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. Many construction companies now offer the use of recycled materials such as natural fiber insulation.  Opting for natural wood for flooring and paneling is eco-friendly and creates a classic, natural look.  You can also find a range of furniture and decorative items that are made with natural and recycled material.  Many of the commonly used synthetic products found in household items are also known to burn faster in a fire than natural materials.

Another easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is by stocking your new home with Energy Star products.  The Environmental Protection Agency has established a system for rating the energy efficiency of household items such as appliances, electronics, and washers and dryers.  Products that meet stringent test guidelines are awarded the Energy Star label.  These items are usually competitively priced, and ones that are more expensive than average must make up the extra cost in energy savings within a reasonable time period.  Incorporating these products into your home saves money on electricity and utility bills and allows you to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

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.

Another common style in today’s home market is French country.  These homes usually feature some combination of stucco, brick, or stone on the exterior.  Typically two-story, these homes often have numerous high eves for a castle-like look.  French homes are designed with a very upscale, elegant appearance.

Georgian architecture has also gained a prominent place in our neighborhoods.  This is a style that has been used throughout the world for centuries.  Many Georgian homes found today are older and have been remodeled or restored, but it has had a recent resurgence in some areas of the country, making it an extremely popular option.  Georgian homes are often larger than many similar colonial designs.  The Georgian style creates a very classic, symmetric look, and is typically made of brick.  White columns and porches are also a distinct feature of these homes.  One of the most favored aspects of the Georgian home is its welcoming, un-intimidating look.

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.

Decorating Den Interiors

If you’re looking for a nationally recognized, top of the line decorator, look no further. Decorating Den Interiors has been decorating homes and businesses in the US and Canada for 40 years.  Their number one specialty: You. They aim to please by taking your lifestyle, your budget, and your tastes into consideration. Their goal: to “make the world more beautiful, one room at a time!” To see what Decorating Den can do, check out their before and after gallery at http://www.decoratingden.com/gallery/living-rooms.html.

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.

1763-1799: Fort Pitt was one of the most important targets in Pontiac’s Rebellion (an attempt to drive out the British). The ‘Siege of Fort Pitt’ lasted two months until a British victory. After the revolution, the village of Pittsburgh continued to grow. It specialized in boat building (mostly flatboats and keelboats).  The Pittsburgh Academy was chartered in February of 1787 and later became the University of Pittsburgh.  Corn harvests were distilled into whiskey which was a common form of currency on the frontier until the Whiskey Rebellion.

1800-1859: In this period, Pittsburgh became known as the ‘Iron city’.  By 1800, the town had 1,565 people, many of whom were blacksmiths. In 1811, the first steamboat was built in Pittsburgh which would greatly increase commerce.  Pittsburgh grew to hold tremendous transportation systems and manufacturing capacity. By the 1840’s Pittsburgh was one of the largest cities west of the Mountains. In 1845, a fire burned out of control and destroyed over a thousand buildings, causing $9 million worth of damage.  When the city rebuilt, the age of rails arrived.

1859-1946: The iron and steel industry grew rapidly and Pittsburgh became known as the ‘Steel City’.  The American Civil War boosted the city’s economy as they produced necessary war equipment. Industrialists Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew W. Mellon built their fortunes in Pittsburgh.

20^th Century: Pittsburgh is an industrial and commercial powerhouse. The Progressive Era recognized the cities problems with pollution. In November 1927, 28 people were killed in an explosion of a gas tank. Fifth avenue was dubbed ‘Millionaire’s Row’ because the rich escaped the polluted city to live in the East End neighborhoods. In 1936, there was a flood that killed 69 people and destroyed three billion dollars worth of infrastructure, putting 60,000 steelworkers out of work.

Postwar: David Lawrence transformed the city into a modern governmental unit ran honestly. He enforced smoke abatement which put a damper on the coal industry. Pittsburgh was often known as the ‘Smoke City’ due to its thick smog. During the Renaissance (1946-1973), much effort was made to clean up the city. From 1973 to the present, the steel industry collapsed due largely to foreign pressure and outdated manufacturing bases. Many corporations were bought by larger firms and today, there are no steel mills within the city of Pittsburgh.

