by Arizona Custom Home Builder on January 27, 2010
Over-sized Showers, Protective Coating on Glass Doors, or Completely Skipping the Doors
As Arizona custom home builders of Arizona luxury homes we pay attention to detail while designing shower systems with our customers. Shower areas have grown over the years and are increasingly becoming a place in custom homes that deserve more recognition, especially the master bath. It’s out with the old and in with the new when it comes to shower systems. The small shower stall that cause you to bump your elbows against walls are definitely out as well as the fragile, obscured bypass doors.
On the other hand,
- Bigger is better with shower spaces,
- Frameless shower doors constructed with weighty glass,
- Various spray systems,
- Snail showers,
- Shower sitting areas,
- Coated glass for easy cleaning, and
- An enormous array of finishes for the fixtures.
Luxurious showers are arguably a symbol of excellence and comfort. Bigger is better indeed with showers; for instance, some are designed so that doors are deliberately left out of design. Then there are those built with a spiral-type shape, again eliminating the necessity of shower doors. Designing a shower without a shower door eliminates the dreaded cleaning associated with glass shower doors. Although many of today’s shower doors are available with a protective coating that prevent the appearance of permanent spots, soap scum and stains that accumulate over time on glass shower walls and doors.
As Arizona custom home builders, we have found that today’s shower doors are made with much heavier and thicker glass than in the past. With heavier, thicker glass, metal frame supports are eliminated. By eliminating the metal frames, one can see directly through the glass and the beauty of the tile work . These new shower doors are also capable of being opened by pushing into the shower door in, or pulling the door open, creating enormous versatility and effortlessness in use. On tub/shower combinations, also available today are French doors absent of frames, creating that WOW EFFECT, when both doors can be opened to easily climb into and out of a shower/tub combination.
Shower stalls have made a transition from simply stalls to more prominent features within the master bathroom. As mentioned, they’re much larger creating lots of room to enter and/or exit with comfort and ease. Multiple sprayers are also added. Anything from rain shower-heads fixed above to standard sprayers from the walls as well as hand-held sprayers that come equipped with wall poles or hands-free mode with multiple sprayers from various areas of the shower wall. The various styles of a custom bathroom continue offering a wide variety of features for the custom home buyer. As Arizona custom home builders we plan to stay abreast of the styles, changes and trends in custom bathrooms to offer our customers the best choices for their particular home style.
Arizona custom home builders exemplify a large walk-in master shower
by Arizona Custom Home Builder on January 26, 2010
Move Over Pedestal Sink
Tired of seeing those stale pedestal sinks found in the average powder room or custom bathroom? Have you given thought to the different assortment of sinks on the market? Some are classical pieces of furniture converted into vanities. The glass or stone bowls found on top of vanities have also gained popularity. As Arizona custom home builders, many of our custom home buyers have rummaged around antique shops searching for the best dresser to change into a vanity. With a marginal amount of ingenuity a powder room can demonstrate the personality and style of any homeowner.
Most of the newer style sinks found aren’t very expensive; however, they’re a welcoming addition to most powder rooms and custom bathroom. Some of our custom home buyers have used glass bowls found at the local big box hardware store, but when placed in a unique setting like a built-in counter top, it looks like it cost more than it actually did and reveals a truly one-of-a-kind custom look. These glass bowls are sturdy and thick and come in a variety of colors.
As Arizona custom home builders, other custom home buyers have placed stone bowls directly on top of an old piece of furniture, customizing the look to match their Tuscan home style. Converting an antique or even new piece of furniture to hold a vanity sink allows for storage underneath the sink, something amiss with the standard pedestal sink. The furniture can be modified to hold a sink that sits on top of the dresser, or a sink that can be popped into an opening cut into the dresser. There are a vast number of new styles available for either glass or stone bowls which makes creating the idea powder room.
Other stylish vanities consist of sinks situated on custom-made counter tops with fixtures mounted into the walls. Fixtures in these rooms can also be a bit more stylish than practical versions in the remainder of the home.
As Arizona custom home builders, we will assist our custom home buyers get the look and feel they desire when planning, designing and building their custom bathroom. The vanity or powder room sink selections are one small aspect of this comprehensive, and ‘dream come true’ process.
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Stone Bowl Sink and Wall Mounted Fixtures
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Elegant Vanity Area
by Arizona Custom Home Builder on January 23, 2010
Entry Doors of Wrought Iron Add Glamour and Elegance to Any Home Style
Over the past few years as Arizona custom home builders, we have witnessed the alteration of entry doors from custom wooden designs to custom-fashioned iron door in Arizona luxury custom homes. These doors are unmatched in ageless fashion and fit with a number of architectural styles. Today there are more and more manufacturers of thee iron entry doors than when first launched and many of them have various styles available, even though doors are custom made for each home. Some of our custom home buyers have designed their own doors.
Wrought iron entry doors are designed as single entry or double entry. Some with full-arched tops, soft-arched tops or simply squared-off. Others include fully matched door surrounds. Each door incorporates glass with swing-open features. Each glass component latches on the inside of the door making it simple to clean, just allowing the glass component to remain open when the Arizona weather is perfect.
