The promise of a fresh start, a new beginning and warmer days around the corner make spring an ideal time for buyers to hone in on a home. Get your property ready to sell this spring with these 10 seasonal staging tips from professionals.

• Start Spring Staging With a Spring Cleaning

Scrub your home until it sparkles — and don’t forget the windows, says Ilaria Barion, founder of Virtual Staging by Ilaria Barion. Then, get out of winter “nesting” mode and declutter, declutter, declutter until your space is light, airy and spacious. “Don’t stuff junk into closets,” she says. “You want them to be neat and organized, or potential buyers will think your home doesn’t have enough storage.”

• Buff the Floors and Wash the Walls

Floors take a lot of abuse over the winter from wet boots, snow and dirt. Give your carpets a thorough cleaning, and buff worn spots on wood floors with a little polyurethane, says John McAuliffe, owner of Admiral Floors in Washington, D.C. A bucket of warm water with a few drops of mild soap and a sponge will clean off most wall marks; eliminate the tough ones with an eraser-style cleaning pad.

• Swap Dark and Cozy for Bright and Cheery

Put away your snug winter blankets, throws and dark-colored accessories, and bring in the spring with bright shawl throws, flower-printed pillows and bright cloths for dark wood tables, says Gina Martelli, an ASID interior designer in Los Angeles. Andrew Schrage, the home expert at Money Crashers, recommends inexpensive staging items like towels and washcloths, throw pillows, candles and table settings in lavender, yellow, sage green and pale blue colors.

• Let the Sun Shine In

Nothing says spring like sun-drenched rooms. Pull back curtains and drapes and raise blinds and shades for instant brightness, Gina says. Rainy day? Turn on all the lights before a showing.

• Ac-scent With Spring-Like Aromas

Traditional real estate advice says to bake some cookies or spritz spiced scents around the house for a “homey” smell. In spring, says Sheryl Boltze, creative director of Sure Fit slipcovers, try a scent that evokes fresh and clean feelings. Think cotton, sand and beach-scented candles or aromatherapy diffusers.

• Bring Blooms Indoors

Botanical colors and prints in light green and yellow shades give bedrooms a spring-like, peaceful feel. Here, Larry Taylor, a San Francisco Bay Area home stager, replaced a brown color scheme and white walls with a pale yellow-green wall, a white duvet with subtle green accents, botanical prints on the wall and a knot of flowers on the nightstand.

• Clear Off the Counters

You like the convenience of the toaster, mixer, spices and coffeemaker on the counter, but to a buyer, it just looks cluttered. Stash counter items in the cupboard (if there’s no room, stick them in a box and take it with you during showings) and decorate the counter simply with a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit. Here, Larry Taylor, a San Francisco Bay Area home stager, created a spacious, fresh feel in the kitchen with artichokes and Swiss chard.

• Don’t Forget the Front Door

You may go in and out through the garage, but buyers will enter your home through the front door. Take down the circular wreath, says home stager DesAnn Collins, which reminds buyers of the holidays and implies you’re not on top of things. Instead, say Veronica Pirone and MaryJane Rossi of Vignettes Room Redesign, hang a spring-themed welcome sign and put down a cheery welcome mat and an umbrella stand for those spring rains.

• … Or the Back Door

Especially in early spring, when many backyards are still sporting bare branches and spotty grass, you want to give buyers the same cheery feeling when exiting your home as when they entered. Put containers of potted bulbs on a deck table or the back steps to add color to spaces that haven’t fully grown in, says Amy Dube, a flower bulb and gardening expert.

• Invest in a Landscaper

If you plan to move out immediately, hire a landscaper from spring through fall (or whenever the home sells) to keep the lawn in pristine condition for showings, advises Jim Lowenstern, president of Newton’s Castles Unlimited.

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

The latest reading of the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) shows the list holding fairly steady at 100 metros in May. This list counts representatives from 34 states and the District of Columbia, including such geographically diverse newcomers as Phoenix, Ariz.; Bowling Green, Ky.; Bend, Ore.; and Lubbock, Texas. In all, 83 markets held onto their spots on the IMI this time around, while 18 metros dropped from the list and 17 were added, for a net loss of one from April’s total of 101. According to NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe, “The overall number of markets on the IMI continued to plateau this month, with more than a quarter of all U.S. metros still showing signs of improvement. Many of these are relatively small markets in terms of their population and building volume, which is why their improvement is barely registering on the national scale as of yet. Moreover, we are seeing some shifting of markets on and off the list primarily due to small seasonal house price changes in areas that have had flat, stable prices rather than a boom-and-bust cycle.” Readers of this report will remember that the IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The three indicators that are analyzed are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac, and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. A metropolitan area must see improvement in all three areas for at least six months following their respective troughs before being included on the improving markets list. A complete list of all 100 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI, and separate breakouts of metros newly added to or dropped from the list in May, is available at www.nahb.org/imi.

Builder Confidence Up in 55+ Housing Market

Builder confidence in the 55+ market for single-family homes showed a significant increase in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period a year ago, according to the latest NAHB 55+ Housing Market Index released on May 10.

The index for single-family homes gained 10 points to 27 in the first quarter — still relatively low for a gauge on which 50 is the midpoint, but the highest level seen since the 50+HMI was introduced in 2008. Each of the index’s components registered significant gains from a year ago, and each recorded new record highs.

The component measuring present sales conditions rose 12 points to 27, while the component measuring expected sales in the next six months gained eight points to 32 and the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers rose nine points to 26. 

Although the 55+ multifamily condo HMI remains the weakest of the 55+ housing market indices, it also recorded an all-time high at 15, up seven points from a year ago. All of that index’s components registered gains from the same time last year, with the present sales component up five points to 14, the component gauging expected sales in the next six months up seven points to 20 and the measure of traffic of prospective buyers up nine points to 15.

Not surprsingly, 55+ multifamily rentals continue to lead the way in the overall 55+ housing market. On that index, the component measuring current production climbed 11 points to 31, while the component measuring expected future production increased eight points to 35, the gauge measuring current demand for existing units rose three points to 42 and the component measuring expected future demand increased one point to 45.

