Home Design Archives - Sandra Meranda

January 29, 2016 by changescapeweb

What Will Homes Look Like in 10 Years?

The themes expected to shape the future of residential home design, according to a recent American Institute of Architects (AIA) report are accessibility, automation, conservation, health and safety.

Homeowners have indicated a strong preference for functionality, accessibility and sustainability over the last ten years, and architects expect that to accelerate, with increasing demand for healthy building materials and furnishings, along with designs that provide measures of resistance to weather-related calamities.

The themes above will inform the following major design trends in the next 10 years:

1. Technological Integration

2. Non-Toxic Materials

3. Disaster-Proof Design

4. Energy-Efficiency

5. Aging-in-Place Plans

6. Open-Concept Living

7. Outdoor Space

8. Home Offices

9. Infill Development

10. Urban Characteristics

For more on this article follow the link: https://rismedia.com/trg/22387/1067572/37037704/84628?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

P.S. Real estate is not slowing down yet this Winter! Homes are selling fast and for the highest prices in years! It is never too late to put your home on the market or for buyers to call me to discuss the Winter market. Don’t miss out on your Dream Home, interest rates are still below 4%. Call me today for details!

May 28, 2015 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Fifteen Shades of Green: Building Design Tips

Green building is not an invention of 21st century. However, sustainable design has been out of the scope of architects for quite a long time. As the resource shortage and the severe climate changes impose actual dangers on the environment and the society, “green” building reached its peak. These constructions are healthy for both the nature and their occupants.

The most impressing thing to the ordinary viewer is probably the ingenious design. Each building has unique and transcendent look. Although architects are free in the expression of their creativity, they still follow certain techniques. On the other hand, the expert builders should adopt specific techniques and get updated on the current trends.

1. Long Life, Loose Fit, Low Energy

In other words – sustainability, flexibility and energy – efficiency. The idea was presented by the Welsh architect Alex Gordon. His prophetic vision has become the basic of the nowadays green building.

2. Social impact and Functionality

Designing a built environment that complies with both the social and ecological needs is corner stone in sustainable architecture. The building should not only serve its primary purpose as an administrative space or home, but it should also improve or add up to the surrounding environment.

3. Location

The location determines the approach that the architect and the expert building team will undertake. What are the benefits and the downsides of a certain area? Making use of the natural resources such as light, water, wind and soil will shape the future design of the building.

4. Adjusting To The Climate

What makes a sustainable building so special is that its design is perfectly adjusted to the local climate. This allows making the most of a certain environment, even if it’s not exactly favorable.

5. Reuse, Reduce and Recycle

These principles don’t apply simply to the materials used in the construction. Many architects choose to work with buildings that don’t function anymore. Instead of destroying the old place and rebuilding it again, they use the existing structure. In this way builders and architects reduce the waste.

6. Quality Materials

Sustainable buildings are made to last. That’s why these constructions usually incorporate good – quality and eco – friendly materials.

7. Landscape

As mentioned earlier, sustainable building is not only about creating a structure. Include also the exterior that surrounds it. The outdoors environment will contribute to the aesthetics and the energy –efficiency. For instance, strategically situated trees can shade out the area, decreasing the energy for cooling the building.

8. Durable Interiors and Low Maintenance

One of the primary characteristics of sustainable building is an interior with timeless design. The indoors spaces should require minimal resources for their maintenance.

9. Indoor Air Quality

The building services should use low or no – VOC s products such hard surface flooring and non – toxic paints and finishes to ensure the high quality of indoor air.

10. HVAC System

This system will control the residential climate, ensuring that building doesn’t use more energy than needed.

11. Energy Conservation

Architects come with different creative ways to incorporate renewable energy resource in the construction – from solar panels and passive solar integration to glazing and high – efficiency appliances.

12. Water Systems

The most popular choices are rainwater harvesting systems and tankless water heaters. The collected water is then used for the sprinkler systems in the landscape.

13. Insulation

This is another feature that has huge influence on energy conservation. Heating and cooling contribute sufficiently to the building’s energy consumption.

14. Ventilation

There are two types of ventilation – passive or natural and mechanically powered. The choice depends on the local climate specifics.

15. Eco – friendly appliances

Everything that can save you energy and thus decrease the carbon pollution can be incorporated – from water and energy conserving household appliances to office equipment.

Real estate is booming this Spring! Homes are selling fast and for the highest prices in years. It is never too early to get your home ready for the market or for buyers to call me to discuss the Spring market. Don’t miss out on your dream home & interest rates below 4%. Call me for details today!

March 13, 2014 by smeranda Leave a Comment

Bring Warmth to Your Home With the Hottest Fireplace Trends

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Fireplaces have been a familiar feature in many homes. Until recently, not much had changed in the style of a traditional fireplace. However the newest trends are bringing about a change and the fireplace is now seen as the design focus for many rooms in the house. With new technological advances it’s now possible to do more with the fireplace than ever before.

The following are examples of hot trends to keep in mind when looking for a new fireplace this year:

Modern: This year will continue the trend of sleek and modern fireplaces. Look for clean, linear lines with less metal and more glass.

Gas: Gas fireplaces will continue to rise in popularity this year. The convenience of flicking a switch compared to collecting, piling and lighting firewood is quickly winning out.

Outdoors: This year will be a big year for the outdoor fireplace as people create or expand on their backyard oasis.

Heat rises: Much like HD televisions, consumers are placing their fireplace inserts higher up on the wall. New technology allows for homeowners to insert enclosed gas fireplaces almost anywhere in the house.

