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Trey Ceiling Ideas - Master Bedroom

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:36 -0600

Master Bedroom Tray Ceiling Ideas

The master bedroom is your space, your retreat, your quiet, calming place. The ceiling can reflect your personality and be a unique detail in this special part of your new home.

Adding a Trey Ceiling to Your New Home

Most builders offer trey ceilings as an option, but you may be limited to one particular style and size. Other builders have several options. Some custom builders like Stanton Homes can allow you to design a truly unique trey ceiling with your builder.

This master bedroom features a sitting area. Both rooms offer a single depth octagonal trey ceiling, with a recess for optional accent lighting.

The depth or height of a trey ceiling can be limited by what's above - if there is a room directly above the master suite, the trey ceiling might "drop" rather than "raise" the ceiling, and is usually limited to about 6 inches or so.

This master suite also features a private sitting room. Here, the trey ceiling "interconnects" the two rooms in a truly unique treatment custom designed for the space.

This master bedroom features an extended height trey ceiling, with multiple layers of crown moulding.

The "lower step" of the trey extends inward towards the center of the room, and an electrical outlet included inside the recess allows for the addition of future accent lighting.

A deep, bold color can really set off the architectural details in a trey ceiling. The bright white of the crown moulding stands out very well against a deep blue, red, or green.

This dual step trey ceiling highlights alternating bands of ceiling color and wall color.

A luxury home can include all kinds of unique details. This sloped trey ceiling in the master bedroom includes picture frame wainscoating details, along with a wallpaper treatment for the base of the trey.

The medallion centers the light fixture as the highlight of the room.

The width of the "steps" in a stepped trey ceiling can vary, changing the look and feel of the room.

Standard widths vary between 6", 12", and 18" per step, though other options can also be constructed. Steps size should be proportionate to room size.

A wider step can create a more ornate feel for the same trey ceiling.

The wider the steps, the more materials and labor are required for the framing, painting, and trimwork in the trey ceiling.

An extra deep octagonal trey ceiling painted with an accent color adds a lot of height and depth to the ceiling, without a huge expense. This type of ceiling treatment can look very appealing in master bedrooms of many different sizes and shapes.

Standard height of each step in a trey ceiling is usually 8" to 10" per step.

Thus a room may have a 8' ceiling height for the "outermost" portion of the ceiling not part of the trey, then 8'8" height for the first step, and 9'6" inside the trey itself. But heights can vary by room and design.

Talk to your builder about the design you'd like to see in your new master bedroom. Bring pictures, and explain what you have in mind!

Designing Your New Lifestyle - Your New Home in Raleigh NC

Above all, it's your new home. The place where you'll come home every night, invite your friends, play, do homework, and LIVE.

Gather ideas, then talk to your builder about how to best fit those ideas inside your budget. Want to get started?

More new home design ideas:

Top 7 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your New Home - Kitchen

Top Decorating Trends and Ideas for Your New Home - Dining Room

Kitchen Islands - New Home Trends and Ideas

Top Trends in New Homes | Smaller, Cozier, and More Cost Effective!

Top 10 Master Bathroom Trends - Ideas You're Going to Love!

Top 9 New Home Features in '09 - What To Look For! Raleigh NC Home Builders Top Tips

"Green" Countertop Options | Green Kitchen Countertops in Your New Home

Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

Stanton Homes makes it easy! We'll guide you through the entire process - select from thousands of different floor plans, and hundreds of different locations. New homes from the upper $100s to the $500s. Custom modifications available too!

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more today.

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building | Newsletter

Browse New Home Communities, Lots, and Land available throughout the Triangle!

Alamance County New Homes | Apex New Homes | Carrboro New Homes | Cary New Homes | Chapel Hill New Homes | Clayton New Homes | Chatham County New Homes | Fuquay Varina New Homes | Holly Springs New Homes | Hillsborough New Homes | Raleigh New Homes | Wake Forest New Homes

Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan.

Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.

