Each year brings new design ideas and trends for custom homes. From color to texture to architectural features, there’s a lot of focus on when it comes to style. Consider these 10 home trends that have been featured in Greensboro custom homes in 2019. 

 

• Interior Windows. Get the best features of the open and closed floor plan by dividing rooms with windows. Glass and steel are the current trend, providing dividers between rooms that help with noise control without blocking natural light. There is still an open feel, but with a little more organization. 

• Grand Bathtubs. Garden tubs and soaking tubs have been an item in master bathrooms for decades, but today’s trend makes the tub the focal point of the room. Large, elaborate tubs are making bathrooms feel like a luxury spa. 

• Backsplash that makes a Bigger Splash. A typical design feature in traditional kitchens is the backsplash, a tiled area of the wall between the counter and the upper cabinets. The trend has now expanded to entire walls with textured tile, either behind open shelving or on a wall without cabinetry. 

• Bathroom with Wood Features. Bathrooms can be a little cold when everything is tile or stone. Bringing wood grains into the bathroom for the vanity or décor can bring a little warmth in.

• Black in the Kitchen. While black is not new to the kitchen, large amounts of black is a new trend, with cabinetry, countertops, and even sinks and hardware in bold black.

• Dusky Wall Colors. In the past many have shied away from using dark wall colors in favor of shades of white or beige. In 2019 the trend is shifting to dark colors like navy, hunter green, and even black for primary wall colors. 

• Benches with Dining Room Sets. Dining room furniture trends include benches, and while that is a furniture feature rather than a home design feature, if you plan to incorporate bench seating, you may want to design your dining area accordingly to be sure there’s enough space or a bare wall to incorporate your bench seating. 

• Farmhouse-style Exteriors. While brick has been a dominant exterior façade for luxury homes in the past, 2019 home design is featuring board and batten farmhouse-style exteriors and accents.

• Indoor/Outdoor Kitchens. The all-natural trend for kitchens (indoor herb gardens, etc.) is leading to kitchens that open to the outside, with glass walls and large doors that open to a patio or deck. 

• Whole-Room Wall Color. The accent wall is becoming a thing of the past, as now homeowners are choosing to extend the accent color to all four walls. 

 

Greensboro Custom Homes with the Latest Trends

Don Mills Builders is always on the cutting edge of home design, keeping up with current trends to give customers the styles and features they’re looking for. The most desired Greensboro custom homes are Don Mills originals. Call today to start planning your dream home: (336) 362-1777.

When you have a Greensboro custom home built you will get the peace of mind of knowing that the new construction home is in great shape and won’t require any work. But even when you have a newly built home there are some yearly maintenance chores that you will need to do in order to keep that home in great shape and help ensure that the roof, windows, and other materials will last as long as possible. A few of the most important yearly maintenance chores that you should do on your home include:

Pressure Wash The Roof and Siding

This is usually done in the fall but it can also be done in the spring. Getting your roof and siding pressure washed in the fall will remove layers of pollen, dirt, dust, and other debris from your home that have build up over the summer. It also is a good chance to have a professional check your roof and your siding for damage, cracks, or holes that need to be fixed before the cold weather comes. If you have your home pressure washed in the spring it’s a good opportunity to see if the winter has done any damage to your roof or siding that needs to be fixed in order to avoid problems during the rainy spring season.

Clean the Gutters

The gutters on your home should actually be cleaned twice a year, in the fall and in the spring, but some homeowners prefer to just do it once a year. If you have a lot of trees near your home, it’s better to get the gutters cleaned twice a year to remove all the leaves that fall in the gutters and clog them. Getting your gutters cleaned helps to remove sticks, leaves, and other debris while also dealing with any pests or insects that have taken up residence in the gutters.

Get Your HVAC System Checked and Maintained

During the fall and the spring in North Carolina, it’s not uncommon to need both your air conditioning and your heat on the same day. And during the summer you definitely need your AC to be working as efficiently as possible to keep the hot summer sun at bay. That’s why it’s important to get your HVAC system checked regularly at least once a year and have regular maintenance performed. HVAC problems can be expensive to fix so catching them early can save you money and make sure that you are always comfortable inside your custom home.

