Home Styles

Old world styles are popular. French, English, Tuscan and Spanish homes with stone or stucco walls, tile roofs, iron fixtures, heavy beams and rustic floors are in demand. A sense of historic connection resonates with buyers today.

The Craftsman style, built in the early 1900’s, is back. Features of this style, such as cobblestones, deep eaves, tapered columns and wide trim, favor the handmade look over mass produced.

Farmhouses and country homes are perfect remodel candidates and prototypes for new homes. Native materials, wood windows, simple floor plans, and warm colors connect with nature and earlier times.

The retro look is fashionable. Ranch styles and split levels built in the 1950’s are perfect for sleek remodels, and fit with fashionable furniture styles.

Urban modern is everywhere. Modern open plans make use of color, tile, glass, and experimental materials such as plastic and metal.

Floor Plan

The preferred ceiling height is 9′-11′. Two story ceilings are out. In small rooms these feel like towers.

Lots of floor level changes are not desirable.

Most buyers more…

Adding a Solar Power System to Your Home

Solar power systems generally come in the following types of systems: heating and cooling systems, hot water systems, cooking systems, and photovoltaic systems or systems that generate electricity.

Solar energy can be active or passive, but solar energy used for homes that are already built is usually active. In other words, it uses mechanical devices to set up the system; whereas, the passive solar system employs architectural techniques for optimal use of solar energy.

If you are just building a home, passive solar energy can be built into your home. In other words, your entire window system becomes your solar collector. Solar building contractors employ various measures to insure the greatest possible solar collecting ability of the home - construction materials, building location, building shape, location of indoor spaces, and entranceways all figure in the construction of a new solar-powered home. They also consider climate and natural environmental processes in order to provide a continuous flow of energy.

High heating and electric bills may be the necessity for this project. Solar energy is virtually free and your long-term benefits will be that you no longer more…