Architects Add Value

The widely accepted opinion of the real estate industry is that architect-designed homes tend to be valued at as much of 50% more than comparable homes that utilize catalog plans or are builder-designed.  With architect fees making up a much smaller percentage of your home’s value, the ROI can be quite a rewarding surprise.

Not to mention the obvious benefits of having a home that is custom tailored to meet the needs of your family, lifestyle and landscape.  One of the most influential aspects of compatibility between a homeowner and a home architect is appreciation for a particular style of home.  At ACM Design Architects we have an inclusive portfolio of homes that can help homeowners to identify which projects align most with their particular tastes.

Architects Increase Efficiency

Homes built from stock plans are notorious for their inclusion of unwanted or unusable space.  A custom home architect can expertly plan for kitchen storage, closet space, and even energy efficiency of the layout, tailored to your furniture, design tastes and use.  This in turn can increase the efficiency of the space, and lower the risk of unforeseen additional costs that would be required to make use of the space like storage systems, or furniture items to replace those that do not work with the space.

Ultimately, selecting an architecture firm to design your home may cost a bit more up front, but with the reduction of inefficiencies and increase in features that add comfort and value, your ROI will be far greater, and your home will be more attractive to buyers if you ever decide to sell.

Getting Started

A great place to start is by finding out who the designers are behind some of your favorite homes in your area.  Talk with friends, neighbors, relatives and ask about their experience and the outcome.

You will also want to consider each architect’s experience building in your area as well as the home styles they are well versed in.  Another great factor to consider is eco-friendly designing experience.  Finding an architect who has completed a Certified North Carolina’s HealthyBuilt Home will mean that not only is the firm up-to-date on the latest in green technologies, but will also leave a lighter footprint.

Meet and Greet
Now that you have narrowed your list down to a few key players, you will want to spend some time getting to know each firm.  A home build can take months, so you will want to be sure that the lines of communication are open between you and your home architect.  Any conflicts that arise in the initial meeting could be good indications of things to come.  So be sure to meet with firms until you find one who you believe understands your vision and will be open and honest with you to bring that creation to life.

Track Record

Even if an architect utterly impresses you, it may be good to know whether their prior design projects went smoothly as planned.  Ask for references.  Look for a firm who has a track record of being on time, on budget and easy to work with.  With the right teams in place, your home build can be exciting, not stressful.

The Cliffs Signature Services aids property owners in navigating the home building process by researching and qualifying each and every builder, architectural designer and interior design firm as the most elite and accomplished of their region.

Choosing the right firm to meet and exceed your unique expectations and needs can be a grueling process.  ACM Design is a renowned and proven architectural and interior design firm with both the experience and expertise to design your Western North Carolina dream home.

For more information about building your dream home in one of The Cliffs exclusive communities, please visit CliffsSignatureServices.com.

Green Home Design

While greening your home remodel is highly recommended, having your new home designed from the start with green in mind may prove more affordable and effective.  Newer homes can even be easily retrofitted to accommodate popular green design elements like recycled glass tiles and bamboo flooring.

Here are some of the ways in which your custom home architect can incorporate green living into your new home from the ground up:

Orientation

The orientation of a home on its lot can have a huge impact on the home’s energy efficiency.  Especially with Western North Carolina’s hilly landscapes, positioning the home offer sun in the winter and shade in the summer can reduce energy costs exponentially.

Foundation

There are many ways to manipulate a home’s temperature via good foundational planning.  Some of the options include the incorporation of geothermal wells, insulated concrete and framed basement walls.

Windows and Doors

Proper placement of doors and windows can prevent overheating in the summer and too much heat loss in the winter.  Your custom home architect will know just how to expertly locate doors and windows into your new home to avoid winter heat losses of up to 25%.

Layout and Design

Working with a custom home architect who is experienced in building HealthyBuilt Homes in Western North Carolina can ensure your home’s layout and design also contribute to its energy efficiency.

