Apr
13
2020

Florida Home Design Trends in 2020

florida home design trendsAs we start a brand new decade, we noticed a change happening all around us. Things are shocking up a bit when it comes to home design trends. 

Here a few things that are hitting the home design scene that is sure to turn a few heads and impress your house guest:

Returning to Nature

New homes are being built to bring some of the outside world in. This includes installing big panoramic windows and skylights to bring in sunlight and views of the outside world of trees and nature. If you can't add windows, you can add a natural element like bamboo shutters, wood-colored trim, and lots of indoor plants. Stone tiles and backsplashes are also a perfect way to bring more Earth tones to your home.

Silver and Gold

Metal is making a comeback in 2020 in many different ways. Stainless steel appliances are almost a must-have in new and renovated kitchens. A touch of silver, gold, bronze, or copper highlights and adds style to different areas of the house. Many homeowners are opting to leave metal piping exposed in bathrooms to give it a modern industrial feel. 

Black and White

Gray and white tones have been the most popular colors, and almost the standard when it comes to new homes. The grayscale is shifting to black this year, making a bold statement with black and white decor. Homeowners can go wild with the simple black and white while adding a splash of their favorite colors to create unique and stunning designs. 

However, you chose to decorate your home RJB builders can help you achieve the look you want. Contact our office today.

Feb
12
2020

2020 Color Trends for a Florida Home

house color trends for 2020Decorating your home can be fun and exhausting all in one. Decorating trends are constantly changing from year to year, and it is hard to keep up. If you love color trends, then you will want to know what the new color of the year is.

Experts at PANTONE and Sherman Williams have announced their choice for the color of the year. They chose an intense, calming, elegant color called Classic Blue (19-4052). This navy blue hue is said to invoke a feeling of connection, calmness, and is a perfect color to start the new decade.

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the PANTONE Color Institute, exclaimed, "We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on. Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking, challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication."

To go along with this bold new color, PANTONE created a gorgeous color palette of cool complementary colors. These neutral grays and light muted blues help to bring together the colors brilliantly in every room. They hope this new color trend will create a mini nautical paradise in every home. Sherman Williams came up with a beautiful color palette of their own, offering a stunning gold and kale green to compliment the bold navy hue.

You don't have to get out the paint brushes and drop cloth just yet. If you are not ready to repaint the interior of your home Classic Blue (19-4052), you can paint an accent wall, barstools, or even your kitchen cabinets to give your home a brand new trendy look. Let your imagination take over and explore the possibilities of color.

Source: 1

Dec
06
2019

Why Don't Homes in Florida Have Basements Like They Do Up North?

Why Don't Homes in Florida Have Basements Like They Do Up North?Basements are a great way to add cheap square footage to a home. It is a whole other house, under your house, that can be used for anything. Sure, you might have enjoyed the extra room from a basement up north, but when you come down to Florida, something is missing. There aren't many basements in Florida, and there is a solid reason for it

Newcomers to Florida are often surprised when they are told their new home will not have a basement. Modern houses are built small, directly on top of concrete slabs, with no basement. This often presents a storage problem. Whereas our friends up north enjoy the extra room for storage or use the area as a second living room or game room, there is no such space in homes in Florida. Where will they store their stuff? Usually, most people move to Florida to retire, so they downsize. They sell, give away, or put their belongings in storage long before moving into their new home in sunny Florida.

The Sunshine State is filled with waterways in every direction. It is known for its many rivers, lakes, and never-ending swamps. Florida has a large aquifer system that spans around 100,000 square miles and provides water for many large cities. The groundwater's very close to the surface in most parts of Florida and Southern Georgia.

Because of the high water table and proximity to the ocean, it is impossible to dig out for a basement. The construction crew would immediately encounter flooding should they try to dig more than 10 feet down.

It is technically possible to build a basement in some parts of Florida. In Central Florida, such as in Clermont, there is hilly terrain that spans for many miles. Basements can be built into the side of a hill and be partially underground and partially above ground.

