For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home. This is a room that gets used nearly every day, and it is often a gathering point for everyone in the family. If you love to cook, you might not be satisfied with a standard kitchen – you may have your sights set on a “gourmet kitchen”. But what does that mean? This article will highlight some of the features commonly seen in a kitchen that rises to gourmet standards.

 

To work with a builder who has created many of the best custom homes Greensboro has to offer, contact Don Mills today to get started.

 

Start with Space

The experience of cooking is greatly improved when ample space is available to do your work. Trying to prepare complex meals in a cramped kitchen is hard to enjoy. So, one of the first points that you’ll look for when designing a gourmet kitchen is plenty of counter space on which to work. That could come in the form of counters up against the walls of the kitchen, and it will also likely include a kitchen island.

 

In addition to counter space, having plenty of room to move around in the kitchen from place to place is an important element. Do you like to cook with family or friends? Doing so in a spacious kitchen where everyone can flow around without any trouble is a great way to spend your time.

 

Look to the Appliances

With the layout of the kitchen established, the next step toward a gourmet kitchen of your dreams is picking out the perfect appliances. You’ll want to feature high-end, quality appliances in this kind of kitchen, which will elevate not only the performance of the space, but the look, as well.

 

It’s important to remember that you are not restricted to the standard set of appliances that you find in most kitchens. An oven, microwave, and dishwasher are a great starting point, but other components can be added, as well. For instance, many gourmet-style kitchens include a second oven without a range, so making large meals for events like holidays is significantly easier. 

 

The Little Touches

As the design and equipment for your kitchen round into shape, you’ll want to consider the small finishing touches that can really make this a great place to cook. These kinds of touches can come in all shapes and sizes, and they will largely depend on how you like to prepare food. Maybe you want to add an additional sink – perhaps in the island – to have more options. Or, you could add a tap behind the range with a spout specifically for filling large pots easily on the stove.

 

Keep in mind storage at this last phase of the process, as well. It’s possible to incorporate a hanging rack for pots and pans, or some specialized cabinet spaces for various kitchen tools and small appliances. By working with a builder who specializes in custom homes in Greensboro, it’s possible to bring even the grandest kitchen vision to life.

A couple of generations ago, people built homes to last a family for generations. Eventually, things changed, and the ideas of ‘starter homes,’ ‘retirement homes,’ and all the variations therein took precedence. However, with constant economic, demographic, and real estate shifts occurring in the country-what is old is once again becoming new. Now forever homes, homes built to accommodate families through the generations, are gaining in popularity once more.

Forever homes are designed to allow occupants to live comfortably at any age, whether a newborn or well into the golden years. Accommodating the diverse needs for a family of multiple generations may seem like an impossible task, but with a tailor-made custom home, it is well within reach.

 

3 Essential Tips From a Custom Home Builder in NC

The goal of a forever home is to serve as a place of comfort to everyone in the family, at any age.

Designers today are more focused on homes that can both accommodate their needs in midlife (family rearing, living space) as well as their needs at an advanced age. Designing for all ages means that ease of mobility and accommodation of safety features is paramount. There are also several less apparent tweaks that a good forever home builder can add.

Some things to consider in building your  forever home:

 

1.    You Want to the Perfect Location

As you grow old and watch your family grow, you want to do it in a location that feels safe, comfortable, and homey. In real estate, the value of a home is highly dependent on its site for a reason. Nearby recreational and commercial offerings like beaches, malls, and schools will influence the desirability of a home and what people are willing to pay for it. The desire shown by others should also say something for the importance of location for a home you plan on living in forever.

Make sure your forever home is in a location that makes life easier and more enjoyable for you and your family.

Keep in mind that your priorities will change as your life progresses. You must think on a multi-decade timescale.  Ensuring you are near to whatever is important to you, and whatever will eventually be important to you, is essential.

Finding a “Lively community with like-minded families who enjoy similar interests.” is typically the first step for finding a well-rounded location.

2.    Go With Smartly Designed and Adaptable

Multi-generational homes require forethought and some clever solutions. Being able to have rooms and passageways accommodate handicap accessible needs, for example, while remaining both efficient and aesthetically pleasing in form is a skill set you will want your custom home builder to possess. There are even designers able to accommodate the left-handers in your life if need be. The point is, designs should be built around you and your family.

The best part of a custom home, is you are in control through the whole process, down to the smallest detail.

Another suggestion is to focus on designs that both look great and can be easily converted if need be into efficient handicap accessible formats. Remember, this is a full-life span design.

