Bathtub Ideas for Your New Home

Just not a standard rectangular dwelling anymore, bathrooms have become a place of escape - a world of their own that offers a tranquil space to unwind, relax and rinse away the cares of the day. It’s no small wonder, then, that the bathtub rates high on the home-owner list of important features.

Style

Just like houses, bathtubs come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. From round to square, jets and jetless, antique and contemporary, choosing the style of bathtub you long to sink into is all about personal pampering preference. Here are a few of the most popular bathtub styles to consider:
       
* Garden Tubs

Considered the spa treatment of bathtubs, garden tubs provide the ultimate in luxury relaxation. Deep and roomy, these popular tubs often come equipped with jets and are typically situated in view of the outdoors for a true get-away feeling. 

* Antique (Free-standing)

The nostalgic shape of the free-standing tub is reminiscent of the deep metal tubs they bathed in long before bathrooms were even heard of. Elegant, with their exposed piping and beautifully clawed feet, free-standing bathtubs offer the old world, colonial feel with its traditional beauty and warmth.

* Walk-in
Widely popular among the handicapped and the elderly, these tubs offer safety and simplicity with easy access and customizable options such as seating, handrails and Whirpool jets.

Material and Colors

Bathtubs are available in a wide range are available in materials that range from porcelain on to ceramic. Since different materials have different installation requirements, be sure to inquire about any costs your may incur.
Choosing the colors for your bathroom can be invigorating and exciting. There is nothing more thrilling than placing your own personal stamp on your dream bathroom. Tub colors are of particular importance. Since the majority of your time will be spent relaxing in your dream tub, picking a color that provides the right atmosphere when bathing is important.

Showrooms can offer enormous help in getting a feel for a bathroom based on style, material and color. The key is to sample different styles to personally experience and see what best fits your idea of bathroom paradise.

True Homes is the largest home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, with new communities in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information on building your True dream home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704-937-2307

Popular Baby Boomer Home Designs

Born between 1946 and 1964, there are 77 million Baby Boomers that represent 26 percent of the population. Boomers make up 45 percent of the work force and control the largest amount of discretionary income in history. Home builders and architects are continuously adapting their floorplans and home designs to accommodate the ever-changing needs and demands of this generation that plans on being around for a long time to come.

“Right-size” Me

Sophisticated, savvy, and active, when it comes to home design, baby boomers are looking for comfort and convenience, multi-functionality, and a place they can live out their golden years. They are far are less interested in scaling back than they are in having a home that is the right fit.

Considered “rightsizing”, it simply means that their homes fit their needs and their budgets without interfering with their lifestyles. Gone are the super-size days of bigger is better. When it comes to home design, boomers want a home that custom-caters to their lifestyle, both present and future.

Flex Spaces

Whether large or small, rooms need to have a purpose; a logical functionality. Flex spaces that can be used for multiple activities is one prime example. These living areas are flexible in that they can easily adapt to the homeowner’s needs, from guest rooms to offices and studies. Multi-purpose flex rooms are high on the list for active boomers who love entertainment and the room to enjoy it.

Large Masters +

Another home design hot button is the master bedroom suites. Boomers won’t tolerate shy on anything that makes for the most comfortable sleeping arrangements, including a master bath with dual sinks and separate stalls. Garden tubs are nearly a must, with whirlpool jets and separate showers for the grandest bathroom escapes.

Easy Access, Open Feel

Most baby boomers desire single-story homes over split-levels. As they age, this choice becomes even more important, with easy, low-risk access to the entire home all on one floor. Boomers also like an open feel to their homes. They opt for fewer walls where rooms merge together to create a feeling of expanse and openness.

Designer Kitchens

And we don’t just mean looks, either. Baby boomers are very particular about their kitchens, as entertaining is often high on these active adults’ list. Pull out all of the stops when it comes to stainless and steel and granite, and don’t forget the amenities. Oh, and did we mention, amenities? Boomers like them, and they like a lot of them. From built-in wine racks, to custom cabinetry, entertainment media and jumbo dishwashers, kitchens should come stocked with every appliance necessary for convenience and ease of living.

