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When building or renovating a home, one of the features often left as an afterthought are the doors and windows of a home. Beyond aesthetics, people have this preconceived notion that a door is a door and a window is a window — so they go with whatever might be in stock. But custom doors and windows offer customization options unmatched by those you can find on store shelves. The versatility in their design provides so much flexibility that you can create the exact look you want in a home.

Before going this route, however, planning will be critical. You must make several important decisions before their design, construction, and installation.

Settle on a Budget

Like any other home improvement project, settling on a budget is always a good starting point for choosing the right custom doors and windows. Custom window systems range anywhere from $350 to $4,000, depending on the size, design, materials, and manufacturer. Custom doors often come with a higher price tag, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Again, this will depend on the size, design, materials, and manufacturer. Now, it’s just a matter of crunching the numbers to get an idea. Remember, however, that you’ll also be paying for the installation. Expect these rates to fall between $40 and $60 an hour.

Decide on the Scope

With the price of custom doors and windows being higher than a stock door or window, it isn’t uncommon for homeowners to take a “phased” approach to such a project. Perhaps your budget may only allow for ten custom replacement windows at this time, and then you’ll do another ten and the front door the following year. Maybe it’s just replacing the windows on one side of the home (south side, typically) due to weathering. The scope depends on your budget and the condition of your windows and doors.

Determine the Style

Style isn’t just about selecting custom doors and windows that best complement your home — though that, too, is essential for curb appeal. The style also involves other factors, chief among them windows being their mechanism for opening. You’ll want to determine whether you want double-hung (i.e., one pane sliding over the other), casement (i.e., open with a crank or knob), picture (i.e., large and usually non-opening), and so on. With custom doors, style mostly comes down to your aesthetics. You won’t be dealing with decisions around their opening mechanisms beyond hinges, pulls, locks, and other hardware. Determine whether you’re looking for Craftsman, Mid-Century Modern, Arched, Dutch, etc.

Choose the Materials

Choosing the materials is just as it sounds. What do you want your custom doors and windows made of? With custom doors exterior options, there’s plenty to choose from wood, fiberglass, steel, iron, and so on — each of which has its own pros and cons. Wood doors, for example, are generally dent-resistant, energy-efficient, and sound-resistant. They also tend to look better than other doors. However, they do require regular maintenance and cost more.

On the other hand, steel doors are secure, durable, and cost-effective but can dent and scratch. And much like an automobile, your options for fixing any damage are somewhat limited. For custom window replacements, you’ll choose from some of the same materials: Wood, fiberglass, aluminum, vinyl, and composite. Vinyl is temperature-resistant but, depending on construction (and installation), can be prone to water intrusion at the sills and jambs. Wood protects against heat loss but comes with more upkeep.

Review the Glass Options

Glass is glass, right? Not by a long shot, especially when it comes to custom replacement windows. You’ll want to determine whether to go with single-, double-, or triple-pane windows. The more panes, the more energy-efficient the windows will be. They’ll also come with a higher price tag. Other options include coatings, protectants, gas-filled (especially important for larger custom window systems), and so on. Also, check the u-value of the windows, which measures heat loss, and their solar heat gain coefficient, which will tell you how much heat will enter through the glass.

As with anything that relates to your home, there will be other decisions to make. These are generally the most important ones, as the manufacturer will likely have additional questions for you to consider. Get a few quotes, look at their previous work, and go with a reputable provider.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact our team at Lancia Homes. We’d be more than happy to provide you with more information on windows and doors and other features to consider when building or renovating a home.

If you have limited space or want to make better use of the rooms and spaces within your home, you might have considered combining your laundry and mudroom. Here, we look at the benefits and downsides and provide suggestions to make the combination work for you.

The Benefits of Combining Your Laundry Room and Mudroom

Here are some benefits of combining these spaces in your home.

• Increased efficiency: Having a laundry room mudroom combo can streamline the process of getting dirty items from the mudroom to the laundry room for cleaning, saving time and reducing mess in the rest of your home.
• Space Saving: Having both rooms in one place can save space if done correctly, especially if your separate mudroom or laundry room is small.
• Improved organization: Having the laundry room and mudroom together means you can easily organize your cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, and other items in one location.

The Downsides of Combining Rooms

Of course, there are also some possible drawbacks to consider too.

• Increased noise: A combined space may be noisier, as the washing machine and dryer can be heard from the mudroom alongside the noise of your family members getting ready to leave or returning home.
• Decreased privacy: Combining the spaces may reduce privacy in your laundry room. One example is if your children’s friends or guests pass through while you’re doing laundry. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of others seeing your more personal items of clothing/underwear, it could be a problem.
• More people: The combined space may become congested as people and pets enter the home and pass through to the laundry room.
• Clutter: Combining two functional spaces can lead to clutter, as items from both rooms may end up jumbled together.
• Moisture: A washing machine and mudroom can result in increased moisture levels, leading to mold and mildew growth if not properly managed.

Ways To Make It Work.

Combining a laundry room and mudroom depends on your and your household’s specific needs and preferences. If you’ve considered the benefits and drawbacks and believe combining the spaces is a good solution for your home, here are some laundry mudroom ideas to make it work.

• Built-in cabinets: Consider installing separate cabinets for mudroom and laundry supplies to provide sufficient storage for laundry products, cleaning products, and mudroom essentials such as shoes and jackets to be stored separately.
• Laundry sink: A laundry sink is a valuable addition to the mudroom, allowing you to rinse off dirty items before washing them.
• Counter space: Adding a countertop to the laundry area can provide a convenient workspace for folding clothes and other tasks. Somewhere away from the dirtier parts of the room is ideal, as you don’t want clean clothes to get dirty again.
• Hooks and hangers: Install hooks and hangers in the mudroom to hang jackets, bags, and other items. This can help keep the area organized and reduces clutter.
• Use Shelving: Consider using open shelving to store laundry baskets and other items in the laundry room.
• Drying racks: Incorporating drying racks into your design can be a great way to make the most of the available space and reduces some of the damp issues.
• Buy a dehumidifier: This is another way to eliminate the extra moisture caused by combining the rooms.
• Natural lighting: If possible, incorporate natural light into the space through windows or skylights to make the combined mudroom laundry room look bright and inviting.
• Decorative tiles: Using decorative tiles for the floor or backsplash can add a touch of style to the functional space.

To summarize, organization is the key to a successfully combined laundry room and mudroom. Be sure to plan out the space to ensure that everything has its designated place, making it easier to keep the area tidy and efficient.

If you haven’t yet found your perfect place, our team at Lancia Homes can help. Our experience in assisting clients in designing their custom-based homes means that we can give them a higher level of contentment and the chance to create something unique to their tastes.

Designing a master closet can be an exciting project, enabling you to organize and find everything easily. However, projects like this may be overwhelming if you’re unsure where to start. Here are some steps to help you lay out your master closet.

Tips For Small Closets

Creating a small closet design can help you make the most effective use of your closet space. Start by clearing out clutter. That includes those outfits you haven’t worn in over a decade or boxes full of items you keep telling yourself you might need someday.

Next, plan your shelving. Consider how much shelf space you’ll need for your clothes, shoes, and other items. You may want to include both open and closed shelving, depending on your preferences and the things you need to store.

Invest in multi-functional pieces to save on space. Choose storage items for multiple purposes, such as a shoe rack with a built-in bench or a hanging organizer with multiple pockets.

Walk-In Designs

If you’re thinking about walk in closet designs for a master bedroom, consider using hanging storage. Work out the number of hanging rods you’ll need based on your wardrobe and space. You may want to include a double hanging rod if you have many long clothing items like gowns.