Durham NC ENERGY STAR Homes saving 3 MILLION Pounds of CO2

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:56:40 -0600

Energy Star Homes Make a Big Difference

ENERGY STAR Movement Continues to Grow in Durham NC

ENERGY STAR qualified homes built in Durham NC in 2009 are the equivalent of:

Eliminating emissions from 285 vehicles
Saving 1,722,084 lbs of coal
Planting 471 acres of trees
Saving the environment 3,377,353 pounds of CO₂

Looking for a home that makes a difference? Consider an ENERGY STAR home. An ENERGY STAR labeled home has been verified and checked, not just by the home builder, but by a licensed third party organization like Southern Energy Management.

1955 ENERGY STAR qualified homes have been built in Durham NC to date.

581 ENERGY STAR qualified homes were built in Durham NC in 2009.

The ENERGY STAR program continues to grow.

What is an ENERGY STAR home, and how does it save money and resources?

An ENERGY STAR home is independently certified by a third party inspection agency. The process starts with the blueprints. A complete energy analysis of the planned home is determined, and all necessary steps to increase energy efficiency are then incorporated. The home is inspected several times during the building process to ensure all work is to the highest standards.

What features are in an ENERGY STAR home in the Raleigh, NC area?

Superior Insulation Installation - Must be installed and rated at ENERGY STAR standards.

High Performance Windows - ENERGY STAR rated windows with a low-E coating.

Tighter Construction/Tighter Ducts - Advanced techniques are used to seal every part of the home, which also reduces noise, moisture, pollen, and dust.

Efficient Heating and Cooling - HVAC systems must be ENERGY STAR rated, and higher than normal performance systems may be required.

Complete Air Barrier - Tested using a field-verified blower test.

Interested in finding out more about other green building features and ideas?

Some popular green home building features and questions include:

Energy Wise - guaranteed energy savings with spray foam insulation system, save 50-70% on heating and cooling versus standard building practices.
ENERGY STAR
Passive Solar

Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more today.

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building | Newsletter

Browse New Home Communities, Lots, and Land available throughout the Triangle!

Alamance County New Homes | Apex New Homes | Carrboro New Homes | Cary New Homes | Chapel Hill New Homes | Clayton New Homes | Chatham County New Homes | Fuquay Varina New Homes | Holly Springs New Homes | Hillsborough New Homes | Raleigh New Homes | Wake Forest New Homes

Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan.

Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.

Fees and Interest Rates both poised for increase

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:40:56 -0600

Fees and interest rates are about to go up, with government-mandated changes that can cost unaware home buyers thousands.

Both FHA funding and interest rates are set to change - and not in the direction many homebuyers would like to see.

This information is from Bill Dixon, a real estate agent with Zip Realty in Raleigh NC.

"Important FHA information for home buyers, A must read!

Those who wait will pay thousands more or not be able to buy this spring.

Important potential home buyer's information:

Waiting a few extra days or weeks to purchase a home this spring could cost buyers thousands of extra dollars as the office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) implements several changes for loan guaranteed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA)

Changes that will affect home buyers:

1. On April 5^th, the cost of up-front MIP (mortgage insurance premium) will go up from

1.75% to 2.25%. A purchase of a $200,000 home will have typically $965 increase in

PMI .This will make up front cost more and will affect monthly payments.

2. Later this spring, the amount of money that a seller can return to a buyer from the

proceeds of the sale will be reduced from 6% to 3%. This loss of buyer concessions on a

$200,000 home could cost the buyer an extra up-front out of pocket closing experience

of $6,000.

Proposed changes that could be coming:

HUD Secretary Donovan and FHA Commissioner testified that they expected FHA to announce major changes to ensure FHA's long term financial soundness.

1. Increase the down payment required from 3.5% to 5%.

2. Eliminate the ability to roll into the loan MIP

3. Raise minimum FICO scores.

4. Possibly LTV (loan to value) maximums to FICO scores

5. Increase accountability of FHA Lenders for fraud.

These changes come into effect a long about the time the present Tax Rebate deadline is reached. This is a double whammy on "waiting for the right time buyers." Interest rates are at historic lows but cyclical trends suggest they will soon rise. Home buyers may never see such a chance again."

Thanks Bill for sharing these upcoming changes and proposed changes.

Bottom line - stay in touch with a good lender, and have that preapproval ready. Interest rates are at historic lows, and won't get lower. Inventory is reducing, and pricing is just starting to creep back upwards.

Any questions?

Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more today.

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building | Newsletter

Browse New Home Communities, Lots, and Land available throughout the Triangle!

Alamance County New Homes | Apex New Homes | Carrboro New Homes | Cary New Homes | Chapel Hill New Homes | Clayton New Homes | Chatham County New Homes | Fuquay Varina New Homes | Holly Springs New Homes | Hillsborough New Homes | Raleigh New Homes | Wake Forest New Homes

Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan.

Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.

Green Home Tour 2010 - Stanton Homes in Horizon

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:34:34 -0600

Green Homes Raleigh NC

First Certified Green Home in Horizon Breaks Ground

Will be Featured in NC's 2010 Triangle Green Home Tour

Stanton Homes has broken ground on on its first totally certified Green home in Horizon, one of Chatham County's most exciting new communities, just 7 minutes from Chapel Hill!

This Stanton Homes custom design will be one of just 30 homes featured in the 2010 Triangle Green Home Tour.

The third party certified green homes in the Green Home Tour will be open to the public the weekends of May 15/16 and May 22/23.

Green elements in the Stanton Home home in Horizon's green home entry featured in 2010 Triangle Green Home Tour include:

Energy Wise guaranteed heating and cooling cost of $100/month (40% of standard heating and cooling costs)
Silver Level Green Certification and ENERGY STAR certification (now in progress for this home)
Spray foam insulation for superior energy savings and cleaner indoor air
Tankless hot water for endless supply of heated water at lower cost
Superior Walls insulated wall system in basement
ENERGY STAR Cool Roof designed to reduce peak cooling demand by 10-15% and maintain more constant temperature
Ductwork and plumbing entirely inside thermal envelope to eliminate exposure to unconditioned air
EPA WaterSense labeled high efficiency toilets and low flow faucets
Kitchen and bath cabinetry with ESP (Environmental Stewardship Program) certification
Passive radon system
Energy Star Appliances and built in recycling centers
Green label carpet certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute for improved indoor air quality

Stanton Homes works hard to protect the beautiful land and environment in gorgeous Chatham County. Our green building practices help protect the land during construction, and enable homeowners to reduce energy and water consumption on a daily basis. Less energy consumed means lower carbon emissions, and more effective management of natural resources.

The Horizon community offers beautiful level or rolling acre plus lots just one mile off 15/501, only five minutes from shopping. Only 26 lots remain in Phase One.

Horizon is only about 10 minutes from Jordan Lake, and 5 minutes from the Haw River.

Come see us on the 2010 Triangle Green Home Tour!

Get all the latest at the Green Home Tour 2010 page on Facebook.

See you there!

Find out more about these favorite green building topics and ideas:

Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?

What Is Geothermal? Geothermal News and Information

Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more today.

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building | Newsletter

Browse New Home Communities, Lots, and Land available throughout the Triangle!

Alamance County New Homes | Apex New Homes | Carrboro New Homes | Cary New Homes | Chapel Hill New Homes | Clayton New Homes | Chatham County New Homes | Fuquay Varina New Homes | Holly Springs New Homes | Hillsborough New Homes | Raleigh New Homes | Wake Forest New Homes

Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan.

Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.

What Kind of Green should I put in my new home?

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:37:21 -0600

Green means something different to everyone. At Stanton Homes, we're making it easier by offering a variety of green home certification and green feature packages.

A green home will help homeowners:

Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Save Money Every Month
Lower Maintenance
Increase Comfort
Have Healthier Indoor Air
Invest in the Future

What are some of the most popularly requested features?

Energy Wise Package

Energy Wise Foam Insulation Package

Foam insulation on all exterior walls with Bayer closed cell foam
Foam insulate roof and garage ceiling with Icynene open cell foam
Energy Wise guarantee - written guarantee of 50 to 70% savings for heating and cooling costs, year round
Engineering services for correct sizing of HVAC units
Air sealed caulking package

A recently completed 2800+ sq ft home in Chatham County was guaranteed to cost no more than $80 per month for heating and cooling. This is a written guarantee!

ENERGY STAR Certification

ENERGY STAR Certification is recommended for every home. An ENERGY STAR certified home uses about 15% less energy, per the program guidelines. And in the Raleigh area, an ENERGY STAR certified home also qualifies for a 5% monthly discount on energy costs!

