How to Build the House of Your Dreams (No, Really)

Building a home can seem like an overwhelming concept. How can you get what you want, while still remaining within your budget? It may take some know-how, but building a custom home is more affordable than you think. With the right approach, you can build the home of your dreams without making any major sacrifices. Follow these steps to build the perfect home:

Consider the Land

Do you want to live in Highland Park or do you want more land in Preston Hollow? What about the Lake Highlands school district or on White Rock Lake in Lakewood? Any custom home build should begin with deciding on a piece of land. Prospective homeowners have several considerations when deciding where to build their new home: the neighborhood and school system, access to amenities, and land features like trees or streams all weigh differently depending on your individual preferences. Homeowners also have the option of tearing down an existing home to build on a coveted piece of land.

Your home builder can help you with this part of the process, as often professionals have access to land plots that have yet to go on the public market. Rather than finding a piece of land, then calling an architect, call an architectural design team first. They can provide valuable insight to zoning laws, available properties, and more.

Decide on Your Budget

A custom home designer or architectural designer can help you decide where your home budget should go. For example, kitchens can range from a $5,000 Ikea model to $60,000 for custom cabinetry alone. If all high-end furnishings in a kitchen are a must-have, be prepared to use middle-range options in other areas of the home. Your home design team can provide you with low, middle, and high-end options during the building process, so you can decide exactly where you want to spend your money.

Be Prepared for a Time Commitment

If you want to build the home of your dreams, you must be prepared to be actively involved in the process. Custom home builds take an average of 12 to 18 months, and your input is invaluable to the process. The nice thing about custom homes is that you can spend $20,000 on appliances or over $100,000 – it all depends on your preferences and budget. By being actively involved in the decision-making process, you can ensure that you’re getting the home you want – while staying within a comfortable price point.

Custom home building is not as expensive or difficult as you might think. By taking some simple steps in the planning phases and remaining actively involved during construction, you’ll be in the home of your dreams before you know it. For more information on the custom home building process, contact Tony McClung today

Sick of the Modern Farmhouse? Try One of These Custom Home Builds Instead

Chip and Joanna Gaines have been at the forefront of home design in recent years. Go into any mainstream home improvement store, and you’ll see shiplap, reclaimed wood inspired designs, and neutral color palettes by the wheel. The trend goes by many different names: “farmhouse,” “rustic modern,” and “barn-inspired” are all versions of the same thing. While these trends may be dominating the mainstream, they’re not for everyone. With Fixer Upper coming to an end on HGTV and if you’re looking for some new home design trends, start with one of these custom home designs – no shiplap required:

Goodbye White, Hello Rich Natural Color

The white farmhouse sink has become a staple in many homes. Farmhouse sinks have clear advantages – their sheer volume can hold a party’s worth of dishes or double as a bathtub for a squirmy toddler or pet. If you like the functionality of a farmhouse sink but yearn for something other than stark white accents and cabinetry, there’s welcome news. Today’s sinks have the power of a farmhouse but come in high end materials like granite and copper to bring a touch of warmth into your kitchen.

For backsplash, say goodbye to shiplap and reclaimed barn wood for higher-end finishes like faux brick, copper plates, and tiles that create colorful geometric patterns. Color has a place in your kitchen once more.

Bedrooms Are for Relaxing

If you don’t like the lodge appeal of a modern farmhouse bedroom, there’s a way to create a casual, modern space without the use of  rustic modern elements. Today’s bedrooms are losing the “rustic” and simply going modern, with details like millwork, which creates visual appeal. Today’s bedrooms also come in calming hues like light blue and come loaded with smart features like home monitoring that provide peace of mind.

Modern Florals

Bold floral designs are replacing the neutrals and burlap aesthetic so readily associated with modern farmhouse style. Don’t be afraid to incorporate florals into your home – today’s designs don’t emulate the vintage florals of years past. Think statement designs inspired by out of the box designers like Lilly Pulitzer.

If the idea of a modern farmhouse doesn’t make you swoon, never fear. Today’s custom home builds come with a variety of options to fit your unique aesthetic. Expect home design trends to move away from the rustic modern in favor of natural elements, concrete, copper accents, and a home that feels both inviting and high-end. For more custom home building ideas, contact Tony McClung.

3 Unique Colors for Your Custom Home Interior – And How to Use Them

Are you sick of grey, beige, and the ubiquitous “greige?” You’re not alone. According to many home design experts, neutrals are on their way out. Today’s homes feature rich colors such as jewel tones and bright pops of pigment. Pantone just released their color palette for autumn 2018, and there is not a shade of greige in sight. Consider adding one of these saturated hues into your new custom home:

Inspired by Nature

Like other home design and building trends in 2018, this year’s colors take their cues from nature. Pantone’s newest line features autumnal hues that bring to mind the rustling of fallen leaves on a forest floor. With complementary shades that can be mixed and matched, nature inspired hues are sure to make a statement in your home.

