Paolo Sings @ Reds New Years Eve! 9-12:30

Ring in the New Year at REDs Lounge in Sedona with Paolo!  Contemporary Jazz Vocals.  Tunes that stand the test of time

Finding The Perfect Lot to Build On In Sedona

OK, so you made a visit to Sedona, Arizona, you fell in love with the beauty of the land and community, and now you want to live in Sedona.  You may have looked at homes for sale, but nothing was quite right, so you are hunting for the perfect lot to build the custom home you’ve always wanted.  Congratulation, you’ve made a wise decision.  There is nothing like the perfect custom home, designed and built around the way you live.  But first things first, you will need to find a great lot.  To do this right, you will need to surround yourself with a great team of professionals.  Here are some important points.  For  full details on Finding the perfect lot  to build on in Sedona...

Countertop Ideas – Interesting Kitchen Remodels

How important is the shape, location and selection of countertop materials in a kitchen remodel or new kitchen design?  As so many of us know, the kitchen is considered by most professionals to be the “hub of the home” for many families in Sedona and around the world.  What’s more, the kitchen island can serve as the pivot center integrating the kitchen to the great room and public places.  Interior designers and kitchen designers are very familiar with the configuration of a kitchen and the various properties and functions of countertop materials that the average home owners may often miss.  In a recent article about a Sedona Kitchen Remodel, I mentioned a Sedona Kitchen Remodel that was entering the construction phase.  The project is in now at the stage when the countertops will be fabricated and installed.  I will use this project to share countertop ideas with you as you plan for your countertop replacement or brand new kitchen.  More counter top Ideas here.

Custom Home Budget Building in Sedona

Paolo Sings is happy to share news you can use if your are needing to create a budget for your custom Sedona Home project

Paolo Sings at REDS Every Thursday

Beginning in October, 2012 Paolo will sing live every Thursday from 6-8 as part of  REDS night life entertainment series.  RED at the Sedona Rouge is a popular venue for the Sedona Community and visitors.  The restaurant features inviting dining, bar and lounge areas to fit every crowd!  Come and have dinner and drinks in the lounge and enjoy the “buttery velvet sound” of Paolo’s jazzy classic repertoire.

Paolo Sings for Verde Valley Caregivers

Enjoy a “Sing Out” at 2pm, Sun. Sept. 9^th at the Sedona United Methodist Church with Paolo, Jeanie Carroll, Eli Torok, Laura Lizac and other special performers in a concert to support the Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition, an organization that provides volunteers, programs and services to support adults in need of assistance maintaining quality of life at home. Call 928-282-0618 or visit www.paolosings.com for more information.

Sedona Outdoor Living Rooms and Courtyards

Outdoor living spaces are common wishes for many people who are designing the ideal custom home.  They come in may labels, like "Southwestern Living Rooms", "Arizona Room" or "Arizona Court Yards".  Most often they have walls on at least three sides and provide seclusion and privacy.  They are often positioned in the center of the house for central access.

A great court yard design also connects creatively to the interior spaces.  Of course, most people want to connect to the "public" spaces like the kitchen, living and dining areas.  It is great when the chef of the house can have instant access to the BBQ and the indoor oven in minutes.  Of course, guests love to be able to come and go from inside to out on the fly, so chefs appreciates when traffic flow is designed to keep guests are out of their way.  Access to a bathroom from the courtyard is also a convenient amenity for guests and home owners, too.

Early risers like the idea of coffee in the court yard, so a quick jaunt to the coffee maker, then to private outdoor space is appealing.  Good space planning makes a court yards accessible to bedrooms, guest suites, master suites and bathrooms.

Care must be taken to make outdoor living spaces fit the region.  For example, a Sedona, AZ out door courtyard would be very different from one designed for  Portland, OR.  Most people want to be able to use the outdoor spaces as often as possible, so a good design will incorporate ways to extend the seasons of use.  Court yards can often be located to buffer the summer heat or temper the cold winters.  Roof covers and enclosures can be designed to mitigate rain, sun, wind, and pests.  There are a variety of screens, solid roofs, open pergolas, folding and cascading doors on the market today to make court yards a pleasurable experience.

