Project Prep 101

Project Prep 101

The Ultimate List Of Preparedness for Your Home Renovation

Planning ahead will be your biggest asset for your custom-build project.

June brings us the promise of summer. For many, this knowledge plants the seeds of project possibilities. After spring’s often volatile temperament, we feel an irrepressible itch to start working on our flower beds, vegetable gardens, and home renovations. Small or big, outside or in, there are many considerations to consider before you start making phone calls and shopping for materials. Whether you want a fresh coat of paint or an entire kitchen renovation, this checklist will help your planning go smoother.

1. Don’t Just Ask What, But Also Ask Why

Write a mission statement about what you want done and why. A mission statement regarding your project can help you stay on track when you face countless decisions involving the project. A mission statement will help you stay on track. A plan that used to work for your family may no longer work because of a big life change. Considering the why will help you weed out what you may think you want but, in reality, won’t be practical for your way of living. So when many decisions crop up, you will have a clear plan to help you make the best choice.  A mission statement regarding your project can help you stay on track.

2. Take Stock Of What You Can and Cannot Live Without

This one is a must for indoor projects and some outdoor ones as well. If you plan on renovating your entire kitchen, you will be without major appliances for weeks and possibly months ahead. Waiting until summer can open the possibility of outdoor cooking, which is otherwise unavailable during more unfavorable weather. Move your microwave and toaster into the dining room and set up your coffee station in a new area, too. If the renovation is on a larger scale, consider other places to live until work is complete. 

3. Clean EVERYTHING Out

You would be surprised how unprepared many people are for any change occurring in their homes. Don’t wait until the last minute to start moving things out of the area being worked on. Anything and everything can become collateral when around construction, so move wall hangings, area rugs, and, of course, all breakables. Use this time to reassess the things you own. Donate or sell what you can live without. The best place to start a project is an empty one. 

4. Expect Delays and Surprises

Home projects are like weddings. Something will always catch you off guard. Shipments get delayed, people get sick, and miscommunications happen. While we do our absolute best to foresee any problems ahead, we don’t have a crystal ball to see into the future. You can help us help you by being clear on your design preferences and communicating your needs well ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last moment to pick out your backsplash, flooring, cabinetry, etc. The more on time you are with your decisions, the more quickly you will enjoy your new project. Even then, life happens in the form of inflation, out-of-stock products, illness, and the list can go on and on. Go into it expecting a few mishaps and setbacks. You may be pleasantly surprised when everything goes according to plan or save yourself some disappointment and aggravation by expecting it. 

5. Learn to Live in Limbo

Renovations are nothing if not chaotic! They will turn your lifestyle and routine upside down for some time. Preparing yourself for this tumultuous time can help you get through it much better. After all, the end goal is something brand new, and good things are worth waiting for! 

Everyone knows there is no way to completely prepare for life, but having a clear plan with a reasonable mindset will go a long way to alleviating potential stress. No change in life comes without a little pain, but the hardship will be worth it! 

Five Must-Haves When Building A New Home

5 Must-Haves When Building a New House

Functionality is just as necessary, albeit less fun as aesthetics. Here at North Central Construction, a well-designed home combines both elements to give you the home you have always wanted. Whether you dream of building or are already in the process, consider adding five features you will regret not having. With that in mind, here are five things you don’t want to miss:

1. Under Cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting offers you safe lighting and can create a cozy style. The dim lights give your home a comfy glow in the evening while providing just enough light to be useful. Don’t stop at the kitchen! Opt for under-cabinet lighting in the bathroom, office, and laundry room. Be sure to talk with your builder and home designer to incorporate hardwired lighting for ease. Planning ahead will allow the electrician to designate a switch just for those lights.

2. Vacuum Closet

I feel it is rare to see a vacuum closet on any blueprints. Having a closet dedicated to your broom and mop is just as important. Ideally, it should be in a laundry room or mud room. You want it located centrally and be somewhere handy where anyone can access it for spills and cleanup. (Especially with dogs and kids!!) A closet is a perfect way to avoid a cluttered look in your laundry room, and you can add shelving for stocking up on cleaning supplies.

3. Built-in bookcase

I have addressed this before, but built-in bookcases save space and can transform any room into a luxurious feel. Nothing says custom-built homes like built-in bookcases. Don’t stop with your books! Consider your pantry, talk with a carpenter about your storage needs, and get a definitive home look. And don’t forget gallery lighting at the top of your bookcases for ultra luxury!

4. Ample Office Space

Organized, custom cabinetry for your office is a must if you spend any time working from home. And since life now comes with more devices, computers, and gadgets than ever, you need proper storage for each item. You need a space you can focus on and one that motivates you to work. You don’t want to walk into a nightmare of disorganization that must be dealt with before you can work. Nothing will sap your motivation and creative flow more quickly than clutter.

5. Custom Primary Closet Space

More than any other space in your home, your primary closet is the one place that should be crafted solely for you. Are you a shoe person? Have built-in shoe organizers. Cardigan Sweaters that can’t be hung up? Add customized shelving deep enough to fold your sweaters easily. Built-in mirrors, customized lighting, and even a window will add an opulent feel and help you get ready faster in the mornings. It doesn’t stop with the organization. A true craftsman can create hidden compartments for other essential necessities as well.

And there you have it. Custom-built homes are so much more than just houses. They are homes crafted and designed specifically with you in mind. Whether that customization looks like lots of built-ins or some luxury lighting, find the right builder who understands your life’s wants and needs. Designing your home around you will help keep your home looking fresh and organized and lend a lush feel to your space. Go customize it!!

Worthy of Waiting

You’ve probably heard the adage, ‘haste makes waste,’ and indeed good things are often worth the wait. Today, more than ever, we hate waiting. It’s excruciating when you can receive instant gratification in virtually every aspect of your life. Time and good craftsmanship are what make a quality structure. Time is essential for your planning period as well. It is nearly inconceivable to think of planning a home for five years today, but this is precisely what my husband, Jon, and I had to do. To truly and wholly enjoy our house of dreams, we would need time and patience to consider all the aspects of living there.

Since this was the second home we built, we didn’t want to ever think of building for a third time. We ensured our plan allowed us to grow old without having to move. Not only would the floor plan need to be conducive for living through old age, but the location as well. Having lived in the Mountain State for our entire married life, we knew one thing we did NOT want: to live on a hill. Our first home was up a very steep hill, and we had had our fill of navigating West Virginia winters on a hillside. Living in the mountains made finding our flat piece of land more of a challenge.

By the time we found our land, we had already been looking at different floor plans and different styles of homes. Our land sits in a rural setting, and our little town was founded in the early 1800s. These aspects lead us to the Greek Revival style, which would have been a popular style for this period. Once we settled on the architectural design, we began researching floor plans. Before we finalized our floor plans, we had a surprise. We found out we were having a third baby! This news paused our goals, but after Myles was born, we again looked at the original floor plan we had liked two years previously. Initially, we felt it was too big, but now it felt just right!

By the time we sold the home we had been living in, it was the beginning of 2020 before we could finally turn in our building plans to the county. And you guessed it. Covid 19 hit, and we still couldn’t break ground. It was beyond frustrating; however, by the time we did begin to build, hardly any decisions were left to be made. We had envisioned this home for so long that we knew what we wanted down to paint color. Knowing what we needed saved us money in the long run.

Another aspect so vital to our home was planning ahead to plan ahead. Because of Covid prices, a lot of our wants had to wait. But that didn’t mean we couldn’t have them someday. We were not willing to sacrifice quality for something cheaply manufactured. And so we planned for future modifications such as framing a fireplace, built-in book shelves, and a blanket cabinet behind the drywall in the family room. When that day did come, we saved a lot of unnecessary demolition and framing.

Though the fireplace and bookshelves are complete, so many other projects are still waiting for us- little things and big things alike. But when we were still in the planning stage, we saw it all and knew the end result would be worth the wait. Our home has indeed become our family’s story.

My ‘homeschool’ cabinet nestled by the fireplace.

Authentic

How Getting The Right Details Makes All the Difference

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Early Trim Stage on Greek Revival

The first time I visited colonial Yorktown, VA, the early American architecture caught my eye. I was used to the modern structures dubbed as colonial and instantly noticed a vast difference between the real thing and the imitation. That was nearly twenty years ago, and the differences have only been more pronounced. Now, I realize it’s not only the colonial style homes-it’s every style of architecture!

“Fast fashion, fast food, and now fast decor has become so normalized that we expect fast construction rather than meet it with skepticism. ”

Architectural style has been distorted through the years until homes with labels such as ‘colonial,’ ‘Victorian,’ or ‘craftsman’ are only shadows of what the style originally was intended to be. Our fast-paced culture sees everything produced at an alarming rate with often harmful effects on the mind and body, leaving the world polluted and bloated by excess. Fast fashion, fast food, and now fast decor has become so normalized that we expect fast construction rather than meet it with skepticism. Society has forgotten the art and rules of architectural elements. We have traded quality for a speedy version of homogenized style that drains the life out of the character and heart of a home. So what does separate authenticity from imitation? Let’s take a look at some basic principles that anyone can spot. 

True architectural design places value on purpose over ornament. Authentic architectural styles were not only aesthetically pleasing but were also practical. The decoration was not without purpose, giving so much more meaning to each facet of a home. A good example is shutters. Shutters are more than mere pieces of vinyl or wood to add a different color or texture to the façade of your home. Originally, working shutters closed to block out the harsh elements. Proper size and placement of shutters are one small detail to help set your home apart. Visualizing the shutters closing enables you to understand what they should look like. 

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Proportion is another element to consider. Bigger is only sometimes better. Our home is a Greek Revival. When discussing the front porch for the formal front door, I wanted something wide and grand to make a statement. I felt our home’s classic design deserved an impressive entry, and I assumed this was achieved by size alone. My husband pointed out that the front porch was meant to have little room for furniture. Its purpose was to get out of the rain or snow while waiting for someone to answer the door. It should also have a flat roof or one with a reverse gable to match the overall style and period of the home. Instead of size, we can focus on the ornamentation, like the columns supporting the roof, which are a staple of Greek Revivals. See how that works? We traded size for purpose and focused on making the purposeful elements elegant and ornate.

Lastly, quality makes all the difference in the world. Something does not have to be old to be authentic, but it does require good craftsmanship and should have careful planning of details. Most of the time, the details are the most fun part of the house! When building a home, research the period and style of your home to gain an accurate understanding of the form and function of each detail. In our Greek Revival, my husband did an excellent job of making all of the door casings in our home imitate columns. I love the plinth block detail he added to the bottom of all the entryways, and I learned that the blocking is not just eye candy. Carpenters added the blocking to help the base cap stay flush with the door casing. Purpose meets ornament! And there you have it. Intention, proportion, attention to detail, and quality will separate your home from a cheaper imitation. Small details can help your home stand out and lend an authentic, custom-designed look. Make the necessities stand out! Ask yourself what element you could add to your trim or façade. Contemplate built-in bookshelves over store-bought. Look for period replicas for lighting and fixtures, or even consider repurposing some actual pieces from antique stores and estate sales. Authenticity does not have to be a perfect imitation; it needs only to assess quality and design carefully.