How to Save Money on Your Summer Energy Bills

Turn Off Appliances at Night

Leaving all of your electronics plugged in 24/7 might not seem like a problem, but it actually eats up more energy than you might imagine. Even when your appliances are turned off, leaving them plugged in uses up a small amount of energy and causes your utility bills to creep up. To start doing everything you can to conserve electricity, walk through your home each night and unplug all devices.

Schedule Routine Inspections of your HVAC System

As the summer months approach, you’re likely cranking up your air conditioning unit to stay cool. While it’s certainly important to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, it’s just as crucial to ensure that your AC unit isn’t working harder than it needs to. To keep everything up to date and working efficiently, schedule routine air conditioning maintenance. If you find out that your air conditioning unit isn’t working effectively, it might be time to upgrade to a more energy efficient system.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

If you hate coming home to a warm house after work, you might be able to benefit from a new programmable thermostat. When you invest in this high-tech feature, you’ll be able to come home to a cool house in the evening without tearing through your utility budget. Instead of cooling the house for an entire day, the thermostat will switch on and start cooling off the house just a few minutes before your arrival. Here are some tips from Energy.gov to help with your summer energy bills.

Use the Cold Wash Setting to Save on Summer Energy Bills

Are you tired of shrinking or discoloring your clothes in hot water? If so, skip the hot setting and opt for cold water settings to save on summer energy bills. Your clothes don’t need to be washed in hot water, and you’ll actually be able to preserve their lifespan when you’re gentler on them. Instead of washing in hot water and tossing them into a dryer immediately afterward, take the strain off of your electricity bill and use cold water. After the clothes are clean, skip the dryer and use a clothesline outside. This is much better for your energy bill, and your clothes will smell nice and fresh.

Skip the Dishwasher and Air Dry Dishes

It’s a convenient feature of modern dishwashers to dry the dishes while they’re still in the dishwasher. However, drying dishes this way quickly adds onto your monthly utility bill. When you’re interested in doing everything you can to be gentle on the environment and your electricity bill, turn off the auto dry setting and set the dishes out to air dry. You won’t notice much of a difference in your daily routine, but you will notice a smaller utility bill. Plus, you can add another load of dishes in sooner rather than later to make your household chores more efficient.

Install New Energy Efficient Windows

Homes lose a lot of hot or cold air out of windows, and installing energy efficient windows can make a huge difference in the energy efficiency of your home. In the past, windows were too thin and poorly insulated, causing a lot of sunlight to enter and warm the home. Now, there are several types of energy efficient windows available on the market. No matter what your style is, there are windows to suit your home and your budget. When you’re truly committed to reducing your energy bills, installing energy efficient windows is one of the best things you can do to improve your home.

How a House Designer can Help Choose a House Plan

The Best Tips for Choosing Your House Designer

All of this may be new to you, and you may find yourself wondering how to pick your designer. Choosing the right professional to hire might possibly be the most important decision you make regarding your new home. There are two main categories a house designer will fall under.

Residential designers offer the same services as architects, they just are not licensed, architects. They will work with you to draw the physical characteristics of a home and include detailed plans on how to build the home. They normally focus on the physical aspects of the home. Here are some tips for choosing the right architect for your housing project.

Architects draw up more detailed plans complete with dimensions. They use specialized tools to draw and plan the details of a home or building.

Rules and regulations vary from state to state, city to city, so you will need to be aware of this before you decide which one you will need to hire.

Before Designing A House Get a Location Analysis

This will be one of the first steps when working with your house designer. Plan on discussing design details that meet your needs and budget and how you envision your home on your property. They will discuss your plans with you, and see what you have in mind for the property. There are many factors he will take into consideration to work up a plan that showcases the advantages and disadvantages of your chosen location.

Some things to consider when Building your House:

• Access to the property
• Soil type
• Is it in a flood plain or flood prone area
• Slope and grade of the land
• Surrounding property comparison
• What direction will your home face and how will this affect energy consumption
• Zoning, restrictions and building codes
• Drainage plans
• Existing trees and buildings

After the analysis, the designer will talk to you about their findings and advise you on possible design solutions. If everything is worked out, and it appears you can go forward with your construction, it is now time to draw up the design contract.

When Hiring a House Designer: Come Up with a Budget

You should ask your designer to review your preliminary budget and see how that compares with their initial analysis. Your designer will normally create a brief that includes indicative costs for each sustainable feature and any recommended ones that may be relevant to your site.

