Saline resident and close friend pays tribute to Dennis Holley, who passed away Jan. 25

Looking out across Sunset Lake in the York Woods subdivision where I live, I can count four homes besides mine that were built by Dennis Holley, a Saline-area builder who passed away on Jan. 25.

Dennis legacy includes many other local custom homes in addition to the ones in York Woods, and I often told him that if I could go around my community as he could, pointing out the beautiful homes he had built, I would indeed feel proud of what I had accomplished in my life.

Dennis mark upon Saline as a builder began in 1965 when he helped his father, Eugene, construct the Thorncrest Apartments on Clark Street. Afterwards he worked at his trade as an electrician until he began his career as a custom home building contractor in the early 1980s.

He is well known for his show-stopping entries in the annual Showcase of Homes, which he participated in for 21 consecutive years starting in 1987. His were often the Showcase homes people most looked forward to visiting each year. They were houses invariably characterized by sumptuous quality, ingenuity and meticulous attention to detail.

I was so impressed when I visited the Holley 1992 Showcase entry that I was determined to meet and talk with its creator. It was then that I first met the team of Dennis and his wife, Joy, who turned out thereafter to be builders of one and later eventually two fine homes for me and my life partner, Jean Burns, as well as to become our longtime close friends.

I suppose its unusual for a customer to form anything like a friendship with his home builder, but thats what happened after all of us started working together. We had so many adventures collaborating about architectural plans, shopping together for building materials, and inevitably eating out at local and sometimes far-flung restaurants, that the process of building our homes became less than just a business deal and more like a creative lifestyle that we honestly wished at times would never end. And the physical results were outstanding residences that we, like so many other clients of the Holleys, have been thrilled to call our homes.

I remember Dennis talking with his hands. He was such a visual person that he often expressed himself by drawing pictures in the air with his hands. He would explain how he was going to do something, like build a curving staircase or attach a heavy wooden form to a 20-foot ceiling, and even though his visual explanations seemed clear enough, the reality of his finished products seemed to go beyond my comprehension of what he described. I would watch with wonderment as he worked his building magic, but I still couldnt quite conceive of how he managed to do the difficult things he did as a builder, and always did so well.

Dennis succumbed finally to a powerful and terrible illness called Lewy Body Dementia, which was strong enough to bring down even someone of Dennis tall stature. He will be greatly missed by me as his friend, and by the many people in our local community he served for so many years as an outstanding builder of custom homes.

Visitation is at the Nie Funeral Home on 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, and a church service will take place 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at the First United Methodist Church of Saline, 1200 N. Ann Arbor St., in Saline.

Continued here:
SALINE: Home builder was known for show-stopping designs

Custom Home Builders in DFW | Call 817-713-4620
http://tiny.cc/CustomHomeBuildersinDFW Are you looking for custom home builders in DFW area? FWD Builders is a full service home building and remodeling comp...

By: DFW Home Builder

See the rest here:
Custom Home Builders in DFW | Call 817-713-4620 - Video

At its most accessible, a connected home can be created with consumer-friendly devices that require little or no installation--an approach largely popularized by the likes of Nest.

Take Canary: A home security product without a single wire that raised a staggering $1,961,862 on Indiegogo in July 2013 and is currently in pre-order.

One unified device is equipped with motion detection, temperature and humidity sensors, microphone and speaker--providing reassuring eyes and ears inside a home while you're away. Its key, however, is the sophisticated software it runs, according to Canary cofounder Adam Sager. Canary learns your habits, so it knows how to make the most of that sensor data--the idea is that it becomes smart enough to realize whether something happening in your home is normal or suspect.

Instead of just being a binary sensor, we decided to add a lot of intelligence to our device. We looked at building artificial intelligence and machine learning into the device, so when we came out it was a different approach to security, Sager says.

Sager believes Canary fills a gap in the market for a consumer-level security device. A solution so simple, he says it doesnt even classify as DIY. In other words, its not a solution geared for the Lowes weekend warrior--instead, you might one day find it at a big box electronics store.

[Canary] is designed for normal people to install and use, whether youre a renter or an owner or just someone who doesnt want to install a fully integrated system, he says. Thats the middle ground between the fully integrated model and the DIY model--the consumer model, and this wasnt being addressed at all.

The DIY model moves from single, simple devices to more complex, integrated systems. They typically include some kind of brain--either a dedicated device or computer running software--that gathers information from various sensors and then calls all the shots by sending commands to a slew of control devices installed throughout the home. Control devices are anything from a simple module plugged in between a lamp and the wall to smart light switches, HVAC, security systems, and whole-home media interfaces.

This DIY space has long been owned by the geekier among us, requiring comfort with hardware, programming, and electrical wiring. But thats starting to change.