3.    Don’t Wait to Build Your Forever Home

People are living longer and pushing back retirement, and the costs and prices for homes are not nearly as predictable as they once were. Planning and setting the groundwork for your forever home now will allow you to be prepared to best take advantage of market changes as they occur. You can’t rush the planning of a home you will live in for decades.

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For a forever home of your dreams, you need to begin the planning with a custom home builder in NC with proven results. Homes built by Don Mills. are perhaps the best examples of what this article is talking about. If you are looking for one of the best  custom home builders in NC, then don’t hesitate to give them a call at 336 362-1777.

When you make the decision to build your dream home from the ground up, the ground you build it on matters. There are many factors to consider when choosing a lot for your custom home. Housing developments are typically planned out with relatively equal size lots. The homes built in the development usually fall within the same general price range to preserve home value.

When choosing a lot, it’s best to have an idea of the style and size of home you want to build, as the layout will affect the type and size of lot you’ll need. If you’re planning on building a custom home, consider these tips from one of the premier luxury home builders, Don Mills, to help you choose the right lot.

Walk the Lot on Foot

When you first start looking at custom home lots, you will likely be given a map of the development with the available lots labeled. A lot may look ideal on paper, but may not actually be what you’re looking for. Once you see the location of the available lots on the map, drive out to the ones you want to consider and walk the lot on foot. Get a feel for the lay of the land and consider the surrounding landscape. Also notice how the neighboring lots fit together so you can get an idea of how close your neighbors will be.

Pay Attention to the Lay of the Land

Most lots in new home communities are labeled as “ready to build” sites, but there may still need to be some regrading of the land before breaking ground for the foundation. Don’t immediately discount a sloping lot if you plan to build a home with multiple levels, as the home can be built to accommodate the grade of the land. Water runoff should have already been accounted for, but consider visiting your potential lot after a hard rain to see if the water pools or puddles where it shouldn’t.

Consider the Orientation of the Lot

Based on the placement of the lot in relation to the street, your home will face a particular direction. Does it matter to you if your home is facing north, south, east, or west? Facing east means the front of your home will get the morning sun and your backyard will get the sunset. Facing North or South means you’ll get sunlight from both sides depending on the time of day. Also consider the direction your driveway will need to go out to the street. Even with a corner lot you may not have a choice which street your driveway will be on.

Build the Home of your Dreams with one of the best Luxury Home Builders

Don Mills Builders has designed and built hundreds of beautiful custom homes in Greensboro, Oakridge, Summerfield and the and the surrounding area. Lots are available now in some of the most highly desired neighborhoods just waiting for the right buyer and the right builder to turn a piece of land into a home.

 

Building a custom home is a huge undertaking. You’ll spend significant time and money on this endeavor, so you want to be sure you find the right home builders in Greensboro to work with. But how can you find the best home builder for you? To find one that is the right fit, consider these 5 tips for evaluating home builders. 

1. Ask for Recommendations

There’s no better way to find a reliable home builder than to ask a trusted friend or relative for recommendations from their own experience. If they had a positive experience, you will most likely have a similar experience. Homebuilders in Greensboro rely on their reputation to be successful and continue to gain clients. 

2. Read Reviews

Online reviews on reputable websites are usually a pretty good indication of the caliber of a business. Use multiple sites that contain reviews, in order to compare. 

3. Make Sure Personalities are Compatible

When you meet with a home builder, get a feel for their personality and make sure yours will work with theirs. Building a custom home is a long, involved process so you’ll want to make sure you’re working with someone you like, understand, and can communicate effectively with. If you prefer to text or email, don’t work with a builder who only makes phone calls. If you prefer discussing things over the phone, don’t choose a builder who mostly uses email. 

4. Request References (and call them).

Every builder should be able to provide references of customers they have built homes for before who can vouch for their craftsmanship and customer service. Ask for those references and be sure to actually call them, not just read the review they provided. Ask questions that may not be obvious from meeting the builder just once during your initial consultation. 

5. Research the Subcontractors They Use

This is one item that is often overlooked. You may or may not be aware of the fact that many builders hire subcontractors to complete certain aspects of the home building process, such as HVAC, plumbing, or landscaping. Ask your builder for a list of subcontractors they work with and research them as well as the builder. 

Quality. Honesty. Trust. Satisfaction. 

These are the cornerstones of a superior homebuilder and what you should consider when evaluating home builders. When you research Don Mills Builders, you’ll find that these words truly describe his work. When you meet Don Mills and his wife Annette, you’ll know for sure why so many satisfied customers have chosen to work with them to build their dream home. Don’s craftsmanship combined with Annette’s design expertise creates beautiful, top-quality homes. 

 

Call (336) 362-1777 today to schedule a free consultation or request a free quote.