Having a smart connected home sure sounds like a nifty idea. Not everyone, however, has the money or desire to pay a professional installer to create it for them. Recognizing this, veteran lighting and electrical switch firm Lutron suggests you try its Smart Bridge gadget.

For $149, this unassuming little white box links the company's intelligent lights, motorized window shades, and Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats together into one brainy household network. And as part of the Lutron Caseta Wireless System, with everything installed you can command your heating, lights, and other fixtures via iOS and Android mobile apps.

So what can the Lutron Smart Bridge really accomplish? On the surface it appears like quite a lot. The box plugs into a free port on your home network router using an Ethernet cable. It then scans the network for compatible smart home devices. These include Lutron-branded Caseta light switches, Serena motorized window shades, and even third-party Wi-Fi thermostats built by Honeywell.

Lutron envisions the Smart Bridge will serve as the hub of its Caseta Wireless System, which links up a wide range of automated household functions. You can have the lights in any given room dim or brighten depending on the time of day, for example. Now imagine this action paired with shades lowering (as the lights ramp up) at night, or the opposite happening in the morning.

Control Lutron smart home products through the mobile app. Sarah Tew/CNET

Likewise, you can create custom themes revolving around homebound activities such as "movie," "relax," or "dinner party" and you begin to see some of the Lutron system's appeal. I certainly do, especially when my window shades raise and lower like I'm in some sort of supervillain's lair.

Not only do the companion apps allow for control of your home's ambiance via iPads, iPhones, Android smartphones and tablets from anywhere with an Internet connection, they also power useful abilities. They can automatically shut down lights, lower shades, and crank down the thermostat when the system detects the house is empty for extended periods. According to Lutron, the Smart Bridge manages this task by keeping tabs on the relative distance of registered smartphones (within a virtual GPS fence that you configure) and thanks to technology courtesy of Alarm.com.

Command motorized window shades with app or remote. Sarah Tew/CNET

Additionally you can simply adjust lights and shades manually with the small Pico Remote, which is also part of the Caseta Wireless System. Of course Lutron made sure to point out that its light switches operate like old-school ones as well, meaning you can turn them on and off with that most versatile of tools, the human hand.

I admit the Lutron Smart Bridge and Caseta Wireless System as a whole seems pretty compelling. The solution also appeared to function responsively and glitch-free when I tried it out personally, though I confess I did so in the controlled environs of the Lutron corporate offices in New York. How the gizmo operates in the wilds of a real home is another story altogether.

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Lutron Smart Bridge could well entice connected home hobbyists

The Lutron Smart Bridge offers a DIY connected home option. Sarah Tew/CNET

Having a smart connected home sure sounds like a nifty idea. Not everyone, however, has the money or desire to pay a professional installer to create it for them. Recognizing this fact, veteran lighting and electrical switch firm Lutron suggests you try its Smart Bridge gadget. For $149, this unassuming little white box links the company's intelligent lights, motorized window shades, and Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats together into one brainy household network. And as part of the Lutron Caseta Wireless System, with everything installed users can command their heating, lights, and other fixtures via iOS and Android mobile apps.

So what can the Lutron Smart Bridge really accomplish? On the surface it appears like quite a lot. Essentially the box-style machine plugs into a free port on your home network router using an Ethernet cable. It then scans the immediate area, basically within Wi-Fi reach, for compatible smart home devices. These include Lutron-branded Caseta light switches, Serena motorized window shades, and even third party Wi-Fi thermostats built by Honeywell.

Lutron envisions the Smart Bridge to serve as the hub of its Caseta Wireless System which enables a wide range of automated household functions. You can say have the lights in any given room dim or brighten depending on the time of day. Now imagine this action paired with shades lowering (as the lights ramp up) at night or the opposite happening in the morning.

Control Lutron smart home products through the mobile app. Sarah Tew/CNET

Likewise users can create custom themes revolving around homebound activities such as "movie", "relax", or "dinner party" and you begin to see some of the Lutron system's appeal. I certainly do, especially when my window shades raise and lower like in some sort of superhero/villain hideaway.

To fully command the Caseta smart home solution, users navigate companion iOS and Android mobile applications. Not only does this allow for control of their home ambiance via iPads, iPhones, along with Android smartphones and tablets from anywhere with an Internet connection. It also powers useful abilities such as automatically shutting down lights, lowing shades, and cranking down the thermostat when the system detects the house is empty for extended periods. According to Lutron, the Smart Bridge manages this task by keeping tabs on the relative distance of registered smartphones (within a virtual GPS fence you design) and thanks to technology courtesy of Alarm.com.

Command motorized window shades with app or remote. Sarah Tew/CNET

Additionally you can simply adjust lights and shades manually with the small Pico Remote which is also part of the Caseta Wireless System. Of course Lutron made sure to point out that its light switches operate like oldschool ones as well meaning you can turn them on and off with that most versatile of tools, the human hand.