Be sure to add good task and ambient lighting to the space, and don't forget a hose bib, and electrical outlet.  Make sure there is adequate drainage.  Also, please make court yard doors and windows work in the favor of natural light flowing to the interior and work to frame views to the exterior.  Of course hire an experienced professional to pull it all together for you!

Sedona Interior Design Trends

Sedona interior design is trending to more texture and less ornamentation. For example, bathroom wall tiles tend to be rich with natural figuring more than tiles with graphics.  The same holds true for Sedona kitchen remodels where we see back splashes that have beautiful sculptural quality instead of graphic references.  We still see the use of natural stone tile on floors, however the shapes of tiles are changing from squares to rectangles in organically arranged patterns.  Color is not used as boldly as in the past.  Paint is trending to the role of "atmosphere" instead of heavy accent.

These trends apply to custom new homes as well.  Folk who are starting from scratch will no doubt work with a Sedona residential architect, and they may also choose a Sedona interior designer.  When choosing a team it is best to choose a business that offers both residential architecture and interior design, ideally in one friendly package.

So like all trends, there are pros and cons.  The main "con" is giving up the love of ornamental treatments, while the main "pro" is a more universal and timeless design...design that will sustain through time longer


Lets make remodels & new homes in Sedona more sustainable!
Call us 928-282-0818 or visit our website
or contact us for more information

Fall Is A Great Time To Plan A Sedona Remodel

Have you ever wondered about when to plan for a Sedona remodel?  Of course the answer depends on WHAT the scope of the remodel will be, and whether you are thinking about the design time, the construction time or BOTH!  And then, of course, you must add the time to obtain a building permit, get accurate pricing...yes the answer is not so simple!  However, Fall is a good start point, since the kids are back in school, the Holidays are still a bit in the distance, and you can get a running start on the design.

Smaller projects, like simple cosmetic changes...maybe paint, maybe pull and replace plumbing fixtures, appliances and such...are likely to get finished in time for Thanksgiving!  But anything major like a full kitchen or bath remodel or house addition will likely not be ready for construction until the Spring of 2013.  Fall is the perfect time to start design, however, and Spring time is perfect to start construction on major remodels!  Yes...design takes time too, so get prepared to make sure your contractor of choice will be available for you!  Contact us if you need a referral.

Oh yes, this article focuses on "remodel" projects.  If you are planning a New Home, multiply by 3 or 4!

Sustainable Sedona offers a FREE one hour consult to help you lay the ground 

work for your project.  So give us a call or email and we will schedule time for you!

Lets make remodels & new home in Sedona more sustainable!

Call us 928-282-0818 or visit our website

or contact us for more information

Finding The Perfect Lot For Your Sedona Custom Home

OK, so you made a visit to Sedona, Arizona, you fell in love with the beauty of the land and community, and now you want to live in Sedona.  You may have looked at homes for sale, but nothing was quite right, so you are hunting for the perfect lot to build the custom home you've always wanted.  Congratulation, you've made a wise decision.  There is nothing like the perfect custom home, designed and built around the way you live.  But first things first, you will need to find a great lot.  To do this right, you will need to surround yourself with a great team of professionals.  Here are some important points.

Hire a seasoned Real Estate Agent:  It is important to find a Realtor who has a good supply of listings for vacant land, and who enjoys new home design.  Your Realtor will need to know the Sedona Neighborhoods inside and out to guide you to the best locations.  Great Realtors also know the Subdivision requirements and are familiar with the CC&Rs or HOA requirements.  Be prepared with a list of the things most important to you and your family, like the size of home and proximity to schools, shopping, work and recreation.

Hire an experienced Design Professional:  It is equally as important to find a House Designer or Residential Architect to help you get the house in your head, detailed onto paper for a Builder to use with his team of contractors.  Start by having your designer walk the lot with you and your Realtor.  Your designer can help you determine if the lot is buildable, if it has a good Solar orientation, and if there are high cost centers associated with the lot.  A great designer will also help you capture views, plan for privacy, and plan for out door living in Sedona.  Sedona is a unique high-desert environment, so your designer should be equipped with green building credentials to guide you properly.  If you are looking for an integrated design, then your designer should also have a background in interior design and landscape design, or help you build a full team of design pros.  Make a list of all features that you will want in your home and share the list with your designer.