How to Ensure your Home is Designed Realistically:

Many designers will prepare several concept designs based on your wishes and allow you to assess the pros and cons of each. They will compile these designs taking things like the size of your family, budget, pets and special needs into consideration. These options will be presented in the form of sketches, so you can envision the different routes your project could take. If you like what you see, you will give your designer the okay to move ahead with the next phase of the project.

Developing Your Home Design with your House Designer:

At this point, the designer will take the schematic design of your choice, along with any modifications you may have requested, and create the design. Everything will be worked out in greater detail, including structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. Things like building costs, potential savings, and energy efficiency will all be discussed with you.

Designing a custom home may require a lot of compromises. There are certain things you may have your heart set on, that you may find out are impossible once your designer starts to create your plans. Rest assured, he will work with you to do his best to make sure all your wants are met.

At the end of the developmental phase, the architect will provide the client with drafted drawings that will illustrate the home as it would look when construction is complete. The drafts will specifically define the site plan, floor plans, and exterior elevations.

Final House Design Tips

This is the final draft of your plans which you will pass on to your chosen contractors. This is also the copy you will be taking to your city offices for approval to obtain building permits. Construction cannot start until this stage is complete and cleared by your local authorities.

This document will include important details such as:

• Floor plan
• External finishes
• Heating and cooling systems
• Construction systems
• Landscape design
• Lighting
• Interior design
• Major appliances
• Water systems
• Window sizes and designs
• Solar panels
• Natural gas or propane systems
• Property access
• Garage plans
• External structures (buildings, pools, fencing)

The Importance of a Reputable Home Designer

Every home design process is unique. It is important to pick a designer that is open to your ideas and listens to your wishes while offering their expert advice. This arrangement can work great, if you take the proper steps along the way, and if the person doing the design is patient and responsive to you. Picking the wrong designer can cost you a lot of wasted time and money. A great designer will be able to get you the best design for your investment. This may cost a little more, but the amount of value added to your construction project could be substantial.

For more architecture and home design tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Tips to Consider Before a Basement Conversion

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Ask yourself:

Why do I want to convert my basement to living space?

Knowing exactly what is motivating you to convert your basement (which is a large undertaking) is very important. By having a clear understanding of what your goals are, you’ll be able to plan out the best way to utilize the space, whether you’ll need services like plumbing, appliances, lighting etc, and the general design scheme for the room. It’s probably a good idea to work with a designer to get a good idea of how things will work best, but this isn’t strictly necessary.

How much do I want to spend?

Knowing your budget up front is absolutely imperative. Basement conversions can be costly, and it’s easy to spend more money than you intended if you don’t have a budget in mind beforehand.

Are there any physical architectural or structural issues?

Converting a basement to living space isn’t just about decorating. Often, there are existing issues that need to be addressed before the décor part of the conversion can take place. One of these issues can be whether your basement needs to be waterproofed before construction begins. Particularly if you live in an older home, dampness and water can be a problem. Before you can drywall and start the construction process, it’s absolutely imperative that you address the issue of waterproofing. Don’t skip this step in the name of trying to save money! Affordable waterproofing services are available in most cities. It’s necessary to ensure your basement is properly waterproofed, as failing to do so can mean that all of your hard work to drywall, install flooring, paint, and decorate could be in vain.

Foundation issues and other architectural concerns should also be addressed at the outside. Be sure your basement (and any changes you plan to make) meet local building codes.

If you live in a condo, you may have to secure advance permission from your Homeowner’s Association before you proceed.

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Am I ready for the disruption this will cause?

Construction causes disruption; there’s no real way around that. You may not have electricity for a time, your water may be shut off, you’ll have to deal with dust and noise, etc. If you have small children or elderly members in the family, this can be especially disruptive. Be sure you are aware of this and prepared for it before you start the renovation.

Converting your basement is a great way to gain more living space in your home. Before you start picking out paint colors, however, it’s important to keep these key questions in mind.

For more basement ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Have Fun in This Solar-Powered Tree House

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The Solar-Powered Tree House Project

The Skysphere is the brainchild of Jono Williams, a graphic designer and plastics engineer from New Zealand. He dreamt of creating an elevated building with a 360-view and Wi-Fi connectivity. Williams says that from a young age, he loved making things. When he was a kid, he would raid building sites to find wood for his tree houses. However, things have changed as he now imports up to 4 tons of steel to make a tree house.

