Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Thu, May 17, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
In the design of older houses, you will find that the home is divided into several different rooms that are each used for their own specific purpose. You might have a library, a study, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and a children’s play room, which are all designated as separated spaces closed off with doors and walls. While this style of home has its advantages, each of the rooms can feel closed off and isolated from each other.
However, when you are designing your own home you have the option of creating a large multi-purpose, open space instead that can be used for many different activities.
Why Great Rooms are So Great
Having large, open spaces within your home that can be used for many different purposes is an advantageous design feature. Rather than having many separate rooms which are designed for very specific purposes, the modern trend in home design is to have large, open rooms which can be used for dining, lounging, gathering, working, and much more.
This feature in home design is known as a Great Room and it is defined as a large space that combines several of the functions of other traditional rooms, such as the living room, study and family room. Most new homes will have large great rooms at the center of the home with raised ceilings, large windows and a clean and spacious feeling.
What Do You Use Your Space For?
Imagine a large open plan in your new home with its spacious common area. It might have a sectional sofa set up with a flat screen television so that you and your family can relax and watch a movie. It might also have a few other chairs and small tables that can be used when guests are over when everyone is having snacks and chatting.
The space might also have a computer and a desk incorporated , that can be used as a workspace. If you have children, this open area might also include a play area with space for toys and books to be kept. If not, there might be a bookshelf, comfy chair and a reading lamp where you can enjoy curling up for a quiet read. This room might even include the kitchen, which is separated by a counter rather than by a full wall.
When your home has a “great room” you have the freedom to incorporate anything you like into this space. This multi-purpose room becomes the crossroads of the home and the room where you will spend most of your time, bringing the family closer together.
Talk to us today about how you can incorporate a great room into the design of your
brand new home.
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Tue, May 15, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
You’ve heard the old adage: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” That’s never been truer than when you’re building a home. Every home—whether it’s in Meriden, Middletown or Wallingford—begins with a plan and a design. If the plan is less than stellar, the house built from that plan will be as well. A good design needs to take into account your specific wants, needs, and lifestyle. So how do you find the right plan for your home? Here are five tips that can help.
Look for a builder/designer with “big ears”: Of course you want the person designing your house to be qualified, with experience and ideas. But your design needs to take into account that it’s your house. When you’re looking for a builder/designer make sure you find someone who listens to what you want.
Keep your “options” open: When you’re looking at portfolios or samples and you keep seeing the same thing it might mean a lack of creativity. Or it could mean that the designer or builder has a favorite style that he’s locked into. Even if the plan you’re looking at is an existing plan—ask about options that will make it more “you.”
Show as well as tell: You may not use exactly the same terminology as your builder or designer. One way to avoid miscommunication about your expectations is to show pictures of the kinds of features you want in addition to telling your potential designer/builder what you want. You might even drive past some specific homes to point out features you want.
Don’t confuse your job description: Your job is to describe what you want—not to actually design the plan. An important part of the process is to let your architect be the architect. Describe what you want, but don’t try to do the architect’s job. You’ll both end up frustrated.
The importance of chemistry: You don’t have to be “best friends” with your designer or builder, but it really helps if there is good chemistry between the two (or three) of you. This doesn’t mean that you have to have the same tastes—but it does mean that your builder and or designer should be able to understand what you want—and even get excited about your ideas. If that happens there’s a much better likelihood that you’ll be excited about what he or she shows you.
We have a number of outstanding designs for you to consider if you’re looking to build in
Meriden, Middletown or
Wallingford. Maybe one of them is just what you’re looking for—or can be adapted to meet your specific needs. However, if you want to build from a totally custom plan, we’re more than happy to do that. Just keep these five tips in mind as you look for someone to design your dream house.
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Thu, May 10, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
When you are working together with your builder to design a home, one of the factors to consider is whether or not it is accessible to people with limited mobility.
Even if you do not have mobility issues yourself, you can still make plans for your home to accommodate people who are less mobile .
You might have older family members over as guests who have limited mobility and who will benefit from an home that is easily accessible. It is not difficult or expensive to build an accessible home; it simply takes a bit of forethought during the planning stage.
The Front Entrance
One of the most important points for accessibility is the front entrance. Iif this is not accessible, a disabled person will not even be able to enter your home. Rather than having stairs at your front entrance, you should have a door which is level with the ground or a ramp option for a wheelchair. This can also be helpful if someone visits you with a baby stroller.
