Leap Year Traditions

Every four years February presents us with an extra day—and this is one of those years. But in addition to giving us an extra day, Leap Year has also given us some rather interesting traditions.

In 1288 the unmarried Queen Margaret of Scotland is rumored to have enacted a law that allowed women to propose to men on leap-year day. But—as a “fair warning” to the man—the woman had to wear a red petticoat.

In fifth-century Ireland, the legend is that a nun asked St. Patrick to grant women permission to propose to men after single women complained about suitors who were too shy to propose. Supposedly, he agreed and allowed proposals every leap day.

While the historical veracity of these events is unlikely, the concept of having some conventions turned on their heads remains.

Unconventional Thinking For Your Home

There are times when remodeling your home requires a bit of a leap as well. Maybe you want to make some changes to your kitchen, your master bathroom, or even add an extra bathroom or a media room to your home—but when you look at your existing floor plan you don’t see a way to do what you want to do. You may have to turn your conventional thinking on its head—but how?

That’s where a consultation with us can really pay off. Years of training and experience enable us to look at your situation a little differently than you do—both from a design and a structural perspective.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say you want more space in your kitchen, but the physical dimensions of the room really don’t provide any opportunity to expand. We might be able to look at that space and tell you that the wall separating your kitchen from the dining room (which you rarely use) isn’t a load-bearing wall. We could suggest taking out the wall to significantly expand the size of your kitchen—and make better use of the space. You could end up with a larger, eat-in kitchen that actually feels bigger than it is because of the open space that’s created.

Or maybe you really want more storage in your bathroom—but there’s no way to make the room bigger and there’s no space to put in another closet. Are you stuck with what you’ve got? Not necessarily. We may be able to find “hidden” space between the wall studs to install recessed shelving or cabinets.

Those are just a couple of examples of how we sometimes have a different perspective on how to use space. Where you might see wasted or unusable space (in an attic or in your basement) we may see potential. That’s why it’s important to clearly convey to us what you want to accomplish and let us draw on years of experience and knowledge to come up with a solution that meets your needs. That’s the power of unconventional thinking!

Six More Weeks (or More)?

Not only is this year a Leap Year, but it’s also an election year. What that means is that on Groundhog Day (February 2nd), regardless of whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not, we’re guaranteed another 10 months of non-stop talk!

Your home and property are always good places to invest your dollars. Give us a call (203-269-9204) with any project questions – we are here to help. Thanks again!

Mark & Nancy Benson