Deciding On An Architectural Style For Your First Home

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

If you are building a custom home, one of the important decisions you have to make involves selecting the right architectural style. This is an exciting stage, thanks to the many architectural styles you can go for. However, it is essential to find a style that you love and also follow the homeowner’s association and deed restrictions in your neighborhood.

Photo By: Cornerstone Architects

If you have not made up your mind about the architectural style to go with, read on.

How to Identify Your Architectural Style

When looking for your dream home, there are many resources you can use to learn about what you like and would work for your family. Here are some tips that will help you:

  • Drive through different neighborhoods and take photographs of homes that you like. You may need to visit different custom home communities to get as many ideas as possible.
  • Search online for images of custom homes that you love. You can find exciting architectural styles on Instagram, Houzz, Dream Source Home, Homebuilder Digest, and Pinterest.
  • Browse various interior design magazines to look for inspiration. Some great choices include Veranda, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Dwell, Luxe, and Architectural Digest.
  • Consider your environmental and lifestyle needs when evaluating potential architectural styles for your home.

Photo By: Coats Homes

Common Architectural Home Styles

Let’s now look at various home styles.

Modern Style

The Modern style features a geometric residence. Most of the time, the design encompasses a flat roof and clean lines. The floor plan is usually open and spacious, while the windows may extend from the floor to the ceiling. The typical materials used in Modern style architectural design include reinforced concrete, steel, and glass. If you are unsure about an architectural style, both real estate agencies and design studios can order a 3D-rendering in a professional studio in order to see the final result of the architect’s project. This way you can get a better picture of how your home will look like once finished. 

Mediterranean

Mediterranean designs feature both indoor and outdoor living. The styles are based on a combination of Spanish, Italian, and Moorish architecture. The architectural designs typically feature large, open outdoor spaces complemented with plants and other natural elements. Mediterranean architecture designs have low-pitched roofs and clay tiles. The layout is usually asymmetrical, which is common with exposed beams and archways.

Photo By: Elite Cabinet Designs

Spanish

Spanish architectural styles are easy to identify, thanks to their red-tiled roofs and stucco exteriors. The traditional designs tend to have central courtyards for outdoor living. This design features windows and doors carved from wood. The windows are typically small, allowing light but not too much heat. Spanish style homes have low-pitched roofs, and wrought iron is usually used for decoration.

French Chateau

French Chateaus typically feature dramatic chimneys and steep-pitched roofs. The homes tend to be rectangular and have relatively open main living areas. However, the rooms are a little more discrete. French Chateaus have conical shapes and can have three or more levels.

Photo By: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

French Country

French Country homes are more straightforward and less ornate than French Chateaus. The residences are smaller, and the rooflines are less extreme. The interior typically includes high ceilings, and the floor plan is symmetrical. Hip and gabled roofs are typical of French County houses. For the exterior, the homes feature antique bricks or stones.

Common Home Buyer Mistakes to Avoid

After deciding on the architectural style, it’s time to start searching for a house. Here are some tips that will help you avoid the common pitfalls many first-time homebuyers make:

1. Not researching and preparing well

Before starting your search for a new home, understand your family’s finances and needs. Analyze your existing assets and liabilities and get pre-approved for a home loan before starting house hunting. Remember, you are not just buying a house, but also the location. Therefore, find out as much as you can about the prospective neighborhoods where you’d like to live. Some of the things you should check include transport, crime level, quality of schools, and possible upcoming zoning issues. 

2. Choosing the wrong mortgage

To have a bargaining chance, get pre-approved for a loan before going house hunting. Don’t just search online or use an online calculator to get an idea of how much you can borrow. Hop over to this site to find out more on home loans. There is no room for assumptions here. Get in touch with your mortgage broker and find out how much you can get pre-approved for. The lender will consider different factors to determine how much finance you are eligible for. Get quotes from different lenders and compare them before making the final decision on the party to sign a contract with.

3. Being influenced by the market

When searching for a home, your needs should dictate the type of house to go for. Don’t be influenced by “the market” more than your own needs. The real estate market always experiences a cycle. Sometimes, it’s a buyers’ market, and prices are low. Other times, it’s sellers that are having a field day. However, when you need a home, do not let the market dictate your decisions. For instance, do not postpone buying a new home because of market conditions. You cannot predict the market cycle, and failing to act in anticipation of upcoming cycle trends is gambling with your future.

