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House # 2 is the Elk Ridge Custom Homes – Model 1709

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Here we are with house number 2…

Celebrity description…

(Model 1709) The Lizzie Taylor House – Elizabeth Taylor, like this home, was elegant but not overstated. This is a home where young love tosses pebbles at the upstairs windows, and where children eagerly watch snow fall outside the big bay window.

 

Actual description…

(Model 1709) Truly a home with possibilities, simply from its single-story layout. The open concept design allows easy flow from one room to another without missing a moment.

They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home for a reason, and this home was built around that single premise. This is truly a family home; and like all of our homes, this home can be upgraded to meet all CAPS/ADA certifications.

 

Do you have a better name? Let us know…

floorplan1709-web1

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Elk Ridge Revives Dead Homes for Modern Day Love

The ranch style house was the perfect family home for two decades. As the 1950’s began, the ranch style housing boom was going at full speed and it last until the end of the 1970’s.

During this time, 4 out of every 5 houses built was a ranch style home.

After WWII, the American people wanted a fresh start, and single-story open-concept homes became the answer.

Also…

It didn’t hurt the market or trend that celebrities got onto the ranch style bandwagon.

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(Ronald Reagan pictured in his ranch style home)

However…

Times change and people went away from the single-story ranch, and back to the two-story homes of years prior.

 

Wait…

The people (home buyers) didn’t say that. They never asked for the change.

 

Then who did?

The home BUILDERS did. The construction companies that build homes found that they could go with a smaller footprint and roofline to save money as the price of land skyrocketed in the 1980’s.

 

The return of the two-story house.

The two-story home was the newest rage, and it was just plain exciting sitting among the older ranches.

 

Plus…

They were about 30% cheaper to build…thus cheaper to buy.

JOHN-WAYNE-marthafied

(John Wayne pictured in his ranch style home)

Today…

People still want the ranch style home, but nobody builds them anymore because there’s no profit to be made.

 

Until that is…

Elk Ridge Custom Homes stepped up and said, “We’ll do it”.

 

And they have been.

 

Is there a profit to be made in building a ranch style home?

If there is, we’re not getting rich off of it, but there is more to the story than just money. Elk Ridge is doing it because the people want it, and because it is needed.

The money will come, because the market will demand it (so don’t worry about us).

 

The truth is…

Stairs are hard on the elderly, the disabled, and the really young.

And you know that we’re not wrong.

 

Two-story homes are great, and we love them as well, but there is something exciting about a single-story open-concept ranch style home that brings togetherness to the family living there.

 

And to make things clear…

Elk Ridge isn’t redoing retro 1950’s homes.

 

We’re a custom home builder.

We are bringing the look, style, amenities, and conveniences of the 21st century to the ranch style concept.

 

If you were to somehow drop an Elk Ridge home of today back into the 1950’s, people would think that “The Jetsons” lived there (and that is saying a lot because “The Jetsons” didn’t even come out until the 1960’s…that’s how up-to-date and modern Elk Ridge is).

 

Question time…

Is the home that you’re building/buying now the home of your dreams?

Do you see yourself growing old in your home?

Do you prefer a two-story or single-story home? Why?

Do you do what is trendy now, or do you look towards the future?

Are you the example that others follow?

 

We’re not trying to be mean…we’re trying to get you to think about the entire process, and what your life will look like 5, 10, 20 years down the road.

 

Another question(s)…

What if we were to give you options in your price range? Would you buy a modern ranch style then?

 

Here’s a funny thought…

Baby Boomers started their lives and grew up in in ranch style homes. Isn’t it fitting for them to enjoy their later years in a ranch style home?

Things always seem to come full-circle…WELCOME HOME!!!!!

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Celebrity Home #1 – Elk Ridge Model 1635

Ok…we said that we were going to do it, and here it is.

Our 1st house that we are sharing is Elk Ridge Custom Homes – Model 1635.

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As we said…

We are going right down the list of our home designs from top to bottom. If you want to play along and see which house we’re doing next, simply jump over to our site at https://elkridgecustoms.com/ and hover over the “New Homes” tab.

 

Here we go…

 

Celebrity description…

(Model 1635) The Gene Autry House – Imagine old Gene Autry sitting on the porch, boots propped up on the railing, playing a guitar. This is a home for a family waiting to fill it with stories, life, and laughter.

 

Actual description…

(Model 1635) A home for a family waiting to fill it with stories, life, and laughter. It is the smallest of our homes, but the layout will keep you from feeling cramped because we designed it with you in mind; with everything that you would need, all on one floor.

Plus, being a single-story home, we have removed the safety and convenience issues that stairs sometime bring; and like all of our homes, this home can be upgraded to meet all CAPS/ADA certifications.

 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK…

Based on the home and layout, can you think of a “better” celebrity name?

floorplan1635-web

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Having Fun with Elk Ridge Model Homes

We are proud of the homes that we design and build; and frankly, we can’t choose our favorite.

 

Except for James that is…

…his favorite is his own home (which happens to be an Elk Ridge home).

 

So one day we’re looking over the home designs while updating our website, and one of the designs made us think that a certain celebrity of the 1950’s would have lived there.

Which got us looking over the other designs and pairing them up with famous folks, and we “unofficially” renamed our houses for the fun of it.

 

We still have the names and the reasons why, and we want to share them.

And we are going to release them over the next couple of weeks here and there simply for the fun of it, and of course to show off some of our designs.

 

Please comment and share what celebrities you feel go with these homes.

 

We are going to go right down the list, starting with Model 1635.

 

You can find the list of model homes under the “New Homes” tab on our website at… https://elkridgecustoms.com/

 

Thank you for playing along!!!!