Williams says that when building The Skysphere, he knew that a typical tree house would not be able to match his idea of an elevated room. Regular tree houses have many limitations. First, trees are affected by the elements and houses built on them can be damaged by harsh weather conditions. Secondly, trees grow with time and their branches can destroy tree houses as they expand. Trees also tend to obstruct the view from different angles and it’s almost impossible to see the surroundings. To avoid these drawbacks, Williams decided to forego a tree house and construct his own steel support. He customized the tree-like structure, ensuring it is ideal for any space and not just places where big trees grow.

Image via: Mashable

The engineer spent $50,000 and took 3 years to create and assemble each element – from the sphere and steel structure to the wood flooring and ceiling. He attended classes to learn how to make his tree house structurally sound and able to endure earthquakes and high winds. The end result was an incredibly awesome tree house that is pleasing to the eye and fitted with top-notch features. The structure is really impressive bearing in mind that Williams had no architectural experience before he started. The engineer not only created the basic design and energy systems, he also incorporated some avant-garde details.

Standout Features

The Skysphere is located in Linton, New Zealand and is comprised of a single room with transparent walls which provide guests with panoramic views of the surrounding area. The room can be accessed via a single ladder found at the base. The glass walls add to its beauty and bring the outdoors in. The tree house boasts a sleek modern design that makes it more striking than other tree houses. It is entirely powered by solar panels and uses solar power for all its devices.

This solar-powered tree house has dimmable LED lighting, high-speed internet, a wireless sound system, fingerprint entry, a refrigerated beer dispenser, and a Miracast projector. All of these features can be accessed through a Smartphone app. After you open the tree house with your fingerprint, climb a ladder to go to the main room, or up to the rooftop if you want a high vantage point. The room has a couch and a queen size bed where you can relax. The cooler is built into the couch ensuring refreshments are always within easy reach. The couch’s armrest has a built-in coaster which goes down and comes up with beer. In addition, the fridge sends an alert when the stock is diminishing.

Image via: Latest Solar News

The Skysphere is self-reliant thanks to solar panels. The panels power everything for 2 days every week and make the tree house a perfect weekend getaway. You won’t have to worry about powering your gadgets when it gets dark. The tree house doesn’t have a bathroom because Williams says he didn’t want to bother with plumbing. But he’s planning to build one in the surrounding trees.

Every person likes to have their own cozy space where they can be themselves and do whatever pleases them. Most people designate one room in their homes, but there are others who don’t conform to this trend. They leave no stone unturned to build their dream lounging room. Jono Williams did just that. If you love nature and are eco-conscious, visit this amazing structure. When evening comes and the stars shine brightly, you won’t have to say goodbye to the outdoors. You will lounge in your personal haven as you enjoy spectacular views and tranquil seclusion.

For more cool architecture on Stagetecture, click here.

Open Space Living: A Popular Lifestyle for your Home

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The new kitchen, a hub for entertainment

Open space planning for your kitchen and living room is not only practical. Its layout also maximizes social interaction without being closed out. You can entertain guests while preparing food and vice versa, they can join and participate in your doings. Everything is also much more accessible and easier to oversee, especially if you have kids. Your Kitchen has become the new heart of the home where the family meets up to be together. It also has increased in size to incorporate many areas like dining, living and entertaining. The “new kitchen concept” is a commonplace where functionality and comfort meets and conversation continues.

Open space planning lets you style your home in a more unifying concept

Since open space planning reduces the common areas to one big room, there is no need to find many decoration styles. You can stick to one theme and save money on flooring, paint colors, blinds, curtains and other materials. It makes the room appear wider and generates an open feeling among the different areas. If you use different flooring materials, make sure it is lined up perfectly to create a seamless transition. A furnishing concept becomes handier and will give you many interesting options, with a focus on quality instead of quantity.

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Getting the best result by maximizing space within a fixed budget

Instead of looking for a bigger place you might consider to redesign your home to maximize space. There are many feasible alternatives which you can fit into your budget. A simple and more inexpensive method is to remove some nonbearing walls to create more space. But this should be consulted with an expert first, especially if you have to fitt utilities. It also won’t happen overnight, but can be manageable within a couple of days. The remodel wont cause too big of a mess, but will leave you with waste materials, which have to be disposed appropriately.

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The negative aspects to open plan living

There is also a downside to open plan living and not everyone is a big fan of it. That’s why it is important to design and plan well ahead to get the best results to fit your needs. The biggest con is privacy and cooking odors. If you are very much worried about the smells, a sliding door option can be a good compromise. Odor can be taken care of with proper ventilation. Make sure to have either an overhead or downdraft ventilation system installed. If you prefer more privacy, a split level layout is a wonderful idea to divide the common areas into different zones. Another option is to divide an open space indirectly. This can be achieved by using a kitchen island with a breakfast bar, in turn this creates an invisible line between a dining and living area.

