Archive for June, 2009
Just fifty years ago, Sugar Land, Texas was a tiny hamlet that had grown up as a company owned town. Developed as a residential community to support the Imperial Sugar Company, it was not until 1959 that Sugar Land became a city under law. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the city grew – but not in the haphazard way that many cities expanded during those years of growth.
Instead, the city’s government worked closely with developers to create master planned communities that offered amenities like golf courses, public parks and greenbelts, clubhouses and fitness centers. By the 1990s, Sugar Land had garnered a well-deserved reputation as one of the best places to live in Fort Bend County.
That’s when things really started happening for Sugar Land. In the last half of the 1990s, Sugar Land’s population grew by 158%, making it the fastest growing county in Texas. As before, much of the growth was in master planned communities, offering lakefront home sites, luxurious new custom homes and beautiful landscaping along with community amenities that created a quality of life that was hard to match in any other community.
Swimming pools and tennis clubs, golf courses, hiking trails and community gardens contributed to the outdoor recreational lifestyle made possible by the wonderful climate. By the year 2000, the rest of the country began to take notice of tiny Sugar Land, and year after year the affluent Houston suburb has been ranked among the best places to live in the US. Among the honors that have been heaped on Sugar Land are:
Outstanding Achievement in the City Livability Awards, 2007 Fittest City in Texas (22,000-99,000 population) Texas Round-up Governor’s Challenge 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Award of Merit American Society of Landscapers and Architects (for achievement in Planning and Analysis) 2007 Gold Certificate Award to the City of Sugar Land and Fort Bend Independent School District 2007 #1 in 100 Best Communities for Young People from America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth 2006 Business Week Top 25 Best and Most Affordable Suburbs in the US 2006 CNN Money and Money Magazine’s Third Best Place to Live in America 2006 Best of the Best in Standard of Living, Education, Health and Safety and Lifestyle by Best Places to Raise Your Family: The Top 100 Affordable Communities (Wylie 2006)
The list goes on and on, but the message is unmistakable. Sugar Land is the kind of city, to quote Business Week, “that most families dream about but can rarely find – within their budget”.
Sugar Land offers a lifestyle and way of living that is almost impossible to find in a community of its size. The crime rate is among the lowest in the nation; the job growth rate among the highest. The cost of living is low and the quality of life is high. The community continues to grow as industries take heed of awards from publications like Business Week naming it as one of the top cities in America for business relocation.
While many of the oldest homes of Sugar Land are still standing and occupied, handed down from generation to generation, new construction is keeping pace with the population growth. Most Sugar Land new homes are located in the master planned communities, including some of the oldest and most established subdivisions. Sugar Land new homes range in price from $230k to over $1 million, and your housing dollar stretches much further here than it does in many other parts of the country.
New home construction in Sugar Land is an even mix of upscale townhomes and single family homes on beautifully landscaped home building sites. Buyers can choose from “production homes” created from established home plans by the best new home builders in Fort Bend County, or work with builders to create a custom build luxury home that is specifically designed with their own family in mind.
Sugar Land offers luxury living in a close-knit community, where diversity is valued and young people are vital, where the amenities that most would love but can’t afford are a part of everyday life and where family and community are an important part of life.
Those who choose to build new homes in Sugar Land enjoy all the benefits of living in a small town community that values culture, arts, recreation and education along with all the advantages of being within twenty miles of a major metropolitan city. World class dining, entertainment and shopping are just a stone’s throw from the serenity and beauty of a city that was planned for nature and man to live in harmony.
The kitchen. It’s where you keep your food and prepare ‘em. It’s where you do sundry activities like washing the dishes, making coffee, peeling fruit, and even tenderizing meat. But you’re getting a bit ahead of your self. In essence, the kitchen is just a room – empty, devoid of function. That is, unless you stock it up with mundane appliances and knick knacks that define it. Mundane, you say. But really, these are the stuff that make a kitchen, well, a kitchen. So before you even declare a room as such, you have to get all the stuff possible for it to be worth the moniker. This is where Home Depot coupons come in.
The Basics
Picture your kitchen stripped bear. What’s left? Why, those that are fixed, built-in, and practically immovable. These include counters, cupboards, the sink, the plumbing and electrical system, and even the lights. These are there to stay, unless, of course, you go through the whole shebang of overhauling the place and moving things around. And unless these are faulty and really quite ugly, there’s really no point in doing so.
The good news is you can work around what’s already there. As they say, “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.” In fact, your kitchen’s current setup is a good jumping off point as you try to re-stock it. This will help you determine the best way to put those Home Depot coupons to use.