So does this mean just because you move to Florida, you have to give up your man cave or second living room? It has become a popular trend to build large lofts on the second floor of many homes. Many attics are just as significant as basements with a wet bar and enough open space for a couch and pool table. The plus side is since it is on the second floor, it gets plenty of natural light, unlike basements that are traditionally dark and musty.

If you would like to add some extra space to your homes, such as a loft or extra room, RJ Builders can help! Contact us today to get started.

Oct
10
2019

What Are Solar-powered Roofs?

solar powered roofSolar power is a big topic for many people concerned with their carbon footprint and use (or misuse) of energy in their homes. Some people have opted to have solar panels installed in their homes to combat the energy crisis and virtually eliminate their power bill every month. A popular spot for these solar panels is on the rooftops of houses. So what exactly are solar-powered roofs, and what does one get from having them installed?

When we think of solar panels, it's almost guaranteed that we think of those big flashy metal looking panels that take up a ton of space. In some movies, they're even shown to take up acres and acres of field land, just with some large, gray panels! Well, when it comes to having solar-powered roofing, it's not quite the same. Having large solar panels installed on the top of a home's roof could easily lead to problems with the roof supporting their weight, so solar shingles were introduced. These shingles are specifically designed to look just like any ordinary roofing material, but they hide a superpower. That superpower is solar energy!

One of the best parts of these solar shingles is that you don't need to cover your entire roof with them for it to be effective. It's been reported that roughly 350 solar shingles on one roof can cut the home's energy bill between 40-60%! The shingles have also become more affordable since being introduced back in 2005. Now they're even more improved and come with a more consumer-friendly price-tag. There are also quite a few states that offer incentives in having these solar shingles installed, which can significantly cut the installation cost.

Once all is said and done and installed, your new solar-powered roof brings you literal light into your life. A lower energy bill that will be noticeable immediately and throughout the years you live under your solar-powered roof. It also comes with the peace of mind that your home mostly runs on a renewable source of energy, and your carbon footprint is decreasing by the day.

SOURCES: 1

May
31
2019

3 Smart Home Devices for a New Home

smart home floridaWe are five months into the new year, and there are already many lists for the "Best Of ____ in 2019". This one is going to be no different besides the fact that it might be beneficial to you! Have you recently moved into a new place or purchased a new home? Is everything up to modern standards? How would you like to make your home life just a little bit easier? Maybe now is the time for you to upgrade your new home with some new smart home devices! But with so many gadgets to choose from, how do you know which ones are the best? Look no further because here you will find the top 3 smart home devices for your new home in 2019!

  1. Everyone knows her by name, just a simple first name and you can get so much accomplished. Of course, we're talking about Alexa by Amazon. This ultra-efficient A.I. can help with the simplest of tasks such as changing a song on a playlist to ordering dinner for a family of 4 in a matter of seconds. With the Amazon Echo, you can talk to Alexa and do the tasks mentioned and more all with just the sound of your voice. 
  2. Smart home surveillance cameras are another great addition to add to your home to make sure everything stays as it should when you're away. Whether you want to check up on your pets to make sure they're not up to any mischief, or you're worried about a possible break-in while away longer than usual; a security system such as those available from iSmartAlarm DIY Security System will keep you updated in live time of what's happening. Besides just the cameras, having a smart security system in your home could save you a lot of hassle in the long run. 
  3. Having issues with your power bill? Maybe one month it's pretty low and, and the next month it skyrockets, and you don't know why. With a smart heating and cooling system, these issues can quickly become one of the past. Companies like Nest have created thermostats that read their owners and adapt their settings to their needs over a learned period. It can also be controlled wirelessly from a phone, tablet, or PC. 

With these smart additions in your new home, you're sure to continue the trend of smart home living. You should feel at ease and get the most out of your relaxation time at home. As smart home devices advance, so will the comfort level in your home. Get upgrading those devices today!

SOURCES: 1

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