Formosa Gardens Homes is excited to participate as the developer and a builder for the Spring 2010 Street of Dreams at The Island, an exclusive subdivision located just two miles South of Disney's Animal Kingdom. The Street of Dreams will showcase up to seven luxury waterfront homes in this private subdivision located on a peninsula extending into Lake Wilson.
As Formosa Gardens Homes' "crown jewel" project, the homes in this subdivision will be second to none. The homes, which will be priced around $3 million, will have a strong emphasis on both luxury and environmentally-friendly "green" construction. Homes will be up to 3 stories with residential elevators and will offer fabulous waterfront views.
The site couldn't be more perfect. The Island is surrounded by permanent conservation area in a private, gated community overlooking Lake Wilson. Disney World's fireworks display can be seen nightly from the lots in this elegant subdivision. The community is ideally situated within walking distance of both shopping and dining, in an area where demand is strong for ultra-luxury single family homes.
We plan to take you through every step of construction of these magnificent, energy-efficient homes. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing as we take you through our building process and LEED certification.
For further information, or if you are a builder interested in taking part in the Street of Dreams at The Island, please contact Formosa Gardens Homes at info@fghomes.net.
For more reading material, check out this Orlando Sentinel article about the Spring 2010 Street of Dreams event at The Island:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/local/newsletter/orl-biznews-streetofdreams091908,0,7608212.story
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Top 10 Must-Haves For Your Luxury Home
Because custom luxury homes are tailored to suit the individual homebuyer, the sky is the limit when it comes to design and features. Anything that can be imagined can be done, making each custom home as unique as the homebuyer. Since there are so many decisions and choices in the planning process, we have outlined ten of the coolest must-haves for your luxury home.
10. Dazzling Landscaping – Sure, most homes generally come with landscaping in some shape or form, but it’s the custom luxury home where landscaping design can really shine. You don’t need to limit yourself to simple turf grass or standard hedging. Instead, use your landscaping to create a glamorous outdoor living space that will harmonize with your home. Some experts say that great landscaping can increase your home’s value by as much as 20%, making the landscaping an important investment. Landscape architects can help you plan out the best arrangement and recommend the types of plant materials you want in order to get the most from your outdoor spaces.
9. Storm-Resistant Safe Room – No matter where your home is located, a safe room is always a great idea. The types of safe rooms available are almost limitless, so you can be sure to get exactly what you need. Some homebuyers prefer to have a secret safe room that is accessible through a hidden door, while others prefer to have a room such as a media room double for the safe room. Today’s safe rooms are made with storm-resistant durable materials and can include extensive security systems with invisible cameras to keep watch over your home. Safe rooms are resistant to fire, wind and water, keeping your family safe through any emergency including an F5 tornado or Category 5 Hurricane. Because of this, a safe room is one feature you do not want to skip.
8. Hot Tub – There is nothing like relaxing in the warm, bubbly waters of your own hot tub. Not only will a hot tub help soothe your mind and body but there is also evidence it may increase your home’s resale value as well. In fact, hot tubs have consistently ranked in the top five amenities homebuyers want in a luxury home, according to the Coldwell Banker Luxury Index. The available styles of hot tubs are extensive, ranging from simple and compact to large and decadent. Some homebuyers are getting creative with hot tubs, placing them in home spas or even right in the bedroom. Whatever you decide on, this is one amenity you will not want to miss.
7. Exercise Room – An exercise room doesn’t have to be limited to the standard treadmill and weights. More than ever before, exercise rooms have evolved into complete fitness centers including space for meditation, yoga or even martial arts. Large windows can let in natural light and provide an exciting view for workouts. With today’s busy lifestyle, home exercise rooms can provide the quality of a top health center with the convenience and privacy of your own home. Showers and saunas can also be incorporated in the design to create the perfect exercise space. Multimedia systems with flat-screen TV’s and high-tech sound systems can also enhance your exercise room, making it a valuable asset in your home.
6. Wine Cellar – One of the most pleasurable additions to any luxury home is the wine cellar. With so many different sizes and types to choose from, wine cellars can accommodate anyone from the casual dinner party host to the serious wine collector. Wine cellars have become one of the most requested features in luxury homes according to the National Association of Homebuilders. A wine cellar can be as unintrusive as a nook underneath the stairs or as extensive as a climate-controlled room full of wine racks. No matter the style, a wine cellar can add great value to your home and make hosting friends or just relaxing at dinner even more enjoyable.
5. Game Room – The game room often becomes a center for activity, providing a place to kick back and have some fun or entertain your guests. Modern game rooms can combine the classic with the new by mixing old favorites such as billiards and professional card tables with state-of-the-art video game systems complete with video game chairs to provide the ultimate gaming experience. Game rooms offer the perfect spot to gather with friends or family and have become a must-have in any luxury home. Completely customizable to your tastes, game rooms can make your home the place to be, providing hours of entertainment.
4. Gourmet Kitchen – Gourmet kitchens have become one of the most popular must-haves for today’s luxury homes. Gourmet kitchens don’t just include top-of-the-line appliances like Sub-Zero refrigerators and Viking ranges. They are also adding features such as brick ovens, dual dishwashers, hand-carved cabinetry, custom designed stove hoods and granite countertops. Fun extras include espresso/cappuccino machines, purifying ice machines, wok stations and in-counter steamers. Chef-designed kitchens ensure that the kitchen is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. With so many cool options, a gourmet kitchen can allow you to easily entertain guests or whip up your favorite meal, making it easy to see why Coldwell Banker’s Luxury Index names it the second most requested amenity in luxury housing.
3. Swimming Pool – No luxury home is complete without a stunning in-ground swimming pool. Stone and tile can be used to create a dreamy setting accented with waterfalls and fountains. Whether you prefer an Olympic-sized swimming pool with diving boards or a lagoon-like pool surrounded by lush greenery, a swimming pool can go a long way towards increasing your home’s value. Some great features to consider include a screen enclosure, outdoor fireplace, full bar with sink and refrigerator, gas grill and summer kitchen. Your pool area can easily be a serene retreat and excellent place to enjoy good weather.
2. Home Theater – One of the most in-demand amenities in luxury homes is the home theater. This room serves as a media room with a large theater-style screen for enjoying your favorite movies, TV shows and sports games. Comfortable, reclining, theater-style seating with motion can allow you to feel as well as hear your entertainment. Also popular are snack stations with popcorn machines and refrigerators, great ideas for those who don’t want to miss a second. High-quality surround sound and high-definition video can round out the home theater experience. Home theaters can also add value to your home in terms of both enjoyment and resale value. In Coldwell Banker’s Luxury Index, homeowners named home theaters as the number one amenity they planned to purchase for their luxury home.
1. Great Location – What good will an awesome luxury home do if you aren’t close to the places you need to go? This is why location is the number one must-have in luxury housing. The ideal home should be conveniently close to shopping and dining yet tucked away enough to provide you with serenity and privacy. If you are a golf lover, you will want to make sure you are close to great golf courses. Likewise, if you enjoy boating or sailing, the ideal home would be located on the water. Vacation homes should be near the attractions you intend to visit, such as theme parks. Being close to the places you want to go can make your home so much more enjoyable and is a smart investment when building your custom home. As the old saying goes, “location, location, location!”
10. Dazzling Landscaping – Sure, most homes generally come with landscaping in some shape or form, but it’s the custom luxury home where landscaping design can really shine. You don’t need to limit yourself to simple turf grass or standard hedging. Instead, use your landscaping to create a glamorous outdoor living space that will harmonize with your home. Some experts say that great landscaping can increase your home’s value by as much as 20%, making the landscaping an important investment. Landscape architects can help you plan out the best arrangement and recommend the types of plant materials you want in order to get the most from your outdoor spaces.
9. Storm-Resistant Safe Room – No matter where your home is located, a safe room is always a great idea. The types of safe rooms available are almost limitless, so you can be sure to get exactly what you need. Some homebuyers prefer to have a secret safe room that is accessible through a hidden door, while others prefer to have a room such as a media room double for the safe room. Today’s safe rooms are made with storm-resistant durable materials and can include extensive security systems with invisible cameras to keep watch over your home. Safe rooms are resistant to fire, wind and water, keeping your family safe through any emergency including an F5 tornado or Category 5 Hurricane. Because of this, a safe room is one feature you do not want to skip.
8. Hot Tub – There is nothing like relaxing in the warm, bubbly waters of your own hot tub. Not only will a hot tub help soothe your mind and body but there is also evidence it may increase your home’s resale value as well. In fact, hot tubs have consistently ranked in the top five amenities homebuyers want in a luxury home, according to the Coldwell Banker Luxury Index. The available styles of hot tubs are extensive, ranging from simple and compact to large and decadent. Some homebuyers are getting creative with hot tubs, placing them in home spas or even right in the bedroom. Whatever you decide on, this is one amenity you will not want to miss.
7. Exercise Room – An exercise room doesn’t have to be limited to the standard treadmill and weights. More than ever before, exercise rooms have evolved into complete fitness centers including space for meditation, yoga or even martial arts. Large windows can let in natural light and provide an exciting view for workouts. With today’s busy lifestyle, home exercise rooms can provide the quality of a top health center with the convenience and privacy of your own home. Showers and saunas can also be incorporated in the design to create the perfect exercise space. Multimedia systems with flat-screen TV’s and high-tech sound systems can also enhance your exercise room, making it a valuable asset in your home.
6. Wine Cellar – One of the most pleasurable additions to any luxury home is the wine cellar. With so many different sizes and types to choose from, wine cellars can accommodate anyone from the casual dinner party host to the serious wine collector. Wine cellars have become one of the most requested features in luxury homes according to the National Association of Homebuilders. A wine cellar can be as unintrusive as a nook underneath the stairs or as extensive as a climate-controlled room full of wine racks. No matter the style, a wine cellar can add great value to your home and make hosting friends or just relaxing at dinner even more enjoyable.
5. Game Room – The game room often becomes a center for activity, providing a place to kick back and have some fun or entertain your guests. Modern game rooms can combine the classic with the new by mixing old favorites such as billiards and professional card tables with state-of-the-art video game systems complete with video game chairs to provide the ultimate gaming experience. Game rooms offer the perfect spot to gather with friends or family and have become a must-have in any luxury home. Completely customizable to your tastes, game rooms can make your home the place to be, providing hours of entertainment.
4. Gourmet Kitchen – Gourmet kitchens have become one of the most popular must-haves for today’s luxury homes. Gourmet kitchens don’t just include top-of-the-line appliances like Sub-Zero refrigerators and Viking ranges. They are also adding features such as brick ovens, dual dishwashers, hand-carved cabinetry, custom designed stove hoods and granite countertops. Fun extras include espresso/cappuccino machines, purifying ice machines, wok stations and in-counter steamers. Chef-designed kitchens ensure that the kitchen is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. With so many cool options, a gourmet kitchen can allow you to easily entertain guests or whip up your favorite meal, making it easy to see why Coldwell Banker’s Luxury Index names it the second most requested amenity in luxury housing.
3. Swimming Pool – No luxury home is complete without a stunning in-ground swimming pool. Stone and tile can be used to create a dreamy setting accented with waterfalls and fountains. Whether you prefer an Olympic-sized swimming pool with diving boards or a lagoon-like pool surrounded by lush greenery, a swimming pool can go a long way towards increasing your home’s value. Some great features to consider include a screen enclosure, outdoor fireplace, full bar with sink and refrigerator, gas grill and summer kitchen. Your pool area can easily be a serene retreat and excellent place to enjoy good weather.
2. Home Theater – One of the most in-demand amenities in luxury homes is the home theater. This room serves as a media room with a large theater-style screen for enjoying your favorite movies, TV shows and sports games. Comfortable, reclining, theater-style seating with motion can allow you to feel as well as hear your entertainment. Also popular are snack stations with popcorn machines and refrigerators, great ideas for those who don’t want to miss a second. High-quality surround sound and high-definition video can round out the home theater experience. Home theaters can also add value to your home in terms of both enjoyment and resale value. In Coldwell Banker’s Luxury Index, homeowners named home theaters as the number one amenity they planned to purchase for their luxury home.
1. Great Location – What good will an awesome luxury home do if you aren’t close to the places you need to go? This is why location is the number one must-have in luxury housing. The ideal home should be conveniently close to shopping and dining yet tucked away enough to provide you with serenity and privacy. If you are a golf lover, you will want to make sure you are close to great golf courses. Likewise, if you enjoy boating or sailing, the ideal home would be located on the water. Vacation homes should be near the attractions you intend to visit, such as theme parks. Being close to the places you want to go can make your home so much more enjoyable and is a smart investment when building your custom home. As the old saying goes, “location, location, location!”
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Custom Home Building Process
The building of a new custom home can be a very exciting time. As a homeowner, however, it can also be somewhat confusing unless you know what to expect and when. By better understanding the process of building a custom home, you can find answers to your questions and more fully enjoy this exciting time as your new home take shape from the ground up.
A custom home has many different components which all need to come together seamlessly to produce the finished product. In general, a custom home will take 8-10 months from permitting to move-in. In the timeline below we follow the process of building a custom home from the planning stages through the final closing and move-in.
PLANNING
- Determine where to build home
- Design home with architect
- Secure financing
- Find a contractor (or decide to owner build)
- Finalize home plans and plot plan on lot
PERMITTING
- Turn in permit application: plot plan, sealed architectural drawings, truss plans, energy calculations, subcontractor cards and recorded Notice of Commencement
CONSTRUCTION
- Place foundation: underground A/C, electric and plumbing
- Set up walls
- Set trusses
- Dry in house: roof, windows and extensor doors
- Rough framing, interior walls
- Rough in: A/C, plumbing, electric and gas (if required)
- Finish outside walls: stucco, etc.
- Insulate walls
- Hang and finish drywall
- Install millwork: interior doors and trim
- Paint interior
- Install floor tile and wall tile
- Set cabinets
- Paint exterior
FINISHING TOUCHES
- Final trim out: electric, A/C, plumbing and appliances
- Pour drives and sidewalks
- Install landscaping
- Install finish flooring: carpet, etc.
- Final touch-up, punch list and inspection
- Final closing with lender
- Move in and live happily ever after
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