Let’s face it – anyone who has invested in window coverings for their homes knows that it can be quite an investment. On top of that, there are so many options and varieties in material on the market that making a decision on what to install in your home can be overwhelming. The options go beyond real and faux wood blinds, and this article will help get you up to speed on all of the choices available.

Dunbar Builders uses blinds in many of the homes we build, so let’s start there. “Blinds” refers to a hard treatment constructed from slats which are most often adjusted by a manual pull cord, wand, or remote control. Yes, that’s right, blinds can now come with a remote control! What we love about blinds is that they are easily adjustable. If you desire light control or privacy, blinds stay tightly closed. If you want a clear, unobstructed view, blinds pull up and stack nicely at the top of the window. Even if you know blinds are the window coverings you want in your home, there are still several decisions to be made: the width of the slat, the color, and the material.

The size

Generally blinds come in one of three standard sizes: ½ inch, 1 inch, and 2 inches. Currently ½ inch slats are very popular because of the contemporary look they provide in a home, 2 inch slats are a timeless choice because of their old-world feel, and 1 inch is the middle compromise: not too narrow, not too wide. Does Dunbar Builders have a favorite size? Why yes we do, and it just so happens to be the classic option – 2 inch slats.

The color

Because window coverings are a hefty investment, we advise our homeowners to play it safe by selecting a neutral color. You can never go wrong by selecting a color which is close to the color of the window trim. Choosing a soft, neutral color maximizes the longevity of blinds, and is also very attractive to potential buyers.

The material

Wood blinds are a popular option; note that there are real wood blinds, and faux wood blinds. Whether real or faux, wood blinds bring texture and warmth to a room. So you’ve decided you want wood blinds in your home, but you can’t decide between real or faux? We can help!

Faux wood blinds actually have a couple advantages over real wood. First, faux wood can cost significantly less than real wood…so saving money is always a plus. Second, faux wood blinds stand up to moisture and humidity better than the real ones. This makes them an excellent choice for coastal homes, bathrooms, kitchens, and humid climates like the homes we build in the South. Do you have children constantly running through your home? If so, faux wood remains the better choice since they will not warp and are easy to clean! If you want white or painted wood blinds for your home, choose the faux ones. Trust us, no one will be notice the difference!

So why do some homeowners choose real wood? Real wood provides a natural, organic feel in rooms. Many homeowners prefer real wood because of its warmth, sophistication, and quality. Real wood blinds have texture and unique grain details because most are made from North American hardwoods. Yes, real wood costs more, and is more difficult to maintain (do not clean with any harsh chemicals), but there is no denying the patina that real wood develops over time, much like furniture. Another reason homeowners choose real wood blinds is because they provide strong construction, excellent insulation, and superior privacy. If you have wood trim or stained wood trim around your windows, real wood is a great choice because there are so many stains and colors available. We’ve had clients at Dunbar Builders who have even wanted to coordinate the blinds to the finish on some of their furniture pieces – real wood blinds make this the easier choice because of the colors and stains available on the market.

Whether real wood or faux, blinds remain the classic choice for window coverings. Take into consideration the information above, the room in your home where the blinds will go, and you will be very pleased with this timeless choice!

Contact Dunbar Builders to get started on your dream home.

How to choose the best white paint color for your home

White walls have never been in more demand. Because there are so many shades of white, best white paint color for your home’s interior can be overwhelming because the variations in white aren’t as obvious to the eye as other colors. White is a calm, delicate, classic, peaceful color on walls, which is why we see it all over design magazines and Pinterest.

The following tips will help you make the right selection:

• Bring home lots of swatches: Make sure to bring home at least several swatches of white from the paint store. At some paint stores, like Sherwin Williams, larger swatches can be requested, which makes it easier to visualize the color once home. Tape these larger swatches to the wall in the room you are painting!
• Know your undertone: Whites either have warm undertones or cool undertones. Knowing which undertone you are drawn to for your home will help you edit the swatches you select. Warmer whites have a creamier, more yellow base. Cooler whites have a blue-green base.
• Paint a sample on the wall: Once you have narrowed your paint colors down (we suggest at least three), paint a 3X3 foot square on the walls in the room you are painting. It is very important to observe the color at different times of day and night since paint colors change depending on the light and the direction the room is facing.