The door of the front entrance should be wide enough to allow wheelchair access into the home and give your guests room to get inside and turn around. This will also make moving furniture into your home much easier.
Accessible Bathrooms
Consider the bathrooms in your home. Could a person with limited mobility use them on their own? You should have at least one bathroom on the main floor of your home for visitors. The bathroom should have enough of a circular turning space within it for a walker or a wheelchair to turn around. It should also have hand rails next to the bathtub to steady yourself as you get into the water. These hand rails don’t need to look industrial or unattractive, as there are many different types of bathroom designs that incorporate this feature in a stylish way.
Plenty of Space
Accessible homes should have enough space within the living areas and hallways to maneuver a wheelchair without knocking over furniture or scraping the walls! It helps to choose a home design that is an open plan with plenty of floor space and wide hallways. Also, be sure to consider the placement of handles, door knobs, light switches and other features throughout the home so that they are reachable by all residents and guests.
With a little forethought and planning you can create a wonderful home that will accommodate visitors of all abilities and will be a place where you can live your life in comfort and convenience as you grow older. Talk to us today to find out more about customizing your new home.
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Wed, May 09, 2012 @ 10:30 PM
If you could create your dream master bedroom, what design features would it have?
When you build your own home, you have the opportunity to add in features which will make your private sleeping space much more luxurious. Your bedroom is a place where you will spend many hours of your life,so why not make it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible?
Here are a few of the most popular luxury master bedroom features that you could include in your custom home:
Your Own Private Sitting Area
One of the luxuries that you can include in your master suite is a space away from the bed which is designed for watching television, paying bills, reading and other tasks. When you create your own home you can allow as much space as you like within the master bedroom for this extra sitting area. By using sectional sofas, area rugs, lounge chairs and other furniture you can define the space as separate from the sleeping area. You can also add task lighting for reading and a collection of your favorite books in a stylish bookshelf.
Fireplaces Bring Warmth
What could be more comforting than curling up on a cold winter’s evening next to a roaring fireplace with a mug of warm hot chocolate and a great book? When you are designing your custom home you have the option of including a fireplace within your master bedroom suite, so that you can enjoy the warmth and atmosphere that this brings.
A Private Spa Retreat
Another aspect of your master bedroom to consider when creating your custom designed home is the bathroom. To be truly luxurious, it should be a spa-like luxury retreat which blends seamlessly with the rest of the master bedroom. Make sure to leave lots of room for a large bath or a walk in shower, as well as a vanity with lighting appropriate for make-up application and styling hair.
A Closet to Die For
If you have outfits for every occasion why not create a spacious and well organized space to store them? A walk-in closet is a very practical addition to a master bedroom because it provides plenty of space to keep clothing, shoes, accessories, coats and other belongings. It's great to be able to walk into your wardrobe and be surrounded by all the choices of what to wear!
Your dream master bedroom might have one or two of these luxury features, or perhaps all of them, it is completely up to you. To learn more about how you can create the home of your dreams with you ideal master bedroom, just ask us!
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Tue, May 08, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
At times it’s easy to get the impression that “building green” is all about saving money. Obviously, the less energy we use to run our homes, the less we pay in utilities. But there’s more to the story than that, and a note we recently received from Energy Star really drove that home for us.
Here’s part of their note to us:
Thank you for your continued partnership with ENERGY STAR. By building ENERGY STAR qualified homes, your company is doing its part to help protect the environment while offering consumers new homes that are more comfortable and save money on utility bills.
Our records indicate that your company built a total of seven ENERGY STAR qualified Homes in 2011* This is equivalent to:
- Eliminating the emissions from 3.43 vehicles
- Saving 20,748 lbs of coal
- Planting 5.67 acres of trees
- Saving homeowners $3,129 on their utility bills
We thank you for the important contribution that your organization has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection.
We’re all about giving our customers the most value for their money, so of course we’re delighted at the money they are able to save on their utility bills. But reducing the impact that homes have on the environment in Connecticut is a pretty good feeling, too! We love the region we live in and want to be able to continue to enjoy it for years to come. And if the way we build homes can reduce the negative impact on the environment around us, we’re delighted to be able to do that.
If you love the area and want to be able to preserve it for future generations, please consider us when it’s time to build
your home. Here’s a look at what we’re building in
Middletown,
Meriden, and
Wallingford.
