A New Year brings...a new color! Pantone is the "authority on color", and a provider of color systems and leading technology for accurate communication of color. Each year they introduce their Color of the Year. 2014 brings a bit of a wild side...

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says, “An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, [it] inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”           Check it out...what do you think?

Pantone's New Color for 2014 in your Cape Cod Home 

 Pantone's New Color for 2014 in your Cape Cod Home

With a greener home, you can save money with more efficient use of energy and water, live healthier and be more environmentally astute by using materials that are renewable and recyclable—without compromising quality, aesthetics, or budget. Here's some great ideas for your Cape Cod Home.

Green Home Improvements for your Cape Cod Home

Green Home Improvements for your Cape Cod Home

Energy efficiency is a component of every home we build. Some of our Customers are very interested in minimizing energy consumption. Frequently we incorporate a passive solar energy feature in the design. “Passive Houses” are gaining popularity: essentially buildings which use very little energy for heating and cooling, while providing a high level of comfort.

Europe is leading the charge in designing Passive Houses to harness natural energy for heating and cooling. The houses implement the latest in insulation technology, triple-glazed windows, balanced energy recovery ventilation and limiting thermal bridging. Here’s a concise and comprehensive introduction to incorporating passive energy efficiency into your next Cape Cod home.

Passive Energy Houses trending for future on Cape Cod

Passive Energy Houses trending for future on Cape Cod

Thanksgiving is a special time on Cape Cod. Walking on a secluded beach with the chill wind in your face, you can almost feel the challenges lived by the early settlers. There were hard, bitterly cold winters, lack of food and medicine. Very difficult times.

Now on Cape Cod, family celebrations abound. It’s a peaceful time, with much to appreciate. Much for which we are Thankful.

Here are some images from Cape Cod to help you celebrate this Thanksgiving.

Fun Facts about Cape Cod Thanksgiving

Winter is here! Right now it’s raining on sunny Cape Cod, but the freeze is coming.

Preventative maintenance is the key to keeping your Cape Cod home in tip top shape. Ben Franklin said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That certainly applies to preparing your home for the onslaught of winter.

Here’s a handy and comprehensive checklist for getting your home ready for winter:

Winterizing your Cape Cod Home

Winterizing your Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod is a pretty healthy place. But how do you ensure that your Cape Cod home is as pleasant and healthy as possible?

Feng shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. 

Feng means wind and shui means water. In Chinese culture wind and water are associated with good health, thus good feng shui came to mean good fortune, while bad feng shui means bad luck, or misfortune. 

Here are some easy tips on how to make sure your home, or office, is full of good vibrations, good feng shui.

Feng shui in your Cape Cod Home can improve your heart & health

Feng shui color tips for your Cape Cod Home

Feng Shui Kitchen Tips for Cape Cod Homes

Do you have a story about building a home?

Have friends shared with you their nightmare of trying to get a house built on Cape Cod?

Are you considering renovating your home, or building a Cape Escape?

Hear the testimonial of Tino & Elaine Kamarck as they describe their experience. This short video lets you peek into the world of custom home building, walking distance to the beach on Cape Cod.

With renters booked for the whole summer, will the home be finished? Will the job cost run over the budget? Screaming matches with the builder? Stress everywhere? Watch the Kamarck's describe their experience...

Cape Cod Beach-Side Home Customer Testimonial

Cape Cod Beach-Side Home Customer Testimonial

The Best of 2013 is here!

Everything from the best food processor to new refrigerators that dispense sparkling water, advanced faucets, goof-proof grout, really quiet stove hood fans, speedy dishwashers, dual-flushing toilets, excellent toothbrushes, porcelain faux-wood planks, cool tools…you name it, the Best of 2013 is here!

This Old House does a great job with their annual round-up of great products that will enhance your house and life. They’ve done lots of testing, and some of their selections are sure to surprise you. There are some great gift ideas here too.

Whether  you’re building a new home on Cape Cod, planning a renovation project, or just want to know about the best new ideas, check out this link:

Best New Products for your Cape Cod Home

Best New Products for your Cape Cod Home

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate increases may be postponed for several years. But their requirements for construction in flood zones are in full force. These requirements may be difficult to accommodate, but worse yet is effecting the repair or improvement and not adhering to the new FEMA requirements.

There is a lot to consider when evaluating even the simplest repair or maintenance item on a home in a coastal flood zone. Even replacing roof shingles is considered by FEMA to be an “improvement”, potentially requiring the existing structure to be modified to meet the flood zone requirements.

This 27-page report is very comprehensive, and straight from FEMA. It’s a quick read, and downloadable. It may catalyze some questions, so don’t hesitate to call us any time for help or clarification: 508-394-3090

FEMA Construction Requirements for Cape Cod Flood Zones

FEMA Construction Requirements for Cape Cod Flood Zones

The newly updated FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps have shaken up the real estate market here on Cape Cod. Interest in waterfront homes has been tempered, while those homes for sale just outside of the new flood zones have seen increased activity. The market is awash with anecdotes about huge insurance rate increases on specific homes, which has caused much concern.

On Tuesday some legislation was filed that would delay the implementation of Flood Insurance rate Increases by approximately 4 years. The bill has been sent to the Senate, so there’s no final word on the new situation.

Although insurance rate increases will hopefully be delayed, there is no talk of modifying FEMA’s Flood Zone Construction Requirements. If you’re considering a renovation on your waterfront home, now’s the time.

Here’s a link to the House bill that was sent to the Senate. Chances are the final bill will be very similar:

http://democrats.financialservices.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1602

http://democrats.financialservices.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1602