Blog Post

Design: Closed Floor Plans

  • 14 Jun, 2017

In our last blog post, we talked about open floor plans. Open floor plans are incredibly popular right now for new home construction and for remodels. But remember, trends come and go! And perhaps, in the next few years closed floor plans will make a comeback.

 

So why would you choose a closed floor plan?

 

Well everyone has a different style and needs. And although closed floor plans were features of houses built before 1990, they were built this way because people wanted privacy. A closed floor plan puts a wall between the living room, dining room and kitchen; allowing a little bit of privacy in whichever room you are in.

 

If you are really into decorating and specifically wall art, the addition of more walls gives you more places to decorate. Unlike an open floor plan, the walls dividing the living room, dining room and kitchen give you more options for colors. So if you want your living room one color and the kitchen another, the walls allow a division, so the colors don’t clash.

 

More walls also reduce noise. While it is a great benefit to be able to see your children in the living room while you are prepping a meal, it is not fun when you are trying to watch TV, and the blender is being used. A closed floor plan will reduce and limit the noise.

 

Allowing more walls also allows for more customized rooms. For example, if you choose to have to have two living areas or an office, the walls will allow for more individual spaces. What you might want for your living room might not be the same style that you would like for your office.

 

As we mentioned before, open floor plans are what is currently popular. Butt it all depends on our style and needs and a closed floor plan could provide you with a lot of benefits not found in open floor plans. If you are ready to build your new home in the Fredericksburg or in any of the other counties we serve give Republic Home Builders a call. We will find the right style and layout for your needs!

28 Sep, 2018
Those who are considering building a home or making renovations in 2018 should be aware of some popular trends. Things like bright colors and cement elements have taken on a greater importance this year. Republic Home Builders can help you design and build a modern home that takes many of these trends into account. Here are some of the top choices for 2018.
28 Aug, 2018

A custom built home affords the ability to decide exactly where you want your property to be located and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to call home than Lake Anna. One of the largest freshwater inland reservoirs in the State of Virginia, Lake Anna encompasses more than 20 square miles throughout Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania counties. Not far from popular cities such as Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville, the water-adjacent Lake Anna communities have much to offer for anyone considering building a home here.

 

Benefits of Waterfront/Lake Living

For starters, living in a waterfront property means you won’t have to worry about pollution or excessive noise from busy streets. In fact, since your home can be situated in a way that keeps you a comfortable distance from any neighbors while still giving you plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle. Many homeowners appreciate waterfront living by Lake Anna for the following reasons:

 

Amazing, exotic views

Access to water sports and activities

Many positive health benefits (e.g., less stress, more opportunities to relax, less humidity)

Lake Anna State Park

If you prefer to have your property built in Spotsylvania County, you won’t be far from Lake Anna State Park. Once home to the Goodwin Gold Mine, the park is now a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Become one of the locals here and you’ll be within easy walking distance of a picturesque park with amenities that include:

 

A well-stocked fishing pond that’s accessible to children and disabled individuals

Six camping cabins

15 miles of trails

Multiple hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities

Family-friendly picnic areas

Lake Anna Fishing Opportunities

Whether you’re a seasoned angular or you’ve always wanted to try your hand at fishing, having a home by Lake Anna will give you access to multiple species of fish. One of the reasons why anglers from all over the country routinely flock to the area because it’s one of the most well-stocked lakes on the entire east coast!

 

Lake Anna is home to more than 30 fish species. So, once you find your preferred fishing spot after getting settled in here, you’ll be able to cast your line in crystal clear waters full of large-mouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, striped bass, white and yellow perch, and even unique walleye and hybrid striped bass.

 

There are many local and regional fishing tournaments you may participate in. Of course, you’re also welcome to casually fish at your own pace. Plus, you’ll have one big advantage over all of those anglers coming from miles around to fish here – you’ll literally be within walking distance of many of the best fishing spots!

 

Endless Family Fun

Family fun is definitely something that abounds in the Lake Anna area. When you choose to call any of the many prime spots along the lake or in nearby communities home, you’ll be able to enjoy numerous family friendly activities. Lake Anna State Park hasn’t been the site of an active gold mine since the 1940s. However, gold panning and prospecting classes are held here every summer – definitely a fun way for you and your kids to learn about this region’s history. Not surprisingly, there are also plenty of beaches in the area. The family-friendly and frequently visited ones usually have lifeguards on duty during swimming season.

 

If you prefer to have your home built in a community adjacent to the lake, you should have to problem finding quaint local parks, including some with a beautiful view of the nearby lake. For those moments when you want to enjoy an outdoor experience with your loved ones, campgrounds can easily be found by the lake. And thanks to an abundance of local dog parks, even your family pet can spend some time relaxing and playing outdoors!

 

Water Sports

Another compelling reason to build here is because of the many ways to actively enjoy the water. Boats can be conveniently and affordably rented at centrally located marinas. Equipment can also be rented if you prefer to participate in popular lake activities like wake boarding, jet skiing, tubing, and other water-based activities. Finding water-related hobbies to fill your days when living here won’t be difficult either. Popular Lake Anna pastimes also include:

 

Sailing and boating

Canoeing and kayaking

Paddle boarding

Swimming and snorkeling

Nearby Attractions

Building a home in the Lake Anna area doesn’t mean you’ll be limited to water-based activities. There are several land-based local attractions that are easily accessible. Many homeowners in the area make regular visits to nearby attractions that include an assortment of vineyards and a distillery. There are golf courses, 60 and counting, designed with all skill levels in mind along with bustling shopping and restaurant districts for the family.

