Thanksgiving Safety

 

According to the US Fire Administration it is estimated that 4,300 fires occur on Thanksgiving causing nearly $27 million dollars in property damage and 15 deaths. The cause of most of these fires is deep frying turkeys which is becoming more and more popular.

Although it is strongly advised to use alternative cooking methods, if you must fry a turkey this Thanksgiving, please follow these safety tips to protect yourself and your home:

• Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials.

• Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.

• Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.

• Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.

• Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.

• To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.

• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.

• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.

• The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.

• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help. 

 
Under no circumstances should you ever fry a turkey in your garage, and since this is one of the most common places turkey fryer fires start we will send you off with a little bit of garage code trivia! Did you know:

• Garages must be separated from the main residence by ½” gyp bd or 5/8” Type X gyp bd for rooms above a garage.
• Doors opening from garages directly into sleeping areas are not permitted.
• Doors leading into you home per code must either be 20 minute fire resistance rated, solid wood or solid core steel doors.
• There are minimum garage size requirements set by your local zoning codes or design standards. 

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! 

Amazing Ski Houses!

With the weather getting colder, we at Godden | Sudik are dreaming about fresh tracks on a powder day and our ultimate ski house.  What do you think of these???

 

 

Ski prep rooms with boot warmers, kid bunk rooms that sleep eight, soaker tubs with mountain views; living in Colorado, we all fantasize of one day owning a sprawling ski home at our favorite resort. If you're currently in the market, there are some amazing homes available in some of Colorado's most sought after mountain towns, if you can afford it. 

This Old World charmer is on the market is Aspen.

For a mere $18,950,000, this 6 bed, 6 bath, 15,889 square foot home in Aspen can be yours. Key features include his and her offices, a floor to ceiling fireplace in the great room, a library, a spa/exercise wing, temperature controlled wine room, infinity pool, hot tub, sprawling master suite and several generous guest suites.

If Aspen isn't for you, how about Telluride? This 24,124 square foot home sitting on 3.33 acres has 8 beds and 13 baths. For $18,500,00 it can be yours.   

Beautifully manicured grounds come with this Telluride ski house.

This home boasts a 75-foot indoor pool, AMF bowling alley, 2-lane indoor commercial shooting range, golf fairway and putting green with bunker. Outside, extensive landscaping, magnificent water features, a gazebo with wet bar and a 7-person hot-tub, and a full-scale replica of the Labyrinth at Chartres France can all be yours.

This Vail home modeled after an Austrian chateau has direct ski access.

Located in Vail, no expense was spared in the creation of this old world estate. With direct ski access to the largest ski area in North America, this 6 bed, 8 bath stunner can be your for a mere $25,000,000. At 6,563 square feet, the luxury home comes complete with a warming hut, game room, beautiful master suite, cedar lined storage closets, wine closet, library, sunken wet bar, and amazing chef's kitchen. 

Maybe these homes are a little out of your price range, but it doesn't hurt to dream. Perhaps a condo in Keystone is a little more realistic...

Happy Halloween From Godden|Sudik Architects

Godden|Sudik Architects' annual Halloween party & costume contest.

We hope you all had a safe and fun Halloween! We had a little fun ourselves yesterday during our annual Halloween Costume Contest! The competition was stiff but Kellie Rowan stunned everyone with her creativity and took first prize with her "School Picture" costume. Coming in a close second was Doug Walter with his "Sir Walter" costume, and Kyle Conley came in third as The Big Lebowski's "The Dude." Who's costume do you think should have won?  Keep checking back to see what else is new at Godden|Sudik Architects.

A Denver Haunting!

The Croke-Patterson Mansion is said to be one of Denver's most haunted sites.

This beautiful  residence with attached carriage house is a rare example of Chateauesque style architecture in Denver. Using local sandstone, the red castle stands tall with parapets, turrets and stained glass windows. The home is an enormous 12,000 square feet with four levels and an attached carriage house. Originally commissioned by Thomas Croke in 1890, the mansion has a peculiar history. Rumor has it that when the home was completed and Thomas Croke entered it for the first time, he felt terrified by something he couldn't explain and he never returned to the home again. Two years later, the mansion was sold to Thomas Patterson who resided there with his family until his passing in 1916. Over the next century, the house served many purposes--a dance studio, radio station, boarding house, and eventually, an office building.

