Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

"...I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

 

Project Updates

Happy Thursday!! Below are some pictures of our current projects. They are really taking shape as we get closer to completion.

Whites Creek

  Fire pit in the backyard.

                                                                     
                                                              

The exterior is really coming together.

They are now ready to start receiving mail with this completely secure mailbox.

 The house looks great from the street.

Prairie Dawn

They started the floors which have turned out nicely.

Started work on the shower as well which will be made with the same tile.

This mudroom is really great, the bench on the bottom even opens up for extra storage space.

 They started to install granite today. Things are really starting to take shape.

Hope you are having a great week!!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things….

With Christmas music playing everywhere we go this time of year I was reminded of the song from The Sound of Music “My Favorite Things”.  I started to think about some of my favorite things in the houses we have built or what I like to see in a house floor plan when we are designing a new home. Here are some of my favorites.

Jack and Jill bathroom- Like below. They are a great use of space and great for guests and kids to share with their siblings.

Mudroom- These little additions have become very popular the past couple of years.  They are very practical and dress up transitional spaces inside your home that might have been dead spaces before. It is a great place to hang backpacks, coats or purses when you walk into your house.

 

Closet Space- Whether it is separate his and hers closets, a large closet under the stairs or a large hall closet. It is nice to have space in your home to put things away out of sight, like Christmas decorations. 

 A Living room that is functional. The living room is where you, your family and your guests spend a lot of time. It is important for the room to flow nicely into the other areas of your house and also provide a good arrangement for your furniture and a set up that you feel best suits the space.

 Knee space in the Master Bathroom- Most ladies spend time each day getting ready and it is nice to be able to sit and do your hair and makeup.  

These are just a couple of my favorite things in houses. Now let me know what yours are. Please post some of your favorite things in your house or that you would like in your dream home someday.

Getting your home ready for winter

Here are some helpful tips on how to get your home ready for cooler weather.

Heating System

-          Make sure all heating vents are opened and unblocked by furniture or Christmas trees/decorations. This will ensure that the air flows properly throughout your house.

-          Remember to check your air filter; this will keep your heating unit from working too hard.

-          When you first turn on your heater if you feel like the unit is struggling or the level of noise is excessive you might want to call a qualified technician for a tune up on your heating system.

-          Make sure to check your propane level, for those of you who live outside the city limits. 

Prevent Plumbing Freezes

-          Drain all garden hoses

-          Insulate exposed plumbing pipes

-          If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to a reasonable temperature.

-          Winterize your irrigation system to prevent freezing. 

Exterior Doors & Windows

-          Check the weather-stripping around all exterior doors to prevent cold air from entering your house.             

-          Make sure to caulk all windows

-          Inspect the exterior of you home for cracks and exposed entry points around pipes, if you discover one, seal it!!

Inspect Roof

-          Replace any worn shingles or tiles

-          Make sure ridge vents are unobstructed

Check Insulation

-          Make sure your attic is insulated. Often time’s older homes have little to no attic insulation. If this is the case large amounts of heat will escape though the ceiling.

-          Make sure there is weathering stripping or insulation around attic hatch or door to prevent warm air from escaping.

Landscaping

-          Trim trees or branches that are close to your roof or electrical lines. The best time to prune your trees is the fall, which has already pasted us by but if your house is in danger of getting a broken tree limb on its roof it might be best to still take the precaution now

-          Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to shelter when outside temperatures are below freezing temperatures. For some people that might mean moving all 41 of their orchids into the house, yes dad I’m talking to you. If you are unable to move the plant, cover with a sheet or blanket to protect it from the freezing temperatures.

With the colder weather there are a few more things to think about around the house. Hopefully thinking about them before hand will prevent any major problems once the real winter chill is here.