Your home’s floor plan is one of the most important choices you will ever make when it comes to its design. Whether you live in an apartment, a condominium, or a house, the layout of your rooms and how they flow will depend on your lifestyle. You may prefer a single-story or multiple floors, and you may want all the bedrooms on the top floors. All of these details can make this part of home design stressful. So, here are some tips that can help you to decide on a plan that’s right for you and your family.

#1: Pick a Floor Plan That Works with Your Lifestyle

Choosing a room layout that works for the size of your family and the ages of your children is important. Most families with young children want to have private spaces with bedrooms and bathrooms that are grouped into a single area, while families with teenagers and young adults prefer to have separate bedrooms. If you’re looking for home design ideas, all of these factors are important. Take a look at the pros and cons of a particular floor plan. And if it doesn’t work, you can always redesign it.

#2: Look at How Often You Entertain

Many homes have floor plans that focus on entertaining and making the home more welcoming to guests. A wide foyer opening that goes into an open living and dining room that meanders to an outdoor area would be an ideal home design for welcoming guests. But if you and your family are more private, you may want to pick a floor plan that doesn’t put your home on full display every time the front door opens. You could have a formal living room that’s adjacent to the front door. This would give guests a place to sit down and feel comfortable, while leaving the rest of your home private.

#3: Decide Whether You Want More Than One Story

Many people prefer single-story homes because they don’t have to hear the sound of overhead foot traffic. Some single-story homes (called “Ranch-style homes”) will often group public rooms into the center, while bedrooms and bathroom are located on the “wings.” Multistory homes have the added benefit of more outside views instead of looking straight into the neighbor’s window. They can also give each family member their own space and room, so it will be more private than a single-story home design.

#4: Decide Whether Certain Areas Need Special Accessibility

You may have a live-in family member that needs more space to move around, or you may want wider hallways so children have room to run around. You should consider all these factors as you decide on a floor plan. Renovating or altering a location without a load-bearing wall sometime in the future can also be an option. So if you have a floor plan that you have fallen in love with, this is something you can think about doing later on.

#5: Determine How Much Outdoor Living Space You Want to Have

Your home design will most likely have a floor plan that includes an outdoor leisure area — whether it’s a porch, lanai, or swimming pool. As you pick a floor plan, look at how much your family will use these outdoor spaces. Like a large yard, it looks beautiful if you keep up with it. But it can look terrible if you don’t. Make sure you’re willing take on the added responsibility of keeping up with a larger outdoor space in addition to what you have indoors.

#6: Look at How Much it Will Cost to Build

Not everyone likes to talk about money. But if you don’t look at the cost of your new home design, you may find yourself in a great deal of trouble. It’s not just about spending too much money. Other things can cause problems as well. You may spend too little to get what you really want, and you may not be happy with the result later on.

#7: Determine How Much Storage Space You Need

Closets and other built-in storage spaced are difficult to expand, so you want to think about how much you actually need. Coat closets, large pantries, and walk-in bedroom closets are a few of the storage amenities that you may want to think about as you look at home design ideas. You may also want to think about whether your family can use a designated area near the main entrance for backpacks, raincoats, umbrellas, and muddy boots that need to be dropped off because it can reduce the amount of clutter and dirt that builds up around your home.

If you’re looking for one of the best home builders in Corpus Christi to help you with your next home design, be sure to get in touch with Devonshire Custom Homes.

Buying a new home can be an exciting experience, but building one is a massive commitment. That’s why choosing the right home builder is just as important as finding the right location (or even coming up with the right floor plan). The one you choose to work with will be your primary point of contact for the next couple of months, as you go through the process of building a custom home. A good builder will be able to give you the house of your dreams. But, if you make the wrong choice, you can experience a great deal of stress and frustration.

Here are some questions you should ask any new home builder before you make your final decision.

#1: How Long They Have Been in the Business

It’s important to ask this question, because it will give you an idea about the builder’s qualifications. If they have the knowledge and experience necessary to keep their business going and to make their customers satisfied, you could be one of their happy clients. A company that has only been in business for a short time may not give you the same level of service as a company that has been building custom homes for over four decades.

#2: How Many Homes They Have Built in a Particular Style

It’s good to know if your home builder has built a home in the style you want. A builder whose focus is on bungalows or infills may not be the perfect choice if you want to build a duplex. Make sure your builder either focuses on the style you want or has experience in a variety of building styles.

