It's The Custom

You’ve heard more than enough about curb appeal, but on the flip side of the house, there is something to be said about an amazing outdoor retreat that is great for entertaining, relaxing, and cooling off when the summer heat is at it’s peak.

Here are some tips creating a retreat where you can enjoy the great outdoors right in the backyard of your home.

Choose seating that invites you to stay a while – The first step to creating a perfect outdoor living space that invites you to kick back and stay a while is selecting comfortable and inviting furniture to place in shaded areas. Think outside the traditional patio table and chairs, and create conversational areas similar to those you would inside your home by grouping love seats and chairs with plush, outdoor cushions around coffee tables and end tables. This type of outdoor seating is growing in popularity and can be found just about anywhere, in any style to compliment your home. Don’t forget an outdoor storage bench for storing your pillows and other decorative accents like candles!

Have it made in the shade - If you don’t have a covered porch or patio you can create shade using swing arm or tilting umbrellas, awnings or canvas canopies, and even vine-wrapped pergolas. While shade trees will also get the job done, it will also require a lot more cleaning and maintenance of your furniture before use. It’s always cooler in the shade, and you can make it even cooler by adding outdoor fans to keep the air moving and naturally keep the bugs away.

Add custom touches that are perfect for your family – A pool for cooling off in the summer heat, a fire pit for keeping warm in fall and winter nights, or an outdoor kitchen complete with grill and fridge are perfect custom touches for your backyard. Think about the activities you and your family enjoys the most and make your backyard an oasis in which you can enjoy them. It could even be a raised garden bed for growing organic vegetables! The key is to add something special that keeps calling your family to the backyard to soak up the sun and enjoy the day together.

We built this custom pool house for clients in Frontenac, MO. Surrounding the pool you will find plenty of seating, a hot tub, and even a fire pit.

Enjoying the great outdoors in a great backyard is all about designing the perfect space for your family, and creating a great retreat where you can enjoy time together and in nature-right outside your backdoor!

Image Credit: www.connectyourhome.com

Saving money is a top priority for many homeowners. And as more people learn about the money savings benefits of high-performance and energy efficient homes and upgrades, the demand for these improvements is growing.

If you are among the growing number of homeowners who are planning to make major energy efficient upgrades to your existing home, or if you are working with your home builder to incorporate high-performance features into your home you may be wondering what the top energy efficient features and upgrades are.

According to ENERGY STAR studies, the average household’s heating and cooling expenses account for more than half of the energy bills, while about 30% goes to lighting and appliances, with the remainder of energy costs are from heating water (source: Bankrate.com). It is important to note how many factors come into play with the efficiency of a heating and cooling system, however: insulation, windows, thermal envelope, duct work integrity, and the heating and cooling systems themselves.

Suzanne Shelton, CEO of one of the top sustainability marketing research firms, the Shelton Group, says when it comes to what buyers are looking for, 47% look for ENERGY STAR appliances, 44% want high-efficiency windows, and high-efficiency HVAC equipment is important to 30% of customers (source: EcoHome Magazine).

While an efficient HVAC might not be the most glamorous selling point on it’s own, when taken into combination with energy efficient window upgrades that are necessary for better performance and are a top point for home buyers, getting control over your home’s heating and cooling is a top priority for the comfort and value of your home-not to mention your pocketbook. That is not to say that appliances and lighting aren’t important, nor should they be ignored-they make up a sizable chunk of your energy costs and should be made a priority as well.

It is important to approach each home and project on an individual basis, beginning with an energy audit especially if the home was built more than 5-10 years ago. You can also find ENERGY STAR partners in St Louis to help your begin your energy efficient upgrades and construction projects to help clarify the process and what is right for your home by searching the ENERGY STAR website..

This custom home, built by Hibbs Homes and designed by Architect Kim Spurgeon, was recognized by the City of Kirkwood as an Infill of Merit.

Building a new home is not about the builder. Sound funny? Let me explain. In my opinion, the builder is only as good as his team. Proof in point – a new home we recently built in Kirkwood, Missouri. The home was just recognized by the Kirkwood Landmarks Commission as an “Infill of Merit,” an award that recognizes a new, single family home that fits comfortably into the existing neighborhood and is found compatible through architectural style, and the use of scale, proportion, materials, textures and details. Since Hibbs Homes is primarily an infill builder these are goals we have for every home we build, but there was special emphasis placed on this home by the team.

You may have noticed I’ve used the word “team” twice, so let me explain what I mean. When the homeowner first selected Hibbs Homes to build their new home, they also selected architect to Kim Spurgeon to complete the team. Kim is well known and respected in the city of Kirkwood, and is an award winning architect who has designed many homes in the community- a community in which she lives.

Working together, as a team, we were able to meet our clients’ goal to design and build a home that fit seamlessly into the neighborhood. That was very important to our client, and as infill builder, it’s important to me. Our client had an idea of what they wanted the home to look like, and after several meetings we were able to flush things out. During the design process, I offered thoughts and suggestions on construction materials, costs and how various design elements would affect the budget. We met frequently during the design process to make sure we were still on track with the design and budget.

This team effort worked to perfection. Not only did we have an award winning home, but one that came in on budget. Building a new home can be a fun and rewarding experience, if you have the right team working in the right direction.