Paul Matthews, AIA - Building Energy Evaluation

07/20/2024

Grateful for this view and looking for the next owner to enjoy being in the midst of all the small town goodness Rathdrum has to offer.

12/03/2023

Beautiful evening on Main Street! Tree lighting followed by lighted rig parade.

06/27/2023

Did you know…?
The modern air conditioner was invented only in the 1920’s and it didn’t become a common home feature until the latter half of the 20th century. But, while some of us might wonder how our grandparents survived hot and steamy summers, the fact is those older homes had a few tricks up their sleeves. They were designed and built with features to help them stay cool without AC.

Airflow: In northern states, it was common to create a “stack effect” by opening windows in the basement and top floor. This generated a cool breeze through the house. Further south, before AC many homes were built on blocks, allowing breezes to flow underneath and help keep them cool all summer long.

Tall ceilings: Ceilings as high as 10, 12 and even 14 feet were common in older homes. As heat rose to the ceiling, lower areas stayed cool and comfortable. Ceiling fans—powered by electricity or elaborate rope systems—also facilitated air movement.

Transoms: A transom—a small window over a door—allowed warmer air at the ceiling to circulate up to higher floors, providing more air movement throughout the house. Transoms over exterior doors often had hinges and special hardware. This allowed easy access to open and close, helping create airflow while still providing security.

Large windows: Many older and historic homes had large, double-hung windows. Opening the top sash would allow hot air near the ceiling to escape. Opening the bottom sash, especially at night, allowed cool air to flow inside. Rooms had many windows, some as large as doors. Thick, long draperies were often used in these large windows to keep out the heat. People would “draw the drapes” to help keep a room cool without sacrificing light.

Porches: Wraparound porches offered shade from the direct sun while still allowing light to pour through windows. Screened and furnished sleeping porches were also very common. People would sleep outside to catch the cool breeze of the summer night without all the bugs. Many believed that fresh air had health benefits.

Reflective roofs: Many older homes had light-colored or silver-metal roofs made of lead, tin or copper. This was a great way to reflect heat away from the home to reduce interior temperatures. It’s quite a contrast to today’s dark asphalt shingles that can absorb a lot of the sun’s rays.

Thick walls: If you could afford them, thick brick masonry or stone walls were a great insulator and kept homes cool before AC. Walls 12 to 24 inches thick were common in the Deep South, blocking the heat from the inside as the day wore on, and providing some warmth as the evening chill set in.
Copied

10/05/2020

Our quaint little town of Rathdrum has some special historic buildings. Saint Stanislaus Catholic Church and the Old Train Depot are being featured this fall in a watercolor class at Art on the Roof, a teaching studio, here on Main Street.

This is a four week workshop OPEN TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO LEARN TO WATERCOLOR THESE TREASURES.
Thursday’s 2-4:30pm
October 8,15,22,29
For all the details and to
Register go to

Artist in YOU EXPERIENCES for the welcomeCreativity Thrives Here A welcoming and encouraging experience At Art on the Roof, we’re all about helping you unleash your inner artist in a beautiful and relaxed environment. The studio and rooftop garden area is a perfect place to have fun and get creati...

12/31/2019

Saying good bye to a very good 2019, and hello to 2020! Hoping you and yours are having a joyous holiday!

10/09/2019

Looking for someone to shovel sidewalks in Rathdrum this winter-STARTING TODAY!

04/24/2019

Design is all about the details. Matching client’s tastes to the space. Ponce de Leon Hotel St. Petersburg, Florida.

04/09/2019

Chapel by the Sea.

03/08/2019

Some designs just can’t be improved upon. Dreaming of spring in North Idaho... It will come eventually!

02/22/2019

This is a restroom. No, comfort station. No detail is too small.