Six Exciting Trends in Custom Home Building

A prime advantage of custom homes is the complete control over the building approach, from architectural style to the features you covet most. Whether you’re looking for a completely smart home, an energy-efficient dwelling, or even secret doors that lead to a wine cellar, we’ve compiled the best and most cutting-edge trends in custom builds. From the popular to the extreme, consider adding one of these statements into your dream home. As we close out 2016 and begin a new year, let's look at six trends in custom home building for the next year.

Copper Accents

For a feeling of luxury that makes a unique statement, consider copper. This out-of- the-box material can work with any design aesthetic, from the rustic to the traditional. When used in tandem with other metal and wood features, it can even give a modern, steampunk feel. Install a freestanding copper bathtub to create an oasis that is as calming as it is effortlessly cool.

Indoor-Outdoor Living Spaces

We’re lucky to live in an area of the country that allows us to enjoy the outdoors most of year. Dallas Texas really does have great patio weather! Create a living space that moves seamlessly from indoors to outdoors by using features like retractable glass walls, unusual floor materials, and stackable doors. This creates an organic flow that would even make Frank Lloyd Wright proud. Low-impact (environmental) design elements are also becoming more popular. Incorporating native plant species into landscaping, permeable pavement, and sustainable features that remain conscious of the environment surrounding the home are coveted trends.

Mixing Materials

Mixing accents like metal and wood combines a rustic aesthetic with modern sensibility. Industrial elements, like sleek furniture and lighting, can be effective talking points, especially when mixed with bright colors. When paired with rustic wooden accents like barn-style doors, they create a feeling that is unexpected but posh.

Smart-Home Technology

Smart technology allows homeowners to be as energy efficient as possible. Advancements in technology allow builders to incorporate elements of smart design from electrical to plumbing. Examples include smart appliances and thermostats that can be controlled from anywhere in the world to TVs that serve as smart control hubs, allowing the homeowner to oversee the home’s smart processes.

Mid-Century Modern Aesthetic

Everything old is new again. Just as fashion trends come and go, so do architectural features. Beginning with California and Nevada, we’re beginning to see a re-emergence of mid-century modern design. Mid-century detailing is unique, and it must be done right. If you want to start small, consider adding mid-century vintage appliances in your kitchen. For a bolder approach, talk to your architectural builder about mid-century statement exteriors.

Hidden Doors

Looking for a reprieve from the daily hustle and bustle? You can’t get more escapist than a hidden room. For a touch of the unexpected that wows your dinner guests and gives you a place to find solace, create a hidden door in your pantry that leads to a secret den or wine cellar. Consider it your own personal bat cave.

For today’s custom homes, the only limit is your imagination. From secret spaces to green technology, homes can be simultaneously low-impact and make a design statement. If you want to make your dream home a reality, get in touch with Tony McClung. As an architect builder, he has more than 50 years of experience in designing and building some of the most dramatic properties in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information and to create a 3D walkthrough of your vision, call (214) 668-7802.

Merry Christmas from Luxury Homes by Tony McClung

Here at Luxury Homes by Tony McClung, we are very thankful to you for all that you do for us. From past clients, to future clients, we love being a part of your life and helping you design and build your dream home. Have a wonderful Christmas holiday with your family!

Finding the Right Colors for Your New Home

Custom home building is all about getting your vision exactly right. Once you settle on the number of stories, rooms, functionality, and layout, it’s time to add the finishing touches. Your home is a blank canvas, waiting to be painted in a palette reflective of your personal style and taste. It’s also important to consider how a color scheme will highlight the architecture of the home you’ve waited so long to have. Use this as a guide for choosing the best color scheme for your custom build, whether you’re working with an interior designer or on your own.

Don’t Be Afraid of Color

Most people assume the best way to play up the architecture in the room is to choose a neutral hue and let the architecture speak on its own. This isn’t always true. Every architectural period in history has welcomed color, and when done well, color makes your architecture pop. Mantels, built-ins, wainscot, windows, doors, and arched doorways all provide opportunities to provide visual interest to a space. Here are a couple of different approaches:

• For a subtle emphasis, try painting architectural features a shade darker than your primary walls. It provides an understated shift in color while highlighting the aesthetic features. Alternatively, adding a metallic gloss on top of a painted element enhances its natural beauty.
• For those who love a bold approach, consider two different hues in the same room. For example, painting a built-in a shade of green brings an element of modernity and a sense of daring to a space.

Learn the Art of Contrast

Flip open the pages of an interior design book or magazine, and you’ll see boldly contrasting hues are the decorating trend du jour. The key to pulling off this trend is balancing bold with the right mix of neutral. For example, teal and bright yellow are natural friends, but mixing with soft gray helps offset the color palette and prevents it from being jarring to the eye. This is also where painting and decorating get fun. Start with a statement piece – for example, that patterned chevron rug you’ve been eyeing for the sitting room. Pull your colors from that piece, choosing hues for the walls, built-ins, and furniture. Don’t be afraid to carry your contrast to textiles – for example, contrast a luxe velvet sofa with a plucky, modern canvas wingback chair.

Don’t Forget the Ceiling

People often discount the ceiling, painting it white and forgetting about it. But think of your ceiling as your “fifth wall,” as it’s equally capable of creating a mood in your room. While a light-colored ceiling adds height and makes a room seem airy, a darker color choice adds a sense of intimacy and evokes a feeling of cozy. For example, a rich shade of red in the dining room or a warm brown in the den makes the space feel inviting and naturally brings people together. This works well in rooms with ceilings that are 11 feet or higher. If your ceilings are, say, 8 or 9 feet high, choose a lighter shade, like a soft blue, for a similar effect.

Choosing the color palette for your home requires planning, but it’s also a fun part of building. Spend some time playing with different hues, and don’t forget to paint a test strip on the wall to see how it translates to your space and amount of light. Be sure to give Tony McClung with Luxury Homes by Tony McClung a call at 214-668-7802 for any questions about designing your new custom home.

Four Things to Remember While Building a Custom Home

Think of new home construction and most prospective home builders think of miscommunication between contractors and missed project deadlines, right? Wrong. While these are hallmarks of less-than-prepared building companies, with the right team, you can step into your dream home on schedule and under budget. If you’re beginning your journey in building a custom home, keep these things in mind to make the process as smooth as possible. You’ll step over the threshold of your new build before you know it.

Address the Present and the Future

Life changes and families grow. Rather than building a home that addresses your present needs, plan one that addresses your future ones, as well. Do you plan to have kids (or more of them)? Do your parents or in-laws rely on you for support? Plan more than the next five years – think 10, even 20 years down the road.

Think Layout and Flow

When planning a home, most people think open floor plan, number of rooms, number of floors, the “man cave,” and so on. While this is part of what makes custom home planning fun, these aren’t your only considerations. While less entertaining, planning the mechanical aspects of your home (HVAC, plumbing, and electrical components) is equally important. For example, ensure that you have enough electrical outlets to run all your appliances and gadgets. Addressing these aspects during the planning process assures your home has both form and function. Also, think of how you’ll use each room. It’s easy to get caught in the whirlwind of custom home building: Will you actually use the craft room, the second sitting room, or the library? Think carefully and prioritize. Put your budget into amenities that make your home functional, instead of rooms that will sit unused.

Choose a Designer and Builder Combination

People often have an architect to create their vision and a builder to bring it to life. When these are two separate teams, you’re more likely to have miscommunication between members and a budget and timeline that go off the rails. Pick a professional who both plans and builds homes.

This has a few distinct advantages:

• Such a professional can bring your vision to life – while following local codes, zoning restrictions, and the law of the land. It would be devastating to spend time and energy building your dream home only to have a builder tell you it can’t become a reality.
• It’s easier to keep track of your budget. Your hard-earned dollars are going to one person, so it’s easier to keep track of where to allocate them – and the project is more likely to come in under budget when finished.
• Seamless communication minimizes chances of mistakes. Your designer/builder combo team will be the point of communication for all subcontractors, like HVAC and electrical. With expertise in both fields, this team can address problems as they arise and keep your vision intact.

