New Oceanfront Luxury

Coastal Oregon Rental By Owner

This beautiful luxury home is right on Rockaway Beach the Oregon Coast. Step from the great room right onto the sand.

This by owner 5 bedrooms, 3 bath, Rockaway Beach vacation rental home on the Oregon coast, features two spacious living areas, two gas fireplaces, ping pond table, a pool table, cable tv and more!

The Great Room

Seating for you and all your friends! The great room is furnished with red leather couches, and overstuffed chairs.

Table settings for 20 a great place to eat, watch the ocean, read, enjoy television or a game of cribbage with family and friends.

Downstair’s Bathrooms
Two large, full bathrooms downstairs. Both offer double sinks, and extra large showers, plenty of hot water and soft, colorful, oversize towels.

Bathrooms are stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hair dryers. A closet full of beach towels ensure everyone stays warm and dry.

Building a Custom Home on Cape Cod: Interior Designer

A custom home should reflect your vision. A good interior designer will help you determine or confirm your choice of finishes that will compliment your home. Involving your designer at the beginning of the project will save time, money, and worry. The overall design and style of your home will determine many of the interior selections such as tile, stone, or hardwood floors. By recommending the proper flooring, finishes, fireplaces, and cabinetry designs at the beginning of the project, a designer reduces the need for expensive changes later and enables the builder to keep the construction schedule.

If your designer’s selections are made early in a project, the interior design process will be less stressful, more efficient, cost effective, and fun!

Once your lot or home has been purchased, you will start the creative process of putting your dreams and ideas on paper. An important part of custom building or remodeling is the delicate balance of what you need, what you want, and what you have budgeted for the project. When you are satisfied with the balance, the project can be completed without unhappy surprises or costly last minute changes.

Cataldo Custom Builders, Inc. and your architect will consult with you regularly on the design and construction of your home or remodeling project. The interior designer will also work with you at this stage, making sure that the details are outlined from the foundation to the size, shape, and placement of appliances. The team will work together on designing a home that is both pleasing to you and one that will appreciate in value based on your decisions.

Your ’step by step’ guide to building with Beach Life Homes

1. Selecting your block: Will the block you are about to purchase suit your wishes and desires? We suggest you discuss this with one of our architects. It will cost you nothing and in the past has saved our clients thousands of dollars.

2. Choosing a design: We have developed a series of standard plans for you to peruse. Feel free to alter and modify the plan you would like us to build. Alternatively you may have your own plan. Our draftsman, Neil Harris, is only too happy to work with you.

Most clients have one of our architects custom design their new home.

We suggest you have an initial meeting with one of our architects. This meeting is obligation free and will last approximately one (1) hour. Their experience in the industry spans some 42 years and during this time, they have been recognised by the receipt of various awards.

3. Decision to proceed: To have one of our architects commence designing your new home, an initial investment of $2500.00 is required. This initial investment includes the commissioning of a contour survey. A contour survey determines accurate dimensions of your block, the extent of any site works, the actual positioning of your new home on your block, driveway gradients, Telstra location etc etc.

4. Concept design: Our architects are now in a position to begin designing your new home. This meeting will require your input and direction, and will last approximately 3 hours.

5. Presentation of concept: Within 10 days you will be presented with your new home based off your previous meetings with one of our architects. The concept will be ‘on budget’ based on the budget you set our architect. It will have been ‘double checked’ by our Estimator, Steve Hoey.

6. Sketch plan: Having approved your concept plan and being satisfied we are on budget, our draftsperson, Neil Harris is ready to take the architect’s concept and turn it into reality. Within 10 days you will be forwarded an accurate, detailed computer sketch for you to check.

7. Budget estimate: You’ve now approved Neil’s computer sketch of your new home. Our estimator Steve will need 10 days to check his original ballpark figure and provide you with a concise and itemised estimate.

8. Working drawings: On acceptance of the budget estimate, the next step is for our draftsperson to complete your “working drawings”. These drawings will be ready for you to check in approximately 10 days time. Your lending institution will certainly require these drawings to process any loan application.

9. Complete paperwork: Once you have approved our paperwork which includes contractual documents, fixed price quotation letter, home owners warranty insurance application, working drawings, and you have paid your deposit, we are now ready for any architectural review committee and council.

10. Plans to council/colour selections: Whilst your plans are being processed by council, (this could take anywhere from 4-8 weeks) you are now in a position to meet with Sue Carlaw who will document all your colours and selections. One of our interior decorators will also meet with you and will require around 2 hours of your time.

11. Commence construction: Your plans have now been released from council and include all the necessary permits and certificates for one of our construction managers to schedule your job and commence construction.

12. During construction: Your construction manager will now guide you through the construction process to completion. He can be contacted by mobile ensuring a smooth and worry free time. Meetings can be held onsite at various times during construction.

13. Handover day: Your construction manager will walk you through your new home to inspect and double check all work is completed to your absolute satisfaction. Keys and any monies owed are now exchanged and you’re ready to move in.

14. Defect liability: Your hand over kit will not only include warranties and certificates, it will also include a form in which any defects that should arise over the next thirteen (13) weeks can be documented. You forward this to Beach Life Homes for attention.

Ten Easy Steps for Making Your Home Safer and More Comfortable

There are many simple changes you can make to your home that can greatly increase its comfort and safety. Some of our favorites are included here. And, most of the products needed for these modifications can be purchased at your local hardware store.