Some of the best and most popular white paint colors

Warmer whites (creamier base, yellow undertones)

White Dove, Benjamin Moore

This white reads as soft, welcoming, and warm without looking beige. It is one of the most recommended and used white paint colors out there! There is nothing cold about this white.

Dover White, Sherwin Williams

This is one of the most popular whites right now! This also reads as a creamy white and has a yellow undertone. Its popularity is largely due to the fact that though white, it is not cold. This is a good white for a family room!

Snowbound, Sherwin Williams

Another top choice in the warm whites category. This is a creamy white paint which allows darker colors to pop. It looks beautiful on walls when juxtaposed with dark stained hardwood floors!

Simply White, Benjamin Moore

This is a top seller because it is clean and bright without being too harsh. It can be used everywhere from kitchen cabinetry, to kitchen walls, to family rooms. This white is a great choice for homes with open concept plan (especially homes with great rooms) because it is warm and soft, yet clean. Simply White is a very versatile white that looks great in any space.

Cooler whites (green and blue undertones)

Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore

When you need a very bright white, this is it! It is probably the paint color closest to a true white. Most people use Decorator’s White on doors, trim, and moulding because of its brightness. It also makes the wall color pop.

Pure White, Sherwin Williams

This will be one of the top white paint colors this year! Pure White is a cooler white with blue undertones. It is a clean and bright white and is a stunning hue on kitchen cabinetry and trim! It provides a clean looking backdrop for cooking, and a room where we spend much time.

Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore

We love Chantillly Lace! It’s hard to achieve a beautiful, crisp white that’s not too bright, but this paint does just that. Another white that is beautiful on cabinetry and perfect for kitchens!

Dunbar Builders will work with you to select the best white paint color for your home

At Dunbar Builders, we work with our customers to allow them to customize their homes just how they want them. When it comes to choosing paint, we will work with you to get just the color you need. Contact us to learn more and get started with building your dream home!

Joggling boards are unique pieces of furniture that date back to the 19th century. While no one is completely certain how the joggling board was invented, one legend has it that the first board was built in the Midlands of South Carolina at Acton Plantation.¹ If you are from the Lowcountry of South Carolina, you’ve probably seen a joggling board, or maybe even sat on one. These outdoor living furniture pieces are most known to sit on the porches of southern homes and restaurants. Having one on your porch will add flavor and character to your outdoor living space.

Dunbar Builders owner, Pat Dunbar, enjoys woodworking as a hobby. He’s built many joggling boards for family and friends over the years.

What exactly is a joggling board?

A joggling board, also known as a jostling board, is a long pliable board that is supported on both ends with wooden stands and is traditionally made using southern yellow pine. The board itself is springy, allowing for those sitting on the board to easily bounce up and down as well as rock back and forth. The board is typically between 10 and 16 feet long and is wide enough for sitting.

How can you use a joggling board?

Joggling boards are nothing short of unique with several uses, including:

Exercise

The first joggling board ever creating was created for exercise purposes, providing movement options to someone who couldn’t manage much due to a certain illness.

Courting

The joggling board was thought of as a favorite place for sweethearts. The man would sit on one end and the woman on the other, as the joggling board was gently bounced, the two would gradually be brought together, eventually meeting in the middle.

Rocking Babies

Joggling boards were known to be used to rock babies. The movement of the board would gently bounce and sooth babies to sleep.

Entertainment

Today, joggling boards provide smaller porches and patios seating for multiple visitors. They take up less space and are great alternatives for porch swings or rocking chairs.

Joggling boards are a symbol of southern lifestyle

While joggling boards were known to have several different uses during their main popularity many, many years ago, they are still seen as a symbol of southern lifestyle today. Joggling boards, while rare, can still be found on southern porches and patios, especially in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

1 – http://www.jogglingboard.com/index.html

Choose Foam Insulation for the Numerous Long-Term Benefits

When it comes time for you to make a decision on your home’s insulation, there are several options available. Choosing foam insulation will provide many long-term benefits.

