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.

This is a fantastic outdoor kitchen we designed as part of a major renovation to a home in Weaverville. Two of the most outstanding features include the large stone pizza oven and the timberframed structure covering the entire outside kitchen.

Master Bath design by ACM Design

Second to the kitchen, the master bath is the room in which homeowners typically spend the most money and aim to marry highly functional design with tranquil, spa-like materials and products. Working with a custom home architect affords endless possibilities to blend unique, custom features with practical and efficient bathroom design.

Before a custom home architect can begin the bath design process, it is important for the homeowner to become familiar with some of the basic trends and practices surrounding bath designs.

1. Layout
What do you hope to achieve from the bathroom’s layout? Do you intend for it to be a daily oasis? Is it a place to get dressed and prepared for the day or night out? Or does your bath simply need to function efficiently? Although, the colors, materials and products that you choose for your bath can make a big design statement, in the end, the functionality of the bath design is the most important consideration.

2. Privacy and Openness
Many homeowners enjoy an open, ensuite bathroom that affords privacy yet feels tranquil, airy and open. This is often achieved through the use of glass doors, glass blocks or smaller partitions. For those less concerned with privacy, large, walk-in showers often don’t need a door at all and offer a truly open feel. Rain showerheads are a soothing addition to a large shower, as they create a downward flow of water as compared to the angled spray of a traditional showerhead.

3. Lighting
Adequate lighting must be considered in any bathroom design. Rarely is one overhead light sufficient for illuminating the entire room. Because the bathroom serves many purposes, multiple light sources are ideal. Task lighting above the vanity provides general lighting at the sink area, but makeup application is made much easier with wall sconces at eye level on either side of the mirror.  Wall sconces or a candlier (candle chandelier) offer a nice soft glow surrounding the tub for a relaxing bath.

Future Design
For the homeowner hoping to live in the home for may years to come, adding universal bathroom fixtures and products can make the transition much easier as one ages. Benches in the shower are convenient at any age, but later in life, a bench can become essential. Walk-in showers with doors or openings wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or walker is an example of universal design that does not detract from the opulence of the master bath.

With a functional layout in place, next think about the bathroom fixtures and hardware that are most desirable, such as the tub. In new home designs, some homeowners opt to delete the bathtub altogether to allow for an extra large shower.  Others prefer to install a large soaking or jetted tub for relaxation, and properly placed, a tub can add to the beauty of the room. Body sprays and multiple showerheads in a shower offer similar effects of whirlpools and jetted tubs.

Heated floors and towel racks add luxurious creature comforts to any bath.  Steam showers, vessel sinks, curved shower rods, and antique vanities add spa-like features and creative functionality to any bathroom design.

Think of the master bath as the ideal room to express your individuality. Once the basics have been considered, the overall aesthetic of the bath design starts to take shape and the fun begins.

Amy Conner-Murphy at work

Now that I am fortunate enough to be designing homes, I realize that each of those steps was necessary to get me to this place.  The commercial architecture experience gave me the technical knowledge to design smart buildings, draw construction details, specify materials, and work with contractors.  Having a family of my own gave me a first-hand understanding of how a home really works and lives and loves.

So here I am, doing work that I love, collaborating with people who seek the same sense of meaning from their own work, and helping families create their own homes that become the background, stage and hopefully, sanctuary where they live out their lives.  It makes me feel like I am making a difference for them by caring about the details that make the quality of their lives better.  Not sure I could even ask for anything more.

When building a new home, most homeowners spend days and months scouring home plans or working with a custom home architect to design their dream home. Many people don’t realize, however, that an equal amount of thought is required when buying residential property. Understanding how to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of a particular property is critical in the setting the tone for the construction process. Consider the following tips:

Size
The size of the property must be considered carefully. When thinking about your new home, consider how it will look on the site. Will you need a large front or back yard? Do you plan to add a pool? Is there room for future expansion? All of these questions are important to think about when determining if the property is large enough for the home you plan to build.

Soil
Understanding the type of soil that a home will be built upon can make the difference in the overall home design. Soils have various characteristics that determine the bearing capacity and can affect drainage, fertility and moisture levels below the home. The bearing capacity of the soil can mean the difference between a typical basement foundation and a pile foundation which directly impacts the overall cost of construction. Soil analysis is a simple process where soil borings are taken and the data reviewed. If possible, negotiate with the seller to provide the soil analysis with a favorable report as a condition of the sale.

Slope
Determining if a property has significant slope is not always easy to assess without the proper equipment. To the untrained eye, a property that may not appear to have much of a slope may in fact feature significant slope. Sloping property is fine if you want to build in a basement, but the amount of slope on the property directly determines whether the cost of that basement is expensive or reasonable. If you are working with a stock plan, carefully consider the effect of sloping property on the plan layout and the exterior look of the home.

Orientation
Site orientation is simply determining how the sun moves across the property. Does the land face primarily north, south, east or west? The site orientation can inform the design of the home which can have a tremendous affect on the efficiency of the building systems. For instance, does the primary view face west? If so, the home may be designed to capture those sunset views through many windows, but the air conditioning system will likely be larger or work harder to accommodate the large heat gain.

Aesthetics and Practicalities
Views, land features, proper drainage, and access to the property are a few other items that must be considered in combination with the other site aspects. These features, and others, directly relate to the value, building considerations and overall appeal of a property.

