No house can stay new forever, but ours will undoubtedly age gracefully on account of its good bones.

Our home turns four this month, so I’m celebrating by telling its creators at Meridian Homes how much we respect the craftsmanship and architectural wisdom that went into building it. From the moment we were first welcomed into Meridian’s offices to the present day, we’ve had many occasions to appreciate the entire company’s attentive service and dedication to getting things right. As we watched our house go up, with all the excitement — and anxiety, too — that process brings on, Meridian’s knowledgeable staff, were always on call to explain the next steps and offer assistance, saving us money wherever they could and sharing ideas from their other projects to help with our decisions. The job super and I spoke almost daily, while others at Meridian also checked in frequently and tracked our progress. Work proceeded on schedule and, when it didn’t, we always knew why and how things would be righted. When we worked with Meridian-recommended subcontractors (on landscaping, for example), Meridian co-owner Michael Lerner looked on like a sharp uncle, making sure his people gave us their best deal. After handing us the keys, Meridian didn’t disappear. Far from it: I will never forget a cell phone call we received about two years ago, while away on vacation during a spate of torrential rains and flooding here in Bethesda. It was Michael Lerner, offering to make sure our basement was dry and bring over his pumping equipment if it wasn’t. We were lucky on the water that time, but even luckier to know we could count on a builder who has our back. As to Meridian’s construction expertise, I can’t count the number of silent nods I’ve given to the thought and experience that went into our home’s layout, conveniences and little comfort touches, from basement to roof. The expansive floor plan, for instance, earns my approval whenever we host a party, as it seems to work equally well for a catered benefit or a muddy soccer team bash. When we’re bathed in afternoon light as we sit by a fire and watch a football game, I appreciate the wisdom of situating the family room and kitchen in the sunny back of the house. Even more often, I give thanks for our awesome mudroom and its many uses. On nuts and bolts, too, Meridian offered sound advice, from wiring to plumbing to the central vac we installed, for which Michael suggested a garage outlet. (My cars thank him!) No house can stay new forever, but ours will undoubtedly age gracefully on account of its good bones. I thank the Lerners and Meridian Homes for that and for all the good feelings that went into building and maintaining it.