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“I Want the Truth” About Custom Home Building From Elk Ridge Custom Homes

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“You can’t handle the truth!”

Or can you?

The complete truth…nothing up the sleeve…no holds barred…we’re not lawyers so you can trust us when our lips are moving…straight up with no BS…

That sort of truth?

Yes?

Well here it is…

Elk Ridge are custom home builders first and for most.

However…

We understand that not everyone can afford a custom built one-of-a-kind $2.4 Million home on the ocean.

So we came out with homes that we ourselves would live in. Homes that our friends and family love.

There are twelve gorgeous floorplans listed for you right now on our site.

Check them out… https://elkridgecustoms.com/

 

Unofficially…

We played around with calling it, “Custom Within Budget”.

Why?

Because there is a lot value for what you get; we give you more than you ask for, not more than you need.

Honestly…

We want to build houses that generations will call home.

So pick up the phone…

Call us today to see what customizations we can do for you.

Elk Ridge Custom Homes

Phone: 360.553.1444

https://elkridgecustoms.com/

 

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Certified Aging In-Place

Elk Ridge Custom Homes is proud to announce that we will be offering specialized ADA Compliant homes that meet CAP / ADA Standards to customers seeking these features.

CAP (Certified Aging In-Place) Homes:
http://www.nahb.org/en/learn/designations/certified-aging-in-place-specialist.aspx

All Features listed below are optional and built to customer specification

Brand name Moen grab bars

36″ bed/bath doors

42″ minimum hallways

zero step entries

Roll in shower

wheelchair height counters

smart house technology

specific lighting

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Save Money With This #1 Winter Home Improvement

Saving money is important to everyone. The number 1 winter home improvement may surprise you. Read all of the improvements to maximize your savings!

Caulk around windows and doors, and seal up cracks and holes. Not only are you keeping out cold air, you’re keeping out mice and other critters that may seek refuge. Consider sealing around the heating ducts in the basement and attic. If necessary, add or replace weather stripping.

Put down area rugs on tile and wood floors. That creates a layer of DIY insulation, plus makes it more comfortable to walk in bare feet.

caulk windows

Cover holes around electrical outlets. You can buy covers that can be easily installed behind the plate. Put your hands down to feel around the outlets. “If you can feel that area is a little cooler … you’re losing air through that outlet,” Recknagel says. “You really do lose a lot of energy through that air escape.”

Install glass doors to close off your fireplace. Those doors keep cold air from coming down into your house and your warm air from escaping up through the chimney. If you use your fireplace, make sure you close the flue when you’re finished.

Insulate your attic door. You can buy covers for attic staircases or openings. They’re typically easy to install and remove, and they’ll help you reduce energy costs year-round.

Cover your windows. If you don’t have storm windows, you can create your own DIY storm window with a window insulation kit. Inside your house, use insulated drapes.

Buy insulated garage and exterior doors. The garage doors that come with most homes aren’t insulated. An alternative to replacing exterior doors is to add a storm door.

Add insulation. The obvious place to add insulation is the attic, but also consider the crawl space, garage and basement. If you’re doing any construction that opens up exterior walls, that’s a good time to add insulation in the walls. “If your house was insulated more than 20 years ago, an added layer in the attic always helps,” Recknagel says.

Reverse ceiling fans. Running the fans counterclockwise makes it cooler during the summer months. Reverse them to run clockwise, and they will circulate the warm air back into the room.

Change your furnace filters. Dirty filters make the furnace work less efficiently. They should be changed monthly during the heating season.

Get a programmable thermostat. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent on your bill, Recknagel says. You can set the thermostat to lower the temperature after you go to bed and raise it when you get up, for example. You can also get the same results by manually lowering a conventional thermostat, but the key is remembering to do so.

Replace your outdated furnace or heat pump. Newer units produce more heat with less energy. If you buy a new furnace, make sure you get the right size for your space.

Put a blanket around your hot water heater. That seals in the heat and keeps the water hotter longer.

Replace or repair thresholds and door sweeps. Since this is where your door seals shut, it keeps cold air from entering underneath and bringing down the temperature in your home. In a pinch, use a towel to cover a draft.

 

Source: Yahoo Homes

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5 Winter Projects

5 Winter Projects

The days are shorter and weather is turning colder. Here are some ideas to cure you from the Winter Blues. No time?  Call us! We’re happy to help!

Paint

Paints are now made much safer than in the oil-based, lingering odor paints of the past. It’s okay to paint indoors during winter months since most paints are now water-based or synthetic.paint

Winter months are a good time to paint walls and trim. You can still leave your favorite television show on while painting or listen to music to sooth your ceiling to wall line, paint-cutting nerves.

You’ll feel much better after a project well done.

Flooringflooring

Replace outdated, or worn flooring with fresh tile, carpet, or hardwoods. Create a new backsplash above your kitchen sinks and counters.

A new look with tiles, or backings for backsplashes can be an inexpensive way to spice up your home. Everything gets a more critical look this time of year.lights

Lighting

Replace or update lighting fixtures. Whether it’s in the bathroom, kitchen, living room, dining room, bedrooms or basement, new lighting can completely change the way your home looks and feels this winter. Home Depot offers everything from the inexpensive solutions to a top-shelf look for every application, indoors, or out.

Bathroomsbathroom

Update faucets, shower and bath fixtures, and accompanying hardware to match. From chrome, brushed stainless, to hand-rubbed bronze, a new look in kitchen or baths can also add thousands to a home’s value.

Trim

Add new wood trim to doors and windows, or crown molding to the top of your walls. Winter time is great time to pull down outdated or beat up door and window trim, or add crown molding. Adding wood with texture can add a new dimension to the look in your home as well as value.

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