The Big Ones
When refurbishing your kitchen, it’s best to start big. This means that you should purchase the big appliances first to utilize the available space. This includes refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves and oves, and even an appliance for garbage disposal.
Before you even take out those Home Depot coupons and start shopping, however, consider the kitchen’s layout. Take measurements to get the dimensions right. There’s nothing more inconvenient than trying to squeeze in a huge freezer in a teeny tiny space, and vice versa. With that said, take those coupons and shop!
The Small Stuff
After you’ve taken care of the major appliances, it’s now time to quite literally sweat the small stuff. This means stocking up on sundry items like cooking materials, cutlery, china, storage containers, cleaning materials, etc. – the list goes on and on.
The best way to go about this is to decide on a theme. Look around you, and color coordinate. Or, if you’re a bit more adventurous, go for items that are unique, or even mix and match. That will give our kitchen a more fun, cozy, and personalized look. Of course, don’t forget to take those Home Depot coupons when you’re shopping to save yourself a buck or two.
Indeed, when it comes to redecorating your kitchen, you just rely on a hodge podge method. It takes a bit of planning, foresight, style, and Home Depot coupons to get the job done. And once you have yourself a brand-new, spanking kitchen that you can say is really yours, well, that’s just worth it.
Home Building 101: Choosing Home Plans
Choosing Home Plans
Looking For a New Home Plan?
Start Out by Identifying your Needs:
An architect identifies clients needs.
They help clients develop a program.
When you develop your own program, write down your needs.
Be open and truthful asking yourself what you expect from your new home. Considerations in this area include space requirements. Note: The amount of space and the type of space –taking into account anticipated changes in your family’s size. Will you need to accommodate aging parents or a growing family? Will you need a home office to fit your future job plans? Do you plan to live in your new home after retirement? Will a child return home after college? Do you have the space to accommodate an elderly, ill or disabled person?If you are less concerned with the perceptions of others your instincts may be the guide. You may need to search to strike a balance between personal needs and making a statement. Your program must also address your budget. Remember to leave dollars for landscaping and furnishings. An under-furnished new home with little landscaping can be a real disappointment. Adding 10 percent to the total cost is a good percentage to add to cover unforeseen changes, additions and upgrades that inevitably occur.
Home Sizing
The program that you develop may be somewhat of a wish list and reality may force modifications. This realization will probably occur when you determine an affordable square footage for your new home. The size of the home you build is the most important factor.
You can determine the average cost per square foot for new homes in your area by calling the local chapter of the National Association of Home Builders. Multiply the square footage of the home that you wish to build by the average cost per square foot to determine a general cost. If you find yourself staring at a grand total that is far beyond your budget, you’ll have to scale down the design or choose a new one. If it’s close to your budget, you can adjust the options, extras and finish materials to stay within budget. Developing a budget and calculating costs will take time and research, but it is an action that needs to happen.
Home Exterior Style
Decide the exterior style of your new home. Many people know what they want, but if you are unsure, this is simply what appeals to you. Home designs are very regional and this should be kept in mind. Choose appropriate house designs for your region. If you choose to be unique, this could affect your resale value.
Unsure of your home plan preferences?
Certain characteristics of each plan style may help.
Country Home Style This is the most popular style Nationwide. Country Style Characteristics include a large front porch or a wraparound porch, and a steeply pitched, gabled roof line that runs lengthwise. The farmhouse style is often lumped in with country-style designs. This house is typically a rectangular or L-shaped home, often two-story, and is derived from homes built in agricultural communities around the turn of the 20th century.
Traditional Home Style
This term describes classic designs with regional characteristics. Cape Cod Floor Plans for Free are at this cool web site – http://www.homeplansforfree.com/index_files/page0005.html
Cape Cod plans
Ranch Plans
http://www.homeplansforfree.com/index_files/page0009.html
Ranch Home Plans
, and saltbox designs are all regional (and historical) styles. Simplicity is a common characteristic of traditional designs. They display little ornamentation, simple roof lines and small-paned windows that are often spaced equally (ranch styles may be an exception).
Victorian Home Style
This traditional-style home has strong historical origins; roof lines are intricate and include towers, bays and eyebrow windows; ornamentation and decoration are in the Victorian, and ornate porches are a prevalent feature. Materials usually include shingles or narrow-lap wood siding. This style is more appropriate for two-story homes, although one-story designs with Victorian features are also becoming very popular.
Contemporary
This broad category embodies many styles and shapes of homes. The common factors are an absence of ornamentation and decoration, and in general, little reference to older styles. Contemporary homes display bold geometric shapes, lots of glass, and windows with out shutters or decorative trim. Roof lines often range from flat to very steep.
Choosing Home Plans
For Home Floor Plans for Free
http://www.HomePlansforFree.com