 

And if you want to get to know more about the area once you move into your new residence, you’ll have no trouble finding popular historic spots, like the Goodwin Mine and various Civil War battle sites, and local museums designed with families with children in mind. Build your new custom home by Lake Anna and you also won’t be far away from the following attractions:

 

Kings Dominion (amusement park)

Skydive Orange (skydiving center)

Sturgeon Creek Marina

Louisa Arts Center

Goochland Drive-In Theater

Day Trip Options

Another delightful thing about living in the Lake Anna area is the many day trip options you’ll have available for your consideration. Nearby Fredericksburg, for example, has many one-of-a-kind shops, art galleries, antique shops, and five-star restaurants.

 

If adventure is your thing, you and your family can always spend the day at Adventure Park at Wilderness Presidential Resort in nearby Spotsylvania. In addition to being home to more than 30 wineries, breweries, and cideries.

 

Charlottesville, which is about an hour away via I-64 W, offers historic tours that trace the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson at his home, Monticello. Don’t miss the ghost tours in the fall and walking the brick-paved downtown pedestrian mall is always a treat.

 

There are more presidential homes here in Virginia. Don’t miss Montpellier, the home of James Madison, our Founding Father, architect of the Constitution, and fourth President of the United States is one of the most revered thinkers in American history. The home is in beautiful Orange County in the town of Montpelier Station.

 

The town of Madison is nearby too and when there be sure to stop by as the area has beautiful mountains and foothills with a wide variety of outdoor activities.

 

Accessible from Lake Anna by way of I-95 S, Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is another popular day trip location. While visiting here, you can check out the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and other top-notch museums, browse through vintage shops and farmers’ markets, sample craft beer or cider, or take a Segway tour of the area.

 

Lake Anna Communities

Many of the homes built here are a combination of charming wooden cabins, modern condos, Cape Cod-style properties, and ranch-style homes. So, it won’t be difficult to have a home built that fits right in. There are plenty of prime spots right next to the lake. However, property price tags are a bit lower if you build in nearby communities situated only a short distance from the lake. Thanks to Interstates 64 and 95, getting around here won’t be a problem either. And if you are regular traveler or you have frequent out-of-town visitors, you won’t be far from the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.

 

Lake Anna Buying vs. Custom Building

After you’ve made the decision to call the Lake Anna area home, the next step is to decide between buying an existing home and creating a custom home from scratch. The biggest advantage of going the custom built route is the ability to get everything you want right from the start. You also won’t have to worry about making a series of improvements or renovations to turn a home you like into one you absolutely love. While a waterfront lot can be an investment, it’s one that can pay off in many ways. Also, you won’t have to settle for a home that’s “close enough” to what you have in mind. Some well-built and perfectly located waterfront homes can sell for as much as a million dollars or more!

 

Explore the many possibilities of creating a home where many lasting family memories are sure to be made.

02 Jul, 2018

Colonial-style architecture originated with the Dutch settlers in the Colonies like Pennsylvania and Delaware. Republic Home Builders has floor plans that take this romantic home style to reality. The Colonial style is characterized by double-hung windows, steeply pitched roofs, covered front porches, and a symmetrical yet stately design. Colonial homes remain popular throughout Spotsylvania and Orange County, Virginia with the perfect blend of charm and sophistication.

 

The Colonial style comes in many variations but the most popular style around Lake Anna is the Colonial Revival or Neo-Colonial home. If you’re dreaming of a home with unique architectural elements, a stately exterior, and an open floor plan, Republic Home Builders can help you design a custom Colonial-style home to bring your vision to life.

 

Key Features of a Colonial Style Home

Colonial homes in Louisa and other areas of the East Coast may vary in size and design but they have many common characteristics. You can recognize a Colonial style home based on the following features.

 

Symmetrical design. Colonial homes are rectangular with an entry door in the middle of the home, two windows on either side of the door, five windows on the second story, and a central chimney.

Medium to steep-pitched roof. This is important in areas with heavy rain and snow to allow proper drainage and reduce weight on the roof.

Symmetrical windows. Colonial homes always have symmetrical window placement. While the windows on original Colonial homes were small casement windows due to the cost of glass, modern Colonial style homes have larger double-hung windows that may have 6 to 12 panes.

Central entryway that may be decorated with a broken pediment, a pediment with pilasters, sidelights, or a simple portico and columns.

Stairway behind the entry leading to a hallway that goes through the middle of the second story.

Brick construction is common for Colonial Revival homes built between the 19th and 21st centuries as well as original New England Colonial homes in Virginia.

History of Colonial Homes

The Colonial style refers to homes of the 17th century colonists from Europe who settled the United States. These early homes were built in the style of their home but adapted to

 

the colder local environments. Many influences were brought to the United States but the Colonial style eventually became distinct and recognizable for its symmetry. Most elements of the Colonial style originated in England, where most Colonists came from. In the mid-17th century, when London burned several important architects helped reconstruct the city. These architects designed buildings based on Green and Roman ruins and that influence can be seen in the geometric proportion of Colonial homes in America.

 

The first Colonial homes were two-story with one room on each floor, a symmetrical design, a very steep roof to handle the heavy snow on the Eastern Seaboard, a central chimney, and very small windows. In the 17th century, windows were small by necessity because glass was still not common and it was expensive with taxes paid on glass. Eventually, Colonial homes became larger four-over-four two-story homes, the style most people consider a Colonial home.

 

Types of Colonial Homes

Colonial architecture comes in many forms depending on the region. This type of design was most popular in the South and New England, but there are other styles of Colonial architecture in what was once the Spanish Empire.

 

New England Colonial homes were mostly made with wood clapboard siding as wood was a plentiful material. Colonial homes in Virginia, however, which are now considered part of the New England style, were made from brick. This is because clay was more common than wood in parts of Spotsylvania and Orange County and elsewhere in the state. Southern Colonial homes have higher ceilings for better ventilation in the humid summer months. In some parts of the South, such as Louisiana, Colonial homes were influenced by French design with elevated brick foundations and wide porches. Spanish Colonial homes also feature very distinct design. Popular when Florida and the Southwest was part of the Spanish Empire, Spanish Colonial homes were made from stone and adobe to keep the interior cool in the hot weather.

 

The modern Colonial Revival style, which began in the late 19th century, is one of the most popular styles of architecture in the United States. This style is influenced by early Colonial homes and later styles of architecture and reached a peak in the 1950s. Colonial Revival homes may have gambrel, hipped, and gabled roofs with brick or brick facade construction and a central decorative entrance that may include a pediment over the door, portico with columns, a pediment supported by pilasters, or sidelights.

 

Custom Colonial homes today are built in the Colonial Revival style which has greater architecture details than original Colonial homes and large yet still symmetrical window placement. At Republic Home Builders, we design and build custom Colonials in the Louisa and Lake Anna area with a focus on quality workmanship and an unforgettable customer experience.

27 Jun, 2018

A great choice for your custom home in Spotsylvania County may be a Bungalow style homes that gained popularity in California but they are now found throughout the United States, including Virginia. This classic home style has plenty to offer, including a compact, private design, classic architecture, and incorporated outdoor living space. Not sure if a bungalow home is right for your lifestyle? Here’s what this distinctive style is all about.

 

Key Features of a Bungalow

Bungalows usually have key characteristics that separate them from other home styles like ranch style homes. You can recognize a bungalow based on the following:

 

1-1/2 stories is standard. Some bungalows are one-story but it’s more common to see a second story built into the sloping roof with dormer windows.

Low-pitched roof with broad eaves

Entry that opens into a living room

Open floor plan without wasted square footage on hallways

Built-ins

Stucco siding is common in California but brick and lapped siding are more common elsewhere.

Large covered front porch

Outdoor space such as a veranda, patio, and/or porch

History of Bungalow Homes

The bungalow style originated in the Bengal area of India. In fact, the word “bungala” is an Indian Hindustani word that means “belonging to Bengal.” Bungalows were built in India by the British in the 19th century as informal one-story rest homes for summer travelers that could be constructed easily. These homes were built with large front porches covered by overhanging eaves to help guests handle the region’s hot, intense climate.

 

By the turn of the century, the American version of the Indian bungalow was turning up in southern California. The California bungalow was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century which focused on quality craftsmanship and simple design over the ornate Victorian style homes that came before it. California architects Greene and Greene have been credited with the bungalow’s massive popularity. Their early Craftsman bungalows boasted grand floor plans, quality workmanship, and simple lines while remaining affordable for average homebuyers.

 

In the early 20th century, Los Angeles and Pasadena, California were fast-growing resorts. By 1930, LA had more single-family homes than any other city with a whopping 94% of families living in a single-family home. The inexpensive, artistic, and innovative bungalow was a big reason for the mass suburbanization of early Los Angeles and allowed the city to grow as fast as it did.

 

After years of popularity, the bungalow fell out of favor for a few decades, although this quintessentially American style is now experiencing a major resurgence.

 

Types of Bungalows

Bungalows were designed for warm climates with mild winters, although they are now found in many regions, including the Midwest and New England. One of the many benefits of the bungalow home style is its simplicity and easy construction. This has made it easy to adapt the bungalow to nearly any region or style. As bungalows gained in popularity, many regions added their own unique style to the basic design. Bungalows can be almost any style, from a log cabin to a Cape Cod home, as the home style was a trend to create homes for working-class families while bucking ornate Victorian design. Here are some common styles of bungalows you may recognize.

 

California Bungalow

The California bungalow or California Craftsman is what many think of when they envision a bungalow home. This style of bungalow has overhanging eaves, a low sloped roof, and study pillars or beams without interior hallways. Unlike most bungalows, the traditional California bungalow has a front-gabled roof. California bungalows, which became a common sight between 1910 and 1940, combine indoor and outdoor space with large covered verandahs, terraces, and courtyards.

 

Spanish Colonial Bungalow

Spanish Colonial homes are inspired by the architecture of the Americas following Spanish colonization. This style of architecture gained popularity in the early 20th century in the Southwest, particularly Southern California. Spanish Colonial bungalows are common in Los Angeles and San Diego and many date to the 1920s and 1930s. This style of bungalow has a front courtyard and circular or arched entries. A Spanish Colonial bungalow has a distinctive tile roof with smooth stucco, tiled steps, and wrought iron elements.

 

Chicago Bungalow

Chicago’s iconic bungalow has a flat front exterior with a small covered porch and sometimes a bay window. Unlike other types of bungalows, the Chicago style has roof gables that are parallel with the street, not perpendicular. Most are made from brick with a full basement and one-and-a-half stories. Like their California counterparts, Chicago bungalows have a veranda that may be open or mostly enclosed. Most Chicago bungalows were constructed between the 1910s and 1940s. About one-third of all single-family homes in Chicago are bungalows.

 

Foursquare Bungalow

A Foursquare or Box home has a distinctive cubic design. This style of architecture became popular in the 1890s to 1910s and it was also a rebellion against the complicated Victorian homes popular during the era. As bungalows gained in popularity, many Foursquare homes adopted their style and layout. A Foursquare bungalow has style elements of a Prarie and Arts and Crafts bungalow with 2-1/2 stories, a center dormer, and an open floor plan.

 

Tudor Bungalow

Tudor homes became popular in the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, although they experienced another revival during the late 20th century. Like other bungalows, the design counters the over-the-top style of the Victorian period with a focus on craftsmanship and simple elegance. Tudor bungalows or Medieval Revival homes are like something out of a fairy tale with steep multi-gabled roofs, elaborate doorways and window casements, and decorative half-timbering with exposed wood framework.

19 Jun, 2018

Is a French Country Home built by Republic Home Builders the Right Fit for You?

French Country architecture is inspired by the cottages of rural France with historic charm and a unique blend of informal and formal elements. This beautiful style of architecture and interior design has been popular for several hundred years. While some French Country homes are modest cottages, today’s French Country homes in Spotsylvania, Louisa and Orange County, VA are often built in the style of French Provincial villas and chateaus with a grand modern design paired with charming fairy tale details like cupolas and tall, arched windows.

 

This style of home looks like it belongs in a storybook, allowing it to pair seamlessly with a wooded or waterfront lot. Republic Home Builders can help you achieve a French Country home that is truly a dream come true. Here’s how to achieve the unique look of French Provincial architecture and design in your custom home.

 

Key Features of a French Country Home

The French Country style is popular because it combines Old World elegance with a comfortable, modern interior. This style of home seamlessly blends old and new, formal and informal. A French Country home may be a modest cottage or it can be a large chateau, which is most common with a custom French Country home in Louisa or Lake Anna. The beauty of the French Country style is it’s not cookie-cutter; no two French Country homes look alike.

 

While the French Country style encompasses everything from simple rural farmhouses to majestic chateaus, there are some common features you will notice, especially an asymmetrical exterior and beautiful ornamental accents.

 

* Asymmetrical design with a steeply pitched roof and multiple heights, possibly with curved roof pitches. Some French Country homes have a hip roof instead which has sides that gently slope downwards toward the walls. Multiple roof elements are a common characteristic of a French Country home and give the home a medieval appearance and unique outline from every angle. To evoke the fairy tale, old-world feel, a French Country home often has a cedar shake or slate roof. For a more modern feel and less upkeep, a metal tile roof can achieve the same look.

 

* May have cupolas or domes adorning the roof. Cupolas often top a projecting element of the roof and may be filled with windows.

 

* Two stories tall

 

* Roof comes down to the windows with eaves that flare at the junction of the outer walls and roof

 

* Brick, stone, and/or stucco exterior

 

* Curved arches and soft lines

 

* Large chimney that’s sloped at the base

 

* Tall, thin multi-paned windows, often with window boxes and arches.

 

* Dormer windows are common, especially pairs

 

* Rustic details such as wrought-iron flourishes, a simple portico entrance, and shutters.

 

* Wood beam ceilings, plaster walls, and stone or hardwood floors inside are common

 

History of the French Country Style

French Country architecture, or French Provincial, is a style that originates from French design that became common in palaces in the 1600s when Louis XIV began a movement to make France the definers of refined style and taste. He led a major renovation of the Palace of Versailles using on the best artisans and craftspeople to design a luxurious and upscale style. He also ensured that his French style became popular throughout Europe by the 18th century.

 

Upscale French design was eventually desired by the masses, most of whom lived in simple country homes and estates. High-end French goods were adapted to the needs of everyday life which is when the now-popular “country French” interior design began.

 

French country interior design focuses on:

* Furnishings that blend old with new. Ornate Louis XV-inspired pieces blend with rustic furniture with clean lines.

 

* French toile fabrics, linens, and cottons

 

* Patterns that include intricate toile fabrics, large check prints, and animal prints

 

* Wide planked wood flooring or stone flooring

 

French Provincial architecture has become one of the most distinctive characteristics of many buildings in France with tall second-story windows with arched tops breaking through the cornices. This interesting and beautiful window style eventually made its way to the United States and American French Provincial homes in the 19th century.

 

There are many examples of this style throughout the country, including many areas of Spotsylvania and Orange County, VA. The French Country architectural style can be seen in suburbs built between WWI and WWII and newer high-end housing developments. The style is also popular for custom homes in the Lake Anna area as most French Provincial homes are built on a large scale. Republic Home Builders can help you bring

 

your vision of a beautiful French Country style chateau a reality, combining old and new world charm for life in Louisa, VA.

11 Jun, 2018

Carriage homes were originally private stables built on the estates of wealthy families who owned their own horse and carriage. At one point, these homes stored houses and carriages on the ground floor with an apartment on the upper floor for a caretaker. Carriage houses were very popular throughout the Northeast and many examples of modern carriage homes are still found as many have been restored and turned into residential homes.

 

Today, carriage style homes in Spotsylvania, Louisa and Orange County, VA and converted carriage houses are a popular way to enjoy the charm of traditional Victorian design with modern amenities and features. If you love the look of oversized carriage doors, high ceilings, and open space, a custom carriage style home or traditional detached carriage house from Republic Home Builders may be the perfect choice for you.

 

Key Features of a Carriage House

A carriage house can be difficult to distinguish from a barn or even a typical guest home except for a few common characteristics. The following are key features of a classic carriage house, but a custom Lake Anna carriage house is likely to have a style of its very own.