ACM Design Architects have years of experience expertly incorporating green appliances, materials and features into homes in the Asheville area.  If you’re thinking about building a greener home, be sure to consult your home architect.

ACM Designed Outdoor Room

One area of your new home you may not have thought to consult your home architect regarding is the outdoor space.  But imagine enjoying a beautiful WNC evening with friends or family while the aroma of a fresh baked pizza fills the air from a blazing, brick outdoor pizza oven.

Outdoor rooms are getting more attention than ever and the benefits are many.  Here are some popular styles of outdoor rooms that you may want to consider adding on to your new home.

Cooking Areas

There are many exciting ways to incorporate kitchen features into your outdoor space.  Popular choices include adding a full bar with a sink, refrigerator/freezer, ice maker and dishwasher.  Or you could go the more traditional route and incorporate a spacious built-in grill.  You can even have a custom brick pizza oven built in for cooking and producing warmth.

Living Space

While many homeowners are choosing eco-friendly natural stone built-in seating, outdoor furniture options are many.  Weatherproof couches, chairs and ottomans set warmly around a fire can create the comfort of indoors with the atmosphere of outdoors.

Landscaping

Think of the flowers, trees and shrubs as nature’s décor.  Incorporating the right indigenous plants into your space is what will really make or break your outdoor room.
Drought-resistant native plants will cut down on maintenance time and costs, while also avoiding a sprinkler cycle drowning your dinner party.

At ACM Design we are familiar with the many landscapes and factors that go into planning the perfect outdoor space for your WNC home.  Please contact us if you would like to see what we can do to maximize the potential of your outdoor room.

Green Plumbing Trends

While you have likely heard of Western North Carolina’s HealthyBuilt Home Program, you may have missed the word on green plumbing, including new residential trends like WaterSense homes.

It’s no secret that many people are incorporating green features in their new home design in every area of the house from the kitchen to the yard to the rooftops.  One area of the house you don’t want to take fore granted, however, is the bathroom.

Plumbing fixtures are getting greener by the day and here are some green trends you may want to consider asking your home architect to incorporate into your home plans:

Lead-Free Faucets

Did you know that faucets and brass fittings that serve up your potable water can contain lead?  While California has already set legal regulations on lead content in potable pipes, you may want to make sure that lead doesn’t make it into your water.

Solar Hot Water

With traditional solar hot water collectors being replaced with less expensive plastic models, water warmed by naturally by the sun is becoming a real possibility for most homeowners.

WaterSense Homes

Available in some new residential constructions, as a means of reducing the home’s incoming water pressure, regulator valves are installed downstream of the home’s water meter.

Greywater Systems

These systems can range from the use of dual-pipe technologies to water catchment systems.  Simply put, a greywater system takes water that has been uses within the home (excepting the toilets) and uses them for other purposes such as landscape irrigation.

Stainless Steel is Here to Stay

Incorporating the right appliances is a great way to add value to your home, but with so many options, it can be hard to know what to look for.  By working closely with your home architect, and familiarizing yourself with some of the basics, you can be assured a strong ROI on your new appliances.

The Right Finish Wins

One top trend that’s here to stay is stainless steel.  While as a whole, design trends are constantly changing, but stainless has been a top pick for years, and there’s no end in sight for its stylish, industrial-chic reign.

One great design benefit of using stainless appliances is that they typically work in a space regardless of color changes in walls or countertops.

Make Sure They Match

The use of stainless steel appliances can give the impression that you spent top dollar on appliances, regardless of brand.  But trying to incorporate random white or black pieces will quickly cheapen the look.

Size Matters

While stainless creates a feel of top-grade industrial appliances, bigger-is-better is no longer the right frame of mind. Home owners are choosing smaller, but smarter appliances that better fit their needs, instead of over-sized pieces that are more costly to run.

Energy Efficiency is Key

Now that you’re looking for smart, matching stainless steel appliances, you will want to consider how “green” the models you are considering seem to be.  Energy-efficiency is a top focus among home owners, and with green technology becoming more affordable and available, opting for top-rated ENERGY STAR appliances will help recoup costs over time through lowered utility costs and energy tax credits.

