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5 Tips for Making Your Home More Functional and Comfortable

5 Tips for Making Your Home More Functional and Comfortable

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The design of your home affects how you feel. However, the design is more than a style and aesthetics. A good design should enhance your experience of the space and simplify your day-to-day life. Here are some useful tips on making your home more comfortable and functional:

Tips on Making Your Home More Functional

If you wonder how to make your home more comfortable and functional, here is a list of things you can do:

  • Plan the layout right. The key element of any home design is its layout. Think about how you use and move around your home. Does it feel comfortable moving around? Is there something that you should alter? Maybe you need to knock down several walls to create more space or steal space from one room to add another.
  • Use awkward and challenging spaces. You likely have a space in your home that you do not know how to use. Challenging spaces are often left bare, which attracts clutter and makes a home less functional. If you do not want your home to look messy, you should think about transforming an awkward space into an area with a purpose.
  • Plan the lighting. Lighting is one of the most important aspects of a home design, and most homeowners struggle with it. You need to think about creating a balance of natural and artificial light, which might be tricky. To comfy your home with efficient lighting, you should use different lighting types, such as wall lamps, floor lamps, table lamps, chandeliers, and more.
  • Make your rooms multi-functional. If you have a small house, your rooms should serve more than one purpose. For example, you can put a futon sofa in one of the family rooms to use it as a guest room when necessary. There are many options and possibilities, and you can discuss them with a professional designer.
  • Think about the future. When trying to create a functional house, you should think about the future and the changes it might bring. If you are focused on your present only, you may experience problems later. For example, if you have just started a family and plan to have children in the future, you should consider how your home will function when your child is born.

Home Designs By Bruno – Affordable Custom Designs in Colchester, CT

Do you want to make your home more functional and comfortable but need professional help? It is time to contact Home Designs By Bruno, a company specializing in designing homes, additions, and drafting services. We use a unique approach to designing and building your perfectly functional home. We walk our clients through the entire design process and make sure that they experience 100% satisfaction with their new home. If you have any questions about the services we offer, or you want to discuss your project with us, do not hesitate to visit our website or give us a call.

Will 2023 Be a Good Time to Build a Custom House?

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Should I build a custom house in 2023? Only 19% of consumers believe that 2023 will be a good time to build a custom home, according to the Housing Sentiment Index. This is because interest rates are higher than ever before, with many expecting a recession in the future. If you are asking yourself this question, you may have already started the planning process. One of the first reasons is that construction costs have begun to drop. When the pandemic first began, everyone was seeing increases of up to 32%. But now, the pace of the increases has already begun to significantly slow down. It is expected that construction costs will begin to increase at a more consistent pace, between 2% and 4% in the year 2023.

Is 2023 a Good Time To Build a Custom Home?

Here are several more reasons to move on with your plans. In the year 2023, you can count on resale values to remain steady. Besides the market crash in 2008, many homeowners have rates under 5% versus variable rates that they were unable to afford. The low level of housing supply that is being seen now will still remain present without any reductions in value.

Besides the resale value, there is not a lot of competition when it comes to finding land. Over the past years, it has been a challenge for people to find available land to build their homes on. But, this is no longer the case, which means stability is finally present in the land market.

Another reason 2023 is a good time to build your home is that interest rates are more likely to decline. The mortgage market has already begun making predictions about falling rates. When it comes to mortgages, many people either sell their homes or refinance their loan before their loan ends. The lenders make money between the rate you are being charged and the fed funds. Currently, the spread on mortgages is much higher than it has ever been only because it is expected that many newly originated loans will be refinanced when rates start to decrease.

Not only will interest rates decline, but the supply chain has also begun improving. Now you no longer have to wait 12 months just to receive appliances and garage doors. Over the past several years, waiting for appliances has been the new norm. More than half of the builder materials dealers stated that the supply chain has improved and is expected to remain stable.

Picking the Perfect Finishes for Your Custom Home

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What finishes should I chose for a custom home? It can feel overwhelming to have a wide range of options available with different features to choose from. But, this process can be simple with the right tools, photos, and experts to help you out. Continue reading to find out various tips for picking the best finishes for your home.

Tips for Picking Finishes for Your Custom Home

Picking the perfect finishes for a custom hone doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some tips to help you along the way. First, don’t forget to gather all of the information you need before you start choosing any paint colors and flooring options. Take this time to come up with a budget and familiarize yourself with the building process. All of these things should then be discussed with your lender since you may have to pay more for upgrades in cash instead of them being financed. Also, don’t forget to decide on structural upgrades, including a finished basement, additional windows, and any room extensions or upgrades.

