Why Build Your Own Custom Home?

Part of the satisfaction of owning your own home is having something special to call your own.  A house is something we will live in for a long time, at least for those who are ready to settle.  There are many reasons to own your own home, and nothing says it better than the satisfaction to customize just about any part of it you can think of.  Check out this article we found in Providence Journal:

After owning a home in Misquamicut for many years, Craig and Donna Murphy were ready for something new.  They bought a lot in the North Bottom Pond Association, a gated community in the Avondale/Watch Hill area, off Watch Hill Road on the northern end of the community, and connected to Shore Road (Route 1A) on the southern side. Their custom home, built in 2003, has four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, and 3,556 square feet of living space.

Craig Murphy, a builder and cabinetmaker, said he has worked on a lot of homes, and he and his wife have lived in, fixed up, and sold a number of houses throughout their marriage. So they knew exactly what they wanted in their new house. They said they selected one of a group of house plans offered in the association, but tweaked the plans to make it their own.

The house is filled with custom woodwork, including a beautiful built-in, glass-front cabinet in the entry foyer, and another large built-in storage piece in the kitchen. Even the walk-in closets have detailed built-in storage pieces and moldings.

If you read the story about Craig Murphy, you’ll come to the realization that if you can dream it, you can build it.  Custom home builders are not only offering to build you the house of your dreams, but to do so affordably.  Even in Florida State where property values can soar high, custom homes seem just as affordable as they are in Houston.  Have a look at the following excerpt from Bizjournals:

While new developments in suburban areas around Tampa Bay tend to comprise subdivisions of production homes, some local areas are being redeveloped one custom home at a time.

The March 2 weekly edition of the Tampa Bay Business Journal contains the List of the largest custom home builders in the Tampa Bay area. While they reported building across the region, the focus tends to be on South Tampa, Davis Islands, St. Petersburg and many waterfront areas.

Builders on the List handle homes priced anywhere from $200,000 to $5 million.

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For A Custom Built Home to Satisfaction, Give Us A Call Today:

Black and White Construction

P.O. Box 8225, The Woodlands, TX 77387

Tel: (832) 764.1049

http://www.bawcon.com/

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Custom Home Builders Making Housing Affordable

For most people, the family home is the single biggest purchase that they will ever make. It seems unfortunate, then, that so many families will purchase a mundane property that was designed for ‘the average family’ rather than for them and their specific needs.

Self-building was a popular pursuit a couple of decades ago, but it is something that takes time and research, and that many people simply do not have the resources for. Even buying a property is a stressful undertaking. Building one is a much greater challenge.

Custom Homes Made By Professional Builders

 

Purchasing a house made just for you by custom home builders is a compromise between moving in to an existing propery, and building your own home. Custom home builders have the expertise required to tell you whether your dream design would work as well as you think it would. In addition, they have an in-depth knowledge of planning permission, health and safety, building regulations and the other issues associated with building a property. They also have access to a wider range of suppliers, and can benefit from the economies of scale associated with buildnig for multiple people.

Individual Homes for Individual Lifestyles

Most homes have incredibly similar layouts – a kitchen, den and living area downstairs, with perhaps a small toilet. Upstairs bedrooms and toilets, and perhaps a small loft. The shape, size and layout of the rooms has been perfected over decades to suit the typical lifestyle. You may have reasons that lifestyle does not suit you. Perhaps you would prefer a much larger room downstairs for a personal gym. Perhaps you have an elderly, ailing relative who cannot use stairs, and would prefer a bedroom and bathroom just for them on the ground floor.

There are many reasons that a standard layout may not suit your lifestyle and your specific needs. Custom homes do not have to be mansions – they could be a tiny ouse, or leaning towards that size – designed specifically to suit a small family. Whether your dream is to have a swimming pool in the garden, or a music room or photography production room soundproofed or light-sealed to perfection, a custom home could get you that for an affordable price.

In many cases, there’s no need to build a home from scratch. Renovating an existing property is an affordable way to make a home that was build for someone else feel like it was designed just for you.

Before you settle for the standard house layout, and try to shoehorn your belongings into something that wasn’t quite designed for them, give our team of home builders a call. You could get quite a surprise at how easy it is to build a property, and how much money you coulds save in the long term. You get the house you want, built to modern standards. The right size, with the latest energy efficient improvements and lower running costs too. Do it your way, and be happy.

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The Evolution of Interior Design

Decorating your home is important. The right decorations and colors can drastically improve your mood. In fact, home decorating is something that people have been doing for centuries.

