Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

On the second Wednesday of each month, Airlie Gardens and their Environmental Educators host the Airlie Gardens’ Bird Hike. Wilmington, NC home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages those in the area to take advantage of the coastal site on the North Carolina Birding Trail this January 13^th, 2010. Airlie Gardens provides habitat for over 145 species of birds that vary seasonally throughout the year. Water birds such as egrets, herons, kingfishers, cormorants, and ospreys are common. Woodpeckers, buntings, cardinals, chickadees, swallows, bluebirds, and titmice are also found on the grounds. On any given day it’s possible to see more than 30 species of birds while traversing the Gardens! The hikes are free to members, or free with payment of garden admission. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for Children (ages 6-12 years). Birders leave at 8:00am from the Garden Services Center and return at 9:30am. They ask that you please bring your own binoculars if you have any; bird guides will be provided. For more information, visit their website!

Making your bathroom more energy-efficient can be very simple and Pender County, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share an article from the U.S. Green Building Countil’s Green Home Guide on how to do just that! Lili Wright wrote an article for the USGBC with eight simple steps; they are outlined below and to read more, click here!

• Fix leaky toilets.
• Repair dripping faucets.
• Install newer-model faucets and showerheads.
• Turn water off while shaving or brushing teeth.
• Plug the bathtub before turning water on and then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
• Find out what’s in your water.
• Consider installing a water treatment system.
• Use the simplest, least toxic cleaning and body care products.

New Hanover County, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to introduce our readers to the Phoenix Employment Ministry, located in downtown Wilmington, NC. The organization’s vision is “to be the ministry to which sheltered homeless and nearly homeless people will come or be sent to find satisfying, long-term employment.” Their program includes intense one-on-one coaching, which consists of a staff member being a teacher, care giver, personal coach and cheerleader to those in need of it. Their ultimate goal is for everyone to be self-sufficient and empowering the homeless in the process. If you are interested in being a volunteer, making a donation, or just learning more about the Phoenix Employment Ministry, visit their website!

Landfall custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom homes would like to ensure that New Hanover County residents are aware of a new disposal law for paint waste. Below is a statement from the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance’s latest newsletter, and to read their previous newsletters, click here!

“The New Hanover County Department of Environmental Management has implemented a new policy on paint waste. Paint waste is defined as latex and oil-based paints, lacquer thinner, spray paint, paint strippers, mineral spirits, varnishes, wood stains, used brushes and rollers, etc. The new paint waste policy will be as follows:

Homeowners and contractors are instructed to solidify their paint waste by removing the lid and placing it in an open area or by adding an absorbent material such as sawdust, kitty litter, sand, etc. Once the paint waste has been solidified, they should place it in their trash cart or dumpster along with their regular trash. If homeowners or contractors arrive at the Landfill or Wastec facility with solidified paint waste for disposal, they will be charged the current tip fee for municipal solid waste. If homeowners or contractors arrive at the Landfill with liquid paint waste for disposal they will be directed to the Wastec facility and charged the current tip fee for municipal solid waste. For more information, call 910-798-4400.”

St. James Plantation, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share this extremely informative report from the National Association of Home Builders. Prepared by the Economics Group of the NAHB, the “Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components” examines the 25 components of a home listed below and gives the average life expectancy of each. To read the complete report, click here!

1. Appliances
2. Cabinetry and Storage
3. Concrete and Masonry
4. Countertops
5. Decks
6. Doors
7. Electrical and Lighting
8. Engineered Lumber
9. Faucet and Fixtures
10. Flooring
11. Footings and Foundations
12. Framing and Other Structural Systems
13. Garages
14. Home Technology
15. HVAC
16. Insulation and Infiltration Barriers
17. Jobsite Equipment
18. Molding and Millwork
19. Paint, Caulks and Adhesives
20. Panels
21. Roofing
22. Siding and Accessories
23. Site and Landscaping
24. Walls, Ceilings and Finishes
25. Windows and Skylights

North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse, Old Baldy at Bald Head Island, will re-open on Friday, January 22, 2010 after being closed earlier this month for routine maintenance. Brunswick County, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to explore Bald Head Island and the Smith Island Museum located next to Old Baldy. You can opt for the self-guided tour or take advantage of their Historical Island Tours that include a visit to the civil war fort, stories of pirates, river pilots, and life-saving crewmen, a climb to the top of Old Baldy and much more! For more information on Old Baldy, click here and for more information on what to do while in Bald Head Island, visit their website!

