General Contractors
Window Labeling for Tax Credit Eligibility
Will your Energy Star windows, doors and skylights meet this year’s newer, more stringent requirements? Your green home builder will be able to help you select the most energy efficient products for your home, but it’s not a bad idea to familiarize yourself with these important new labels.
Earlier this year, new performance requirements went into effect on all ENERGY STAR windows, doors and skylights. Knowing how to identify these labels when purchasing your new energy efficient products is vital to making good investments and ensuring eligibility for tax credits.
Red and Black Labels
ENERGY STAR Red Label
There are two new ENERGY STAR labels to watch for. The label shown at right was rolled out in October of 2009. Appearing in either red or black, this label identifies window, skylight and door products which will no longer meet the high-efficiency ENERGY STAR standards effective April 1, 2010.
Blue Label
ENERGY STAR Blue Label
The new, blue label will help you identify ENERGY STAR products that are eligible for tax credits up to $1,500 when installed in 2010.
To ensure the highest level of energy efficiency and tax credit eligibility in your ENERGY STAR purchases, it is always important to consult your green home builder.
Maximize Storage Space in Every Room
A Custom Island Adds Kitchen Storage
Be honest, can you ever really have too much storage? Ample storage space is one of the most sought after qualities people look for in a new home. Building a new custom home is an excellent opportunity to ensure that your new house has all of the storage amenities that you desire.
Before we go through the various types of storage that can be planned into your new build, we want to clear up a common misconception. Adding storage space does not have to mean bedroom closets only. There are several opportunities throughout your home to satisfy storage needs that are often overlooked. Here are some of the top picks for adding extra storage spaces to your new home.
GARAGE
Built-in shelves and workbenches are a simple solution for garage storage. They lessen clutter from large tools and smaller items, such as drill bits, that can get lost in a mess of any handyman’s toys. Garage storage organization can also be done by adding drawers into the work bench. For storing rakes and lawnmowers, consider adding a storage shed onto the rear of the home.
FOYER
When entering your home, it is so easy to drop shoes, purses, briefcases and backpacks, without having a way to organize or hide these items. Having a built-in coat rack and organized shelving systems right near your front or a rear door easily helps keep walkways clean, while also creating a stylish entry way. Benches with storage underneath are another great idea and provide a last-minute spot to tie shoes or remove them.
KITCHEN
Kitchen storage organization is a necessity for any homeowner and there is no such thing as too many cabinets. Make sure your home plan features a copious amount of cabinets and that your builder takes full advantage of all of the space in the plan. A Lazy Susan-style cabinet provides a functional space that also reduces the need to overcrowd a pantry, as it is another area where storage should be plentiful in the kitchen. Storage racks inside longer or lower, hard-to-reach cabinets make it easy to keep dishes and plastic containers organized.
BATHROOM
Bathrooms often have the reputation of lacking in storage space. But with so many modern amenities including window seats, towel racks, built-in shelving and even bureaus used in vanities adding counter space, drawers and cabinetry, such is no longer the case. With these features in place, your bathroom will take on a new life, offering storage for everything from toiletries to towels and linens to dirty clothes.
ATTIC
One of the most popular new ideas is transforming the attic space to create sizeable walk-in storage rooms. Many new homes now feature these walk-in or walk-out attics. Space is plentiful in the attic so why not take advantage of it? The comfort of no longer climbing up tiny, unstable stairs is worth more than peace of mind.
No matter where you need storage space the most, chances are you can never have enough. When building a new home keep these tips in mind and remember to always maximize your space.
Paint Color Trends for Custom Homes
Paint Color Trends for Custom Homes
Ever wonder why certain rooms tend to invoke one emotion over another? For instance, warm red-hued kitchens can promote hunger, while cool blue bedrooms invite relaxation.
Choosing the right colors can be as vital to the comfort and success of your new home as your well-thought-out appliances. Your builder or general contractor can assist you with popular color choices, but the majority of these decisions should be based upon your personal tastes. Building a custom home is all about getting what you as the homeowner want, but before painting the whole house red or blue, consider adapting these trends to express your design style throughout your new home.
NEUTRAL COLORS
Neutral colors have a misconception of being boring or uninventive, but neutral doesn’t automatically mean tan or beige. When choosing your home’s colors, think in earth tones. By choosing warm, muted shades for your color scheme, you can invoke an intended feel without overwhelming the senses. Plus the addition of your furniture, decorative fixtures and pieces of artwork are what will complete the room. So if it’s feels done before it’s even furnished and decorated, your room’s wall color may be too heavy.
MOOD DETERMINED BY COLOR
When dressing your home up with color, be careful to marry together the right shade with the right emotion. Warm colors like red, orange or yellow work best in rooms that exude energy, like the kitchen. Kids’ rooms are often bright for a reason, as stimulation and creativity abound with just a dash of color. Cooler shades in the bedroom or bathroom, such as blue, green or gray, conjure up thoughts of mountain and beach side views, which typically produce very relaxing environments.