Get Your Plumbing Checked and Drains Cleaned

Your plumbing and drains should also be checked once a year to clear out any clogs and make sure there are no small leaks deep in the plumbing that you don’t know about. Small leaks could let water leak into your walls or ceilings for months before you even know they are there. But that water buildup could help mold grow deep within your home. Clogged drains and burst pipes can cause major damage to your home, but if you get your plumbing checked and your drains cleaned on a regular basis you can avoid expensive and potentially catastrophic plumbing emergencies in your new home.

Get Your Windows Washed

Your Greensboro custom home will have brand new energy-efficient windows in it that should last for decades. But those windows do require a little maintenance. It’s a good idea to get your windows cleaned once a year to have someone clean the frame and the area around the window as well as the glass. They should also check the glass for pits, cracks, or etching and fix minor damage to the windows before it becomes a big problem

For more advice on keeping your home looking and functioning like new call Don Mills Builders today.

Open floor plans are the most popular type of new home floorplan when people buy custom homes in Greensboro and the demand for them isn’t letting up. Modern families like open concept floor plans because it makes it easier to enjoy family time together. Open floor plans are also great for parents who have things to do but also want to keep an eye on their kids. They’re also fantastic for entertaining. But did you know that open floor plans are also energy efficient and can help homeowners save money on heating and cooling costs?

Open floor plans reduce the energy needed to cool and heat a room because there are no walls or barriers breaking up the flow of the air through the room. That means it costs less to heat and cool your home when you have an open concept floor plan. As long as the outside walls are sealed and insulated properly, an open concept floorplan is the best way to heat and cool your home efficiently. There are a few other things that you can do to increase your energy savings as well like:

Place Large, Custom Windows Carefully

Large windows and skylights can brighten up your home and flood your open concept first floor with natural sunlight. New windows and skylights that are installed properly will be energy efficient and all that extra sunlight can help keep your home warm in the winter. Shades can help keep the sun from making it too warm during the hot North Carolina summers. The extra lighting and warmth can cut your energy costs over the course of the year.

Find Light Fixtures That Do Double Duty

Energy-efficient light fixtures are a must in a custom home. Installing light fixtures that have fans built into them will help circulate the air throughout the space and increase the energy efficiency of your home. Some people dislike the look of ceiling fans but light fixtures with modern designs, unique materials, and designer finishes will look great in your open concept kitchen and family room. Your home can have the style and look that you want while maintaining energy efficiency. Keeping the air circulating throughout the open-concept space will help regulate the temperature when there are a lot of people in the space as well.

Make Your Home A Smart Home

Another way to you can maximize the energy efficiency of a custom-built home is to make your home a smart home. Using smart home devices like the Amazon Echo and installing smart plugs throughout the house means that you can easily turn off lights and appliances from anywhere in the home or even when you’re away from home using a smartphone app. Smart appliances are energy efficient and easy to manage, so consider choosing smart appliances when you are putting the finishing touches on your custom home.

Make Good Use of Your Fireplace

Many people who build custom homes opt to have a gas insert or electric fireplace put into the family area. This makes the family area of the open concept home a very inviting place to gather and it also will help to heat the entire first floor of the home. With no walls or barricades to keep the heat from moving throughout the space, the heat from the fireplace can be circulated through the room with ease. That will make your home a relaxing and energy-efficient space where you can enjoy quality time with friends and family.

Custom homes in Greensboro that are built around the needs of today’s families are energy efficient and have a flexible space that will make your home function the way you want. Start planning your custom home in Greensboro today with the experts at Don Mills.

When you build a custom home, you want it to be on the cutting edge of style. Kitchens and bathrooms are always a main focus when it comes to décor, and countertops can make a big statement in those rooms. Counters make up a large portion of the surface area in a room. The color and material you choose can be the starting point for the rest of the décor. Countertop trends can be categorized by material, finish, pattern, and color. Discuss these countertop trends with your custom homebuilder in Greensboro, NC to determine which would be best in your new home. 