Working with your home architect you can easily incorporate stylish, efficient and affordable appliances into your new home build or remodel that will provide your best ROI.

Start at the Beginning

At ACM Design, we sit down with our clients to carefully weigh costs and benefits.  This process will help to determine which investments are in your best interest today, in order to save money year after year.  Working together to incorporate green home features from the beginning of your home design process is also more cost effective.  Adding these same includes after-the-fact can incur much greater costs.

Avoid Replacement Costs

ACM Design can also help advise you on which green home features will not only save money on your monthly utility bills, but also save you money down the line.  For instance, air handlers and duct work in conditioned spaces can double the life of your heating and cooling system, thus helping to avoid pricey replacement costs.

Take Advantage of Tax Credits

One more way to save money on green includes is by taking advantage of energy tax credits.  By maximizing tax credit eligibility, you may get thousands of dollars back on your initial investment.

No matter the level of eco-friendliness you are considering for your home, by working through the process with your home architect, you are guaranteed a better return on your investment.

Kitchen Islands Offer Extra Storage

If you’re building a new home or remodeling your existing one this year, here are five of the top trends you can really get behind.  And if there’s one thing that these top home design features have in common, it’s energy efficiency.

• Smaller Spaces:  As the home market begins to show signs of improvement, home owners are taking hard-earned lessons with them and seeking out smaller, but smarter spaces.  Ample and well thought out storage space, open floor plans and family-friendly features are just a few of the ways in which smaller homes are taking the lead in home design.
• ENERGY STAR Appliances:  Kitchen appliances alone can burn up almost 10% of your home budget, and investing in the latest energy efficient models is a smart investment.  Most ENERGY STAR appliances quickly recoup their value in energy savings, and prove good long-term investments.
• Better Insulation:  Tightly-sealed insulation is one of the best money-saving investments you can make in your new home.  Foam sealants and better insulation help keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer, greatly reducing annual energy expenditures.
• Net Zero Energy:  Net zero or “off the grid” homes actually generate more energy than they use up.  With net zero technologies rapidly increasing, converting your home to an energy maker may be easier and less costly than you think.
• Outdoor Rooms:  With indoor square footage decreasing, an outdoor room is an excellent way to gain useful square footage in an area you may be taking fore granted—your backyard.  Outdoor living rooms and kitchens add great entertaining space to any home.

Eco-Friendly Hardwood Flooring

Bamboo and cork flooring are very on trend, but is hardwood or linoleum a better eco-friendly choice for your new home or remodel?  You will want to consult your home architect for her extensive knowledge of design and experience in working these materials.

It is also important to familiarize yourself with some of the advantages to working with each of these eco-friendly flooring options.  While some will last longer, others may not be as green as you might imagine.

Popular Eco-Friendly Flooring Materials Include:

Bamboo is a very popular choice, but depending on your finished product it may not be as good for the planet as you think.  The speedy growing cycle of bamboo is around just five years, making it highly renewable.  But unless you’re paying for pricier locally grown varieties, your “green” flooring will have to ship from native China.

You’ll also want to consider that bamboo is actually quite soft in its raw form, and treated bamboo flooring can contain harsh chemicals.

Cork is a great low toxicity flooring choice, but its relatively soft and porous nature make it better for some rooms than others.  Putting down cork tiles with low VOC glue has in the past presented some problems, but recent varieties feature tongue and grooves for lasting installation.  On a greener note, cork is highly sustainable and rapidly renewing.

Linoleum is surprisingly, in its finished state, one of the most natural options available.  Despite its man-made appearance, this linseed oil derived material is actually a favorite amongst activists. Linoleum’s high durability factor makes it a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

Natural wood floors are design favorite, and a competitive eco-friendly choice as long as they have the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) seal of approval.  This seal means the wood has been harvested sustainably.  Plus in the realm of longevity, hardwoods outlast like no other, giving them serious green appeal.