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So, If you have decided to move into a new place or to remodel you own house to gain more space. The layout of an open floor plan is worth to consider, because it offers many great combination options. You can always adjust it to your needs and find a compromise within the arrangements. Depending on your preference, whether a kitchen/dining room combo or a living room/dining room/kitchen combo, etc. works for you, I would definitely go for it!

For more home design ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/open-space-living-popular-lifestyle-home/feed/ 0 71166 https://stagetecture.com/2014-dwell-design-highlights/ https://stagetecture.com/2014-dwell-design-highlights/#respond Wed, 09 Jul 2014 00:08:27 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=67141 As Dwell on Design came to a close in Los Angeles, CA on June 22, 2014, many were enthralled with the design trends, activities, and learning opportunities that were made available. Not only did Dwell on Design offer an array of activities to entice and excite designers and consumers alike, but this event offered product showcases, guest speakers, and a Dwell Store Pop up. Here are some of the Dwell on Design highlights from this design event.

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2014 Dwell on Design Highlights

Dwell Store Pop-Up

Dwell on Design for the first time ever provided a pop up store that housed featured favorites from the Dwell store. As an addition to the featured favorites being available here, a custom poster created by James Gulliver Hancock was presented specifically for this Dwell on Design event. The Store Pop-up created gave the opportunity for all in attendance to relish in some of Dwell’s featured favorites in person and see why they were considered favorites

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Kitchen and Bath Accessories

As part of the event this year, Dwell on Design had several areas designated for portions of the home and their specialized products. One of them being the Kitchen and Bath area where kitchen accessories such as faucets, hardware, and sinks were exhibited. Among some of the top brands that were showcased were GE Monogram, TOTO, and Hansgrohe.

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Pavilions

At this event, several pavilions were available to showcase Scandinavian Design, Modern Family Design, and technology products being marketed for design trends. Of the technology products, 3d printing was exhibited to bring in awareness on the capabilities and ways this can be used in the design field. Among these pavilions was a Design for Tomorrow Pavilion that displayed student artwork from design schools across the country showing the creativity of the next generation.

Image via: Dwell on Design

Next year is sure to be a must see event. If you have the opportunity to attend, you will not be disappointed as every year brings new market trends and products to inspire.

For more Dwell information on Stagetecture, click here.

Designer Event: AIA Convention 2014 – ChicAIAgo!

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Product and Material Trends

Every year, the AIA convention offers displays of the latest materials and technologies that are on the rise in the market for Architecture and Interior Design today. This year AIA will be providing eight specialty pavilions to provide the opportunity for designers and architects alike to receive a detailed view of some of the best solutions for building codes and client demands.

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Product Marketplace

Be sure to check out the Product Marketplace that AIA will have available to showcase the newest and most innovative products. Some of the product highlights from last year that may entice you to visit the product marketplace are the newest technologies of 3-D printers and an engineered pane of glass that came all the way from Germany.

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Live Broadcasts and Education

The AIA Convention will also have many opportunities for education and activities to assist in continuing education for designers and architects alike for sustainability and green design. Not only are educational opportunities available, you will also be able to take advantage of live broadcasts sharing thoughts from leaders in the industry.

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If you have the opportunity to attend this event, consider participating in some of these activities and enjoy seeing the new technologies and products coming to the architecture and interior design market.

For more design events on Stagetecture, click here.

Design Miami’s goal is to bring awareness to modern and contemporary design as well as create an ambient atmosphere for collectible design and collectors alike.

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Designer Event: Design Miami Basel 2014

Galleries

The galleries on display at Design Miami are enough to transport you to the modernist world showcasing collectible designs from the most well known and respected international design galleries. Within the galleries furniture, lighting, and objects of art are displayed from the Modernist era of the 1900’s in museum quality.

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Design Talks

The design talks that occur at Design Miami encourage designers, architects, and artists to come together and collaborate on the design world’s most compelling topics. The talks drive the current design market and creativity.

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Exhibitions

Design Miami also showcases several exhibits from artists and designers. These exhibitions give the viewer the insight into the designer or artists mindset for the piece that has been created.

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If you have the opportunity to visit and participate in Design Miami whether it is this June in Basel, Switzerland or even Miami, Florida in December, enjoy the creativity that is being showcased for all to see as it truly is a sight to enjoy observing design transform.

For more Design Events on Stagetecture, click here.