Indoor/Outdoor Entertainment Areas

Fun, vibrant, safe and convenient is how baby boomers see their entertainment areas. As prolific hosts of social events and activities, boomers love space indoor/outdoor spaces that accommodate both formal and informal gatherings and affairs, from hosting an elegant dinner party to throwing a blazing backyard BBQ.

All Baby Boomers have their own ideas about the homes they wish to live in after retirement. Although these are the top home design requests for the boomer generation, creating the right home environment is your own personal journey. Enjoy!

True Homes is the largest home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, with new communities in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information on building your True dream home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704-937-2307.

Green Lingo 101 : Echo-savvy Definitions for Dummies

With energy conservation and environmental awareness common topics of everyday conversation, green lingo is everywhere. Practically a language of its own, echo-savvy talk requires a bit of education and explanation when it comes to understanding those green terms. Here is a list of the most popular green lingo out there.

Adaptive Reuse - Renovation of a building or site to include elements that allows a particular use or uses to occupy a space that originally was intended for a different use.

Alternative Energy - Energy from a source other than the conventional fossil-fuel sources of oil, natural gas and coal (i.e., wind, running water, the sun). Also referred to as "alternative fuel."

Biodegradable - Waste material composed primarily of constituent parts that occur naturally, are able to be decomposed by bacteria or fungi, and are absorbed into the ecosystem. Wood, for example, is biodegradable, while plastics are not.

Biosphere - The part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life. The ecosystem composed of the earth and the living organisms inhabiting it.

Carbon Footprint - A measure of impact on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

Climate Change - The term "climate change" is sometimes used to refer to all forms of climatic inconsistency, but because the earth's climate is never static, the term is more properly used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another. In some cases, "climate change" has been used synonymously with the term "global warming"; scientists, however, tend to use the term in the wider sense to also include natural changes in climate. Also referred to as "global climate change." Also see "Global Warming."

Compost - Process whereby organic wastes, including food wastes, paper and yard wastes, decompose naturally, resulting in a product rich in minerals and ideal for gardening and farming as a soil conditioner, mulch, resurfacing material or landfill cover.

Conservation - Preserving and renewing, when possible, human and natural resources. The use, protection and improvement of natural resources according to principles that will ensure their highest economic or social benefits.

Energy Efficiency - Principles and technology that reduce electricity or fuel usage while doing the same work, such as keeping a house warm using less energy.

Energy Vampires - This term refers to electric appliances such as televisions, chargers, and clock radios that use energy even when turned off. The energy they use is also called a “phantom load.”

Environmental Impact - Any change to the environment, whether positive or negative, resulting from human activity, industry or natural disasters.

Global Warming - A process that raises the air temperature in the lower atmosphere due to heat trapped by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs and ozone. It can occur as the result of natural influences, but most often is a direct result of human activities (i.e., car and factory emissions, cigarette smoke)

Green Design – Design that adheres and conforms to environmentally sound principles of building, material and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of solar panels, skylights and recycled building materials. View True Homes Green Homes

LEED™ Rating System - LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a self-assessing system designed to rate commercial and residential buildings. The system evaluates environmental performance over a building's life cycle, determining the true “green” of the building and what is required to bring it up to energy and environmental standards.

Renewable Energy – Energy that comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, and geothermal heat and is naturally replenished.

Recycling - The process by which waste materials are collected, processed and returned to the economic mainstream to be reused in the form of raw materials or finished goods.

Sustainability - Practices that ensure the continued viability of a product or practice well into the future.

True Homes is the largest home builder in Charlotte, North Carolina, with new communities in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information on building your True dream home, visit www.truehomesusa.com or contact us at 704-937-2307