Moving Tips | Make Your Next Move a Green Move

Moving Tips | You picked out your new place. You’ve arranged for the movers. You’re excited, you’re pumped, and you’re ready.

But are you green?

The environment might not be top of mind when you’re in the middle of a move, but there are plenty of ways to be kind to Mother Nature without going out of your way or slowing down the process.

The first and most obvious path for green move is to have less actual mass to haul. There is no better time than before a move to go through your clothes, electronics, small appliances and linens, etc., to get rid of the things you know in your heart of hearts you won’t be using.

Unique Products for Custom Homes

Custom Homes | Dwell on Design is one part turbo-powered home show, one part industry conference and one part Hollywood extravaganza with funky sets and design celebrities.

This energetic 11-year-old event gets bigger every year and has expanded to New York, as well as continuing in its Los Angeles flagship location, Dwell on Design, Los Angeles (DODLA).

Produced by Dwell Magazine, DODLA offers a unique blend of funky jewelry, fabulous furnishings, upscale appliances and offbeat accessories. These are some of the best new products for those building or living in a new home.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Great Ideas for Bonus Rooms

Flex rooms. Bonus rooms. Double-duty rooms. Multipurpose rooms.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Whatever they’re called, these new-home spaces, used for different or multiple needs, are very popular with today’s homebuyers.

A flex room might be defined as “several options within the same square footage,” explains Bridjette Shelfo.

“The consumer typically has three or four options for that flex space, whether they want it to be garage space, a game room or another guest suite with a bathroom,” she says. “Sometimes it shifts a few feet in one direction or another, but it is in the same general area and takes up the same general space.”

New House Builder | What's In and Out in Home Design?

Warm, welcoming and comfortable. These words describe the ideal place to get away at the end of the day. The kind of place you want to spend relaxing weekends with family and friends. In a word, your home.

New House Builder | Many homeowners have moved beyond the desire for a private refuge and are instead focusing on creating inviting entertainment areas — a place where family and friends are always welcome.

"The home isn't just for the person who lives there anymore," said Linda Rossi. "It's where people create memories and share their lives with family and friends. The emphasis is now on making a home feel inviting and comfortable."

"When our buyers begin selecting flooring, designing their kitchens and picking options, trends become obvious," Rossi said. "That combined with the expertise of our model home decorators keeps us up on what's in and what's out."

So what are home buyers looking for?

Home Building Trends | The New American Home (Pt. 2)

Green, Greener, Greenest

Home Building Trends | When it comes to energy efficiency, the TNAH has always been leading edge and this year’s home takes green beyond accepted benchmarks to the next level. “We’ve surpassed the standards of LEED Platinum and NAHB’s Emerald,” says Bernard. With a HERS score of minus-10, this home is expected to use 104-percent less energy than a standard new home. 

Such a high level of efficiency is achieved with a combination of technologies, including the use of open cell and closed cell foam insulation that seals the exterior and reflects UV rays, keeping the roof cooler, extensive solar panels, hydronic air handlers and low-maintenance building materials. For example, the exterior looks like wood, but it is actually a high-performance stucco.

Home Building Trends | The New American Home (Pt. 1)

Home Building Trends | “Pre-engineered custom” might not be a familiar phrase, but there’s a good chance that it will become one of residential construction’s buzzwords if the official show home of the International Builders’ Show slated to open in mid-January in Las Vegas is any indication.

Rather than creating a unique one-of-a-kind show home, the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) opted for a different approach this year, making The New American Home (TNAH) a production home that feels individualized. Think of it as production meets custom.

Custom Homes | All About Customized Cabinets

Cabinets are increasingly becoming more simple, yet more high-tech.

Custom Homes | While we’ve all had to adjust in the last few years thanks to the economy, the good news is that the kitchen is still holding its primary importance within the home.

In fact, consumers have been willing to take down walls, combine rooms or steal space from the dining room or home office to make their kitchen a great space for family get-togethers and, often, for multiple work stations that include informal office spaces and various food prep areas.

Cabinetry remains a major functional and architectural consideration in kitchen design. Moreover, the use of cabinetry beyond the kitchen is growing, including installations as entertainment centers, butler pantries, laundry rooms, home offices, bars and even outdoor entertainment or kitchen areas. Another growing cabinet market is in master bath suites. More than just a bath vanity, these can include whole wardrobe storage systems.