Today, Pittsburgh has a diversified economy, low cost of living, and a great environment for education and culture. As previously mentioned, it has been ranked one of the World’s most livable cities. Pittsburgh has a rich history and a bright future that you’re lucky to be a part of.

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.

South Side: This is another neighborhood suited for someone looking for a good time.  A seemingly endless list of bars and shopping locations will keep you entertained anytime you’re out.  A number of galleries and theaters also appeal to the culture hunters.

East Pittsburgh: Home to people from around the globe, Eastern Pittsburgh is definitely the most diverse of the neighborhoods in the city.  If you’re a fan of international food and culture this is the place for you.  University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University also call this community home.

The West Side: This is one of the more residential areas of the city with a number of growing communities.  West Pittsburgh is also home to Pittsburgh’s International Airport and many shopping centers and superstores, including the world renowned IKEA.

No matter what it is you’re looking for, there’s a place in Pittsburgh that’s perfect for calling home.

One of the many financial decisions you’ll have to make when buying a home is what type of mortgage you want.  You can use online tools to figure out whether you want a 15 or 30 year mortgage.  With a fifteen year mortgage you’ll pay higher bills, but by paying off your mortgage in half the time, you will spend much less money on interest.  You will also want to decide whether you want a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable mortgage.  With a fixed-rate you will most likely start out with a higher interest rate than with an adjustable rate, but it is predictable and will remain the same over the life of the loan, allowing for an easier budgeting process.  Conversely, an adjustable-rate starts out lower but increases over time at set intervals that vary based on the loan.  Adjustable-rate mortgages can often be more complicated than fixed-rate mortgages, so if this is the type you choose be sure to pay extra attention to the fine print.  Once you determine this, mortgage calculators can be found online and are useful in determining your price range for buying or building a house.

Finances are, without question, the least glamorous side of buying a new home.  Nevertheless, they are one of the most important.  To ensure that you can enjoy your new home stress-free for as long as you want, be sure to find the best payment plan for you and your family.

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.

For those of you looking for something more elaborate or simply don’t have the time to keep up a garden, there are a number of landscaping companies in the Pittsburgh area. Palat’s landscape offers free estimates and provides services from grass cutting, to mulching, to installing retaining walls.  If you have a more extensive project in mind such as building a pool, installing a waterfall, or building a new deck, SHL Excavating offers such services.  No matter what it is you envision for the exterior of your home there’s a way to do it.

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.

Another successful custom homes builder is Paragon Homes.  This family-owned business offers a wide range of house sizes and styles.  Paragon builds everything from a modest ranch to an elaborate estate, each with customized detail to suit the new owner.  You can choose to have your home built on your individual lot or in a community neighborhood.

Wayne Homes is another widely used home builder in the Pittsburgh area.  In addition to their large list of quality home designs, Wayne Homes offers an interactive and user-friendly website that makes home planning much more simple.  If you’re not quite sure what style of home you want, try using the search function that allows you to browse a list of homes based on features you want.  You can also chat online with a sales representative using their website.

No matter what it is you’re looking for, there is a Pittsburgh homebuilder that is right for you and can bring life to your dream home.

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.

Pittsburgh’s recent Forbes ranking doesn’t simply reflect that this city has managed to keep their head above water while everyone else drowns in the housing collapse.  This ranking doesn’t just denote this city as the least bad.  Pittsburgh is actually improving and stabilizing its housing market.  It was only a few years ago that Pittsburgh was finding itself on the “worst” lists for housing markets and now, according to some, it’s at the top.  Some suggest that it is the predominantly healthcare and education market in Pittsburgh that are providing stability.  While Pittsburgh was once a manufacturing hub that would have felt the effects of a recession very profoundly, a service driven market like it has today is not immune, but more resistant to economic downturn.

So if you’re thinking about building a home anytime soon, don’t let the headlines scare you, Pittsburgh’s the place to do it.