Category: comfort

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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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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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...


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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...


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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...


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Summer is officially here – and for those of us in California, it’s a time when we want to enjoy the great outdoors more than ever. Spending time outside is the perfect way to get fresh air, exercise, and improve mental health. However, with physical distancing measures still in place, many are looking to their own backyards for comfort, distraction and a connection to nature without straying too far from home. Even before the days of COVID-19, outdoor environments have always been a top priority for homeowners. Research from the National Association of Home Builders and Better...


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Whether you find yourself with an abundance of time on your hands or busily working remotely, we have all been spending a lot of time at home lately. As you work on planning your new home build, it’s a good time to consider how to add some of the excitement and comfort usually found when you go out. A great benefit to working with a custom home builder is the flexibility to design a home that fits your lifestyle. High Performance Homes are built with cutting edge sustainability features which offer unmatched cost savings and comfort. They also offer the opportunity to combine technology with...


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For many people the idea of sustainability has been a concept without a tangible connection but that is quickly changing. Now that we are all spending so much time indoors, it’s clearer than ever how important it is to be intentional about our space. Having a home office might have been a nice-to-have before but, with remote work becoming more common, a home that supports the new ways we live and work will be essential.   From how it’s laid out to where you get your power, building a sustainable home is about building a home that takes care of you and your family. Passive and Passive...


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At Clarum, the modern homes we build are both sleek and luxurious. We take great pride in our ability to weave together luxurious comfort with high levels of energy efficiency through passive-inspired design. During the building process, you can work with us to transform your home into a relaxing harbor that buffers you from the stress of the outside hustle and bustle. The Clarum team believes that comfort is an integral component of building a passive-inspired modern home. Our goal is to create luxurious havens that put people at ease and add to their wellbeing. We work closely with...


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