I had the opportunity recently to chat with landscape experts Ed Castro and Chris Hopper from Ed Castro Landscape. They were charged with landscaping the HGTV Green Home 2012 lot. They shared a wonderful story of working with the site’s existing hardwoods, planting to both beautify and improve comfort and addressing the site’s slope. To learn more about the duo’s sustainable landscape plan, please visit HGTVRemodels.com, then pop back here to comment — and vote for your favorite HGTV Green Home 2012 DIY project.
Interior designer Linda Woodrum and carpenter David Brown will handcraft several eco-friendly decorative items for this year’s HGTV Green Home. We thought it would be fun to involve you in the process: Vote for your favorite decorative accent and we’ll share the step-by-step DIY project with you when the virtual home tour launches in early April. Cast your vote daily through January 31, 2012.
And if you haven’t seen our HGTV Dream Home project, a front porch planter how-to, check it out after you cast your vote today.
We’ll soon be ramping up our coverage of HGTV Green Home 2012. I appreciate your patience as we gather details and answers to some of your sustainability questions.
Today, I’d like to direct your attention to an original video series hosted by home building expert Jeff Wilson. Among other topics, he explains the passive environmental design of HGTV Green Home 2012, as well as the unique regional certification program followed by this year’s builder. It’s called EarthCraft and is considered by many the Southeast’s standard for green building. Visit HGTVRemodels.com to watch the video series and learn more about this year’s home.
Happy Monday!
Please direct your attention to our time-lapse photography slideshow. New images have been added today. Note: The exterior paint color is NOT yellow.
Also, I had the opportunity to chat with our landscape designers Edward Castro and Chris Hopper of Ed Castro Landscape. They shared some fascinating tidbits about water retention, native and edible plantings, wind breaks and more. I cannot wait to share the details in an upcoming feature on our sister site, HGTVRemodels.com. If you haven’t done so yet, please visit the Building HGTV Green Home 2012 package to learn more about this year’s home.
As promised, I am proud to present our Building HGTV Green Home 2012 package. Take some time to explore, click through slideshows and read up on architect Steve Kemp’s inspiration for the home’s design. I am so impressed by the team’s thoughtfulness, attention to detail and smart approach to green design and construction.
Now that you’re an expert, tell me what rates as your favorite HGTV Green Home room, design feature or building material. I have to admit a weakness for that exterior stone facing, sourced right here in the great state of Tenn.!
I always enjoy speaking to our architects about design inspiration. Often, home style is influenced by region and lifestyle. HGTV Green Home 2012 is no exception. The experts at Kemp Hall Studio studied Southern farmhouse vernacular and pulled from that quintessential design elements that would work in a 21st-century home. The historic Trump-Lilly Farm, located in West Virginia, served as one source of inspiration for our Serenbe home. Do you see any similarities when you compare this photo to our rendering?
I hope to share more details about the home’s design and green details when our Building of HGTV Green Home 2012 package launches in November.
Photo by John Nicely. Source: Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division.
Interior designer Linda Woodrum gave a presentation during our day trip to Serenbe in September. Although at that time, her plans were still in the formative stages, she did share a bit about her inspiration for interior spaces. Key words included “agrarian,” “retreat” and “boutique fabrics,” and Linda revealed that wall colors would be pulled from the HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams Traditional Twist color palette.
I will reveal no more. But I hope these tidbits generate pleasant mental pictures.
As promised, I am proud to present the rendering, floor plan and elevations for HGTV Green Home 2012, a Southern-style farmhouse with a modern, green twist. Please examine the pics and post your questions and comments below.
Enjoy!
.jpg)
The story of Serenbe, the location of HGTV Green Home 2012, begins quite simply: A husband and wife were out on a Sunday drive. The destination? An old farm for sale. The couple had no intention of buying. They swore the trip was one of exploration. Despite their best intentions, they fell in love with the property – it was only 30 minutes away from Atlanta but felt a world away. The farmstead started out as a weekend getaway for the couple and their three young children. But soon, country life called them. When bulldozers threatened the surrounding forests and countryside, the couple took action and snatched up the land surrounding the farmstead. The notion of Serenbe (the combination of “serenity” and “be”) as a sustainable community took root.
I had the opportunity to meet Serenbe founder Steve Nygren last week when I paid a visit to the community and listened attentively as he shared this heartfelt story. I was struck by Steve’s passion and enthusiasm for this project, which now encompasses more than 40,000 acres of land, an organic farm, three restaurants (please note that Steve’s wife, Marie, is considered one of Atlanta’s top chefs) and cozy tight-knit hamlets grouped by theme (including arts, crafts and senior living). Serenbe is designed in the style of English countryside villages, where living, working and shopping are centralized, and the surrounding land is preserved for farming and recreational pursuits. A mix of architectural styles makes sense in this community: As time passes and a village grows, the original homes and cottages are joined by new modern structures. No matter what the home style, the front porch is key. “If you go out the front door, be ready to socialize,” says Steve.
Interest piqued? We will be sharing more community and home design info in the weeks to come. And keep your eye out for the 2012 floor plans, rendering and site elevations. I can’t wait to tell you more about this year’s HGTV Green Home, its inspiration and its most outstanding features.
Hi all,
While we wait for the floor plan to launch, take time to click through the time-lapse construction photos. We’ve already made much progress at the Serenbe home site.
Also, I’d like to direct your attention to a collection of videos that are blowing up the charts this month. They are worth a watch:
HGTV Green Home Giveaway 2011
HGTV Green Home 2012 Location
HGTV Green Home Winner Ambush