Think Location

One of the biggest benefits of custom home building is the freedom to choose your perfect location. You may have wanted that rural lifestyle, only to find you dislike the longer trips to the grocery store, work, or school. Think carefully about the location you choose and make sure you can live with every aspect of living in an urban, suburban, or rural setting.

Have you been dreaming of a custom home? Tony McClung has more than 50 years of experience as an “architect designer/builder” and is responsible for some of the most dazzling properties in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Turn your vision into a reality and call (214) 668-7802 today.

Tony McClung Named To Dallas 500 Business Leaders

Dallas, Texas – Congratulations to Tony McClung – D CEO magazine named him to its inaugural edition of the Dallas 500. This special edition publication pays homage to the best and brightest business leaders in the area.  

The magazine placed entrepreneurs from the Dallas–Fort Worth area into more than 60 categories to find the best of the best. Homebuilding, aviation, banking, and logistics are just a few of the industries included in the Dallas 500. Months of consultation and research left the magazine staff confident that they had selected someone worthy of the new “business bible for North Texas.”

McClung was one of only six winners from the Metroplex. When asked what sets him apart and makes his business model so different, McClung said, “I design the home as well as build it. I don’t like paperwork so I charge a fixed monthly fee for services. Because my client pays directly for the construction costs and I receive the fixed monthly fee, I do not have to keep track of my clients’ changes.” Controlling all aspects of the homebuilding process, from design to construction, puts McClung in a category all his own.

This approach to homebuilding gives him the ability to offer customized services to his customers. “If you want to tear it down halfway through the project because you decided you would rather have a Mediterranean style … I will do what you ask.” McClung guarantees flexibility and satisfaction when he works with clients.

McClung realized his love of architecture and construction at an early age: He completed his first building project when he was 12; he had convinced his father to let him build a storage room addition to their garage, instead of searching for a contractor to complete the job. After weeks of reading how-to books and construction manuals at the library, McClung designed and constructed the storage room on his own. It was then that he knew he had found his calling.

When asked about designing and building homes, McClung says he loves doing both. “It is extremely rewarding to build what I design.” According to him, his do-it-all attitude gives the homeowner greater freedom while drastically reducing cost and time. His business model eliminates the need for middlemen, which makes it easier to keep the project moving forward.

It takes incredible skill and dedication to stand out amongst Dallas-Fort Worth business leaders, but Tony McClung has proven his worth. And if he has anything to say about it, he’ll continue to perform and amaze Metroplex clients and leaders for many years to come. 

About Luxury Homes Designed and Built by Tony McClung

Luxury Homes Designed and Built by Tony McClung builds luxury custom homes for any style or budget across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. With a physical address of "your building site", Tony is always on the move and deeply involved in his projects. Those desiring to talk to Tony about designing and building a new home, can call 214-668-7802 or for more information, visit https://www.tonymcclung.com.

Drones and Building Homes

Using a drone helps our clients get a feel of what kind of view they will see from different areas of their home. Here is the view from a future roof top deck!

In the past few years, drones have taken America by storm. These unmanned aerial vehicles are legal for anyone to fly, so long as it’s for recreational purposes (and meets some restrictions). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started making changes, however, and it seems that businesses could soon see the commercial benefit of drones. Luxury Homes Designed and Built by Tony McClung is one company that has found some great benefits of using a drone.

How Drones are Useful

More industries than ever are seeking drones now. Surveyors can look at large swaths of land more quickly with less effort. News companies can offer birds-eye views of celebrations, traffic accidents, and construction zones. Insurance firms can survey damaged cars and homes to complete claims. Even security companies are taking advantage of the potential, using drones to keep an eye on neighborhoods and large pieces of property.

Home building is one industry where drones are especially useful. In fact, more than 20 percent of home construction companies have explored options and used drones on a working site. Another 30 percent said they were either likely or very likely to implement the machines in the next three years.

