November 2011
Welcome to Living Stone Construction
In This Issue

News

Energy Star Version 3

Feature Video

Calendar of Events

Projects of The Month

Special Announcements
Tips From A Pro

Light Fixture Placement

By Christi Butts 

Lux Lighting

 

Have you ever wondered to yourself, 'is that chandelier too low?' 'Are those wall sconces too high?' Lighting can be a very tricky project. It can have you running in circles with so many questions. One question we at Lux Lighting often get, is "How high..." When it comes to determining how high to hang pendants, chandeliers, etc. there really is no set standard. It is more so about what is comfortable to the client, the space and the look they're trying to achieve. Below you will find a few "Rules of Thumb" that designers and specifiers tend to go by. If you've been asking yourself those questions, then we hope this will help. 

  • Pendants:

(Tables, Islands, Bars, Etc.) Recommended pendant height should be at a distance of  28"-34" above the surface of the bar. 

  • Chandeliers:

(Kitchen, Dining Room Tables) 30" above the table for an 8 foot ceiling OR 34" for ceiling heights beyond 8 feet.

  • Ceiling Fans:

(All Locations) Minimum height should be 8'-9' from the floor to the blades. The fan height can increase to 10'-14' when vaulted ceilings are present.

  • Billiard Lighting:

(Pool Tables, Poker, Etc) Should be about 32" above the bed of the table OR the bottom of the fixture is level with the bridge of the players nose. The closer to the table, the more concentrated the light, reducing the glare on the table.

  • Sconces: (Int/Ext) 
  1. Entry: 6"-8" from the door jam and 18" from the top of the doorframe.
  2. Foyer: 2"-6" from the mirror, artwork, highboy, etc. And 4.5'-5' from the floor.
  3. Bathroom: Eye level, Generally 5'6" above the finished floor.
  4. Living, Dining, Hallway: 5'-6' above the finished floor to the center of the junction box. 
calendarCalendar Of Events

What's Going On!
  
The Plain English Real Estate Radio Show weekly on Saturday mornings between 10-11am on News Radio 570am. Get links to listen on your computer, or call in at www.RadioAsheville.com.

 

Tune in THIS SATURDAY, 11/12, to hear a special show on renovations with guest Robi Eckley of Ferguson Enterprises!  

 

Waterfall Hunting

 

Exploring the Biltmore Estate

 

Discovering Historic Asheville

 

Home to Unique Festivals

 

The Best Hikes in NC


Special Announcementsannouncements

Congratulations to ACM Design Architecture for their feature in this month's Green Building & Design Magazine.  This is a national publication that displays the country's most cutting edge green designs.  LSC partnered with Amy Conner-Murphy in the construction of the Green Residence in 2008. (Click on the image to read the article on pages 108/109). 


gb&d Magazine   


November/December 2011

Featured Property!

The Settings of Black Mountain

 37 Cottage Settings Lane

 Black Mountain, NC 28711

 

Homes & Land Cover

 

$649,000


Lake Lure Great Room Foyer
See the results of our latest project photo shoot by visiting us on Facebook and "Like" us!
 
Find us on Facebook

Lake Lure Office
Welcome to Living Stone Constructionwelcome

Greetings!


We hope you enjoy receiving our Newsletter with updates on what's happening in our area. When you get ready to interview or refer contractors, remember that we are an approved builder in many of the areas finest developments.  We've been building homes in these mountains since 1995 and we know that you are not only our potential clients, but also our neighbors.

Sean on porchYou can check out more information
on our mobile friendly website at www.livingstoneconstruction.com.  

Sincerely,
Sean Sullivan
Living Stone Construction, Inc.
Newsnews
Read about other news items by visiting our News page on our website.

Feature Article

Living Stone Construction Commits to Building the Next Generation of Energy Star Qualified Homes  

 

Black Mountain- November 4, 2011 Living Stone Construction today is announcing that it is committing to build and label its homes to meet the new and more rigorous ENERGY STAR requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) for 2012.  LSC has already built about 10 new homes that have earned EPA's ENERGY STAR to date, representing savings of nearly$4470 on utility bills while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 4.9 vehicles.

  

"We're proud to be making a commitment to continue building ENERGY STAR qualified homes in 2012", said Sean Sullivan."By stepping up to the new requirements, we're going to be offering customers state-of-the-art performance in our homes with a comprehensive package of features that deliver greater value, quality, and comfort than ever before."

  

Homes built to the new, more rigorous requirements (referred to as "Version 3") will be at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and will include additional features to give them a performance edge of 20-30% compared to typical new homes and even more when measured against most re-sale homes on the market today.

  

ENERGY STAR qualified homes that earn the label in 2012 will be built with a comprehensive, building science-based approach that features:

  • A detailed package of home envelope air sealing, properly installed insulation, and high-performance windows to deliver comfort, durability, and lower utility bills.
  • A high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation system designed and installed for optimal performance.
  • A complete water and moisture management package to protect roofs, walls, and foundations.
  • ENERGY STAR certified lighting and appliances that help reduce monthly utility bills. 
  • Third-party verification, with independent inspections and testing by a certified Home Energy Rater.

"EPA has raised the bar for what families can expect when they buy a new home that has earned the ENERGY STAR," said Jonathan Passe, Acting Chief of EPA's ENERGY STAR Residential Branch. "Builders who meet the new ENERGY STAR requirements are making a strong statement about their leadership and commitment to providing American homebuyers with truly energy-efficient homes that offer lower utility bills and greater benefits for the environment." 

 

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, save money, and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners, committed to improving energy efficiency in homes, products, and businesses.

 

Local Weather           Click to get current conditions.

Houston Porch View
Welcome to the front porch of
Western NC!

 

Average Seasonal Temp in Black Mountain:  

Winter     Spring      Summer      Fall     

  35° F      54° F        72° F       62° F  

  

Feature Videovideo 

Expert Advice for Homeowners

 

Expert Advice for Homeowners

 

Expert contractor advice on what homeowners should know before remodeling.  Watch Sean's interview on HGTVRemodels.com debut to see the benefits of hiring a professional contractor.

 

Please visit the News page on our website to see other LSC videos.   

 

Project of The Monthproject 

21 Battery Park, Downtown Asheville 

 

Battery Park Exterior

 

 The Game StoreThe Game Store

 

Zapow Art Studio

Zapow

 

LSC recently completed a commercial upfit downtown Asheville at 21 Battery Park Ave.  The upfits consisted of completing a unit for a game boarding store as well as another unit for an artist studio. Stop by and see these local businesses next time you are in the area!

 

"Everything just went great, thanks again!" - Eric Barnes

 

We understand that every client has a different budget, and no matter what that price point is, we will work with you to make your dreams become a reality!  Our long term Vision is to be Mission motivated and value driven. We are thankful to our past, present, and future clients who are not only our best references, but also our friends.
 
Sincerely,
 
Sean Sullivan
Living Stone Construction, Inc.

Living Stone Affiliations