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MORNING STAR BUILDERS WINS 2008 CUSTOM HOME OF THE YEAR
Morning Star Builders, LTD won the 2008 Custom Home of the Year ($1.5 Million - $2.5 Million) at the Greater Houston Builders Prism Award Ceremony April 26, 2008. Ted Cummins, Chief Creative Officer and Yvonne Cummins, President, of Morning Star Builders LTD accepted the award from Brian Binash, President of the Great Houston Builders Association. Fifteen judges from across the U.S. judged the entries for the Custom Home of the Year. The Morning Star Builders home is an 8,400 square foot French Country home located in the Falls at High Meadow Ranch. The home features a stunning brick groin vaulted ceiling in the kitchen, a great room with impressive views of the 13th fairway of the High Meadow Ranch golf course, a spectacular sunken wine grotto, a dazzling master bathroom with a fireplace over the master air bath tub, a mid level study with fireplace, and a welcoming outdoor living room complete with kitchen and brick barrel vaulted ceiling.
In addition to winning 2008 Custom Home of the Year, this home was also featured on Hot On! Homes Houston on KPRC. Click here to watch a clip from the broadcast.
Morning Star Builders LTD has been a preferred builder in the High Meadow Ranch subdivision for the past 5 years. Ted Cummins, GMB, (Graduate Master Builder) supervised the design and construction of the Custom Home of the Year.
The Morning Star Builders home at 37202 Meadow Falls Court will be on the Great Houston Builders Association Parade of Homes Tour May 3-18.
Parade of Homes
Morningstar Builders is excited to be participating in the Greater Houston Builders Association Parade of Homes. The Fairhaven will be open on Saturdays from 10-5, and Sundays Noon-5. You can find more information at the Parade of Homes website, or in this flyer (PDF Download).
International Builder’s Show 2008
Ted and Yvonne Cummins of Morning Star Builders LTD of Hockley attended the International Builder’s Show, the housing industry’s largest annual trade show and exhibition in Orlando, Florida, February 13-16 2008. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) event, held in one of the largest convention centers in the country, featured the most cutting-edge designs, technologies, products and services in the industry.
At the NAHB Designee Reception Ted Cummins received the Certified Graduate Builder and the Graduate Master Builder designation while Yvonne Cummins received the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist designation. These designations recognize those builders who have completed educational requirements as set forth by NAHB.
More than 1,900 exhibitors were on display across more than one million net square feet of exhibit space. Suppliers spanned more than 300 product categories ranging across every aspect of the residential and light commercial construction fields. Here are just some of the many exciting innovations the Morning Star Team investigated at the Builders Show:
QuietRock 525
This drywall product is ideal for home theaters. A single layer of QuietRock 525 is equivalent to 8 layers of standard drywall (acoustically).
Illumi-Heat by Hunter
If you would like some additional heat in your bathroom, Hunter just released a light fixture with a heating function.
dB-3 Sound Barrier by United Plastics Corp.
Another sound reduction product, however this is designed to go behind the drywall and or under the sub-floor.
360 Electrical
You have to see this really cool product. Each 360 electrical outlet turns, providing space to accommodate oversized plugs. Just plug in your cell phone charger, hairdryer or ipod and make room for the next big plug.
Residential Rainwater Harvesting System by GRAF
This is a rain water collection package including tanks ranging from 135 to 1700 gallons, control module letting you know how much rain water you’ve collected and automatic pump. Why not water your lawn, garden and wash your car with rainwater?
What is Aging-In-Place Design, Anyway?
By Dan Bawden, CAPS CGR GMB
Name one thing you've been doing since you were born. I've got one; getting older! In response to the huge wave of Baby Boomers starting to retire, all sorts of products and services are popping up catering to the 50 and over crowd. However, none of them hits as close to home as the new "CAPS Program."
