Displaying posts from August, 2022

An absolutely beautiful château for sale in Poitou-Charentes, in the Angoulême region of southwestern France. I love the unassuming, rustic nature of the architecture. With its high walls and its tower, this 15th century fortified unit, was redesigned on the 17th century, and it is incredibly charming. Of about 650sqm of living space, it is composed of:
A dwelling (320sqm), a wing with a master room (bedroom, sitting, room, bathroom and toilet) and 2 bedrooms with bathroom and toilet (100sqm), a guest house composed of a sitting room, equipped kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (88sqm), a large reception/recreation room (113sqm), a study in the dovecote. The outbuildings comprise: some stables (loose boxes, tackle room), a double garage, a large outbuilding as well as an old farm to be restored. 15 acres of land mainly composed by meadows. It also comprises some wood and a horse riding arena. A large pool (5x10m) heated by heat pump and situated a bit further away from the chateau.
For sale (1,890,000 €) via Le Nail.

Working on a Saturday

Posted on Sat, 20 Aug 2022 by midcenturyjo

It’s like I say week in week out. If you have to drag yourself into work on a weekend it helps if it’s somewhere stylish. #LCOHQ by THELIFESTYLEDCO.

Elevated chic

Posted on Fri, 19 Aug 2022 by midcenturyjo

An elevated downtown chic space with a relaxed and livable vibe. That’s what interior designer Nicole Fuller was asked to create by the developers of this Lower Manhattan building. Think soaring ceilings, luxe fittings and a sophisticated take on urban living.

12 Questions to Ask a Potential Home Builder

Posted on Fri, 19 Aug 2022 by Guest

Selecting the right builder for your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. For a stress-free and fulfilling building experience, it is vital to know what to ask a potential home builder before you make a hiring decision. To help you out, here are 12 questions to ask a potential home builder.

1. How long have you been in business?

Since you need to find a highly skilled and competent builder, an important question is how long one has been offering their services. A company with a vast experience like Excel Builders that has been handling constructions for more than 25 years is better placed to offer you better services than a company marking their first year in business.
Typically, more years of experience translates to handling more projects and better knowledge about your area, the local building codes, zoning regulations, sewer & drainage lines, and general landscape, among other crucial details.

2. Are you licensed and insured?

A reputable home builder worth your time and investment should be fully licensed and insured. This will save you from problems with the local and state authorities while ensuring you are not at risk in case anything goes wrong during the construction.

3. Do you have warranty packages?

It is good to have the peace of mind that the home builder you hire will stand behind their work. This can only be guaranteed with a warranty package covering the workmanship and structural integrity. Remember to ask how long the warranty lasts, what it covers, and how they will handle issues you raise.

4. Have you built homes of this style?

Since your dream is to have an attractive and livable family home, it is best to opt for a home builder who has experience or specializes in the style you want. The best way to ascertain this is by going through the builder’s portfolio and taking a tour of a home they have recently built for a customer with similar needs.

5. How do you guarantee quality constructions?

A home builder’s promise of quality construction should be backed with an assurance of how they will make this possible. Reputable builders will have a quality assurance checklist that is ascertained through multi-point inspections at different stages of the construction.
Remember, whether your goal is to have the most colorful townhouse or a charming country house, the construction quality is determined by what goes on behind the walls, not aesthetics.

6. What differentiates you from other home builders?

An easy way to determine the builder’s personality and style of work is by inquiring about what makes them unique. Building a custom home comes with challenges, and you need the assurance that the team you’ll be working with has what it takes to manage this process efficiently and deliver quality.

7. What are the defining features of your homes?

It is important to know the features your house will have that few other builders can offer, and this is best done by focusing on the strengths of your builder. Whether it is the fact that they focus on building energy-efficient homes, putting up stronger foundations, or excellent finishes, you need insights on what to expect.

8. How will you determine the cost of building my home?

Requesting a construction cost breakdown is the best way to determine how best your allotted budget suits the project. You will also get to determine factors such as how much the labor charges compare to material costs, what percentage of the budget is set, and how much is an estimate.
This way, you can be confident that your builder will not recklessly run you over your budget. You will also know what can and will be executed once you hire the builder. Pay extra attention to whether they offer services such as landscaping and if it is pre-included in the budget.

9. How often can I expect updates, and will I have a contact person?

Communication is vital during a home-building process as this is the only way to ensure everything is running according to plan. A home builder who values your satisfaction will prioritize providing timely and detailed updates on the construction progress. For smoother two-way communication, you need to have a contact person you can always reach out to whenever you have any inquiries.

10. What is the estimated time for my home’s completion?

While so many factors will determine how long it takes to build your home, it is ideal to know what your timeline will look like. Keep in mind that this time frame might be longer than anticipated as managing constructions is complicated and can severely be impacted by uncontrollable external factors such as extreme weather conditions.

11. How many of your builds finish on time and on budget?

This question goes hand in hand with the estimated timeline for your home’s completion and helps you determine how committed the home builder is to their projects. Getting a sense of how often a builder gets to finish a project on time and on budget will give you the confidence to trust them with your construction. Beware of promises that are too good to be true, as no home builder can guarantee 100% project completion within a short timeframe.

12. Do you have references I can talk to?

Talking to a potential home builder before making up your mind is never enough. For a clear picture of the level of competence to expect, talk to past customers for an in-depth homeowner’s perspective. Beyond the general questions such as whether the homeowner was satisfied with the construction, make inquiries that will prompt detailed answers. These can include:

  • What level of assistance was provided when selecting home finishes?
  • Did you request any changes or home upgrades during the construction, and how were your requests handled?
  • How often did you have access to the construction site during the building process?
  • Was the project completed on budget?

Endnote

Deciding to build a custom home comes with the mandate of choosing the right builder, and by knowing the right questions to ask, you can attain the partnership you need for your dream home to come to life.

Wabi-sabi in the city

Posted on Fri, 19 Aug 2022 by midcenturyjo

LP Creative approaches design through a storytelling lens, endeavoring to create richly textured spaces that are at once evocative and livable, and leans into the unmistakable honesty and authenticity that come from the human hand at work.”

Tactile, earthy and evocative. A wabi-sabi haven in the city all-enveloping and sustaining.