OPEN FLOOR PLANS
When choosing colors for a home with an open floor plan, the home color design must be cohesive. This is an area where a neutral like a soft chocolate or deep beige can still lend “color” to a space while still allowing you to have fun with your floor coverings, window treatments and accessories. Repeating a color or using different shades of the same color helps create a flow from room to room and enhance the open layout. Brighten each room’s personality with fabrics, window treatments or attractive tile work.
TRENDS FOR 2010
Interior paint decorating trends for 2010 include purples, such as eggplant or wine shades, oranges (think terra cotta) and yellows. Whether a pastel, or rich shade with orange hues, yellow is a stimulating shade in any room. Just be careful not to overdo it. Green is also a popular home decorating trend, and not just the color. Using organic and environmentally friendly paint products that contain no dyes and are made from natural processes is an easy way to produce a healthy home environment.
For those needing unique color decorating ideas, painting stripes and patterns have become quite popular, while painting just one wall an accent color is an easy way to add color without drastically changing the room. No matter your preference, decorating with color is a fun and exciting process that allows your creativity to flow and so that your family can flourish in your custom home.
Tips for Choosing Kitchen Appliances
One of the most exciting rooms to customize when having your new home built is the kitchen. And no kitchen design is complete without the right appliances. Key factors in the selection of your new appliances include price, method and frequency of use, as well as the look and feel of the pieces.
Budgeting for the Right Appliances
Kitchen appliances typically account for about nine percent of the budget when building a new home. Therefore, the life expectancy of each of your new appliances should be a long one. Plus, whether or not your new house is a HealthyBuilt green home, you may want to consider installing EnergyStar appliances which may cost more upfront, but will save money on energy bills over time.
Use of Your Kitchen Appliances
Refrigerators can eat up the biggest chunk of your appliance budget, so choosing the right one for your home and family is vital. Some internal features to consider are shelving depth and space, Twin Cooling technology, gallon door door bins and water filters. While the external look, feel and dimensions of each piece are vital to maintaining design harmony in your kitchen, first considering your family’s cooking style and eating habits will help determine which one is right for you.
Talk to your family and make a note of how you typically use your stovetop and oven to help select the right ones for your new kitchen. Some cooks are loyal fans of gas ranges, while others prefer the sleek look of modern electric stovetops. While the overall look and feel of your kitchen appliances is important, performance and preference take the lead in selection.
The kitchen sink is becoming an increasingly popular site for putting your design eye to good use. Attractive hardware, under-counter mounts, different color options, shapes and materials all allow you to express your inner kitchen designer.
Your new kitchen appliances each serve a unique purpose, but by working with your builder, each one can be integrated into the design of your new kitchen to create an inviting space for both cooking and gathering.
Home Theaters Transform a Home
Custom Home Theater System
Home theater systems are not just about picture and sound quality any longer. This entertaining electronics trend has transformed into an interior design mainstay. It doesn’t matter if you are installing your system into a new custom home or an existing remodel; visual congruency between your home and theater system is vital to maintaining design harmony throughout your house. Theater systems should look good, even when the TV is not turned on.
The past 20 years have demonstrated a fast evolution of the home theater system design. Bulky, big screen televisions and movie projection devices have been replaced by sleek plasma screens and Blu-Ray hi-def video systems. Tiny speakers are seamlessly built into walls and ceilings. Even flat screens are disguised behind paintings and tapestries. Comfortable and flexible options for seating also abound.
Selecting a Home Theater System
The first step is considering your family’s viewing preferences. Do you prefer a hi-resolution screen for savoring every detail of your favorite movies, a large screen television for gathering around during a big game, or a modest-yet-accommodating TV for enjoying family time? Be sure to ask for professional advice from your builder and interior designer to ensure that you select a system that fits best with your viewing needs. Keep in mind, the home theater’s design will need to incorporate a sound system that fulfills these and aesthetic needs.
Setting Up Your Theater System
The next step is to determine the size and configuration of the system you choose. The size and shape of your viewing room will govern seating arrangements, placement of equipment, and storage options. An electronics professional can work with you and your custom home contractor to determine the best usage for the space.
Seamlessly Incorporating Your System
Incorporating the system to suit your home’s look and feel can mean the difference between an eyesore of a room and an enjoyable space for gathering with friends and family. Comfortable chairs or sofas that recline, swivel, and allow the viewer to adjust are a few of the many popular seating options. Eco-friendly dimmers on the lighting systems, attractive wall hangings or curtains for sound quality, and warm, non-distracting colors can help make your room design a success. Luxury includes like a custom wet bar or vintage popcorn machine can also add to your viewing pleasure.
An effective home theater design is just one special way that you can transform your home. Time spent viewing movies with family should be time enjoyed.
Follow Me
Recent Posts
Categories
Links
Photos of Our Work
