An Icy Reception

An Icy Reception

Depending on the design of your home and its roof, water run-off can be a major problem for your driveway. Take for instance this home: no gutters on the front side over the garage. Yet two dormers over the garage form a “V”-shaped area directing rainwater off the roof and onto the driveway. No problem until winter. During the day, snow melt from the roof drips onto the drive. At night it would freeze. For most of the winter there will be icy driveways.

Clarinda - #43020 Fox Builders

The Clarinda (#43020) as built by Fox Builders - downspouts on each side of the garage to divert water flow.

Another configuration that could present a hazard as well as concrete damage: a gutter downspout that empties between the garage doors. This directs water off the roof nicely, but again in the winter, creates ice problems on the driveway. And, the year-‘round diversion of water onto that portion of the driveway causes lots of concrete settling problems resulting in a very uneven driveway.

The solution in both instances is to place gutters and downspouts that direct the water to the side yard instead of the driveway. Thus, keeping your driveway from building up with ice in the winter, and maintaining the integrity of the concrete all year.

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Cover Photo: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/winter">Winter photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com</a>

Make Cleaning a Breeze!

Make Cleaning a Breeze!

As America's Premier Woman-Centric Home Designer, we not only design home plans for the way you live, we also keep an eye out for new or unique products that can enhance your home's livability and/or your family's lifestyle. Hoover®  has given their customers the ultimate in versatility and east with its ONEPWR™ line – nine cord-free cleaning tools that all share the same battery. Need a high-powered vacuum for one area and a hard surface sweeper for your outdoor space? No problem! With the ONEPWR line of tools, you can easily swap the rechargeable battery life. And because the tools are cordless, they can go wherever you go – meaning you are no longer tethered to the wall trying to find a convenient outlet.

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Images Courtesy: Hoover
Learn more at Hoover.

(Product spotlights are for informational purposes only.)

Think Storage

Think Storage

Storage. It’s a much-needed element in any home. And, we rarely hear homeowners say they have too much storage. But, that square footage costs money, and now averages upwards of $150 per square foot. Let’s say you have a 6’ x 10’ closet space; that’s 60 square feet, or approximately $9,000. That means storage space is expensive. One way to mitigate the expense is to include a well-designed storage system. They not only maximize space; they help you organize your stuff—and your life!

Areas where you can maximize storage space without adding square footage include extra shelving over your washer and dryer, under the stairs, or in the garage – again, storage systems are an excellent way to organize and contain items; also, think suspended shelves or shelves above your garage door tracks.

Specialized Storage. Do you dream of a huge kitchen pantry? How about a cedar closet for your households’ off-season clothes? Where will you stash the 36-roll package of toilet paper? Do you have room for the grand-kids’ toys and games? Is a wine room in your future? Wouldn’t it be great to have a handy place for your Christmas tree?

Over the years we’ve often heard homeowners requesting specialized spaces to accommodate their own unique needs. Gathering up all the ideas, we created what we call a Signature Space® – a small flex space/room measuring 6’ x 8’ that can be used however the homeowner wishes. The Serena (#42282) plan’s Signature Space could be used as a craft room, toys/games room, or customized storage.

Our Livability at a Glance™ color-coded floor plans help home buyers focus in on the elements they desire most in a home: Storing, Flexible Living, De-Stressing, and Entertaining. As in the Tillamook (#43038) plan, the different areas of the home are identified by color (Storing is orange) so you can visualize where storage is located/could be located. Using our Livability Search Tool, you choose which area(s) of the home are most important to you and those plans identified as being strong in this area(s) will filter into your plan search. Which of these four areas are most important to you? Take our Livability at a Glance Quiz to find out!

 

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Cover photo: Note the electrical outlet in the pantry; handy for charging small appliances. Photo by Renee D. Calvin Photography.

Entertaining Spaces

Entertaining Spaces

Open floor plans are favored by buyers who enjoy entertaining. This is most noticeable when it’s time to eat. Enjoy having friends and relatives over for holiday meals and there’s 14 of you together? That’s when you’ll appreciate selecting a home design where the dining area flows freely into an adjoining space. Add leaves to your dining table or simply add another table, temporarily borrowing space from that adjoining room. That makes for memorable entertaining, with friends and family as everyone’s together.

The Waterside (#7408) plan offers multiple spaces for entertaining: great room, hearth room, eating area off the kitchen, and a formal dining room/flex space as well as a rear covered patio. The dual-sided fireplace between the hearth room and the great room conveys a unique ambiance that connects the spaces. In addition, the raised eating bar in the kitchen is a wonderful spot for additional seating or a convenient spot to set up the buffet!

Our Livability at a Glance™ color-coded floor plans help home buyers focus in on the elements they desire most in a home: Entertaining, De-stressing, Storing, and Flexible Living. As in the Waterside plan shown, the different areas of the home are identified by color (Entertaining is yellow and Flexible Living is green) so you can visualize where the entertaining can take place. Using our Livability Search Tool, you choose which area(s) of the home are most important to you and those plans identified as being strong in this area(s) will filter into your plan search. Further, if you would like to see what areas are most important to you for your home’s design, take our Livability at a Glance Quiz!

For more resources on thoughtful design:

Cover photo: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas">Christmas photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com</a>

Keep Packages Safe with a Shipping Vestibule

Keep Packages Safe with a Shipping Vestibule

"It's a waste of time waiting around for the delivery driver, but if I don't, I'm always worried my package might not be there then I get home." "I may sell a dozen kits over the weekend [home-based business], but what I dread is having to plan my day around waiting for the delivery driver to pick them up."

It's almost become commonplace to hear about packages being stolen off porches, especially during the holidays, which is very disheartening. Whether it's a package being delivered or shipped out, you want it to be secure. There are apps that you can use in conjunction with a delivery service where the driver can open your garage door (or front door) and leave/take packages. But, how do you guarantee this is safe? We'd like to think delivery drivers are reputable and honest and won't take advantage of having access to our garage, even our house in some cases. This is where the Shipping Vestibule design is a nice alternative.

In the Leinart plan #29336, notice the shipping zone to the left of the front entry. There’s a secure closet accessed from the porch by your delivery driver keeping your home deliveries safe (you could install the app on this door for added safety and limit access to your home). Similarly, if you sell a dozen items online over the weekend, the shipping zone is ideal for packaging those items that you can then place in that shipping closet. No longer do you have to wait around for that delivery driver to drop off or pick up your items!

Talk to one of our plan specialists to learn more and see how a Shipping Vestibule can be incorporated into your home design! 

Cover photo: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business">Business photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com</a>

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