A ghostly image has often been sighted gliding up and down the main floor stairway.

Legend recounts tales of suicidal guard dogs jumping from a third story window, lonely mothers mourning the loss of children, loud parties on the third floor when no one is there and crying babies when no children are present. A secret chamber in the basement supposedly entombed the body of a young  girl and unexplainable drafts are a constant reminder of the chilling history of this mansion. Perhaps most frightening of all, Thomas Patterson is rumored to haunt the courtyard between the home and carriage house.

Whether you believe in ghost tales or not, you can now experience the Croke-Patterson Mansion for yourself. Opened as the Patterson Inn this January, supernatural experiences seem to have subsided and guest now can enjoy nice luxury rooms in this one of a kind carefully restored historical mansion.

Solaire Apartments & Regency at Ridgegate Both Leasing

Looking for a brand new rental? Whether your looking in Brighton or Lone Tree, Godden Sudik Architects working with Regency Residential Partners and Solaire Apartments, has the home for you!

Solaire, leasing now and opening in December,  is a 252 unit energy smart apartment complex. One of the largest geothermal energy systems in the nation is located below ground throughout the Solaire community. Incorporating renewable geothermal energy to heat and cool the apartments  provide energy cost savings to residents and reduce the demand on the City’s power grid. Click here to find out more about Solaire Apartments.

Regency at Ridgegate, with apartments available now, offers nine one and two bedroom apartment floor plans and unique two and three bedroom townhomes with two car attached garages and private entrances. All 208 luxury units come standard with hardwood floors in all main living spaces, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, Moen Faucets and under mount sinks. Click here to find out more about Regency at Ridgegate.

What's New at Godden Sudik Architects?

Godden Sudik Architects wins MAME, CARE, Newman & Parade of Homes Honors!

We have been very busy lately at Godden Sudik! In addition to the four MAME Awards we recently won, we have also been honored with the following recognition:  three  CARE Awards , a Newman Award and a Colorado Springs Parade of Homes Award!

The Colorado Awards for Remodeling Excellence, known as the CARE awards, is the biggest- and longest- running contest that recognizes remodeling of all types, including commercial and residential construction. Among others, categories include kitchens, bathrooms and green building. Doug Walter and Godden Sudik were awarded three CARE awards for 1st Place Bathroom Remodel Basic, 1st Place Details and 2nd Place Interior Remodel.

This year marks the first year for the annual Robert & Judi Newman Awards for Excellence in Classical and Traditional Designs. Architecture, Interiors, Landscape Design, History & Journalism Artisanship, and Student Awards were given out to recognize excellence in the classical tradition withing the Rocky Mountain Region. Doug Walter was awarded with the Architecture Addition & Restoration Award.


Century Communities' Residence 5530 won Best Kitchen for a Home $601,000 - $750,000 in the 59th Annual 2013 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes. Thirty-one builders presented 35 homes ranging from the mid $200,000s to over $1,400,000. More than 10,000 visitors toured the homes. Industry professionals judged the homes in a number of categories including best floor plan, best interior decorating and best kitchen.

Keep checking back for images of these and other award winning projects and more news!

Micro-Housing : How Small is Too Small?

This 108 square foot pre fab Bunkie comes complete with fireplace and chimney.

Whether it be a Bunkie, a LoftCube or a Micro Compact Home these tiny homes are providing affordable, efficient, Eco-friendly options to buyers willing to give up a little space. But how small is too small? Could you live in a home totaling 108 square feet? That's smaller than most people's bedroom!

LoftCube with awesome views.

 Micro Compact home with interior shots.

Although smaller homes with flex spaces made for multiple uses are trending right now, these tiny tiny homes are most likely too small for most people. It's probably a safe bet to say most buyers still want a designated sleeping area and although Micro-Housing is giving a new look to open concept living, these cute little houses are still too modern a concept for the masses.