• Install handrails on both sides of all steps (inside and outside);
• Secure all carpets and area rugs with double-sided tape;
• Install easy to grasp shaped handles for all drawers and cabinet doors;
• Use brighter bulbs in all settings;
• Install nightlights in all areas of night activity;
• Add reflective, non-slip tape on all non-carpeted stairs;
• Install lever handles for all doors;
• Place a bench near entrances for setting down purchases and resting;
• Install closet lights, as well as adjustable rods and shelves;
• Install rocker light switches; consider illuminated ones in select areas.

What is Universal Design?

When veterans came home from World War II they were different than when they left. They had seen things they couldn’t forget. They had wounds that needed healing. And many of them had disabilities that they would have to live with for the rest of their lives.

These men and women got our attention. They had served our country when we needed them the most. Now they needed our help to go on with their lives.

Everyone tried to help. Families gave love and support. The government offered health and other benefits. Even architects did their part. They began looking for new ways to design homes so people with disabilities could live with dignity.

“Barrier-free” homes had their problems, at first many of them were ugly. So, most people didn’t want to live in them. As a result, builders didn’t construct many of them. That made accessible homes hard to find. If you could find one, you probably couldn’t afford it.

It’s taken many years, but housing designers have found a better way. It’s called “universal design.” Homes that have universal design features look like other homes. But they are much easier to use.

Universal design is getting popular for two reasons.

First, it looks nice. People with disabilities don’t feel like they are settling for an ugly house. And people who don’t have disabilities think that universal homes look and work much better than the old models.

Second, more people want universal housing. This means that the old ways of designing homes just don’t work anymore. We all want more comfort in our homes. Opening doors with arms full of groceries is as difficult at 30 as it is at 70. People live longer than they used to. More of us are living with disabilities. The traditional home that serves you well when you are healthy won’t always take care of you when you break a leg or hurt your back. Younger people want a home that will take care of them when they are sick or injured. People now realize that they need homes that will grow old with them. The 82 year old still wants to live in her own home. She just needs a home that allows her to do it. That’s where universal design comesin.

Features for Today
What makes a home “universal”? It’s simple. Everyone can use universal design! It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. You could be short or tall, healthy or ill. You might have a disability. Or you may be a prize-winning athlete. Because of universal design, people who are very different can all enjoy the same home. And that home will be there for all its inhabitants even when their needs change.

Here are some of the more common universal design features:

• No-step entry. No one needs to use stairs to get into a universal home or into the home’s main rooms.
• One-story living. Places to eat, use the bathroom and sleep are all located on one level, which is barrier-free.
• Wide doorways. Doorways that are 32-36 inches wide let wheelchairs pass through. They also make it easy to move big things in and out of the house.
• Wide hallways. Hallways should be 36-42 inches wide. That way, everyone and everything moves more easily from room to room.
• Extra floor space. Everyone feel less cramped. And people in wheelchairs have more space to turn.

Features for Comfort
Some universal design features just make good sense. Once you bring them into your home, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. For example:

• Floors and bathtubs with non-slip surfaces help everyone stay on their feet. They’re not just for people who are frail. The same goes for handrails on steps and grab bars in bathrooms.
• Thresholds that are flush with the floor make it easy for a wheelchair to get through a doorway. They also keep others from tripping.
• Good lighting helps people with poor vision. And it helps everyone else see better, too.
• Lever door handles and rocker light switches are great for people with poor hand strength. But others like them too. Try using these devices when your arms are full of packages. You’ll never go back to knobs or standard switches.

Features for Later
Universal design gives you great home feature you can enjoy now.It also helps you plan for the future. Take closets for example. When you build a closet, add some adjustable brackets. Later on,you can use those brackets to move clothing rods and shelves to a better height. This tiny investment helps a closet grow along with a child. It also means you can use the closet even if you start using a wheelchair. This kind of planning can help you make sure every part of your home will adapt to your changing needs.
Fixing Hard-to-Use Homes
You may have your own ideas about universal design features that could help you. Take a good look around your home. Make a list of the things that bug you. Tired of bending to plug in the iron? Sick of stretching to reach your favorite platter? Can’t stand carrying laundry to the basement? Don’t worry. Follow the links on the left side of this screen. You’ll find out that there are easier and safer ways to carry out your daily activities. Universal design can help. Give it a try!

AARP Resources

Universal Design Raises Living Standards for All AgesCheck out this AARP “Life Online” feature about universal design. –>
Consumer Checklists for Long-Term IndependenceUse these checklists to help you, or those you care about, plan for independence.
Usable Technology for Human NeedsIn this interview, Dr. Ben Shneiderman discusses how his message of universal usability goes straight to the heart of AARP’s interest in promoting a better experience for older users on the Web.

Other Resources
Principlesof Universal DesignA group of architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers, has established seven Principles of Universal Design. Read these principles at the website of the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina StateUniversity.
Meet a Universal Design ArchitectBecause of a genetic disorder, Architect Karen L. Braitmayer uses a wheelchair. Her disability has shaped her career.
BabyBoomers and Universal DesignThis article, published by Realty Times, suggests that demand from Baby Boomers is making Universal Design more popular.

Books
Find this book online at www.barnesandnoble.com: