Correction: Jeff Wallace of Wallace Custom Design and Renovation was the builder, but not the initial designer, of the North End home at 18th and Dewey streets.
Joel Marx and Tiziana Lancedelli knew they wanted to live in the North End, so they spent several months searching for the ideal location, eventually falling in love with 18th Street.
Then the real work started.
Marx and Lancedelli purchased three lots on the corner of 18th and Dewey streets, along with a severely neglected home built in the 1970s. That house was demolished to make way for a modern Craftsman that would complement the neighborhood’s historic aesthetic while also giving the family of four everything they needed in a home.
The house was finished in September 2010, and it has become a source of curiosity and admiration for many passers-by. Lancedelli says she often spots people standing on the corner gazing at the house.
It has a wide-open floorplan because the couple loves to entertain, and it was built with efficiency in mind. And at about 2,500 square feet, it is large enough to comfortably accommodate four people without being supersized. This isn’t a home big enough to get lost in, but with 22-foot ceilings, it is far from claustrophobic.
ITALIAN INFLUENCE
Lancedelli grew up in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a ski resort in Italy. If you’ve ever seen the James Bond film “For Your Eyes Only,” you’ve seen her hometown. It is a popular location for films because of the dramatic landscape, and it was where Lancedelli met her future husband when Marx was there as a production manager for the film “Cliffhanger” in 1992.
Lancedelli loves to cook, and that passion spurred a business called Fuel for the Soul that she and Marx operate out of their home. They create prepared gourmet food that can be purchased at area shops like the Boise Co-op, M&W Warm Springs Market in Boise and Porterhouse in Eagle, just to name a few, and also teach cooking classes for children and adults. (Read the story that Statesman photographer Katherine Jones did last month about the couple’s cooking classes at IdahoStatesman.com/Treasure). The food Lancedelli prepares is influenced by her Italian upbringing, but it also has a global flavor that comes from traveling with her husband. Marx and Lancedelli lived in Thailand for about eight months, and that experience flavors many of her creations for both the family and the business.
You could say the company headquarters is the family’s kitchen.
A large island serves as a makeshift podium when classes are held in the kitchen. Lancedelli can prepare food and explain what she is doing while students look on from their seats around the island. It’s also a gathering spot for dinner guests and a casual place for a quick meal for the boys, Joshua, 15, and Zachary, 12.
“People are always in the kitchen,” Lancedelli says. “And now that I’m teaching classes, it’s great because they can sit there and see exactly what I’m doing.”
MODERN BEAUTY
The home was designed by Jeff Wallace, owner of Wallace Custom Design and Renovation in Boise. It was a good fit from the start. Wallace, who does most of his work in the North End, tends to do unique projects and often designs Craftsman homes. Marx spent a few months researching different projects, and they seemed to have one thing in common.
“Joel picked out three houses he liked and didn’t realize I had done them all,” Wallace says.
The modern Craftsman had to fit in with the neighborhood, so Wallace spent several months ensuring his design would meet his clients’ vision while also meeting the standards of the historic neighborhood where it is located.
In addition to finding a balance between old and new, Wallace also aimed to make it energy-efficient without going for an official “green” certification, which adds money and time to a project.
“We look at it as doing this as green as we can,” Wallace says.
Energy-efficient insulation and windows were two of the choices made for a greener home. A tankless water heater was used instead of the standard hot-water heater, allowing them to use hot water on demand rather than heating water not currently in use. High ceilings work in conjunction with fans and electric windows to keep the home cool, and a wood stove also heats the home.
The home is heated and cooled in three zones for better efficiency. Ceiling fans and electric windows at the top of the 22-foot ceiling can keep the upstairs cool. (The fans also help heat the house in conjunction with a wood stove on the main floor.) Although the main floor can be cooled with air conditioning when needed, the indoor climate is also aided by the walls. They are covered with a product called American Clay, a natural plaster that comes in earth-toned, warm colors. Because it is a natural substance, it doesn’t produce the toxic fumes found in some paints. It also offsets moisture, reducing the humidity inside the house (an added benefit for a family that loves to cook).
Instead of scrapping extra pieces of material such as granite, Marx and Lancedelli made sure it found another purpose. The granite counter in the laundry room was crafted using the extra granite from the kitchen. Other leftover granite was used in the guest bathroom.
“Every little bit helps,” Marx says.
Chereen Langrill, a graduate of Boise State University, has been a journalist in Idaho for more than 15 years. She covers features, entertainment and other topics about Idaho and Idahoans. Along with her husband, Idaho Statesman sports reporter Chris Langrill, Chereen loves being outdoors and takes advantage of all Idaho has to offer. Chereen spent her summer swimming laps at Lowell Pool in Boise and tried to improve her backhand by taking tennis classes at the Fort Boise Community Center.
