The Builder’s Notes

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

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...


Read More

Happy New Year! As 2020 taught us, creating the perfect living environment for our families is more important than ever. And if you’re thinking about building a custom home in 2021, it’s important to keep an eye on the latest trends while still in the research and planning stages. Looking at current and future trends can give you much needed inspiration for your upcoming project. Here are some of the latest design trends in custom homes—talk to your builder about how to incorporate these must-have features into your next home! Custom Home Ideas Already Trending in 2021 Open...


Read More

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone - from a global pandemic, to economic shutdowns, to record-breaking wildfires up and down the West Coast. Suffice it to say that this is a year we'll be glad to put behind us. But with Thanksgiving coming up (and particularly when we've been spending more time than ever indoors), there are still plenty of things to be thankful for as you enjoy your modern home this holiday season. Seven modern home elements to be thankful for this season Rooms with natural light Since the sun makes briefer appearances in winter, it’s a good idea to capitalize...


Read More

These days, we’re spending more time at home than ever. It’s become increasingly important to have a house designed for being at home – with all the small modern comforts that make a difference, like a productive office space and a welcoming outdoor area. In addition, many homeowners are using this time as an opportunity to delve into much-needed home repair and maintenance. Maintaining your home can be a big job, but with a clear and systematic approach, anyone can give their home the TLC that it needs. This care will ensure that the health, performance, life, and resale value of your...


Read More

As one of the worst fire seasons on record sweeps across California, many are facing the threat of losing their home – or are sequestering inside to avoid smoke. As drier, hotter conditions escalate, these outbreaks pose a greater threat to communities in harm’s way. Displacement is inevitable for many, and quality of life is still severely impacted for everyone else. Fortunately, there are many steps we can take in the near term to mitigate the risks of fire damage to our homes — and stay healthy in the event we need to hunker down. From the outside in, these are some of the key fire...


Read More

Not surprisingly, one of the primary concerns of the modern homeowner is the health and safety of their family. And it makes sense: even before shelter-in-place restrictions, the average American already spent up to 90% of their time indoors. Our current era has introduced new motivations for a healthful approach, and has brought some key wellness-related trends to the forefront in new custom homes. Fortunately, at Clarum, this was a priority for us long before COVID-19. One of our values is to create healthy environments: we’re committed to going beyond aesthetics when it comes...


Read More

As our work patterns have shifted in the past few months, it’s no exaggeration to say that the home office has never been more important. Our home offices have quickly become an essential function of our domestic environments – and we’ve quickly learned that thoughtful design of this space not only aids with utility and productivity, but also provides sanity, privacy, and a little serenity. If you’re currently working from home, you know it’s easiest to be productive when you have a workspace that works for you! Here’s some inspiration and guidance for your custom home office. Plan...


Read More