Unlikely locations: Much like the migration of fireplaces up the wall, more fireplaces are being installed in unlikely rooms, like the kitchen or the bathroom. These fireplaces are typically used to decorate the room, not to heat them.

In Real Estate, Spring starts March 1, so now is the perfect time to get a head start for sellers to put their homes on the market & for buyers to buy those homes. This has been the best market in 6 years. Both home prices & interest rates are on the rise though! Contact me for details today!

November 28, 2012 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

How to Make Small Rooms Feel Larger

When showing a home for sale, it is very important to make the small rooms feel larger. There are several things that you can do to change the perception of the space in a home to make it seem larger.

Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine posted an article with several nice tips to open up smaller spaces. These include:

1. Remove furniture – keep the furniture basics
2. Declutter – one of the most impactful in regard to the perception of a room’s size.
3. Find secret storage spots.
4. Lighten the color – lighter tones on the wall can open it up.
5. Let the light flow in – it can make the space look bigger.
6. Hang some mirrors. Mirrors can reflect light and give the illusion of depth to a room.
7. Opt for plain fabrics.
8. Make smart furniture choices.

If you are thinking about selling a home in St. Charles or St. Louis Counties, working with a Real Estate expert than knows the St. Charles and St. Louis County market can really help you. Sandra Meranda specializes in the St. Charles and St. Louis county home markets. Contact me for help with finding or selling your home.

February 8, 2012 by changescapeweb Leave a Comment

Designing on a Human Scale

Here’s an interesting article on home design, integrating technology with the comforts of the past, based on smarter construction in a smaller footprint. Check it out and watch the video on Designing on a Human Scale!

Sarah Susanka’s newly-constructed ‘not so big house’ in Libertyville, Ill., provides smart ideas for comfortable living in fewer square feet.

DECEMBER 2011 | BY ERICA CHRISTOFFER

The house of the future — at least the immediate future — probably won’t look anything like what we saw watching “The Jetsons” as kids. But it may very well look like acclaimed architect and author Sarah Susanka’s “not so big” home that’s making its premiere just outside of Chicago.

Susanka designed the show-home for the new SchoolStreet development in Libertyville, Ill., and it’s the first time she’s created a home that is available in the mass market. In partnership with developer John McLinden, Susanka has created a home that integrates technology of the present with the comforts of the past. It’s based on an architectural concept — smarter construction in a smaller footprint — that Susanka has nurtured at least since the 1998 publication of her book, The Not So Big House: A Blueprint For the Way We Really Live.

The SchoolStreet house isn’t small; it’s more than 2,500 square feet. But as a show house, it offers numerous ideas for adapting existing space.

“People are looking not just for a smaller house, but for a better house,” says Susanka. “You can make less square footage feel like more if it’s well designed.”

According to a recent study by the National Association of Home Builders, by 2015 homes are expected to average 2,152 square feet, which is 10.5 percent smaller than the average single-family home built during 2010 (that, in turn, is down from the peak of 2,520 square feet in 2007 and 2008). Susanka’s home embodies the trend toward living well on a smaller scale by incorporating an open floor plan with ceiling accents that define the space, several multipurpose rooms, energy-efficient features, and outdoor entertainment areas. Smart organizational built-ins blend seamlessly, such as a cabinet just the right size for extra toilet paper in the home’s bathrooms and a murphy bed in a first-floor room.

“SchoolStreet houses are designed to align with a cultural shift in how home owners truly want to live — more soulful designs, filled with detail, that are sensitive to the environment and connected to a pedestrian-friendly, vital community,” McLinden said. “For decades, Sarah has been espousing the benefit of such houses. Few people have had as great an influence on the American home and lifestyle as Sarah.”

The SchoolStreet project serves as a beacon of success in today’s housing market and new-home construction. The location was previously home to a luxury townhome development that went into foreclosure. When McLinden purchased the property, he went back to the drawing board to create smaller, high-quality, cutting-edge bungalows, and slashed the prices in half, with homes now starting at $500,000. He also converted Libertyville’s neighboring historic Central School building into 15 loft condominiums. As of early December, 21 of the 26 homes and 5 of the 15 lofts had been purchased.

“I’ve been a REALTOR® since 1978, and in all those years I’ve seen many different developments, but this concept and [Susanka’s] home is the most exciting thing I’ve been a part of,” says Sue Carey, SCRP, GMS, vice president of relocation and corporate services at Century 21 Kreuser & Seiler in Libertyville, which has selling rights to the development.

The SchoolStreet homes feature a new urbanist character, with porches set close to the front sidewalk to make more of a community connection. The 26 homes and 15 lofts are located close to the Libertyville’s vibrant downtown main street and within walking distance of many amenities. The urban lifestyle, Susanka says, is attracting an array of consumers, from downsizers to first-time buyers, from professional couples to growing families.

“From my perspective as an architect and an author, what I hear is people are refocusing on their homes not so much as an investment, but as a wonderful place to live,” Susanka says. “For real estate agents, I think it’s really important to see what people are looking for today. They have been shifted by the economy and by all the uncertainty that’s been coloring our world for the last few years.”

Susanka’s show-home has given both real estate professionals and buyers an example of how to live in a more organized and thoughtful manner, Carey says. “It’s a way of living and a way of readjusting your life so that it has more tranquility to it.”

The show-home is open for tours now through May 20, 2012, after which it will be sold. Visit www.schoolstreetlibertyville.com for more information.

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