Brian Sells Chicago · How to Save Energy in Your Home

Fall is upon us (OK, yeah in Chicago we started winter early, but technically it’s fall) and in the months generally known for colder weather, keeping our homes warm is a top priority. Even in those geographic regions where the mercury doesn’t drop below 50, knowing your home is not losing energy is a relief when you spend your hard earned dollars keeping your home warm or cool. Saving energy in your home is not a difficult process. There are many easy free and low-cost ways to save energy and money on your heating and cooling bills. Over the next half a dozen posts or so I will provide you some great ways to save money and stay warm. If you have more to add please let me know! Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · Home Styles – Pueblo Revival

The Pueblo Revival is a style favored in the Southwest, highly influenced by the ancient Pueblo’s simple multifamily homes. This home style favors materials sourced from the earth — adobe, concrete, stucco or mortar, and wood beams — and the homes tend to feature enclosed courtyards and flat or sloping roofs. The Pueblo style is also characterized by rounded exteriors that exhibit square windows, weathered wood doors and exterior stone accents. This is the last one in our series. I put it to you, dear readers, to find some better examples of the Pueblo Revival. We definitely don’t see these in Chicago! Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · Home Styles – Mediterranean

The Mediterranean style became very popular in the United States in 1918 to 1940. This style is modeled after the hacienda style, where red tile roofs, arches, and plaster surfaces play a large part in the exterior of the house. Mediterranean style homes have become popular again, but the style has adopted more design elements like porticoes, balconies, and ornamental details that include heavy wood doors, tiles in multiple colors or designs, and balconies with ornate iron railings and embellishments. As a real estate professional, I guess I should know what a portico is? I have to admit that word does not come up too often around here! Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · Home Styles – Spanish

Spanish style homes incorporate a fusion of design elements from European and Native American architecture. The Mission Revival style is the most popular, which has its roots in Spanish churches built by missionaries. Spanish style homes tend to have clay roof tiles, arcaded porches, arched corridors, bell towers, square pillars and quatrefoil windows (these windows resemble flowers). You won’t see this very often (or at all?) in Illinois. I think I should move somewhere where these are more common! Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · Home Styles – Contemporary

Contemporary homes have an almost futuristic look to them, but many contemporary homes look to connect the indoors with the outdoors. Natural light plays a large part in the contemporary home, as do flat roofs and simple horizontal and perpendicular lines. Contemporary homes embrace industrialism and put an emphasis on the use of efficient and affordable materials, and the homes emphasize an importance of combining materials (steel, glass, wood, stone, etc.) to create a fluid space. I don’t know, though… This style has been around long enough that I think we’re past it now. The sterile look appeals to me for some reason. Would you want a house like this? Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · Home Styles – Colonial

Colonials are another home style that have a distinct appearance. Symmetry plays a large part in Colonials — evenly spaced shuttered windows, dormers, columns, and old Colonials will have many fireplaces. The most common Colonial in the United States is the Georgian Colonial, characterized by its strict symmetry, box shape, paneled front door below a decorative crown, simple or flattened columns, and the most notable feature of five shuttered windows across. Other notable Colonial styles in the United States are Dutch, Federal, and Spanish. I’m picturing the Banks’ house from “Father of the Bride” right now. Does that make me sound old? Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · Home Styles – Ranch

Ranches are also known as ‘Ramblers.’ Ranches are characterized by their single-story construction and low pitched roofs. Ranches became very popular in the post World War II era, with a large resurgence in the 1960s as ‘mid-century moderns.’ Most newer construction relies on a second story for additional square footage, meaning you’re likely only going to find ranch styles in older homes. I think this might be a mistake – I mean, I like stairs for exercise, but not for lugging my tired butt up to bed every night! Uncategorized

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