 

Tall, central doorway with smaller doors on the side. Horse carriages would have entered through very tall, wood doors in the center of the building. Small doors on either side were intended for human traffic. These large entries can become a garage entrance or even a boat entry in a renovated or custom carriage home.

High ceilings. The ground floor typically has a high ceiling around 20 feet tall but the upper living area has a typical ceiling height. This gives a carriage home the same appeal as a loft with a wide, open space.

Few windows. An original carriage house has very few windows on the sides or back of the building. When a home is built in the carriage house style, it usually does include large picture windows.

History of Carriage Homes

Carriage houses once served an important need for homeowners in the city and rural areas. These buildings were originally coach houses or private stables and used to provide a covered space for carriages and coaches. Many original carriage houses had space for maintenance equipment and accessories as well, sometimes even with space for horse stables.

 

Wealthy homeowners typically had elaborate carriage houses that imitated the architecture and style of the main house. These carriage houses had bay windows, stained glass, scrollwork eaves, and other elaborate details. Many carriage houses also featured an upper floor living area for household staff and caretakers for the coaches

 

and horses. These beautiful carriage houses were located near the street and accessed by a cobblestone path. Some carriage houses were very simple with a single room and an interior accessed through two massive doors that allowed the carriage to enter and exit. When the structure was simple, it was located in an area not easily visible from the street.

 

Many old carriage houses across the Northeast have been converted for other purposes. A carriage house can become a guest house, garage, or workshop with ease. Many have even been transformed into townhomes as single-family residences and even bars, restaurants, and shops. Most carriages houses seen today are updates on original structures or custom homes built in the style of a carriage house with living space in the carriage house on the second story or an adjacent building.

 

The Flexibility of Today’s Carriage House

Carriage houses have largely become disassociated with their original purpose as they take on new modern purposes. Custom built carriage style homes are a far cry from the detached stable of the past. Today, this beautiful home style can be a single-family home, boathouse, guest house, or even a combo live/work space. At Republic Home Builders, we can help you design an authentic carriage home that looks like an updated original or something completely modern — inspired by 18th century carriage house design yet built to your unique needs. A custom carriage house may be your primary residence in Louisa or it may be built as a detached building that complements your home. The following are some of the most popular uses for custom garages or residences built in the carriage house style.

 

Guest suite. If you entertain often or have frequent overnight guests, a traditional detached carriage house can be designed as a guest house or in-law suite.

Detached home office. A traditional carriage house can serve as the perfect home office with solitude and quiet away from household activity.

Workout room. Detached carriage houses in Spotsylvania and Orange County, VA can serve as state-of-the-art private gyms, yoga studios, or hobby rooms.

Combo work/live space. Another common use for a carriage home is creating a custom work/live space. If you build a traditional carriage house, the open bottom level can serve as a retail space, workshop, or studio. The upper level can be fashioned as a comfortable and spacious loft.

Custom garage. A detached garage eliminates the effect of a garage-forward or garage-dominated facade that can detract from the appearance of your custom home. A detached garage also gives you more design options, including the ability to design a carriage style garage that complements the style of your home.

Boathouse. In the Lake Anna area, a boathouse is one of the most popular uses for a carriage house. The carriage house can be built close to the water with traditional large carriage doors that make it easy to store your watercraft safely.

Vacation home. If you’re planning to build a vacation home in the Louisa area, a carriage style home offers the perfect solution with a charming Victorian design, ground-floor garage and/or boat storage, and upper level living.
11 Jun, 2018

Republic Home Builders can help you create the perfect Craftsman home to call your own The Craftsman style of home is perhaps the most popular home style in Spotsylvania, Louisa and Orange County, VA. This classic style has been adapted in many ways as it has gone through several revivals since the late 19th century. This American architec-ture style began as a reaction to the perceived devaluation of the worker and human la-bor during the Industrial Revolution and the over-decorated look of Victorian design, giving rise to homes with character, quality workmanship, and function.

 

If you appreciate an open floor plan, detailed handiwork, and a distinctive American style, a Craftsman style home may be the ideal choice for your new Lake Anna or Louisa home.

 

Key Features of a Craftsman Style Home

Craftsman homes were created for families and the working class while rebelling against the ornate and formal Victorian homes popular in the 19th century. A Craftsman home is built with function and quality in mind. There are dozens of styles of Craftsman homes today but there are many key features you’ll recognize:

 

Low pitched roof or gabled roof with deep overhanging eaves. The low roofline of a Craftsman home reflects the style’s Asian influence.

Exposed rafters, decorative brackets, elaborate rafter ends, knee braces, and/or roof ridge finials. The Arts & Crafts movement added exposed rafter beams to make the handiwork of the home more apparent.

Large covered front porch

Tapered columns. Many Craftsman homes feature distinctive tapered columns that support the porch roof and rest upon stone or brick piers.

Exposed wood structural elements

Single dormer. Not all Craftsman homes have a dormer but they usually have a single wide dormer that stands out rather than the paired dormers found in Cape Cod homes. These dormers may be wide enough for two or even three windows.

Double-hung windows with a partially paned door

Brick or native stone fireplace

Handmade built-in cabinetry like bookcases and buffets

Custom, unique features like window seats

History of the Craftsman Style

The Craftsman style is an American style of home architecture that began at the turn of the 20th century in Southern California, combining Asian architecture with the Arts and Crafts movement in England that started in the 1860s. The original British Arts and Crafts movement was a reaction to the ornate and over-the-top Victorian style. The movement focused on handwork rather than mass production with a style that high-lighted workmanship with built-in furniture, exposed rafters, and native materials.