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

With spring here and summer right around the corner, I started thinking about what type of landscaping would be complementary to the architecture of the cozy ranch style home in which I live.  Your home’s architecture can help you design a complementary landscape. Mary Palmer Dargan, ASLA, author of Timeless Landscape Design and Susan Cohan, APLD, offer landscape design tips for ten home styles, and we’ve added some of our client’s photos to see how closely they compare with her suggestions.

The introduction photo, Mediterranean, Modern, Cape Cod, Federal, Ranch, and Victorian are all Archival Designs’ house plans. By clicking on those photos, you will be connected with more photos and stats for the chosen  house design.

• Mediterranean

Red-tiled roofs, stucco finishes, arches and balconies give this style its signature charm. Clumps of palm trees provide a frame for the house, and the music of a water feature in a courtyard or backyard complements the style. Natural paving materials like stone or cobblestones in sun-kissed blonde and brown colors give the house an Old World look. Accent with terra-cotta containers and wrought-iron fences and gates.

• Modern 

Clean, geometric lines, open living spaces and materials like concrete, steel and glass are hallmarks of this style. Minimal plantings show off the clean, modern lines. If the plantings are overdone, you might pare them down to keep the landscape as minimalistic as the home. Sculptures and bare planters make a statement, as well as concrete or gravel walkways.

• Arts and Crafts

Characterized by built-in cabinets, exposed beams and cozy front porches, the Arts and Crafts style depends on handmade craftsmanship and naturalistic design. Choose simple plants with a natural form (i.e. waving fountain grass rather than clipped boxwoods), as well as real stone for pathways and garden borders. An old wooden bench tucked into a corner evokes the Craftsman feel.

• Cape Cod

A quintessentially American style, Cape Cod homes typically feature a large central fireplace and upstairs dormer windows. Cottage plants like roses and hydrangeas — the bigger, the better — are classic plantings around Cape Cod-style homes. Finish off the look with a white picket fence, a brick or bluestone walk, wooden planters painted to match the shutters or in a weathered gray, and a wooden bench.

• Contemporary

Natural, sustainable materials, low-energy design and a connectedness between indoors and outdoors are hallmarks of this style. Contemporary homes can take either a modern, sculptural approach with clipped shrubs and geometric forms, or the opposite: a sustainable, low-water garden of natural plants like native meadow plants in the sunny spaces and moss in the shade.

• Federal

Federal-style homes are formal and rectangular, with symmetrical windows and subtly grand ornamentation such as a brick exterior and tall, slim porch columns. Clipped, straight, formal lines are appropriate in the garden of this home. Evergreens are key for this look, with topiaries and pockets of flowers.

• Postwar

Basic and functional with small square footage and generally a kitchen window facing the backyard, this home is a blank slate for garden design. First, focus on that kitchen window and create a view from inside, and second, since your home probably looks like every other house on the block, use landscaping out front to create a distinctive look that’s all your own.

• Pueblo Revival

Earthy adobe walls, enclosed courtyards and rounded exteriors with square windows and heavy wood doors are signatures of this ancient home style. Lawns and plants that need plenty of water are not compatible with pueblo revival homes, which originated in the desert. Instead, plant masses of low-growing native plants — cactus and succulents in the Southwest; yuccas and native cactus in the East — and blanket them with gravel instead of grass. Finish the look with gravel or stone pathways and a shade structure like an arbor (called a ramada in the Southwest).

• Ranch

A uniquely American style, ranchers are low-slung, single-floor, asymmetrical homes with garages front and center and a focus on backyard living. With its horizontal shape, ranch homes need smaller plants to match — especially in front of the windows. Larger foundation plants and trees can be used on either side of windows and near house corners. Accent the front door with medium-sized planters on either side. The backyard typically has a patio, large grassy area for play and comfortable outdoor furniture.

• Victorian

Large and imposing, with elaborately decorative trim and vibrant colors, many Victorian homes have wings and bays, towers and wraparound porches. Typically raised off the ground, Victorian homes are practically designed for elaborate foundation plantings, although the garden needs to strike a balance between competing with the house and being too simple. Weeping willows, spiral evergreens and ivy are popular plants with this style. Accent with cast-iron benches, arbors and fencing.

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

Green Home Building to Increase as Much as 38% by 2016 A new report produced by McGraw-Hill Construction and released during the National Green Building Conference and Expo in Nashville this week estimates that the green homes share of the construction market will rise 29% – 38% by 2016 after having accounted for about 17% of the market in 2011.

The “SmartMarket Report – New and Remodeled Green Homes: Transforming the Residential Market,” was developed by McGraw-Hill in conjunction with NAHB and Waste Management to provide key insights into product and market opportunities in the single-family home building and remodeling industries. It is backed by proprietary research surveys and the McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge database, and its findings are rather eye-opening. Based on the five-year forecast for overall residential construction, it says that green building could potentially be an $87-$114 billion market by 2016. The report finds that two key factors driving this growth are the perception that green homes are of higher quality and the fact that they save consumers money. Commenting on the report’s findings, NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg said, “The results of this research highlight the tremendous growth that is expected in green building and the potential market opportunities that lie ahead. As more projects seek green certification, NAHB and the NAHB Research Center stand ready to meet the demands of this exciting and ever-changing market.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPA to Delay Implementing New Stormwater Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency has missed a settlement agreement deadline of April 27 for releasing its new stormwater regulation, and will have to delay the rule by perhaps a year from its intended date due to difficulties the agency has experienced in coming up with an appropriate cost-benefit analysis. In developing this new stormwater regulation, EPA aims to limit the volume and pollutant loads in stormwater discharges to levels that existed at the site prior to development through the use of low-impact development and green infrastructure devices. The agency recently entered negotiations with the environmental groups who won the legal settlement that set the April deadline, seeking to establish a new schedule for the rule’s implementation. According to the most recent reports, that schedule will now be released in early to mid-May along with a posting of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. As a result of this new timing, the proposed rule is not likely to go into effect until sometime in the spring of 2013. We’ll keep you informed as this situation develops. 