Tankless (Instant) Hot Water Heaters

A tankless hot water heater can save up to 40% on energy costs for your hot water needs. Tankless hot water heaters also provide continuous hot water with no fluctuation in temperature - handy if the whole family needs a shower in the morning!

Solar Hot Water Heaters

Solar hot water heaters can save 50-80% on hot water energy costs. Solar water heaters are partnered with either a traditional electric or gas tank water heater, or a tankless water heater, for those days when the sun is not sufficient to provide for full hot water needs.

Sealed Crawl Space

A sealed crawl space can make your home more comfortable, reduce seasonal stresses on flooring, increase indoor air quality, and help reduce energy costs by making sure all ductwork is within conditioned space.

Green Home Certification

A certified green home can have any or all of the above features. Certified green homes are verified by third party inspectors, and meet requirements for each of seven standard categories.

Lot Design, Preparation, and Development
Resource Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
Indoor Environmental Quality
Operation, Maintanence, and Education

Common features in a certified green home can include:

Conservation of natural resources
Native or regionally appropriate landscaping with water usage in mind
Rainwater collection
Well planned, smaller homes with a minimal footprint
Renewable materials
Water efficient plumbing fixtures
ENERGY STAR certification
Energy efficient lighting
Dedicated recycle areas

and much more. We'll work with you to determine the very best green package for your lifestyle, budget, floorplan, and location.

Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more today.

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building | Newsletter

Browse New Home Communities, Lots, and Land available throughout the Triangle!

Alamance County New Homes | Apex New Homes | Carrboro New Homes | Cary New Homes | Chapel Hill New Homes | Clayton New Homes | Chatham County New Homes | Fuquay Varina New Homes | Holly Springs New Homes | Hillsborough New Homes | Raleigh New Homes | Wake Forest New Homes

Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan.

Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.

Lowe's Home Improvement Offers Military Discounts

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:49:05 -0600

Military Discounts NC

Lowe's Home Improvement Expands Military Discount Program

Lowe's has long offered a 10 percent military discount on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day weekends. They've just announced an expansion of that discount - the military discount will now be available on a daily basis.

The 10% Military Discount is widely available - here's the details!

- Customers must have a valid, government-issued military ID card.

- Available to all active duty, reserve, retired, or disabled military personnel.

- Available on in-stock or special-order purchases of up to $5,000.

- Not valid at Lowes.com, on previous sales, or on purchases of services or gift cards.

Lowe's was originally founded after World War II by two war veterans, and have long held programs that recognize the military on some level.

Lowe's has many great product lines, including ENERGY STAR lighting, Water Sense plumbing fixtures, green flooring, and much more.

Ask how to integrate this discount with the "Stanton Homes for Heroes" military discount program for new homes - contact us.

If you or a family member are a disabled veteran with need for accessible housing, here's where to find out more about the Specially Adapted Housing program through the VA.

Accessible Homes for Veterans | Raleigh New Home Grants from VA

Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more today.

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building | Newsletter

Browse New Home Communities, Lots, and Land available throughout the Triangle!

Alamance County New Homes | Apex New Homes | Carrboro New Homes | Cary New Homes | Chapel Hill New Homes | Clayton New Homes | Chatham County New Homes | Fuquay Varina New Homes | Holly Springs New Homes | Hillsborough New Homes | Raleigh New Homes | Wake Forest New Homes

Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan.

Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.

ENERGY STAR Homes Save 2,881,008 Pounds of Coal - in One Year!

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:04:18 -0600

Energy Star Homes Continue to Make Ground

972 Energy Star Qualified Homes built in Raleigh in 2009

4103 ENERGY STAR qualified homes have been built in the Raleigh/Cary area to date.

972 ENERGY STAR qualified homes were built in the Raleigh/Cary area in 2009.

The ENERGY STAR program continues to grow.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes built in the Raleigh/Cary area in 2009 are the equivalent of:

Eliminating emissions from 476 vehicles
Saving 2,881,008 lbs of coal
Planting 787 acres of trees
Saving the environment 5,650,236 pounds of CO₂

That's just one year, in one area!

An ENERGY STAR qualified home can feature: