New Construction Talk... Top 5 Websites for New Construction Information, Inspiration & Ideas

We want to build your dream home, but we hope your dream will be a well-informed one. These are the five websites we recommend most for information, inspiration, and ideas. Bookmark our complete list of recommendations at our “New Construction Talk Blog.” Then join the discussion (with your neighbors in the user comments section) and tell us about your favorites, including any we may not know about.

1. NAHB.org

The National Association of Homebuilders site is essential for educating yourself about all aspects of building a new home, from the economic and timing considerations, to hiring a builder. We recommend starting with the information under “Housing Topics,” where you’ll see content about design, green building, financing, and more. Then check out “E-Learning” under Education and Events for some useful webinars and online learning opportunities.

2. Finehomebuilding.com

This site is chock full of content that will educate you on the finer points of quality homebuilding and construction techniques. Use this as a “foundation” for your understanding of what goes into a home, from the foundation to the roof, and what distinguishes quality construction from cost-cutting. Start with the videos. There’s a huge searchable forum that we recommend bookmarking as well.

3.

Houzz.com/new-homeconstruction-ideas

Architectural and design ideas for your new construction are boundless – but where do you begin? It’s great if you have a source for determining what styles you like best and even better if you can share that reference with your builder. So apply the filters this site offers, scroll through the gorgeous photos, and put together your new construction “Ideabook.” It’s the perfect first step toward your truly satisfying dream home.

4. Buildinggreen.com

The longer you stay in your new home, the more important it will be for you to build green. Not only will you make your home more energy efficient, but you’ll also be adding to your home’s value at resale. Our hunch is that in 2030, green will be the norm. So check out the Research Topics and Continuing Education Courses under “Learn” on this site for a good, green start.

5. Buildingscience.com

Click on “Information” for a great resource on building physics, systems design concepts, and an awareness of sustainability to promote the design and construction of buildings that are more durable, healthier, more sustainable and more economical than most buildings built today. As with building green, the longer you plan to stay, the more important it is to invest in your knowledge of sustainable building.

cheese, please

Rich Rogers thinks he has the greatest job in the world: cheesemonger. The neighborhood resident and his wife, Karen, opened Scardello at 3511 Oak Lawn about three and a half years ago. “I’ve always loved cooking and food,” Rogers says. “I love to make multi-course meals for friends and family.” About seven years ago, he “fell in love with cheese.” Dallas dairy cases, even at high-end grocers, couldn’t satisfy his constant search for new and interesting cheeses. “I would mail-order and try to find the weirdest piece of cheese I could get my hands on,” he says. Soon, Rogers decided to leave a 15-year career in film and video production to open Scardello. The shop carries dozens of cheeses, and Rogers still is always in search of something new and different. There are cheeses from all over the globe, but Scardello, named after Rogers’s grandfather Pete Scardello, focuses on American and Texas makers. “All the cool things happening in cheese are happening in the U.S.,” Rogers says. European cheesemakers are bound by tradition, he says, and many American cheese-makers are coming into their own right now. Rogers considers cheese more than just a snack or an ingredient; he likes to serve a cheese plate as its own course at the end of meals. At Scardello, customers can order cheese plates and sandwiches, along with beer and wine. Monthly cheese classes allow students to taste 17 cheeses and pair them with beer or wine. “The best way to learn about cheese is to taste it,” he says.

We do, however, have a zillion plants that thrive & look beautiful in North Texas landscapes; even in heat and drought without using a ton of water. We even have hardy edibles. Come spend some time with us at the garden center, or on Facebook. We offer tips, answer questions, and teach you how to garden successfully in summer and water the right way! Sorry, we don’t currently stock unicorns.

transplants are in stock! Prizes from NHG, Taco Joint, Artizone.com Contest details & prizes at www.nhg.com.