Speaking at a recent environmental policy conference, James Hanlon, director of EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management, acknowledged last week that regulators ran into “analytical issues” with assessing costs and benefits for developers and localities when the rule is put in place. One of the issues that has been cited by EPA officials is the difficulty of determining how to measure the benefits of using green infrastructure in site redevelopment. NAHB has provided extensive comments and conducted significant outreach to EPA throughout the rule’s development over the past several years to try to ensure that the final regulation is workable, fair and cost-effective, and we’ll continue with these efforts going forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAHB, Others Urging Safe Harbor on Qualified Mortgage Rule

In continuing efforts to ensure that home buyers will have access to affordable mortgage credit following implementation of tougher new underwriting standards for residential mortgages, NAHB this week joined with 22 other consumer, housing, banking and civil rights groups in sending a joint letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray urging the agency to support a qualified mortgage (QM) definition that would provide lenders with a legal safe harbor in order to reduce litigation exposure. This letter follows up on an April 12 communication in which NAHB joined with 32 other groups to urge adoption of a broad, commonsense definition for the QM that contains strong consumer protections, promotes mortgage liquidity in the marketplace and provides lenders with proper incentives to make home loans to creditworthy borrowers.

NAHB called on the CFPB to create QM standards with clear requirements for sound mortgages for consumers, and specific grounds on which there can be litigation or enforcement actions if those requirements are not met. Their groups noted that structuring the QM as a safe harbor for financial institutions will encourage them to provide mortgages to creditworthy borrowers. But if banks fail to get the safe harbor standard, it will further restrict home mortgage lending in what is already a tight credit environment. NAHB strongly believes that new qualified mortgage standards must balance both consumer and industry interests. Consumers must have access to affordable credit and responsible lenders should be able to operate in an environment without excessive litigation. This will help ensure revival of the home lending market.

Government Stats May Understate Inadequate Housing Units by Half

Using data from the American Housing Survey and statistical models that estimate house prices and apartment rents based on characteristics of homes, NAHB researchers have developed a more accurate definition of what constitutes “inadequate” housing than is traditionally used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This new criteria identifies substantially more inadequate housing units in the U.S. than the government has reported, particularly among the single-family and older housing stock. In fact, our findings indicate that there are over 10 million homes across this country that are physically inadequate, which is about double the number usually reported as having even moderate problems. This data means that many of those units counted within the overall housing stock are in fact not ready for year-round occupancy without significant repair and renovation, so that the effective inventory of existing homes on the market may actually be well overstated. By NAHB’s definition, over 19% of vacant single-family homes are physically inadequate and not ready for full-time occupancy without significant renovation or repair. For single-family homes, NAHB’s definition of what qualifies as “inadequate” relies primarily on exterior conditions of the building (such as missing siding, holes in the roof and broken windows), while for multifamily homes, NAHB’s definition relies on conditions that are more readily apparent inside the unit (such as lack of a bathroom or kitchen sink and a household’s reliance on heating equipment that poses a risk). While these definitions are somewhat simpler and based on fewer conditions than HUD’s formula for identifying inadequate units — and therefore result in larger counts overall — they also have demonstrable, negative effects on housing values and rents, which is a relationship not readily evident with the government data.  

Today’s home photos – Archival Designs’ Corrineaux Estate

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

Anyone who knows me, knows I never seem to run out of things to talk about, but today the creative juices weren’t running. On Mondays, I try to blog about the business side of architecture, including the economy, housing figures, various surveys, and like.  On Thursdays, I prefer sharing luxury items I locate on line.  Afterall, whether you are looking to participate or dream, who doesn’t like to read about something luxurious?  And then I stumbled over luxury travel locations in Canada, and found a Mystery Auction for luxury travel at a minimum price.  Apparently, there are luxury mystery auctions on the web, I just never heard about them. So here’s some information if you are interested in an inexpensive luxury vacation.  If you have any experiences with these, please share them with us.

 Mystery Auction

Can you keep a secret?  We can!
The Luxury Link Mystery Auction is probably the best travel deal available anywhere. You can bid to win a luxury vacation for an incredibly low price—sometimes 90% off. The catch? The name and exact location of the hotel is a secret. Because it is one of Luxury Link’s hand-picked properties, you are assured the accommodations will be first-class.

Over the next 7 days, in the Luxury Link Community and in their weekly newsletters, you’ll find clues about the Mystery Auction—one clue at a time. But in the end, the mystery will only be revealed to the winning bidder.

Feeling lucky? Follow the clues and start bidding!

Sign up for Luxury Link’s weekly newsletters here for extra clues, and increase your chances of winning. For more information, follow this link. Good luck! 

Package for 2 includes:

• Accommodations in guest room
• Split of champagne in room upon arrival
• Gourmet breakfast for two each morning
• $50 dining credit
• Taxes

Queenston Heights Restaurant

When I was a child, my parents took me to Niagara Falls, Ontario at least twice a year, usually more.  I’ve been fortunate to find the out-of-the-way spots going back to the late ’60s, and Queenston Heights Restaurant still ranks as #1 in my book.

The first thing you see as you approach Queens Heights Park, is the prominent Brock’s Monument that stands high over this area. Brock’s monument is owned by Parks Canada and is located in Queenston Heights Park, which is maintained year-round by The Niagara Parks Commission.  A self-guided tour of the Battle of Queenston Heights starts at the foot of the  monument and includes a climb to the top for a magnificent view towards Lake Ontario in the north and Niagara Falls in the south. 

When you step inside the restaurant the rustic feel and two-story fireplace offer a welcome, intimate ambiance. The menu offers lovely appetizers, sandwiches, salads, hot meals and desserts. The breathtaking views of the Niagara River and local vineyards are matched only by the culinary creations of our Chef. 