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Dwell on Design is America’s largest design event, making it the place to be to understand the many design trends in the interior design world for the coming year and immerse yourself in new ideas for the modern lifestyle. The Dwell on Design event takes place in Los Angeles, CA from June 20th – June 22nd. If you are planning to attend, think about participating in some of these activities.

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Designer Event: Dwell on Design 2014

Home Tours

One of the can’t miss activities at the Dwell on Design Event is the home tours they do every year. As part of the conference, they sell tickets to tour homes of the Los Angeles area that exhibit cutting design and unique aesthetics that exhibit inspiring architecture and interiors. The proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Architecture for Humanity this year.

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Dwell Design Source Consultations

As part of this year’s Dwell on Design Conference, private consultations with architects and interior designers will be available on site to help you with any questions you may have for current projects or future projects for your home. This is a great opportunity to get some expert help on some to do projects you may have in mind for your home.

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Guest Speakers and Exhibits

At the conference, many exhibits of new products, furniture, and trends will be on display to bring light to the newest and hottest items out there today in the architecture and interior design world. In addition, there will be many guest speakers including Stephen Burk. Stephen Burk is one of today’s most interesting Modernists and is pushing the gamut with his multifaceted approach to design. Be sure to check out the schedule prior to attending this Designer conference to be sure to get the most and enjoy all of the activities available.

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Don’t miss out on this must see designer event!

For more design events on Stagetecture, click here.

Fortunately, homeowners can still add onto a narrow lot house when they can’t expand outward. You can either dig to construct or refinish a basement, or you can add an additional story to the top of your home or convert an attic into living space. Start by reviewing some of these house plans for narrow lots to generate ideas. Then, start talking to a builder about which solution will work for the existing structure.

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Home Design: When Your Lot is to Narrow to Build an Addition

Building Up: Adding a New Story

The most important question to ask before planning a second story addition is whether the current structure can support the additional weight. In addition to browsing through home plans, take these steps before deciding on a second story:

• Call a structural engineer. An attic, if the house has one, weighs a lot less than a second story. Let a structural engineer evaluate whether or not the current foundation could support the new walls and new rooms a second story addition would bring.
• Talk to the local building inspector. In addition to following the rules about minimum room sizes and ceiling heights, make sure the staircase leading to the attic is up to code. If it’s not, then include a new staircase in the building plans. It can be added outside the home and enclosed, or it can be carved out of existing interior space.
• Think about HVAC. The new space will need ductwork and other necessities for heating and cooling. Some homeowners prefer a whole-house system while others prefer two separate zones.
• Protect possessions. Building a second floor means the home becomes exposed to the elements for at least a short time. Homeowners should move their possessions into parts of the home that will stay enclosed, or they can put their items in storage to prevent weather damage.

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Digging Deep: Carving Out Basement Space

Transforming a basement from a dark, dank, spider’s paradise into an extra living space, rec room or office can be another good way to add space to the narrow lot home.

It’s better to finish an existing basement than dig a new one under an existing home. However, an addition built toward the rear of a narrow lot can be built with a new basement space beneath. Keep these ideas in mind when remodeling a basement:

• Eliminate moisture. A basement that floods isn’t a good candidate for a remodel. Start by addressing roof runoff, cleaning gutters, making the ground slope away from the foundation and sealing any foundation cracks. If these steps aren’t enough, have a professional install a basement drain.
• Talk to a building inspector before starting the remodel. Ceiling height, emergency doors and windows (also called “egress”) and stairways are the biggest concerns when dealing with local building codes.
• Improve air quality. The last thing a homeowner wants in a finished basement is musty basement smell. Reverse ventilation fans can pull in dry air during the winter, and air exchangers can vent moist air during the summer. Dehumidifiers are another option, but they can be expensive to run, and the water has to be dumped on a daily basis.
• Light it up. A basement with large windows to the outside can take advantage of natural light, but many basements have only small, ground level windows. Start by clearing shrubs away from the windows to let in natural light. When possible, replace existing doors with glass panel doors to allow light to travel between rooms. Finally, add recessed lighting in the ceiling to provide additional light and avoid bumped heads on low fixtures.

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The Bottom Line

Finishing a basement usually costs less than adding a second story, but a second story can add character to the home’s exterior while taking advantage of natural light. While adding onto your home can increase your property value, ultimately the choice is up to you. Think less about which change would recoup a bigger part of the cost on resale, and think more about creating a comfortable space for the way you live.

For more architecture ideas on Stagetecture, click here.