4/19/10

A Civilized Shopping Center - Chevy Chase Lake

The offices for Wentworth, Inc. www.wentworthstudio.com are located at the Chevy Chase Lake shopping center at the corner of Manor Road and Connecticut Avenue in Chevy chase, Maryland. Our design sensitive staff appreciates the nice office environment. We like our second floor space with windows on three sides for eastern, southern, and western exposures, and appreciate the natural light and the convenience of the small scale complex.

Our landlord, the Chevy Chase Land Company, takes good care of their investment. The property gets its name from the former man-made Chevy Chase Lake amusement park which was just to the south of the complex. I get a kick knowing that my father visited the amusement park while he was growing up in College Park, Maryland.

Our residential clients even like coming to our offices because of the easy parking on the surface lot and the understated but charming environment. Many of our clients have remarked at the charm of the older brick buildings with the wrought iron canopy supports. The Chevy Chase lake complex was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s and was designed by an architect who was sophisticated with the Colonial Revival style.

The complex consists of two buildings, one larger building for the super market, and a second smaller two-story building, for the retail & office space. Although the shopping center is of modest scale by today’s standards, these buildings feature solid masonry construction, brick arches, crown and dentil details, slate shingles for the roofs and double hung windows for ventilation. All of which provide a quaint human scale.

The architect was thoughtful in his use of protective canopies for rain and sun. Each building has a covered area along its main façade and the two are linked by a free-standing arcade that protects pedestrians from rain, snow and sun. When it rains I can get half way to my car without getting wet. The free standing canopy visually breaks up the parking lot so it does not feel like a hulking asphalt lot. The complex of small brick buildings will eventually be replaced with something larger…but for now we can enjoy what we have.

To learn more about Chevy Chase history visit www.chevychasehistory.org To learn more about Wentworth’s design/build services, visit www.wentworthstudio.com

4/8/10

Prioritizing Your Home Remodeling Projects

By Bruce Wentworth, AIA

Homeowners are budget conscious when making home remodeling decisions. Wentworth can help you make these often difficult or confusing decisions at an in-home consultation, where priorities, design concepts, and construction issues can be clarified. Budget-minded simply means allocating financial resources in the best possible way. Excellent design solutions, coupled with quality craftsmanship and materials, are still a smart long-term home investment.

A well-located Washington area home remains a solid investment. After three decades in business, I can offer these tips to improve home value.

1. Kitchens: Kitchens more than 25 years old are functionally obsolete and aesthetically outdated. A well-designed kitchen enhances home value and improves family life.



2. Bathrooms: A well-designed master bath is an excellent investment, although cosmetically upgrading older baths will also improve home value.



3. Facades: If your home lacks curb appeal, exterior façade enhancements will add value. A new front door, windows, a front porch, or other architectural embellishments, all sensitive to your home’s architectural style, can be considered.


Thoughtful design analysis of your home makes appropriate, cost-effective remodeling decisions a reality. Call for a consultation today 240-395-0705 x 100.

EPA Sets Lead Paint Safety Requirements For Contractors

Wentworth, Inc. is now an EPA certified renovator to lead safety for renovation, repair and painting (RRP).




Bruce Wentworth, President and Steven Barnard, Production Manager, have both taken the 8 hour, 8 module course offered by The Training Network and accredited by EPA/HUD. Certification is good for five years at which time a refresher course shall be taken. EPA requirements became effective April, 22, 2010.



Lead paint in the United States was banned in 1978 and homes built prior to that typically used lead paint. Alterations to homes with lead paint are to be handled in approved ways primarily for the safety of children under the age of 6 and pregnant women.


The hazard areas are often: a. peeling and flaking lead paint, b. friction surfaces such as the bottom of a sash window, c. impact surfaces like treads, risers, jambs, and doors. Prior to commencing remodeling the home shall be tested for lead paint by a certified renovator. If lead paint is found in the area to be remodeled there are standard practices for dealing with the removal of materials, and dust with lead paint. To learn more about lead paint issues in your home read the EPA guide called “Renovate Right” available at www.EPA.gov/lead
Bruce Wentworth, AIACertificate Number R-I-18343-10-00591