In the last ten years, the “Go Green” movement has taken off, leading all different industries to consider ways to improve their energy efficiency.  This has become such a focus within our society because of dwindling energy resources and the detrimental effects of our industrial world on the environment.  The home building market has seen a recent shift towards eco-friendly practices such as using natural building materials, alternate sources of energy, and energy efficient appliances.  These changes not only reduce your personal carbon footprint, but, in many cases, save money.

Many homes today are made from man-made products such as vinyl siding and artificial hardwood floors.  These materials usually create much more pollution during production than it takes to harvest natural materials.  Sometimes toxic materials that make up these products have harmful affects on the people and animals that come in contact with them. Read the rest of this entry »

The flexibility of most home builders gives you a range of choices as to the style of home you would like.  Something more generic such as a colonial or country house can be created by most builders.  But sometimes it can be helpful to get an idea of the design you’re interested in and then choose a builder that specializes in this style.  If you still have no idea which route you want to take, look through a few of these popular options.

Craftsman homes first emerged onto the scene in the early 1900s, but a recent resurgence in their popularity has brought them back with more distinct and creative styles.  Though they can be found in two stories, the original craftsman style is traditionally one story.  Porches with low hanging eves and exposed columns are signature features of this style. Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve just built or moved into the perfect house, now it’s time to fill it with furniture and add the personal touches you’ll come to associate with home. Decorating a new house isn’t easy. That’s why many families chose to hire interior designers to do all the dirty work. Instead of sorting through hundreds of fabrics or driving to furniture store after furniture store, let a professional select some tasteful options, then choose from a narrow selection that’s been handpicked to suit your style. We’ve compiled some local interior designers who are sure to turn your house into a home in no time.

Arrangements with Style

This professional interior design firm has been in business since December of 2003. Melodie Schooley, the owner and principal designer of the business, has been putting her West Virginia University degree in Interior Design to work for over ten years. Check out the beautiful homes Melodie and her coworkers have helped decorate in her online portfolio.

Accents by Amy

This unique interior design company really listens to what you want—then deliver it.  Guaranteed to showcase your original style, Accents by Amy uses a hands-on approach to help you achieve your personal vision. The owner, Amy Thumpston, has been doing what she loves (helping others discover a sense of pride by putting a personal stamp on the places and spaces they live in) since October, 2001. Check out Amy’s portfolio to see what she can do for your home.

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As boring as it may sound, the history of Pittsburgh is worth learning. Once educated in the past of the Iron City, you’re practically guaranteed to feel more connected to your new town. A short time line should give you the gist of the town you’ll soon call home.

1700: The Iroquois tribe dominated the upper Ohio Valley until European explorers arrived and brought smallpox, measles, influenza, and malaria to the tribes.

1747-1763: Ohio Company built a 80 mile wagon road to the Monogahela River until the French intervened. The Virginia governor sent George Washington to warn the French to withdraw.  On November 25, 1758, General John Forbes ordered the construction of Fort Pitt (named after British Secretary of State William Pitt the Elder) and named the settlement between the rivers “Pittsborough”. The French never attacked Fort Pitt and the war ended with the Treaty of Paris. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re trying to decide on a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, you’re in luck.  This city has numerous communities that cater to all different personalities and lifestyles.  In order to make the most out of your new home, make sure it’s in the right place.

Downtown: The place to be if you don’t want to miss the action.  This diverse and thriving area presents its inhabitants with endless opportunities.  If you are a fan of the arts you can see Broadway shows at Byham Theater.  For those seeking a little thrill and adventure, the downtown nightlife scene is always going strong with live music and plenty of bars and clubs, so take your pick!

North Pittsburgh: The historic northern part of the city offers an abundance of culture.  The Andy Warhol Museum and the Pittsburgh Public Theater make great nearby attractions.  This area is also kid-friendly with the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and PNC Park. Read the rest of this entry »

Before you get started on building your new home, take a few minutes to crunch the numbers to see exactly what you can afford.  It may seem like a hassle now, but you’ll enjoy that lovely new house so much more without the worry of a defaulted loan or missed housing payments.   There’s no denying the US housing market has seen better days, but with sound financial decisions you can avoid becoming another victim of the credit crunch.  And, even better, Pittsburgh was ranked by Forbes as this year’s number one housing market in the country. Read the rest of this entry »

Even the most extravagant homes can look drab with an un-kept yard.  You’ve finally built that dream home and now it’s time to think about the finishing touches.  Whether you’re planning on adding custom-made fountains and landscaping lights or just a quaintly-placed flower beds, it’ll take some thought to make sure you give your home the yard it deserves.

If you’re planning to go the do-it-yourself route with your yard it’s important to consider a type of plant that is suitable to your climate.  With the mild summers and cold winters of Pennsylvania, hardy annuals are very suitable for your Pittsburgh home.  These flowers will bloom in winter and are made to withstand the cold.  Pansies, sweet alyssum, and viola are some popular types of hardy annuals. If you’d rather go with perennial flowers that will come back year after year you must consider the qualities of your garden such as the amount of sunlight it receives and the soil type.  Once you determine these characteristics you can begin to choose which flowers you can successfully grow. When it comes to grass, considering the climate is, again, crucial.  Cool season grasses such as Red Fescue, Bentgrass, or Kentucky Bluegrass are best suitable for the Pennsylvania climate.  These types of grass grow the longest shoots during spring and fall. Read the rest of this entry »

No matter where you plan to build a home, it’s important to find a builder that is the right fit for you.  You want a company that specializes in the type of home design you are seeking and is willing to adjust and customize in order to create your dream home exactly the way you imagine it.  The Pittsburgh area has a number of exceptional home builders offering a wide variety of styles and designs.  Heartland Homes is a well-known custom homes company that offers four main design collections with a range of house designs in each one.  Each style can be customized to fit your family.  The flexibility of this company allows you to create a home that is completely unique from other houses with the same original design.

Costa Homebuilders is another company building custom homes in Pennsylvania.  Costa offers a large range of models to choose from categorized by number of floors and series type.  Each Costa home provides opportunity for customization by adding such additions as patios, spas, and additional closet space.  If you can’t find a model that you like, Costa will build a completely custom house designed by you. Read the rest of this entry »

In a period of economic recession and financial insecurity, building a new home could seem like a daunting and risky task.  In many ways it actually is, a lot of which depends on the market in which you plan to buy or build a new home.  The good news, no, make that great news is that Forbes ranked Pittsburgh this year’s number one best housing market in the country!  According to Forbes, Pittsburgh as a housing opportunity index of 85.1%.  This is a measurement of market success calculated by measuring what percent of median-income residents in a given area can afford a median-priced home.  Therefore, the higher the housing opportunity index, the better the housing market.

Another positive statistic Forbes listed about the Pittsburgh housing market is the percentage of houses in foreclosure.  While the percentage of foreclosures nationwide has reached alarming levels, Pittsburgh has managed to maintain a relatively secure housing market with only .83% of housing units in foreclosure, according to Forbes. Read the rest of this entry »