If you’d like to know a bit more on the evolution of interior design, continue reading to discover some interesting facts that you might not have known:

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<!—– Copy and Paste This Code Into Your Post —-></p><h3>The Evolution of Interior Design</h3><p><a href=”http://www.bawcon.com/custom-homes/the-evolution-of-interior-design/”><img src=”http://www.bawcon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/evolutionofinteriordesign.jpg” alt=”Evolution of Interior Design” width=”700px” /></a><br></p><p><a href=”http://www.bawcon.com/custom-homes/the-evolution-of-interior-design/”>Infographic by Black & White Custom Homes</a></p><p>

 

• Before homes ever existed, human beings lived in caves. Those who lived in the caves often decorated the walls by drawing different types of pictures on them. Some of the drawings were of the various types of plants and animals found in the wild.

• Many of the different tribes were creative when it came to decorating their personal living spaces. They often used different things from nature to decorate their huts, including the branches from trees, the skin of different animals, and even assorted plants that were commonly found in the wilderness.

• The Egyptians are known for using some of the most beautiful sculptures inside their homes. Along with unique sculptures, they’d often create some of their own vases, paint them with assorted colors, and then carefully place them in different rooms to hold some of their favorite plants and flowers in place.

.• The Greeks would enhance their own living spaces by painting the walls of their homes with stunning decorative pieces. These unique paintings added excitement, brightness, and lots of color to the homes. The Romans were known for adding decorative paintings to the walls of their homes, too.

• During the industrial revolution, people started to have a bit more of an interest in interior design. Due to people having such a major interest in interior design, the different magazines that were out at the time started to produce publications with images of design ideas to inspire the people and give them ideas for their own homes.

• Elsie De Wolfe was known for spreading the interest of interior design even further. The professional decorator made sure to have plenty of professional photos included in magazines so that all middle-class citizens could learn more about the process of interior decorating.

• Artistic decorations became increasingly popular in the 1930’s. People preferred using these decorative pieces because they were modern, elegant, sophisticated, and unique.

• When WWI was finally over, many people started traveling to other states and countries by plane. During their travels, they learned about different types of designs that were commonly used in households all around the world. Many people were inspired by the designs they were seeing while traveling and used that inspiration to decorate their own homes when they got back.

• The love people have for interior design became even more prevalent in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Different types of home makeover shows taught people all about the art of interior design and inspired them to want to decorate their homes in different ways while using all kinds of decorative pieces.

• Currently, the contemporary designs are a major hit. People love these designs because they can use pops of bright colors in combination with modern furniture and some fairly simple designs.

The way people choose to decorate their personal living spaces has certainly evolved over time and will continue to evolve as people come up with new and interesting ways to decorate their homes. Some people prefer modern and contemporary styles while others prefer traditional and old-fashioned styles. There are plenty of ways to get inspiration for the interior design of your own home.

This Infographic About The Evolution of Interior Design Is Brought To You By:

Black & White Custom Homes
P.O. Box 8225
The Woodlands, TX 77387
(832) 764.1049
info@bawcon.com

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Finding A Qualified Custom Kitchen Remodeler In Houston Tx

Do you want to remodel your kitchen and give it a fresh new look? You need to find the right kitchen remodeler because they will be the biggest part of the project’s success or failure. The following are ways that help you discover the perfect kitchen remodeler with the skills, tools, and experience needed to do the remodeling job properly.

There is a lot involved in kitchen remodeling from floors to appliances to fixtures and cabinets. This is what makes kitchen remodeling one of the single most expensive projects in the home. It can also involve structural work, electrical work, ductwork, and plumbing. The kitchen is often the most used room in the house, so a remodeling project can also be highly disruptive.

Make sure you avoid picking an unsuitable remodeler. They can make the project a never-ending nightmare which costs you much more time and money than you counted on. They can cause you problems that come with violating municipal codes among other things. At best, the remodel may end up getting done properly, but it may not be exactly what you envisioned, or it may end up being done with inferior materials. When you choose the right kitchen remodeler your job gets done well, and it gets done without any unpleasant surprises.

When you interview kitchen remodeling companies do not be afraid to ask difficult questions. Demand solid answers. When you start your interviews, follow these tips to make sure you find the remodeling company with the right business savvy and the financial and manpower resources needed to get the work done perfectly.

1. Review the remodeler’s qualifications. Find out if they are a licensed and properly registered company in your area. Ask to see their license or get their license number. Obtain a financial statement from the company’s bank so that you can determine that they are going to be around to see your kitchen remodeling job through from start to finish. Ask them about their insurance policies that cover them as a company and as a company that hires subcontractors for the work being done.