#3: If They Are Fully Licensed and Insured

If person you hire for building a custom home isn’t fully licensed and insured, you’re taking on more unnecessary risk. You could lose your deposit and even more money if something went wrong. You’re also held liable for unlicensed workers, so make sure your home builder is legitimate and legal.

#4: What They Offer That Other Builders Do Not

This is a great question to ask if you’re trying to choose from a couple of different builders. It’s good to know what the perks are, because the little details that make your builder go above and beyond what others offer can make the steps in building a custom home more special.

#5: The Most Important Benefits of the Homes They Build

This is similar to the previous question, because it gives you information on what they do that goes “above and beyond” other builders. You want to know what they’re homes will have that you can’t get if you hired someone else — whether it’s in the finishes and design, a stronger foundation, or better appliances.

#6: What Kind of Warranty They Offer

The bigger the purchase, the more you want to know about your warranty options. Because building a custom home is one of the largest investments in your life, a good warranty program will give you more peace of mind if something goes wrong. It will also give you more faith in your builder’s level of workmanship.

#7: If They Have Any References You Can Contact

In an investment as big as building a custom home, asking to verify claims with outside sources is a reasonable request. A good home builder will have a list of references from happy customers and will allow you to listen to what they have to say about the person you’re considering.

#8: If They Have Any Show Homes or Other Properties You Can See

Energy-efficient homes can save you a lot of money every month. So if a home builder can make your home more efficient, you should take that into serious consideration.

#9: What Standard Features Their Homes Include

Every home builder is different. If you don’t know what’s included in your builder’s fees, you won’t know how to put together your budget or mortgage request. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into, so you don’t have any added expenses that can make the process more stressful. Ask them about things like landscaping, decks, garages, and fencing.

#10: Additional Options and Upgrades They Have Available

Like all the standard features, you want to know about any upgrade options you have available. Being able to add a double sink to your master bedroom, add an ensuite to your spare bedroom, upgrade (or even downgrade) your kitchen appliances, or install hardwood floors are good things to know and is something that your home builder can help you with.

If you’re looking for one of the best custom home builders in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Devonshire Custom Homes.

Are you ready to build your dream kitchen? If so, then you need to have a good plan. The kitchen is where people spend most of their time. So, having a functional and well-planned design is critical if you want to have a fabulous kitchen for you and your family. There are also some things that you need to carefully consider as you go through your set of kitchen design ideas.

Here are some tips on how you can come up with a good design for your dream kitchen.

#1: Think About the Function Your Space Will Serve

The most important thing to think about while you come up with a kitchen design (or the design of any space) is the purpose you want it to serve. Cooking has always been the main function of any kitchen. But over the years, it has been used for a lot more than that. It has become the heart of any home. In fact, it has become the most important room in the house. People use the kitchen for a lot more than cooking. They use it to work, watch TV, read the mail, or hang out with friends. You may not plan to use the kitchen for all those things, but it’s still important to think about what you see yourself doing in this space so you can make it work for you and your family.

#2: Consider the Work Triangle

As you come up with kitchen design ideas, you need to think about the flow of your workspace (what is often referred to as the “work triangle”). Think about the distance between your stove, refrigerator, and sink. You want to have an efficient workflow that will allow you to move easily between these three points. A poorly-designed work triangle will cause you to run all over your kitchen to access its most important areas. There’s no hard and fast rule, but you want to think about the distance between each point on your triangle. A good rule of thumb is somewhere between 40 and 60 inches.

#3: Plan for an Adequate Amount of Storage

One of the most common complaints from people who want to renovate their kitchen is that it doesn’t have enough storage space, but even the smallest kitchen can maximize its storage space. If you use small appliances on a regular basis, think about where you can access them more easily. You might be able to create an appliance garage with retractable doors, or you can build a large pantry with pull-out drawers that you can lift easily. You can also make your kitchen more functional by adding drawers for your pots and pans. you might even be able to include a walk-in pantry.

#4: Think About Lighting

It may seem simple, but it’s important to have the right amount of light in your kitchen. You always want to have enough electrical layouts to accommodate your kitchen design. There are three types of lighting you can add to your kitchen design:

• General Lighting — This is what will light up your entire space. One of the best ways to evenly disperse light throughout the room is with recessed pot lights, and you can even add dimmer switches in case you need to create a cozier atmosphere during parties or romantic dinners. You can put pendant lights over islands, or you can put chandeliers over tables.
• Task Lighting — This kind of lighting can be used to help with certain tasks. An example of task lighting is under-cabinet lighting, which is an important part of a kitchen design that’s often overlooked. Shadows from overhead lights can often be cast underneath, which makes harder to do prep work on counters.
• Accent Lighting — This kind of lighting isn’t necessary for function, but it can highlight certain aspects of your kitchen design. Uplighting or lighting inside glass cabinets are great examples. And while under-cabinet lighting is necessary for function, it can also accentuate the design of your cabinets and countertops.

Be sure to speak to a professional designer for more ideas on how you can use lighting effectively.

#5: Choose Your Appliances Ahead of Time

You won’t be able to come up with a good kitchen design unless you know what kind of appliances you want to put in it. If you like to cook, you might want to add a six-burner stove or cooktop. And do you prefer gas or electric? If you like to bake, double-wall ovens might be a good option. Refrigerators can also vary in both size and depth, or you may want to add a built-in microwave. A professional designer can help you make a choice that will work best for your needs.

If you plan to build a home in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Devonshire Custom Homes.

A new home can be one of the biggest investments you will ever make, which is why you need to make smart decisions early in the process. All the things you have to think about, one of the first is whether you should buy one or build it yourself. By the time people reach out to a homebuilder, they’re already committed to either buying or building a home. But, if you’re not quite there yet, there are some things you should think about before you make your decision. Both approaches have their pros and cons. There is no right or wrong answer, but there are some factors that you need to take into consideration.

Buying an Existing Home

There are two main advantages to home buying: convenience and cost. Once you’re pre-approved by a lender, you can shop around, choose a home, and make an offer. A qualified real estate agent can make the home buying process easier by helping you to find the right properties, guiding you throughout the negotiation process, and helping you with the paperwork. Once your offer has been accepted, you might be able to close the deal. You can move in after a month or two, depending on the circumstances of the closing process.

The home buying process involves many different steps, which can include:

• Financing
• Viewing homes
• Making offers
• Home inspections
• Closing

Being able to move right away is a convenience that can cause many people to decide to buy an existing home instead of building one from scratch. The need to buy an existing home is especially true for home buyers who are on a tight schedule. You might be relocating because you got a new job, or you may have kids that will be attending a new school. Home buying is also cheaper in most cases. Once you have found a prospective home, you can use a mortgage calculator to get a better estimate of how much it will cost to purchase it based on today’s interest rates.

If you’re moving into an established neighborhood that’s near work, school, friends, or family, there’s a good chance the home will have mature landscaping. You won’t have to worry about starting a lawn, planting shrubs, and waiting for trees to grow. If you want to live close to town, home buying will be your best choice. Most or all of the land will already have homes built on them. But despite all the advantages of buying an existing home, there is one major disadvantage. You won’t be able to get exactly what you want, and it can be hard to find a home that’s in perfect condition. You may have to think about the cost of updating or renovations.

The Advantages of Building a New Home

Home building won’t give you the same convenience as buying one that already exists. Not only do you have to find the land (which may not be in an established neighborhood), but you also have to take the time find an architect or builder. You also have to decide on every element of the new structure. You can minimize your risk of going over budget or having unexpected delays if you work with a reputable home builder and have a good contract in place. Getting in on an existing development may streamline the process, but it can limit your choices. You’ll have to worry about systems (such as whether the land will give you access to municipal water and sewage), and you have to work on getting the right permits.

One big advantage of home building is that you have a better chance of getting exactly what you want, which is why many people choose to build than to buy. But there are other advantages to home building as well. It will allow you to create a more efficient home that will meet current energy standards, especially in the following areas:

• Heating
• Ventilation
• Cooling
• Insulation
• Air filtration

Better efficiency will not only be good for the environment but can also save you money on your monthly utility bills. Older homes can have asbestos, lead paint, or mold. So if you build a home, you can use materials that are better for the environment and won’t affect your health. Building a home can also give you a kind of satisfaction that you won’t be able to get from home buying. You’ll have a certain emotional connection to living in a home that you created.

If you’re looking for a custom home building company that can help you create your dream home, be sure to get in touch with Devonshire Custom Homes. We would be happy to speak with you about your specific needs!