Topic: Real Estate

What exactly is it, that most coveted of green building certifications ...? Donna Fig and Carol Johnson of Slifer Designs discuss LEED certifications during an appearance on This Week in the Valley.

Karen Pywell tells us about her home at 201 Borders Road in Beaver Creek. Among the more notable features are the artwork, the shire, and some very naughty gargoyles. Her home was one of the beautiful specimens on the 2008 Vail Mountain School Home Tour.

Marty Suarez, Sales & Marketing Director of Paramonte Private Residences in Cordillera, stopped by The MorningNoon&Night Show to discuss the amazing amenities offered to Paramonte owners. This year-round property includes preferred tee times to four outstanding golf courses, rafting, over 30 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, a mile and a halfe of private fishing on the Eagle River, and access to the Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Clubs. The first two tiers of Penthouses have already sold out, so interested parties should call 970-306-4098 or visit www.paramonte.com soon.

Kristen Pryor, Director of Sales & Marketing of the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, stopped by This Week in the Valley to discuss the resort's grand opening (Thursday, September 25). The resort includes the highly anticipated Restaurant Avondale by Thomas Salamunovich, of Larkspur & Larkburger fame, and will follow the high standards and culinary philosophies at by Salamunovich at those restaurants. The beautiful complex will also contain the 23,000 square foot Spa Anjali which will look directly out on to the river and contain sizeable space for yoga and pilates. In addition to all it's astounding amenities, the Westin Riverfront is up for LEED certification and has taken steps, such as constructing ceilings from recycled tires and installing numerous windows to cut down on electricity usage, to become one of the greenest resorts in the Valley.

Parent volunteer Sherri Wharton stopped by the MorningNoon&Night Show to talk about the Vail Mountain School Home Tour, taking place Sunday, September 21. The tour has taken place annually for 34 years and has grown from a humble kitchen tour into an event with over 400 volunteers. Seven homes in Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch will be featured on this year's tour, including the Beaver Creek home formerly owned by President Gerald Ford. All proceeds of the tour support Vail Mountain School's tuition assistance program.

Susan Rapson, owner of A Secret Garden in Vail Village, demonstrates the essentials for a fall floral arrangement, introduces us to a number of exotic and beautiful flowers including the ring of Fire sunflower, and offers advice for maintaining flowers at altitude. Remember to re-cut your stems and keep your flowers well-hydrated.

Shawn Greenfield of Wildflower Farm describes xeriscaping, a more sustainable form of gardening which uses native plants and flowers that require little water. Shawn takes us through a number of local xeric plants including the Sea Holly, Colorado Mountain Holly, Zauschneria and Common Sage.

Homeowner Allison Wear and Megan Gilman, President of Active Energies, take us through the construction of a LEED certified home in Edwards, CO. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified homes strive to reduce the consumption of man-made energy and are rated from basic through silver, gold and platinum. Allison Wear's gold-rated home will receive 75% of it's electricity and all of its domestic hot water heating from solar panels.

In this Solaris update, Sales & Marketing Director Craig Cohn lets us know that the 77 residences, mixed use development has met construction goals throughout the summer and is on schedule for completion. Additionally, Craig goes into detail about the highly anticipated, three auditorium movie theater that Solaris will be bringing to the center of Vail. The theater will sport first class amenities including double wide reclining leather seats, a restaurant and wine menu, as well as all your favorite movie treats. The theater will show a wide variety of films, including first run features and features appropriate for any age and will accommodate visitors and locals alike.