Hand-picked recipes which capture the essence of Niagara’s bountiful farms and lush vineyards are created with the purest ingredients.  For the wine enthusiast, they offer an award-winning wine collection of select Niagara VQA wines. Perfectly situated as the Gateway to Niagara wine country, this beautiful and serene setting is a historic War of 1812 heritage site. 

Located 15 minutes north of the Falls on the Niagara Parkway, at the foot of Brock’s Monument, Queenston Heights Restaurant is open seasonally. 

Here is the view from inside:

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

Economists say housing outlook continues to slowly brighten modest declines in the latest housing data are more reflective of typical month-to-month volatility in the numbers and unusual seasonal factors than they are an indication of any significant downward trend in the broader housing market, said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe during the association’s well-attended Construction Forecast Webinar this past week.

Dr. Crowe cautioned against reading too much into the latest declines, and pointed to the fact that less volatile quarterly data have continued to show modest improvement in key housing indicators such as builder sentiment and new-home sales. “The aggregate information suggests we’re just in a pause mode right now” in terms of these measures, which could partly be the result of an early spring that brought much better weather than usual into the picture at the start of this year and pulled some housing activity forward, he said. Citing consistent declines in unemployment, “reasonably strong” personal income data and continued GDP growth, our expert forecaster noted that numerous other fundamentals remain positive for housing at this time, including demographic factors (with pent-up household formations expected to ramp up and echo-boomers heading into their prime household formation ages), historically favorable mortgage rates that aren’t expected to move much higher than 5% by the end of next year, and the fact that the house-price-to-income ratio has now returned to its historical average of about 3:1 versus the nearly 5:1 to which it had previously risen.

Dr. Crowe particularly emphasized the differences that exist between local housing markets. “The national recovery will be dependent upon individual locations,” he said. Pointing to the 101 metros currently listed on the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index, he indicated that small markets across the country are driving this list and said that because these metros tend to have smaller volumes of housing production, their improvements aren’t yet registering on the national scale.

March New-Home Sales Decline Following Strong Upward Revision

Sales of newly built, single-family homes declined 7.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 328,000 units in March from an upwardly revised, robust pace of 353,000 units in February, according to government figures released on April 24. On a regional basis, the Northeast and South posted gains of 7.7% and 3.1%, respectively, while the Midwest and West registered 20% and 27% declines, respectively. The nationwide inventory of new homes for sale continued to shrink in March to a new record low of just 144,000 units, which is a 5.3-month supply at the current sales pace. Commenting on the latest numbers, NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe pointed out that the March decline is from a stronger-than-expected sales pace in February and that first quarter 2012 new-home sales were 3.7% stronger than sales in the final quarter of 2011. “This is exactly the kind of modest, but substantive, growth that we are expecting to see in the year ahead along with gradual firming of the economy and job market,” he said. He also noted the possibility that the lower March figure may have resulted from some sales activity being pulled forward due to exceptionally good weather conditions in February.

Today’s featured luxury house plan photos are of Archival Designs’s Caserta.

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

“A day filled with luster and gaiety, a day to smear our dreams with a splash of vibrant, frenzied colors. Holi Hai! A spring of unbounded fun and frolic!” — from the poem, “Happy Holi” 

Hallelujah! It’s finally spring — time to ditch those dark, drab winter woolens and break out the Crayola-bright spring wardrobe. 

And in India and Nepal, it’s also time to smear friends and neighbors with color — until they look as bright and festive as the season itself. 

The Hindu faith has many quiet, solemn rites and rituals. But Holi, the spring Festival of Colors, is anything but. Celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the lunar month (usually in March), Holi is about unfettered joy and exuberant frolic. 

Holi is a time to revel in the beauty of spring — a time for bonfires, playful pranks, and pelting others with colored powder and water.Standards of polite behavior are relaxed. The rigid structures that separate ages, genders and social castes are loosened. Holi is a time to revel in the beauty of spring — a time for bonfires, playful pranks, and pelting others with colored powder and water. 

When Ram Krishnan was a child growing up in India, “Holi was associated with all the silly things — throwing colors at each other, filling water pistols with colors,” he says.  

Red was the dominant Holi hue. “You’d see people walking around, powder in hand,” he recalls. “Sometimes you’d ask permission” before throwing powder at those you’d meet. “If you wanted to be gentle, you’d put some on their forehead. If you wanted to be crazy, you’d throw it on their whole body.” 

But Holi isn’t just about pranks and red powder, he notes. The holiday also has ancient religious significance in Hinduism. 

For some, Holi celebrates the divine love of Lord Krishna and Radna. For others, Holi celebrates Kamedeva, the Hindu god of love. 

Lord Krishna and Radha

Krishnan, who has lived in Minnesota for four decades, now appreciates Holi primarily as an agricultural celebration. “To me, it is a harvest festival — the beginning of the harvest season,” he says. 

• Color and Culture

In India, immersion in color goes much deeper than a single tradition or a once-a-year festival. Vibrant hues are part of the culture’s DNA. 

“India’s people believe that bright colors are synonymous with life, joy and positive energy,” according to the color and design blog Colour Lovers. “Holi is a day to celebrate these concepts.” 

According to Colour Lovers, different regions of India have customized the Holi celebration in their own unique way. In some regions, people give each other boxes of sweets or brightly colored flowers. In others, youngsters pay respect to their elders by sprinkling colors on their feet. 

The Holi tradition of smearing people with colors grew out of its supposed medicinal benefits. The spring season, when the weather changes, was believed to cause fever and colds. The colors used to celebrate Holi were originally derived from the blossoms of spring trees and from herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors. 

But over the years, the colors of Holi have taken a very different direction. As spring-blossoming trees became scarcer, and the celebration itself became more commercial, the natural colorants came to be replaced by industrial dyes, many containing toxic chemicals that have been linked to asthma, skin diseases, eye irritation and temporary blindness. With Holi colors sold loosely by roadside vendors, it was difficult to know what chemicals were going into those festive powders. 

