From House To Home

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Basketball player Yao Ming might be a little cool if he spent a winter day standing around in this Belvedere home. But homeowner David Daly would have the solution. He would simply ask the giant athlete to have a seat.

That’s because Daly, owner of Daly General Contracting, Inc., in Lowell, used his own blueprint to test some green building techniques he had grown curious about.

In the basement of this 4,600-square-foot, Craftsman-style home are the “brains” of an HVAC unit that take continuous measurements of a range of indoor air temperatures and instantly cools or warms the space. Rather than letting the heat escape and get trapped in the ceiling, the system circulates the warm air and keeps it consistent and comfortable. But above 7 feet, the laws of physics take their course. “There aren’t that many ‘7-footers’ running around,” explains Daly. And since Ming makes millions of dollars for his efforts, he might spend a few pennies on a muffler.

In addition to the computerized HVAC system, the home features a SuperStor hot water system that supplies five times the amount of hot water as a comparably sized electric water heater for the same amount of fuel. The boiler is the most efficient in the world, according to Daly, and he considers the heater money well spent.

Factor in the 400 Series Andersen windows, tightly sealed ducts, and 2-by-6 construction methods, and Daly clearly has a smile on his face when he sits down to pay his monthly energy bills.

Which is not to say the home is all brains and no beauty. Custom woodwork by carpenter Adam Audette of Adam Audette Construction and a blueprint that incorporates an easy circulation with plenty of natural sunlight make the home the perfect combination of form and function.

The quiet family neighborhood offered historical precedent for Daly to incorporate his love of Craftsman styling. With Audette in charge of the trim work, it was easy to add such authentic elements as shadow-boxed wainscoting, coffered ceilings, wide crown molding, and a custom-designed fireplace mantel in the master suite. Many of the decisions were made on the spot, and the work was entirely in-house, so Daly was able to guide the project while still allowing the creative forces to evolve.

Daly’s favorite space is the sunken living room with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, which overlooks the back yard. He finished the room with oversized, comfortable couches and chairs in a pattern of chocolate leather on suede and plenty of throw pillows. Brazilian mahogany flooring dominates the color palette, and each of the finishes and color selections also complements this choice.

In the kitchen, the flooring is matched with Absolute Black granite countertops and mahogany cabinets with a cherry stain. Daly prefers real granite to the manufactured Corian and believes proper sealing is the key to its longevity.

The home features an upstairs master suite with a cathedral ceiling, gas-burning fireplace, and comfortable seating area. The bath is a blend of classic lines and comfortable appointments thanks to its oversized scale and the imported Italian slate used on the floors and the glass-front shower. Four bedrooms can be found upstairs, and they all have large closets and ample storage.

From the outdoor hearty plank siding and AZEK trim to the thick insulation in the attic above, the home is a combination of efficiency and beauty. The design not only satisfies Daly’s quest for knowledge of green building principles, but also allows him to live and entertain in style.

But a word of advice for visiting NBA stars: you may want to bring a hat.