Topographical and Boundary Survey
Knowing and defining exactly the extents of the property is critical. Determining the building setback is a necessary first step for the architect to design the floor plan or for the owner to decide if a stock plan will fit. A boundary survey will also show property features, such as fences, that may encroach on a neighboring lot, or if a neighbor’s fence is on your property. If the property has significant slope or other features, such as a creek, having the survey reflect the lay of the land, or contours, is important in determining how the home could fit into the site. If possible, obtain this information from the seller or negotiate with the seller to provide this information as a part of the sales transaction.

Zoning Ordinances
When building a new home it is imperative to carefully review and familiarize yourself with any building restrictions or rules for the area where your property is located. Zoning ordinances determine the type of building can be built on a property. Even if your property is zoned for residential construction, the zoning for adjacent or surrounding properties may be different. Educating yourself about the zoning in your area is an important step in determining and protecting the value of your property investment.

Neighborhood/Subdivision Covenants
If the property is located in a neighborhood or subdivision, there are likely covenants that guide construction within the neighborhood, although this is not always the case. Meeting with a representative of the homeowners association will provide insight into the practices of that neighborhood. Don’t expect to build a playhouse, green house, backyard pool, or even install hardscape without going through a review process just because you own the land.

When embarking upon building a new home, remember to give proper attention to the selection of a property. Don’t be afraid to seek out the advice of an architect to assist with site selection. Even if you have already narrowed down the choices, an architect can help you assess the pros and cons of each site, ensuring that you make an educated decision about your property purchase. Securing the right property can greatly influence the overall success of a custom residential building project.

Gold Level Healthy Built Home designed by ACM Design

Sustainable living, green building and eco-friendly homes are nothing new. Although rapidly gaining a widespread audience, green living is actually a way of life and can be as simple as changing your eating and recycling habits, or as far-reaching as designing a custom home with environmentally friendly building materials and features.

The benefits to homeowners building green, eco-friendly homes are well-known but worth repeating: lower utility bills, greater comfort, better indoor air quality, tax breaks, and higher resale prices, just to name a few. Green building should not be looked at as yet another home-building fad, but rather a way of making well-informed decisions regarding the ways we think and live. By making smarter decisions we significantly increase our health, wealth and well-being for ourselves and our families.

Green living at its core uses resources more efficiently, eliminates waste and creates healthier living spaces. It goes beyond an energy-saving appliance or a reduced waste home site (although those are great places to begin) and it is about significantly addressing and subsequently changing your lifestyle to live with efficiency in mind.

Building a green home first means understanding the balance involved between homeowner and nature. While benefits for the homeowner are vast, the effects of green building and sustainable living to the environment are equally immeasurable and require a harmonious blend of the two.

A great builder can assist with several materials to improve efficiency, but it is working with a custom home architect that allows the freedom to implement green building design from the very start. Depending on the level at which one wants to add eco-friendly elements into their custom home design, the following should at least be addressed and discussed when building a new green home:

• Ways to design your home with the site orientation in mind
• Ways to save water
• Ways to save energy
• Ways to design a healthy building/structure and air quality
• Ways to reduce waste

One of the simplest ways to add to the energy efficiency of a new home is to consider the site orientation and features during conceptual design. The placement of the home on the property can make a tremendous difference in both the energy efficiency and overall cost of the home itself.  For instance, placing many large windows on a west facing exterior results in significant heat gain thru the windows to the inside of the home.  During the summer months, this design decision adds up to big dollars on the cooling bill.  By simply rotating the home slightly on the property to avoid facing due west or by reducing the number of windows on a west facing elevation, the architect avoids the heat gain, as well as the high energy bill for the homeowner summer after summer.

Saving water obviously benefits the Earth and the homeowner by lowering utility costs. Water conservation can be achieved by incorporating low flow faucets and toilets, but can also be accomplished simply by doing things day to day like turning the water off while brushing one’s teeth.  When architects and landscape architects and designers work together, they can help homeowners conserve even more water by designing rainwater catchment systems that capture rain water from the roof to irrigate plant material in the yard.  Landscaping with native plants helps make the saved rainwater go even further.

Energy savings are ubiquitous in new home design, from Energy-Star-rated appliances to solar panels and geothermal heat pumps, the sky is the limit for incorporating new technologies.  Even basic design considerations can affect energy savings by addressing plans and elevations that optimize passive solar heating and cooling effects.

Designing a healthy home and insuring the air quality is of the highest level can be achieved several ways. Attic spaces should be properly ventilated to eliminate rotting or mold when conditions rise and fall. Properly regulated heat and air conditioning systems are also important, as the size of the system can often cool the air too quickly, creating an unhealthy breathing environment.

Reducing waste when building green is easy to achieve. From recycling the home site materials, to incorporating natural trees, rocks and vegetation into the landscape design, eliminating waste and using recycled materials is one of the easiest green building methods.

Whatever elements you plan to incorporate into a custom home design, keep in mind that designing a green home begins as a concept and ends with a set of drawings that successfully benefits both homeowner and the environment.

ACM Design, along with Brock Builders, hosted an open house construction tour of this custom home in Biltmore Forest (Asheville). This is our most recent project, and it’s very near completion now. We are proud the homeowners chose us to design this impressive home. Enjoy the video tour.