In recent years, several organizations have worked to improve Holi safety, teaching children how to make their own Holi colors using natural resources. Some commercial companies, such as the National Botanical Research Institute, have begun to market herbal dyes, so that celebrants can enjoy Holi’s colorful traditions without health risk. 

In the U.S., Indian communities continue to celebrate Holi, Krishnan says, although “it’s mostly a non-religious holiday these days. Typically, it’s a time for fun - for dancing, music, food and fireworks.” Indian children in the U.S. love Holi, just as Krishnan did when he was a child growing up in India. “Young kids don’t know why they’re having fun,” he says. “They just are.” 

• Holi in Pop Culture

You don’t have to visit India in the springtime to get a glimpse of Holi. The colorful celebration has popped up repeatedly in Western pop culture. 

Several music videos have borrowed Holi imagery of people throwing colored powder, including Linkin Park’s video for “The Catalyst,” Ke$ha’s “Take It Off,” Scooter’s “Behind the Cow,” and Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity.” 

Holi has also made cameos in a handful of American movies and TV shows. The 2007 indie film Outsourced tells the story of an American call-center salesman assigned to go to India to train his replacement. There he discovers that to successfully train the new workers, he must first learn about their culture. The catalyst for his change in attitude: a Holi celebration. Outsourced became a TV series in 2011, and the episode “Todd’s Holi War” marked Holi’s first appearance on American network TV. 

The Holi festival was featured as a RoadBlock challenge in the reality show, The Amazing Race, while the cable TV show, Bollywood Homicide, also included an episode that climaxed at a color festival. And TV political talker Keith Olbermann shows clips from Holi festivals on the “Time Marches On” portion of his previous nightly news show, Countdown, on The Current. 

Have you got a special holiday that is celebrated where you live? Please tell us about it, upload photos and share your stories on our facebook page. 

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

Last but hopefully not least, it’s good to actually see my name associated once again with Archival Designs.  I have been blogging for them for the past year, and today decided it was time to sign my name to the blog.  See you Monday!

Blanchard

April is New Homes Month, so we thought we would take a look at the demographic data from the most recent edition of the American Housing Survey (AHS) to see who lives in newly constructed homes. The AHS defines new construction as housing units no more than four years of age.  

Dalmany-New Elevation

Typically, larger households are relatively more likely to live in new homes. This is a finding that complements previous NAHB analysis that examined home size and geography.  

The graph above reports the percentages of various types of housing (owner-occupied, renter-occupied and newly constructed, both owner and rental) with respect to the number of people who reside in each. For example, the first blue bar shows that about 22% of owner-occupied homes contain one person, while thse second blue bar notes that 36% of owner-occupied homes contain two people.  

It is clear that renters are most likely to be one person households. Similarly, two-person households are the most common type for homeowners. The two-person household is also the most common form for new construction, with 33% of newly constructed homes holding two-person households.   

Westover

On a relative basis, a greater share of new construction houses three persons or more compared to homes of  homeowners or renters. This can be seen by noting that the green bars in the chart above are higher than the blue and red bars for households with 3 or more people. In fact, 47% of all new construction houses three or more people.  

Why?  

The short answer is that new construction is more likely to house children than other types of housing on a unit-by-unit basis. As can be seen on the graph above, new construction has the largest shares of homes for all counts of children.  Specifically, 44% of newly constructed units house children. Only 35% of rental units and 34% of owner-occupied units house children.  

Pontarion

And this in turn helps explain the age distribution of people who live in new homes. The AHS data indicate large relative shares for new housing with respect to households headed by people aged 30 to 44. And it is worth noting, this is the age segment for whom, as a share of household income, the mortgage interest deduction offers the largest benefits. It is also prime parenting years. Renting households tend to be younger and owner-occupiers as a class tend to be older.  

Overall, 78% of heads of households who live in new construction are aged 54 or younger, compared to 56% for all owner-occupied housing. However, these statistics may change in the coming years as more 50+ new housing construction gains strength.  

Pontarion-II-Rear

Pontarion II #1 Top Selling Luxury House Plan 

As the first quarter of 2012 came to a close, Pontarion II, for the fourth year, continued to be the top selling luxury house plan! Other top sellers shown are from top to bottom:  

Blanchard, Dalmany, Westover, Pontarion, Pontarion II (Rear)  

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

A new design of resort-style yacht has been recently presented by BMT Nigel Gee, a subsidiary of BMT Group, as an avant-garde version of a future concept. Developed with the help of Yacht Island Design, it will put forward a brand new outlook, in a totally different way than any traditional naval architectural moulds yet.

The construction will comprise of 11 decks over a four legged platform, to give its occupants the best smoothness possible, during the roughest sea conditions, packed with comfort and luxury. Being 100 meters long and wide, it isn’t a small project, it could actually encompass a small city. Each and every one of its legs supports azimuthing thrusters, allowing the contraption to move between desired locations, at slow speeds.

The most important part of the design is the large central structure that acts as a conduit for the mooring system. The construction can be accessed by tenders through a wet dock and multiple helicopter pads. The uppermost deck is covered by a retractable canopy, whilst the uppermost spot is situated at approximately 65 meters over the sea, consisting of an observatory that offers a great 360 degree view.

Travel the World in Your Own Utopia Condo

If you want to travel the world and wake up every morning in another exciting new place without having to leave your stylish home then buying a condo on an amazing cruise ship might be the best thing to do for you. A couple of years ago “The World” was the first cruise ship to sell condos and now another luxury-ocean liner called Utopia has condos available for purchase.

Utopia is set to sail by 2013 and customers can pick out a stylish condo at their showrooms from New York or Beverly Hills. There will be just 190 condominiums on board of this chic cruise ship and every resident of Utopia will live in one to four bedroom units ranging from 1,400 to 6,600 square feed of living space.

Every customer will be member of a private club with its own restaurant, lounge and gym and the luxury vessel will have movie theaters, tennis courts, a mini golf course and a lot of other attractions. Every residence from the Utopia will be extremely stylish and luxurious but a place here will cost between $3.7 to $26 million.

