Homes: Advantages to Building a Custom Home

If you've ever rented an apartment or home, or purchased a home that was already built, you might have thought you'd found your dream space. However, the honeymoon period can fade out once you grow more used to your new place, and it can become more apparent with time that the house or apartment you chose is a "sort-of" fit for you, but was probably a better fit for the family it was originally designed for. As the months or years go by, you might wish a closet was located in a different place, or you might grow frustrated with your lack of kitchen or bathroom space. Simply put, you might begin to wish that you had opted to have your own custom home designed and built.

The scenario above is what drives many homeowners in the direction of building their own custom home. The ability to have complete control over the design and every other aspect is a very big draw, and one that can ultimately improve your satisfaction with your home. Another one of the bigger advantages of putting together your own design and having it built is the ability to set your own budget and decide which home features will go into your new home and which ones won't make the cut. When compared to the other method, which involves looking at homes where those decisions have been made for you, and that might have some things you like and some things you might not care for, the custom home process can look like a far more attractive option.

Building a custom home also provides you with a sense of satisfaction. After all, you went through the hard work and decision-making to create a home that was uniquely yours. You decided what went into the home, what didn't, where the rooms were located, how the home looked from the curb, and more. The end result of going through all of this hard work is a home that is decidedly "you," stamped with your personality and your idea of how a home should be designed. You also have the opportunity to make sure that your new home meets your standards in terms of quality and functionality.

Custom home building can be the way you solve the problem of ending up in a place that doesn't quite fit your needs, or doesn't have the right "vibe" for you. By taking charge of the design and weighing in on all aspects of the home building process, you can create a space that does everything you want it to.

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Making Home Construction Easy

The dream job with the six-figure income is finally in your grasp and it's time you moved out of your dumpy apartment and into the house you've always wanted. Only problem is, well, you've looked and looked but haven't found a house that is you. Yes, you've found nice houses but none of them were "the one." After a solid two months' looking, you decided you would just build your own house. You bought a nice lot and hired a good contractor but now you want to be sure that all your bases are covered. Well, there are a few tips you should remember as you talk with your contractor about the basics of your home construction.

Make sure you have the builders put in the right size doors for your garage. The last thing you need is to come home for the first time to find your Escalade doesn't fit in the garage. Along these lines, you will also want to be sure that you know how many cars you want your garage to accommodate before you have the building begin. Do you want a two-car garage or a three-car? Detached or attached? These are all considerations that you want to consider now, before the foundation is laid and it's too late.

Another home construction option to consider is a sink in your utility/laundry room. When the kids are coming in from playing pick-up soccer and their clothes are all muddy, it will be nice to have somewhere that they can dump their dirty socks and shoes without tracking dirt all through your house. An extra-deep sink is a good idea so that you can fill it with water to wash things or thoroughly clean different items. Just be sure that you have this included in the blueprints so your contractor can plan for the appropriate plumbing.

How many bathrooms do you want? It's a good idea to have a bathroom in the master bedroom and at least one bathroom for every two other bedrooms. Be sure to consider if you want a full bath downstairs for guests or if you want a half-bath in the foyer. Make sure that you have these decisions nailed down before foundation is laid - once that cement goes down, it's too late to make changes.

Consider how much of a backyard you want. It can be great to have the mansion you've always dreamed of but if your backyard is the size of a postage stamp, is the extra square feet in the house really worth it? It is if you don't plan to spend any time in the backyard but this is something you should think about while the blueprints are still in the design phase.

The number one consideration you want to make is whom you trust with your home construction. This is somewhere that you will, hopefully, live for a while. It is a dream. Do your research and hire a contractor who will listen to your concerns and will deliver a house that is everything you dreamed it would be.

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Windows and Doors - Small Touches That Make All the Difference

Just like anything in life, it's the small things that make the difference and that's why a little extra here and there can make your conservatory stand out.

Windows
As a conservatory is primarily made of glass, it is essential that the type of window you choose complements the rest of the structure. Your conservatory may have a contemporary feel, or perhaps it looks more traditional. The first thing that many people may notice is the window leading. This is the pattern that is formed when individual panes of glass are placed within a lead frame. Georgian-style windows tend to be split into 6 or 9 equal panes, and so this type of leading would suit a traditional, hardwood conservatory. Whereas modern styles of conservatory, typically made from aluminium, tend to keep away from any leading at all with just 1 pane of glass per window. Many people prefer this option as it allows for the best views of the garden.

Doors
There are a few options for choose from when looking at which doors to fit in your conservatory. If your conservatory will open up onto paving or decking, which may be a socialising area, you could install doors that will allow for you and your family to easily move between the conservatory and garden. Bi-folding doors are great for this scenario. When closed, they blend in well with the rest of the conservatory and it almost looks as if there is no door at all. Opened bi-folding doors allow almost the whole of the side of the conservatory to open up to the outdoors, and your garden. This type of door is suited to contemporary-style conservatories.

If your extension is more traditional, French doors are a great equivalent. However, the opening is not as big as bi-folding doors, which can stretch the nearly the entire side of the extension. But if it's the classic style you're after - they're perfect.

Materials
As mentioned above, traditional-style conservatories will tend to be made of hardwood, and contemporary-styles of aluminium. Obviously it would make sense to keep the material for the window and door frames the same, but there are some designs out there which break away from convention.

These finishing touches can turn a great conservatory into a stunning conservatory. But make sure you pick a suitable style that complements the design of your extension, and also the rest of your home.

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Some Unusual Date Ideas

Are you fed up with taking your date to the same places? There gets a time when you want to go somewhere different on your date, whether it's a first date or not. Over time you can get bored of going to the same restaurants and bars, which can have an impact on the successfulness of the date. It's not just who you're with that affects the date, where you go and what you do also plays a huge part. Why not try something more exciting? That doesn't necessarily mean more expensive; you can still do something more unusual without overspending. All you need is a great idea and some preparation.

Before you decide what to do, it helps if you know a bit about your date. That way you can judge if you think they'll like your idea. If you don't want to start out too adventurous why not arrange a day at the zoo or aquarium. Walking around talking about the animals ensures you won't run out of things to say. If the weather is nice you could always plan a day at the beach. Lying on the beach listening to the waves, having a picnic and eating an ice cream can be very relaxing. A day at your local park can be just as relaxing too. Why not take some card games with you to enjoy together while you're there or you could even take some roller skates or a kite. These are great ways to behave like a kid again and really enjoy yourself.

If you want to be more creative, you could suggest an art class. There's nothing stopping you going to the countryside with your paper and pencils and sketching the scenery. You could even try drawing each other. Even if art isn't your speciality, you can have fun doing it, plus you'll have a souvenir of the date.

An evening at a comedy club or seeing a musical are great alternatives to the cinema. Laughter is a great way to break the ice, especially on a first date, so a comedy club is a good idea if you're feeling a bit apprehensive. If those ideas don't appeal to you, you could visit to a planetarium or perhaps the circus. These will certainly give you something to discuss afterwards and will be a date you won't forget in a hurry.

If you wanted your date to be more physical, why not try indoor rock climbing, go karting, paint-balling or even white water rafting? These are quite adventurous ideas, so it might help if you know how your date would feel about these before you make any arrangements.

If you want to plan something unique, why not arrange a hot air balloon ride. It's not the cheapest date idea, but it's certainly unusual and very romantic. Unless your date is petrified of heights, it will be a date to remember.