Also, think about the lighting. Good lighting is essential in a closet, especially larger walk-in closet designs for a master bedroom. You want to be able to see what you’re looking for. So, consider adding overhead lighting or combining overhead and task lighting. If you’re likely looking for your clothes while your partner sleeps, or vice-versa, because you have different shift patterns, think about where you’ll install the lights, so they illuminate the closet but not the bedroom.

If you have many small items, drawers can be a great way to store items, such as jewelry and underwear. Add drawers to your closet as standalone units or incorporate them into your shelving.

Redesigning Your Closet

To carry out a closet redesign, you’ll need to measure the space to get the best results. Take precise measurements of your closet space’s length, width, and height. This will give you a good idea of how much room you have to work with and what storage solutions will fit.

Next, assess your needs. Ask yourself what you want to store in your closet and how you want to store it. This will help you determine the shelves, hangers, and drawers you need to include. Doing this ensures you have space for everything.

Create zones to make it easier to store and find everything. For example, you might have a zone for hanging clothes, another for folded clothes, and another for shoes. This stops your newly redesigned closet from getting cluttered from throwing or putting things away anywhere.

Install your storage solutions such as shelves, hanging rods, drawers, and other storage if you feel you can, but be honest with yourself. If your DIY skills are lacking, it’s better to spend money on getting a qualified professional to carry out the work to a high standard. You don’t want the time and money you spend to result in your installations falling apart.

Decorating And Final Touches

Remember to decorate the space before organizing your clothes and other items and before installing shelves and additional storage that can get in the way. Once you organize everything the way you want it, it will be tempting to put off decorating because of the extra effort involved in moving everything again.

Adding personal touches like artwork can make your closet fun and inviting. Add a rug or throw a cushion on a bench for bigger closets, making getting dressed a more comfortable experience. Remember to add other finishing touches, like a full-length mirror.

If you want more help with designing your perfect home, Lancia Homes can help. We are experienced in building custom-made homes to suit our client’s unique tastes and styles and are dedicated to making their homes energy efficient.

Sliding glass doors have become a popular upgrade for many homeowners when they remodel or renovate their homes. It’s an investment but one that often yields a multitude of benefits for years to come. It’s also one of the reasons why this feature should be part of your custom home design. They’re more than just an exterior door. Not only do they complement the overall aesthetic of both the interior and the exterior of your home, but without one, it could become much more challenging to sell your home later down the line.

But it isn’t just resale; sliding glass doors can be a smart addition to your home design for many other reasons, including:

Natural Light

It shouldn’t be surprising that natural light is one of the main reasons for including sliding glass doors in your design. The sun exposure alone can be worth the investment.

Improved Flow

Sliding glass doors bring the outdoors into the home, which is a real benefit for those homes situated in the woods, on a bluff, overlooking the water, and so on. Think of it as an optical illusion, expanding a room beyond its four walls. Besides, the size can improve traffic flow from inside to outside and outside to in.

Space Maximization

Thanks in no small part to that handy sliding glass door track, sliding glass doors slide — hence the name. And unlike traditional hinged doors, they take up no room when open. You never lose square footage when letting the fresh air into your home.

Aesthetics

Sliding glass doors can enhance the beauty of a room, especially with all the options now available. You can replace an entire wall with sliding glass doors, creating a different aesthetic for the room and the exterior of your home. Modern, minimal, classic, and so on. You can find a sliding door that fits your particular design aesthetic.

Energy Efficiency

Though you’ll inevitably experience some energy loss with a sliding glass door, as the average size of sliding glass door systems is traditionally 80 inches tall by 60 to 72 inches wide, advancements in technology, have made the feature much more energy efficient. Just make sure you choose a model with a good Energy Star certification.

Ease Of Upkeep

Sliding glass door maintenance is minimal. Sometimes, you’ll need to replace worn-out rollers or weatherstripping. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of lubricating the sliding glass door tracks (a non-stick, silicone lubricant often works best) and checking the alignment of the panels from time to time. As far as cleaning glass sliding doors go, standard glass cleaners can do the trick — or a few drops of mild dish soap mixed with water. For the frame, a damp cloth is all you’ll need.

However, heavy-duty cleaning will be more time- and labor-intensive, as you’ll want to remove the sliding door from the casing. Not a task to go it alone. Some doors will lift out, while others require a screwdriver to get them off the track. Then, vacuum, clean the grime, and grease the tracks before fitting the door back in.

Pro-tip: during heavy-duty cleanings, it’s the ideal time for you to replace those worn-out rollers and weatherstripping — and vice versa.

Value

Of all the ways to increase the value of a property, designing a custom home with sliding glass doors is probably one of the easiest. They add visual appeal to a room, as well as the exterior of the house. And if you install a door with shatterproof glass, even better. There’s an enhanced security element to the feature, which is something homebuyers will pay for.

Sliding glass doors can be an excellent investment in the home, even more so when the feature is an essential design element. It can let so much light in, improve the aesthetics of a room, and add value to the home should you decide to sell.

If you’re in the market for a custom home, contact us at Lancia Homes. We’d be more than happy to sit down with you to discuss the process and work up a design ideally suited to your aesthetic, lifestyle, and budget.

Building a home is probably one of the most significant decisions you’ll ever make. You’ll have your own space, raise a family and make memories. And to make the housing dream a reality, you can either go with a custom home design or a stock floor plan.

In this post, we’ll look at the main benefits of customized floor plans. Let’s get started.

1. Tailor-Made Layout

A custom design allows you to decide everything from the number of bathrooms and bedrooms to the minute details such as the door knobs. Also, if you desire unique amenities such as a home cinema, you’re only limited by your imagination. Even better, you have the room to change your mind before the design is finalized and construction begins.

The land you decide to build on also impacts your house design. When using a stock floor plan, this can be a challenge because you must make adjustments. On the flip side, a custom design considers the slope of your lot and ensures your home is oriented correctly to maximize views. Again, the living and sleeping areas are designed to utilize sunlight and wind. It also needs to be protected from their effects in different seasons.

2. A Home That Mirrors Your Lifestyle

A custom floor plan allows you to build a home that reflects your unique personality and style. For instance, if you like to throw parties, some of your needs may include more pantry space, a bigger-than-normal kitchen, and an open floor plan because it encourages visitors to interact freely.

Likewise, a custom design considers the stage of life you’re in. For example, if you have teenagers, your space needs will differ from those of an individual with little children. To explain, homes with open floor plans are the best option for toddlers because they allow easy supervision. Young adults, on the other hand, desire privacy.

3. Evergreen Glamor

If you think about it, a house isn’t just a structure, and it’s also a work of art with the potential to leave a mark on everyone who sees it. A custom floor plan can stand the test of time which is critical if you decide to sell in the future.

Equally important, with an individualized design, you can plan for potential expansion or contraction depending on the prevailing circumstances. In other words, you can take measures to ensure the home serves you in the future, such as a self-sustaining space for an aged parent or a room you can rent out for extra income.

4. A Smooth Build

Stock floor plans are designed for general use and don’t have any particular person in mind. That means this design doesn’t consider the nature of the land you want to build on or your lifestyle. For this reason, you may have to do modifications that can further complicate the project.

In contrast, with a custom design, there’s nothing to copy or modify. This is because all the input comes from the client, eliminating doubts or confusion among the builders. The result? A smooth and seamless build process.

5. Controlled Expenditure

It’s common for people to go over their budget when building houses. The good news, a custom plan can help prevent your construction costs from spiraling out of control. A competent designer intimately understands your housing needs and should therefore be able to provide a cost estimate for each project phase to ensure you’re within your allotted budget.

