The Press and Pour Sommelier

One of my favorite social spots is a wine bar with a do-it-yourself dispensing system that lets me leisurely sample wines at will. No need for a waiter or a sommelier, you just simply press and pour. Now, I can create the same experience at home with the "Virtual Sommelier"  a wine dispensing system by Dacor.  The product caught my attention because it's a game changer for the home wine cellar- the next "must-have" product for those looking to amp up the vino experience.  Dacor's Discovery Wine Station is an automated, temperature-controlled, four bottle dispensing and preservation system for the consumer. No more wasting half-finished bottles, you can now open, sample, sip and preserve without the pressure of finishing off the bottle or the guilt of wasting it.  You don't need to be a oenophile to appreciate the wine station's practical attributes, but at a cost of $5,299  the return on investment relates to its "value" in your lifestyle.

[caption id="attachment_2267" align="aligncenter" width="194"] Dacor Discovery WineStation[/caption]

Perhaps temperature-controlled wine storage is all you need. True Professional Series recently introduced a dual-zone  wine storage system with two independent zones so you can chill your whites colder than your reds. "Consumers are still putting wine cellars in their home, but not everyone has the space or money to invest in that," explains Steve Proctor, Director of Sales.



The dual-wine zone can hold up to 45 bottles and comes with True's patented TriLumina LED lighting. "You can change the light from white to amber to create some ambiance." True also has a single zone wine storage center that can stack together with the dual zone. "This gives you three distinct zones for sparkling, whites and reds," says Proctor.



For those who don't have the budget or space for a full-on wine cellar, temperature controlled wine storage offers a space-saving solution. Or, perhaps you just want your wine within easy reach in the kitchen or near the outdoor grill.



Check out the latest wine storage products with designer looks and LED lighting effects that free up space for your temperature-controlled wine collection. True and Dacor are just a few of the manufacturers recognizing that people want their vino within reach and chilled to perfection.



Manufacturers like to call these amenities "point of use storage" as outdoor spaces, basements, wet bars, and wine cellars continue to evolve as social spaces to sip and savor the good life.   Cheers!

 

3 Must-Dos for Making a Grand Entrance

Deciding on Your Grand Entrance Early

Choosing the front door for your new home is a key design decision that dramatically influences the home’s curb appeal. Of course the door should be in sync with the home’s architectural style but here are few guidelines.

 



Florida Custom Home Builder Jorge Ulibarri  says the front door decision comes early in the construction process, especially if it is custom-made. There needs to be time allotted for the design, manufacture, and shipping of the door (if the door is coming from Mexico or China, it will have to go through customs, sometimes that can add days to the process). Keep in mind that you will need the front door installed for the framing inspection, so you don’t want to hold up the construction process waiting on your door. Jorge says that it can take approximately two to three months to order and receive a custom-made front door.



Research Your Door Design Options

A good start is to go online for design inspiration. If you are looking for wrought-iron doors, Jorge recommends checking out the website www.canteradoors.com  The site has a wide selection of door designs and clear images. (Please note, this is not an endorsement of Cantera Doors and the author of the blog has not been paid to mention their products).

Jorge saves his clients significant cash on the purchase of a custom-made wrought iron door by having it manufactured in Mexico. He works with  MetaloStudio out of Monterrey, Mexico where craftsmen hand forge doors created from designs that Jorge and his clients create together. These doors make unique signature statements for the owners because oftentimes, they will include their family name initials or other meaningful design elements to personalize their entrance. To see some of  his client’s designs on homes designed and built by Jorge Ulibarri,  check out the Pinterest board “Making a Grand Entrance” and feel free to repin any doors that you like.



Order Your Custom Door from a Reputable Company

Don’t let price alone drive your decision in the purchase of a custom-made front door. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable company. Get references, go look at the company’s doors and inspect the quality of workmanship and material.  Check out the work and references of the door’s installer.

In a remodel project where you want to replace your front door, research your options carefully. Retrofits aren’t easy. Never order a door without having a professional come and inspect the entryway to see if it can accommodate a custom-door. Also, price compare for the door’s installation because sometimes the installation can rival the price of the door itself. For more design ideas and money-saving tips, subscribe to the Trade Secrets web series available on YouTube.

3 Tips for Picking the Perfect Lot

 

[caption id="attachment_120" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Rendering of Villa Alexina, designed by Orlando Custom Homebuilder Jorge Ulibarri[/caption]

So you’ve found the perfect lot to build your dream home. Before you sign the contract, beware that the sticker price isn’t the total purchase cost. Many consumers fail to factor in ALL costs associated with preparing the lot for new home construction.

Looks can be very deceiving when it comes to land purchases and there are many hidden costs that only surface with the proper tests and data checks. Florida custom homebuilder Jorge Ulibarri has helped many clients find the perfect lot, working together with real estate agents as part of the “lot search team.”  Jorge says ideally, buyers should include the builder in the lot selection process. “The homebuilder knows what it will take to make the land buildable. He can guide the client in asking the right questions and seeking critical information that will save money and headaches in the building process,” says Jorge, who designs and builds custom homes throughout Central Florida.  To help you pick the perfect lot for your dream home, here are three important tips:

Get A Land Survey

 

Before you sign the purchase contract on a lot, it’s advisable to order a land survey that includes topographic information showing the existing grade elevations of the lot.

Soil Test the Lot

No matter what geographic area you build in, there will be special land considerations that affect the foundation of your new home. To avoid any unforeseen issues such foundation shifts and cracks due to unstable soil or in the case of Florida, sinkholes and muck, hire an engineering company to do soil testing. Soil tests will determine if the land is suitable for construction.

When you order your soil testing there are two types to request: Preliminary Testing ,which costs approximately $500 and Extensive Testing, which costs approximately $2,500. Preliminary testing will take soil samples or bores  as deep as  six feet and typically include  five soil samples per half acre lot. You can request more samples  to increase the test's accuracy. Preliminary Testing  is not foolproof.  It can fail to detect potential soil issues such as muck that can add to the cost of the lot because it will require sand fill.  Extensive Testing  makes soil borings down 20 feet for a more accurate picture of the lot's condition.  The extra upfront costs with Extensive Testing  is well worth it because it can save you thousands of dollars in hidden costs to prep a lot for construction and  prevent you from purchasing an unsuitable lot.

Crosscheck ALL Setbacks

In some cases, there are multiple setback requirements that affect the orientation and design of a new home. It’s important to investigate and crosscheck all setback requirements of your lot. Call the county or municipality where your lot is located to find out the construction setbacks and finished floor elevations.  The later will become a crucial piece of information once you obtain your topographic survey.  With the finished floor elevations and your topographic survey, you will be able to determine the amount of fill that your lot requires in order to achieve your finished floor elevation.

If your lot is located in an HOA governed development, get a copy of the HOA bylaws to verify your construction setbacks from the developer or HOA.  Sometimes there is a difference between the county setback and HOA setback requirements and you must abide by the most stringent setbacks. This is a common mistake consumers make only to realize it after they have purchased the lot and have started the design and construction process.

Make sure you check if your lot is located on a flood zone. If it is located in a flood zone, make sure that your surveyor notes the designated  flood zone.  If the county has not determined the flood zone that your lot is in then  you will be paying a very high premium for flood insurance.

For more money-saving construction tips, subscribe to the video series, Trade Secrets available on YouTube.

 

 

 

 

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