Jo-Anne Peck's Blog (9)

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We all know that a shed is the perfect place to store a lawnmower and yard tools, but a nicely outfitted shed can serve a multitude of other uses as well, making your life more organized and less stressful. Following are some uses for sheds that you may not have considered:…

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If you search for green building devices on the internet, you will find a tremendous number of links for "gizmo green" gadgets. These are generally technology-based items that you can install in or on your existing home or entire systems used to build new "green" houses. While we applaud the changing mindset that takes sustainability into consideration, the public is constantly misinformed by manufacturers about the true green and sustainable value of many of these products, touting items that… Continue

Slide show of factors to consider when choosing to replace or restore your historic wood windows, including aesthetic, economic, environmental and maintenance issues.

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There is a seemingly endless list of accessory buildings that have been used in conjunction with residences throughout history including carriage houses, barns, tool sheds, potting sheds, detached kitchens, garages, and privies. While the original uses may no longer always be relevant, these often-simple structures can be adapted to serve a multitude of modern uses beyond traditional garden and tool storage including personal home offices, workout rooms, media rooms, pool cabanas and art… Continue

A recent forum post on an old house restoration and renovation website asked what they could do to hide the bright white vinyl replacement windows that the previous owners had installed. They didn't have the money to replace the windows, and the windows were still working fine, but were glaringly inappropriate for their historic home. For situations like this, an affordable solution is to install traditional wood window screens over the windows.…



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When historic wood windows are in need of repair, many homeowners automatically assume it is time for wholesale replacement of all the windows in the house. This is not only an expensive, disruptive project, but also begins a long term replacement cycle that can be easily avoided while saving money, energy and being environmentally friendly. However, many homeowners are not fully informed about the issues related to replacement windows and the options for repair. Below are some of the factors… Continue

From every media source we are challenged to find a way of living that will ensure the longevity and health of our environmental, economic, and social resources. We all want to do our part, but the plethora of information about "green" living, "green" technologies and "green" architecture can be overwhelming. Lucky for those of us with historic Florida homes, our houses are already built with many environmentally friendly assets that help us reduce energy consumption. Prior to the introduction… Continue

We are all seeking ways to reduce costs to help weather the current economic storm. This is particularly true for those of us in business for ourselves. One of the simplest ways to reduce significant overhead costs from many small business owners is to work from home. There are ample dollar-related reasons to work from home; working from home eliminates rent or mortgage payments on a separate office, eliminates commuting costs, and reduces electrical,… Continue