This cruise ship will dock in southern France during the Cannes Film festival and near Rio de Janeiro for the Carnival celebration and it will be in the right places at the right moments.

One of the largest Feadships to date has been completed by the De Vries Shipyard. This 71.60-meter (234’ 9”) twin screw masterpiece has been given the name Utopia.

Designed by De Voogt Naval Architects, Utopia held the distinction of being the largest Feadship built to date when completed in May 2004. She was built in full compliance with the large yacht commercial code (MCA) and to 100 A1, SSC, Yacht (P), Mono, G6, LMC and UMS class specifications.

Utopia was initially part of a two-Feadship order placed in 2001 by a repeat owner, who unfortunately passed away before the projects could be completed. His widow decided to finish the other boat for herself and her children, and took delivery of the 38.55-meter (126’5”) Katrion in fall 2003. As Utopia had been very much her husband’s dream project, the family reluctantly asked Feadship to complete the yacht on spec and put her up for sale on behalf of the estate.

In essence, Utopia is a traditional Feadship that succeeds in bringing together everything that the organization has achieved over recent years in terms of technical solutions. She also benefits from the late owner’s rich experience and understanding of long-distance superyachts and their use. The project started out at 58 meters in length and ended up being 72 meters in order not to be restricted by size in this search for excellence.

As a result, Utopia is arguably the most complex Feadship yet built. The helicopter deck includes a wealth of safety measures, such as a special device which attaches the helicopter to the deck within a fraction of a second. There are two bays on the lower deck for tenders, launched by crane through hydraulically operated doors in the hull. Other high-end solutions that benefit from Feadship’s unparalleled experience include a hugely sophisticated radar installation, an active heading control system, high pressure freshwater sprinkler mechanisms to clean the full beam windows and a wireless network for internet.

There are many other smart solutions that demonstrate how every eventuality has been catered for onboard Utopia. For example, the owners do not have to wait for the crew to organize disembarkation when the boat docks alongside a quay. At the touch of a switch, a powered ladder slides out of the bulwark, rotates 90 degrees and locks into place. These mini-passarelles are available both to port and starboard, while on the port side the gangway also rotates 45 degrees to the dock for further ease of access. In addition, on the upper deck is another (manual) ladder for use in Asian harbors where the quays tend to be higher.

While being a mighty vessel in technical terms, Utopia is also very much a family boat. The middle deck is devoted entirely to the owners, and there are five guest suites; three on the main deck and two on the lower deck. While a yacht of this length could easily have accommodated several more cabins in a different layout, the emphasis here is on spaces that are very generous in size.

This onboard residence concept is further supported by top-of-the-range living facilities. There are myriad galley and pantry options spread throughout the yacht, for example, as well as excellent accommodations for up to 18 crew members. The layout logistics for service are exceptionally well thought through, fully supporting the emphasis on owner privacy.

In terms of her exterior profile, Utopia is close to the archetypal classic Feadship. Where she differs stylistically is in the additions that have been made to take into account her substantial length, such as the large vertical windows. Incorporating the cabins on the foredeck, the graceful high bow ensures that the yacht does not have the boxy look that can result from this type of window. The bow overhang itself is the longest ever seen on a Feadship and is exceptionally well shaped, an effect magnified by the compound curves and reversed transom.

Overall, Utopia has a masculine, sturdy feel. The superstructure is made of aluminum and the entire mast and radar arch of composites. This latter feature reflects a desire to facilitate easy maintenance, in addition to the obvious weight considerations on a boat with so many decks.

Utopia has enormous windows that give a bright and almost al fresco feel to many areas of the interior. High ceilings enhance the immense feeling of space, as does the way in which the door heights have been taken up to the ceiling cornice. The interior decor has classic influences in terms of its paneling, while the furniture pieces use both modern-day and antique reproductions in various woods. A contemporary atmosphere is embellished by the primary use of light natural oak with mahogany inlays and inlaid oak burl panels. At all times the exceptional quality of Feadship’s experienced joiners shines through.

Interior designers Redman Whitely Dixon, working initially with the owner’s interior stylist Michael McQuiston, have succeeded in retaining an overall sense of continuity throughout the vessel, while also introducing subtle levels of variation in the light brown/beige carpets and natural colored fabrics. There is also a wide selection of marbles, including Giallo Siena, Calacata Borghini, Crema Valencia, Brecia Benou and
Red Damasco. The result is a flowing interior that exudes understated elegance within a luxurious environment.

Contemporary seating, sofas and coffee tables are blended with some more traditional furniture by Cassina, an Italian company that first collaborated with the De Vries yard on Wedge Too. These bespoke and highly detailed pieces include fancy veneers and mother of pearl, plus a welter of shapes that one would expect on more antique style furniture.

A tour of Utopia
When Thomas More entitled his book Utopia, he was imagining a perfect place or state of things. Step into the dramatic main entrance onboard Utopia and you will instantly have the impression that perfection is genuinely attainable in the superyacht world of today.

The gorgeous Giallo Siena floor is offset by inlaid diamond shaped tiles and bordering in black Portoro marble. Polished Stucco Antico Venetian plaster walls and some 20 layers of sandblasted marble add to the sculptured effect. A double sided staircase rises all the way to the top of the yacht to a faux ‘skylight’ panel. This architectural design offers superb views of the different decks as the suspended stairs wrap around those above and below. The classic, leather-bound hand rail was created by the same craftsmen that make steering wheels for Bentleys.

One of the pleasant features on a boat of this size is the space it offers to create a lobby area connecting the main entrance to the living compartments. Utopia’s designers have maximized this option, including a three-meter-long rosewood sideboard with antique mirror panel doors.

Burl veneer columns run throughout the dining room and lounge. The dining room is located furthest forward, home to a splendid round-ended table made of dark oak burl with a walnut burl edging. Chic Fendi chairs and a glass chandelier add sparkle while dark wall coverings bring a genuine feeling of warmth to this area. A fancy piece of furniture divides the dining room from the lounge – a credenza with curved ends, special veneers and inlaid detailing on the doors.