As builders of Arizona luxury custom homes, we recommend using the services of manufacturing companies that specialize in construction with heavy-gauge steel for thick doors. These doors are finished with an industrial-style coat of powder that provides durability against the piercing heat of the Arizona sun. When selecting your choice of finishes there’s basic black, antique, as well as faux finishes.
All of these doors can be custom designed by a custom homebuyer, including single or double-door designs. Whether it’s the squared-off top or the arched-full or soft design, there are many options available. Then there’s the glass selections that can be clear, frosted, rain or glue chipped in style. The manufacturer or custom home buyer can design the door handles.
If you’re looking for beauty, strength and pizazz, then wrought iron entry doors may be what you’re looking for. These doors are growing in popularity, and rightfully so, it’s the first thing visitors’ notice before entering your home. As home builders of Arizona luxury custom homes, we have installed these doors for front entry doors, patio doors, and wine storage rooms. These doors work with ‘Old World’ style, Tuscan, and even contemporary and modern style homes, it just depends on the style selected or created.
by Arizona Custom Home Builder on January 22, 2010
Kid Zone’s Offer Flexibility in Luxury Custom Homes
Designing custom homes exactly the way a family envisioned it can be extremely rewarding as Arizona custom home builders. Many families that have us help them design and build the home of their dreams usually do exactly that. Creating the perfect floor plan can be challenging, yet very rewarding when based on a family’s personal needs and desires. Many of the homes that we design and build include an area dedicated to the family’s children.
A children’s area or kid zone isn’t necessarily a playroom; however, it can be built with very young child in mind and transition to an area for older children. Most are built with televisions, computers and teenage activities in mind. As Arizona custom home builders, we have constructed kid zones adjacent children’s’ bedrooms, and other times a game room where a large television can be used for video games, more interactive games like the Wii, board games, and billiards.
By placing the bedrooms for children on one side of the home and designing a playroom near those bedrooms creates an excellent way for the kids’ to enjoy their video games, television, movies, loud music, computer activities, or for hanging’ out with friends in an area that is away from the family. Based upon the age of the children, evolution is inevitable with these rooms as the children grow and mature. Kid zones can begin as playrooms specifically designed for very young children and as the kids grow and mature, the room can be redesigned and transformed into something more appropriate for teens. Afterwards, when the kids’ leave the house and go off to college, it can become a hobby room, library or exercise rooms for the parents.
As Arizona custom home builders, we have seen the popularity of kid zones soar over the years. These rooms offer such flexibility, ranging from playrooms for very young children to game rooms for older kids and ultimately a unique room for parents when the kids leave home.
by Arizona Custom Home Builder on January 21, 2010
Fake Grass Can Look Better Than Real Grass at Times
Grass lawns in the state of Arizona may seem crazy, as this is the desert. Nevertheless, it’s recognized as a landscape amenity and it would be non-existent in Arizona if not for a well-planned and supervised sprinkler system. As Arizona custom home builders, we’ll help our homeowners install a green lawn or desert landscaping alternatives. Desert landscaping is one of the best low-maintenance options to natural grass. The technique of growing low-water use vegetation in rock gardens has long been popular in Arizona. Many of these low water usage desert plants include an awe-inspiring array of flowering plants. Despite, it’s beauty and water-wise strategy; rock gardens are not what all homeowners want. Many homeowners want a green lawn. Green lawns actually lower the temperature in and around the lawn and offer both the real and perceived feelings that makes one think… “Maybe it isn’t really that hot outside.”
As Arizona custom home builders, we have worked with homeowners that also wanted fake grass. Fake grass offers an arid, low-maintenance alternative that looks absolutely beautiful when installed correctly. The natural, realistic and beautiful appearance is astonishing, not to mention, easily manageable as well.
Finding the perfect fake grass took a little research; however, there are a lot more options available today. The important thing is to select by quality and installation. If not installed properly a lawn could turn out looking fake and disastrous. Plus quality seams are critical for the overall appearance and it’s ability to stand up against the extreme change of seasons in Arizona. Over a period of time synthetic or fake grass may fade; therefore, many manufacturers will offer an 8-year warranty plan or better. The grass is priced by square footage and based upon the size of the area and the requirements needed for ground preparation, a decision can be made on whether it would be a wise choice to make.
As Arizona custom home builders, we have found that fake grass is more suitable for smaller areas than larger ones. Taking a large lawn in consideration and calculating yearly landscaping fees and yearly water usage, compared to the installation of fake grass, it’s been calculated that most homeowners would be better off sticking with natural grass if they have a large yard.
Fake grass can look better than real lawns, especially in Arizona when most lawns must be converted from winter grass to summer grass and back again in Fall. Fake grass looks good year round. However, if fake grass is being considered, know that synthetic lawns don’t remain as cool as natural grass. The products consist of non-absorbing materials and it’s designed to allow water to run through the material; however, fake grass won’t cause harm to pets or children. It’s non-flammable, and doesn’t provide places for insects to harbor or fester. The best feature is the maintenance, or lack of it. As Arizona custom home builders
, we would recommend fake grass in smaller yards, for backyard putting greens, and for unique landscaping features.