A side note about views!  Not all views are worth fighting for, especially if the view is to the west into the setting sun!  So bring your designer with you and make sure he understands passive solar design in the Southwest!

Plan to hire a reputable Home Builder:  It you want the house that you've designed to be built exactly as you envisioned, you will need an experienced Builder.  You will have spent countless hours your designers to get the house in your head just as you imagined.  Your Builder and subcontractors will be the team that gets your house onto your Sedona lot.  The builder and Designer will work together for you right to the finish line.  Builders are the experts when it comes to building a realistic budget and construction schedule for your project.  A good builder will have a team of subcontractors that have worked together, and who can interpret drawings and specification that have been prepared by your house designer, interior designer and so on.

Once you find the right lot, then get started with design right away.  A custom home project can take up to two years on average once you start design to the time you move in.  Be patient, take all the steps to do it right!  Here is more on the PROCESS.  Enjoy your new home in Sedona!

Kitchen Designer Advice

The kitchen is often called the "heart and hub of the home" whether your kitchen is in Sedona, AZ or anywhere in the world!  It can raise or lower the overall value of a home, so do your research when planning your kitchen remodel and you will have a space that not only functions well for your family now and in the future, but that will add a significant dollar value to your home should you decide to sell.  As you begin the kitchen remodeling process, consider the following in order to balance improving your home's overall value with creating a functional, long-lasting kitchen design.

Keep costs reasonable:  When setting a budget, keep it realistic. If you plan to eventually sell and expect to recoup your kitchen remodeling dollars, it is important to keep the budget in line with the house value and the average home values in your area.  A good rule of thumb for a complete kitchen remodel is to keep the budget at about 10 to 15 percent of the home value.

If you are working with a professional, be honest about your budget. They are trained to work within reasonable guidelines. If you have difficulty sticking to a budget or tend to get distracted and leave projects unfinished, you may even save money by going with a professional designer. They have the experience and resources to keep the kitchen remodel within a budget and on a timeline. They can save you a lot of time and frustration, as well. They know dependable builders, contractors and other service people and can help you navigate local rules and regulations.

Plan for your needs:  There is no doubt that remodeling a kitchen can be a big expense, but with proper planning you can end up with a kitchen that will be beautiful, meet your present needs and function well into the future. Determine your needs by taking into consideration how you use your present kitchen. Ask yourself these questions:

1. What do you love about your kitchen?
2. What do you hate about it?
3. What would make it easier for you to work in and enjoy the space?
4. How do you expect your kitchen to function, now and down the road?
5. What are the needs of the cook or cooks?
6. Do you need extra work space or extra sinks to accommodate more than one cook?
7. How much storage do you need?

Plan for kitchen islands, breakfast bars and extra seating areas, keeping in mind how they will function and the amount of use they will receive.

Consider the home's design:  The kitchen design should be pleasing and not so customized that it detracts from the general usefulness and design of the home. You want a well-designed, beautiful kitchen, but not a kitchen that is over-specialized or out of sync with the rest of the home's character.  When planning your remodel, invest in good quality floors, cabinets, countertops and backsplashes that will last, but avoid too many trendy touches you may regret a few years down the road. Trends are best suited for paint color, minor furniture pieces or basic appliances – things that can be easily and inexpensively redone.

Focus on functionality:  The kitchen's layout should focus on ease-of-use. Appliances and cabinets should be placed to provide an easy cooking space with a logical flow pattern for most of the kitchen's users.  If the kitchen design is laid out logically, it will save years of frustration.  An efficient and long-lasting layout makes use of stations or zones. Adding a food preparation space, coffee brewing area, and baking area to your kitchen design can make the area much more functional for everyday users as well as for guests. Think of other tasks you regularly perform in the kitchen and plan for them, as well.  Good planning and using the best materials that fit your budget as well as your needs will ensure a kitchen design that will serve you well, complement your lifestyle and add value to your home.