Additionally, custom floor plans are drawn up precisely to specifications. As a result, the builder and the subcontractors receive identical copies, reducing the likelihood of expensive rebuilds and delays.

What’s Stopping You?

A custom floor plan is more than a set of drawings. It’s the result of a process involving an architect figuring out how you will use the house, understanding your site, and eventually creating a design that mirrors your lifestyle.

So, if you hate the idea of cookie cutter homes, choosing a custom design over a stock floor plan allows you to build a house that reflects your personality and interests.

And you know what?

At Lancia Homes, we design custom homes. We know that it’s hard to make your dream a reality. Contact us to learn more about the process of building your custom house.

One beautiful thing about designing your own custom home is that everything you choose for your home is brand new. From the building materials to the appliances, you’re the first person to use everything in your home, and you can make it as high-tech as you’d like it to be, especially when it comes to home automation and smart technology.

There are countless ways to automate your home, from a smart light switch to smart irrigation and lighting. However, as with everything, the technology related to home automation is ever-evolving and advancing, and it can be hard to keep track of what’s new. So, we did the work for you. We wanted to cover what it means to build a smart home and put together a list of the newest smart technologies for custom-built homes so that you’ll be prepared when you create or update your custom home.

What is a Smart Home?

Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is a smart home? A smart home, or an automated home, is set up with electronics to control features like lighting, a home entertainment system, climate control, appliances, home security, etc. The controls are usually set up on a phone or computer and are controlled remotely via WIFI, Bluetooth, or comparable technology. Your smart home also doesn’t have to be fully automated either; you can choose what systems you want to control remotely! This allows you to customize your home further since you can select which automated systems work best for you and your family.

The Newest Smart Home Technology Available

Smart home technology has been around for years and is an ever-evolving area. Some of the newest innovations in innovative home technology are:

1) Smart light switches

A smart light switch is a switch that you can program and control from your remote device, and with your voice, in the newest technology. A smart light switch is convenient, creates the perfect ambiance, gives you extra security by being programmable on a timer, and improves your home’s energy efficiency. You can also integrate smart light switches with other automated appliances, like a home security system or your smart home hub.

2) Smart thermostat installations

A smart thermostat installation is a fantastic tool that can learn the patterns of your family’s usage and activity, like when the home is occupied, when you wake up, and when you go to bed, and adjust accordingly. This dramatically decreases your home’s carbon footprint and makes your home more energy efficient.

3) Smart water irrigation and lighting

A smart water irrigation and lighting system is an automated system that allows you to tailor and specify when your outdoor water and lighting systems run. This new automation significantly reduces residential water waste and is a much more efficient way to run water and lighting outside. You also save time and money when incorporating smart water irrigation and lighting in the long run. While these systems tend to be a little pricier up front, your savings over time more than makes up for it.

4) Smart security systems

The first home security system was invented in 1969 and has been commonplace for many households since the 1980s. When the internet came on the scene in the 90s – 00s, intelligent security systems were utterly transformed. With WIFI and the internet, homeowners can keep an eye on their homes from anywhere in the world, and home security systems can act as your smart home hub. There are many reasons to incorporate a smart security system into your custom-built home, but the top reason to purchase a smart home security system are:

• They increase property values
• You can get insurance savings
• You’ll save money on utility bills
• You can control all automated household functions from anywhere
• You can monitor and surveil your home remotely
• You can keep tabs on your kids and pets
• You’ll be alerted of fire or gas problems
• You’ll have greater peace of mind

Smart technology is one of the greatest innovations you can incorporate into your new custom home, and there are countless benefits. When you’re designing your custom home with the latest smart technology, make sure you contact us at Lancia Homes.

Building your very own custom home is an exhilarating experience. You get to decide every single detail that goes into your home. From the big decisions, like the actual square footage of your home, how many bedrooms and bathrooms you’ll have, and what your patio and yard will look like, to some of the more minor, but no less important, details like paint colors, tile choices, and cabinet hardware. You get a say in everything when you custom build your home and fit it precisely to your family and personal needs.

When most people begin planning their custom homes, one thing that often slips their minds is the importance of privacy, both inside your home and outdoors. If you’re planning on custom-building your next home, follow our tips on making privacy a priority.

Ways to Make Your Home More Private

1) Soundproof the rooms

There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy a new book or catch some shuteye, only to be disturbed by the television blaring from the next room or by pots and pans banging around the kitchen. When we think of privacy, our first thoughts tend to prevent others from seeing us, but privacy doesn’t just mean creating personal space visually, but auditorily too. 

Room soundproofing is one of the ways to maintain privacy within your home, especially when you’re customizing your new build. Some things you can add during construction are:

Insulation – a thick layer of insulation increases your home’s energy efficiency and muffles noise.

Sound barrier – a sound barrier is a layer that’s added in between the insulation and the ceiling to block out noise.

Sound clips – sound clips elevate the ceiling over the insulation layer, which helps disperse sounds in your home.

Soundproof door – by adding soundproof doors to the interior and exterior of your home, you can block out more noise.

2) Position living spaces in the back of the home

When planning the layout of your home, you should consider putting rooms that are more frequent in the back of your home or away from the street. Also, the kitchen and living room tend to be rooms that have higher traffic, as opposed to the formal dining room or study.

By having them in the back of your home, there’s less chance of passersby seeing you and your family gathered in your home.

3) Make your windows more private

When choosing the actual windows installed in your home, consider window placement and type. If you want more privacy, a picture window, an oversized window, isn’t your best bet. Instead, choose smaller and higher windows, or opt for tinted glass on windows close to busy streets.

Tinted windows still allow sunlight to come in and for you to see out but prevent people on the outside from getting a clear view in. Once your home is finished, choose window treatments that create more privacy. Shutters, blinds, and shades are great ways to add more privacy to your home.

4) Be strategic with landscape design

When designing the landscape on your lot, building a tall fence isn’t the only choice you have to keep your front and back yards private. A fun way to add more character and privacy to your home is to incorporate boundary wall design and privacy hedges in your back and front yard. Both boundary wall design and privacy hedges are excellent choices when you are near your neighbors.

Boundary walls offer many different options. You can incorporate live plants and greenery, rocks and stones, wood, or even metal to create a unique boundary wall that fits your home.

Creating privacy is one of the most critical elements when designing your custom home. If you’re planning to start building your custom home,  contact our expert team at Lancia Homes.

If you’re in the market for a new house, you’re probably torn between a custom and a spec home. You don’t know which makes sense for your family and which is a better investment.

And yes, your choice depends on your housing needs, the time it takes to build one, your budget, and your desire to control aspects of the build.

To help you make an informed choice, we’ll examine the differences between custom and spec homes. Let’s jump right in.

What Is a Custom Home?

This brand-new home is designed and built according to your unique specifications. You choose the layout, floors, doorknobs and every element of your house. In other words, you play an active role in the design and build process.

What Is a Spec Home?

These houses are built by professional home builders based on market trends or to appeal to the masses. Usually, spec home builders put up several identical houses in a lot but give you some leeway to select specific features or upgrades such as wall paint and countertops.

Are Spec Homes Cheaper?

The short answer: It depends. To explain, the upfront cost of a spec home may be lower. However, the total expenditure may balloon if you do significant renovations to tailor the house to your needs and preferences.

Let’s now compare custom homes and spec homes.

Custom Homes: Advantages

• You can choose your home’s location. You can put up a custom build wherever you can purchase a lot.

