It's The Custom

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Like many industries, innovations in green home building have become mired in speculation and myths. The heavy use, and often misuse, of  “green” messages across many industries has fostered a cynicism for some. While others are holding on to the early price tags or associations with the word.

However, like many industries, the building industry is always evolving. As we discover new information, technologies and products we have learned that green home building is not as much a type of building as it is the next evolution in building. Green and energy efficient homes are what have resulted from research and innovation, and with that understanding are gaining a much wider acceptance.

Here are a few of the top myths about green home building that we hope won’t be around much longer…

Green homes are no longer more expensive to build.
When energy efficient building products first came on the market they were leading edge, and tended to be more pricey that their traditional alternatives. We see this trend in every industry from electronics to clothing. However, as companies begin adopting sustainable, eco-friendly and energy efficient models in their design and practice the cost continues to come down. And most importantly, the cost of living and maintenance during the lifetime of the home is reduced with more durable construction and materials over traditionally built homes.

Remodeling a home is not always more “green” than building new.
Homes that were built 50 or 60 years ago were built with very different tools and specifications. For instance, some homes weren’t built with insulation at all and did not take into consideration environmental factors such as the home’s orientation on the lot to take advantage of natural sunlight and warmth. But as we learn more about how the environment around the home impacts everything from energy bills to the health of the homeowners, we are now building homes that are more efficient and comfortable when a remodel could not possibly meet these needs.

Green homes are not just for environmentalists.
Since we began building green homes in 2006 we have incorporated energy efficient and sustainable practices into projects for so many clients for so many different reasons. The top reason, however, comes down to increased durability, less maintenance problems and lowered utility bills. While there are environmental benefits to all of these factors, at the end of the day these homes are also better investments for our clients because of these same reasons.

As time passes and people begin to understand the benefits of using green practices when building their new home we suspect that there will also be a better understanding that green building is more about innovation than a movement.

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With the new year just getting started the gym is packed and downloads for budgeting templates are at their peak. While self improvement is an admirable and very popular goal, improving your living space can also bring a sense of calm and order to your life-a concept at the core of many top new year’s resolutions.

So while you’re plotting your reps, dollars or yoga poses consider adding these three design resolutions to your goals for the new year:

Learn to Let Go of The Outdated-This is probably one of the hardest things to do, but essential to making room for better design. From lamps to old light fixtures, holding on to something when it is no longer in use or no longer appeals to our taste is a tempting option, especially when you consider the price tag for such items. However, learning the difference between something that is classic and just needs to be spruced up and something that would only find an acceptable second life as an upcycled item is key to letting go of bad design and embracing good. Classics are items that are solidly constructed and something you could name the style in which it was produced. Something that couldn’t withstand being passed through generations or that could only be categorized as a passing trend is begging for a replacement and this is the year to do it!

Find Your Personal Style-If you haven’t done it yet, make this year the one where you identify your personal style. Do you edge towards the classics, super-slick modern, or combination of the two. Use a notebook or a site like Pinterest (you can find Hibbs Homes on there and follow some of our board for design inspiration) and begin clipping and collecting items that really appeal to your personal sense of taste. In short order you will start to see your personal style emerge and you can begin relying on that to make decisions when picking out cabinets or purchasing new rugs. Designing with your personal tastes in mind will help you to create a space that is perfectly suited to you-which will never go out of style.

Tackle a Makeover in the Room You Dislike the Most-Everyone has one, the room into which you never invite guests. Starting today make a resolution to get that room under control and begin planning your project. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by setting a realistic budget for the project and begin saving.
2. If it’s a major renovation project you’ll need to decide if you’d like to tackle the project yourself or hire a professional contractor to handle all or some of the project. If it’s a simple redecorating project start comparing prices and places to find those perfect pieces.
3. Begin looking at photos on websites for inspiration and start dreaming up your perfect space.
4. Once you have all of the pieces in place and you have a plan for getting it done set your start and completion date and you can enjoy watching your home design transformation unfold.

You can adopt one or all three design resolutions for the coming year, and, unlike going to the gym or budgeting, they can be pretty easy to stick to. But one thing is for certain, living in a home that is designed to suit you does wonders for your psyche!

The holiday season is in high gear, and the sprint for last minute gifts is on. If you need gift ideas for people who are interested in home design, we have three great gifts under $50 that are sure to inspire.

Design*Sponge at Home, $23.46 from Barnes and Noble-If you are a fan of good design then you are probably familiar with one of the most popular design blogs on the planet – Grace Bonney’s Design*Sponge. Well, Bonney has written the book on good design, and it has a foreward by the famed Jonathan Adler. Bonney’s book is based on the same basic principle that has made her blog famous-beautiful design is accessible to all – and just a few DIY projects away. Her highly anticipated book features home tours and projects and is the hot home inspiration compendium on the market this year. While it is available at several retailers nationwide, Barnes and Noble’s print has special bonus materials that can only be purchased through their store and website.

Moleskine Journals, $8.95-$17.95, Left Bank Books-Inspiration can strike at any time, and one of the most popular and high-design ways to capture those thoughts is by using a gorgeously bound Moleskine Journal. Moleskine Journals are legendary among design and writerly types, and their blank pages and rugged binding also mean they can withstand a lot of carrying and use. The journals come in two-packs and are available in various sizes from small enough to fit in a pocket to large enough to handle a page cut from their favorite design magazines. They are available in a variety of colors and make a great gift for anyone who has a creative bug in them.

Sharpie Stainless Steel Permanent Marker, $8, Office Depot-Designers and Sharpies are like peanut butter and jelly-you can have one without the other, but they are many times found together. This very cool stainless steel, refillable Sharpie marker looks great, works great, and makes a great addition to your favorite design aficionado’s collection. The printed logo seen on the plastic variety is replaced on this fancy version with laser etching. The tip is fine point so it will work for a variety of uses, and refills can be purchased online or at stores for around $1.

While  a gift card to UncommonGoods.com or even Williams-Sonoma always makes a great gift, these fun gifts are sure to please the avid home designer on your list.