Your heating and cooling is more than half the energy you use in your home, making it the largest energy expense you have as a homeowner (see http://energy.gov/public-services/homes/heating-cooling). So…it’s important to make the cost-effective decision when it comes to your home’s insulation.

The majority of your home’s energy can be lost due to air infiltration from gaps, holes, and air leaks that can all be prevented. Foam insulation can serve as an air sealant, sealing the holes and gaps, ultimately saving you money by preventing your heating and cooling from escaping your home.

A better sealed home has a great impact on your utility bills and energy consumption.

What is Foam Insulation?

Foam insulation is plastic foam that provides continuous insulation and air sealing barriers on your walls, around your roof, around corners, and even on curved surfaces. The foam can be sprayed or poured and is created by mixing and reacting liquid components. The foam provides moisture and vapor barriers while sealing gaps that cannot be sealed by other traditional insulations. Foam insulation can differ in how it is applied and in the type that is used.

Primary Types of Foam Insulation

Different types of foam insulation can be used for different purposes, each offering its own benefits that are appropriate for different types of buildings, projects and climates. The types of foam insulation include:

• High Density – exterior and roofing
• Medium Density – continuous insulation of interior and unvented attics
• Low Density – interior and unvented attics

Benefits of Foam Insulation

• Significant heating and cooling savings
• Improved energy efficiency
• Added resale value to your home
• A healthier home
• Reduced amount of allergens, pollutants and moisture entering your home
• Reduced chance of mold growth
• Improved indoor air quality
• Added structural integrity to your home

There are both immediate and long-term benefits provided when deciding to use foam insulation in your home. The benefits truly are endless, and your initial investment will quickly offer payback as you will significantly save every month on your energy bills.

Dunbar Builders strongly recommends using foam insulation.

Liven up your front porch with a little paint that includes a lot of history!

What was once known as just an old southern tradition – painting your porch ceiling blue – spans further than just the south and is still a living tradition today. With several theories as to where the blue ceilings started and why they are painted blue, it is a design element of homes that has spanned centuries. So why paint your porch ceiling blue?

Regional Reasoning

Blue porch ceilings are popular in the northwest because of the Aurora Colony, which yielded aurora blue ceilings, and gained popularity in the 1850s.

Other historical cities throughout the northeast, from Boston to Philadelphia, also donned blue porch ceilings where Victorian and Colonial homes were prevalent. The color sky blue became popular with the Victorians, as they preferred the warm colors of nature throughout their homes 1 deposit casino nz.com. A blue porch ceiling reminded them of the actual sky. Victorian and colonial homes in the area still carry on the tradition of blue porch ceilings.

Insect Repellant

Some believe that the blue porch ceilings repel insects and bugs. When porch ceilings were first painted blue, the paint was mixed with lye, which was a known insect repellent. Therefore, the porches tended to repel insects because of the paint composition. The paint needed to be refreshed every couple of years, providing a continued presence of lye for insect repelling and bug free porch sitting.

Others believe that the insects are fooled by the color of the porch ceiling. The bugs won’t nest in the porch ceilings if they are blue because the insects believe the porch ceiling is actually the sky.

Haint Blue

Blue porch ceilings have been popular in the south for centuries. The soft blue-green colored ceiling was something that began years ago, but is still seen in many homes throughout the south today, specifically on South Carolina homes. Homeowners carry on the tradition as it was something that their great grandmothers, grandmothers and mothers did, and southern homes want to stick to their southern roots.

Many suggest that “haint blue” ceilings were developed from a fear of haints, or restless spirits of the dead that have not moved on from the physical world. The blue ceiling is intended to protect the homeowners from the evil of the haints.

Whatever the Reason…

Many people today choose to paint their porch ceilings blue simply because they prefer the look and feel it provides their home. A calming blue-green color creates a relaxing atmosphere for anyone enjoying quality time on the porch with friends and family.

