Blog Archive

Custom Home Design Trends in 2012

Custom homes in Atlanta are certainly no exception to trends. Year after year, old trends disappear and new ones arise. As custom home builders, we enjoy seeing the new styles that present themselves and observing how homeowners incorporate them into their custom homes. While some trends are simply fads, others prove to be more long-lasting.

Below are some trends that started years ago and that we anticipate carrying over into 2012.

Green building
A strong focus on making environmentally friendly building decisions will be important in 2012. From improving household water efficiency to using green-building materials and energy-efficient lighting, green building will likely become more of a grassroots initiative than a simple trend in 2012.

Multi-functionality
More families are opting to have items in their home that can serve more than one purpose.  Custom kitchens now include islands that offer a spacious countertop that can be easily converted into a place to sit and eat a nice meal. Others opt to have separate suites in their home that can serve as a luxurious guest room for any out of town guests. It can also become the new home of any elderly parents or family members who need a place to stay long-term.

Customization
Gone are the days where decoration is only done for décor’s sake. More families are realizing the beauty of creating customized storage pieces that are just as easy on the eyes as they are functional for a household. From customized wine racks and bookshelves to walk-in closets with built-in shelving, individuals are fully embracing stylish ways to organize their home.

Whitmire Custom Homes offers cutting-edge designs and custom floor plans for homeowners across Georgia. We invite you to contact us to discuss any needs you have in more detail. We’d appreciate the opportunity to work for you!

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Need an Atlanta custom home builder?

Many prospective clients come to us and say, “We’ve found the perfect piece of land for our dream home. What do we do to get started?”

As custom home builders, we are well aware that the home building process is notorious for being hectic. But, if you outline the steps in a straight forward way and take your time as you navigate through them, the home building process can be accomplished very objectively.

Once you have a piece of land selected, then you want to consider it in context of the basic stages of building a new home. These include:
1. Determining a house plan. This includes number of bedrooms, bathrooms, size of the living areas and kitchen, inclusion of any office space, etc.

2. Calculating a house budget. Before you begin making detailed decisions about lighting fixtures and architectural accents, you have to decide on the overall price you can afford for the house. All decisions that come after the establishment of an overall budget must fall in line with the final price tag. You can make smaller budgets to help break down expense categories, but the total budgeted amount must always be considered.

3. Find a home builder. You want one who can work with your piece of land and also within your budget. This decision might involve considering the contractors with whom the builder works. Any designers, architects and other personnel should also be on board with your budget and house plans.

4. Obtain financing. Once you know what you can afford, then you can determine what type of mortgage is best for you.

5. Purchase your lot! After these steps, you’re ready to purchase your piece of land and begin working with your home builder on the construction of your new house.

If you’re interested in learning more about our team of professionals or would like to discuss your needs in more detail, please contact us.

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Three Things to Know about Luxury Home Builders

When you’re choosing a luxury home builder, it’s important to find one who understands that luxury doesn’t always have to mean sky rocketing expenses.

To begin, industry leading luxury home builders find out what their client wants and needs, and then they find the most efficient, reasonable way to provide them with a home that meets these specifications. Consider these key areas when selecting the best luxury home builder for you!

1. They understand that the price tag is not the only factor worth considering.
Choose builders who keep your overall goals for the house in mind. What ambiance do you want the bedroom to have? Do you need a compact kitchen or one for entertaining? Choose a luxury home builder who keeps your vision for your new home top of mind. Strong builders understand that the price tag is not the key deciding factor. They always keep the big picture in mind and make decisions that complement the personal style and needs of the homeowner.
 
2. They have solid vendor relationships.
There’s an expression that behind every good builder is a great team of professionals. Builders can’t operate independently of their teams, and the team a builder works with speaks volumes about his/her abilities and what he/she can bring to your new home. If a builder has a healthy relationship with his/her vendors, then he/she can utilize open lines of communication and negotiate deals with them that can pass savings onto the homeowner.
 
3. They work with talented designers.
A good designer should always work alongside a luxury home builder. Your designer can help bring the entire home together – both the exterior and the interior. From choosing paints and fabrics to incorporating unique fabrics within your home, a home designer can truly make your luxury home go from good to great.
 
If you’re considering building a luxury home, we invite you to contact us to learn more about our building process and team.

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Three reasons to choose an Atlanta custom home.

Owning a home is part of the American dream. For some people, the decision to rent or buy a house or to build one is a difficult decision. While the decision to build is certainly one that should be made with careful deliberation, there are many clear benefits to building your dream home.

1. It’s all yours!
When you choose to build a home, you can construct it as close to your needs and wants as possible. You can design the home plans from scratch, or you can modify existing ones. Plus, any renovations or updates you want to do in the future are completely up to you – you don’t have to request permission from any landlord.

2. You can choose your land.
The old adage “Location, location, location!” is still as true as ever. When building a home, you can determine the exact neighborhood or property for your house. Considering factors such as school districts and proximity to grocery stores, shopping malls and other businesses can help you find the perfect spot to begin construction.

3. It’ll be an investment in your future.
Building a home allows you to start earning equity as you pay off a mortgage. Home values also tend to increase as neighborhoods develop and homeowners add updates to their homes. While building your home certainly comes with a price tag, it should be viewed as a long-term investment.

If you’re considering building a home and would like to learn more about our building process and the communities in which we build, please contact us.

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The Luxury's in the Details.

When people think of luxury homes in Atlanta, they normally envision the overall structure of a house. From elegant exteriors to spacious interiors, luxury homes often conjure up thoughts of extravagance at its best.

Having worked with luxury homes for many years, we’ve realized that the attention given to small details in a home can contribute to its luxurious feel as well. In fact, it is in these details that homes can really come to life. As our designers will attest, all particulars in a home should be intentionally selected.

Below are three details that we love:

1. Fabrics
Curtains. Towels. Upholstery. Linens. When you think about it, you soon realize that a house contains a vast array of fabrics. Carefully selecting these fabrics can truly impact the ambiance of any room. Interested in a crisp, modern feel? Try out some durable upholstery on a couch and some light curtains to help balance out the living area. Want a peaceful bathroom? Opt for plush, oversized towels. Soft, silky sheets in a bedroom truly transform the room into an escape from the hustle and bustle of each day.

2. Appliances
The appliances a homeowner chooses can truly add a unique touch to any kitchen, while also representing the owner’s personal style. Love to entertain? Consider having appliances in bold, rich colors. Also consider stainless steel or vintage appliances for one-of-a-kind kitchens that are as functional as they are original.

3. Paint
The paint colors that go on a wall are arguably one of the biggest factors in creating a custom feel in your home. Rich colors add boldness to any room, while soft colors can create a calming presence. Try bright colors in rooms like the kitchen  - they’ll be sure to add cheer all year long. Don’t be afraid to test different paint colors on your wall until you find the one that speaks to you!

For more information on building and designing a luxury home in Atlanta, please contact us. We’d be glad to show you some of our previous work and allow you to meet our team.

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