I admit the Lutron Smart Bridge and Caseta Wireless System as a whole seems pretty compelling. The solution also appeared to function responsively and glitch-free when I tried it out personally, though I confess I did so in the controlled environs of the Lutron corporate offices in New York. How the gizmo operates in the wilds of a real home is another story altogether.

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Lutron Smart Bridge billed to entice connected home hobbyists (hands-on)

Clive Daniel Home was awarded a contract to design interiors for the Marjorca Grande, a new custom model home built by Stock Development at Quail West in Naples.

Clive Daniel Home Interior Designers Susan Petril and Michael Hayes have guided the interior design for the 4,207-square-foot luxury residence with four bedrooms, four-and-one-half-baths, a study and outdoor living space that includes a kitchen and fireplace, plus a large pool and spa. The designers selected clean lines against the layered molding details on the living room fireplace and throughout the house.

According to Petril, We worked with the team at Stock Development on all color selections, details and frame-outs from the exterior to the interior. For the interiors, we chose a William Sonoma Home inspired color palette with a soft contemporary feeling, almost transitional. White was the dominant color with light grays and soft touches of gray/blues combined with an accent of soft orange.

Added Hayes, Applying the white soft paint color to most walls and trim details invites the resident to relax and cozy up. The white kitchen cabinets and light tops also make this design fluid through to the family room. The cerused oak wide plank flooring is applied to most of the common areas with glass tiles and stone is placed in many applications throughout the home.

The lighter tones of all their colors and woods leads this models appeal because it is cool, inviting and sophisticated, appealing to Naples homebuyers.

Quail West is a luxury community with an exceptional collection of homes developed within five distinctive single-family neighborhoods and spread over 1,110 acres. This community features two golf courses, a grand clubhouse, spa, fitness center, beach club and more.

Commented Claudine Leger-Wetzel, vice president of sales & marketing for Stock Development, We selected Clive Daniel Home because of their amazing attention to detail, from the tile to ceiling. They have been a great partner on this project and we look forward to the opening of the model in January 2015.

Stock Signature Homes, the award-winning homebuilding division of Stock Development, is one of the premier builders in Southwest Florida and is a preferred builder in Quail West.

The 85,000 square-foot flagship Clive Daniel Home showroom is at 2777 U.S. 41 North in Naples.

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Clive Daniel Home selected for Quail West model by Stock Development

Submitted Harbourside Custom Homes has broken ground on the construction of its Casa Arianna furnished model residence in Seneca at Talis Park in North Naples.

Two furnished model residences by Harbourside Custom Homes are now under construction in Seneca, a new neighborhood that will showcase 43 luxury residences offering Talis Parks hallmark In the Park living experience. Both models will showcase interior designs by Vogue Interiors based in Bonita Springs.

Harboursides 3,935-square-foot Casa Arianna great room floor plan includes a wide gallery entry hallway, a formal dining room, a wet bar, a gourmet kitchen with a large island and a breakfast nook overlooking a view of the outdoors, a study, a craft room, four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, an outdoor living area with an optional summer kitchen, an optional fireplace, pool and spa, a two-car garage, and a one-car garage. The great room and master bedroom open to a lanai overlooking Senecas spectacular views.

The 3,658-square-foot under air Villa San Remo model by Harbourside will feature a 29-by-20-foot great room, a formal dining room, a wet bar, a double-island gourmet kitchen and breakfast nook, a study, three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, an outdoor living area with a large covered terrace, gas fireplace, outdoor kitchen, pool and spa, and a three-car garage. The homes covered entry opens to a foyer and wide gallery hallway that provides a see-though view of the great room, outdoor living area and pool, and Senecas views. The great room, study, and master bedroom all open to the outdoor living area to create a captivating indoor/outdoor living experience that takes full advantage of Senecas one-of-a-kind setting. Like the Casa Arianna, beautiful custom ceiling details will be found throughout the home.

Construction of the fully-furnished Villa San Remo and Casa Arianna models is expected to be completed by January 2015. Furnished pricing will be announced as construction progresses.

Seneca will offer all-new designs in a refreshing palette of Spanish Eclectic, Italian Renaissance, and Colonial Caribbean architectural styles. The Seneca residences will be built by four luxury homebuilders, including Harbourside, McGarvey Custom Homes, Fox Custom Builders, and Gulfshore Homes. The Villa San Remo and Casa Arianna are the first of five furnished models that will be presented in Seneca.

