American architecture is as diverse as its culture – from the Spanish adobes and plantations of the South, to the colonial saltboxes and industrial styles of the North. When building or remodeling your own home, you may choose a design that aligns with the style of your location – or, since freedom of expression is the very woof and warp of the American culture, you may opt for something completely unique and different. Read on to learn about the history of American architecture and the styles that may inspire you on your next custom home project.
Our Favorite Kitchen Trends
For most homeowners, the kitchen is the heart of the home. When it comes to your remodel, home addition or custom new home, it is likely the first interior element you will be designing. So where do you start? Here are some current kitchen trends that we LOVE, to help you get started with some inspiration.
How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Home
It isn’t always easy selecting finishes for your home. For many homeowners, one of the most difficult items to choose is the flooring. There are so many options on the market, how do you know which one is right for you? How do you ensure you make the right choice for your budget, your design, and your own personal comfort? We’ve helped select and install many different types of flooring over the years, and we’ve learned a lot of the pros and cons of each. Here are a few key things you need to know about how to choose the right flooring for your home.
Fireside Chat: What Kind of Fireplace is Best for Your Florida Home?
Are you a fan of the hearth? Do you love the idea of curling up next to a fireplace with your family, telling stories or playing games? Or perhaps a quiet evening warming your toes, watching the sun set? The idea of a fireplace in a sub-tropical climate may seem contradictory, but it’s very common to see both wood-burning and gas fireplaces in Florida homes. But how do you get started? What if you have an existing fireplace that doesn’t fit your style? Read on for some design and construction advice on installing the right fireplace for your home.
What’s Hot – and Not – in 2017 and 2018 Home Design Trends
When it comes to home design, trends can ebb and flow with the predictability of the ocean tides. Each time, however, cyclical trends come back with new flair and new meaning. So what innovations does 2018 have in store for homeowners creating their custom homes? And how does it tie in to the design trends of 2017? Read on to find out what’s hot – and not – in 2017 and 2018 home design trends.
How to Avoid Change Orders
Surprises are great – most of the time. We all love those unexpected moments for birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day.
But when it comes to building or remodeling your home? The last thing you want during a custom home project is a long list of surprise charges after you’ve been given a price – also known as CHANGE ORDERS.
Unfortunately, many dishonest contractors have given Change Orders a bad rep because their modus operandi is to give their clients a low bid in order to be competitive, and then once they have the job, they “walk it up” with Change Orders. We’ve met many homeowners who were given a price for a remodel but when it was all said and done, they paid more than 75% of the original bid because of Change Orders for things the contractor had “forgotten” to include in his bid.
So how do you avoid these horror stories? There are two parts to this. Read on to find out how to avoid Change Orders on your custom home project.Read More »
Five Ways to Make Your Custom Home Project Cost More – and How to Avoid Them
When you’re building or remodeling your home, you’re not buying towels or dishes. In most cases, it’s one of the most costly purchases you’ve ever made. So when it comes to budget, you probably want to figure out the best places to save money right off the bat.
There are many parts and pieces to a renovation or a construction project, and many ways to save money. That’s the beauty of working with a qualified Design-Build company, as their professionals usually have years of experience on pricing and can guide you in the right direction on which design items to select to stay within your budget. We often save our clients thousands of dollars by finding them finishes and fixtures that still look good and are in keeping with their tastes, but are far less expensive than what they might find on their own, as a consumer.
When we sit down with our clients for their initial design consultation, there are five major areas we like to discuss before we proceed. These big-ticket items can make or break the bank when it comes to a custom home project, and the direction we take depends on finding that balance between budget and aesthetics. You have to decide – are these items so important to your custom home that you are willing to stretch your budget a little? Or does budget take priority? Is there a middle ground in any of these areas? These are all important aspects of the design and planning process.
Here are five places where you can sway your budget considerably on a custom home project:
Brass is Back – But Not in Overkill
Not since the height of the 70’s have we seen brass so strongly embraced in interior design. Along with its other warm metallic counterparts (copper and bronze), brass is enjoying a huge revival. Beaten, folded or polished – designers are celebrating its luxurious, yet industrial appeal, making everything from chandeliers, pendant lights, tables, dressers, chairs, bath and kitchen fixtures and decorative accessories out of this ancient metal.
The Continual Love Affair With Gray: Design Trends 2017
Gray has taken the limelight for far longer than people think. True, the book Fifty Shades of Gray gave it a Hollywood boost – but it earned its fame fair and square through its own innate beauty. Hence, it has become known as the “color of the decade.” In 2017 design trends, gray rises to new heights as many paint companies increase their range of gray shades, and homeowners find new ways to incorporate it into their homes. Read on to find out about the new era of grays, and how you can make it work with any motif in your custom home.
Modern vs. Contemporary – What’s the Difference? Design-Build Tips for Your Custom Home
So you’ve heard the words “Modern” and “Contemporary” used in terms of architecture and design. When it comes to designing and building your home, which style do you prefer? Did you know that there is a difference between the two?
When you define the words, they both seem to mean almost the same:
- “Modern: Of or relating to present times as opposed to the remote past.”
- “Contemporary: Belonging to or occurring in the present, at the same time.”
But when we talk of architecture or interior design, believe it or not, there is a difference.
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