SHOP TALK: Great books, stats and other helpful news for homeowners – The Florida Times-Union

BOOK OF THE WEEK

A conservatory is more thana crime scene locationin the classic board game, "Clue."

For one thing, the concept has thousands of years of history behind it. According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use of the word to describe a glasshouse for growing plantswas in the mid-17th century. That parallels with a Wikipedia entry, which states that they originated around this time when wealthy English landowners sought to cultivate citrus fruitsbrought by traders from warmer regions of theMediterranean.

In "The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass," authors Alan Stein and Nancy Virts make thecase that these structures first appeared even earlier, in Ancient Romeduring the reign of Tiberius.

Stein and Virtsare the founders of Tanglewood Conservatories, a Maryland company that specializes in the design and construction of customconservatories and other glass structures.Filled with evocative archival and contemporary photographs and drawings of landmark structures, the book'sgraceful, accessible text celebrates those who advanced the technology and the architectural majesty of these light-filled structures.

Divided into six chapters, the book begins with Humble Origins, covering the ancient beginningsof the glasshouse, moves into Orangeries for Aristocrats, describing their development by the landed gentry (including that at Mount Vernon, the historic estate of George Washington).

Subsequent chapters are The Glass Palaces of Great Britain, such as the ill-fated Crystal Palace in London and Conservatories on the Continent, which explores structures in Europe, from the Czech Republic and Germany to Paris and Madrid.

The book ends with New World Conservatories, including Longwood Gardens (roughly an hour outside Philadelphia), followed by Modern Glasshouse Marvels, a look at unique 20th- and 21st-century structures, like the undulating Flower Dome Conservatory in Singapore.

At ArchDaily, an international architecture news site, it was noted that "'The Conservatory' makes a persuasive argument for the role of conservatories in our contemporary world." Published in October 2020, Stein and Virts' book has also been cited on a number of holiday gift lists and spring reading roundups.

Last December, The Detroit News included it in a giftlist of home and garden books with Michigan ties, thanks to its inclusion of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, which opened in 1904 in Belle Isle, Mich. In addition, "The Conservatory"showed up on a similar list of art and design books recommended for spring reading byBoston Magazine.

There, editors encouraged readers to "Trace the origins of these glassy masterpieces and swoon over the leafy wonders they house."

"The Conservatory" has earned an average rating of 4.7 out of five stars at Amazon, where the hardcover currently sells for $42.49; check it out athttps://amzn.to/2UMi2vH.

Lumber price swings force delayedhome renovations

When Allison Glass bought a 30-year-old home in Winfield, W.Va., last June, she knew shed have to update the kitchen. She thought the project would cost less than $10,000. But surging lumber prices during the pandemic forced her to raise her estimate to $15,000.

The price of lumber, which shot up to $1,600 per thousand board feet in May from $400 early last year, is making renovations more expensive especially projects that involvekitchencabinets, hardwood floorsand additions that requireframing. Labor shortages and supply-chain snags exacerbated by the pandemic are driving up those prices and giving Americans who are planning home remodels pause.

Even as prices for lumber futures ease following their peak in May, customers worry about committing to new projects, says Chuck Fowke, a builder of custom-designed homes in Tampaand chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.

From USA Today, June 23; read the full story at https://bit.ly/2Tfuh3x.

Days on Market Until Sale* for May 2021 as reported by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.

May 2019:66

May 2020: 63(-4.5%)

May 2021: 35(-44.4%)

*The category tracks and compares the average number of days between when a property is listed and when an offer is accepted in a given month. A complete market report is available at NEFAR.com.

Compiled by Homes editor Anne Hammock. Know of a tool, book or news tip youd like to share withShopTalkreaders? Send details to ahammock@jacksonville.com or call (904) 359-4628.

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SHOP TALK: Great books, stats and other helpful news for homeowners - The Florida Times-Union