Archives: Clarum Homes

What does it mean to have a sustainable home? For some homeowners, it means increasing energy efficiency by incorporating low impact, earth-friendly materials into the home’s construction. Others may prioritize a space with efficient design and placement, allowing the entire family to live comfortably for a longer period of time. The good news? You can have it all — a home that’s made to fit your lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint through use of sustainable materials and smart design. At Clarum Homes, we focus on passive and passive-inspired homes, which take a holistic approach...


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As we close the door on this year and look forward to 2022, we’re keeping an eye on several exciting new custom home trends. Creating a living environment that’s functional, comfortable, and sustainable remains top of mind for many homeowners, and we’re seeing these must-haves come to life through unique living concepts and savvy home design. Seeking out inspiration for your new custom home? Look no further — we’ve compiled a list of emerging home trends you’ll see in 2022. Here’s what to watch out for:  Living green wall features There’s a chance you’ve seen...


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One of the hallmarks of modern home design is the open floor plan. Open concept homes feature large, interconnected space minus structural details like hallways, doors, and walls. These floor plans have become more popular in recent decades, giving homeowners greater flexibility to design a space that’s both comfortable and highly accessible. Another benefit of an open floor plan is the ability to design rooms that are multi-functional. This is usually achieved by incorporating elements like built-ins, room dividers, or furniture that does double duty. With some intention (and a great design-build...


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Creating a budget is one of the most important aspects of any high-performance home build. It’s where all custom homebuilding projects start to take shape, informing everything from property costs, to construction timeline, to design and material choices. And the more intentional your budget is, the more financial value and satisfaction you’ll receive as a result. At the start of the home building process, you may have several questions related to setting your budget. What are the most important considerations? Which project costs should you prioritize to get the most bang for your buck? Luckily,...


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There are plenty of decisions to make when planning your dream home - chief among those is where to start. As the old adage goes, there are three things that matter in property: location, location, location. So, one of your first tasks will be to acquire the land for your new home. Purchasing a vacant lot means investing in a blank slate with countless possibilities. It’s a great way to secure your future with all the bells and whistles attached, so it’s important to understand what the process entails. Here are some details to consider when acquiring a lot to build your high-performance...


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At Clarum Homes, we get a lot of questions from clients about custom home building. And it makes sense – building a custom home is a nuanced process that not only requires a phenomenal team, but also a fair amount of planning to get just right. When clients engage us for a custom home building project, we try to impart as much information as we can from the outset. It’s important to our team that you have all the knowledge and resources you need to get your dream home completed on time, within budget, and exactly the way you envisioned it. That’s why we’re sharing some insight on custom...


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With the 4th of July weekend officially behind us, it's safe to say that summer is well underway - and it’s getting hot out there. While we’re grateful for the sunshine in Palo Alto, we’re also grateful to have cool, comfortable homes to retreat to when the heat gets intense. It's no wonder power bills start to climb around this time of year, as air conditioners kick on to combat the climbing temperatures. Unfortunately, most conventionally built homes are incredibly inefficient in how they manage temperature. As much as 40% of a home’s cooling and heating loss is due to air leakage...


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When it comes to building your dream home, designing your floor plan is an important decision. Your floor plan determines how the space is used, how traffic will flow through each room, and the general feel of your home environment. So it’s no surprise that in recent decades and particularly in modern homes, open floor plans have become more popular than ever. An open floor plan consists of one or more large, open rooms that serve multiple functions within a single living space. An open floor plan typically excludes hallways, walls, and doors, which makes for a more inviting layout. Here...


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In thinking about the construction of your dream home, “when” is just as important as “what” and “where” — as one consideration that’s often overlooked is what time of year to start construction. Answering this question isn’t always easy, but it helps to understand the standard progression of a construction project. An average new home build can take up to six months to get off the ground, especially when you add in the time it takes to hire a builder and obtain the necessary permits. The best time of year to build your new house depends on a myriad of factors, from your ideal...


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Are you looking to own a home? If yes, you may be wondering whether to build a new home or buy a new used house. Based on the fact that the prices of buying a new home can be quite high, your first option might be to purchase a pre-existing residence. However, you might be surprised by how much you might save if you decide to build your own. Indeed, one of the best things about building a home is that your wants and needs are completely fulfilled. Here are several things to keep in mind that are perks in building new versus buying an existing home. It will feature cutting-edge design Whether...


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