Simpler, less costly smart devices that can wirelessly communicate to the brain have matured into reliable whole-home choices, making the decision to automate increasingly tempting for early adopters. Many of these wireless devices use an open-standard wireless technology called Z-Wave to communicate with other devices on the network. With technologies like Z-Wave, or other popular contenders like Insteon, DIYers dont need to mess with a hard-wired system or specialized programming to achieve the results they want.

Another emerging trend is simpler solutions to that all-important brain of the system. User-friendly, no programming required smart hubs, typically controllable from a mobile device, now offer an alternative to more technical choices.

Read more:
Will The Home Automation Revolution Be DIY?

From the suburbs to the heart of the city, homebuilders are crafting smart-growth communities where residents can park the car and walk or ride a bike to nearby parks, restaurants and shops.

Its a lifestyle youre buying as much as a location, said Jeremy Malone, a Realtor who owns a home in McKays Mill, a Jones Co. subdivision in Franklin with a network of trails and ponds that encourage outdoor activity.

A trip to the dentist or the grocery means putting on a pair of walking shoes, not getting in the car, he said.

Instead of watching television or playing video games, Malone, his wife Jinni and their two young children enjoy spending time outdoors.

Were close to everything we do, he said. And I can step 25 feet from my door and be on a walking trail that leads into the hills.

Sammie Baker enjoys having a clubhouse, pool and fitness center just steps from her door in StoneBridge, a master-planned community in Lebanon developed by Goodall Homes.

You just go home and you are in your own community, Baker said. I love to walk my dog by the pond.

In the core of the city, smart-growth developments are breathing new life into neighborhoods that were previously overlooked or in decline, said developer Mike Kenner.

His company, MiKen Development, is creating a 60-home subdivision on 60th Avenue North at Morrow Road in an area of West Nashville dotted with industrial sites. It will include a dog park and a commercial corner for local retailers.

Kenner believes his development will be especially popular with the same young buyers who have snapped up homes he has built in the Nations neighborhood next door. The Nations is around the corner from restaurants and pubs on Charlotte Pike.

Read more:
Walkable neighborhoods gain traction in city as well as suburbs

How hard could it be? Everyone grew up playing with Lincoln Logs. This was just Lincoln Logs writ large, right?

Ajai and Jyoti Nemani, who love to ski, had a friend who owned a small log home with a big view of Bristol Mountain. When he moved out of state, the couple jumped at the chance to buy the house.

Their plan was to fix it up and build an addition (deteriorating logs and lots of burrowing bees persuaded them). Eventually, they realized it would be more practical to build a new, custom log home instead.

Only theyd never done anything like this before. Ajai, a physician, and Jyoti, an ultrasound technician, arent exactly general contractors.

But Ajai was determined. It took two years with lots of doubling back, rescheduling, some squabbling and correcting things on the fly to get the job done.

Building with logs wasnt as simple as I thought, Ajai admits. Everything looks great on paper.

The couple worked with a family friend, architect and real estate agent Maria Furgiuele. And they hired Timberframe Inc. in Canandaigua; Rick Wyffels, owner of Wyffels Log & Timberframe Homes in Canandaigua and an independent representative for Real Log Homes; and Peter Van Scott of Van Scott Builders in Palmyra to build the new 2,600-square-foot home.

After construction began, Jyoti realized that when she stood in the kitchen, part of the gable wall hid her view of Bristol Mountain. So Timberframe Inc. tore the piece out and built the more open timber-framed style gable instead.

I was a pain in the butt, Jyoti says with a laugh.

But the change made all the difference in bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside, and the soaring, 20-foot floor-to-ceiling gable in front is a highlight of the home.

See original here:
Log home has contemporary flair and Bristol Mountain view

Manassas, VA (PRWEB) January 22, 2014

Northern Virginia home remodeling company Thomas Custom Builders has earned the service industrys coveted Angies List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013. It is the second year in a row the company has received this award.

Providing outstanding service to each and every customer is our day-to-day mission, and we wont settle for anything less, said Rick Thomas, owner of Thomas Custom Builders. Our high standards are why our clients are among the most satisfied in the industry. Were proud to be recognized by the very discerning subscribers of Angies List.

Only about five percent of Thomas Custom Builders competitors within the northern Virginia area are able to earn our Super Service Award, said Angies List Founder Angie Hicks. Its a mark of consistently great customer service.

Angies List Super Service Award 2013 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an A rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angies List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check and abide by Angies List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angies List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2013 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Thomas Custom Builders provides design, building and remodeling services to customers throughout northern Virginia. With combined 70 years experience, the contractors specialize in custom home additions and remodeling of bathrooms, kitchens and master suites. Visit the TCB home remodeling website for more information.

