Have you ever driven by a wide country expanse with a farmhouse on it? Now, let it be said that people can do what they wish with their own property (as long as they're not in a historic overlay district!). But, given that, there are still style standards in the world, and some homes do not belong in an urban setting while others should not be found on rural acreage. Charleston-style homes are meant for narrow urban lots. Even the timeless Georgian was always an in-town dwelling for the wealthy when away from their manor home in the country. The Georgian should not be built in the country unless the manicured gardens are built as well.

This is not to say that every home in the country should look the same, nor that urban housing should be uniform up and down the street (though in some applications, like Brownstones, it should). It is simply to say that some home plans are country, some are city, and some shouldn't be found outside a track-home subdivision. This is the rationale behind historical overlay districts, as urban planners seek to preserve a unique architectural style within certain more homogenous neighborhoods.

That being said, it should also be noted that rarely does one find a pure architectural style. The analogy of facial symmetry applies here: studies have shown that perfect facial symmetry (something that very, very few people have) is both beautiful and somewhat off-putting. Applied to architecture, one might stand in awe of the Taj Mahal, but still realize that it is cold and intimidating (of course, it was designed and constructed as a mausoleum, so the analogy does kind of break down with regard to a home!)

Still, just as the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the human face give both character and warmth, so the blending of architectural styles make a house more inviting and even attractive. Thus, in the residential design process, there are far more hybrids than pure-breeds.

We at Designed for Downtown, LLC and AJH Custom Homes, LLC continually study architectural designs as well as the various applications and hybridizations of those styles. This enables us to make suggestions to our clients based on their often quite diverse idea photos. Give us a call today to begin planning your new home design; we can make it both suitable for the location and beautiful to behold.

Form follows function is a common phrase in design, and it is usually true. Even the layout and shape of a landscape is driven by the functions it needs to provide. In this case though, the clients needed a creative solution to maximize the useable space. Fortunately we were able to provide just that!

The area right off new porch had several roof lines and gutters feeding into it, as well as an area drain off the driveway. The site was steep, with the neighbor's yard positioned below. The potential for flooding and water issues was huge. We designed an oversize catch basin and level-spreader system that would allow the water to be retained and let out slowly and evenly. This would slow the torrent and let it percolate gently, rather than coming to one point and washing out the neighbors.

This whole assembly was then concealed below the patio and fire-pit area, keeping it out of sight for the homeowners as well. This combination let us fulfill a critical function without it having it dominate the space and useful areas of the backyard.

In these articles, we often highlight how residential design has evolved over the past few decades and which areas of the home have seen the most amazing changes in design and material options. It is hard to pick one facet of a home renovation design to say that it has seen the most dramatic change, but certainly the kitchen backsplash bids fair to take the title.

It’s hard to remember the last time we installed the old standard — 4” of the countertop material standing up against the wall. The backsplash has truly become the pièce de rèsistance of kitchen design — the artistic flair that changes the look of a finished kitchen in an instant. But this facet of kitchen design has evolved no less than cabinetry and countertops, and the available options in materials and design are almost limitless.

When we made the momentous shift from Formica to Ubatuba granite, we were thrilled with the extra 4” of granite along the back the counters. But then subway tile became the rage, and some even installed it on top of the granite backsplash (horrors!). Then the subway tile evolved into beveled edge, then long and thin, then cracked stone and vertical chevrons, and finally the Walker Zanger collection moved our kitchens into a whole new style dimension (and the same for our budget).

But tile is not the only material available for the backsplash. Carrying the countertop quartz up the wall to the wall cabinets or countertop hood provides a clean and smooth look that is both modern and timeless. We can even put your old wine corks to re-use as a cork backsplash at your wine bar! Give us a call today to start the style evolution conversation for your next kitchen remodel.

Why do we love Aquor Water Systems products? Because the low profile faucet provides freeze protection while offering sharp modern lines or low visual impact.

A faucet should be located at each of the active spaces around the exterior of your home. But this often means a utility fixture is highly visible as your family gathers on the porch, pool deck, or grill station. Depending on which model you chose, you can align these Aquor fixtures with a modern home’s aesthetic or you can virtually hide the “hose-bib” entirely. The V2 with its square shape and color options is cutting edge for hose-bib technology and looks. At the same time the V1 with its low profile round shape can blend in anywhere and lets a traditional space shine.

In the upstate of South Carolina overnight freezes are a common occurrence and in the past decade deeper freezes have occurred each winter. If you are like us, when the forecast calls for overnight freeze you are busy worrying about your outdoor plants and not considering your hose-bibs. The cold weather impact is even greater for homeowners in Western North Carolina! In the past, homes often shed heat energy from the walls and floors which would keep the pipes and hose-bibs warm. As AJH strives to build homes tighter and exceed code minimums, installing spray foam wall assemblies or external insulation it has become more important to install a fixture that places the valve and water piping deeper inside the home’s envelope to keep it on the “warm side” of the shell … Aquor Water Systems does this so you don’t have to worry about it again.

Check out the V1 here: https://www.aquorwatersystems.com/products/house-hydrant-v1-plus

And the V2 here:  https://www.aquorwatersystems.com/products/house-hydrant-v2-plus-matte-black-stainless-steel

Also for a yard hydrant you can mow over instead of trimming around check out the ground hydrant: https://www.aquorwatersystems.com/products/ground-hydrant