In This Issue:
Home Building Tips: Healthy Home Trends
Reflecting on nearly twenty years of design trends and styles that have surfaced, faded and resurfaced over my career, I think about the look of America's home today and realize that the newest trends in home design relate not only to the appearance, but also to the "feel" of the home. A far cry from the cold, futuristic styles of the 1970's, the home of today is inviting and comfortable. With innovative new products, a more environmentally-conscious society and a call for serenity and balance, the newest trend has emerged as what I like to call the "Healthy Home". Influenced by aspects of energy-efficiency, universal design, Feng-Shui and environmentally-sustainable practices and materials, the healthy home creates a balanced, responsible home that is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.
So, what does all of this mean to you, the homeowner? Depending on the level to which you embrace its concepts, this could imply anything from recycling the scrap lumber from a building project to serve as mulch for landscaping, to completely designing your home to incorporate renewable resources that are readily available. Some homes in the West are now being designed of straw bails covered in stucco which serve as exterior walls, an excellent example of an environmentally-sustainable building product. In the Lake Norman area, Feng-Shui has become increasingly popular; with more homeowners interested in the effects that creative placement can have in the overall look and feel of their home. Deciding what to put in the home and where to put it is also a consideration in Universal Design, a concept in which the home is developed to be accessible to everyone- regardless of age or abilities.
Another cost-effective and earth-friendly aspect of the healthy home is the new look of solar energy. Dramatic energy savings can be realized by simply heating your water supply through solar energy, or by incorporating a rainwater collection system for irrigation. With modern, streamlined products, retrieving that energy can be as simple and discreet as installing Photovoltaic shingles or wall panels. There are also radiant barriers, which use specific materials to keep the home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. With rising energy costs and depleting resources, this is yet another benefit to the healing home.
With a variety of products and techniques available, today's homeowner can customize details of the "Healthy Home" to create a more cost-effective, functional and comfortable home with longevity and appeal. By carefully selecting a Designer and Builder with experience and training in the many facets of the "Healthy Home", you can incorporate the facets that appeal to you most to create a home that fits your budget, your style and your life- regardless of the latest trend.
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| Dear Jessica,
As we come to the end of another year, we want to thank all of our clients and associates for the confidence you have placed in our firm. This month's "Home Building Tips" reflect on my 20 years in the industry, as well as the trends of today and tomorrow. Details on color and feng-shui and other industry news are among this month's newsletter "gifts".
- Jennifer B. Pippin, CPBD; Owner, Pippin Home Designs, Inc.
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Pippin's Projects: Wooded Hideaway... Revisited
 Long-time subscribers to our newsletter may remember this residence that was custom designed for a wooded property in Davidson, NC. While the homeowners are still as pleased with the home as when it was originally featured in our January 2003 Newsletter, they are now planning to relocate from the area and have since listed the home for sale.
See more photos of this custom home... »
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Holiday Hours
 In order to enjoy this special time of year with our families, Pippin Home Designs, Inc. will be closed on Friday, December 24th and Friday, December 31st.
Please also note that our regular office hours Monday- Thursday are 9:00am- 5:00pm and that on Friday we are open 9:00am- 12:00pm.
We wish you all a safe and happy holiday season!
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Pippin Nominated for Award
Adding to her list of accomplishments, Jennifer B. Pippin was recently nominated for the Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year 2004 presented by Queens University of Charlotte and Wachovia.
Five finalists will be selected from the nominees in mid- January, and the winner will be presented with the Award at the 2004 Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year Luncheon on Wednesday, March 16, 2005. Stay tuned for more information!
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The Healing Home: Feng-Shui and Color
 We live in a world of color and are constantly influenced by it, both in subtle and dramatic ways. Artists have their own personal ways of expressing through color, and as we use color in our own spaces, we should think of ourselves as creative artists.
The tone of a color can evoke feelings as well as the actual color itself. Take purple for instance; a deep, rich eggplant tone feels different than a light, breezy iris tone, so it's very important to take this into consideration as well when choosing color for your spaces. A dining room is where people gather to eat, and painting the room a bright red may cause indigestion in some people (it may not really be your cooking!). Blue or taupe may be an ideal color for a hyperactive youngster's room, because red is too stimulating. But red, being a high-energy color may be just the thing for a salesperson's home office because it helps to keep him/her motivated. Blue would be a great color for a research facility or meditation room. Hospital walls today are painted in pink tones, because it is soft and cozy. In feng shui, pink is the color of love, and you can make someone feel special by energetically sending them a "pink fuzzy cloud"!
Before adding a color to a room, take a moment to really understand how it makes you feel when you look at it, understanding that when it's surrounding you it will evoke those feelings in you to a greater degree. If it feels good, bring out the brush!
- Valerie DeLong, Feng Shui Concepts, (704) 502-8814, valdelong@earthlink.net.
Learn more about feng-shui from a professional... »
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