“[Our] palette continues to show designers expressing the need for individuality, ingenuity and creativity though fashion,” said executive director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman. From deep red to spicy yellow, autumnal colors will spice up your interiors while providing a source of comfort and unity with nature.

Jewel Tones

Move over diamonds – rich hues of ruby, amethyst, and emerald are a new best friend. Jewel tones naturally evoke the luxe aesthetic of the Baroque. Accented with chandeliers, glittering accents, or glass, jewel-toned walls can instantly elevate a space and bring chicness to your space.

Don’t Fear Purple

Homeowners often shy away from the color purple; equating it with their grandmother’s knitting room. When done correctly, however, lavender can make a luxe statement. Don’t forget that purple has been associated with royalty and wealth for centuries. Echo these sentiments by matching lavender walls with a deeper purple velvet couch, a silk rug, and custom curtains.

Painting Basics

When choosing paint colors, find complementary shades that move seamlessly from one room to the next. Inspired by nature, hues or jewel tones naturally harmonize, but choose cool or similar undertones to create more cohesion from room to room, without sacrificing richness in color. For example, a cooled down raspberry shade can combine with daffodil accents to create a bright, cheery child’s playroom or sunroom. Sky blue with a touch of grey undertone will help turn color into a neutral, so it will play well with any accents you desire.

Finding the right color scheme for your home can help you express your individual style, but it also requires some planning. Talk to custom homebuilder Tony McClung for more ideas to make your custom home uniquely you. As an architectural designer, he can match you with an interior designer for your project and take all the stress off of you!

4 Landscaping Ideas for Your Custom Home

Spring looks like it is finally here to stay in Texas! With spring comes the desire to buy pretty flowers and plants for your patio and yard. You’ve pored over design plans, chosen the perfect fixtures and furniture, and spent hours cultivating the interior space of your dreams. Now it’s time to give the same attention to the outside. Your landscaping is one of the most important aspects of your home build. While it might seem like a finishing touch, it determines your curb appeal and ultimately drives the functionality of your yard and outdoor spaces. Follow some simple suggestions and make your landscaping shine in your new custom home:

Consider Your Pets

Landscape experts are seeing an increase in a pet-friendly landscaping plan, so much so that the movement has a name: “dogscaping.” Once reserved for the most eccentric of homeowners, today’s home spaces have your pet in mind. Whether it’s a dedicated space for playing or choosing non-toxic plants, your landscaping should have functionality in mind as well as aesthetic.

Porches

If you love spending a lot of time outdoors, wrap-around porches are becoming an increasingly popular option for custom home builds. This classic look has a cozy, “come on over” feel, and is great for entertaining guests. Fill your porch with comfortable, soft chairs and inviting tables, and you have an instant party space.

Create an Outdoor Cooking Space

If you’re in the middle of a custom home, think beyond the classic gas grill on wheels. Built-in kitchen and prep spaces improve your outdoor get-togethers by allowing you to be a part of the action, not just a fixture in your indoor kitchen. Today’s models feature built-in gas and charcoal grills, brick ovens, wet bar setups, and more.

Try a Pond

If you don’t want a swimming pool, but still enjoy the peaceful atmosphere that water can bring, consider a small pond. Today’s technology allows these ponds to be sustainable, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining or cleaning. Add a couple of fish, and enjoy tranquil mornings in your outdoor space with a cup of coffee.

Your outdoor spaces can be as simple or as intricate as your heart desires. If you want a place for your children and animals to play, plant species of hearty grass and plants. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a space where you can entertain, create a porch feature and an outdoor cooking space. Tony McClung can help you design an outdoor space that fits your needs and budget - take a look at some of his gorgeous outdoor spaces! And be sure to contact us to learn more.

4 Spring Trends in Custom Home Building

Custom home construction is both an art and a science – as such, it constantly evolves. What was in vogue ten or even five years ago might not make much sense to current homebuilders. Today’s custom home builds place equal weight on form and function, creating beautiful spaces that work for your family’s size and budget. Explore some of the latest trends in custom home building.

