As the old saying goes, the quickest way to the heart is through the stomach. The same is true of homes. The kitchen is the heart of every home, where family and friends gather and break bread together, enjoying food and fellowship. If you plan to build a custom home in Greensboro, it’s wise to spend some extra time designing your kitchen. Here are some tips to help you design the custom kitchen of your dreams.

Form and Function Should Live in Harmony

The ultimate goal is a beautiful kitchen that is also functional. Think about how you will use your kitchen. Do you enjoy cooking and take your time creating culinary masterpieces? Or do you cook meals as quickly as possible to get everyone fed in the midst of their busy schedules? The ambitious chef should incorporate food preparation surfaces and cooking appliances that make it convenient and fun to cook and bake, such as a built-in butcher block counter and convection oven. The reluctant chef should focus on making cooking easy and fast, incorporating a built-in microwave and plenty of counter space for small specialty appliances, such as crock pots, instant pots, and egg boilers.

Choose surfaces that are beautiful and durable, such as granite, quartz, or stainless steel. Large farm sinks are convenient and stylish. Backsplash patterns give you a chance to incorporate your own unique style and color preferences while protecting the drywall from splatter. Designing a home that reflects your own personality is one of the biggest reasons to build a custom home in Greensboro in the first place.

Cabinetry and Storage Make the Biggest Impact on Kitchen Style

Storage is important in a kitchen, and cabinetry is the most common type. The color and style of the cabinets in your kitchen set the tone for the room. Consider carefully whether you want a light or dark wood stain, painted cabinets, or glass doors. The hardware you choose can make cabinets look more ornate and antique, or more sleek and modern. Your appliance finish should complement the cabinet color as well, whether you choose stainless steel, white, black, copper, or any of the bright retro-colored appliances that are gaining popularity. A complementary color pallet, as well as color contrast, is important in any room.

Flooring: The Heart of your Home Needs a Firm Foundation

Kitchens are exposed to a lot of foot traffic, as well as food spills and moisture. Beautiful floors can also be durable, and the latest floor materials achieve this concept. Wood floors are the least resistant to moisture, and are being replaced with other materials, such as vinyl and tile. Tile is even losing popularity as the grout can be difficult to keep clean. Luxury vinyl that mimics wood is resistant to moisture and scratching and is in general much tougher than wood or even laminate. It is also a popular choice for bathroom floors for the same positive qualities.

Build a Custom Home in Greensboro with Don Mills Builders

Designing your custom kitchen is easy with the help of expert home designers and builders on the Don Mills team. Convey your wants and needs for your dream home and Don Mills will make it come to life. Schedule a consultation to build a custom home in Greensboro: (336) 362-1777.

Are you a lover of furry four-legged friends? If you have pets in your household, chances are they are truly part of the family. So why not consider their needs when designing your new custom home? More and more custom homes in Greensboro are being built with special pet-friendly features that make both pets and their owners happy. Here are some ideas. 

The Most Pet-Friendly Flooring Materials 

Choose your flooring carefully if you have pets. It may be the single most important decision you’ll make in your custom home design. Here are the flooring materials that hold up best under pet traffic. 

• Bamboo. One of the hardest woods, bamboo is highly resistant to scratching and pet accidents.  

• Laminate. A common flooring option, laminate is mostly scratch resistant and can handle moisture and pet accidents without much trouble.  
• Vinyl. It might surprise you, but vinyl floors are quite durable and stain resistant. They are also quiet so you won’t hear the constant clicking of pets’ toenails.  
• Stone. No reason to worry about moisture or scratching with stone floors. Granite is a common choice due to its strength and durability.  
• Ceramic Tile. Porcelain or ceramic tiles are another strong flooring option for high pet traffic areas of your home. Be sure grout is sealed to prevent staining.  
• Cork. Also sound absorbent like vinyl, cork is an environmentally-friendly option that is anti-microbial. It is mostly scratch and moisture resistant, so long as spills and accidents are cleaned up promptly.  

Area rugs are a good addition to any of these hard flooring options for pet comfort and ease of movement.  

