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.
Your Front Door Is Your Home’s Best Introduction: Custom Home Design-Build Tips
There are so many things to consider when designing your custom home. Whether you are working with a designer or a custom home builder, doing a large remodel or building from the ground up, you have much to look at and many decisions to make. There is, however, one item that could be a good starting point in your home design – and indeed, may be one of the most crucial design items you select.
We’re talking about first impressions.
Do you want to make your house appealing before a visitor has even walked into your home?
One of the focal points of the exterior front of your house which contributes a lot to curb appeal is your FRONT DOOR!
Luxury New Home Construction – Have the Home of your Dreams
There is a lot of planning to do before having your new luxury home constructed. Follow the advice of a trusted contractor in this field and you can have the home of your dreams!
Popular Features of Luxury New Homes
Naturally, people have varied tastes about the luxury features they want in a new home. Here are some that remain ever popular.
- Huge bay windows. Wide like a theater screen and also reaching from floor to ceiling, so you have panoramic views from just about every room.
- Chef’s kitchen. Picture your gorgeous, high-end kitchen with solid wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, Read More »
Have the Walk-in Closet of Your Dreams
These days, walk-in closets are no longer just the territory of starlets and other Hollywood glamor gals. Long a favourite of women, spacious and convenient walk-in closets have now become popular with men, too. No longer considered an additional luxury in new homes, the master bedroom suites in older homes may not include walk-in closets as par for the course. Rest assured, it’s never too late, especially when professional room additions can be easily completed at a reasonable cost.
Convinced there’s no room left to create your walk-in? You’d be amazed what an experienced construction and renovation company can do with part of an adjoining hallway or upstairs laundry area, for example, or even the underutilized recesses of that storage area beneath the stairs. Depending on the placement of your existing closet, space you never knew existed can be taken advantage of.
The Very Best Room Additions are Well Planned
Start with deciding what will be kept in the closet and which of those items will be needed most often, as this will have a bearing on how shelving and other features are organized and at what height. How many people are sharing the walk-in? Next, take inventory of the articles youRead More »
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