Such is the space available in the main deck lounge that two distinctive seating arrangements have been created to port and starboard, both with sofas and armchairs from Phillipe Hurel and Christian Liaigre. Either side of the sofa are custom-designed hollow cubes made of walnut with wrapped gold leaf squares inside. Room remains for a mix of leather stools from Promemoria and wooden tables by Modenature, plus a pair of small desks at the aft end should anyone wish to write a letter or play cards.

A giant plasma screen TV is flanked by speaker panels covered in natural horse hair material in a striped pattern. These form part of an exceptional centralized audio-visual solution from Meridian, which allows guests to choose between a wide selection of films or CDs at any time – even if three people should wish to use the same item simultaneously in three different locations but at five minute start-up intervals from each other. All the necessary electronic equipment and satellite receivers are housed in a well-ventilated room on the wheelhouse deck.

Much of the port side of the main deck is taken up by the most elaborate catering facilities imaginable, measuring some 20 meters in length from the forward galley to the dining room. Moving from aft to forward, first up comes two pantry’s, one being a coffee station for the dining room, the other an intermediate area for serving guests on the decks above and below, facilitated by a small food lift. The galley is also split in two, the concept being that the aft section is for the owners and the forward for the crew (although the crew have a sizable pantry on the lower deck too). This layout also opens up capacity should large scale entertaining be on the agenda.

The galley areas have access to an enormous food lift capable of handling a complete trolley. A full quota of professional equipment includes a steamer, induction ovens and five full length fridge/freezers (supported by lots more cold storage on the tank deck).

Accessed via a guest lobby (with another coffee station), the two identical forward VIP suites utilize the full beam to great effect, with massive American sized beds and vast mahogany armoirs. There is also a delightful ‘children’s cabin’, with twin beds and a Pullman recessed into the wall; a similar added berth option is found in the two twin cabins on the lower deck.

An eye for detail is again seen throughout these cabins, such as the placement of flamed mahogany under the mattress, the use of silk on the walls and the exquisite TV cabinet work. A four seasons theme is noticeable, with black marble topped bedside cabinets giving a subtle art deco feel. Architectural type doorframes add an extra element of interest.

The effect of Utopia’s spectacular hull windows is immediately perceptible in the aft suite bathroom, enveloping the bath in natural light. All bathrooms benefit from clean lines and a fresh look, with luxurious marble countertops and giant mirrors in dark wood frames. The inlays in the floor are quite stunning and each bathroom has a slightly different center panel in the floor; the marble choices give a further distinguishing feel to each bathroom.

The middle deck is entirely devoted to the owners and typifies the incredible standard of accommodation found onboard Utopia. Located forward, the stateroom is entered via a lovely study, where an air of richness is provided by the walnut and walnut burl paneling, leather armchairs, sofa and desk, and a light gold-colored carpet.

This is an excellent spot for a meeting, facilitated by the carefully considered layout of this whole area. An extra doorway in the walk-in wardrobe in the owner’s bedroom makes it possible to leave the bedroom – via a private pantry and gymnasium – without intruding on any business being conducted in the study. This arrangement also enhances the ability of crew members to discreetly service the owner’s bedroom. Incidentally, the gymnasium is genuinely worthy of the name, capable of hosting four pieces of exercise equipment plus washing facilities and a television.

While the large windows offer fantastic views in many areas of Utopia, they reach their zenith in the owners’ bedroom. Electric curtains lower silently to reveal a truly stunning 180-degree vista, with the giant bed being precisely positioned to fully appreciate the effect. In the unlikely event that the owners tire of the view, a huge flat screen television pops down from the ceiling. The bedroom also contains a breakfast area and a pair of day beds from Christian Liaigre.

The air of splendor continues in the centrally located bathroom. One of the highlights here is a glorious spa bath (complete with waterfall taps), which nestles under a skylight. There is also an incredibly long double-basin counter, resplendent in red-green marble, a steam shower, a bidet and his-and-her toilets. The bathroom cabinets have a series of mahogany and black lacquer columns, with gold mesh panels in-between.

Doors leading out onto the exterior sidewalks provide the owners with access to the forward section and Jacuzzi. Aluminum privacy gates on either side alert crew if the owners prefer not to be disturbed.

The sky lounge can be seen as the day room for the owners and their family, especially when the fine aft deck area (with full dining facilities) is taken into consideration. Less formal than its main deck counterpart, the saloon includes a long oak bar and a fireplace. This latter feature adds further atmosphere to the room, especially as a world cruiser like this will not always sailing be in a tropical climate.

Moving up a deck to the wheelhouse, the use of dark brown and blue/gray leather brings a sense of variety to this entire space. Two large Zimmer & Rohde sofas are located port and starboard so that owner and guests can observe Utopia’s progress through the stunning vertical windows. Ultimately, of course, this is a technical control room, and the equipment more than matches the highest standards. All systems are integrated to new heights for a Feadship, overseen by a central control panel with five multi-purpose screens.

The wheelhouse deck also contains a navigation room, a captain’s cabin designed and equipped to attract the very best skipper, a pantry and the AV center. A concierge lobby leads onto the aft deck and a small semi-enclosed embarkation area where guests can wait to board the helicopter or be received in style. Here, as on every deck, there is a beautiful powder room with Venetian plaster wall finishing. Each powder room has individual marble flooring and individual basin cabinets specially made in Italy in various finishes, ranging from oak and oak burl, and mahogany with a mother of pearl inlay to a faux tortoise shell finish.

The design and logistics of the lower deck were established around three key requirements: A huge aft peak lazarette, tender bays to free up outdoor living space on the decks, and accommodation for a large number of crew members. Nevertheless, the prime real estate has been given to the centrally located two twin guest staterooms, entered via their own hall. Key differences with the suites a deck above are the French style mahogany beds and the writing desks with red/light brown leather seats. The portholes also create a distinctive ambience here.