McGarvey will start construction of its Caribbean-style, 4,464-square-foot Sinatra model in Seneca in June. The Sinatras grand foyer and gallery hallway lead to a massive great room. French doors will open the great room and dining space to an outdoor living area with a summer kitchen, fireplace, island bar, sitting and dining areas, roll down screens, and a custom pool and spa. The double-island kitchen will include a counter-height outer island with bar seating. The plan includes a wet bar, a study, four bedrooms, four full and two half baths, a motor-court and porte-cochere, an oversized one-car owners garage, and a two-car garage.

The master suite features a private garden off the bath, his-and-her walk-in closets, and a large sitting area in the bedroom with double French doors that will open to the pool and spa. One of the guest bedrooms will serve as a VIP suite that opens to the outdoor living area and a landscaped courtyard. The Sinatra will feature an interior by Clive Daniel Home and is priced at $2,395,000 fully-furnished. Construction is expected to be completed by January, 2015.

Wrapped by the Sea Dwarf Paspalum vistas of Talis Parks Greg Norman-Pete Dye designed golf course, Senecas north and south facing lakefront homesites feature water and double or triple fairway views. Priced from the high $400s to $700,000, each of these sites is 190 to 200 feet deep, 77 to 100 feet wide, and will accommodate residences ranging from 3,200 to 5,000 square feet. Custom home and lot packages in Seneca are priced starting at $1.6 million.

Talis Parks neighborhoods offer the choice of living in a parklike setting or within walking distance of the communitys Grand Piazza. This In the Park or In the Village approach reflects Developer Kitson & Partners commitment to creating a New Fashioned community where every aspect of the living experience is relevant to the residents daily lives.

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Two Harbourside models underway in Seneca at Talis Park

Now is a great time to build your dream home.

These days, home prices are affordable in many parts of the nation. Labor and construction costs have stabilized, and interest rates are near historic lows.

When you are considering the next step toward building a home that's all your own -- from design to finish -- here are some things to keep in mind.

CUSTOM OR NOT

Your first step is determining which kind of builder you want: custom or production.

Both builders have advantages and disadvantages.

Production builders are the most popular. Many people believe that production builders are affordable and fast. These builders have several floor plans they use and some level of interior and exterior customization.

When using them, you may be limited in the location of your home, how much the floor plan can be customized and the kind of quality you can expect.

With a custom builder, you limit is only your imagination and budget. While a custom home can cost more than a production or "tract" home, buyers prefer it because they can build on their own land and decide every single aspect of the construction process.

FINANCING

The rest is here:
How to build a home

Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) May 29, 2014

The New Home Star Florida Division is proud to announce the appointment of Jamie Caffelle as Community Sales Manager for Arthur Rutenberg Homes built by Castle Rock Custom Homes, Inc.. Stationed in the sales center at Casa del Lago in Windermere, Caffelle will manage sales for their community on beautiful Lake Burden in addition to lot sales throughout the Orange, Osceola, and Lake Counties.

Jamie joins the New Home Star team after 12 years in high-end new home sales and management with a track record for delivering top tier results. His seasoned perspective, paired with his experience in the mobile technology space, makes him an invaluable addition to the team.

"I look forward to growing with New Home Star over the years to come," said Caffelle. "Their technological capabilities, proven approach, and extensive resources set the bar for excellence in new home sales, and I'm excited to contribute to the work they're doing."

New Home Star is a national sales and marketing firm specializing in the new home space, providing builders with training and outsourcing solutions for their sales teams. With demand increasing for the company's industry-leading sales enablement platform, New Home Connect, Caffelle's hire is part of their ongoing expansion in Florida.

"We are thrilled to have Jamie coming aboard, and excited about the immense value his leadership will provide to Arthur Rutenberg Homes," stated New Home Star Regional Director Bill Traback. "We have grown rapidly over the past quarter, and it's been recruiting talent like Jamie that allows us to drive the high performance our clients seek."

For more information about Arthur Rutenberg Homes, click here. For more information about New Home Star, click here.

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Jamie Caffelle Announced as Latest New Home Star Management Addition

Custom Home Builders Bunbury WA 6232
Custom Home Builders Bunbury WA. Dagostino Developments is your true local Bunbury custom home builder. Born and bred in Bunbury, Tony Dagostino has been in ...

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Custom Home Builders Bunbury WA 6232 - Video

Submitted Harbourside Custom Homes has broken ground on its Villa San Remo furnished model, shown in this artist's rendering, in Seneca at Talis Park in North Naples.

Harbourside Custom Homes has broken ground for its Villa San Remo furnished mode in Seneca, a new neighborhood in Talis Park that will showcase 43 luxury residences offering the North Naples communitys hallmark In the Park living experience.