Moving to Sedona Arizona?

The unique beauty and cultural amenities offered by Sedona, Ariz., have made this small, vibrant city a mecca for individuals who wish to retire or raise their families in a luxurious, resort-like environment. Known as “red rock country” and considered by some to be one of the top ten most beautiful areas to live, Sedona’s striking desert landscape lures celebrities and families alike.

While relocating to any city can be a pain, relocating to Sedona comes with its own unique set of challenges. Although its population is small – around 12,000 – it climbs every year, with more and more people looking to take advantage of this city’s limited available land. Here’s a look at some of the things to keep in mind when considering relocating to Sedona.

Finding the Right Home

Because of the mountainous terrain, sprawl in Sedona is restricted and land availability is limited. As of a decade ago, more than half of that land had already been built out, and developers project that all available property will have been purchased and built upon by 2015.

Sedona residents can expect to see the demand for property skyrocket as availability continues to dwindle.  What that means for those who are planning to relocate to Sedona is that options may be more limited than you’d like.

Plan for a major home renovation. When looking for a new home, consider planning to buy a house with remodeling potential in case you can’t find one that’s perfect as is. The Sedona home remodeling industry is booming as homeowners seek to upgrade their homes rather than build new ones, and there are plenty of Sedona residential architects ready to tackle any major home renovation.

Bring your home designer with you. To ensure you get the luxury home want, with plenty of remodeling potential, consider interviewing Sedona home designers now so you can consult with them before settling on a home. By bringing your home designer with you to look at houses, you can get feel for the remodeling potential of each one. Your designer can point out any remodeling challenges you might not think of and assess whether the house has the structural support required.

Think about the logistics. Anyone who has ever experienced a major home renovation knows how much a home remodel can disrupt a family’s life. Give careful consideration to how you want your relocation to unfold. Is it feasible to complete a Sedona home remodeling project before you relocate, so your house will be move-in ready? Or would you prefer to settle in first and tackle your remodel in a few years?

Preparing for the Move

Once you’ve settled on a moving date, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll get to Sedona. Decide whether you plan to move yourself or hire movers. Here’s a timeline to help you get ready for the big trip:

• Eight weeks out: If you intend to hire a moving company, you should start getting quotes from movers now. It’s important to find a moving company to whom you feel comfortable entrusting all of your belongings, so leave yourself plenty of time to find the right movers. This is also a good time to begin using up your stockpiled groceries – especially those in the freezer or refrigerator – as food is difficult to move.
• Six weeks out: Begin informing utility companies (and your landlord, if you rent) of your intent to move. Some utilities require you to make an appointment to shut off service, so it’s best to get things scheduled ahead of time. You can also begin boxing up items you don’t use on a regular basis.
• Two weeks out: Get your change of address forms in order, and notify your mail carrier of your upcoming move to avoid any disruption to your mail delivery.

Relocating to Sedona is an exciting landmark in many people’s lives. By planning ahead, you can make the move go as smoothly as possible.

Remodeling Your Home in Sedona

There is no better time for a Sedona house remodel than now.  As the housing market continues to improve, the cost of a home remodel will increase.  So take advantage of the current cost of remodeling while it is still affordable.  If cost is a concern, consider hiring a Sedona architect or interior designer to create a master plan for your remodel project, starting with a bathroom remodel or kitchen remodel.  These areas have the greatest return on your investment and you will also improve livability for you and your family.  Of course, your master plan can include a room addition and ultimately a whole house remodel.

Bring in a professional designer or architect,  and hire a good remodeling contractor or Sedona builder to get the most out of your remodeling efforts.  Sedona if filled with plenty talent, but make sure that you choose design and construction professionals that you feel comfortable with, and who will bring the highest level of imagination and service to you and your remodel project.  Finally, be certain that every dollar you put into your house remodel is invested wisely.  It is tempting to cut corners, but in the end you enjoy your Sedona home more if you do it once and do it right.