TresSugar

Stay Cozy This Winter in HGTV's Dream Home

Elka Karl — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:53:34 PST

For the past 15 years, HGTV has been giving away a Dream Home to one lucky winner. This year, the home is a spacious ski retreat in Stowe, VT, that can house up to 14 people comfortably. It sounds like the perfect destination for ski bums who want to bring a posse of friends for some weekend adventuring.

You can enter twice a day to win the home, whose exterior architecture was inspired by Adirondack Great Camps from the late 19th century. The home is quite lovely, with most furnishings provided by Vermont-based Ethan Allen. Modern art, thoughtful designs, including a bunk room for wedging in as many pals as possible, and ski- and outdoor-adventure-oriented features make this the perfect ski lodge.

I recently had the chance to chat with designer John Gidding and builder Jack Thomasson about the home's layout and construction. Keep reading to watch a video discussing some of my favorite features in the house and to take a tour of the spaces I mention in the interview.

Looking to Move? Try Burlington, VT

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:13 PDT

After looking at the 100 largest metropolitan areas in America, Burlington, VT, came out on top as Self magazine's "fittest, healthiest, and happiest" city to live in for women. The magazine studied almost 8,000 different pieces of data in 50 categories and consulted a panel of experts to come up with its rankings. Information factored into the creation of this list includes rates of diseases, air quality, unemployment statistics, and health habits such as exercise and smoking.

The New England city boasts some of the lowest rates of cervical and ovarian cancer deaths in the country, and healthy habits prevail: women walk to work regularly and don't smoke. Where Burlington really shines is in nutrition and food - the city has six times as many food co-ops than the national average, and its farmers markets accept food stamps.

What to see how your hometown fared? Check out the entire ranking here.

Coveted Crib: A Multigenerational Mountain Retreat

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:56 PDT

I love the idea of creating a getaway that's all about family. Those were exactly the intentions of architect Kyu Sung Woo, when he decided to build a three-home compound outside of the small town of Putney, VT.

When Woo was forced to flee his hometown during the Korean War, he decided that he would re-create a family home for his extended relatives when he had the opportunity. Now, the sleek, understated, and pristinely beautiful home provides a retreat for his wife, children, and grandchildren.

For the complete tour,

read more. Constructed from wood and metal, large glass windows and sliding glass doors emphasize the importance of the 11 acres the home is built upon. The acreage, which is marked by heavily wooded terrain and large outcroppings of stone, is in stark contrast to the home's angular, boxy lines, though somehow, the structures appear well-suited to the landscape. Built around outcroppings of ledge, the houses are separated into one building for sleeping quarters, another for living quarters, and a third for storage and equipment. In an article in the Wall Street Journal Mr. Woo's daughter Ilyon notes that the home is a "four-generation-and-beyond house, with the memory of my grandparents behind it." What a beautiful, and ideal, way to define a home.

View 20 Photos ›

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House Tour: A Net-Zero Energy Home in Vermont

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:34 PDT

I recently visited beautiful northern Vermont, and the South Farm Homes development in Hinesburg. This six-home development aims for "net-zero" status, meaning that the homes will generate as much power as they use over the course of a year. Environmental features include active PV solar panels integrated into the metal roofing of each home and significant southern glass, which provide solar gain (as well as lovely views of the surrounding valley).

The project is a collaboration between Rolf Kielman, AIA and Lee Grutchfield, AIA of TruexCullins Architects of Burlington, VT, and Reiss Building of Hinesburg, VT. The home that I visited also served as a temporary showcase for pieces and products made by local Vermont artisans and companies. I snapped photos of some of my favorite pieces in the house, which are definitely worth a peek.

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Do You Want Your Legislature to Legalize Gay Marriage?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:00:03 PDT

Today was a big day for gay marriage proponents. Vermont's legislature overrode the governor's veto to legalize same-sex marriage. And in Washington DC, the district's council voted to recognize same-sex marriages issued in other states. The council will hold a final vote next month.

But not everyone's on board. A new poll out of New York state shows that only 41 percent of the state's voters support same-sex marriage.

Many people have objected to less-democratic courts inserting themselves in the same-sex marriage debate. The argument goes like this: if a state wants to legalize gay marriage, let the democratically elected representatives or the people decide not a handful of isolated judges. Do you think it's time for your state lawmakers to cut out the courts and follow Vermont's lead?

Vermont Legislature Is the First to Legalize Gay Marriage!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:41:52 PDT

Not even the veto of Governor Jim Douglas could stop the Vermont legislature's true love for gay marriage. Today, the state house and senate overrode a veto by 100-49 and 23-5, to become the first state to legislatively approve same-sex marriage. In other words, Vermont is the first state where the elected legislature, and not the court, legalized gay marriage.

Last week, Iowa's supreme court approved gay marriage, ruling that the state's ban was unconstitutional. Vermont joins Iowa, Connecticut, and Massachusetts as the only states in the US where all citizens can marry the person of their choice.

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"Wee"kend Getaway: Manchester, VT

LilSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:00:00 PST

With the state of the economy up in the air, families throughout the country are putting their vacation plans on hold until things begin to stabilize. Rather than plan a week-long trip to an exotic locale, many are planning extended weekend getaways to locations within driving distance of home. With this in mind, we are beginning a series called "Wee"kend Getaways, highlighting vacation spots that offer a little something for everyone in your family. First stop is Manchester, VT, located in the southwest corner of the state. First incorporated in 1761, the town offers outdoor activities during each season of the year.

Guess Which President's Son Lived Here?

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

The only child to survive into adulthood of one of America's most prominent presidents built this Georgian Revival Summer home on 500 acres of land in Manchester, VT, at the turn of the 20th century. It was home to only his descendants until 1975, when it was purchased by a historical society; today, it lives on as a museum, preserving the family legacy. Can you tell me the name of his father, the former president?

Guess Who Is Moving to Vermont?

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:45:34 PDT

A certain German fashion designer has taken a liking to the Green Mountain State, having purchased a six-bedroom, 1840 landmark building on an island in Lake Champlain, VT. Of the move, the designer said, "I love it. It’s very much Emily Dickinson." Can you name him?

Gay Couples Have Something to Teach Straight Counterparts

LibertySugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:30:00 PDT

Sure to mix up the gay marriage debate, social scientists are turning to same-sex couples to find out what makes a healthy relationship and marriage. One study analyzed how Vermont's married couples address issues like money, household work, and sex, as compared to gay couples joined in civil unions.

Some of the research findings include:

Same-sex partners generally share the work evenly. Conversely, in hetero relationships, the woman usually does more housework, while the man holds more financial responsibility.
In straight relationships, men are more likely to initiate sex, while women are more likely to refuse sex and initiate "talks" about relationship problems. But, in same-sex couples, there is a balanced sharing of such behaviors.

For some more analysis, and to find out how the groups handle arguments differently,