They should have a policy for general liability insurance. It should show that there is sufficient coverage for their company vehicles, their equipment, and more. It should also cover the work that they perform. Take a look at their worker’s compensation insurance policy. Make sure you get a physical street address of the company. Some highly qualified remodelers operate out of their homes which is fine, but you need to be sure that the company has more than just a PO address.

Do not feel like you are prying for this vital information. You have to be assured that these remodelers are who they say they are and that they have what it takes to operate as a legitimate remodeling business. They should have no problem providing you with their insurance information. If they do, move on to the next prospect – fast.

2. See samples of work they have done previously. This is usually available in the form of photos or videos that they post on their company website. If they do not have a website, ask for photographs. Ask to speak with the homeowners of the projects they claim to have completed. You need to be sure that they are not providing you with false information.

Ask the company to provide you with several references. You should be able to get recent references and ones from several years ago. Make it a point to talk to the previous clients. This is fine to do as long as you get the client’s permission. Your potential remodeler will give you their contact information so that you can find out how satisfied they are with the work and how well the work has stood the test of time. Also check reviews online. Use resources like Google Business Listings or Angie’s List.

3. Get a feel for the chemistry you have with them. Are they laid back just like you? Or, do you prefer a professional demeanor from the people working for you instead? What are their work styles like? Do you think they understand the look that you are going for? They should. Make sure you gauge their compatibility with you and your hopes for the project’s outcome carefully.

Find all of this information out by taking your time to ask questions and see the necessary documents from several kitchen remodelers in your area. You will be much happier with the results of the remodeling project if you do.

At Black & White Custom Homes, we provide you with quality work and friendly staff every time.  Give us a call for any kitchen remodeling requirements you may have:

 

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What Exactly are the Differences Between Single and Double Glazed Windows?

Here at Black & White Construction, where we’re proud to be considered one of the most affordable custom home builders Houston has to offer – we often find ourselves being asked about the differences between single and double glazed windows. Sure, there’s one major variation between the two types of window, and that’s the one uses one pane of glass and the other uses two, but is that all that there is to differentiate between the styles?
Of course not! In fact, in this blog post we plan on covering a selection of differences that some of you might not have even considered. And if things go to plan, you might even find yourself reconsidering your options when it comes to the type that you’d like for your custom built home!

The functionality

One of the main reasons why modern home owners opt for double glazing is because they can actually be more functional than single glazed alternatives. Because of the additional strength afforded by double panels of glass, it’s possible to have windows that open inward, outward, sideways, and even at particular angles. Single glazed windows on the other hand are a little less functional, but if you’re just keen to enjoy the fresh Houston air, then either type should do.

The insulation potential

Now here’s a topic that has a clear and obvious winner – and that’s insulation. It’s no secret that one pane of glass will keep the wind out, but two can actually help to keep warm air inside as well. As both panes can reach their own temperature without having to touch one another, it can be possible to develop a comfortable internal atmosphere within a home, whilst allowing the external panel to keep cold winds at bay. And that’s something that single glazing can’t offer.

The cost

So far, double glazing certainly seems to be the favorite, but here’s where things might take a bit of a change. Single windows are more affordable than double panes – fact. As you might have guessed, this is because of less glass being used, less framework being required, and other similar factors. But if we’re honest, even double glazed windows can be quite affordable; especially when choosing our services, as we source our supplies from the most reliable (and affordable) providers out there.

The longevity

The longevity is another factor worth considering, and the facts relating to both types of glass might actually surprise you where their durability is concerned. Yes, double glazing is often stronger than single panes. It’s also made from tempered glass in most cases, making it more likely to withstand damage and chips. But as the temperature between the two panels can fluctuate; blowing can occur. This isn’t an issue with single panels – but you might be at an increased risk of cracking, chips, and splits (unless you opt for tempered glass, which can be a bit more expensive).

Have you ever found yourself wondering why the demand for double glazing has decreased over the past few years? Is there something that you’re missing, or is it just because glass tempering technologies have allowed single glazed windows to enjoy as much longevity as their double glazed counterparts? For this blog post our Houston custom home builders decided to get to grips with the key differences between the two types of windows.

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Is It Expensive To Build A Custom Home?

What’s the one word that typically goes hand in hand with custom, hand-made, or personalized? EXPENSIVE. Ouch, that word even hurts to spell, but unfortunately it’s not always avoidable – especially when investing in a custom built property. Here at Black & White, where offering some of the most affordable custom home builders Houston has to offer is our top priority, we’ve developed a clever way to give our clients what they need, without demanding extortionate prices.

