So what does the future hold for house design? Trends are moving towards more contemporary interiors, traditional but highly detailed exteriors, and flexible and fun living spaces that allow families to enjoy time together both inside and outside the home.  Builderonline.com recently published an article covering design trends for new homes in 2012.  As a Custom Home Builder on Cape Cod, we are constantly looking to identify trends that are not only popular, but make sense both aesthetically and financially. This article discusses new concepts like the "Family Triangle" and viewing outdoor living spaces as an extension of the indoor space. If you are thinking of building a new home on Cape Cod,

Click here to read the full article: http://www.builderonline.com/design/eight-design-trends-for-fresh-elevations-updated-interiors_1.aspx

Traditional Exterior:

Contemporary Interior

   Here is a new waterfront custom home created by our talented designer and Vice President Jim Hagerty.  Jim has been designing and building custom homes throughout southeastern Massachusetts for the last 20 years.  His attention to detail, style, and ability to listen to his customers are clearly demonstrated in his work.  If you are planning a Custom Home on Cape Cod, or a Renovation or Remodeling Project, you should hire a team like REEF to take your project from Concept to Completion.

Front View:

Rear View

     Cape Cod is a unique place, especially when it comes to landscaping. Many Cape Cod Homes feature extensive, colorful, and often times low maintenance landscaping that fits the coastal style of Cape Cod Living.  So if you are building a new custom home, renovating, remodeling, or just want to enhance your existing landscape we have a few suggestions for you.  Perennial beds, ornamental grasses, often times highlighted with annuals for color and style are often seen on Cape Cod.  Using the natural topography to your advantage is also important. Instead of building a large retaining wall to stabilize a slope, why not use rosa rugosa, day lillies or a low ground cover to stabilize the slope which will provide color and style. Below is an article from houzz.com that discusses some of the challenges and opportunities when planning your landscaping in a coastal environment.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1868186/list/Lay-of-the-Landscape--Coastal-Garden-Style#

    Creating an appealing home has a number of factors. Overall design, lot location, and exterior details can all contribute to an attractive home.  The elements of an attractive home should be balanced in mass and scale, and present a coordinated appearance.   We found an interesting article from Housingzone.com that discusses the 3 key elements to creating a stunning custom home.  This article highlights massing, fenestration, and detailing as the most important factors that contribute to an attractive custom home.  Even the smallest house can have exceptional curb appeal with some well placed windows and doors, and some small details like shutters. 

Click here to read the full article: http://www.housingzone.com/blog/3-key-elements-creating-stunning-curb-appeal

    If you are thinking of selling your existing home, there are several ways you can increase the value.  However, starting a major remodel or renovation is probably not the best way.  Simple things like new carpet, paint, re-finished wood floors, and new or re-finished cabinets may be all you need.  Here is a great article from MSNBC.com and Forbes talking about smart home improvements you can make to improve the chances of selling your home at the price you want. 

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47666549/ns/today-money/#.T9X3kbXrEUM

    Sometimes, we here at REEF, Cape Cod's Home Builder, get stuck in the traditional.  Occasionally we have been asked to design some unique and fun features into our homes.  We came across this slideshow from DigsDigs.com that features 10 Wild Bathroom designs, that might make you think outside the box for your next project. Customers will often ask us "can you do______________" and our answer is always yes. Whether building a new custom home, or renovation or remodeling project, we always like a challenge!

Here is the link to the slideshow: http://www.digsdigs.com/10-the-most-cool-and-wacky-bathrooms-ever/

    Planning for a kitchen renovation can be a complex process.  Balancing the new design, appliances, plumbing and electrical changes can be complicated. The key to a successful renovation or remodeling project is planning. There is much more to a kitchen renovation than going to a kitchen design center and picking out cabinets.  A good General Contracor or Custom Home Builder can take you through the critical planning steps before things become a problem.  Coordinating electricians, plumbers, tile setter, cabinet installers, and countertop installers can be a challenging undertaking for someone without experience.   Here is a good articl from Renovator's Place that provides a list of questions you should ask before you start your project: http://www.renovatorsplace.com/articles/planning-questions-for-a-kitchen-renovation.cfm

  REEF has been designing, building and renovating Custom Homes on Cape Cod for over 25 years, and understands the value of the planning process.  We look forward to helping you with your next project!

  Renovating, Remodeling or building a new home is a process that can involve emotional and rational decision making. Balancing needs versus wants, achieving a certain look or feel to a space can be difficult and every decision involves money.  If you look at the process from a purely financial perspective, there are some improvements that add value to a home, and there are many that provide little to no return, and even some that can detract from the existing value of your property.  As a Custom Builder on Cape Cod, we often assist in making these decisions, and try to provide the benefit analysis of different design ideas. Certain renovation projects like updating a kitchen, replacing windows and siding are often a good idea, but some projects such as adding a pool, or creating unique, but unappealing spaces may not create value in the home.

Here is a great article from The Street.com which talks about projects that might hurt the value of your property: Value Killing Home Renovations

   Building a new home on Cape Cod is hard enough, but the real challenge comes with permitting a project.  Each town has slightly different regulations, there is a mountain of paperwork to digest, and once the permit is submitted, it is difficult to know where the permit stands for several months. 

     Finally the county has spearheaded an effort to bring uniform online permitting to Cape Cod.  This system will be available to Cape Cod Builders, and promises reduced timelines, instant status updates, and should lend some more predictability and accountability to the process.  We look forward to seeing this program develop over the next year, and have been asked to participate in its development which will be an exciting opportunity.  This system should consolidate all of the approving authorities in each town, allowing building, health, fire, conservation, historic, and other filings to be done at once.  We will keep you up to date on the implementation of this new program.

On Saturday, June 16th, 2012, the second annual Wellfleet HarborFest will celebrate the opening of another summer season. It will be held at the east end of the town pier in front of the bandstand, rain or shine, from 9 AM to 4 PM. The occasion will showcase Wellfleet's aquaculture, shellfishing, fishing and boating communities who contribute to Wellfleet's unique character and vitality, and provides a venue for local vendors and non-profits to market their wares and offer educational opportunities. A nautical flea market will once again be featured guaranteeing a large crowd.

The centerpiece of HarborFest will be a Nautical Flea Market, which was a great success in 2011 as the first of its kind on the outer Cape.

The organizers are looking for nautical items, including small boats, canoes, kayaks, misc. nautical gear, fishing rods, reels, lures, nets, tackle, electronics, scuba gear, dinghies, small motors and boating accessories. Items may be donated outright or consigned for sale with 25% of the sale price going to the HarborFest. All items must be in reasonably good condition. Proceeds will be used to produce an informative Wellfleet Harbor Guide, which details places of interest within walking distance of the pier.

For further information follow the link the below

http://www.discoverwellfleet.com/harborfest-2012/wellfleet-harborfest-2012