Many times we are asked to maximize living space with very efficient design. Often our Customers are replacing a beach cottage with a home that will better serve their current lifestyle, and almost always space is at a premium.

Small spaces don’t have to be cramped. Modern materials and smart design allow us to pack lots of utility into comfortable, efficient, fun spaces. Special sinks, wall-mounted storage, and pull-out pantries are great ways to increase the utility, and non-conformity, of smaller kitchens.

Click the link for 10 Big Ideas for Smaller Kitchens, and you may get inspired! 

Big ideas for your small Cape Cod kitchen

Big ideas for your small Cape Cod kitchen

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

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

We’ve survived the Great Recession.

The market on Cape Cod and throughout the Northeast is coming back.

Desirable shore front areas have benefitted from strong demand, even multiple Offers on homes for sale. What does the market look like going forward? How are banks viewing this market? Can we expect lending to loosen up a little? And what about the outlook for retirees and second home buyers?

Here is some great insight from two bankers and a regional real estate company. It’s a quick read with some very good information:

Cape Cod 2013 Housing Market Discussion

Cape Cod 2013 Housing Market Discussion

“We’d like to have a house with 3 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms. Our lot is 7,405 square feet. “

That’s a lot of living on a very small footprint. But it’s not an unusual request here at REEF. Many of our Customers own property in beach communities, where the parcels of land are very small. But accommodating friends and family, and enjoying a comfortable, year-round lifestyle, are very important. So we design and build highly efficient living in what are sometimes very tight quarters.

The photo below is a REEF built home, with 1,789 Square Feet of living space, 3 bedrooms (including a Master Suite), 3 bathrooms, and a beautiful, open floor plan. The Before photo is the outdated Ranch that had seen better times.

Cape Cod is not the only community with space challenges. Here are some interesting designs and solutions to accommodating modern living in tight spaces around the country.

Building designs for thin lots like those on Cape Cod

Building designs for thin lots like those on Cape Cod

Tickscaping: creating a landscape that is a tick-free zone. With the release of a new report documenting that thousands of folks have undiagnosed Lyme Disease, preventing this tick-borne illness is getting lots of attention.  Lyme disease can invade and damage multiple organ-systems, the nervous system prominent among them. And summer fun means lots of outside time, with increased exposure to ticks. Prevention is the key.

Ticks love tall grass and dense vegetation. With a little effort, a tick-free landscape can be created and maintained. Cape Cod is too beautiful to let a few ticks spoil your fun!  Here are some tips from a couple experts on creating a tick-free zone.

Landscaping Tips for a Tick-Free Yard on Cape Cod

Center for Disease Control - preventing ticks

Landscaping Tips for a Tick-Free Yard on Cape Cod

Center for Disease Control - preventing ticks

Cape Cod has some fabulous neighborhoods steps away from the beach. Usually these area were cottage colonies many years ago, with tiny homes, and sometimes even tents. Now many of the homes are comfortable, year-around beach get-a-ways. But the lots of land are still very small.

REEF is proud of its work helping home owners replace worn out cottages with attractive homes. Because space is often at a premium, the outdoor living space is frequently squeezed into a corner or side of the property.

Fear not! Even the smallest space can be a sanctuary. Here are some great design ideas to help create a relaxing, pleasant space in the tiniest circumstances.

Small Cape Cod Deck Design Ideas

Small Cape Cod Deck Design Ideas

It is absolutely beautiful here on Cape Cod. This is the weather around which Cape Cod memories are made. Before the warm weather slips away, get your friends together for a casual porch party. Here are some great tips on how to keep your porch party fun with food place cards, cocktail ideas, and menu ideas like coconut shrimp and guacamole.

Just find a comfortable spot, add some friends, and make some Cape Cod memories!

Cape Cod Porch Party Tips & Ideas

Cape Cod Porch Party Tips & Ideas