Choosing the Shade

If you choose to paint your porch ceiling blue, whether that decision is based on history or a preference in design, select the shade of blue that best fits you and your home. While traditionally a lighter blue-green is what is used, there is no right or wrong way to implement a blue ceiling on your porch!

If you’re looking for a list of light blue options, click here to see a list of 50 shades of “haint blue”:

http://trippalukastyle.com/southern-style-haint-blue-porch-ceilings-new-orleans-northshore

Some Examples

We’ve created this board on Pinterest of some “haint blue” ceilings that we’ve collected to help inspire you –

https://www.pinterest.com/dunbarbuilders/haint-blue-ceilings

Good luck if you decide to go “haint blue”!

One of the biggest decisions and purchases you’ll make in your lifetime is buying a house. And you aren’t just buying a house, you’re buying a home. If you’re like most people, you want your home to have exactly what you need and want. There’s not a better way to get exactly what you want than to work with a trusted builder to customize your home to your specific needs and preferences. In general, building a home is a commitment and a process, but can be extremely rewarding. Now is the time to build a new home, and below are a few reasons why…

1. Interest Rates are Low

For the last few years, interest rates have been lower than any other time in history, and they still remain relatively low. To get a visual on the history of how interest rates have fluctuated since 1871, see the graph below –

Click to see source

As you can see, rates are historically low. This being said, many believe that interest rates will continue to rise. See the chart below for one prediction of interest rates in 2017:

Click to see source

So…even though interest rates are lower now, they are constantly fluctuating and are predicted to rise in 2017. The difference in just a single percentage point in a loan interest rate can cost you or save you more than $40,000 over the lifespan of your loan. A higher interest rate will leave you with much less of a home building budget because higher interest rates will increase your monthly payments. For example, for a 30-year mortgage, a $200,000 loan with a 4% interest rate has a $955 monthly payment, while an 8% interest rate has a $1,468 monthly payment. That price difference could greatly affect your end budget and the home you are able to build.

You can sign up here to receive regular interest rate updates so that you can pick just the right time to apply for your home loan.

2. Material Prices are on the Rise

A large expense when building a home comes from the materials you need – wood, bricks, paints, electric filling, flooring, etc. The price of materials can greatly impact your overall budget for building. Material prices have been steadily increasing, and they are only going to continue to rise.

3. Energy Efficiencies

Several years ago, building an energy efficient, “green” home was more expensive and required working with home builders who specialized in green home building. Now, energy efficient options are more accessible and affordable to all home builders. Examples of these options include improved heating and cooling systems, better insulation techniques, energy efficient windows, more sophisticated hot water systems, etc. All of these energy-saving options can ultimately save you money in the long run.

As an ENERGY STAR builder, Dunbar Builders can help you make energy efficient choices when building your new home. No more overpriced energy bills!

4. Health Considerations

A new construction home will be free of asbestos, lead and formaldehyde emissions, unlike older homes that can be purchased, and will improve the overall health conditions of the home and once again, save you money in the long run.

5. Safety Conditions

When building a home, you can hard wire your smoke detectors and alarm systems with battery powered back ups that will provide improved safety.

In Short…

There’s never been a better time to build a home. Interest rates for new home loans are still low, material prices are on the rise, it’s become easier to build an energy efficient home, and new homes increasingly offer health and safety benefits.

Click here to get started with the home building process!

Dunbar Builders has partnered with Operation Finally Home, a national non-profit organization with a unique network of experienced builders, suppliers, and supporters dedicated to building homes for wounded, ill or injured veterans, surviving spouses and their families.

Operation Finally Home brings together homebuilders, the military and communities to build custom mortgage-free homes for America’s military heroes and the widows of the fallen, those who have worn America’s uniform and sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms and values, providing a strong foundation to help them move forward with their lives.

To learn more about Operation Finally Home, visit their website at https://www.operationfinallyhome.org. Stay tuned for more details coming soon…