Wrapped by the Sea Dwarf paspalum vistas of Talis Parks Greg Norman-Pete Dye designed golf course, Senecas north and south facing lakefront homesites feature water and double or triple fairway views. Priced from the high $400s to $700,000, each site is 190 to 200 feet deep, 77 to 100 feet wide, and will accommodate residences ranging from 3,200 to 5,000 square feet. Custom home and lot packages in Seneca are priced starting at $1.6 million.

The 3,658-square-foot under air Villa San Remo model will showcase an architectural design by Nilles Design Group and an interior by Bonita Springs-based Vogue Interiors.

The floor plan features a 29-by-20-foot great room, a formal dining room, a wet bar, a double-island gourmet kitchen and breakfast nook, a study, three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, an outdoor living area with a large covered terrace, gas fireplace, outdoor kitchen, pool and spa, and a three-car garage.

The homes covered entry opens to a foyer and wide gallery hallway that provide a see-though view of the great room, outdoor living area and pool, and Senecas spectacular views. The great room, study, and master bedroom all open to the outdoor living area to create a captivating indoor/outdoor living experience that takes full advantage of Senecas one-of-a-kind setting. Beautiful custom ceiling details will be found throughout the home.

Construction of the Villa San Remo is expected to be completed by January. Fully-furnished pricing will be announced as construction progresses.

One cornerstone of developer Kitson & Partners vision for Talis Park is the notion that design matters. As is the case in each of Talis Parks neighborhoods, Seneca will offer all-new designs in a palette of Spanish Eclectic, Italian Renaissance, and Colonial Caribbean architectural styles. Seneca residences will be built by four luxury homebuilders, including Harbourside, McGarvey Custom Homes, Fox Custom Builders and Gulfshore Homes.

The Villa San Remo is the first of five furnished models that will be presented in Seneca. Construction of four additional models by each of the participating builders is expected to start within the next 45 days.

Talis Parks neighborhoods offer the choice of living in a parklike setting or within walking distance of the communitys Grand Piazza.

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Harbourside breaks ground for model in Seneca at Talis Park

West Australian builders have scooped the pool at a national building awards ceremony, taking out a swag of prizes including the prestigious Australian Home of the Year for an exclusive home that has a cool $12 million price tag.

Giorgi Exclusive Homes took out the top award, winning the 2014 HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year for a luxury property in Dalkeith.

The builder also won the gong for the best Australian Custom Built Home.

The inner-west resort style home on 1100 sq m has a strong indoor-outdoor connection, a curved roofed and oversized carrara marble staircase with each tread meticulously under-lit with LED lighting.

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There are three kitchens, a parents retreat and garages at the front and rear of the property. A CBUS system controls the pool heating, underfloor heating, solar panels and rainwater tanks.

It was the contemporary designs suitability to the Mediterranean climate of Perth that impressed the judges most.

By taking advantage of its aspect, natural light and ventilation is abundant throughout the home, they said.

Other awards won by WA companies in the national awards were:

Devrite Constructions Australian Townhouse/Villa. The judgeswere impressed by the quality and value for money of the forward-thinking trades and exceptional craftsmanship.

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Dalkeith home named the nation's best

During one of the coldest winters ever recorded in Michigan, a mid-Michigan house, built by Freelands Cobblestone Homes and insulated using Dows OutPerformance Home System, defied the odds by costing only $33 per month to heat. It was this home that won Cobblestone Homes the Cross Border Challenge and earned the company the title of 2014 Best American Custom Builder.

The Cross Border Challenge, an energy efficiency competition among U.S. and Canadian home builders, compares homes HERS Index scores, the industry standard by which a homes energy efficiency is now measured in the U.S. and Canada. Its also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a homes energy performance.

Cobblestone Homes of Mid-Michigan won the American Custom Builder category in the challenge, administered by the U.S. Residential Energy Services Network and its Canadian counterpart.

This is an amazing honor that goes a long way in showing the performance of our homes, even during an unbelievably harsh winter, said Cobblestone Homes co-owner Mark Wahl.

Cobblestones attention to detail, paired with Dows new OutPerformance Home System, combined for beautiful, energy-efficient custom homes that are unmatched in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Plus Cobblestone has the numbers to prove it, said Jim Morey, North American Residential Market Manager.

In the Cobblestone home evaluated during the 2014 Cross Border Challenge, cooling costs averaged less than $5 per month over the past year, and heating averaged $33 per month.

This award-winning homes results are due, in part, to the OutPerformance Home System. The integrated system of insulation and air sealing solutions work together to enhance homeowner comfort, durability and indoor air quality by blocking dirt, dust and allergens and reducing energy leakage, resulting in a home that costs less to heat and cool. The OutPerformance Home System includes the following products:

STYROFOAM Brand Extruded Polystyrene Insulation

FROTH-PAK Foam Insulation

GREAT STUFF PRO Insulating Foam Sealants

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Mid-Michigan home cost only $33 per month to heat during past winter