cover image courtesy of amazon.com.Here I go again, commenting on a book I’ve neither held nor read. I have, however, read its inspiration. Like New England Icons by Bruce Irving, which is based on articles written by the book’s author, Cabin: Two Brothers, a Dream, and Five Acres in Maine by Lou Ureneck took inspiration from the author’s blog "From the Ground Up" on The New York Times website. 

There, Ureneck wrote, for example, about the intrinsic charm of his cabin’s structure: “For me, a timber frame is poetry made manifest in wood. I love the way the timbers fit together, tenon inside mortise, to make a snug joint; and I love the way the structure stands against the sky, shoulders squared and strong enough to shelter those who dwell inside it for centuries.” So, if you followed the blog, even intermittently, you, too, have some sense of Cabin.

“From the Ground Up” caught my attention in late 2008 initially because my book concept Small Retreats, Backyard and Beyond had been “killed” by its intended publisher a few months earlier. I, like Ureneck, imagined many folks could appreciate the simple pleasure of a small place of one’s own, especially when times are tough. I may have even sent a link to Ureneck’s blog to my former publisher in hopes of bolstering my case that there was in fact an audience for writing about small retreats.

Now, Ureneck’s memoir -- about the restorative powers of building a cabin and, in the process, building relationships and peace of mind -- has found its way to the shelves. For further insight into the book, check out the WBUR Radio Boston podcast of their recent Ureneck interview about his 640 square-foot, timber-frame cabin built with his brother in Stoneham, Maine. I’ve added Cabin to my wish list. Have you? 

by Katie Hutchison for the House Enthusiast

photo courtesy of The Arnold Arboretum websiteRecommended New England course in tree identification

When moseying New England byways, I often ask my strolling companion to confirm the identities of trees on our path. More often than not, my strolling companion is my husband. More often than not, he looks at me quizzically in response. Not because he can’t identify the trees (He generally can’t.), but because he knows I know he generally can’t, yet I ask anyway. I simply wish to know. Finally, a solution: a free tree-identification workshop. I can think of one person who hopes I’ll sign up.

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

I’ve taken a couple of plant identification courses at The Arnold Arboretum before. Looks like it’s time for a refresher. According to their website, “The Arnold Arboretum's continuing adult education program offers one-day and multisession horticulture, botany, and landscape-related courses for the beginner, avid amateur, and professional.”

The Common Trees of Boston

Instructor: Ajay Sequeira, Arboretum Docent
Saturday: October 1, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Location: Hunnewell Building
Free

“Have you noticed a tree as you walked through the city, wanted to name it, but didn't know where to start? Join us for a walk through the Arboretum landscape. We will learn how to identify some of the trees commonly found in the Boston area. We will note some of the characteristics common to families of trees and learn about the differences that occur between species.”

Class and schedule are subject to change so check program websites for updates.
 
Take a look at my continuing-education posts from previous seasons to get a sense of the many quality continuing education programs operating in the region. Enroll in a workshop, demonstration, or presentation on a lark, and get your creative juices flowing.  Experience continuing-education bliss.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

When fully operable, exterior window shutters can be pragmatic; close them to protect windows from inclement weather (or to protect privacy) and open them to invite daylight and view. But, many find shutters to be nostalgic, unnecessary, and/or difficult to maintain. Naturally, they can be. In fact, some of the best are.

I’ve written before (here) about sizing shutters appropriately, so they fit the windows they serve.  But, until now, I haven’t commented much on shutter design. We tend to think of shutters as having horizontal slats, sloped to shed water while also offering sun and wind protection. Sometimes, they’re paneled, sporting small decorative cut-outs (like here). Other times, such as in this photo, they playfully concede that their purpose is not to protect, but to delight.

Here, white, flat-stock slatted shutters echo the design of the white, slatted fence, bordering part of the yard. Despite there being little reason to close such permeable shutters, they’re sized to fit the windows they serve, which, as you can imagine, I applaud. Also, opting for a single shutter per window is a more dynamic choice than selecting a pair of smaller shutters to flank a window, which is a more static arrangement. Both windows are too close to their respective corners for the shutters to hang corner-side, so they each hang inbound and thus mirror each other. The effect bestows an otherwise simple elevation with the drama of symmetry.

The rose bush below, looking as if it might aspire to climb, invites the viewer to ponder whether the shutter design is somewhat trellis-like, as well. A sunny color palette reinforces the sunny tableau. Yes, these shutters are nostalgic, seemingly unnecessary, and perhaps a mild maintenance nuisance, but they’re also a design delight.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Not long ago, I learned of a short-film competition organized by the Center for Architecture + Design titled "Architecture Is...". The competition objective is to "create a film expressing what Architecture Is... to you."

Find my video submission below. Follow the Architecture Is... YouTube channel to see all the entries as they come in.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast