What is Viva Magenta?
Pantone’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.

This year’s Color of the Year is powerful and empowering. It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.

Pantone has also shared a beautiful nature inspired color palette (below) to compliment this vibrant shade of red.

Source: https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2023

If you are looking to buy, build or renovate your home, kitchen or bath on Cape Cod, consider working with the REEF Builders team with complete real estate, design, permitting, and construction services.

Looking for costs per square foot for a new home on Cape Cod?  Click here to download our Construction Cost Guide

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  So what will the hot new home design and decor trends be for 2022? With the Covid era passing, people have been spending more and more time at home, working, attending class or just "social distancing."  This new interest in the home is driving some new trends which we love!

We have seen trends towards more natural finishes and interior decor elements bringing in rich wood tones and brown and tan colors from nature.

Also, elements like multi-purpose living areas that can transition from a home office to entertainment space, or guest bedroom are big this year as people continue to work from home.

Patterned Textiles and natural wood furniture often with carved elements are on trend, again playing on the nature theme, with calming and neutral brown and wood tones.

If you want to learn more about interior design trends for 2022 - click here to learn more from Vogue - 2022 Interior Design Trends

If you are considering building or renovating a home on Cape Cod, please take a moment to read our Construction Cost Guide for Cape Cod

Looking for that perfect parcel of land or property to build your Cape Cod dream home? Check out our Cape Cod Land Search

Here's an interactive walk through of one of our current projects in the design stages here on Cape Cod. We are experimenting with different virtual reality integrations to provide the customer the ability view the actual design in 3D. The next iteration of this concept will include complete VR integration where customers can look at different finishes or layouts in real time with the click of a button. REEF is currently leading the way in custom home design and VR integration on Cape Cod and will continue to invest in these cutting edge technologies to provide our customers with an immersive design experience!

The accuracy and authenticity of these 3D models will also allow the customer to set clear expectations for what the final building product will look and feel like. This is a fantastic tool for custom home projects or renovations and additions.

If you are considering building a new home on Cape Cod, or renovating your existing home, please take a moment to download our Construction Cost Guide

The 2018 Construction Cost Guide is here! See how all of the various economic, labor, building code and trade issues will impact your Cape Cod home project.

Click Here to download: 2018 Construction Cost Guide

The State of Massachusetts has confirmed that January 1, 2018 will be the definitive date for adoption of the 9th edition of the building code. This code update will consist of the 2015 versions of the International Code Council regulations, with some modifications specific to the State.

Here are some highlights of the major revisions:

Massachusetts 9th Edition Changes

Some of the major changes have to do with the wind loading requirements, which will basically eliminate the need for upgraded "hurricane windows" or other special high wind requirements except in areas of extreme exposure (oceanfront or waterfront homes). The 9th Version also provides additional guidance on flood zone construction, which could have significant impacts on projects within or near the Coastal "A" zones.

Here's a link to the latest press release from the Department of Public Safety outlining the release dates and new regulations that will be in effect as of January 1, 2018

9th Edition Building Code Release Dates

If you are thinking of building a new custom home on Cape Cod, or if you would like to remodel or renovate your existing Cape Cod home, these new regulations will definitely have an impact on your project!

If you want to know what your new home might cost - take a look our Construction Cost Guide

If you are considering building new or renovating a waterfront property - take a look at our Waterfront Property Guide

You've been visiting the Cape your whole life, isn't it time you stayed?

Many have you may be following the ongoing lumber trade dispute between the US and Canada over the last few months. Today, the National Association of Home Builders issued a statement denouncing a proposed 20% tariff on all Canadian lumber imports. 95% of the lumber currently used in the United States is imported from Canada, and it is the essential building component used in all levels of residential construction. So regardless whether you are planning an addition, or renovation project, or a custom built home, plan on seeing the overall cost of your project increase this year as this trade dispute continues.

Here on Cape Cod, we have seen lumber prices steadily increasing since late 2016. It is unfortunate, that our government has not taken more aggressive action to curb this sort of situation. Housing, at all levels, from starter homes to elaborate custom homes, is a vital part of both the national and local economies. After watching regulations steadily increase over the last 7 years, it is disappointing to see this lumber dispute add additional unnecessary costs to the construction process. Lumber makes up approximately 7-10% of the overall cost of a new home, so a 20% increase in materials costs will add about $3,600 to an average home, and can easily add $10,000 to $20,000 to the cost of a larger custom home or renovation project.

