Some homes just grab your eye, even from the outside. When we caught sight of Blu Homes’ latest creation, the Sidebreeze, we stopped what we were doing and checked it out. Blu Homes is a company based in both California and Massachusetts that specializes in green, energy-efficient homes that are incredibly attractive (at least to us). The Sidebreeze is the company’s largest of eight different home designs offered by the company. The two-story Sidebreeze works well on narrow lots and has ceilings that hit over 12 feet with a distinctive central area dubbed the Breezespace. The Breezespace has full glass walls on both sides of the home,so you get views in every direction and tons of natural light. If you’re on a lake or just have some land or a view, this is a great layout for a home.
Blu Homes Sidebreeze Characteristics
The creative director of Blu Homes and lead architect for Sidebreeze is Karl Daubmann. His goal was to preserve the high ceilings and sun-filled open spaces that mark the Breezehouse, while building a spacious home with lots of California design sense. Since the design is truly versatile, the Sidebreeze fits into a narrow beachfront lot just as easily as it will in the suburbs of the East Coast or on the slopes of a Colorado mountainside.
What makes the Sidebreeze so iconic is that the Breezespace is a cantilevered second story which creates both a welcoming entrance and also multiple courtyards. The first floor is an expansive living space that seems perfect for entertaining, while an open, steel staircase leads to a private second floor with high ceilings and large bedrooms. The master suite and balcony gain spectacular views from the design.
Notable features and options of the Blu Homes Sidebreeze include:
- 2,600 square feet, open floor plan
- 3 or 4 spacious bedrooms, with option for a media room
- 3 full baths or 2 full and 1 half bath
- 25’ x 17’ Breezespace with 12′ ceiling and full glass on both sides
- Light-filled master bedroom suite and private balcony
- Clerestory windows, abundant natural light
- Spacious kitchen, ample counter space
- Optional fireplace
- Separate garage
- Ideal for suburban lots
- Extensive incorporation of green features
Beyond the standard green features that Blu includes in every home, such as recycled steel framing, radiant heat flooring, high R-value walls and energy-efficient appliances, Blu Homes can achieve Net Zero energy status with the inclusion of other available green elements. All Blu homes are solar-ready and are certifiable under the Energy Star and LEED for Home rating systems.
Blu’s homes are built by skilled craftspeople in the company’s 250,000 square-foot factory in Vallejo, CA. Once complete, the homes are installed on-site in one day and completed in as little as two weeks by Blu’s teams of craftspeople. Remarkably, given the design and look, Blu’s homes can be folded for quick and cost-effective transportation and setting on site, making for a drastically reduced building timeline, while simultaneously allowing the homes to have taller ceilings and spacious light-filled interiors. All of this is done at a pre-agreed, fixed cost.
The Blu Homes Sidebreeze is available now and starts at $590,000 ($625,000 in CA and Canada). For more information, visit www.bluhomes.com