###

Angie's List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to healthcare. More than 2 million paid households use Angie's List to gain access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angies List Magazine and the Angie's List complaint resolution service.

Read this article:
Thomas Custom Builders Earns Angie's List Super Service Award For Second Consecutive Year

Germantown, MD (PRWEB) January 21, 2014

Advantage Homes is pleased to announce that a fully-decorated model home in Melody Farms, located in Chantilly, Va., will open on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. With this new community, Advantage Homes is excited to once again offer custom quality built, luxury homes in Virginia. Previously, Waterford View, a sold-out Advantage Homes community in Lovettsville, Va., won numerous awards for design and quality.

Just 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., Melody Farms is a new community that features seven models of traditional, single-family homes. Nestled in a natural setting with plenty of greenery and scenic views, Melody Farms offers a relaxing respite from the stressors of busy city life. With close proximity to commuter routes, Melody Farms is ideal for homeowners who work in the city but want a peaceful, relaxing escape at home.

We are very proud to be a part of the Chantilly community, says James McCormack, VP of Sales and Marketing at Advantage Homes. Melody Farms provides homeowners a fresh, innovative approach to luxury living. Weve combined our decades of experience and track record for superior quality to offer new home designs that fit every taste and budget in a location thats close to everything. We believe Melody Farms is the ultimate collection for homebuyers in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Unlike other Washington-area home builders, only top-of-the-line construction materials meet Advantage Homes standards for excellence, durability and reliability. Advantage is highly selective of the materials and trade partners they choose, and it shows in each new home available at Melody Farms. Here are a few features homebuyers can expect at Melody Farms:

To learn more about this new home community in Chantilly, Va., call Tom Crichton at 240-483-6950 or visit Advantage Homes website.

About Advantage Homes: Advantage Homes builds custom-quality houses that customers will proudly call home. A commitment to crafting extraordinary homes of quality design and construction underlies the Washington home builders dedication to customer satisfaction. Advantage Homes offers local insight in the selection of the most desirable locations and unsurpassed customer care after construction. Honesty, integrity and professionalism guide Advantage Homes as they strive to delight their customers with the finest quality homes for sale near Washington, D.C.

Read more from the original source:
Advantage Homes Opens New Community in Chantilly, VA

Home Builder Medford Oregon - VanWey Homes - Newly Built Home Walk-through
http://www.vanweyhomes.com 541-702-1422 Looking for a home builder in Medford Oregon. This video features Wayne VanWey of VanWey Homes doing a walk-through o...

By: Matthew Allen

Continued here:
Home Builder Medford Oregon - VanWey Homes - Newly Built Home Walk-through - Video

By Emily Sorensen

Ever dream of moving in next to a golf course? Want the custom home of your dreams? Then check out Michael Gregory Builders for your next home.

Greg Hastings, left, and the late Michael Levesque, the founders of Michael Gregory Builders.

The home building company, which is headquartered in Carlsbad, now has three communities it is developing, in Lakeside, Rancho Santa Fe and its newest development, in Valley Center. [Michael Gregory Builders homes] are designed for really active lifestyles, said media contact April Harter Enriquez.

The newest development, called The Masters Collection, is located near Woods Valley Golf Club in Valley Center. Made up of 16 detached homes, The Masters Collection community contains both single- and two-story luxury homes that range from 2,800 to 4,200 square feet. The spacious home sites include golf course views and a private entry road, said Enriquez. The cost for The Masters Collection homes begins in the $600,000s.

The Valley Center community is still under construction, and is due to open in mid-February.

Michael Gregory Builders also opened a community in Lakeside, known as Green Hills, in September. The 31 Green Hills homes are located near Lake Jennings and range from 2,014 to 3,234 square feet. The homes begin in the $500,000s.

The companys third community, in Rancho Santa Fe, is called The Farms and is located by the Rancho Santa Fe Farms Golf Club. This community, unlike the others, is made up of a small handful of completely one-of-a-kind homes, built to the buyers specifications on golf course front lots.

Michael Gregory Builders was founded in 2010 by Gregory Hastings and the late Michael Levesque, two San Diego builders with a combined 40 years of experience designing and building homes for families throughout Southern California. They wanted to start something small and local for local home buyers, said Enriquez.

What sets Michael Gregory Builders apart from other home designers and builders is the quality of their craftsmanship and the experience one gets with working with a local builder who really knows San Diego, said Enriquez. Michael Gregory Builders homes also include as standard many things that would be considered upgrades in other homes, including stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops, as well as options for amenities such as drive-through garages, perfect for RV or boat storage.

View post:
Michael Gregory Builders wants to build your home

27 Acre Equestrian Property in Oswego, IL
Grande Prairie.

By: DJK Custom Home Builders

See more here:
27 Acre Equestrian Property in Oswego, IL - Video