During these particularly cold winter months it’s important to beat the winter blues by keeping your home warm and comfortable. So Landfall home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a press release from renowned interior designer Catherline La Marca with her best tips for creating warmth in the family room of any home. Below is the press release and for more of La Marca’s tips, visit her blog!

“Renowned New Jersey Interior Designer, Catherine La Marca, shares her signature design tips for creating a warm and welcoming room in any home.  

According to Catherine, one of the simplest ways to add warmth to a room is to add color.  Color can be used to suggest feelings of relaxation, happiness and tranquility.  To accomplish these feelings, choose rich, earth-toned colors such as an autumn gold, burnt sienna or cranberry red.  Keep it simple by only painting one or two walls in the room with one of these colors.  Choose lighter, neutral colors for the remaining walls.  

Homeowners who aren’t ready to commit to a darker, more bold color of paint can opt to add warmth to a room by choosing large, eye-catching oil paintings that primarily use warm, bold colors like the ones suggested above.  “The right wall décor can dramatically change the look and feel of any room, plus it’s not as permanent of a commitment as paint,” says Catherine. Another tip from Catherine; go frameless to save.  Frameless oils are becoming more and more popular because of their beauty and affordability.  

For an even simpler solution, Catherine suggests using candles for added appeal.  ‘Candlelight can be used to add warmth to any room at anytime of the year,’ adds Catherine.  ‘Choose your favorite scented candle to further enhance the inviting atmosphere for your family and guests.’

NJ homeowners can find all of Catherine’s tips for adding warmth to any home by visiting her blog site at http://catherinelamarca.com/2009/08/interior-design-tips … “

As a member of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association, Pender County, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to attend the WCFHBA’s 2010 HomeEXPO! Come out to the Schwartz Center at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC January 16^th and 17^th, 2010 for over 50 exhibits and 7 seminars, including many concentrated on Green home options. Below is the seminar schedule and for more information, visit www.WilmingtonHomeBuilders.com or call 910-799-2611! 

Follow up to yesterday’s post on the antique show in Wilmington, NC: New Hanover County, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share that a time and place has been set for the antiques show in downtown Wilmington, NC! The North Carolina Junior Sorosis will be sponsoring the Antiques Show & Sale beginning Friday, January 29^th-Sunday, January 31^st, 2010 at the Coast Line Convention Center. Over 35 dealers from three states includes formal, primitives and country furniture, jewelry, oriental rugs, clocks, silver, glassware and china. Admission is $6. For more information call 910-382-8423 or email nadrollins@aol.com or info@ncjuniorsorosis.org.

Brunswick County, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share that Custom Home Online’s Stephani Miller reported that housing permits, starts and overall completions have improved according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report. Below is an excerpt and to read the complete article, click here!

“Marking a 6.0 percent increase over October’s numbers, permits for privately-owned housing units rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 584,000 in November. Permits for single-family units increased 5.3 percent in November, while permits for units in buildings with five or more units increased slightly from 85,000 in October to 86,000.

November’s housing starts also strengthened, after experiencing dramatic drops in October. Overall starts of privately-owned housing units rose 8.9 percent over October’s revised rate of 527,000, which reflected an 11-percent decline from the previous month’s starts. Single-family housing starts increased by 2.1 percent, after a 6.8-percent decline the previous month, but starts of units in buildings with five or more units rose significantly from 48,000 in October to 83,000 in November.”