Some Ideas to Consider …

  • August New England Home Style of the Month: Italianate

    The Italianate architectural style began in England in the early 1800’s as a reaction to the formal architectural styles of the 1700’s. It was inspired by rural Italian farmhouses that featured classic masonry techniques, square towers, and informal details. This style spread to the United States by the 1830’s and was popular throughout our growing nation. It offered American architects more creative freedom than previous designs styles and was made most famous by the architectural work of Andrew Downing. He designed homes throughout the country and published several books specifically detailing the Italianate style.

    Victorian Spaces by South San Francisco General Contractors Dijeau Poage Construction via Houzz

    Elements of Italianate style homes include:

      • Wide cornices that project toward the front of the home featuring heavy brackets, decorative bands, and panel moldings.
      • Ornamented windows, doorways, and porches.
    Victorian Exterior by Houston Home Builders Whitestone Builders via Houzz
    • Brick or clapboard exteriors that feature detailed cast iron door and window hoods.
    • Low pitched roofs that often include a square cupola.
    • Curved and arched windows.
    • Large panes of glass included in the home’s front door.
    • Square post columns throughout the porch’s design.
    Mediterranean Exterior by Edina General Contractors John Kraemer & Sons via Houzz

    At Country Club Homes, we pride ourselves on keeping current with the hottest custom home design ideas. Contact us today to learn more about our work.

  • Being Prepared: Are Your Home and Family Ready for a Super Storm?

    Summer brings with it long days, vacations, ice cream cones… and storms.  Summer thunderstorms are common this time of year, and most of them are nothing to worry about.  However, summer is also hurricane season and, as we learned last year, the northeastern coast is not immune to the damaging effects of these super storms….

  • Remodeling Ideas That’ll Make Your Home Feel Bigger

    Gaining more living space in your home is not always about increasing the actual square-footage. Often times, remodeling a room so that it can serve double duty can effectively make your home seem a lot bigger and more functional. Here are some suggestions for remodeling your home to appear larger without actually adding on to…

  • The Benefits of a New Custom Home vs an Existing Home

    When searching for a new home, one of the earliest questions you need to answer is whether you want to buy an existing home or build a custom home.  Both have their benefits, but in many cases the benefits of custom building outweigh those of buying an existing home. When you search for existing homes,…

  • Has Marble in the Home Lost Its Luster?

    The use of marble in the home is a centuries old tradition. It’s beauty in the kitchen, bathroom and as floors or walls cannot be denied. But times do change. Once a sign of affluence, the allure of this natural stone has decreased dramatically as it has found its way into a high percentage of…