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Thu, May 03, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
Imagine yourself 10, 20 or 30 years from now. Would you be able to live in your current home on your own when you are in your 70s or 80s?
With approximately 85 million baby boomers getting to the age when they are ready to retire, they are thinking about how they will be able to live in their own home independently for as long as possible. Once they become empty nesters, many are choosing to have new homes built that will accommodate their needs for many years to come.
When building a new home you have the opportunity to look ahead and add special design features that will make your house easier to navigate as you grow older. Walk-in shower stalls, wide hallways, easy-to-open cabinets and other details will give you the ability to take care of yourself in your own home even when your mobility becomes limited.
This concept known as “Aging in Place”, is becoming a very popular consideration for homeowners. Here are a few of the most common aging in place features that can be added into your home:
Wider Doors and Hallways
When you design a home with slightly wider doors and hallways you make it easier for a wheelchair or a walker to navigate around the house. You also make it easier to turn around with a cane or any other walking aid.
Grab Bars in the Bathroom
When you are older, you might need to hold on to a grab-bar to steady yourself when getting in and out of the bath or shower. There are many different types of grab bars that can be fitted onto the wall or the side of the shower and can be coordinated with the decor of your bathroom. You might also consider a bathtub which has a door that you can use for easy access.
Easy-To-Open Handles
If arthritis affects your hands and wrists, you might find it difficult or painful to twist doorknobs or open cabinets. When designing your custom build home you should keep this in mind and choose door handles which will be easier to open, such as a simple handle that you can push down instead of turn. You should also consider designing your cabinets so that they are at an easy to reach level so you don't have to bend down or reach up to access them.
Even though you might not need these features now,
building a custom home means that you can think ahead so that your home will be comfortable to live in as you grow older. Talk to us today to learn more about including aging in place features in your new home.
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Wed, May 02, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
When you are designing your new home, take a moment to think about your daily routine from the moment you wake up in the morning to when you go to sleep at night. Think about what you do throughout the day and how the design of your home can accommodate these activities.
Rather than having to establish your behaviors around the way that your home is laid out, building your own custom home allows you to create a living space that works around you. It is possible to create a home that suits your living style perfectly and offers the ideal space for all of your daily activities.
Waking Up in the Morning
What is the first thing you like to do when you get up at the beginning of the day? Starting your day off right can make it much easier to tackle what comes next. If you like to go outside and get some fresh air first thing in the morning, you might want to add a balcony or porch from your bedroom so that you can step directly outside and greet the day.
Do you eat a quick breakfast or do you enjoy lingering over your coffee while reading the newspaper? You can set up your ideal breakfast space, whether you like to perch on a stool in the kitchen or sit quietly in a breakfast nook by the window.
Daily Routine
What do you like to do during the day and how can your home design reflect your routine? If you work from home, you can incorporate an office where you can get your work done in a peaceful and quiet setting. If you have hobbies, you can create a custom space for working on them. If you include exercise as part of your day, consider incorporating a home gym. All parts of the home can be designed to be as useful as possible during your daily routine.
The Evening
Another thing to think about when designing your custom home in Wallingford is where you will have your evening meal. If your family usually eats together, where will everyone sit? If you are having friends over or hosting a party, is there an adequate space for everyone to dine and gather?
After dinner, is there a sitting area where you can retire and drink a glass of wine while chatting or watching a movie? Also, at the very end of the day you will want your bedroom to be a quiet and comforting place where you can relax and go to sleep.
As you are designing your custom home, think about a typical day in your life from start to finish and consider how each of the areas in the house will accommodate your routine. If you want to learn more about designing your custom home, talk to our friendly home building experts.
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Tue, May 01, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
Nobody wants to pay more than they should for anything. And when you’re making a significant investment like building a home, it’s particularly critical. Many homebuyers in the Connecticut region (and elsewhere) have been keeping their eye on the economy, on home prices, and on interest rates to make sure they get the best deal possible.
There are more and more indications that now may be the right time to make a move. Consider what CNN’s Money Magazine reported April 23, 2012:
For today's homebuyers, the weight of the monthly mortgage bill is the lightest it's been in decades. Put 20% down on a median-priced ($154,400) existing home, and your payment will come to $616 a month, only 12.1% of the median U.S. family income. In 98 of the top 100 metro areas, it's now cheaper to buy than rent. "If you have good credit," says IHS Global Insight economist Patrick Newport, "this is the best time in 40 years to buy." Want to trade up? You may think the buyer of your current home is getting a deal, but you might get an even better one on your next place.