• It grants greater flexibility in choosing your home design. You can choose between different plans or create your design depending on your preferences and needs.
• You get to choose appliances and finishes. Whether it’s the paint on the walls or the dishwasher, you have a say in every element of your custom home.
• You can get more value for your money. You don’t need to compromise on fixtures, layout or finishes. You have the freedom to choose and pay for precisely what you desire.
• Lower switching costs. With technology changing rapidly, it can be hard to stay up-to-date. Custom homes allow you to upgrade to the latest gadgets and features. This may be harder and more expensive in an existing house.

Disadvantages

• Longer build time. It’s time-intensive to construct a new house from scratch.
• You need to make numerous decisions. You have a say in every aspect of the design and construction of your home.
• Resale challenges. When a house is highly customized, it can be difficult to get a buyer if you decide to sell.
• Possibility of delays. Weather and late deliveries can sometimes inhibit construction.

Spec Home Building: Advantages

• You’ll make fewer decisions. The builder is responsible for the majority of the building and construction.
• Offer immediate availability. Spec homes eliminate the lengthy wait associated with new construction.
• You can do your homework. With a spec home, you can see, walk through the house, and touch it before buying. In other words, you can inspect a new home’s details before you purchase it.
• Mass appeal. Spec homes are designed with features and selections that the average home buyer likes.

Disadvantages

• It can be expensive. The renovations can be costly if you need to upgrade appliances or finishes.
• Limited design. You have minimal control over the construction and layout of your home.
• Location. You don’t have a say in your home location because the builder will have chosen a neighborhood.

Which One Is Right for You?

All in all, it’s essential to understand your options in the home-building process. And yes, deciding which path to take to get that dream house can be tricky. The good news?

If you’re looking for custom home builders Indiana, look no further than Lancia Homes. With practical floor plans and competent designers, your dream of building a custom home is closer than you think. Contact us today and learn more about the construction process.

If you’re involved in building a custom home, you probably have detailed plans and specifications. Yet, there are some curb appeal mistakes you could be overlooking. These could make it more challenging to sell your home. After all the hard work you’ve put into this project, here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Front Porch Railing

The front porch railing isn’t an internal part of the house but is still part of the property. If you’re hoping to sell your home, it helps to draw attention to the porch. A railing also adds to curb appeal and has an element of safety, especially when rain, sleet or snow leaves the porch wet or icy.

One of your priorities will be to ensure the property meets building codes. The requirement for a railing depends on how far your porch is from the ground, but even if you don’t need to install a guardrail, there are more reasons to have one than not. A benefit of custom building a home is that one has more choices, and this includes the design of the porch railing. The right design can add value.

Front Door Colors and Sizes

The front door is among the first parts of the property viewers will see, other than the exterior, such as the porch and garden. Trends change over the years, but Lancia Homes can advise you on front door colors 2022, as these will differ from other years.

So, if you want to make an excellent first impression and help potential buyers see the property positively, make sure you know some of the best colors to use. Black has become a popular front door color, closely followed by bold shades such as lime green. These can be particularly striking if you have an oversized door.

This can appeal to buyers because it’s welcoming and accessible to anyone in a wheelchair. It also makes moving easier. When the successful buyer moves in, an oversized door ensures larger items can be carried through with minimal effort. Some studies say black front doors could add the highest value to your home.

A neutral color will be the safest option if you want to appeal to most home buyers. Avoid colors such as pink, purple or yellow. Other than black, some colors are likely to withstand the change in trends, like brown or gray. Any buyer with a particular fondness for a more outrageous color will have the option to repaint. Still, if you initially use an outlandish color, this may put off more buyers than it attracts.

The House and Roof Color Combination

Color is an integral part of the house and roof too. These must be visually pleasing, and your chosen colors shouldn’t clash. The exterior should give the impression of cleanliness. So avoid colors that are too out of the box. Instead, use light shades. Less really is more in this scenario.

One of the appealing house and roof color combinations is white for the building and grey for the roof. This provides lots of shades to choose from. The benefit of white is it can make your front door, shutters (mentioned later), and other parts of the exterior stand out without you having to resort to using bright colors to make these other areas visually pop.

Where Shutters Are Placed

It might seem less obvious, but the shutter placement on house designs can make all the difference to the exterior of your home and how the interior looks inside, too, with the amount of light let into your rooms.

From the outside, shutters shouldn’t be too close together and should mirror each other in the way they are hung, in terms of the height and distance from the window, etc. This isn’t easy for everyone to achieve, and what looks right to one person might not be to someone with greater attention to even the most minor details.

With Lancia Homes, you don’t have to worry about these mistakes. They have professionals who can help you with every aspect of custom home building, even those you’ve given less thought to. So get in touch and see how they can help.

Building your first custom home involves a lot of decisions. From the layout to appliances and every tiny detail in between: you are making decisions that will create the perfect home for you and your family.

When making decisions on your custom home, you must consider what is most important to you and how it would function best. Every custom home is unique because every family is unique. And we've seen it all – where some homeowners cherish counter space, and others value outdoor living space or the perfect flex room. With every decision homeowners face as they build their ideal home, one of the most talked about topics we hear is how to utilize closet space.

Let's face it. Closet space can either make or break your stress levels in a home. An organized closet makes getting ready a breeze, while a messy closet can derail an entire morning routine. Believe it or not, achieving peak closet organization has more to do with design than the closet owner.

Here are some closet design ideas to keep in mind for your custom home.

Storage Seat

Seating is one thing that makes a difference in a walk-in closet. Seating could look like upholstered bench seats similar to those in a mudroom design - spanning the length of a wall with different sections for storage options. Or they can be a smaller, separate piece utilized solely for a place to sit and put on shoes. Whether for storage, sitting or both - Incorporating a closet bench seat in your closet design makes the space more functional

Space Savers

Even the largest walk-in closet can benefit from closet space savers. Drawers, shelves and racks are assumed when designing a custom closet, but how else could you save space? Think of pull-out racks for pant storage, section dividers in drawers, or even a revolving stand for storing scarves, belts or ties. No matter the square footage, space-saving solutions function most in a closet design.

Custom Shelves

Everyone has dedicated spaces in a closet: winter clothes, summer clothes, formal clothes and daily essentials. When it comes to room for jewelry, watches, perfume, purses or any other simple yet essential items - utilizing custom glass shelves or custom floating shelves can elevate your closet design both aesthetically and practically. These shelves can be located toward the front of a closet. You can even place them in the odd nooks some cabinets inevitably have. Either way, your most necessary products look great on display and, most importantly, are easily accessible when you need them.

Lighting

Even the most organized closet is useless if you can't see its contents. When designing a closet space, consider not just what type of lighting but where the lighting will go. Central lighting is obvious, but incorporating lighting on individual shelves can help illuminate spaces, especially those that are more hidden or mainly used to store items not used as frequently. Additionally, planning to have an exterior window in the closet allows for natural light, enhancing any space.

The closet design may or may not feel important in the overall design process of a custom-built home. The Truth is that the details make a home, and we're here to help guide you through the steps that can get overlooked. Look around your current closet and consider your wants and needs for creating a perfect closet design.

Ready to get started building your custom home? Contact us today to get started!

Interested in buying new construction? You need a realtor who will represent your side of the deal. Keep reading to find out the pros and cons of using a realtor for new construction. 

What Can a Realtor Do for You When Buying New Construction?

You've chosen a construction home and are ready to carry out the purchase. It seems pretty easy, right? You find a builder and get things rolling. But some of you may be wondering “Do I need a realtor and if so, why?” 

Here are some reasons why you may need to hire a realtor for your new construction.

1. Realtors will have your best interest in mind.  

You really need your own real estate agent when purchasing new construction because your realtor will be your advocate. The builder's agent will be working for the builder's best interest over yours so having someone on your side will help you notice when deals aren’t fair. 

