Some Ideas to Consider …

  • Classic Holiday Lighting Tips for your Home

    What do your holiday decorations say about you? Is your personal style classic and understated, or flashy and vibrant?

    When it comes to decorating your home for the holidays, there are many possibilities for expressing your unique flair. Everyone does their holiday decoration differently. What about edible decor, like gingerbread men, candy canes, and strings of popcorn and cranberries? These crafty creations save energy and provide the home-made touch.

    Are you a homeowner that expresses your decorative flair via holiday lighting? Maybe you are simply ‘in the dark’ about how to light up your home, and would benefit from a few handy tips to create classic holiday lighting for your home. The following tips offer energy saving solutions to lighten up:

    Energy Efficiency: Many of us want to create a beautiful light display that is as energy efficiently as possible. Consider making a switch to the newer and smaller bulbs. They actually use 70% less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs. If you insist on using larger bulbs, choose 5-watt bulbs. They use about 30% less energy than the 7 to 10- watt bulbs.

    The Convenience of Light Timers: Another energy and cost-saving measure is to hook your lights up to an automatic timer. Timers also prevent you from constantly having to switch your lights on and off.

    LED Holiday Bulbs: A third holiday lighting tip is to start using LED holiday bulbs. They come in a multitude of classic holiday colors. The real bonus is that they are shatter-resistant and are cool to the touch and won’t burn your hands. They also don’t present a fire hazard, a real bonus for keeping your family safe.

    Don’t Go Overboard: You don’t have to go overboard with your holiday light decorations this year. Make sure you’ve got enough lights to capture the look and feel of the holidays without drawing unnecessary attention to yourself and your home. Decorating to your tastes will not only bring you and your surroundings into the holiday spirit, but will also be more energy efficient as well.

    If you are interested in building a more green and energy efficient home, consider Country Club Homes in Fairfield County as your resource to help guide you through the process. You may contact Country Club Homes for more information by telephone at 203-762-0550; or online at www.countryclubhomesinc.com.

    Photo courtesy of Rick_28105 via Flickr

  • Home Style of the Month: Shingle

    Making its mark between 1880-1900, particularly in New England coastal towns, the Shingle style of architecture is unmistakably American, with influences from Queen Anne and Colonial homes. Shingle style was never a mass building trend. The homes remained high style, architect driven projects, usually for wealthy families building a summer “cottage” home. The style has…

  • Solid Style: Ideas for a Stone Fireplace

    A natural in traditional and rustic homes, a stone fireplace is a solid focal point in any style interior, contributing warmth and character to a space. Multiple options for the size and shape of the fireplace, the type of stone used, and the earthy variations of the material make each stone fireplace truly distinct.  …

  • Fall in Love with Your Home: Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day

    We’re no experts on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other but we do know something about how to show love to your home using these romantic ideas. February is a wonderful opportunity to create a spirit of joy in your environment by focusing on the senses romance inspires. Sight: If January didn’t…

  • A Bright Winter: Lighting Design for Your Home

    During the season of shorter days, the lighting design in your home more strongly influences mood. We all spend more time at home during the winter months and lighting can help us feel comfortable, warm and optimistic even on the coldest days. First, there’s natural light. Allowing as much natural light into your home as…