Create a Designated Pet Feeding Zone 

The area where food and water bowls sit can be a mess. There are some creative ways to design a special area just for feeding that will hold up to the wear and tear.  

• Add a designated food bowl area on the end of a kitchen island. A granite surface with built-in bowl spots holds up to moisture. 
• A pull-out feeding drawer with built-in holes for removable bowls is a major space saver. It also allows you to hide the feeding area when not in use.  

• Include a food storage space right next to the feeding area. Simply scoop food into bowls and feed pets in just seconds.  

Hidden Litter Box Solutions 

When you have a cat, the litter box is a necessary evil. But you can keep it completely out of sight with a built-in litter box cabinet. With a small door for the cat to enter and a larger door for cleaning access, your cat’s litterbox can be hidden from guests. Even the smell can be minimized or eliminated through this method.  

Custom Homes in Greensboro Can Have Pet-Centered Designs Incorporated 

If your pets are a priority in your family, keep them in mind when designing your new custom home. Don Mills listens to what families need and creates homes to meet those needs. Some of the finest custom homes in Greensboro in highly desired communities are original products of Don Mills Builders. Make sure your new home has everything your heart desires. Call (336)362-1777.

When choosing options for your custom home, lighting is one of the most important decisions. Lighting makes a big impact on the style and atmosphere of your home. If you want lighting that will stand out and impress your guests while illuminating your home in a way that is also functional, consider these light fixtures. Share your favorites with your custom home builder in Greensboro and incorporate them into your home design.  

Pendant Lighting. One of the most luxurious of lighting options, pendant lights are stylish and modern. They typically consist of a globe-shaped light on the end of a long, thin rod or chain. Larger pendant lights can hang alone or in a series of 2 or 3, while smaller pendants lights can be clustered together at different lengths to create a chandelier. You’ll find these lights in kitchens, dining rooms, and foyers.  

Wall Sconces. Lighting that is wall-mounted rather than ceiling-mounted offers a unique style to any room. Wall sconces placed strategically around a room can offer mood lighting that illuminates larger spaces like living rooms or dining rooms. Thinking of including a media or theater room in your new custom home? Wall sconces with dimming switches can create an authentic cinema ambiance.  

Track Lighting. As a concept, track lighting is nothing new. But new styles and designs redefine this lighting concept again and again. Track lighting refers to a series of lights arranged in a row. They can be recessed lights, pendant lights, or other styles.  

Retro Light Fixtures. Retro can refer to new light fixtures that are designed to look like styles from the past as well as old light fixtures that have been refurbished. Whichever way you decide to go, it seems almost every design element comes back into style at some point, but with a new twist on the old concept. The same is true for fashion and interior design, including lighting concepts.  

Chandeliers in Bathrooms. You expect to see elaborate chandeliers in foyers and dining rooms, but they are becoming more common in bathrooms in recent years. Luxurious bathrooms are designed as peaceful havens to escape the stress of the day, and a chandelier above a large soaking tub creates a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere. 

Theme Lighting. If the home or one particular room has a theme, consider lighting that complements that. For example, in a beach house choose light fixtures made of shells or sea glass. If you have a log cabin-style home, consider rustic lighting like railroad lanterns or natural wood fixtures. Lighting should match the overall style of the home.  

Find a Custom Home Builder in Greensboro that has an Eye for Lighting Concepts 

When it comes time to choose a custom home builder in Greensboro, it’s important to find one with a knack for designing lighting concepts. Illuminating your home is one of the most crucial elements of home design. You want to be sure your home’s lighting creates the atmosphere and style you want while sufficiently brightening all rooms for their necessary function. Don Mills combines your ideas and many years of experience to create a lighting concept that allows your home to shine. Call (336) 362-1777 to set up a free consultation.

The kids are back in school, the pools are closing up, and the nights are cooling off—just some of the telltale signs that fall is fast approaching. With the change of the season, it’s a good idea to do some home maintenance. Make sure your house is ready for colder weather by checking off the items on this checklist.  