When you hire a realtor, they will ensure you get what you need out of the deal — such as the best quality interior design materials for houses and many other things. Realtors will also make sure you're making the best investment by letting you know about the resale value of your newly built property.

2. Realtors will make the negotiations smoother.

A good realtor can negotiate with the builder on your behalf. By hiring your own agent, you can ensure your hard-earned money stays safe and secure. Even if any issue arises during the transaction, realtors can help you find a solution.

3. Realtors help you pick the right builder.

You don't want to end up with a builder whose work doesn't match your preferences. We know it can be challenging to find a builder whose work lines up with your vision. In this case, an experienced realtor who specializes in new home realty can help you. They may suggest some good builders they know based on past clients and they can help you ask the right questions to the candidates you are considering. 

4. Realtors recommend the best financial options.

If you want the best mortgage for your new construction as a homebuyer, you should definitely hire a realtor. Your builders may suggest lenders, but they might not work in your favor. A realtor will guide you through the complex process of financing your new home and save you money in the long run. 

How to Finance New Home Construction

You need to keep some documents ready before you try to get a loan from a lender. Here is what you need to get a construction loan.

1. Good credit score
2. Low debt-to-income ratio
3. Proof that you can repay the loan
4. A down payment amount to apply for the loan

Here are a few tips to finance your new home construction.

1. Work with a Licensed Builder: Your lender may want to know where they're putting their money. If a licensed builder oversees building your home, that gives the lenders a clear positive signal.
2. Prepare Your Documents: You may need to show the contract you made with the builder to your lender. You’ll want to have this readily accessible. 

Do Realtors Charge Homeowners?

During a real estate transaction, the seller pays the realtor fees — about 6% of the purchase price. When you're buying new construction, your builder is responsible for paying the real estate agent's fees. Usually, builders see these fees as a part of their marketing.

We see no reason to forgo a realtor when buying new construction. Even if you don't use a realtor, you won't get a discount from the builder. That's why not hiring a realtor of your own won’t make your deal cheaper. 

Finding the Home of Your Dreams with Lancia Homes

Lancia Homes is a hub of professional home builders. Find your desired builder who can guide you through every step of buying your new construction home. Lancia Homes are the best platform to find your preferred builder in your budget. Here you’ll find the most seasoned builders without wasting your time.

Looking for some Homeowner Tips? Click here.

Learn more about us here.

Have questions? Contact us.

According to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports, there are flood zones in all fifty states. However, keep in mind that just because an area can flood, does not mean the flooding will destroy your home and your life.

When purchasing a new home, many people wonder if they are buying a house in a flood zone. Even if a home is in a flood zone, it can be entirely safe to occupy. However, finding out whether your home is in a flood zone or not can help mitigate some of the stress you may feel about moving there. It can also help you develop strategies for protecting your home and belongings.

Understanding Flood Zones

If an area is at risk of flooding, it may be designated as a flood zone. FEMA uses various codes to communicate to landowners the type of risk that an area has. There are generally three risk areas. These include:

• High-Risk Zones: These zones are commonly referred to as Special Flood Hazard Areas. In some areas, this can be coastal properties or areas centralized near bodies of water, like rivers and lakes.
• Moderate-Risk Zones: These zones are generally coded as either Zone X or Zone B. There is a slim chance that these areas will experience flooding, but the risk is generally low.
• Minimal-Risk Zones: There is a very minimal risk of flooding in these areas. However, it can still be possible. These areas are generally coded as either Zone X or Zone C on the Indiana floodplain map.

If your home is in an area categorized as a “Special Flood Hazard Area”, it means that there is a 1% chance that you will experience flooding each year. 

Buying a Home That Is in a Flood Zone 

Water can be highly destructive to residential structures. Even as little as one inch of floodwater can result in tens of thousands of dollars in damage. This does not mean that you should avoid purchasing a home just because it is in a zone that has a risk of flooding.

Essentially, you will need to be prepared ahead of time. Although it may not be ideal to tear down your home to build a new one completely, there are some ways you can modify your home to make it less likely to suffer the brute force of flooding. By implementing flood zone house designs into your living space, you can lessen the chances that you will be forced to deal with significant damage and losses.

New Construction in a Flood Zone

If you are looking to building a new home in a flood zone, there are specific home designs that you can use to reduce the chances of experiencing any hardships from flooding drastically. This includes using elevated house plans for flood zones. These designs position homes well above the water level, reducing the chances that they will suffer any damage during a storm or another event that causes the water to rise

Unfortunately, many homeowners or buyers fail to consider the risks associated with owning homes near bodies of water. It is vital that homeowners take necessary precautions and size up the potential for flooding before moving into their new homes. This can help you remain above water during these very challenging times.

Reaching out to Lancia Homes for Assistance

Just because your home is in a flood zone does not mean you are going to lose everything every time there is a rise in the water level. There are several options available to ensure you can remain in your home and enjoy it for many years to come.

Working with a reputable design expert can help you determine what your risks are and implement plans to decrease or eliminate the chances that you will experience significant hardships from flooding in your home.

If you have any questions or would like further assistance in determining if your home is in a flood zone, and what you can do, contact Lancia Homes today. Our experts can meet with you to evaluate your circumstances and help to address your needs to ensure your home is safe for many years to come.

Buying a new home is a thrilling process. Well, the idea of buying a new home is a thrilling process. Once you start the process, you realize how many hoops you must jump through. And once you make it through all these hoops, you have one final step, the home inspection.

A home inspection is a hugely consequential part of the home buying process. During this, you will either wind up spending more money than you thought you would or negotiating with the seller to get things fixed. 

Unfortunately, sometimes issues come out of nowhere. However, if you have an idea of some of the most common issues found during the inspection process, you will have a leg up in the process.

HVAC inspection

HVAC systems get used a lot and are susceptible to wear and tear. In fact, your HVAC unit will wind up using half of the energy of your entire home.

Because it is used so often, it typically needs to be serviced more than any other part of your home. That means that if the HVAC system hasn’t been serviced in a while, it might fail an inspection. Even in a new home, you want to make sure everything is installed correctly. Most home inspectors check HVAC systems, but it never hurts to double-check.

Water issues

Water damage can be a big deal. Not only can it lead to a ton of problems that cost a lot of money, but water damage can be hard to spot. 

The first area inspectors will consider when looking for water damage is your roof. Because it is exposed to harsh weather, it is much more likely to have a leak than other places around your house. You’ll want to hire a trained professional to patch the holes causing the leaks if they do come up in an inspection.

Other signs of water damage include musty odors, warped floors, and stained walls. This shouldn’t be an issue in a new home, but definitely something you will want a home inspector to look for.

Roofing

Leaking roofs aren’t the only issues that may show up on your roof. Sagging roofs can point to deeper problems that have to do with the build of the house. This is a problem that can be very expensive to fix and might cause you to fail an inspection but is not as common as a leak.

House drainage system

This falls under the category of water damage, but instead of coming from the roof, it comes from the ground. In a perfect world, your front yard would gradually slope away from your home. If it doesn’t, it could lead to some serious draining issues. The foundation of the home could be unsettled or even crack. 

New homes shouldn’t have this problem, but it is worth making sure that you have a proper drainage setup. Another factor to consider is landscaping. This is something you can potentially negotiate with the homeowner if their yard is in bad shape.

Foundation issues

The ground under us is moving all the time, and so is the foundation of our home. Even a well-built home could fall victim to a poor foundation. Not only is this a common problem, but it can be very expensive. It can cause all sorts of problems, from framing issues to leaks, to jammed doors and windows.