4. Buying an expensive home

An expensive home is one that is beyond your budget. When you start house hunting, you will come across many properties that are beyond your budget but look just too lovely to pass. However, do not be tempted to buy a house that is outside your budget. Doing so can leave you in serious financial trouble in the future. When lenders approve you for a loan, they know that you are capable of paying it back based on your past transaction history and other factors. Spending more on a house than you had budgeted can leave you exposed to potential financial shocks, for example, rising interest rates.

5. Falling in love with a house

If you have found a home that you love, do not let the seller’s agent know. Agents can be very aggressive and persuasive when they know that you are interested in a particular property. The professionals are good at reading emotions. As a buyer, there is always a house for you at the right price. You need to know where to look and be patient. If you cannot afford a home, move on and keep looking. Avoid the mistakes above when searching for a house to buy.

The Hidden Factors of Renovating your Home

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Everyone loves renovating their homes. Whether it’s to turn our property into our dream design, or to sell for added value, we are always trying to improve our space. We even find ourselves glued to our television screens watching for tips as the likes of the DIY SOS team and George Clarke renovate properties to a high standard!

Photo By: Arizona Tile

However, it’s not always as straight forward as thinking of the work you want to do and running with it. While tasks such as replacing your roof or having solar panels fitted are safe to crack on with (although speaking to your council is still good practice), others aren’t. In certain cases, you will come up against factors which can grind your thought process to a halt and prevent it from becoming a reality. Here, we will look at the hidden factors of house renovations.

Is your home a listed building?

When you bought your property, you should have been told if it was a listed building. If it is, then chances are you will struggle to carry out any planned work without a fight. It is actually a criminal offence to simply go ahead with any work without the authorisation to do so. If you are unsure whether or not your property is a listed building, you can check at British Listed Buildings.

Photo By: Michelle Dirkse Interior Design

Electricity

Sometimes, work you plan to carry out will mean moving your electric meter and fuse box. However, you must make sure you don’t move it yourself. Why? Yep, you guessed it; this is also illegal. Usually, if it’s a move of less than 15 centimetres, this can be carried out by your energy supplier free of charge. But for larger-scale moves of over three metres, your local distribution company would have to move your mains supply before the electricity meter can be placed elsewhere. If this is something you require, make sure you book the relevant appointments to avoid long delays.

Notify your neighbours

With some work, you must notify your neighbours of your project thanks to the Party Wall Act of 1996. This occurs if you share a wall with another house and your work may undermine the structural integrity of the wall. Tasks such as fitting shelves and replastering aren’t included in this Act, however, if you were looking to undergo more extensive work it is something you must adhere to.

Although this seems like a very formal approach, it’s important to provide a ‘notice’ to your neighbour which outlines your prospective work. Present this to them alongside a copy of the Act two months before you intend to carry out the work. They will then have 14 days to raise any concerns they may have and provide written approval or rejection. Doing this will cover you if anything turns sour with said neighbour. If they do reject your proposal and it’s impossible to come to some form of agreement, you will be required to assign a surveyor who will then determine what work can be carried out.

Photo By: Red Door Homes, Inc.

Loft conversions

Often, to create more living space, people look at converting their lofts. However, make sure you get the correct building regulations approval. This is required to ensure there is sufficient structural strength to the floor, while also making sure that the existing roof and the structure’s stability isn’t jeopardized.

In many homes, the timber joists that form the floor of the loft space won’t be sturdy enough to support significant weight. This could cause issues if you plan to turn your loft space into a spare bedroom, for example, and without official planning meeting set regulations you could run into a host of problems. Perhaps surprisingly, any work that you carry out could indeed hinder your future sale if you don’t get the appropriate permission and paperwork. In some instances, you will be required to revert the property back to its former state if you haven’t gone through the correct channels when carrying out the work.

Besides your timber joists, you may also want to update your skirting boards and other moldings. You can consider installing skirting board covers if you do not have the time to tear out old skirting boards. This is a smart trick to save time, and money in the long run.

Garage conversions

Unlike loft conversions, you generally aren’t required to seek planning permission if it’s not your intention to enlarge a garage and increase the size of your home. If your sole purpose is to use the space for personal gain, then you should be able to carry out your intended work so long as you complete the work thoroughly and to the correct standard. However, it’s important to note that planning permission must be sought if you are looking to convert the space into a separate house.

