On the other hand you have small builders who are typically building a few homes up to a couple of dozen homes. Naturally, there are a few medium builders with volume in between. Covenant Custom Homes is definitely in the ranks of small builders. Depending on the year, we typically can handle about one dozen projects.  Could we build more, yes we could but only at the expense of our customers.

We are, I am pleased to say, a true custom builder. That means we never build the same house twice. Our clients take their own custom plans or adapt of our’s.

Before any ground is broken, we have typically worked and reworked every plan for months. We have listened, provided ideas, suggestions and offered multiple options for the cost/benefit of many different products and methods.

Now, the average new in the Overland Park area is about $450,000. Our average home is nearly twice that. That’s not to say we couldn’t build a $450,000 home but we can not afford to divert our attention away from our client’s projects because they are too grand and detailed. They require attention every single day and that means from the builder not a hired hand.

Some folks might be concerned that our lower unit volume would render us noncompetitive in the marketplace of labor and materials. Fortunately, that is not the case, as we are founding members of the Affiliated Builders Purchasing Group. We are one of 18 builders (small, medium and large) in the Kansas City market who pool our purchases for almost every product and services that goes into your new home. We can say unequivocally that we buy at prices at least as good as any large volume builder. In fact ABG is together the largest builder in the KC Metro.

A discussion with our very own Covenant Custom Homes Design team has exposed some lighting design insights that are worth considering for your new home or renewal project.

1. Chrome fixtures and to a lesser degree brushed nickel or stainless fixtures tend more towards modern and contemporary designed homes. Black metallic’s and of course crystal “spray” designs make an obvious choice in the more edgy designs.
2. Transitional designs lend themselves to a mix of lighting looks but should have a basic theme of either ORB, wood or black metallic.  No one, however should be a slave to one coloration.  A better direction is to pick different colors and materials and mix them throughout the house.
3. Traditional designs call for more timeless looks and that still seems to be ORB, pewters, stained wood and the new “antique gold.”  Again mixing is recommended for maximum creativity and impact. Naturally, crystal and antique glass chandeliers are almost always good design choice in Traditional homes.
4. Modern farmhouse and the shabby chic designed homes require an adherence to tradition but always with a more casual bent.  Here, wood fixtures in lighter stains and black metallic’s are the style leaders.

So, whatever your design direction, please keep in mind that lighting fixtures are a critical part of establishing a particular design vernacular for your project.  This too goes for those outdoor wall sconces on both the front and back of your home.  It should go without saying that our design team is always available to consult with our clients and prospective clients at Covenant Custom Homes.

The beautiful and innovative model home is in the Summerwood Estates subdivision in Southern Overland Park at 159th and Quivira.  The home boasts 4 bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths, a 4 car garage, a fantastic covered lanai and firepit and backs to green space.

Well, this is a question that we are asked more than a few times a year so we decided it might be beneficial to deal with it, right here.  In our area of Southern Johnson County, Overland Park and Leawood there are numerous home building companies; some are bigger and some are smaller.  Covenant Custom Homes, however is one of only 16 builders in the entire Kansas City metropolitan area that are part of the Affiliated Builders Group (ABG); in fact we are one of ABG’s founding members.  ABG was started 10 years ago as an effort to provided “small builders” an opportunity to purchase materials at the lowest prices.  Currently, the ABG membership consists of a variety of companies including some that are the largest builders in Kansas City.

Even better, ABG now operates in 7 markets nationally.  Last years combined purchases totaled more than $90 million .

The bottom line is that Covenant Custom Homes enjoys the same incredible volume pricing that any large volume builder could hope to get.  In fact, there are really only a handful of builders in the metro area that buy as competitively as we do.

Make it Move in Ready

The last thing a perspective home buyer wants is to see significant flaws in your home; Before any home is put on the market it needs to go through a reasonable quality inspection.  Repairs need to be made to insure your home shows as “new” as possible.

Keep It Cozy

Make sure your home appears to be warm and cozy for every showing.   If you have a fireplace it will look even better if it is lit.  Do not forget to turn lights on (inside and out), so that your home looks even move inviting.

Keep It Clean

It is critical for every showing that your home be “picked up”, neat and clean.  That means no dishes in the sink, stuff on the counters or mess in the kids rooms.

If you follow these simple tips for selling your home it should make the process much easier.  If you are interested in talking about a new home make sure you contact Covenant Custom Homes.

Curb Appeal 

Even in winter curb appeal is critical so make sure the grass is trimmed, yard debris is picked up and that ice and snow are removed from driveways and walks.

Pass The Smell Test

Every home has its own unique smell and if it is not a pleasant one you will suffer a big negative.  During the winter season when homes are closed up the odors from cooking, pets and carpets can be particularly problematic.  Locate the source of unpleasant odors and address it before showings.  Make sure carpets and upholstery are cleaned and deodorized.

Wallpaper is in the midst of a major comeback.  It is showing up to give a graphic punch as well as to add vibrant personality.

Wallpaper is in the midst of a major comeback.  It is showing up to give a graphic punch as well as to add vibrant personality.

But, when used more creatively it can bring whimsy and a one of a kind feel to the most unexpected places.

Here are some downright delightful ways to incorporate wall-coverings onto anything but your walls!

Ceilings covered in wallpaper are always a lovely surprise!  Why have a boring white ceiling when you can add darling detail and dimension to such a large surface area?