Once you have gathered all of the information you need, you can now check out various websites such as Pinterest and Houzz to get some ideas for styles. Use this time to save web pages and email links. This will help you later on not to get overwhelmed and keep a record of everything you like. Before scheduling an appointment with your design expert, visit your builder’s website to browse photos of homes to see what you like. You probably already have an idea of what you would like your new home to look like. But, you will need to decide on the things that are more important to you and start with those first.

Finally, you can begin to work with your design expert. You may have to schedule multiple sessions with your designer to choose the best options for your new home. But, if you don’t have many options, this process may be a bit quicker for you. You should begin by scheduling an initial consultation in person or by video conference. During this consultation, you can talk about the many options you have chosen. Don’t forget to ask questions. Once the basics have been established, you can start to narrow down your options. Your designer may advise you on the finishes and colors that blend well and even inform you about the quality of various products. You can also take advantage of online sources to compare different products and finishes.

4 Tips for Finding the Best Custom Home

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One of the best long-term investments someone can make is purchasing their own home. Beyond being a good investment, your home is also a place where you will spend a lot of time. Because of this, you will want to get a home that you love and meets all of your needs.

One way that you can do this is by purchasing and building your own custom home. When you are looking to purchase a custom home, there are a lot of factors to consider. Fortunately, there are various tips for picking a custom home that can make it a great option and investment.

Consider What Is Important

When looking for the best custom home, you must consider what is most important to you. There are many options to consider with any new custom home, so identifying the most important features should be your first priority. These can include square footage, home style, luxury amenities, outdoor space, and location. Once you have identified your most important features in the new home, it will make it easier to pair your options down to a more reasonable list size.

Have the Right Builder

When you are going to invest in any type of property, you will want to know that it is built well. While most people assume that a new custom home will be in great condition, there could still be near-term structure issues if it is not built well. Due to this, you should look to hire a builder and architect with a long track record and an excellent reputation for quality in your area. This should provide comfort that you are working with a reputable company that will build a quality home.

Ask Questions

When going through the process, various steps must be followed. This includes getting initial drawings, schematics, and blueprints from architects. These will then be the guide through the full home development. While you should be able to trust that everything is done well and in accordance with plans, you should never be afraid to ask questions. If a mistake is made, it is better to address it sooner rather than later.

Have a Budget and Prepare for Unexpected

Most people will know they need to budget properly for their home remodel. However, it is essential to remember that cost overruns can happen. Due to this, you should ensure that you have a contingency plan in place for additional costs that could arise.

If you are looking to have your own home built, there are a lot of choices to make to ensure you get a quality home that you will be able to enjoy for a very long time. When wondering how to find the best custom home, following these tips is very important as it can help guide your decision and ensure you get a quality property.

What To Consider When Building a Custom Home

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Custom home builds are not for everyone. But there certainly are some situations in which a custom home is the way to go. This quick guide will help you decide if you should consider custom home construction. Keep reading to learn more about custom home design tips and custom home layout ideas.

You Have a Specific Vision for Your Home

Not everyone wants to simply buy a cookie-cutter home in a subdivision. If your dream home is something that you have specifically designed in your mind, you should definitely consider connecting with a custom home builder. These professionals will be able to take your vision and turn it into a beautiful reality.

Trying to shop around to find your dream home could prove to be frustrating and fruitless.

You Want Built-Ins

Built-in storage and shelving does not often come standard with a pre-designed home. If you have been dreaming of custom made built-ins for entertainment areas, the kitchen, bath, or even the closets. They will be able to provide you with custom closet ideas, storage solutions, and more.

It is always easier to plan built-ins during the construction process of a new home build, rather than to attempt to have them added to a completed space.

You Want a Kitchen Nook

Kitchen nooks are an adorable addition to a kitchen space, but these are usually a custom creation. A kitchen nook provides a great way to bring in more seating into the kitchen area. Nooks are often good for smaller kitchens that otherwise may not have a lot of room for an eat in table or island.

You Need a Mudroom

A mudroom or a drop zone as some people call it is a great feature to have in any home. Unfortunately, many pre-designed homes do not come with this feature. Having your mud room custom made allows for you to add custom designed built-in storage, benches, and more.

You Want An Upstairs Laundry Room

Some homeowners wish to conserve all of their downstairs space for living space or entertaining space. This can be easily accomplished by making sure that all bedrooms, main bathrooms, and the laundry are all upstairs. Most average home designs will not have the laundry upstairs, though. If you want your laundry upstairs, you should reach out to a custom home builder in your area. They will have the skills to design your home exactly the way you have envisioned it.

You Want a Spa Bathroom

If you want more than just the average master bath, a custom home builder can design you a home spa that you’ll never want to leave. A home spa can include things such as a jacuzzi tub, luxury shower, sauna, and more.