Here's more info from the NAHB: Proposed Lumber Duties will Harm Housing

Let's hope we can get this resolved quickly!

If you are considering a new custom home, addition, or remodel on your Cape Cod property, Contact Us today!

We have published our 2017 Construction cost guide! 2017 Will be a dynamic year in the construction business, with pending building code changes, lumber price increases, and a scarcity of skilled labor. We have continued to see a high demand for vacant lots this year as well, as the aging housing inventory on the Cape, and low supply of quality existing homes has prompted a boom in new construction.

Despite these pending changes, investments in expertly designed, and exceptionally crafted custom homes have a great long term potential return!

Here are some of the other trends we are seeing:

• Smaller, more efficiently designed floor plans
• Stronger demand for energy efficiency upgrades like solar, spray foam insulation etc.
• Finished or partially finished basement areas, which provides additional living area at a lower unit cost
• Highly detailed exteriors on smaller homes, with enhanced trim, window upgrades for both durability and style
• Demand for homes with contemporary styling, both inside and out
• Strong demand for waterfront or walk to water homes, with solid return on investment.
• Continued stream of new and more stringent regulations that will continue to increase cost, but will provide for much more efficient homes in the future

REEF Builders provides complete design / build services for your Cape Cod home project. We offer expert architectural design and permitting services, along with complete construction services from start to finish. If you are considering building a new Custom Home, or planning an addition or renovation on your existing home. Contact REEF Today!

Click here to download our 2017 Construction Cost Guide!

We've seen it coming over the last few years, but now it's here. If you are thinking of building your new Cape Cod Home, there is no better time than right now. We are seeing major increases in materials prices and a serious skilled labor shortage not only on Cape Cod, but also nationally. When you combine these latest issues with the ever-increasing regulatory environment, it is easy to see why the cost of construction has gone up substantially over the last 5 years. However, with low inventory of existing homes on Cape Cod, and an aging housing stock in need of major repairs or upgrades, building a new home on Cape Cod is still a sound investment.

How do you protect yourself if you are planning a major renovation or custom home project for 2017?

1. Work with established designers and builders who understand the marketplace and have the resources available to manage the labor issues
2. Set a strategy for design and permitting that can allow for an expedited start of construction
3. Pre-purchase materials if possible
4. Thoroughly plan your project to ensure quick and accurate execution
5. Minimize waste and use modern production techniques such as off site panelization of major components (walls, roofs etc)

Here's some recent information from the National Association of Homebuilders discussing these Challenges for 2017

If you are considering Building your custom home on Cape Cod, there is no better time than right now! Contact us today to see how we can help!

If you are considering designing and building a custom home over the next year, you should take some time to understand some of the major cost components and how they can impact the overall cost of construction. Over the last few years, most construction cost increases have been driven by substantial regulatory change, and an overall shortage of labor vs. demand. Lumber, which accounts for 10-20% of the overall cost of a custom home has remained fairly steady over the last year or two. We did just get news from our team at Shepley Wood Products that lumber prices are expected to increase over the next year, namely due to lumber agreements between the US and Canada. Here's an explaination:

Softwood Lumber Agreement Information

With the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) between the US and Canada coming to a close and the possibility of a duty being imposed on Canadian lumber imports , we as consumers can expect to see price increases on both Canadian and domestic timber over the next few months. Speculators typically try to create panic in the market place about sharp price escalation to drive impulse purchasing and some mills have already imposed price increases out of knee jerk reaction. However, historically, sharp rises like this have been short lived and adjust quickly as the United States and Canada find compromise in the name of doing business.

We recognize how disruptive economic change like the end of the SLA can be to business, so in an effort to reduce its impact, Shepley Wood Products is making the following commitments.

• We will buy right and leverage our average inventory value to ensure our prices are always better than market. Well planned purchasing allows us to take the edge off of sharp market changes.
• We will buy enough inventory to keep your projects well supplied
• We will not over buy inventory, allowing us to more quickly lower prices as the market corrects
• We will not drop our price hold commitment below 30 Days
• We will always be forthcoming about market conditions and make sure you have the most recent and accurate information.

Click Here for More Information

Bottom Line: IF you are considering designing and building your custom home or retirement home, or even a major renovation project here on Cape Cod expect to pay more over the next year as lumber prices increase in reaction to this news about the Softwood Lumber Agreement.

We are expecting prices to change 3-5% over the next few months, and we are already seeing prices move 1% or so this month.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at sales@capecodbuilder.com

Once we get more information, we'll issue a new Construction Cost Guide for spring of 2017