Let me share some numbers with you. According to the U.S. Census, the average size of an American home was less than 1,000 square feet in 1950. By 2014 the average has climbed to over 2,500. On the other hand, the average population per household in 1950 was around 3.7, while now it’s less than […]
Over the last few decades America has become a country of backyard patios and decks. That’s where people congregate on a summer evening to grill, play games, and talk. But many small homes with porches have missed the mark. We’re inclined to associate small houses with small, nonfunctional porches. And why should the porch be small? […]
For many Americans, home is a relatively small house with a closed floor plan. Walls separate individual spaces, which communicate with a main hallway via doorways. Closets and pantries abound. To get some privacy, all you need to do is close a door. The only real open space contains the living room and kitchen, or […]
You’re probably familiar with Progress Lighting’s lovely fixtures. But maybe you’re curious, as we were: How did their designers come up with such innovative and beautiful designs? We sent their Senior Product Designer 10 questions and we’re pretty impressed with his answers. We think you will be too. James Thomas has served as Senior Product Designer for […]
If you’ve explored the Motawi Tileworks website or, better yet, have seen Motawi tile in person, you know that the designs are extraordinary. From a humble beginning, making tile in a garage and selling it at the Ann Arbor farmer’s market, Nawal Motawi now owns two companies, Motawi Tileworks and Rovin Ceramics, employing more than 30 people. You’ll […]
You may agree with us that, if you want a new home, you should build not buy. But how do you finance a custom home? We’ve asked Carl Salvo, President of Mid-Oregon Lending, to tell us about the difference between types of residential construction loans and how they’re different from a conventional loan. Carl is an Independent […]
One Family’s Dream Home – A Photo Journey From finding a lot they loved with a home that needed to be deconstructed to having the home of their dreams.
Many people dream of building their own home, but when it comes to taking that first step, a move-in-ready home can seem more appealing than embarking on the sometimes lengthy journey of building a new home. With the right research and careful planning, though, anyone can engage in the exciting and fulfilling task of building […]