2021 Review & On To 2022!

CDA staff photo in front of football great Larry Fitzgerald's home we recently designed. Click photo for a full article in Luxe Magazine showcasing the home.

So who is ready to kickoff a fresh, new year? Well every year is a fresh start that is for sure. It’s nice to look back but it’s also great to think of all the possibilities that lie ahead and how we are the writer of our story. Each day truly is a gift and needs to be lived like its your last, or as Isabel tells me, lived as if it your first! Great perspective.

Let’s hope we have all learned some good lessons from these past years, like to appreciate our health, all that is good in our lives, how important our homes are, and to stop delaying on those things you've been wanting to do. For us at Candelaria Design, we always strive to live life to its fullest and inspire ourselves and others to do the same.

We have an exciting 2022 in the works with three Candelaria Design Tours; Oregon in May, Spain in June, and Italy in September. Then add in plenty of client dinners, fund raisers, site staking and house warming parties and 2022 will not be short of exciting events filled with #CandelariaStyle.

We have been so fortunate to have stayed busier than ever this year! Our work was published in numerous publications, we won two Luxe Red Awards, two Masonry Council Awards, and were named as a top architect firm by various outlets! Our Candelaria Design Team has really done a stellar job, especially given the unforeseen changes in the world, the housing market, the supply chain and even internal company changes this year.

So now, let’s take a look back at all we accomplished in 2021 at Candelaria Design! We all wish you a joyous, prosperous and healthy 2022.

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“Inspiring Living” Podcast

Mark's Inspiring Living Podcast has been going strong since September 2019 and has nearly 100 inspiring episodes! Take a look at our website's Podcast Page by clicking the image above to see all the past episodes and listen to some amazing stories.

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Recipes

As you know, Mark loves to cook and entertain, but did you know we have a wide variety of recipes on our website, many of which have YouTube video tutorials featuring either Mark or professional chefs! Click the image above to see for yourself and learn something new!

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To stay inspired and up to date on all our designs, events, podcasts, etc. follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

What to Look For When Designing or Shopping for a Luxury Home

When designing or shopping for a luxury home, there are many considerations. Location, size, architectural design, and privacy are a few of the reasons people are willing to pay a premium for this top tier of properties. However, it is the quality of materials that can truly set luxury homes apart. While high-quality materials are paramount, few buyers know exactly which materials to look for when searching for the home of their dreams. The following breakdown delves into the most sought after features in today’s home design and how to locate them when shopping for or designing a luxury home.

Dedicated Spaces

The prevailing trend in modern design over the last decade has been to tear down walls to create open and inviting spaces. And while the open layout is likely here to stay for kitchens and living rooms, contemporary luxury homes feature a good share of specialty rooms and partitioned areas.

Game hubs, workout rooms, and contactless delivery spaces are some of the most prominent dedicated spaces requested by luxury home shoppers. In this new era of remote work, even the home office is getting taken to the next level, with multiple work areas featured in some houses. Zoom walls, modular partitions, and acoustic ceiling clouds are ways that homeowners can ensure that more than one party can work or study simultaneously.

Operational Windows

The widespread virus has emphasized the importance of air quality and circulation. As a means of protecting health and wellness, luxury homeowners are eschewing fancy decorative windows in exchange for windows that can be easily opened. Casement or sliding glass windows with operable louvered shutters make for a great way to maximize air circulation while enhancing curb appeal.

Durable Kitchens

With more meals being prepared at home and casual get-togethers shifting from the bistro to private residences, it is more important than ever that the kitchen be able to withstand significant traffic without showing signs of wear. Features such as quartz countertops, rustic engineered wood flooring, and stainless steel fixtures are highly durable and require minimal maintenance.

Energy Efficient Features

There are more ways to create an energy-efficient luxury home than by having solar panels installed. While solar roofs are undoubtedly a strong option for reducing nonrenewable energy consumption, buyers are also interested in features such as Energy Star appliances, radiant floor heating, LED lighting, and smart glass windows as means of reducing the home’s energy consumption.

Exterior Living Spaces

As people spend more time at home, it is important that they be able to break the monotony of sitting inside all day. Therefore, contemporary luxury homes invest heavily in functional exterior spaces.

Covered decks, outdoor kitchens, and louvered pergolas are all some trendy features that are highly desirable to home shoppers. In addition, pass-through windows are becoming popular due to the accessibility they lend between the home’s interior and exterior, with some homes even choosing to feature café-style exterior seating on the deck or patio that opens directly into the kitchen.

Insulated Concrete Framing

As people are spending more time than ever at home, insulation has become a primary concern as a means of controlling utility consumption, with shoppers asking about foam board and fiberglass batts in the walls and polyiso insulation in the ceilings. For the more environmentally conscious, recycled denim rolls and batts are becoming a popular insulation trend and one we used in the first LEED Restaurant in Arizona, El Chorro, designed by of course, Candelaria Design.

Insulated concrete forms (ICF) is also becoming a staple as a modern luxury framing choice. In addition to elite weather resistance and thermal mass, ICF offers the highest quality protection from fire and insects, making it highly desirable in parts of the western United States that have been ravaged by wildfires in recent years.

There are many factors to balance when shopping for or designing a luxury home, with high-quality building materials being at the top of the list. However, the most contemporary trends in quality may be difficult for some buyers to stay ahead of. By considering the aforementioned points, buyers can gain a firm understanding of what to look for when shopping for a luxury home. 

Roger Marx is a contributor to the Innovative Building Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries . Roger is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value and improve sustainability.