vision of a perfect home.

I get frustrated by the people we are building for, when they either can't make a decision or don't understand how the decision they do make will impact how well the home functions for them, and how the whole building process is affected by a last minute change.  Selecting cabinet styles or flooring is one thing, but when asked where to locate outlets or what switch will operate which light; most homeowners have no idea what to do. A small change can have a big impact on the schedule…in a recent design build custom home, the home owner decided to make the shower a steam shower – after the previously chosen products had arrived. Sending back the shower and waiting for the replacement is not the only issue created here. The Steam shower requires some new plumbing, and new electrical in a place with little room for change. Once those issues are redesigned and solved – comes the back up of vendors…the sheet rock, tile, trim and finish painting are all affected by the change of one small addition.

Build a relationship before you break ground on your home. 

Good design is about how well the house will work for the family that lives in it. I call this lifestyle architecture, and the best time to assure a great outcome is to introduce the client to the team before the foundation is poured and the walls go up. Even with a drafting department, kitchen & bath designer, and a 5,000 square foot design show room stocked with every conceivable flooring and cabinet choice you still have to expect to run into indecision.

For the past 27 years I have worked very closely with my in-house builder and homeowners on construction projects, and know that one of the most frustrating parts of the job is to make sure that decisions are made on a timely basis so that construction can stay on schedule and on-budget.

Being the go to guys – not the stay away from those guys is the key. 

My specialty is helping homeowners arrive at a vision of what their new home will look like and then helping them make the necessary decisions on a timely basis. I understand the construction schedule and know how to communicate these decisions to you and your General Contractor. You are then freed up to concentrate on the other important aspects of your work, and family life outside of this project. The result is a smoother, more manageable project with happier clients who are happy to recommend their building team and real estate advisor.

The best building results in the mountains and lakes region of New Hampshire starts with hiring the right team – Alpine Lakes Realty & Cargill Construction is the winning combination for sales & design / build real estate services.

Slope Side, Riverside,Showplace condo – Loon Mt, NH.

Ski home to your front door and walk out your back door to the river…now that is my idea of recreational living in a very upscale condominium. Some of the amenities include Granite Counter tops, Stainless steel appliances, Gas fireplace, Central A/C, attached garage, Opulent master suite with glass shower and separate soaking tub, walk-in closet, cherry cabinets and cherry floors, covered entry , covered patio over looking the river, an out side (common area) hot tub, fire pit, and owners walking trails. $469,900

Floor plan / Location and other attractions: This 3 bedroom 2 bath, one car garage condo is a total of 2,000 square feet, it is a one lever villa style floor plan and is walking distance to shops, restaurants and entertainment. Ski trails in front the river behind and a performing art center is a short stroll away. All you recreational and entertainment requirements are near by. Add the easy access to area attractions and being adjacent to the White Mountain national forest and you can see there is something for every one in this spot.

Enjoy some pictures of the condo and surrounding landscape.

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South Peak Summit on Loon Mountain - ski home at days end.

....More Slope side properties at Loon Mt...

Use MLS Icon on the bottom of this post to see all area listings.

Is Your Kitchen Looking "Tired"?  

Let's face it, we spend a great deal of time in our kitchens, and most of us can't remodel our kitchens every few years.  So how do we freshen up one of the most used rooms in the house without breaking the bank?  Redoing the kitchen doesn't always mean removing all of the cabinets, reworking the layout and purchasing an entirely new kitchen. 

As with other areas of home decor, kitchen designers are pushing the envelope and being very creative with mixing various cabinet styles and colors.  Have you looked at any magazine articles on kitchen design lately?  You may be surprised! 

So, what are your options for sprucing up your kitchen?

Paint...We all know that painting an area is one of the easiest ways to freshen things up.  Painting the walls or backsplash is the simplest way to start, so if you have white cabinets, consider using a daring color such as a bright green, blue or salmon on the walls.  Usually there is not much wall space in a kitchen so this approach works well.

The bright yellow walls and window treatment add a punch to the otherwise white space.

Perhaps you have wood-toned cabinets.  Have you ever thought of painting the cabinet faces and doors?  I have done this in two of my past homes, and loved the result.  I painted the wood cabinets white and used my favorite color, green, on the walls; not just any green, bright emerald green!

If you prefer a more rustic or country look, faux paint your cabinets to look "worn" by painting the cabinets your  favorite color of red, blue or whatever you choose and rubbing the paint off of the edges to give an aged look.

Before 

This large kitchen could definitely use an overhaul.  The homeowner didn't want the expense of replacing the cabinets so the contractor added trim and a decorative finish to the existing cabinet doors

 After

It's amazing what a little paint can do!  The cabinets have a wonderful "worn" finish created with paint and glaze.

Backsplash: Jazzing up your backsplash with tile makes a huge difference and can totally change the "flavor" of the decor.  White subway tiles give a bright, clean look (see the kitchen just above) whereas using small random cut marble mosaics creates a very elegant look.  Tiles that have a fruit or vegetable motif can add a country or Tuscan flavor while shell or starfish motifs underscore a Seacoast theme.

The marble sink, countertop and mosaic backsplash really dress up this kitchen!

Refacing: This definitely provides a fresh look to existing cabinets, and with a well-done refacing job, one would swear the cabinets are new.  The trend now is to have several different cabinet colors in the same kitchen.  Let's say your kitchen cabinets are light colored oak.  Consider refacing the base and wall cabinets in a rich cherry tone and refacing the cabinets in the island with a painted front in your favorite color.

Other Options:    Do you have a few cabinets that are falling apart and need to be replaced even though most of the other cabinets are in good condition?  Consider removing the offending cabinets, reworking the placement of the sturdy cabinets and supplementing with cabinets in complimentary styles and colors.  

Are all of the cabinets in good shape but you want a new look without the expense of refacing?  Consider adding some type of trim to the face of the cabinet doors and then painting the doors and cabinet faces. 

This picture shows what can be done by adding trim to a previously flat cabinet door and then adding a decorative paint finish and new pulls.

 Another option might be to remove a shorter run of cabinets and replace them with a hutch or some other interesting piece of furniture that provides both storage and display space.  This is a great way to showcase special china or glassware.

Another option is to paint the existing cabinets different colors so that here the red cabinet looks like a separate furniture hutch.

While these last suggestions will cost more than a coat of paint, they are definitely less expensive that the cost of a new kitchen.  And, the results can be astounding.

If you think your kitchen is due for an update, but you don't know what options might work best for your needs, call your design professional to help guide you through the endless possibilities to a kitchen you love.

 It is essential for me to be sensitive to your needs and dreams, lifestyle, time and budget.  Your ideas plus my creative design experience and knowledge of construction techniques and eco-friendly home furnishings can make your dream of creating a beautiful, healthy home a reality.

Randy Trainor and Alpine Lakes Realty are proud to bring you these monthly installment about interior design and helpful hints to prepare your home for sale.

A Full Moon - over Loon....Loon Mountain Lincoln NH tonight.

A few Clouds started the morning, but soon cleared to be a blue sky day..

 The White Mountain back drop...are pretty nice from sun up - until sundown.

The Hemlocks are coated with snow - the guns have done a great job on the top of the mountain.

The View looking east as the full moon rises.

The Sun setting in the west...was a sight to see, the White Mountains offer some wonderful photo ops.

I hope you all enjoy your full moon tonight. It was a nice sight to see - clear sky's sunup to sunset.

Please feel free to use my local real estate search site - by clicking on the MLS icon on the bottom of this post.

Residents of New Hampshire – there may be no greater threat to our states Economy than the current Northern Pass – utility attempt to run a 1200 Megawatt High Voltage Direct Current line – Over head suspended on towers 135 feet in the air across the entire Granite State. The Visual blight alone will hurt the tourist industry and the scenic beauty of our state. The real estate tax revenues,  the health and welfare of our citizens, Gas tax, toll booth revenues, rooms and meals taxes will suffer as well. Please add your town to the list of places who wish to Petition requiring “any” high voltage transmission lines – be required to be buried rather than strung from towers over 100 feet in height.

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PETITION FOR A HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE ORDINANCE TOWN OF _______________

WHEREAS, the Town of _________________ currently has an existing electrical transmission line carrying High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) through the town designated by Public Service Company of New Hampshire as Line X–178; and,

WHEREAS, the aforementioned transmission line is mounted on 40 to 50 foot tall wooden poles, some of which are below adjacent tree lines; and,

WHEREAS, the proposed Northern Pass transmission line would carry 1200 Megawatts of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power generally south from Canada through New Hampshire, including through portions of the Town of _________________, on visually damaging power lines hung from tall, intrusive steel towers at heights ranging from eighty (80') feet to one hundred and thirty five (135') feet in the air, well above tree height; and,

WHEREAS, the Voters of the Town of _________________ have concluded that the Northern Pass transmission line, as it has been proposed, would cause significant degradation of real estate property values resulting in dramatic losses of property tax receipts, well in excess of any conceivable property tax revenues from levying tax assessments on the aforesaid towers and transmission lines; and,

WHEREAS, numerous other negative impacts from the aforesaid proposed Northern Pass transmission line will occur or can reasonably be expected to occur, over time, including, but not limited to: a. A significant drop in tourist visits, and consequently, revenues, as damages from the power lines to New Hampshire’s natural scenic beauty will be a deterrent to people coming to the region. b. A drop in toll fees and New Hampshire gas tax revenues as motorists choose other routes into Northern New England, or worse, choose not come at all. c. The strong possibility of negative health impacts from Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF’s) radiating from the 1200 Megawatt HVDC cables. d. A drop in business revenues, and consequently, a drop in employment at impacted businesses such as; ski areas, restaurants, gas stations, constructions firms, shops, stores, banks, real estate firms, to name just a few - - all of which are heavily dependent upon visitors coming to the area. Therefore, the undersigned citizens of _________________, by petition, respectfully ask the town to adopt the following ordinance:

Other than high voltage electrical transmission lines in existence as of the effective date of this ordinance, there shall be no further overhead development of alternating current or direct current high voltage transmission lines allowed within the borders of the Town of __________________. All such future electrical transmission lines must be placed underground within power line rights of way or within yet to be established power line corridors, and installed in a manner approved by the State of New Hampshire’s Public Utility Commission and/or Department of Transportation. Distribution lines carrying electrical power and other utility lines such as telephone and cable television for local residential or commercial use may continue to be installed above ground, but undergrounding of such lines, is strongly recommended and encouraged. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its passage.

Printed Name____________________________Signature________________Date

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Please fill in the town you reside in - print your name - Sign , Date and Mail to : Alliance Against Northern Pass P.O.Box 1732, Campton NH 03223.

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   Here is a link to the PDF - Version of this Petition *Northern Pass Petition.*

  Here is a you tube video talking about the issues involved in the Northern pass *Northern passVideo*

This is the view I want to see every day...not one with 100 miles of 100+ foot High Voltage towers over the White mountains and leading all the way down to the sea coast of New Hampshire.

I've said it before - but it bares repeating , the skiing isn't bad up north. A blue ski day produced some nice photos.

Loon pond from the Gondola Summit at Loon...the western range was clear over towards Mt Moosilauke.

Top of Walking boss and The Flume on the North Peak side...snow guns were going again today...getting everything touched up for the weekend.

A look at Mountain Washington from Angel street - top of the east basin chair. 50 mile view today - wow.

The Franconia Notch Parkway from the South peak side of Loon Mountain.   

First week in February...the slopes were scratchy, but everything was open and adequately covered. You could find an edge ski it fast and carve along the fall line. considering the lack of real snow The snow makers are doing a phenomenal job at Loon Mountain. Don't give up on the season yet I think the snow patterns will change and mother nature will provide some much needed white gold.

Boom Run - Northern Mountain Range - The Lincoln NH view factor.

Try the MLS Icon Button on the bottom of this post to view all are Local listings in Grafton County New Hampshire.