6/9th 1-2pm Create Contemporary Containers with Succulents

June POP UP Classes

6/2nd 1pm Ornamental Grasses

6/2nd 2pm Proper Watering

6/9th 11am Native & Adapted Plants

6/9th 2pm Summer Succulents

6/16th 11am Proper Watering

—Rachel Stone

Stephanie Sanoja’s great-aunt Gladys made the best bloody marys. Friends and kin who dropped by Gladys’s home in the New Orleans Garden District would quickly find a bloody mary in their hands. “She would always have a pitcher of this ready,” Sanoja says. The former marketing director always protected her great-aunt’s recipe because she thought she might bottle it one day. Near the end of 2008, Sanoja was burnt out from her job in the advertising business and wanted to spend more time at home with her young son, so she started making plans to bottle Aunt Gladys’s mix. “The whole strategy fell into my head, and I started talking more and more about it,” she says. In February 2009, she quit her job, thinking she would launch her bloody mary mix in six months. It actually took two-and-a-half years. But her Garden District bloody mary mix is now available in liquor stores and boutiques, including Talulah Belle and Brumley Gardens. The product took longer to launch because Sanoja was stubborn about certain aspects of it. She didn’t want a standard bottle, for example. Garden District is sold in carafes because that’s how Aunt Gladys served hers. Plus, the uniqueness of the bottle helps customers remember it, Sanoja says. She was also a stickler about the recipe, which manufacturers told her again and again they couldn’t produce. “I’ve been very persistent on every little detail of this thing,” she says. Sanoja started with her first run in October 2011 with a holiday campaign. Every bottle of Garden District had a gift tag that read, “Have a bloody mary Christmas!” The mix is formulated to taste good with vodka, but it also goes well with beer, gin and tequila, she says. So far, the bottles, which retail for $11.50-$20, are selling well, especially in gift stores. Sanoja financed her venture in part with a home equity loan, and she’s confident Garden District will be profitable some day. “I’m having fun with it,” she says. “The minute I launched this the way everyone told me was impossible, that to me was a success. Everything else is gravy.”

—Rachel Stone

The Store In Lake Highlands

Lily and Laura - Beautiful Nepal handcrafted beaded bracelets created with the finest glass and sterling silver beads.. $15 ea/ $12 ea for 3 more. Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30. 214.553.8850 10233 E. NW Hwy., #410 TheStoreinLH.com

Yoga Mart

Carry your mat in style. A wide variety of types and colors are available. Mention this ad and receive 15% off any mat carrier in June. 6039 Oram (at Skillman) 214.534.4469 yogamartusa.com

The T Shop

Dad’s day the t shop way! 1911 Abrams Parkway 214.821.8314 Visit us on Facebook.

Callidora

Perfect Coin Purses. We also carry other unique Gifts, Sterling Silver & do Custom Work, Restringing & Repairs. 2913 Greenville Ave. (next to Blue Goose) callidoragifts.com 214.515.9188

2 Shea Boutique

You’ll find everything beautiful under one roof; fabulous apparel, awesome accessories, amazing cosmetics & skincare all at 2 Shea, Lakewood’s hottest NEW boutique. Mention Advocate, receive 20% off one item. 6342 La Vista Drive Suite B (Lakewood Shopping Center) 214.272.3652

Hospitality Sweet

Our irresistible cup cake push-ups are the perfect treat for your summertime event! Catering custom homemade sweets and savories. Kristen Scott and Meghan Adams 214.534.2241 thehospitalitysweet.com

La Mariposa Imports

Discover the beauty of cool comfortable cotton. New shipments of clothing, jewelry, fiesta and folk art arriving weekly! 2813 N. Henderson Ave. 214.826.0069 lamariposaimports.com

PINOT’S PALETTE

Join us for an unforgettable evening of fun, friends, and art where you bring the cocktails and we provide the canvases. Check out our calendar to book your class. PinotsPalette.com/Lakewood 214.827.4668

Once Upon A Child

In addition to BUYING and SELLING new and gently used kid’s stuff (up through 18), we have gift cards for every family member! Check our website for specials! 6300 Skillman St. #150 Dallas, TX 75231 214.503.6010 onceuponachildlakehighlands.com