CAPS stands for "Certified Aging In Place Specialist." It is a new construction credential that has builders, architects, remodelers, designers and even occupational therapists buzzing. Far beyond using universal design ideas, aging-in-place principles are sweeping changes designed to custom-fit your home to you and your family. CAPS designs take your current and future circumstances into consideration. CAPS design principles focus on elegant, aesthetically enriching barrier-free environments. These are changes that can actually increase the value of your home, according to some realtors.
What is "Aging-in-Place" exactly? If you are like the majority of Americans, you want to continue living at home in a familiar environment throughout your maturing years. Aging-in-place means living in your home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age or ability level. It addresses the need to remodel existing homes, and design new homes so people can "age-in-place" and not have to move to assisted living facilities as they age. Since the vast majority of homes we live in are not well designed for this, a new movement in residential construction has sprung up to meet this new consumer demand.
Boomers are catching onto this trend fast - and they are 77 million strong, making up 28% of the total U. S. population. The economics of doing aging-in-place modifications are a no-brainer. Moving to a typical assisted living facility can cost upwards of $40,000 per year, each year, plus the cost of the move. The cost to widen the bathroom door, put in safety bars and a roll-in shower would typically cost about $5,000 to $6,000, but it is a one time expense. In addition to the economics, consider the psychological impact of being uprooted from your community, familiar rituals, independence and privacy. The affordability of aging-in-place remodeling is enhanced by the fact that medically necessary changes (such as a wider doorways or a roll in shower) are deductible on your taxes, if backed up by a letter from your doctor.
Too early to think this applies to you? Consider how many folks struggle with bouts of arthritis at an early age. If you fell and broke your leg, how easy would it be to get up and downstairs in your house? Or perhaps you have an aging parent who is facing challenges who may need to move in with you.
Construction and design professionals are just beginning to take advantage of the CAPS training here in Houston. The new designation is taught through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in collaboration with AARP. In fact, you may have seen an article about Aging-in-Place in AARP's magazine, Modern Maturity recently. Research by AARP showed two clear themes 1) over 85% of Americans want to remain in their homes as they age, and 2) they don't have faith that contractors have the proper expertise or business practices to help them do it. Enter the CAPS program. CAPS connects responsible professionals with homeowners who need these services on an ever increasing basis. CAPS is a nationwide initiative, and it is just beginning.
Look for the CAPS credential as a reliable way to identify professionals to modify your home or build a new one that is designed for a lifespan. CAPS graduates receive training about the technical/construction aspects and learn about the unique aspects of working with older Americans. They must also take formal business training, maintain their credentials through continuing education, and subscribe to a Code of Ethics.
What kinds of changes are we talking about?
A host of things! The overall goal is to make the home safer and more barrier-free. Typical issues include the following:
Getting safely and securely in to and out of the house
- Better outdoor lighting, like path lighting to the front or rear door
- Attractive ramps or a zero step entrance for the home
- Install a package shelf by the front door
- Add handrails at existing steps and porches
- Front door with sidelight for security
- Avoid stairs: build one-story designs for new homes
- Lever-handle faucets with pull out spray
- Raised dishwasher to avoid back strain (also for front-loading washers and dryers)
- Rolling island that can be placed back under the counter
- Revolving corner shelves and pull-out shelves
- Lower, side-opening oven
- Pull out cutting board
- Adjustable height sink
- Side by side refrigerator with slide out shelves and a water/ice dispenser
- Cook top with controls on the front
- Larger, friendlier cabinet and drawer pulls
- Install 2 to 3 attractive looking grab bars in shower
- Lever handles on faucets
- Slide bar type hand held shower for sitting or standing
- Insert shampoo nooks
- Curbless showers-nothing to step over and can be rolled into is a wheelchair becomes necessary later
- Tub and Shower controls moved closer to entry point
- Anti scald, temperature and pressure balanced tub show valves for safer bathing
- Widen entry door to at lest 32"
- 32-36" pocket doors
- Higher toilets
- Improve lighting with recessed fixtures in common areas and hallways
- Lever handles on doors and widows
- Lower light switches and thermostats; raise outlets
- Planning for future elevator by stacking closets
- Adding blocking in walls for future chair lifts at stairs
- Wider doors that accommodate wheelchairs and walkers
More information about the program can be obtained from the NAHB.