 

The American movement was also a response to the popular Victorian style as well as the and Industrial Revolution, which was perceived to devalue human labor and individ-ual craftsmanship. The American Arts and Crafts movement also ennobled modest homes as the middle class began to expand.

 

In the late 19th century, influential architects and designers in Boston brought the Eng-lish Arts & Crafts movement to the United States with an exhibition. This style of archi-tecture was truly mastered by the Greene brothers with their Southern Californian firm Green and Green. Another early and influential contributor to the style was Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the country’s most prolific home architects who helped originate the Prai-rie School home style which grew out of the Craftsman style and remains popular in Cali-fornia as well as the east coast.

 

As Craftsman style homes rapidly gained popularity, they were featured in pattern books and even sold as kits with homeowners able to order the kit to be delivered to their building site.

 

Types of Craftsman Homes

There are many styles of Craftsman or Arts & Crafts homes ranging from the classic Craftsman to the Mission style which is influenced by Southwest adobe structures. Craftsman homes can look very different depending on the region, too, as they are usu-ally made with native materials and can be quite eclectic, especially when they are cus-tom homes. Understanding the style of Craftsman home you want can help when build-ing your new Lake Anna home with Republic Home Builders.

 

Bungalow

The bungalow is the traditional Craftsman home. These homes, usually modest in size, have a broad and low gabled roof with one or two front dormers, wide eaves with ex-posed rafters, and a very large, open covered porch with tapered columns supported by wood or masonry piers. A bungalow also has distinctive windows with four or six panes in the upper sash of the double-hung windows and a single pane in the lower sash. This type of window is usually called a Craftsman window.

 

Bungalows were influenced by architecture in India’s Bengal region with the “Bangala” style home becoming popular as English officers traveled back to India. When an article was published about the style in The Craftsman in 1906, it became very popular with ar-chitects and it continues to represent the classic American home today. There are many beautiful examples of Craftsman bungalows throughout Louisa, many of which are cus-tom builds.

 

Prairie

The Prairie style home is one of the most recognizable American forms of architecture made famous by Frank Lloyd Wright. These homes have very strong horizontal lines and may have two or more stories. The flat, low exterior of a Prairie mimics the flatness of the Midwest and prairie where the home gained popularity. The rooms in a Prairie home are very open and large but divided with low cabinets or glass panels instead of walls. Unlike other Craftsman styles, the Prairie style extended well past the housing boom fol-lowing WWI but it did evolve into the Mid-Century Modern style by the 1940s and 50s.

 

Mission Revival

The Mission style of Craftsman home was inspired by the adobe buildings in the South-west and it’s very related to the Prairie home style. Both have strong low, horizontal lines and large interior spaces but from the outside they look very different.

 

A Mission Revival Craftsman is usually asymmetrical with stucco and accents in tile, brick, or stone. Doors and windows feature sweeping arches with heavy wood doors and tiled roofs. A Mission home also has an interior courtyard plus an extended roof and a deep porch to extend living space outdoors. Like a traditional Craftsman, a Mission home has a fireplace and plenty of built-ins but it also features curved wall edges and corners.

 

This style of Craftsman is rarely seen in Spotsylvania and Orange County, VA as it works best in hot climates in the West without snow.

 

Four Square

The Four Square home is very close to a bungalow with a more square design. This style has a history that’s hard to trace with thousands of Four Square homes popping up across the United States between 1890 and 1920. This style became popular as WWI ended and people began having large families and needed space. The affordable, inexpensive Craftsman bungalow was adapted with a full second story rather than the typical half story. While it was popular for a time, many designers considered the Four Square home to be chunky and too plain. Many still appreciate the Four Square’s large, open spaces and charming full-size bungalow design with two stories and a dormer.

31 May, 2018

Ranch Style Home: Is it Right for Your Lake Anna Home

The traditional ranch is one of the most recognizable and popular styles of homes built by Republic Home Builders in Spotsylvania and Orange County, VA. Ranch style homes often represent the familiar suburban neighborhood in which many grew up as they rapidly gained popularity after WWII and were used to develop large housing tracts across the United States. Ranch style homes offer open floor plans, single floor living, and an emphasis on outdoor living that can be perfectly suited to life in Louisa or along Lake Anna. Here’s what you should know about ranch style homes.

 

Key Features of a Ranch Home

Ranch homes go by many names, including ramblers or California ranches. This style of home is easily recognizable because it’s almost always single-story with a design that sprawls horizontally instead of vertically.

While these features aren’t found in all ranch style homes, common characteristics include:

 

Single story home with a rambling design

Simple and open floor plan

Low pitch, long roofline

Asymmetrical design that may be rectangular, U-shaped, or L-shaped

Attached garage

Sliding glass doors that open to a patio

Exterior may be stucco and stone, wood, or brick

Large windows, particularly a large picture window that faces the street

History of Ranch Style Homes

The ranch house style has roots in the Spanish colonial architecture of the 17th-19th century with single-story floor plans, a simple design, and low roofs. The modern ranch home is attributed to West Coast architects like Cliff May who created the first ranch in the 1930s based on these early Mexican adobe haciendas and southwest ranches. When the ranch style home was first created, it was a radical design with a plain home exterior free of dormers, tall gables, porches, and porticoes common at the time. It was during this time that the car culture began to rise in the U.S. instead of cattle ranching as families could finally buy large plots of land further from population centers.

 

Ranch homes began to spread quickly across the country following World War II as they were used to build sprawling suburbs and subdivisions. The homes were easy to build with a fairly low cost that made them ideal for veterans returning from war and growing families escaping the city.

 

In the 1950s and 1960s, ranch homes were stereotypical tract housing in the suburbs and the iconic home of the sitcoms that came with the era. By the 1950s, California ranch houses accounted for 90% of all new houses on the market and they were popular as they could accommodate the unique needs of the owner with a simple yet modern design. As ranch homes spread across the country, they received a regional makeover. In the Northeast and Midwest, for example, ranch homes often had American Colonial features.

 

Ranch homes went out of fashion briefly in the late 1960s and the 1970s as land costs increased and sprawling single-family homes became more costly. This trend was also pushed by cheaper construction of ranch homes and eventually reducing the style to a bland, boring house without the charm of earlier ranches.

 

In the late 1990s, ranch homes experienced a revival as an affordable starter home for younger buyers while older buyers appreciated that they could age in place without worrying about staircases. The ranch home has also come to represent American culture and heritage with a unique and easily adaptable floor plan. Today, most ranch homes built in Spotsylvania and Orange County are custom homes, not tract homes.

 

Ranch Style Living

With a spacious and comfortable single-story floor plan and an emphasis on outdoor living, a custom ranch home can be the perfect choice for your new Louisa or Lake Anna home. The ranch style home was one of the first popular home styles to include the outdoors as part of the home design. Ranch style homes are always associated with a laid-back lifestyle with a sliding glass door and flat patio that emphasizes the family-friendly backyard that’s easily connected to the living room or kitchen. Few home styles are better suited to outdoor barbecues and relaxing in the sun. The large picture windows in a ranch home also make the indoor-outdoor transition nearly seamless.

 

With large rooms that flow into each other, a ranch home is free of barriers between family and entertaining areas. This makes a ranch home perfect for living and entertaining guests on Lake Anna.

 

If you aren’t sure if a traditional ranch is the right choice for you, there are also many variations in this home style that may be better suited to your lifestyle. A split-level ranch has the horizontal feel of a traditional ranch with a second story. This style usually raises the bedroom over the garage to separate bedrooms from the living areas for quiet and privacy. A raised or high ranch is still low but it creates a 2-story ranch with the garage and finished family room below the bedrooms and living areas.

31 May, 2018

Mountain Chalet Homes: Is It For You?

Republic Home Builders are craftsman when it comes to building mountain chalet homes, also known as Swiss chalets, evoke an image of the Swiss Alps with a gentle sloping roof, log exterior, and wood rafters. While this style of home may have started in the mountains, it’s also perfectly suited to lakeside properties in Spotsylvania and Orange County, VA. A beautiful chalet can become your quiet retreat along Lake Anna with a rich wooden facade and open, friendly design. Here’s what you should know about the distinctive mountain chalet style home and why you should consider it for your new Louisa home.

 

Key Features of a Mountain Chalet

Mountain chalet homes have many characteristics in common with log cabins although cabins are usually small, simple homes while chalets have sloping roofs and widely overhanging eaves. Chalets were designed for mountaineous regions and have become synonymous with vacation and lakeside homes in many regions of the world, including Lake Anna and elsewhere in Louisa. Here are some of the most distinctive characteristics of a mountain chalet:

 

Low-pitched, gabled roof

Two or more stories tall

Stone foundation and mostly wood construction

Wide, overhanging eaves

Exposed wood beams with large brackets

Decorative moldings and wood carvings

Large balconies with an open floor plan

Cathedral ceiling

Plenty of opportunity for customization. Chalets usually have exposed architecture with detailed artwork, carved rafters, ornamental shingles, and more to make the home your own.

Large windows for sweeping views

History of Mountain Chalets

In the Swiss countryside, land outside of the cities is typically occupied by cattle which are taken to the high pastures in the summer. This practice is known as l’alpage. In fact, the meaning of “alp” in Switzerland isn’t the snow-covered mountains but a mountainside pasture. It’s from this tradition that the Swiss chalet comes. These summers buildings were originally very humble. The first chalets were described in the 14th century as log cabins occupied by farmers during l’apage during the summer. The cabins were left empty the rest of the year when the farmers took their livestock and products to the lower valleys.

 

The definition and style of what we think of a mountain chalet have changed dramatically over the last 700 years, however. At the turn of the century, herders found that there was a market to rent these homes to vacationers and they began offering their homes which helped lead to the style’s popularity outside of the Alps.

 

The wood decorated facade and projected roof of the mountain chalet became popular in the Alps of Germany and Switzerland of the 18th century which led to the style’s common name of the Swiss chalet. This home style developed during the Romantic era when the concept of the English landscape garden inspired homes in Germany and noble landowners in the region were impressed by the idea of the “simple life” of people who lived in the mountains. English and French visitors to the region created overly ornamented and romanticized versions of the chalet homes they viewed in Switzerland and helped create the first mountain chalet homes.

 

The earliest chalet home pattern books appeared in the United States in the 1820s although they didn’t become very popular until after the Civil War. The style was popularized by waves of tourism of the rich from North and West Europe and later other parts of Europe and North America, especially Sweden and Cincinnati, Ohio in the late 19th century and early 20th century. By the mid-19th century, the style truly gained fame in the United States into residential hotels, tourist ski parks, and mansions.

 

The book “The Architecture of Country Houses” by tastemaker A.J. Downing is credited with introducing the chalet home to Americans. Downing wrote that the Swiss cottage belongs “in a bold or mountainous country … or in a wild and picturesque valley. In such positions the architecture will have a spirit and meaning which will inspire every beholder with interest.”

