Chain O' Lakes State Park

This is an interesting "take" on Chain O' Lakes State Park, just a boat ride away from Newport Cove, our waterfront community on Bluff Lake:

Design For Our "Techy" Life

Hallway space, foyer space, walkway space – much of this space is often somewhat wasted. At Newport Cove, our waterfront community on the Chain O’ Lakes, we have learned to tuck what we call “tech centers” into these areas of our new homes. By adding a couple feet to the width of a hallway, there’s room for a desk, cabinets, mail slots, file drawers, etc.

Buyers seem to love the tech areas; they rank among the most popular features in our homes. And why not? How many of us waste an entire spare bedroom for an office space that is ill-designed and so out of the way we rarely enter it. Instead, our laundry or kitchen counters – or bedside tables – become mail centers and offices.

Another advantage of the tech center is that, although the computer is in a semi-private location, it is enough in the open so that parents can keep an eye on their little ones’ surfing habits.

We design these centers so that printers, fax machines, surge protectors, computer towers (and all the accompanying cords) are hidden inside the cabinets. It makes for a neater look.

Flexibility in space and designing space to get the most out of it: These are hallmarks of today’s new homes. The tech center is an excellent example of this sort of thinking.

And, if you are one who does not need a tech space, it can be converted into a cabinet storage area or even a wet bar. . .

Uncle Sam Can Help You Buy Your Waterfront Home

The clock is ticking down on the federal government’s home buyer tax credit: $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for eligible existing home owners. To take advantage of this “gift” from Uncle Sam, you must sign your sales contract by April 30 and close on your home by June 30.

Newport Cove, the award-winning waterfront community on the Chain O’ Lakes, has four homes available for immediate occupancy: three of its maintenance-free Cottage models (the Highmeadow, the Moonriver and, pictured at left, the Stillwater) and the 6,200-square-foot waterfront Boardwalk custom home. Prices for the upgraded Cottage homes start in the high $300,000s. The Boardwalk is $1.1 million. The homes - and our sales center - are open noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The government defines a first-time buyer as someone who has not owned a home for three years. Existing home owners can claim the $6,500 credit if they have been residing in their principal residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight.

To claim the full credit amounts, the buyer’s annual income must be under $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples.

All residents of Newport Cove have access to the property’s private marina and manicured 1,800 feet of Bluff Lake waterfront.

Interested in learning more about this buyer incentive program and Newport Cove?  Call 847.726.2727.

Insulation Can Save Energy Costs and Reduce Risks

With cold weather ending, home insulation may not be at the top of your to-do list. Still, it’s important to consider. Good insulation not only keeps your house warm in the winter, it helps keep it air conditioned in the summer, too.

If you’re living in a house built more than five years ago, chances are it is under-insulated, according to a Harvard University study. The right insulation, correctly installed, will lower your energy bill and reduce the risk of electrocution or fire. Ask these questions when researching insulation options:

1. Does the insulation meet current building standards? Check with the building code department of your municipality for code regulations.

2. Are you getting maximum energy efficiency? One way to find out is to check the R value. Find local R value recommendations for each area of a house. The lower the value, the faster the heat loss. So, look for a high R value.  When building a new home, you may want to ask your builder to up the R value; increasing insulation during the construction process costs just a few hundred dollars - and those are well-spent dollars.

3. Is the insulation non-combustible? Fiberglass insulation is naturally non-combustible. It’s made from sand. Other forms of insulation may require fire-retardant chemical treatments.

4. Is the installer reputable? Check references and ask questions.

Look for special offers and rebates available through the U.S. Government’s Energy Star program.  They can help further defer the cost of improving your home's insulation.

Majority Wants to Live on Water

We now have the results of Newport Cove's latest poll: Would You Like to Live By Water?  73 percent of the respondents gave an unequivocal yes; four percent said maybe; and four percent said they already do. 

Newport Cove is a waterfront community on 42 acres on the Chain O' Lakes.  Sixty-seven new homes with lakefront views or lake access will be built in this planned community, which has 1,800 feet of shoreline on Bluff Lake, one of the deepest lakes on the Chain.  A private marina with ample boatslips for all Newport Cove residents has been built at the property.

A Bead on Beadboard

Beadboard is a staple of cottage style, evoking a breezy charm, the easy-going lifestyle of yesteryear. Bright white beadboard can lighten a dark space and create a nostalgic aura.  In the Cottages at Newport Cove, our waterfront property on Bluff Lake, we use beadboard in a number of ways and applications.

At left, an extra-tall tongue-in-groove beadboard wainscoting brings coastal style to a small powder room.

At right, beadboard faces the front of a whirlpool soaking tub, creating not only a great look, but also a simple-to-remove access panel.

Below, beadboard is installed on the ceiling of a front porch, and then on the walls of a sunporch.

At Newport Cove, award-winning homebuilder New American Homes has installed beadboard behind book shelves, at the back of glass-doored cabinets, around kitchen islands. The product is an inexpensive and charming trim that fits with a waterfront lifestyle. (Painted with a semi-gloss paint, it is easy to clean and maintain.)

Newport Cove, a planned 42-acre community on the Chain O' Lakes, is zoned for 67 single-family homes. Its exacting architectural standards require coastal architecture, with signature white trim and cottage-style detailing.

Choosing an Efficient House Plan

At New American Homes, we know that good house design starts with good architectural drawings. That shouldn’t surprise you.

But, what you might not know is that efficient house design starts with a home’s shape. (Even if you hate math, bear with us on this!)

The most expensive parts of a house typically are the foundation, the exterior walls and the roof.

So, let’s suppose you have a 1,600-square-foot house that is a square ranch. It’s 40 feet x 40 feet; that’s 1,600 square feet. In this house you have four exterior walls, each 40 feet long. So, 40 + 40 + 40 + 40 = 160 feet. That’s 160 lineal feet of foundation walls, and 160 feet of exterior walls.

Next, let’s suppose your 1,600-square-foot ranch house is a rectangle. It’s 80 feet x 20 feet. In this house you have four exterior walls, two 20 feet long, two 80 feet long. 80 + 20 + 80 + 20 = 200 feet. That’s 200 lineal feet of foundation walls, 200 feet of exterior walls.

Then, let’s suppose your 1,600-square-foot house is a two-story building. Let’s say it has 900 square feet on the first floor and 700 on the second floor. The foundation is 30 feet x 30 feet. 30 + 30 + 30 + 30 = 120 feet. This house has just 120 lineal feet of foundation walls. And, its roof is about half the size of the roof on the two ranch examples.

To summarize: A two-story house should cost less to build than a ranch, and a square house cost less than a rectangular one.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is just one of the many reasons why builders shrug their shoulders when you ask them this question: How much does a house cost per square foot?