Building for Boomers
Builders and other housing industry professionals met in Denver to discuss the latest active adult and seniors housing design trends and innovations and the state of the market at the seventh annual Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium. Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) 50+ Housing Council, the Symposium, held May 30 – June 1 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, is considered the premier education and networking event for housing professionals who serve the 50+ market. The latest trends in 50+ buying and selling patterns, Internet connectivity and lifestyle, niche buyers and the lure of campuses were be explored during breakout sessions at the upcoming Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium. Ted and Yvonne Cummins, of Morning Star Builders, LTD attended the symposium to learn more about the 50+ market.
The symposium featured several speakers discussing the latest trends in the 50+ market, headlined by keynote speaker Andrew Zolli. A noted foresight and global trends consultant, Zolli examined the ways in which increased longevity will touch every part of life, from the workplace and financial planning to health care and changing family structures. In the general session, best-selling author Sarah Susanka talked about how the "Not So Big" housing movement is influencing the way boomers live. Real estate advisor Tim Sullivan, president of Sullivan Real Estate Advisors, assessed the long-term opportunities and challenges facing building professionals today.
Since 1989, the 50+ Housing Council has served the special needs and interests of NAHB members and others in the housing industry who build for the growing 50+ market. The 50+ Housing Council provides information, education and research to its members and offers advocacy support to NAHB members on key 50+ housing issues. The council supports 14 local councils around the United States and serves more than 1,300 NAHB members involved in 50+ housing. 50+ Housing Council products include an annual symposium: Building for Boomers & Beyond, the award-winning 50+ Housing Magazine, industry research and education programs at the local, regional and national level.
NOW OFFERING DESIGN SERVICES
Morning Star Builders is now offering design services for our clients. We are excited to offer a design-build method allowing the customer from the very beginning to work with our team to design and build their custom home. An advantage of the design - build method is once the plan is finalized construction can begin promptly since the client does not have to wait for bids from multiple contractors and wait for the selected builder to fit into their schedule. This time saving aspect of design - build can cut months off the clients construction schedule.
CERTIFIED AGING IN PLACE SPECIALIST
Yvonne Cummins recently completed the educational requirements for the CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) designation from the National Association of Home Builders. A Certified Aging in Place Specialist has been trained in the unique needs of the older adult populations, aging in place home modifications and solutions to common barriers so that people can live comfortably and safely in their homes longer. According to Yvonne, "For many years homes have been designed and constructed for the lifepsan of the building, not taking into account the lifespan of the occupants." Yvonne's seven years of experience in nursing home and personal care management brings a fresh perspective to the custom home design process.
TED CUMMINS ATTENDS NAHB CUSTOM BUILDER SYMPOSIUM
Hockley, TX - November 6, 2007 - Ted Cummins, CCO, of Morning Star Builders, LTD gathered with more than 300 other custom builders in Naples, Fla., October 26-28, 2007 for the annual National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Custom Builder Symposium. The three-day program designed specifically for custom builders featured high level educational courses, expert speakers and networking opportunities.
The Symposium featured numerous educational sessions on topics ranging from home design and green building to the top home technologies and trends. Business management sessions offered advice to builders on marketing strategies for a tough market, affordable systems that can reduce overhead, and expenses control techniques.
"The Symposium is an event not to be missed by anyone in the custom building sector," said Ted Cummins of Morning Star Builders, LTD. "The continuing education opportunities are totally focused on the needs of the custom, one-of-a-kind builder, and the opportunity to network with your peers in invaluable."
One of the highlights of the symposium was a day-long tour of local homes in all phases of construction built by leading custom builders in the Naples area, sponsored by Lutron. Attendees also benefited from opportunities to network with peers who build in this niche market and discuss common industry issues.
Morning Star Builders, LTD has been building custom homes in the Tomball/Magnolia area for 7 years.
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© 2007 - Morning Star Builders, Ltd.