If you are considering your dream home, but an inspection showed foundational issues, it is worth it to have your foundation fixed, however, you need to know when to walk away from foundation issues.

Wiring and electricity

A home with faulty wiring can be a very dangerous home to live in. Along with an inspection, you should hire an electrician to come in and make sure that everything checks out. 

If you have any questions about inspections, please contact Lancia Homes today.

When the term “design for all” pops up, you can broadly guess what it means. Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed long ago, there are still some hurdles to clear for accessibility everywhere. “Design for all”, or, universal home design, seeks to change that. 

If you are in the process of building a new home and are looking to do so with accessibility in mind, read on. We’ll go over everything to know about “design for all” when building a home. 

Universal home design

When you are building a home using the ideas of “design for all”, you are designing a home that will be accessible to anyone at any point in their life. In fact, when designing a home using “design for all”, people are often doing so with the intent that it will be the house that they live in for the rest of their lives. This is what is known as aging in place remodeling. Because of a wealth of new home accessibility products, people can remodel their homes so that they can stay where they want, as opposed to moving somewhere that is more accessible to them. 

Let’s go over some common elements in the home, and how “design for all” would come into play.

Visibility

The older you are, the chances your vision will decline increases. With “design for all”, you would make sure that the level of lighting in each room was adjustable to fit a person’s needs. That means it could be as dim as you want, or as bright as you want. 

One of the other things to consider when it comes to visibility is the height of the light switches in the house. For the sake of accessibility, you want them to be at a height that a person in a wheelchair could reach. You also want to consider the type of light switch. A person with arthritis might have trouble with a traditional light switch, therefore a sliding switch could be the way to go. 

Everyday tasks

Everyday tasks require the use of everyday appliances. With “design for all”, you want to make sure that those appliances are accessible for everyone. For example, a front loader washer and dryer would be more accessible for more people. The same can be said for a stove. Having the controls on the front is much more accessible — and safe — than having them on the top.

Bathing

Modern bathrooms are moving towards “curbless” designs. The actual show itself is typically bigger in a “design for all” home as well. This is for people with mobility issues or people in wheelchairs. By going curbless, there is easy wheelchair entry and less of a risk for those with mobility issues to trip and fall. Oftentimes people with the “design for all” mentality build bigger showers. A bigger shower allows room for all sizes of wheelchairs. 

Curbless design can be seen in several elements of “design for all” homes. Anywhere there once may have been a threshold — entryways especially — you are now seeing curbless designs. This keeps people safe and is inviting for those who have mobility issues, vision impairments, or for people in wheelchairs. This way of living is known as barrier-free living.

Moving around the house

Hallways are the pathways to seeing different areas of a home. However, they can turn into obstacles for people of various disabilities. By making hallways wider, they are more accessible for people with mobility issues, spatial issues, poor eyesight, or people in wheelchairs. This makes the home that much more inviting.

The same can be said for doorways. By widening a doorway, you are making it easier for someone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues. Another thing to consider is the type of door handle on the doors. Typically, a lever is much easier to use than a knob.

If you are considering building a home using the “design for all” approach, please contact Lancia Homes today.

The housing market has been a rollercoaster the last few years, and both homebuyers and sellers are exasperated by the ride. Mortgage rates dropped to record lows when the pandemic hit. Now, mortgage rates will surge to their highest since 2018. As inventory remains low and mortgage rates climb, there are a lot of looming questions for both buyers and sellers.

While it’s difficult to predict the mortgage interest rates forecast in 2022, there are things buyers can do to mitigate the impact of higher mortgage rates. Whether you are purchasing an existing home or building a custom home, it’s important to learn your options to help you save money in the long run. While you can’t control interest rates or the current housing market, you can prepare financially for the home-buying process.

Every decision you make when applying for a mortgage and purchasing a home matters, especially when mortgage interest rates climb. No one can predict exactly when mortgage rates will lower, but there are a few things home buyers can do to reduce the impact of higher mortgage rates. If you are shopping for a home, plan your home-buying process carefully to mitigate the impact of high mortgage rates.

How High Will Mortgage Rates Go in 2022?

Mortgage interest rates vary based on several different factors. First, a mortgage rate hinges on the length of the mortgage term. If you opt into a 30-year term, for example, you will pay a higher mortgage interest rate than someone who chooses a 15-year or 10-year mortgage.

Last year, home buyers bought homes at relatively low-interest rates, with the 30-year rates averaging around 3.1% by the end of 2021. Rates have continued to skyrocket in 2022, with the average 30-year interest rate practically doubling to 5.80%. This year’s numbers differed from 2021 projections, and it’s possible that 2022 rates have yet to stabilize.

When shopping for a home, it’s important to stay within your budget, as interest rates will add to your total and monthly costs. This may require you to consider smaller floor plans that are available at a lower price point. Remember, when looking at the asking price for a home, keep your interest rate in mind so that you are not blindsided by your monthly mortgage note.
 

Strategies for Dealing with Higher Mortgage Rates

You can’t control the housing market or this year’s mortgage rates, but you can take the necessary steps to lower your housing costs. This includes discovering ways to lower your personal mortgage rate. As a homebuyer, it’s time to consider several factors that can lower your rates over a mortgage of any duration.

1. Shop around.

To start, spend some time shopping around for lenders. This applies to primary and secondary home mortgage rates. Mortgage bankers, regional banks, national banks, and credit unions all offer a variety of rates for buyers. Importantly, some lenders cater to new homeowners, while some focus solely on refinancing. A knowledgeable real estate agent may also offer some suggestions, but you ultimately need to speak with a trustworthy lender with rates that work best for your budget.

2. Boost your credit score.

Navigating the mortgage application process is much easier with a solid credit score. Regardless of the loan term, you are much more likely to get a better rate with a high credit score. To build your credit, make sure you pay your bills on time each month and pay off your debt as soon as possible. If you already own a home, take steps to improve your credit score so that you can refinance your home at a better rate.

3. Consider a rate lock.

If you are worried about climbing interest rates, think about paying extra for a mortgage interest rate lock before you close on the home. While it may seem more expensive to pay a fee, it could be worth it if rates continue to change rapidly. One important thing to keep in mind, however, is while rate locks protect you from higher rates, they also prevent you from securing lower rates as well.

Entering the home-buying process can be intimidating, especially when higher mortgage rates enter the equation. By preparing yourself before shopping for a home, however, you can mitigate the impact of high-interest loans. To learn more about mortgage rates in 2022, call the professionals at Lancia Homes now.

Whether you are building a new home or buying one that’s already constructed, you want to live in a home that reflects you and your needs. After all, you (hopefully) spend most of your time in your home, which means you should feel extremely comfortable there. Each room should have a purpose, and depending on the size of your home, some rooms may serve multiple purposes. This is what home builders call the flex room.

As many companies switched to remote work a few years ago, many people in the workforce realized how important their living space was. No longer was their kitchen just a kitchen. It became their breakroom, restaurant, and water cooler conversation center. A simple home office became a home office, gym, and children’s playroom. Homeowners and renters were forced to brainstorm flex room ideas to be professionally and personally productive.

When people think of flex rooms, they often think of storage rooms or utility rooms that serve multiple purposes. In one sense, this is the right interpretation; however, flex rooms can become so much more than storage spaces. To realize the full potential of a flex room, you have to get creative and think of useful flex room ideas.

What is a flex room?

A flex room is a place in your home you can use in a variety of ways. Residents with small homes may feel constrained by the idea of a flex room, as they may not have the space to store several items, and they may need the flex room for storage. However, homeowners and renters with homes of any size can fix up a flex room. In fact, residents in small homes or those building custom homes can benefit from flex rooms the most.

The goal of having a flex room is for it to evolve with the needs of the homeowner. For example, let’s say you have bought your first home. It's a four-bedroom home, but you don't need all four bedrooms. In this case, you might keep two bedrooms as the master and guest room and one as a future baby room. This leaves a room for you to use as you please. This is your home’s flex room.

Initially, you may use this room as a storage space as you settle into the home. Eventually, however, you will likely want this room to further your hobbies or goals. For example, you may find that the room works well as a home gym for you and your family. Or, if you work remotely, this space could be ideal for a home office. If both you and your partner work from home, this room could become a dual office setup.

Modern flex room ideas

Whatever you do with your flex room, make sure it fits your needs and appeals to the times. Determining what to do with a flex room can be intimidating, as the possibilities for the space are endless. However, it’s important to make the most out of your home’s space.

For starters, your flex room can serve as a multipurpose room. Think home office meets guest room meets playroom. As a multipurpose room, you should be able to move furniture around easily so that it can serve your needs throughout the day. Furnish it with a variety of pieces that match your home’s aesthetic so that it matches your décor, no matter the function. For example, if you are using the room as a guest room and playroom, store your children’s toys in coordinated ottomans that seamlessly fit into a guest room.

Next, you can designate your flex room as a second living room. Let’s say one living room is bigger than the other. You can use the larger living room as a space to entertain guests and use the smaller room as a family room where you and your family enjoy game nights, watch TV, and play with the kids. Would you rather have a room reserved for your kids’ playtime versus sleeping? Turn your flex room into a playroom that is separate from your bedroom

The beauty of your home’s flex room is that it can transform into anything you want it to be. To get the most out of your room, it’s important to get creative. For more ideas for the flex room in your home, call Lancia Homes today.

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt your mood shift? Did you happen to notice if the room was decorated in darker colors or lacked natural light? Chances are if you’ve ever ambled into a room only to want to leave immediately, the room was lacking brightness and warmth. There’s nothing worse than feeling like your home is a dark and dreary place, and it can negatively impact your mental health to live in such a place. Prolonged exposure to dark colors and environments can affect our moods and even cause worsening depression.

You wonder how you can create a brighter home without installing new windows or knocking down a few walls. That’s where we come in. Below, we have several of the best tried and true tips to help you create a brighter home that won’t require a hard hat.

Ways to Create a Brighter Home

Your home will appear brighter, warmer, more welcoming, and bigger if you employ the following tips:

1. Clean Your Windows

Dust, pollen, dirt, grime, and air pollution can accumulate on your windows, inside and outside. Deep clean both sides of your windows to help let as much natural light in as possible. Even if the space only has one window, deep cleaning will instantly make it brighter. We suggest making a solution that’s a one-to-three-part mix of water and distilled white vinegar. This solution can be used on the glass and window frames.

2. Utilize Mirrors

Place mirrors on walls opposite light sources, whether natural or artificial. Doing so will cause the light to bounce off the mirror and spread out within the room. You can take it up a notch and invest in some furniture with mirrored surfaces as well.

3. Rearrange Your Furniture

Make sure that your furniture isn’t obstructing your natural light source. You also want to arrange your furniture so the room looks bigger and doesn’t feel overpowered by objects. One dark living room idea is to invest in new furniture (or furniture coverings) that are white, off-white, beige, etc. Lighter, natural colors make a space look larger. This is especially helpful if your room has dark wood floors or carpeting.

4. Invest in Some Natural Light Substitutes

We understand that utilizing natural light isn’t possible in every room, and that’s where natural light substitutes come in handy. You can strategically place more lamps around your room and invest in new lightbulbs too. Most lightbulbs you purchase off the shelf have a color temperature of 2700K, which puts off a warm (read: orange) glow. Natural daylight is rated at 5000K. A good in-between is 3500K. You can play around with different color temperatures and watts until you find what feels best to you.

5. Paint Your Walls

Refresh the paint on your walls and opt for a light glossy color. Remember, lighter colors make spaces appear to be larger and naturally brighter. Opting for a glossy finish helps refract more light around the room, resulting in a brighter home. When planning what paint to choose, the best colors to brighten a living room will be on the neutral palate: light grey, off-white, linen, beige, dusty rose, etc.

6. Add Plant Life

Nothing brightens and freshens up a space better than plants and flowers. Not only will your home look more vibrant and full of life, but it will also smell amazing and your indoor air will be cleaner, too! Plants and flowers are a great way to make a room with very little natural light appear brighter too.

7. Cut Back on Clutter

Keeping your home tidy and clean is another great way to brighten it up and make any space seem bigger. The fewer objects a room has, the airier it will look and feel.

Having the brighter home of your dreams is totally possible – and easy – to achieve by employing these simple tricks. To learn more about home design, the importance of the paint colors, and more, contact a member of our expert team today!

The days are longer, brighter, and warmer. Summer is here and that means you’re going to be spending much more time outdoors and utilizing your patio space. Your patio is a great place to entertain, relax, and add some curb appeal to your home. In fact, a patio can increase the value of your home by at least 8%.

Whether you’re thinking of sprucing up your patio to boost your home’s value or creating an outdoor oasis for your personal enjoyment, we’ll go over everything you need to do to ensure that your patio is ready for summer.

How to Create a Summer-Ready Patio

From cleaning up, to redecorating, to busting out the grill, these are our top ten tips to create a summer-ready patio:

1. Pressure Wash Everything

First, start off with pressure washing everything. The patio itself, your furniture, windows, and the walls. Pressure washing removes all the dirt and grime that built up over the months your patio wasn’t being used. When you clean your windows, you improve the aesthetic inside your home and allow more natural light to flow in.

2. Check for Repairs

After you pressure wash, you can see if there are any places that need repair work done. This includes old, chipped paint, broken screens, areas in your fence that might be broken, etc. This also provides a good opportunity to stain any wood that you have on your patio. Staining wood annually or bi-annually helps to prolong its life.

3. Replace Old Furniture

This might be the year that it’s finally time to replace your old, worn-out patio furniture. White outdoor furniture is always a great idea because white provides a nice neutral pallet to build from. You can get bold rugs or accent pillows to make a statement. And don’t forget to invest in some quality front porch seating options as well as back porch seating too.

4. Hang Ambient Lighting

Strategically hang ambient lighting around your patio and yard. This helps set the tone and ambiance of your patio area and allows you to spend more time outdoors long after the sun has gone down. You can invest in string lights, fairy lights to hang in your trees, or spotlights to light a pathway.

5. Add Some Greenery

Whether you have an expansive yard accompanying your patio or not, you can never have enough greenery and natural touches. Some fun patio wall ideas include painting a mural, creating a vintage art wall, installing a water wall, or creating a living plant wall and planting Boston ivy or Virginia creeper, both of which are self-clinging and aren’t invasive roots, like English ivy.

6. Add a Fan

The summer months can get hot. Keep your patio cooler by installing a fan. Not only will an outdoor fan allow you to spend even more time outdoors, but it also provides air circulation, ambiance, and extra lighting.

7. Make Space for Dining

When planning for your new outdoor furniture, make sure to include ample space for dining. Here are some backyard seating ideas. It’s nice to have couches and lounge chairs out back as well as a table to set your food down on. Pro tip: Invest in some aluminum furniture. It’s lightweight and durable and can always be jazzed up with some bold seat cushions and tablecloths.

8. Get a Firepit

Want to go camping without leaving the comfort of your home? Get a firepit! You can roast marshmallows for s’mores and tell ghost stories around the fire. Firepits are also great for the occasional chilly evenings.