Often times overlooked, stair risers are a great place to infuse some extra oomph. Stick to patterns in one color palette, or mix and match wall-coverings that have a similar design thread.

This is a great area to use left over scraps of wallpaper as are the rest of the following ideas. Be environmentally friendly by re-purposing  that old paper!

Customize your cabinetry!  Regardless if your cabinets have doors, glass doors, or open shelving, covering the rear wall with paper really personalizes any space that it is put into.

Thinking of donating that old book shelf?  How about giving it a new life instead? Wallpaper the inside to make it a relevant piece in your home again.

Turn your closet doors into art by papering the panels.  Also, by adding trim moulding to large panels of wallpaper  it creates an architectural detail that can really enliven a space.

Re-posted with permission from 

Author: Andrea Schumacher

www.andreaschumacherinteriors.com

The cold weather is fast approaching so that means homeowners have a few chores to tend to in order for their homes to be ready for winter.  Here is a brief check list.

-Heating systems should be professionally inspected.

-Furnace filters should be cleaned or replaced.

-Chimney’s on wood burning fireplaces should be cleaned and inspected.

-After the leaves finish dropping have the gutters cleaned out.

-Also remove leaves from window wells, so the drains are clean.

-Turn off & drain outside faucets.

-Drain hoses and store inside.

-Check and repair as required caulking around doors & windows.

-Seal concrete driveways and walkways.

-Cracks and/or pitting in concrete should be filled.

-Do not use salts or ice melt products on driveways or walkways that are less than six months old.

-Turn off and winterize lawn irrigation systems.

-Mulch perennials  flowers.

-Cover or bring inside all flower pots.

-Replace dead trees (Do not wait for Spring.)

Start your winter off the right way and you can save yourself on costly home repairs.

One of the smartest things Residential Architects have done in recent years is to stop talking to their clients like Architects. We’ve gotten a lot better at conversing like regular people instead of like college professors.

Even so, we sometimes lapse into saying silly things like:

Supposedly, that’s about “the future of residential architecture”.  Mmm-hmm.  (If you have any idea what that means, please let me know).

I don’t relate well to that kind of “archi-speak” and I bet you don’t either.  I do relate to quotes like this one:
“In the same way that music inspires us to certain feelings, space can do the same thing…”

That’s a simple truth from Sarah Susanka, author of “The Not So Big House” books.  Refreshing, stimulating, and understandable.  Thanks Sarah.

The “language” of Architecture – especially when we’re talking about home design – doesn’t have to be difficult to understand; after all, if we’re not communicating clearly, how do we know when our designs are successful?

There are some things that can’t be simplified, however.  The pieces and parts of a building have names, and we’ll all communicate better if we use the same terms to refer to them.

Some are a little arcane to be sure (we’ll talk about the “enablature” in a future article) but at the other end of the scale, you and I are both confused when you say you don’t like that “thingy” on the roof.

So while I promise to do all I can to talk (and write) in more or less plain English, may I ask you – Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner – to meet me halfway?  If I show you a few proper terms for some basic house parts will you try to use them now and then?  Just a few, really, and they’re pretty easy (plus, there are pictures).

I’ll cover a few “outside parts” here, and tackle “inside parts” in a future article.

                                                                              Roof Shapes and Roof Parts

Roofs are either flat, or not flat.  Flat roofs are called – flat roofs.  Non–flat roofs are called pitched roofs.

See how easy this is?

Describing pitched roofs gets a little more complicated, but there are two basic kinds: gable, and hip.  Gabled roofs have a “triangle” at the ends; hipped roofs look more like a pyramid.

There are hybrids and combinations of these two basic types, but they’re less common so I’m not going to bother you with them here.

You know what the peak of a roof is – it’s the very top.  When the roof peak is a level, horizontal line, it’s also called a ridge.

A hipped roof may have a ridge at the top, or may come to a point. But at the corners, there are more ridges, running at an angle, up to the ridge at the top.  Those “angled ridges” are called hips.  Go figure.

All roofs have some sort of edge at the bottom; when that edge is level, it’s called an eave.  When the edge is the end of a gable, it’s called a rake.

Learn to identify a gable roof, a hip roof, and a few roof parts, and your Architect will be impressed.

Window Styles and Parts

Most American homes have one of two basic windows styles – “double-hung”, or “casement”.

Double-hung windows are the ones that slide up and down; there’s a top half and a bottom half and both are both moveable (if only the bottom half moves, it’s a “single-hung” window).  Double-hung windows are most often found on houses with an American colonial heritage.

Casement windows are hinged on one side like a door, and are usually operated by a hand crank.  They’re more appropriately used on homes based on European styles.

Other common residential window styles include awning (hinged at the top), sliding, and fixed; but no matter the style, all windows have a few basic parts in common.

The movable part of any window is called the sash; this is separate from the frame, which is attached to the house.  It’s possible to repair a window by replacing the sash and leaving the frame intact.

The top of the frame is called the head; the bottom, the sill; and the sides are called jambs.

And those bars in the middle of the window, what you probably call grids (that’s ok, by the way), those are also called muntins.  Muntins are often confused with mullions, which are pieces that join two separate window units together.

Got it?  Casually drop a few of those terms next time you meet with your Architect; he’ll think you’re pretty cool for speaking of little of his language.

And maybe that will convince him to work a little harder to speak yours.