Moving aft, the split level engine room, with its separate control and generator rooms, is immaculate in every way. The twin 16 cylinder Caterpillar 3516B DI-TA MkI electronic marine diesel engines have been derated to 1492 kW (2000 bhp). Running at 1600 rpm, they give Utopia a smooth maximum continuous sailing speed (half loaded) of 16 knots, and a cruising range at 12 knots of 5000 nautical miles.

There are three Caterpillar 3406 DI-TA Mk main diesel generator sets, each fitted with Unikat combifilter systems to ensure the cleanest possible exhaust output. Another Caterpillar 3306B DI-TA emergency generator is found in its own separate watertight compartment, including an airing tank and power supply. This genset is incorporated into the main switchboard in such a way that it will also function as a night generator, thus avoiding the potential problems that can arise with an emergency generator that is rarely if ever used.

Doors lead off either side of the aft passage to two large tender garages, complete with a fueling station. One houses a blue Chriscraft 28 launch with a Volvo Penta KAD 300 EDC DP diesel engine, ideal for all weathers. With its teak decking and stainless steel fittings, the other main tender is more of a floating limousine: A custom-built Ribtec Riviera 850 rigid inflatable with a 300 hp Yanmar diesel engine driving a Hamilton waterjet. Both tenders are launched sideways though hydraulic gull-wing doors in the hull.

There is a further tender stored in the aft peak, which serves as an MCA-compliant MOB boat. This is a Ribtec Riviera 500 rigid inflatable has a 120 hp Yanmar diesel engine, again driving a Hamilton waterjet.

The lazarette is almost incomprehensibly large and has the space to house every watersports toy imaginable. Also included is a diving bottle station, shower, washing machine/drier for wet suits/towels, and a place for preparing any fish that may have been caught. Even so, space remains for various machinery and the sternthruster.

The aft end is a hybrid of the transom hatch concept with more architectural style elements. A large crane is in place for lowering toys into the water and a custom-made ladder descends from the swimming platform into the water.

Furthest forward on the lower deck is the crew area, which includes six double and two triple cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms. Feadship’s vast experience of how a boat functions on an everyday basis is in evidence here. There is a crew boarding area via a side hull door, where the staff can also load provisions straight from the crew tender and place them in the adjacent food lift. A separate toilet can be used by customs officials and the like while also serving as a crew day head. The large pantry has everything but cooking facilities to avoid cooking smells in this busy area. And the huge half beam mess is spacious enough for the entire crew to come together. This mess also serves as a control station, with a replication of the cameras and alarms found on the bridge.

The tank deck contains a laundry room, refrigeration and freezer stores, a climate-controlled wine cellar (including a writing desk), an engineer’s workshop, linen storage, pump room and technical facilities for Utopia’s two Quantum zero speed stabilizers.

On a boat of this size, the outdoor facilities are bound to be magnificent and Utopia certainly doesn’t disappoint. The walkways alone are impressive, sufficiently wide to create the impression of being on a ship rather than a yacht. This feeling is magnified by the sight of an expansive helicopter deck, which includes a five-ton crane capable of launching a submarine.

Suitable for a Bell 427 or similar, the helipad has a proprietary pneumatic system with sensors that activate the moment the helicopter touches down and instantaneously secure the craft into place. Originally developed for French military purposes, this solution makes rough weather landings far easier. It also supports the principle of keeping the helicopter onboard wherever Utopia sails in order that it can serve as the primary tender.

Among all this ultra-modern equipment nestles a bar cabinet, a first hint for arriving guests that Utopia is geared to outside entertainment. Both the main and middle deck aft areas are semi-shaded and have a buffet bar, large dining table and a wealth of seats. The sun deck is covered with a composite sunshade, and contains a buffet and BBQ set-up, marble-topped bar with full facilities, a large whirlpool and lots of outside seating and sunbathing options. Finally, there is another lovely seating area on the Portuguese bridge.

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!

Have you ever wondered what are the steps to building a home?  One of our customer couples have been keeping track through a blog entitled, “The Big Move”. We are going to share some of the blog with you, and then direct you to a link where you’ll be able to follow them. They purchased Archival Designs’ luxury home plan, Longleat.

Welcome to Nick and Michelle’s big Canadian adventure. This is the tale of our “Big Move” from Chippenham in the UK to Tatamagouche Nova Scotia. Follow this blog to see how we survive the culture shock of moving from the hectic UK to a rural Nova Scotian village.

While their blog shares many events in their lives, following the “House Build” link will target only those blogs. There are plenty of photos and slide shows showing the work performed.  Here is an excerpt from Days 138-142:

This week it was painting, painting and more painting.  There was still some undercoating to do on the second floor but the main floor was ready to take the top coat.  The main colour went on in the great room first as the fireplace needed to go in.  Our choice for the main colour in the house was ‘vanilla ice cream’  And no – it isn’t magnolia…..

The fireplace, which looks amazing, went in over 3 days.  We chose a light coloured natural stone to help keep the room looking light and modern.  We think that it has worked out really well.  The fireplace team did a great job.

In between the coats of paint going on the walls, our builders also managed to lay the tiles in the bathroom upstairs.

In the gallery you will see a couple of pictures of the ice coming from the drainpipes.  It warmed up slightly and so all of the snow melted and was running off the roof, but then the temperature dropped and we were left with ice…..

So, follow the link, sign into their guestbook and watch the build! I have posted the first, second and basement floor plans for Longleat below.

Choose From More Than 400 House Designs and House Plans We offer house designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. Some of our more popular house designs include European-inspired Georgian and Palladian homes, English Manor house plans, Tuscan-style Italian villas, French chateaux, and Colonial house plans. Our Tuscan-style villas range from 1800 sf to 13,600 sf. Our Newport Classics house designs are gentrified New England-style cottages that range from 1500 to 5000 square feet. Our starter castles, mansions and estate homes are designed in the grand tradition of some of the most impressive homes in the world. Please feel free to search our house designs or browse our photo gallery to get a sense of the many styles and types of house designs we offer. Our plans have been built around the globe, from Canada to Dubai, and one plan could be just for you!