Custom and Affordable? How?

For a start, we source our materials and supplies from reliable providers. This means that we can keep our costs low, without reducing the quality of our results. We turn to sustainable wood, durable steels, a host of glass manufacturers and a variety of other vendors to ensure that every single home that we build is as affordable as it is customizable.

How much could you save by choosing us?

We hate to talk money – especially where our competitors can see. But what we can say is that as we strive to keep our costs low while offering some of the most effective custom home building services in Texas, you can rest assured that we’ll be as affordable – if not more so – than you can imagine. We can also help you to take care of the planning and technical side of things to minimize your stress and effort, allowing you to focus on what’s important; the design.

how do we help with the design?

With our in-house designers and structural experts, of course! Every member of our team is highly skilled in their particular role and our designers are just land that you have available. We’ll dedicate our expertise to ensure that your property is the right size, the ideal shape and the correct proportions – and we’ll even take care of the blueprint on your behalf.

as experienced. We will work with you from the moment that you hire us, to ensure that you get the most out of the It’s this very blueprint that can be put forward to the planning permission committee to help you to secure approval and get your home build off to a flying start. Considering that we offer all of the above at a very affordable rate and without risking the functionality of your new home – is it any wonder why we’re considered one of the most effective custom home building companies in Texas?

To learn a bit more about our prices, to book a visit, for a free no obligation quote, or to have your questions answered by one of our experts – just get in touch with our friendly team today, and we’ll make sure to take care of your needs. Your new home doesn’t have to be mundane, and anyone that says it does needs to take a look at our portfolio. All you’ll need to do is give us a call, and we’ll get the ball rolling together.

Call Us Today And Save!

What’s the one thing that’s putting you off of your custom home building project in Texas? If we had to guess, we’d say that it was the potential price! Fortunately for you, affordability and quality goes hand in hand when hiring our team here at Black & White Construction. Our latest blog post covers the topic of expenses in a little more detail, so why not come and take a look and we’ll introduce you to our world-class construction services (which just so happen to be very affordable, too).

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Affordable Custom Home Builders in Houston Texas

Who Said That You Couldn’t FIND AN AFFORDABLE CUSTOM HOME BUILDER IN HOUSTON?

We come across so many people that have been forced to settle for mundane properties. When we say mundane, we’re talking about monotonous designs, regular features, and typical functionality. Here at Black & White Custom Homes we strive to offer a more unique service to our clients; one that can allow them to enjoy their ideal custom home at an affordable price.  We are a top notch home builder serving the general Houston area.

We’ve been offering our services to the entirety of Harris County for years now – and over the years we’ve developed a reputation for reliability, quality and effectiveness. Whether you’re a new home buyer, a property developer, or if you simply like the idea of upgrading your current home; then we could very well be the team for you.

What makes a custom affordable home in Houston?

Boy oh boy is that a difficult question. To answer it we’d have to say that there’s actually no such thing as the perfect home; just properties that are ideally suited to particular people. Say for example that you are after something a little more modern, the chances are that you’ll want to take advantage of the latest features and functions offered by practical homes.

But this style might not be ideal for those of you that prefer a little vintage in your lifestyle, especially those that enjoy traditional builds with authentic features. Fortunately for you, our team of experts specialize in an incredible range of construction services to suit a range of needs and expectations.

Do we just build affordable custom homes in houston?

Of course not! We also construct pools and garages – and we can even renovate particular parts of your property to update their look and feel. We hate the thought of our clients feeling like they are stuck for ideas, and that’s why our designers can offer advice and provide information relating to your options – all to help you to achieve the ideal home for your budget.

Over the years we’ve built huge properties, as well as small ones. We’ve converted kitchens, and we’ve customized swimming pools. When it comes to construction we genuinely know what we are talking about, and whether you’re located towards the Greenway Plaze, if you’re in Houston Heights, or nearby the stunning surroundings of Lake Conroe – we are here to help.

The next time that someone says that you should settle for what everyone else has, just remind them that you have a team of expert designers, builders, and contractors behind you. We are Black & White, and like our name, everything that we do is as clear and effective as you could ever imagine. We’ll take care of the planning, the construction, and the features.

All that you’ll need to do is sit back and watch our experts do what they do best. Soon enough you and your family will be enjoying all that your new features have to offer, so why not get in touch with us today for a quote, or to get your project underway?