The “Messy Kitchen”

The open concept home has been a popular choice for homeowners for years, and it makes sense: an open concept makes a home appear larger and makes it easier to entertain guests. There’s a major downside to an open concept floor plan, however: your guests risk looking at a pile of dirty dishes and kitchen counters as they eat the meal you just prepared. This is where the concept of a “messy kitchen” comes in: newer custom homes feature a hidden prep area tucked in behind the main kitchen space. This allows for minimal cleanup and more time for socializing with friends – isn’t that why you’re hosting in the first place?

More Natural Elements

Today’s custom homes, especially in temperate climates, have an increased focus on blurring the line between inside and outside spaces. While the sweltering summers of the west make it impossible to fully merge these two spaces, designers provide a practical answer by incorporating more natural elements into the home. A stark contrast to the tech and industrial trends favored at the turn of the millennium, today’s modern homes focus on interior landscaping and natural elements like stone, concrete, and copper.

Richer Color Palettes

If the neutral palettes of current home decorating magazines bring waves of disappointment, this year brings good news for those who love color. Current trends in home building feature retro vibes, like candy-coated high end appliances and even rich furnishings in luxe materials like velvet. Look for other warm accents in the form of copper or brass fixtures.

Open Shelving in the Kitchen

Today’s homes focus less on the pristine and more on the comfortable and cozy. One popular way to accomplish this is by incorporating open shelving throughout your kitchen. This not only gives your new house a homey feel, it also gives you the opportunity to turn your kitchen ware into art pieces.

Custom home building trends may evolve, but we think the focus on creating a home that’s functional and beautiful is here to stay. Would you try any of these new home design and construction trends? Tony McClung can help make your dream a reality – contact us to learn more.

Tips for a Successful Home Remodeling Project

Even though remodeling projects can seem extremely overwhelming, the process can be very smooth when you have some tips and tricks up your sleeve. Here are some rules to follow if you want your project to be a success.

1.     Plan Well Ahead of Time

If you make the product selection ahead of time, it will help in preventing delays later down the line. Proper planning also helps you to maintain a budget and ultimately leads you to save money as well. You know what you want and will get exactly that instead of things you might later regret.

2.     Keep In Mind The Future Prospects as Well

Long term-maintenance, energy loss, along with the various different repair costs can all add up very quickly. It is important that you add all of these expenses in your calculations when you are comparing prices.

3.     Know Your End Goal

Before you even decide to extensively renovate your house, it is important that you have a clear idea of what your end goal is going to be. Do you want to renovate because you want the value of your home to increase or just because you feel like making it more beautiful? It is important to answer all these questions before starting to work, as this will help set the guidelines as to how you want to work.

4.     Conduct Necessary Research

Take out time to have detailed discussions with family and friends. They might have gone through the renovation process themselves, therefore might offer you some valuable advice. This will help you in planning and avoiding the mistakes, which they might have made.

5. Partner with Professionals

Architectural design professionals like Tony McClung can make your home renovation project flow like a dream. Not only will Tony be acting as your project manager to handle all the tasks, communication, team organization and budgets but he will also make sure your home is built and designed correctly so it not only looks beautiful but lasts for years to come. 

By following these five tips, you will be able to complete your remodeling project successfully and efficiently. If you would like to partner with Tony McClung to give your home a custom remodel, give him a call at 214-668-7802.

Home Maintenance Tips (that you can do yourself!)

Home maintenance is definitely not restricted to the various different repairs you do around the house. In fact, if you do certain tasks regularly you will be able to avoid things from even breaking in the first place. However, if things do break, we have some easy DIY home maintenance tips to help you out. Instead of splurging on expensive professional help, you will be able to do everything on your own.

Here is an all-encompassing checklist of what every homeowner should do on a regular basis to avoid any problems around the house.

1.     Have the fireplace and the chimney checked and cleaned on a regular basis

Yes, we know. Here in Texas, we use our fireplaces about once or twice a year. But, a lot of us still love having a fireplace in our home for that cozy winter night. But, most of us tend to put off any attention to the fireplace until that winter day arrives, and we have no other option. However, it is very important to have both of these cleaned regularly. Not only is this going to save you from a lot of hassle afterward, this will make your house look super clean as well.

2.     Test The Garage Door Opener Monthly

It is important to check your garage door opener monthly to make sure that it is reversing whenever an obstruction hits it or whenever the sensor beam is interrupted by another object. When you check it regularly, you will know that there is a problem with it beforehand and will be well prepared for it.

3.     Inspect the door and window caulking

It is advised that you do this annually to avoid any mishaps. The caulking also helps save the energy and retains heat within the house. This will not only help you save a lot of money but will also help keep your house well maintained.           

By following the above mentioned three steps you can rest assured that your home maintenance is on point. And, at any time, if you need a professional's help to redesign something in your home, give Luxury Homes by Tony McClung a call today at 214-668-7802!

Features of a Modern Luxury Home

The features of luxury home evolve with the evolution of technology. Our goals have modernized along with the advancement of technological means. Following are some of the top features of luxury homes in 2018.

1.     Smartphone Technology

The smartphone technology is one of the most in-demand features of today's luxury homes. This helps control everything happening in your house from your phone. Whether it be locking the doors or turning off the central heating, everything is just one click away.

2.     Gourmet Kitchen Complete with Wine Room

The kitchen is considered to be one of the most important features of any house. A gourmet kitchen is one that will have warming drawers, a walk-in pantry, wine closet along with restaurant quality appliances. A wine room has also become a very important feature to incorporate into your luxury home.

3.     Spa Bathrooms

A lavish bathroom is something without which a luxury home will be incomplete in 2018. The washroom should feature a walk in bathroom, with heated floors huge soaking tubs, towel warmers and a steam shower. By adding a wooden element to the washroom, you will provide the washroom with a warm and natural appeal.

4.     Outdoor and Indoor Living

When living in a huge city, it is a privilege to have a backyard. The low maintenance and sustainable lifestyle of outdoor living is also a must to have in a luxury home. The sliding doors should open seamlessly to conjoin the room and the backyard making it seem like a part of the entire room. Adding a pool to the backyard will make it all the more interesting.

By incorporating the above four features into your custom luxury home, you will be able to give your home a new makeover and twist according to the 2018 renovation demands. If you are ready to discuss new design to remodel or custom build your home, give Tony McClung a call at 214-668-7802. 

Tips To Renovate Your House Beautifully, yet Economically

Most of us renovate our homes because we want them to look beautiful and feel more comfortable as well. If you want to renovate your home, you should consider this home renovation plan to be a business plan. If you are starting from scratch, this could also become your special project. The most important thing when it comes to renovating your home beautifully on a budget is to plan everything beforehand. Following are some of the tried and tested methods using which you will be able to save money along with decorating your home like you want to.

1. Budgeting

The very first step to renovating your home is to start with the budgeting. It is very important that you decide on the total expenses beforehand. Also, make sure that you do not overestimate the budget and research in depth about what you want and how much they are going to cost.

Keep in mind that hiring a professional like Tony McClung can be a benefit in the budgeting and design process. Architectural Designers like Tony will work to organize builders, interior designers and construction crews so your remodel project doesn't take over your life!

2. Choose The Correct Paint

The paint of any room is going to affect its lighting as well. When you are renovating your home on a budget, it is important that you keep everything simple. Keeping a color scheme, which you can use throughout the house, means you can save the money needed to buy various different shades. Be sure to check out sources like Pinterest, Joanna Gaines and other popular design sites for paint color scheme ideas that will be perfect in your home.

3. Make Small Rooms Appear Bigger

To make your house look bigger without any major renovation, you should know the art of making smaller rooms look appear bigger and more spacious. To do this you could use mirrors. This is a tried and tested method to make any room appear bigger.

By using the three above mentioned tips and trick you can make your house appear prettier and grander without having to spend loads and loads of money on it. Who thought renovating a house could be so easy and economical! 

February Custom Home Maintenance Ideas

February is here, and this month is a perfect time for some home maintenance tips to keep your house from feeling all cluttered and stale before Spring. Following are some of the easy tips you can use in February to declutter your house and clean it up without a hassle.

1.     Flip And Rotate The Mattress

The process of flipping and rotating the mattresses makes them feel completely new. During this process, you can also vacuum them to make them even cleaner. This helps in extending the life of your mattresses and also contributes to a good night’s sleep.

2.     Recycle the Unnecessary Paperwork

Just hold on to the necessary paperwork, which you know you would need in the future; recycle the junk mail, recipes which you would not be using, or any other printouts which have been lying around the house unused. Even though this might seem trivial, the change it will have on your home is going to be immense.

3.     Test All The Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

You should be checking these on a regular basis to ensure complete safety. During February, when the temperature is changing, it is important that you check up on these to ensure maximum security and safety.

4.     Dust the Fans, walls and Accessories

Although dusting is one of the most hated chores, it is very important to dust everything on a regular basis. You are going to be amazed by the difference this makes in the overall appearance of your house. To freshen up your home, even more, you can add an essential oil diffuser as well.

5.     Plan Out Your Garden      

February is one of the most amazing times to work on your garden. Not only is this going to brighten up the exterior of your house it is also going to help take your mind off things.    

If you ever have any questions about home remodeling or custom home building in Dallas TX, please reach out to Tony McClung at 214-668-7802.