The Roots of Earth Construction: Why Adobe and Rammed Earth Architecture is Seeing a Resurgence
The Southwestern United States is unlike any other part of the country. It has unique characteristics that create the well-known southwestern flavor. Aside from its desert landscapes, breath-taking sunsets, succulent cactus, and plant life, the Southwest also offers a flourishing earth construction movement inspired by the traditions of the Pueblo Indians, Spanish settlers, and others. So what is earth construction and how does it implement various building and architectural traditions? Here, at Villa Custom Homes, we have written a lot about...
read moreThe Most Lucrative Home Improvement Ventures and Why 2021 is the Year for Home Remodeling
There’s been a lot of talk about the changing real estate market since COVID-19 hit. You’ve likely heard of these trends and, as a homeowner, have been paying close attention. People in the industry went from fearing a steep decline in home sales to being overwhelmed with demand and a shortage of inventory. Homebuilders saw increased interest in demand for new homes as interest rates dropped and things seemed quite uncertain. A year into the pandemic—although thankfully now at its tail end—the housing market continues to portray some...
read moreAs Lumber Prices Rise, Consider a Rammed Earth Home
The skyrocketing cost of lumber has many custom home builders struggling to keep prices down or even holding back construction. Inventory is low across the country. Homes are snatched up as soon as they hit the market, leaving many prospective and hungry home buyers unsure of how to proceed. So what options do you have if you’re looking for a home in this unprecedented climate? You can look for alternative materials — like rammed earth— that provide you with more bang for your buck! Let’s take a closer look. The Rising Cost of...
read moreThe Changing Tide of Custom Home Builders: A Look at Trends for 2021
https://www.villacustomhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Villa-Custom-Homes-4.mp4 History has a way of changing the course of things. As economies and consumer habits change, so do industries, markets, and culture. Every generation has a moment of no return. These historic moments often happen quickly—prompted by unforeseen circumstances—while others occur gradually, as a result of cultural or political change. Since the early 20th century, major events have shaped the way we operate and do business. The year 2020 was a pivotal moment...
read moreTips on Laying out a Floor Plan and Questions to Ask Your Home Builder
Think of your home builder as your confidant. For a period of six to nine months, your custom home builder will be intimately involved in planning your future. No, we don’t need to know when you plan to get married or have your first kid, but we do get to be involved with the planning of your home that will be so intricately involved in all of the above things. Inevitably, we learn a lot about each other during our time working together! It’s a truly unique relationship. At Villa Custom Homes, we embrace the time we have with each one of our...
read moreA Time to Build: On Building Your Dream Home During a Pandemic
It might not sound like a good idea to go for one of the biggest investments of your life during a pandemic year, but 2020 has shown us that life is short and precious, so why not have the home you’ve always dreamed of and embark on a journey unlike any other? Here’s the thing, all this craziness will eventually pass and the stability in the economy and markets will return. It always does. This country has seen depression, war, political upheavals, major recessions, and it has always bounced back. In the meantime, low-interest rates...
read moreA Natural Dwelling Place: History of Pueblo Revival Architecture in the Southwest
If you talk to any architecture aficionado—particularly in the Southwest—you are likely to hear about the beloved Pueblo Revival style that is prominent in the area. Many of the homes across the region—in Las Cruces or Albuquerque, all the way out to Arizona, and even some of West Texas—are inspired by elements from this charming style. Architecture nerds (we mean that in the nicest way possible ) might also point out that Pueblo-style architecture is one of the few major styles actually born in America. We all know it when we see it. We...
read moreFor Love of Building: The Custom Home Building Process
Famous architects and builders might have some name recognition but it’s not nearly at the level of famous artists or musicians. Somehow, these visionary minds are not always household names. There’s a few, perhaps, that have reached that level. And yet, the work of many of these architects affects our lives in a much more real way than, say, Picasso. That’s because, over time, the ideas and visions of architects have been adopted into common design or modified and molded to inhabit the very living spaces that provide us shelter every day....
read moreA Guide to Choosing the Right Custom Home Builder For You
If you’re reading this in April of 2020, your life is probably somewhat different than it was two months ago. The world is going through changes thanks to an unprecedented virus that has gripped the world. And yet, the world keeps turning and here at Villa Custom Homes, we’re doing our best to stay on course and continue building beautiful homes for our clients. So we thought we might put together a short guide on some things to keep in mind when looking for your custom home builder. Consider the Role of the Custom Home Builder First of...
read moreThe Modern Earthy Elements For Your 21st Century Custom Home
Homebuilding and decor will always carry elements of past and present. Designers and architects look at the trends of the past and use them to create new patterns and trends while evoking fashions of times past. Villa Custom Homes specializes in custom design and building unique visions. Yet, there are often beloved features that homeowners seek during a specific period of time. The 21st century home trends seem to be defined by a tribute to past, open spaces, natural elements, earthy and minimalist styles. We thought we’d take a look at some...
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