Considering a new home? If you’ve ever thought about building a custom home, fall is a good time to get the process started. Spacious custom home lots in Greensboro are available now in some of the most desirable neighborhoods. When you choose your lot in the fall, you have time to design your home with your builder in the hopes of moving in by the following summer.  

1. HVAC Maintenance. At the very least, you should replace all of your HVAC filters before switching from air conditioning to heat. But even better, schedule a tune-up from a heating and cooling service. Also, remove any window AC units.  
2. Yard Maintenance. Of course, you’ve been mowing and weed eating all summer, but when was the last time you trimmed the bushes and cut back the trees? Tree maintenance is especially important before colder weather. Check all of the trees on your property carefully for dead branches and remove any you see, especially those that could land on your roof or your neighbor’s. If any trees appear to be dead, consider removing them entirely to prevent accidents. Trim back the live branches away from your roof and gutters. 
3. Seal and Insulate. Check weather stripping around doors and windows, seal any cracks or holes where air or pests could get in, and be sure all insulation is sufficient around water pipes and in the attic against the roof. These are good ways to avoid frozen pipes and ice dams on the roof in case of winter weather.  
4. Clean Gutters. Be sure all gutters are free of debris and all drain spouts deposit water far enough away from your home’s foundation.  
5. Clear out Dryer Vent. When lint builds up in the dryer vent it can be a serious fire hazard. Cleaning it out periodically is important, so make it a part of your fall home maintenance routine.  
6. Do Repairs Now. If there are some home repairs you’ve been meaning to get to, especially those on the exterior of your home, now is the time to get them done. Don’t put off exterior repairs until the weather becomes too cold to do them. Winter weather will only make matters worse, especially if the problem is a leak.  

Spacious Custom Home Lots in Greensboro Available Now 

If you think you’re ready to start the process of building a custom home, now is the time to get serious about it. There are lots of available custom home lots in Greensboro including lots in some of the most desirable neighborhoods, such as Birkhaven, Linville Ridge, Dawn Acres, Knight’s Landing, Jessup Ridge, and more. Call Don Mills Builders to inquire about current availability: (336) 362-1777.

When it comes to living room décor, the possibilities are endless. You can make it your own by incorporating your individual style. Think about places you’ve been where you’ve seen styles or pieces that you like, whether it’s a home you’ve visited or a venue you’ve seen. Browse magazine pictures and online images of luxurious living rooms to get ideas. Then find a team of Greensboro builders who are willing to incorporate your own style and ideas into your home design. If you’re just getting started on the design process, it may seem too early to be thinking about the decorations. But the style you want to achieve does affect the design and layout of the room, so it is important to have your vision in mind from the start. Here are some popular decorating options that need to be planned for when designing your home.  

Exposed Wood Beams. High and elaborate ceilings are extremely popular in luxury homes. Exposed wooden beams give the room a luxurious, yet rustic look that is unique and bold.  

Columns. When you want a classical living room that looks elegant and ornamental, columns work wonders. They can also serve a load-bearing purpose to support an open floor plan.  

Crown Molding. Another ornamental addition, crown molding adds beauty and complexity to an otherwise plain room. Crown molding is often seen where the wall meets the ceiling, but can also adorn the ceiling itself, the lower part of walls, the top or bottom of columns, and along the top of cabinetry.  

Bay Windows. There’s no better way to invite natural light into your living room than with large bay windows. Charming from the interior as well as the exterior, bay windows offer dynamics to your living room. The right furniture pieces and arrangement can create a separate space with the window as the focal point.  

Indoor to Outdoor Transition. One of the latest trends in living rooms is creating a nearly seamless transition to the outdoors. The living room blends into a patio with one fluid theme to draw it all together.  

Don Mills Builders: Greensboro Builders who Design Luxurious Living Rooms with your Preferences for Décor in Mind 

When you know what decorative theme and particular features you want to include in your living room, share your thoughts with your builder. To create the look you want it’s important to start with the layout. You also need to be sure to find the right Greensboro builders who can design and build the living room you want. Don Mills Builders creates design plans that incorporate your thoughts and ideas to give you the dream home you desire. Call (336) 643-3503 to get started today.