Extensions

Extensions are ever popular in the world of renovations. However, not everyone understands the impact it may have on your property. For example, have you considered the impact an extension will have on your current boiler? Adding extra space will mean there’s an added demand on your hot water system and, in some cases, your boiler won’t be able to cope. Make sure you factor this in to any plan. You must also get building regulation approval – even if you don’t need planning permission due to using permitted development rights. In some cases, you may also need to pay a Community Infrastructure Levy, so it’s important to check this out prior to conducting any work.

While renovating your property can result in an amazing end product, getting to the final stage can be hard work and have many obstacles. For any work you may be thinking of carrying out, it’s important to carry out thorough research before you start so that hidden costs and issues don’t creep up on you.

Is Britain’s Infrastructure Ready for Extreme Weather?

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

The mild, if slightly cold, weather that Britain is famed for is beginning to feel like a thing of the past. After the intensity of the Beast from the East in 2018, followed by one of the hottest summers on record, it’s hard to know what to expect next!

Photo By: Rachel Laxer Interiors Ltd

According to the long-range weather forecast produced by scientists at UCL, the UK is in for yet another extreme winter. The average temperature is predicted to dip 0.5 degrees below previous, frosty years. Some claim that this will be one of the coldest winters in decades. As we attempt our commutes through blizzards and black ice, it will become ever-more difficult to ignore the extremities that climate change is bringing. It isn’t just snow that is becoming a nightmare for British infrastructure: floods and heatwaves do their fair share of damage too. Is our infrastructure prepared for the inevitable difficulties? Or have we failed to think far enough ahead?

Snow

Considering the frosty predictions for winter 2019/20, we need to ready our infrastructure. During the harsh winters of recent years, the UK transport system has faced extreme difficulties. From icy roads to exposed direct current indicators and flashover faults, the cold weather can cause severe damage.

In response to this, a cold weather plan was established in order to outline what to expect and how best to prepare over the increasingly cold winters. Local authorities are now better equipped than ever to grit roads and prevent black ice as a result of this. For the transport sector, forward planning is key. Transport planning advice plays a major part in ensuring that infrastructure schemes take into account all environmental considerations at the design stage to help to mitigate risks.

Photo By: REES Architects

Heatwaves

Hot summers have been so rare over the years, that a mere glimpse of sunshine has Brits outside in shorts and t-shirts. But in recent years, the temperature has been on the rise and these pockets of sun seem more common. Although we love the opportunity to get outside, the hot and dry weather actually has a damaging effect on our infrastructure.

Dry weather is a major contributor to cracks and potholes in roads, which can cause serious problems for drivers. In addition, heatwaves can cause railway systems to overheat, as the temperature of steel rails can reach 20 degrees higher than the air around them. Therefore, consistent temperatures of 30 or even 40 degrees could lead to extreme over-heating of rail tracks. As a result, the metal on the tracks will expand, which puts them at risk of buckling. In extreme circumstances, this could derail trains.

Another issue caused by hot weather is the expanding and sagging of electrical lines. This is yet another factor that could cause serious disruptions to train services, and the lines might even be pulled down. The only way that the rail systems can combat these dangers is to impose more severe speed restrictions. Although this may cause delays over hot periods, it is the safest way for the transport system to operate.

Photo By: Karen Rogers at KR Garden Design

Floods

As has been proven time and time again in recent years, there are many areas in the UK that are not well equipped to cope with flooding. Another direct result of global warming, floods are becoming more and more common in the UK, and the Environmental Agency has told flood planners to “prepare for the worst”. In a recent consultation on flood strategy, the agency claimed that “for every person who suffers flooding, about 16 more are affected by loss of services such as power, transport and telecommunications.” Evidently, the UK’s infrastructure needs to keep improving, as floods are only going to worsen in the future.

In relation to this, the Environmental Agency advised that all public infrastructures need to be made flood-resilient by 2050. We also need to start considering the long-term rather than the immediate future. As part of this advice, they encouraged people to start considering potential flooding while building new homes, rather than just reacting to the damage when it occurs. When constructing something new, whether in the public or private sector, a flood risk assessment should always be carried out by the building services engineering company. These assessments identify flood mitigation measures and provide advice on what actions should be taken in the event of a flood.

Simple Ways to Improve the Appearance of a Room

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

You don’t have to spend bucketloads of cash on home refurbishments to make individual rooms look nicer and better. Here are several straightforward tips that would help you revamp unsightly rooms without overspending!


Photo By: Mary Cook

Repaint

Repainting is a probably the most common way to renovate or refurbish a home. Covering up old, grimy walls with new paint would certainly make a room shiny and new. But paint can add more to a room that just a fresh new coat.