 

Mountain chalets are also associated with catered ski chalet vacations, which were pioneered by a British skier named Erna Low in 1932. Low began organizing all-inclusive ski vacations at a resort in Austria after the war, although the concept continued to evolve into house parties and eventually packaged vacations in the 1960s that included airfare and the modern catered ski chalet. Early catered ski chalets were far from glamorous and included little more than basic furnishings and a long hike to the chalet but over time chalets became luxurious with high-end amenities.

 

Today, chalets describe resort-like homes and homes near beaches and lakes rather than homes in the mountains, although the home style still evokes the same sense of wilderness, adventure, and home. Mountain style chalets have become a common sight in many areas of Spotsylvania and Orange County, especially around Lake Anna and other wooded and lakefront areas.

31 May, 2018

Is a Modern Style Home Right for You?

Do you love sleek, clean lines and stark contrast? Do you appreciate low-maintenance materials, quality construction, and open floor plans? A modern home built by Republic Home Builders may be perfect for you. The name is a bit misleading as this style isn’t modern in the truest sense — it refers to architecture and design of the mid-20th century — but it shares many characteristics with contemporary design, which refers to the current style. Modern homes typically feature a blend of manmade and natural high-end materials with a unique asymmetrical facade and clean, sharp lines. Modern homes are some of the most expensive in Spotsylvania and Orange County, VA and you will see many examples of this style of home throughout Louisa and Lake Anna.

 

Not sure if a modern style home is the right fit for your lifestyle? Here’s everything you need to know about this timeless style that can blend in perfectly with life along Lake Anna.

 

Key Features of a Modern Home

Modern design has remained popular for nearly a century for its sharp appearance, clean lines, open spaces, and unique use of materials. It can be difficult to tell a contemporary and modern home apart but a modern home can be recognized by several key characteristics:

 

Clean, boxy structure. Most modern homes are made of reinforced concrete or white stucco with intentional asymmetry, a flat roof, and distinct right angles.

Function over form. A modern home is very utilitarian with no need for items or details that don’t serve a purpose. You won’t see decorative elements or unneeded flourishes; the quality of the materials and workmanship speak for themselves. This minimalistic approach means a modern home tries to achieve the most while using the least.

Simple forms and geometric shapes with a lack of ornamentation. A modern home doesn’t have unnecessary ornamentation like shutters, molding, or ridges.

Large window panes. Modern architecture arose when sheet glass was a new material. Modern homes make use of it with large panes of glass, picture windows, and floor-to-ceiling windows. You may even see entire walls that are seemingly made of glass. This helps blend the indoors with the outdoors and make the home feel even larger and more open.

Open floor plan. The modern movement was a breakaway from traditional design in every sense. While traditional homes of the 19th century were very claustrophobic with many walls separating every room and plenty of hallways, a modern home is very open with as few walls as possible. Modern design also breaks away from the traditional by not filling spaces physically or visually. Instead, a modern home is adorned simply with a fresh, clean appearance and just one or two colors.

Bare floors. Modern homes do not feature carpet. Instead, floors are polished concrete, hardwood, or natural stone.

Natural and manmade materials. A modern home incorporates what were once cutting-edge technologies like plastics, sheet glass, reinforced concrete, and steel but they are balanced with plenty of natural materials like leather, stone, wood, linen, and teak. This helps bring warmth and texture into the space that may otherwise feel sterile with such sleek lines and minimal color.

History of Modern Homes

Modern architecture emerged at the beginning of the 20th century and reached its height after World War II. This style of design was based upon new construction technology like reinforced concrete, steel, and sheet glass and a rejection of ornate Arts and neoclassical architecture common in the 19th century. Many modern homes of the era were made using what was then revolutionary post and beam architectural design that allowed walls to be nearly made of glass without unnecessary bulk.

 

Modern architecture, also known as mid-century modern, was a global movement. Scandinavian and Brazilian architects were very influential in the movement and helped define a style with simple, clean lines that integrate with nature. Scandinavian design — the and now — is characterized by natural shapes, clean lines, and simplicity. A German school of architecture and art called Bauhaus also made a significant impact on the modern movement, especially influencing the “less is more” concept.

 

When the Bauhaus movement made its way to America, it became known as the International Style which included key elements like a lack of ornamentation, a clean structure, simple forms, a focus on function, and a rejection of traditional style.

 

One of the most influential and well-known architects at the beginning of the modern era was Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed over 1,000 structures. While Wright designed everything from skyscrapers and hotels to churches, he is best known for his homes. His Unity Temple is also considered to be the first modern building in the world as it was constructed using only reinforced concrete.

 

A real estate developer and builder named Joseph Eichler is considered key in bringing modern architecture — or Eichler Homes — to the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, and later the east coast.

 

Modern vs Contemporary: What’s the Difference?

Modern and contemporary architecture and design are often used interchangeably but there are many differences between the two. Contemporary refers to design of the current era while modern homes refer to the style of the early to mid-20th century. Today’s contemporary homes borrow many elements from modern homes including clean lines, an asymmetrical and boxy home facade, and the mix of manmade and natural materials, but modern homes are more monochromatic, sleeker, and defined.

 

A custom modern home can be the perfect fit for life in Spotsylvania or Orange County, VA as it offers open space, a flexible floor plan, large expanses of glass, and a smooth transition between outdoor and indoor living to make the most of life in the Louisa area and enjoy the view. With bare floors, high-end materials like polished metal and natural stone, and an open floor plan, modern homes are also easy to maintain and clean with space perfectly suited for entertaining friends and family
More Posts
Share by: