• First-time house hunters

• Pinterest vs. Professional

February 3, 2016triad-city-beat.com

Shaping Sutler’s

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Shaping Sutler’s By Sam Rose

utlers were the original purveyors of provisions, goods and of course, spirits in against-all-odds events. Housing their businesses in makeshift

tents directly next to the front lines, they traveled to the most remote locales to make sure the military was provided for during combat.

It was with this history and background knowledge that local interior designer Amanda Brown went to work. “I knew what I wanted to do before I even met with Scot.” (Scot Sanborn is the owner of Sutler’s Spirit Company.)

Brown’s concept, “antebellum industrial chic,” was based upon images of Revolutionary soldiers lined up purchas-ing goods from tents at military outposts. She knew she’d be working with features from the historic West End Mill Works and that the heart of the project would be the distiller’s Portuguese copper still.

“I had to work around very specific laws and regulations to create a separate tasting room and distilling area in this project,” she said.

Brown had visions of times soldiers at war. She wanted to work with more copper elements and felt the presence of a tent was key. This would allow for private tastings in an intimate setting while capturing the history of the sutler.

There are many personalized elements in the space, from the distillery’s permit numbers on the canvas walls to the buffalo nickel buttons in the tufts of the seat cushions. It’s all in the small details with this space.

“We knew we wanted the bar to be unique — it needed to be movable and multifunctional, but also intimate with seating for four,” she said. Brown personally drafted the CAD drawings and Sutler’s hired a custom builder to create the copper topped bar, which over time will age impeccably.

Every piece in the space is multifunctional and can be easily converted or moved. This makes Sutler’s Spirit Company perfect for events and entertaining while also allowing it to remain personalized and intimate. Theoret-

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ically Sutler’s can host anywhere between two and 200 people.

The job wasn’t designed with an excessive budget; to stay on track and under the cap, much of the work was done by Brown and Sanborn themselves, with the exception of the stained concrete floors by local company Perfection Plus. DIY is a realm in which Brown excels. She can help guide clients through tips and tricks and the best practices and least expensive ways to accomplish expen-sive looks. The space was designed in stages, which leaves room for growth as the business grows. Brown feels that leaving room for growth and change in a space is key as it evolves with time.

Brown’s design philosophy states: “Every single piece needs a friend in the space, it has to speak to something else.” For instance, at Sutler’s the Portuguese copper

echoes the copper bar top. The chairs speak to the sheet metal wrapped around the bar. For Brown, balance is the key to any space.

“It is why you hire a designer,” she said. “We help the client find balance in the space, in the project.”

Brown takes a scientific approach to her work alongside her creativity. She believes that great design happens in more than just three dimensions — the most important of which is time. She works to capture timeless designs and spaces that will transition permanently. Lastly, Brown operates in the dimension of love.

She states, “You have to love your space. Clients often ask permission: ‘Can we do this?’ But that’s not what it is about. It’s about doing what makes you feel happy and comfortable.”

Amanda works with the history of a space, her client, and their story to tell tales through interior design from her design studio located in downtown Win-ston-Salem. She graduated from High Point Universi-ty with a degree in interior design while beginning her career in the furniture industry in High Point. She is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and is honored to sit on the ASID Carolinas Chapter Board of Directors. In January 2014, Aman-da opened ID by Amanda Brown to serve clients on projects from paint color selection to working with international clients coming to High Point to shop in the furniture industry’s most exclusive to-the-trade showrooms. Visit her website, idbyab.com, for more information.

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The designer advantage: A Pinterest-worthy yard, made possible with the help of a landscape architect.

EST Editor Alex Klein talks shop with Landscape Architect Jeff Allen

“Pin, pin, pin, pin, pin.”The comedian Iliza Shlesinger has a bit in her latest com-

edy special, Feezing Hot, about falling down the rabbit hole on Pinterest and her subsequent descent into madness that is over-the-top and hilarious — but like all good comedy, there more than a smidge of truth at its core.

Often while on Pinterest looking at ideas to spruce up the weed-infested concrete wasteland that is my backyard, I’ve pinned excessive amounts of landscape and garden ideas that in some blurry-edged dreamland I’m planning on carrying out with just my bare hands and creative genius.

The outdoor day bed crafted from recycled pallets and remnant fabric; a vertical herb garden with green and lav-ender tendrils cascading down the sides (again, made from pallets!); paths of colored stone with bright moss peeking through the cracks; a garden fence made of salvaged doors… these DIY masterpieces taunt me from the Pinter-est board I’ve created, called, “Outdoor DIY Idea Space,” and I happily keep pinning, waiting for the fantastic and impossible day I turn these ideas into my yard’s reality.

Of course, when I leave my vision board and walk onto my back deck to survey the scene, I have to admit that the current view is an eyesore, and I have neither the time nor the resources to make anything positive happen back there on my own.

When I was working on NEST’s 2016 Style Guide, I came across Jeff Allen, of Jeff Allen Landscape Architecture or JALA. He had great advice and while looking over his portfolio, I had a major case of yard envy. So I approached Jeff this month to talk to him about my own yard dreams and find out more about the benefits of hiring a landscape architect.

Professional helpJeff didn’t laugh at my DIY fantasies, but he did suggest

I focus my vision on creating value in my landscape. A well-designed yard can increase a home’s worth by up to 15 percent. Plants, stone and other design elements are rela-tively fixed to the current market price, but Jeff states that a good landscape designer “should be able to obtain the best materials at the best price effectively and efficiently.” As a

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budget-conscious consumer, that sounded pretty sweet.

According to Jeff a landscape architect should bring several items to the table, including “expertise, professional accreditation, liability insurance, and dedication to their craft.” Jeff feels that communication is a biggie as well. A designer should listen closely to the functional and aesthet-ic desires of a client, as well as their budgetary needs, in order to design a space that takes both into consideration. My upcycled pallet dreams may not be the best way to add long-term value to my yard, but quite a few of my Pinterest fantasies are, including an herb garden and the stone path-way with moss tufts growing through the cracks. Having a professional like Jeff walk me through the entire process from concept to construction negates the stress that would otherwise be involved if I were going it alone.

Keep the dream aliveJeff also talks about post-construction, which he feels is

equally as important as design, since landscape is a “living system that requires care and is changing as it develops.”

“I enjoy this phase as I revisit many gardens I have de-signed to see how they have grown in,” he says.

Jeff wants to ensure his clients are enjoying their new outdoor kitchens, terraces and herb gardens. He loves to ask, “Have we created a positive impact on your life?” The affirmative response to that question is the proof of a job well done.

Jeff credits the “quality of a well-managed landscape and garden,” with the overall value of an investment. A

poorly maintained yard will eventually cost more money in repairs and possibly reconstruction, which is something that no homeowner wants to deal with. I have visions of my fantastical and pitifully executed DIY attempts crumbling in my backyard; all those imagined labor-hours and resources gone to waste.

I give my “pinning” finger a rest. I’m ready to accept professional help.

To contact or for more information:1000 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101JALALLC.comfacebook.com/JALAGardens

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10 Steps to Success: A mortgage broker and realtor share their tips for first-time house-hunters.

ransitioning from a being renter to a homeowner is the true hallmark of adulthood for many. It can also be a time-consuming and somewhat

intimidating process, especially if you aren’t sure what to expect. Kevin Cooke, a mortgage broker with Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, and Sheryl Beauregard, a broker with Keller Williams, each offered five tips to get first-time buyers into their dream homes.

The process begins by determining what it will take to become mortgage ready. Kevin Cooke offered this advice:Step 1. Know your credit score

Your credit report will have a significant impact on your mortgage; it affects interest rate, downpayment, program options and loan terms. The best steps to build and keep a strong credit report are: pay bills on time, keep credit card balances low and manage the total number of ac-counts in use. Actions that will hurt your credit profile are: making late payments, collections or judgments, maxing out credit cards and excessive credit inquires.Step 2. Set a budget

Decide how much you want to spend each month on a mortgage payment and use that amount to help deter-mine the price range of the homes you view. Potential buyers who begin shopping for homes without a budget in mind often find themselves in a home that isn’t realistic for their financial circumstances. Keeping your budget firmly in place will ensure the monthly mortgage payment fits within your overall financial plan.Step 3. Document your income

A big part of qualifying for a mortgage is your income

level. In most cases a two-year income history is required to qualify for a mortgage. Gather documents from the past two years including complete federal tax returns including all W2s and 1099s, and your most recent 30 days of paystubs. Those who are self-employed will need two years of your business tax returns.Step 4. Save for a downpayment

In today’s mortgage environment, there are a wide range of loan products and program choices. Some mort-gages require a significant downpayment while others require very little, but almost all require potential borrow-ers to have savings. The more assets you have available to you, the better loan terms you will be able to secure.Step 5. Consult a professional

The mortgage industry has gone through significant changes over the past few years and the best way for you to fully understand what mortgage options are available to you and what best fits your needs is to meet with a mortgage professional. A loan officer can check your credit, determine affordability, review loan options and provide expert advice. Additionally there are incentives and special programs available to first time homebuyers that an expert can recommend. Meeting with a mortgage professional will help you understand exactly what it takes to qualify for a mortgage and determine what the next steps are to home ownership.

You’ve got your mortgage-readiness secured; now it’s time to shop! Sheryl Beauregard gives you her five house hunting tips to get the best house for your budget.

Determine your needsTake time to sit down with your agent and talk about

your lifestyle and wish list for your ideal home before you hit the house-hunting trail. Knowing what you want, and especially what you need, helps narrow down the search before you begin.

Be ready to accept “almost” perfectRarely do you find a home that is 100 percent of what

you’re looking for. The 95 percent house is really the 100 percent house in the real world!

Act fast when the time comesMove-in ready properties that are in good condition

don’t stay on the market long. Be ready to act fast if you find a home you like that fits within your pre-determined parameters.

Focus on form and functionBe able to look past the sellers “stuff” and focus on the

layout of the home and how it fits into your lifestyle. It’s easy to get turned off by a particular style of décor you don’t care for and pass up what might be a perfectly good property were it otherwise appointed.

Always have a home inspection!No matter how nice and well maintained the property

appears, always have the home professionally inspected. It protects your investment and can save you a major headache down the line.

For help finding your first home, contact Sheryl Beaure-gard.

Kevin Cooke, MBABranch Manager, NMLS #448201, Licensed in NC & VA800 Green Valley Road, Suite 306, Greensboro, NC 27408Direct: 336-501-7008 | Office: 336-656-8961 | Fax: 844-817-5519Email: kevincooke@atlanticbay.com | Web: www.atlanticbay.com/kevincooke

Sheryl BeauregardKeller Williams Greensboro NorthPhone: 336-202-2356Email: sherylb@kw.comWeb: www.sherylbhomes.com

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