Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

Landfall luxury builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes has experience with Energy Star Appliances – we used them in our Energy Star Certified home in Wilmington, NC! And we’d like to keep our readers informed on the latest developments for Energy Star windows, doors and skylights. As of January 4^th, 2010 they will need to meet new performance levels. It will still be easy to find these high-efficiency products: just look for the ENERGY STAR label. And remember, Energy Star qualified windows, doors and skylights reduce energy bills by about 7-24 percent, increase comfort, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to achieve precisely the look you’re after. For more information on the new requirements, product benefits, federal tax credits, FAQ’s and more, visit their website!

Landfall new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is a proud member of the National Association of Home Builders and encourages our readers to sign up for their quarterly e-newsletter, HouseKeys. HouseKeys is designed specifically for consumers and gives their readers “consumer news from America’s home builders”. Below is a list of articles from their latest issue and sign up to receive it straight to your Inbox by clicking here!

• Is There Still Time to Qualify for the $8,000 Tax Credit?
• Connecting the Green Dots
• Prepare Your Home and Yard for Winter This Fall
• Making Home Improvements? Check Out These Tax Credits
• “The View” Names North Carolina Home Builder the Ultimate Volunteer
• Understanding Your Home Remodeling Contract
• What’s in Your Toolbox?

Landfall Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share a new website from Team Strickland at Coldwell Banker Seacoast Realty for our LEED Platinum Green Home in Landfall. This ICF home in Wilmington, NC is Energy Star certified and the LEED Platinum rating is the highest attainable rating for a home from the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the first LEED Platinum home in Wilmington, NC so out of all of the current Wilmington, NC homes for sale, this is the “Greenest” by USGBC standards! Visit www.2002Kenilworth.com for detailed information on the home, its Green features, photos and more!

Landfall custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom homes would like to ensure that New Hanover County residents are aware of a new disposal law for paint waste. Below is a statement from the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance’s latest newsletter, and to read their previous newsletters, click here!

“The New Hanover County Department of Environmental Management has implemented a new policy on paint waste. Paint waste is defined as latex and oil-based paints, lacquer thinner, spray paint, paint strippers, mineral spirits, varnishes, wood stains, used brushes and rollers, etc. The new paint waste policy will be as follows:

Homeowners and contractors are instructed to solidify their paint waste by removing the lid and placing it in an open area or by adding an absorbent material such as sawdust, kitty litter, sand, etc. Once the paint waste has been solidified, they should place it in their trash cart or dumpster along with their regular trash. If homeowners or contractors arrive at the Landfill or Wastec facility with solidified paint waste for disposal, they will be charged the current tip fee for municipal solid waste. If homeowners or contractors arrive at the Landfill with liquid paint waste for disposal they will be directed to the Wastec facility and charged the current tip fee for municipal solid waste. For more information, call 910-798-4400.”

During these particularly cold winter months it’s important to beat the winter blues by keeping your home warm and comfortable. So Landfall home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a press release from renowned interior designer Catherline La Marca with her best tips for creating warmth in the family room of any home. Below is the press release and for more of La Marca’s tips, visit her blog!

“Renowned New Jersey Interior Designer, Catherine La Marca, shares her signature design tips for creating a warm and welcoming room in any home.  

According to Catherine, one of the simplest ways to add warmth to a room is to add color.  Color can be used to suggest feelings of relaxation, happiness and tranquility.  To accomplish these feelings, choose rich, earth-toned colors such as an autumn gold, burnt sienna or cranberry red.  Keep it simple by only painting one or two walls in the room with one of these colors.  Choose lighter, neutral colors for the remaining walls.  

Homeowners who aren’t ready to commit to a darker, more bold color of paint can opt to add warmth to a room by choosing large, eye-catching oil paintings that primarily use warm, bold colors like the ones suggested above.  “The right wall décor can dramatically change the look and feel of any room, plus it’s not as permanent of a commitment as paint,” says Catherine. Another tip from Catherine; go frameless to save.  Frameless oils are becoming more and more popular because of their beauty and affordability.  

For an even simpler solution, Catherine suggests using candles for added appeal.  ‘Candlelight can be used to add warmth to any room at anytime of the year,’ adds Catherine.  ‘Choose your favorite scented candle to further enhance the inviting atmosphere for your family and guests.’

NJ homeowners can find all of Catherine’s tips for adding warmth to any home by visiting her blog site at http://catherinelamarca.com/2009/08/interior-design-tips … “

As a proud supporter of the United Way of the Cape Fear Area, Landfall home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to encourage our readers to attend their latest fundraiser. The 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness will host a Pajama Party Fundraiser January 28^th, 2010 from 7-10pm at The Balcony in downtown Wilmington, NC. Attendees are encouraged to wear their pajamas and dance the night away! Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased online. For more information, visit their website!

Landfall custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to introduce our readers to the 800 Plus series from Bosch Appliances. The 800 Plus series uses 1.5 gallons of water per cycle—70 percent less than the average dishwasher—with energy and sound efficiencies of 180 kilowatt-hours per year and 40 decibels, respectively. Its triple-filtration system removes debris and small particles, and an improved sensor recognizes the quantity and type of dishes loaded, automatically adjusting water consumption levels to provide the best washing results. For more information, visit Bosch Home Appliances’ website!