If the room look rather boring, you can brighten it up with a new paint colour. But don’t choose anything that looks nice. Choose according to the existing colour palette in the room. Or you can make a new one. Depending on your preferences, you can either pick a wall paint that really pops, or stick to a softer tone that highlights brighter colors elsewhere, such as on the sofa cushions. A new colour theme could radically transform the looks of a room.

Allow in More Light

Light can dramatically make even the drabbest room décor infinitely better. There are several ways you can improve the light intake of a room. The easiest way is to get rid of thick curtains in favour or thinner ones, like sheer curtains. Additionally, move any furniture that might be in the way of incoming sunlight. To truly lighten up a room, consider changing the window design. Replacing old glass may give a clear view. If you have picture panes and the like, hire one of Winnipeg window companies to replace with clear glass to lets in more light. A minimalist window style might be the best.

Photo By: Savvy Interiors

Redo the Windows

You can also consider redoing the windows to make them bigger and let in a lot lighter. You may need to hire replacement window consultants for the job as it would require changing the windows wholly down to the frame. This option might be the best for older houses with smaller windows intended to insulate. A more modern design would incorporate larger panes for better views and more light.

Change the Curtain Style

Most homeowners like to keep their curtains for privacy as well as insulation purposes. However, you can change how a room looks with a new curtain style. The usual vintage, thick curtain style may give the room an out-dated look. Consider switching to a more modern style, such as with sheer curtains. You can add new colours to the room with new curtains too.


Photo By: Mary Hannah Interiors

De-Clutter with More Storage Space

For lived-in rooms, the biggest issue is not the décor but the clutter. No room can shine when there’s still here and there. A simple de-cluttering just might be what the room needs. Cleaning up is not enough. Give the room the storage space it needs to keep things in place without getting scattered all over. Buy space efficient furniture that double as storage to tackle the clutter problem from the root.

Try Minimalist Décor

Minimalist décor can remove clutter and increase the available space in a room. The style simply gets rid of excessive ornamental or unnecessary items in a room to maximize the available space. Minimalist rooms are highly accommodating and quite easy to clean as well. Try one or two of the above suggestions to improve any room in the house. The given tips work especially well for living rooms and similar gathering areas of the house.

How Can You Extend your Home Through Construction?

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Increase the value of your property by building an extension to your home! Here are some tips on what to build and how!

Photo By: Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Your home is usually a family’s greatest investment throughout their lives, which is why many families want to add to the value of the property that they have cared for, whether they are looking to sell, or simply want to increase its value in preparation for the future. Luckily, there are many ways in which you can add value to your home by investing in construction and building works.

Build a Garage

Garages for families are especially important if you have no off-road parking. However, even if you do, garages can add value to your home by giving your family an extra space to use as storage, as an entertaining room in which they can house guests, or even as a workshop in which to complete mess-creating hobbies, such as woodwork. In order to create a suitable garage for you and your family, you should speak to the experts at ArmstrongSteel.com. Steel garages are perfect for families looking to construct a garage near their home, as their flexibility allows you to adapt the space to all of your needs, including storing the car or even converting the garage into a living space.

Consider a Garden House

To rise above the average US house price of $200,000, you can also add value to your property by erecting a garden house within the exterior of your property. Garden houses are perfect for use if you have teenagers, elderly relatives, or even regular guests. This gives your family a private space to use that is away from the main house. This can increase the value of your home by giving you extra living space, and, in the meantime, you can even convert it into a games room, library, or man cave.

Convert Your Attic or Cellar

The two areas of your home which are likely going to waste are the attic and the cellar, as each of these spaces are often only used for storage purposes. Rather than let them become wasteful, you should consider converting these into extra bedrooms or entertainment rooms through remodeling and bright decoration. In fact, the price increase for properties in the USA that have 4 and 5 bedrooms is over $13,000.

Construct an Extra Room

A sure-fire way of adding value to your property is to construct an extra room that can help your home to shine and maximize the space available to people living within it. The best way to do this is to build an extension on your home, with most people opting to convert this into a kitchen or dining room.

When doing this, you should consider whether you want a single-story or double-story extension as this can help you cater to the expanding needs of your family. However, if you want a more budget-friendly way of adding a room, why not consider building a conservatory or orangery? These two glass-based extensions are both easier to construct than extensions, and cheaper for families who are looking for less permanent additions to their homes.