Name: Lia Cravedi and Phil Pouech
Location: Hinesburg, Vermont
Size: Approximately 2,000 square feet
Years lived in: 2
Lia and Phil were the first of six owners to buy land in a small community development for sustainable homes in Hinesburg, Vermont. After the initial leap, they took their time, watching others build first, and learned all they could before starting the process themselves. A run down of structural features reveal long-term efficient and cost-effective choices — crucial given the extremes of Vermont weather. The siting of the building and windows maximize passive solar potential, solar panels provide renewable energy, and a pellet boiler limits emissions.
Their house of two years is both mindful of its surroundings and particular to their own taste and style. According to Lia and Phil, friends don't necessarily think of it as a "green home." Rather they comment on — most of all — its bold color sense. (Even the teenager of the house wasn't shy with the paint choice in his room, going green in an altogether different way!) Vibrant art — the majority by Vermont folk artists — and pattern round out a textured and layered interior that is as homey as it is smart.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: In decorating, our taste is eclectic. We both really like color and avoid putting curtains on our windows, as we like being able to look out at the landscape and let in all the natural light we can. Our artwork is primarily done by local artists.
Inspiration: We have no one inspiration. Sometimes a painting inspires the wall color we choose. Sometimes an idea, like using clear lights leads to displaying glass candlesticks, putting clear knobs on a cabinet, etc.
Favorite Element: The efficiency and convenience of the house works really well for us; it is very low maintenance.
Biggest Challenge: Resisting the temptation to fill it up with a lot of "stuff".
What Friends Say: Friends say it feels homey, that they think we are pretty daring with our use of color, and one person referred to it a "jewel of a home", which was an especially lovely compliment.
Biggest Embarrassment: Because the home was built in a field, there was absolutely no landscaping when we first moved in. We've worked hard to create a functional outside space.
Proudest DIY: Design of the heating system that includes incorporating solar hot water into a pellet boiler that we purchase secondhand. We also spent a lot of time with the layout, trying to utilize all the available space. For example, finding space for a large pantry and a small nook for an office. We utilized all the attic space with a walk up stairway for additional storage, a very important consideration since we do not have a basement.
Biggest Indulgence: We worked hard to stay in budget. We spent more on insulation, added windows, upstairs storage space, and used simple but high quality materials. The radiant floor heating is luxurious. The property has total southern exposure, feels very private, backs up to conserved farm and sugar woods yet is a 5 minute walk to town and 10 minute walk to work.
Best Advice: If building a new home, focus on efficiency for long-term cost reductions and comfort. It is most important to plan, plan and plan. No detail is too small. Make sure your builders are as motivated and excited about your home as you are.
Dream Sources: The ReSTORE: a reuse center that accepts donations from the community and serves as a training site for people wishing to develop a variety of employment skills.
Resources of Note: We really do like "hunting" for interesting things for the house. We buy art at local art exhibits as well as at Frog Hollow: Vermont State Craft Gallery in Burlington and Stowe Craft and Design. We go to Goodwill and the Salvation Army frequently, as well as to flea markets, antique shows and yard sales.
Thanks, Lia & Phil!
Images: Ann Manubay, Dabney Frake
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I love your house and style. What colors have you chosen for the walls?
This is about as close to my personal style as any house tour on the site! Wonderful.
A floral sofa and a clothesline! Holy Apartment Therapy identity crisis!
Nice! We tried to incorporate as much eco-friendly material and systems in our house as we could, living with the limitations of buying into an existing small development -- you did better!
I just read that a similar planned eco-friendly "village" may be going in near where I work. I find the idea fascinating, I'll stay tuned! (Actually, it was all imagined by Walt Disney in his original plan for EPCOT, which was supposed to have been an "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow". He died and with him, the Plan, but I heard about it as a kid and wanted to live and work there in the worst way!!)
Beautiful-- what a happy place!
Please tell me that cat pillow isn't vintage! I need it on my couch.
This looks like a real, live home. What a pleasure to look at. Thanks for inviting us in.
Forgot to say that I particularly liked the kitchen and the clothes line, and the fact that you let your teenager take the lead in decorating his space. And if I had that mudroom, I could die happy.
I love the niche for the milagros. I wish I had built in a place for mine! Maybe I will have to make one.
I notice the lack of a hood over the range. I am one of those folks who hates the look of a hood, especially in a prominent spot. Did you go with a range that vents under the floor or did you skip it all together?
I like the green attitude but not the style of the house, too much for me.
I like the warm colors uses in your home.
any chance of sourcing them?
I love the pieces, but not the wall colors.
I love the red couch, but the green wall kills it for me.
Fun walls colors. Are all of the ceilings yellow or white?
Quite envious of your entry/mud room. Kudos for investing in the future. Doing those things don't always have the same show off element. "Come see my newly insulated walls" But have a bigger impact on our world.
Hi Jessicamc,
The pillow you are admiring is made from design by Warren Kimble, a Vermont folk artist. I found it at our local Salvation Army.
Lia of Lia & Phil's Green Sense of Place
Hi, this is Lia of Lia and Phil's Green Sense of Place.
There were a few comments regarding paint color. For those of you who were interested in specifics - the green is a Valspar paint called Jalapeno Jelly. The yellow is Carolina Inn Crossroads Gold (National Trust) from Lowe's and the red is Firemist, also from Lowe's.
Dear Miami's Elaine,
To answer your question - we didn't tint the ceiling paint - they are plain ceiling white. Thanks for asking.
Best, Lia (Homeowner)
I like your entry way!
Lia, would you comment on how you vented (or chose not to vent) your range?
What a beautiful, sustainable home. Your community sounds so impressive. Great work!
-Deb for Ecover
Hi Inlandbeachhouse -
You asked about how we vented our range. We don't have direct vent for the range; we have a whole-house ERV, which stands for energy recovery ventilation system. The house is very tight and so we need this system to circulate fresh air and recover the heat. We can manually adjust the level; so we can put it on high when we are cooking. It seems to be working very well so far; no stains on the ceiling.
Lia and Phil - Homeowners