9. Create Shade

If your patio isn’t covered, add some coverage to provide a little bit of shade. You can plant trees, get oversized umbrellas, build a canopy covering, or invest in a fabric canopy.

10. Pull Out the Grill

And last, but certainly not least, pull out your grill. No summer-ready patio is complete without a grill. Whether it's brats and burgers or veggie kababs, cooking out on the grill is a staple summer activity.

Summer is by far one of the best times of the year, and one of our favorite times to entertain family and friends at home. Make sure that your patio is summer-ready by following our top ten tips so that you can start enjoying summer right away! Here at Lancia Homes, we want to help you make your patio the best it can be. Contact us today!

The décor in your home is a personal expression of who you are, what your style is, and the things that matter most to you. While there are myriad ways to create an aesthetic in your home, interior wall design is one of the best. 

If you need some helpful interior wall design inspiration, keep reading. Whether you're looking for elegant living room wall décor ideas or simple wall art, we have 15 great wall décor ideas for you.

1. Abstract Artwork

Abstract artwork is a great way to tie your room together. Abstract art offers freedom of color and design, and by incorporating it into your interior wall design, you open up the design possibilities for the rest of the room.

2. Sentimental Décor

Sentimental décor is perfect because of its versatility. You can opt for simple wall art, hanging only black and white photos of your family or hang photos that capture meaningful memories. You can also make sentimental décor a bigger focus by hanging shelves and lining them with sentimental photos and objects.

3. Hanging Plants

At the start of the year, we talked about how this year, décor trends are all about sustainability and earthy tones. What better way to incorporate both themes into your interior wall design?  Use repurposed wood shelves as a piece of sustainable hanging décor and then use them to display some of your favorite plants.

4. Assorted Frame Décor

Assorted frames are a fun and quirky way to decorate your walls. You can get frames that vary in size and color to create a fun aesthetic for any room in your home.

5. Feature Print Wall

A feature print wall is a fun way to incorporate a theme into your room. Establish a theme, make prints of the photos that fit into it, and voila! You have a feature print wall.

6. Woven Baskets

When it comes to hanging décor, woven baskets are a hot trend. Find baskets in different color tones or neutral tones and in different sizes, shapes, and textures, and then hang them all together to create a focal point on any wall.

7. Gallery Shelves

Gallery shelves are a great way to decorate your walls and give you more storage space. Use them to display your favorite trinkets, photos, plants, or books.

8. Displates

Displates are posters made from metal. You can customize them or shop from existing collections online to add some unique flair to your home.

9. Wall Mirrors

One of the best ideas for simple wall art is to hang mirrors. Hang one for a more polished look or hang a variety for a unique, vintage feel.

10. LED Light Wall Art

Artwork incorporating LED lights is another fun trend. It creates a unique feeling in your home and can — literally — brighten up any space.

11. Statement Piece

When it comes to elegant living room wall décor ideas, the first thing that comes to mind is statement art. A piece of statement art is typically oversized and hangs on the wall alone, serving as the focal point of a room.

12. Macrame Art

We love macrame hanging décor for interior wall design because it can be simple or complex; whatever you want it to be. It also comes in varying colors, shapes, and sizes.

13. Hang Your Headwear

This is a great idea for a bedroom or guest room. If you own several hats, make a mural of them on your wall and let them serve as both a fashion accessory and an art statement.

14. Create an Accent Wall

Accent walls are fun ways to draw attention to one wall in any room. You can make an accent wall by painting it a bold color, using wood panels to create a geometric design, or hanging a fun wallpaper. 

15. Paint a Mural

Get creative and paint your own mural in one of your rooms! The best part about painting your own mural is that you have complete creative control and can change it whenever you want to.

Finding new décor is a great way to elevate your home from just a place where you live to one that really feels like you. If you’re ready to redecorate and want to talk to our team of design experts, contact us today!

When it comes to redesigning and personalizing your home, you have several options for adding style and personality. You can purchase a statement piece of art or invest in a new furniture set, but one of the fastest and most transformative ways to breathe life into your home's interior is to coat your walls in a new fresh coat (or two) of paint. 

Paint is relatively inexpensive and easy to change, so it's a popular way for homeowners to make a house feel updated, rejuvenated, or made their own. After all, the color on your walls serves as a canvas for decoration and creation and establishes the room's ambiance.

With so many possible paint colors to choose from, it can be challenging to decide. But if you're looking to maximize your decor options or prepare your house for a sale, you will likely want to choose a neutral hue that can make your rooms feel larger and more relaxing. That said, neutral options like whites, grays, and beiges come in warmer and cooler tones with various undertones. The choices can be overwhelming, which is why we’re here to help you narrow them down. Below, we’ll reveal our picks for the top 10 best neutral paint colors.

Why Go Neutral?

Even though blues, greens, warm pinks, and terracottas are on-trend paint choices for 2022, good neutral color is a timeless classic. You can very easily build off beige paint colors, dark gray paint, and neutral grays. Neutrals also help create a more serene atmosphere in your home because neutral colors evoke feelings of calm and relaxation and are easy on your eyes.

The Top 10 Best Neutral Paint Colors

Choosing a neutral paint color is actually pretty complex. The magic in neutral paint colors happens in each shade’s undertone, creating many options within a neutral color palette. These are the colors we think are the 10 best choices for your home.

Beige Paint Colors

Our favorite shades of paint in the beige paint color family are:

• Accessible Beige: Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams is one of the best beige paint colors because, as the name implies, it’s accessible! This shade goes with every room and décor style and adds a touch of warmth. It’s a lighter tone that has a hint of gray in it.
• Mocha Foam: Mocha Foam by Behr is the perfect darker beige tone. It provides more depth and gives an extra pop of color while still remaining neutral.
• Joa’s White: Joa’s White by Farrow & Ball has red undertones, adding a touch of luxury to this classic neutral color.
• Snowbound: Snowbound by Sherwin Williams is the best choice for off-white paint. It’s a unique shade of white because it doesn’t have any yellow or blue undertones like most classic whites do.

Neutral Gray Paint Colors

Our top picks in the dark gray paint colors are:

• Smoke Embers: Smoke Embers by Sherwin Williams is a gorgeous, subtle, and light neutral gray color. It creates warmth and makes any room more inviting.
• Sterling: Sterling by Benjamin Moore is a classic, go-to gray with cool undertones. The undertones allow it to pair well with countless other styles and colors.
• Marilyn’s Dress: Marilyn’s Dress by Benjamin Moore is a delicate and pale neutral gray that creates a sophisticated canvas for any room.

Dark Gray Paint Colors

The best options for going darker in the gray family are these dark gray paint colors:

• Peppercorn: Peppercorn by Sherwin Williams is a classic dark gray paint color with warm undertones. It can be used for an accent wall or on every wall to add depth and character to any room.
• Downpipe: Downpipe by Farrow & Ball adds a dramatic and bold touch to your home. It’s a great choice to use as an accent wall to showcase your artwork.
• Elephant Skin: Elephant Skin by Behr is a beautiful gray tone that’s dark but not too dark. It’s the perfect compromise if you want to ease into darker colors without going too dark.

With the endless possibilities that exist on the color wheel, we think that choosing a classic neutral paint color for your interior walls is the way to go. Neutral colors have a wider range than most people realize and are the perfect choice for every room in your home, especially larger rooms like your living room. A neutral-color living room opens up your home more and makes your entire home feel more inviting without overwhelming your senses.

Whether you’re looking at lighter neutral grays, bolder dark gray paints, or classic beige paint colors, you can’t go wrong with any of the colors on our list. To learn more about the power of color or to talk to our team of experts, visit our Design Center on Lima Road in Fort Wayne or contact Lancia Homes today!