Material: Quartz. Move over granite; quartz is the new countertop material in town. Quartz offers a similar look to granite but eliminates the drawbacks of granite. Unlike granite, quartz is non-porous so it doesn’t require sealing and periodic resealing. It won’t stain because it is liquid-resistant. And it is more sanitary, because there are no microscopic pores for bacteria to grow. This lower maintenance material is quickly replacing granite and other previously more popular countertops.  

Finish: Matte. Shiny countertops do look beautiful, but only when kept in pristine condition. In a high traffic kitchen or bathroom, pristine condition is difficult to achieve and maintain. A matte finish, sometimes referred to as “honed” or “leathered” offers a unique look and texture that helps to disguise messes like water and fingerprints as well as scratches or marks. Honed is less glossy than a polished finish, but still feels smooth. Leathered is also less glossy than polished stone, but the texture feels similar to leather and shows off more of the stone’s natural color.  

Pattern: Veined. Manufactured stone countertops may not naturally include patterns, but they can be added to the design. Granite countertops tend to have particulates of varying color and size naturally occurring throughout. However Quartz, a manufactured countertop material, can be patterned with veins like those that occur in marble for a natural, upscale look.  

Color: Neutral. In recent years countertop trends were leaning toward bold and dark colors. Current trends are now heading back to the neutral zone with light grays and beiges. Softer tones are easier to design your kitchen or bathroom around, opening up many other options for cabinets, backsplashes, sinks, floors, and wall colors. Neutral colors are also best for resale. 

Find a Custom Homebuilder in Greensboro, NC who can Include the Latest Trends in your Home 

If you want your kitchen and bathrooms to be in tune with current trends, you need a builder who stays informed about latest styles and is willing to listen to your ideas. Don Mills Builders does both of these things, listening to customers about what they want and recommending the most up-to-the-minute style trends available. Countertop materials, finishes, patterns and colors are constantly evolving, so choose something that will stand the test of time and create the beautiful kitchen or bathroom you’ve always wanted. Work with an experienced custom homebuilder in Greensboro, NC with decades of experience designing and building luxurious homes. Call Don Mills Builders: (336) 362-1777.  

One of the best parts of having a custom home built is being able to choose details that will create the function and look that you’ve always dreamed of in your home. If you’re planning on having a custom home built this year, consider some exciting trending amenities. Home buyers that are looking for custom homes in Greensboro can choose from current amenities like:

Colorful Kitchens That Express Personality

A hot trend for custom homes in 2019 is colorful kitchens. The sterile white subway tile look is definitely out according to the kitchen and home designers and popular design blogs. The popular new trend in kitchens is to customize your kitchen to your own personal taste with colorful cabinetry, unusual color countertops, or mosaic tile backsplashes in the kitchen. If you want to add color to the kitchen and don’t want to choose painted cabinets you should consider quartz countertops. Quartz countertops come in more than 80 colors and have unusual color patterns that will make your kitchen colorful but still elegant.

Multipurpose Spaces That Provide Better Function

Another hot trend for modern living in custom homes is the creation of multipurpose spaces in a home. Using an extra bedroom for an office, gym, or media room just doesn’t cut it for today’s homeowner. Talk to your builder about creating unique multipurpose spaces in your custom home that can do double duty as office space, play space for the kids or grandkids, a home theater space and more. Increasing the functionality of your home without sacrificing style is very much on trend.

Smart Technology To Save Money And Make Life Easier

Have you embraced smart home technology? It’s one of the hottest trends in custom homes this year. Smart technology can save you time and money by increasing the efficiency of your home. If you are planning on staying in your home after retirement, installing smart appliances and technology now can also help you stay safe and healthy in your home for years to come. Talk to your custom home builder about smart appliances and other smart technology to see how making your custom home a smart home can make your life easier and save you money in the long run.

Environmentally Friendly Materials In Custom Homes In Greensboro

Using environmentally friendly materials in custom built homes is something that has been popular for several years now and is still one of the most popular design trends for custom homes. Environmentally friendly flooring, such as engineered hardwoods, can give you the beautiful look you in your want home while lowering your carbon footprint. If you’re interested in learning more about environmentally friendly materials and reclaimed materials for your custom built home talk to the experts at Don Mills, one of the top custom home builders in Greensboro, today.