The prospect of building a custom house is incredibly exciting. For many people, it represents the culmination of a lifelong dream, plus the opportunity to get exactly what you want in a home. At the same time, building a custom house can be pretty stressful.
There are many, many decisions to be made when building a custom house, from the big choices like location to the small details like the type of cabinet knobs and door handles you want in your house. Before getting started on the process, we find it helpful to think about the big picture – the type, size, and style of house – before getting into the smaller details like paint colors and hardware style. We can help you with every aspect of the design process, from developing a floor plan to deciding what style of cabinets you want in your kitchen.
At Carl Deputy and Son Builders, we work collaboratively with homeowners to help them build the custom home of their dreams. We know that the process can be overwhelming, which is why we have an “open door” policy when it comes to helping our clients design their custom or semi-custom house. Reach out today to talk to our design crew about your aspirations for your new home.
Have questions about building a home or making home renovations? Sometimes talking directly to an expert is easier than reading a post. Speak with a builder at Carl Deputy & Son Builders > (302) 284-3041
Design Aspects to Consider Before Building a Custom House
When undertaking any big project, it is easy to be paralyzed by the sheer number of decisions that you have to make. This is particularly true when it comes to building a custom house, where you might find your eyes glazing over as you flip through pages of lighting options or trim styles.
For nearly 40 years, Carl Deputy and Son Builders has constructed gorgeous custom homes for homeowners in Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Our advice to our clients is always to start with the big things before working your way down to the small details. This often makes the process much easier, as many of the smaller choices will be narrowed down by your big picture design ideas. As always, we are happy to help homeowners with any aspect of the process.
Type of House
One of the biggest design questions that you should consider before you start the process of building a custom home is the type of home that you want. Some people build a custom home because they want a large, modern house that suits their lifestyle, such as an open floor plan with plenty of space for entertaining. Others build a custom home with a different goal in mind, such as one-floor living.
There are many different types of houses to choose from when building a custom home. You might want a ranch house where everything that you need will be on one level, or a larger 2-story house. A cozy bungalow or cottage might be the best option for you, or perhaps you are more into a more expansive house with distinct living areas.
When choosing the type of house that you want, you should also think about things like:
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of bathrooms, including en-suite bathrooms and powder rooms
- Other rooms that you’d like, including options like a den, playroom, craftroom, or a great room
- Size of the garage
- Outdoor living space
You should also think about the potential square footage of your new custom house. While this will likely be an estimate, it can still be helpful when it comes to planning.
The overall size and composition of your house will affect the other aspects of the project, so it’s important to decide early on what form you’d like your house to take. For example, if you’re set on a ranch house but also want 4 – 5 bedrooms and a lot of square footage, then you will likely need a much larger plot of land than you would if you wanted a 2-story house.
At Carl Deputy and Son Builders, our design team can work with you to come up with ideas based on the type of house that you want. This can help you as you move forward with other design decisions, like the style of house that you want.
Architectural Style of House
The next design decision that you should consider before embarking on your custom home journey is the style of house that you’d like. The house style is somewhat linked to the type of house that you want, but even within a given style, such as contemporary, there are a lot of variations. You could build a large, multi-level home in the contemporary style or a more compact ranch house.
There are many different styles of houses to choose from, including the popular modern farmhouse, Cape Cod, modern, traditional farmhouse, Craftsman, colonial, Mediterranean, French country, mid-century modern, shingle style, Tudor, and Victorian. Most people have a general sense of the house style that they like, such as the clean lines of an Arts and Crafts house or more cozy cottage vibes. You should spend some time thinking about different house styles before you get started with your custom building project.
The house style will also influence the building materials, features, and finishes that you choose for your house. For example, if you choose a modern farmhouse style, then your house will likely have large windows with black casings, white siding, open floor plans, and wood incorporated throughout the house. When you start with the style, you can often narrow down your options when it comes to these choices, which is particularly important when the prospect of making all of these decisions becomes overwhelming.
The location of your new custom house will also play a role in the style. While you can likely choose the style of house unless you have a homeowners’ association (HOA), you might want to consider how your new house will fit into the neighborhood. You might also decide to go with a house style that fits in with the natural surroundings, like a beach cottage style, if you want to build a house along Maryland’s Eastern Shore or one of Delaware’s many beach towns.
Carl Deputy & Son Builders offers customers the opportunity to look through our portfolio of past work for inspiration. We can also work with you to bring your own ideas to life. We love to collaborate with homeowners to help them design a home that suits their personal style.
Interior and Exterior Finishes
The next set of design decisions might seem overwhelming: picking all of the features and finishes of your house. Some of the initial choices, such as the exterior color palette, roof material, and the stone, brick, siding or stucco, will be informed by your house type and style. This can make it easier to make a final decision since your options will likely be narrowed down considerably.
When it comes to other finishes, you might end up having to choose between hundreds of options for things like:
- Window style
- Flooring for each room of the house
- Paint colors
- Plumbing fixtures
- Lighting
- Cabinets
- Tile
- Doors
- Door hardware
- Trim
- Garage door styles
All of these decisions can seem stressful, particularly when you consider the sheer number of choices that you will have to make. For example, consider that in a simple 3,000 square foot home, you might need to make decisions about 30 different categories of finishes. Within each category, there might be 20 to 50 choices, which can mean looking through more than 1,000 different options.
Fortunately, you don’t have to know everything before you start the process. Our design team will ask you a lot of questions to help you with the process. We can also set up appointments for you to look through our own books of design options or to visit showrooms to check out different brands, colors, and finishes.
We also build time into the construction timeline so that you don’t feel rushed or pressured. We know that choosing things like tile for your bathrooms is a major decision (and one that would be expensive to change if you decide you hate it a month after moving into your new house). We want you to have enough time and knowledge to make selections that you will love.
Keep in mind that your decisions related to finishes are not necessarily set in stone. It is possible to change your mind, within reason. Even after construction has started, we can usually accommodate change orders. While this might affect your budget, if you plan to live in your house for decades, it’s important that your house is exactly what you want.
We are also big believers in open communication. We are happy to answer any and all of your questions when it comes to your design choices and finish selections. Remember: while each of our custom houses is unique, we have decades of experience in building custom houses. We have a lot of insight to offer when it comes to making design choices for a custom home, and we are always willing to help homeowners with decisions big and small.
Ready to Start Designing Your Custom Delaware House? Give Us a Call.
We know that building a custom house is a big step for anyone. Our goal is to make the process as simple and low-stress as possible. We will help you every step of the way, offering our guidance and expert opinion based on decades of experience in the field.
Carl Deputy and Son Builders works with homeowners throughout Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland to help them build a beautiful custom home. We offer unparalleled customer service and the highest quality craftsmanship. If you are interested in building a new house or renovating your existing house, give us a call at 302-284-3041 or fill out our online contact form.