Is there a “perfect” time to buy? If there is, it’s probably impossible to predict. But right now prices are good, interest rates are low—and builders are available to work on your home. Once building begins in earnest again, you may find yourself waiting until the builder you want—with the quality and floor plan you want—is available.
Sunwood Development is ready to move when you are, with a variety of floor plans from which you can choose, whether you plan to live in
Meridan,
Wallingford, or
Middletown. Want to use your own design? No problem! We can do that, too!
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Thu, Apr 26, 2012 @ 10:29 AM
If you
are having your own new home built to a custom design, you will be in charge of a very large and exciting project.
Having a custom home made for you is a huge project and it takes a lot of time and effort. You will need to speak to many different people, such as the architect who designs the home and all of the builders, contractors and tradesmen who construct it. In most cases, the company that offers custom homes will take charge of most of the responsibilities. Here at Sunwood, we handle all the details so you don't have to worry.
Choose a Good Company to Work With
The very first step is to choose a reliable and trustworthy company to work with to complete your new home. This will make a huge difference in the quality of the product as well as the ease of the building process along every step of the way.
You should look for someone who has many years of experience building properties and can show you positive testimonials from many other satisfied clients. Ask them for their credentials and for written guarantees. You should also check that they have third-party property and injury insurance as well as legitimate licenses and registrations.
Communication is Key
One of the most important things when your new home is being built is keeping a clear line of communication between you and the builder. From the very beginning you should tell the company building your new home exactly what you want and express the details of the project to them.
Be Informed
You should be as well informed as possible about the steps involved in the building process. You will want to understand why the builder is doing what he is doing and be able to question him if they are doing something which doesn’t make sense to you.
However, you should also remember that custom home builders will have many years of experience and most of the time you will be able to trust their judgement in selecting the materials, planning the construction and selecting subcontractors. However, as the owner you have the responsibility to review the project periodically and approve of all decisions.
Be Patient
Ideally a new home project will be carried through without any problems, but nothing is perfect. There is always a chance that the project will be delayed by bad weather, material shortages or other issues. You should be prepared for potential delays and be able to manage a change in plans. You might want to have an alternative plan in this situation.
When you choose us to build your new home, we will strive to work together with you to create the house of your dreams.
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Wed, Apr 25, 2012 @ 09:30 AM
Are you considering remodeling your home in the near future? Although updating your living space is a lot of work, it is a very exciting project and you can look forward to enjoying the final results for many years. Here are a few important things to keep in mind for all types of remodeling projects:
Thinking Ahead to Make Things Easier
During your remodel it is a good time to stop and think about what features you can add to improve your home. When you are remodeling your home, you have a chance to set the ground work in place so that your living spaces will be much easier to use in the future.
For example, if you have found that your living room never had enough outlets to plug in all of your devices at the same time, this is your chance to add another one. If you always struggled to organize the shoes by the front door, a renovation can give you a chance to build in a small niche for a shoe cubby. To determine what changes need to be made, think about how you use your home and what little details you have found that it is missing.
Know what you want and Save Money
The old cliché is that remodeling tends to become an endless project which sucks up unlimited amounts of money. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. This only happens when homeowners do not have a specific plan for their remodeling project and they start saying to themselves, “Well, while we are at it we may as well…” This will lead to more and more tasks being added to the project, which will blow the budget and the time schedule right out of the water.
How can you avoid this? Have a clear plan from start to finish about what you are remodeling, how you will do it and how much money you will spend. List the steps of the remodeling project clearly and make a specific budget of what everything will cost. This way, if you start veering from your original plan you can catch yourself before you start getting carried away.
Think About Resale Value
Most of the time, you will be renovating your home in order to make it more enjoyable to live in. However, it is also important to think about how the renovations will affect your home’s value if you eventually resell it. You will want to make sure that the remodeling project is tasteful and practical and will appeal to a future potential buyer. For example, modern open floor plan kitchens and large bathrooms have universal appeal, but other quirky architectural features might not be appreciated by all.
Before embarking on your remodeling project, contact our home improvement experts for friendly and knowledgeable help.