Five Tips for Picking the Perfect Color Palette for Your Home

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Color can transform the inside of your home. However, finding the right colors for your space can be challenging with so many choices. Use these five tips for interior paint ideas to give your home the perfect color palette.

Find Inspiration

Before selecting a color, try pairing it with something you love. Whether it be a piece of artwork or your favorite throw pillow, use it as a starting point for your color palette. Once you have found a color you love, start exploring tints and shades of that hue to find the perfect match for your room.

Think About The Mood You Want To Create

The colors in your home should reflect the mood you want to create. For example, are you going for a cozy and inviting space or a more modern and sleek look? Warmer colors tend to make a room feel more inviting, while cooler colors can give off a more sophisticated vibe. In addition, you can experiment with custom home paint concepts to give you a unique look.

Choose a Focal Point

Every room has a focal point, whether it’s the fireplace, a piece of furniture, or even the view out the window could be the main focus area in your living space. You’ll want to pick paint colors that accentuate the focal point without drowning it out. The perfect interior has the right amount of balance to be inviting and stylish.

Test the Colors

Before committing to a color scheme, you can always test a few options to see how they look. Painting sample boards or even painting a small section of your wall can help you decide if a color is the right fit for your home. Also, ask your family and friends for their opinions! Sometimes they may have suggestions that you haven’t even considered.

Get Professional Help

If you’re still struggling to find the perfect color scheme, there’s no shame in seeking out professional help. An interior designer or color consultant can give great suggestions to pair with your home and existing furniture and interior design. While it might cost a bit of money, it could save you time and frustration by going this route.

Remember to have fun as you design your interior space. Color options are limitless, so take your time in finding the perfect scheme for your home!

How To Communicate Your Vision to Your Home Designer

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How do you effectively communicate with designers when building a custom home? There are a number of different strategies that can help you do just that! While in this stage of the process, it is important to remember that designing a house is a big deal, and it’s often a good idea to approach the experience with a lot of patience!

Let’s take a look at some ways to approach your home design to ensure that you are able to see your dream home turn into reality!

How do you tell your architect what you want?

Designing a new home from the bottom up is an intense process. There are many factors to consider, from choosing the lot to selecting the exact siting of the house, and that’s before you even begin to consider the exterior and interior of the home. From the beginning, it is important to understand just how vital good communication is with your design team.

Like many other large projects, it can often be difficult to include every single thing that you want in your home’s design. One of the first things to do is create a list of “must-haves” or non-negotiable items. Similarly, you’ll want to identify the design elements that matter less to you. This will make it easier to make difficult decisions down the line as you progress through the design process.

If there will be restrictions enforced by budgetary considerations, be sure to keep them in mind when you create your list of non-negotiable items. Taking this step can help you to avoid future disappointment and confusion as you go through the design process. When there aren’t any budgetary constraints, other forces like availability and timing may cause you to have to make concessions.

Making the vision work

Create an idea book with the styles that you like and want your architect and designer and builder to incorporate into the design of your home. Some people have stronger aesthetic desires than others; figure out where you are on that spectrum. If certain areas aren’t as important to you, be sure to communicate this to your team and let them take the lead in those areas. If you are designing a family home, be sure to allow other family members to voice their desires as well.

When it’s time to put everything together, it will take some time to digest the design scheme before deciding on any changes. A few days can make a difference to your outlook. Making sure that your chosen color palette works well with your selected finishes is an important part of this process. Don’t be afraid to ask for input from your team, but remember that the final decision is yours to make.

Building a custom home may be a complex process, but it is well worth the time and effort for most people!

The Benefits of Home Design Consultation

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What does a design consultation include? As a potential homeowner, you’re probably wondering how a home design consultant can help. Such experts provide considerable advantages to potential homeowners. Here are the 5 benefits of having a design consultant.

1. Saves Time in Planning

As you will discover, there are many things to consider when planning to construct or renovate a home. It can be tough to determine what changes need to be made. A home design consultant will help you save time because they’ve had plenty of experience with the process. They know what works and what doesn’t. You don’t have to waste time figuring things out because the consultant will take care of it.

2. Gets You Organized

The planning process can be overwhelming because there are many things to consider. Having a home design consultant helps you stay organized because they will keep track of everything for you. This includes making sure that the construction crew has the necessary materials and that the permits are in order. In addition, the consultant can help you create a schedule so that everything is finished on time.

3. Make Your Home More Functional

You might not know how to make your home more functional. A home design consultant will help you figure out how to use the space in your home more efficiently. Home design experts will also help you choose fixtures and finishes that are both stylish and functional. This is important because you want your home to be beautiful and practical. The main idea is to ensure that your home is comfortable and inviting.

4. Creates a Unique Home

You want your home to be unique and reflect your style. A home design consultant will help you achieve this goal. They will work with you to choose the right materials, colors, and textures that reflect your taste. This is an important aspect of the project because you want your home to reflect who you are. You will get a home designed to meet your tastes and preferences.

5. Avoid Costly Mistakes

It’s easy to make mistakes when planning a construction or renovation project, and these mistakes can end up costing you a lot of money. A home design consultant will help you avoid making costly errors. You will always be in a position to make informed decisions because you will have the guidance of an expert. This is an important benefit because it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Conclusion

When choosing a home design consultant, you want to make sure you choose someone with experience. You also want to ensure that they can work with you to create a plan that meets your needs. The benefits of having a home design consultant are numerous. Contact Home Designs by Bruno to learn more about how we can help you with your home design needs.

The Benefits of a Custom Commercial Building

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What are the benefits of building a custom commercial building? A custom commercial building has a lot of benefits. It can also help you cut costs in the long run. If you’re thinking about constructing your own commercial building, consider the benefits below before you renew your lease.

The Benefits of Constructing Your Own Commercial Building

First Impressions: A custom building helps with marketing and networking. When customers or clients see a well-maintained, clean building, it subconsciously tells them that you’re a professional organization that is successful and can be trusted.

Cost Cutting: In the long run, constructing your own commercial building can help you save money. When you own the building, you control the maintenance and construction costs. You’re at the landlord’s mercy regarding repairs and renovations to a leased space.

Flexibility: With a custom commercial building, you can design the space to perfectly suit your needs. You can add features that will make your style and design. However, leasing a property requires you to adhere to the landlord’s rules and regulations, which can be quite restrictive.

Amenities: When you own your commercial building, you can add amenities. If your business requires certain equipment or facilities, you can easily incorporate them into the design of your custom building. With a leased space, you’ll have to work around the restrictions or regulations of the property.

Taxes: When you own a commercial building, you can deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes from your income taxes. This can save you a significant amount of money at tax time.

Equity: Ownership of a building gives you equity. You can borrow against the equity in your building or even sell the property if you need to. With a leased space, you have no equity and no ownership rights. However, you can use the equity to invest in another property or for unforeseen expenses.

Can Commercial Buildings Use Wood Framing?

Yes, commercial buildings can use wood framing. Wood is a popular choice for framing because it’s solid and durable. It’s also easy to work with, so it’s a good choice for construction projects. You can use wood framing for both small and large commercial buildings. There are several benefits of wood-framed commercial buildings. They include:

  • Cost-efficient
  • Durable
  • Eco-friendly
  • Energy efficient

As you can see, constructing a custom commercial building has many benefits. If you’re considering renewing your lease, consider owning your building instead. You’ll have more control over the space and its costs. Plus, you can tailor the design to suit your needs perfectly.

Decorating a Small House

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Homes come in all shapes and sizes, and in many cases, a smaller home may be more economical, fitting for your needs, or was the type of home for sale in your area. No matter the reasons, you still want your home to look nice. So, how can you design small spaces? It’s a common question we answer below.

How To Maximize Space in a Small House 

  1. Use Light: Proper use of light can make small areas look larger. You can use natural light and also take advantage of interior lights that don’t take up much room, such as pendant lights and string lights that can run along your walls.
  2. Make Use of Nooks: The corners of your room often sit empty. You can make use of corners to maximize the use of your home’s floor space. Corners and nooks can be filled with tables, desks, and floor lamps to improve your home’s lighting if needed.
  3. Use Vertical Spaces: You don’t have to decorate out wide; you can decorate up and make better use of your space. Adding shelving and bookshelves allows you to store or place personal items without taking up the center of the room.
  4. Use Large Rugs: While it is tempting to use smaller rugs for a smaller home, this just points out that you don’t have an excess of floor space. By using the largest rungs, you can fill the room’s volume and make it feel larger.
  5. Reduce Clutter: When you don’t have a lot of room to work with, every inch of space counts. Clutter takes up valuable room you can use for other things such as furniture. Reducing unneeded items makes your home easier to manage and makes moving around in it far easier by keeping floors clear.
  6. Get Rid of Unneeded Possessions: Related to the above, the cause of clutter is having too many unneeded items. It’s very easy to collect possessions over the years that no longer serve a practical purpose. These can be one-off items, items that no longer bring you any joy to own, or are things you no longer use. Getting rid of these items makes your home neater and gives you more room to work with.

Final Thoughts

A small home can still be a joy and home, after all, is still home. With some careful management of how you decorate and the things you own, you can take full advantage of all the space you have to work with.

Contact Us:

Home Designs by Bruno
75 Lebanon Avenue
Colchester, CT 06415

Phone: 860-537-5345
Fax: 860-603-2622

Email: bruno@homedesignsbybruno.com