ACM Design Architecture & Interiors / Articles posted by Amy Conner-Murphy (Page 16)

Outdoor Kitchens & Living Spaces…Expanding the Square Footage of Your Home

Going beyond your tried and true stand alone grill, homeowners are designing outside the box (or outside the home) and seeking refuge in their own backyard retreats. As an extension to the home, outdoor living spaces are increasing in popularity as modern conveniences such as outdoor televisions and refrigerators help homeowners grow the livable space their home and site have...

Custom Windows for Your Home

[caption id="attachment_6715" align="aligncenter" width="1807"] Eyebrow Dormer Window at the English Cottage in Arden, NC[/caption]   Often overlooked, windows are an important feature to every home. They can satisfy both function and aesthetics while adding to the value of your home. It’s easy to see windows as a cost, but when you consider them more of an investment, you see their true worth. When...

Maintain Your Home’s Value This Spring

Spring 2011 has finally arrived with warmer temperatures, beautiful flowers, and greener foliage. As you awaken from winter, ready to renew your spirits, don't overlook your home. Renew your dwelling and maintain it's value at the same time. Take "Spring Cleaning" up a notch this year with these tips: Exterior Maintenance: Look at your home's exterior. Power-wash decks and siding, and...

Home Related Tax Write-Offs You Don’t Want to Overlook

As a homeowner, don’t overlook some possible areas of tax deductions you could qualify for. Researching the IRS guidelines is important, as everyone is not automatically eligible. www.IRS.gov Home Office Deduction: Working out of your home has become more commonplace and the IRS has certain deductions you can take on your taxes relating to the home office. Some qualifying deductions include...

Asheville Green Architecture in Practice

Going the extra mile to promote a commitment to the environment. Asheville and Western North Carolina residents take steps each day to push our progress towards becoming a greener community. Through the use of green architecture in private residences, businesses and community buildings, our area is experiencing substantial growth in the number of green projects that are coming to fruition each...

Buy, Build or Renovate…Now!

In today’s world, we are flooded with news reports and articles describing the housing market as “struggling,” “weak,” and “dismal”.  These words often bring about fear in the consumer, but the reality may be that this is one of the best times to buy. Regardless of the current housing data, the truth is housing and land are very stable investments, with...

Are you Planning to
Design and Build a Mountain Home?

If you’ve ever driven the Blue Ridge Parkway and dreamt of living in the Smoky Mountains or the Southern Appalachians, we’ve compiled a series of complimentary guides rich with information about designing a mountain home. Informed by our decades of experience as mountain home architects, we share expert advice about topics like building on steep slopes, terrain-specific building costs, and materials suited for withstanding the mountain weather. Our passion for creating personalized and heartfelt homes is apparent in all of our work and it is our pleasure to share our expertise with you in these free and informative guides.