Why Drones Make Sense for Builders

Why do builders love drones so much? To put it simply, these little machines can do things humans cannot, such as:

• Checking roofs safely. Standing on a roof can be dangerous, especially if it’s finished with a slick material (like sheets of tin). Drones allow builders to view roofs in detail while their feet remain on the ground. This is groundbreaking, especially when you consider that roof-related falls account for more than 10 percent of construction deaths in the last 25 years. 
• Providing more information to homeowners. Drones can give special insight that even the best computer programs cannot. If the client wants to see the view from a not-yet-built third floor window, a drone you can hover at the proper altitude and location to give the client a true preview.
• Examining crawlspaces. Working under the foundation of a residence is uncomfortable at best—and downright dangerous at worst. Drones can enter these small zones and survey for damage, such as leaking pipes and exposed wires. This not only saves effort on the builder’s part, but it also keeps him or her much safer.

• Delivering supplies. Nothing’s worse for a construction employee than climbing a few stories on a ladder to realize he forgot his nails or hammer. Drones can make quick, efficient tool deliveries to anyone on site. A business could use them to offer water and snacks to workers, keeping dehydration and weakness in check. 

It might be hard to imagine, but drones could be the future of the construction industry. The best businesses are putting this technology to use and making safer, smarter, and more-efficient workplaces.

Tony McClung is one of the few builders using an unmanned aerial vehicle to improve his construction techniques. If you’d like to learn more about his innovative drone use and how it can get your project done faster than ever, contact him online or call (214) 668-7802. 

Two-for- One: The Advantages of Having an Architect Builder

The homebuilding process is exciting. In many cases, the owners are realizing lifelong dreams.

Several people are instrumental to this process, but some are even more important than others.

Aside from your banker, the architect and builder are the two you need most.

The Value of an Architect

What do you think sets our society apart at a glance? Is it expensive cars, smartphones, or computers? No. The most impactful part of our world is the buildings we live in.

Consider the big city skylines, climbing high into the clouds. Consider our nation’s greatest memorials, such as the Washington Monument. Even the simplest family homes are wonders of engineering and imagination. Someone designed all these things and working with an architectural designer gives you access to a powerful and creative mind to complete the home building process.

The top benefits of working with an architectural designer are:

• They can show you their vision. These professionals have intimate knowledge about how buildings work. They can see the big picture and use their experience to craft the perfect home for your needs. A skilled designer can listen to your vaguest dreams and turn them into usable plans.
• Many architects and architectural designers understand the appropriate steps to take when building. They know the path to completion, starting with the first consultation. They also know the hundreds of tiny steps that you must take to finish the home.
• Architectural Designers can save you lots of paperwork. If you buy a premade home plan, you’ll receive all the blueprints and designs from the company. Unfortunately, you’ll receive little or no information about the inner workings of the building. An architect can take care of the structural requirements and pay attention to local codes to have your home completed properly.

The Value of an Experienced Builder

Builders are the other half of the equation. Even the best plans can’t come to fruition without a skilled builder. Working with a talented and experienced builder is crucial to completing the home of your dreams.

The benefits of adding a builder to your team include:

• The lead builder will do all the hard work when it comes to hiring, coordinating with, and supervising employees and subcontractors. You won’t have to worry about the rest of the workforce; the builder will handle it all.
• An experienced builder will recognize design flaws, hopefully before they cause delays.
• Faster completion. Experience means knowledge about all the details of bringing a plan together. When you choose a qualified builder, he or she will know precisely how to go about building the house to maximize efficiency.
• Long-term value. The best builders create lasting masterpieces. If you hire a builder with skill and knowledge, you’ll see fewer repairs through the life of the home. You’ll also enjoy better resale potential and more-consistent value.

The Two-for- One Approach

What if you took the creative vision and knowledge of an architectural designer and combined it with the skilled experience of a builder? You’d have the perfect team. Having an "architect builder" means the process will always be as smooth as possible. The plans will make sense during construction, so you won’t face confusion or mistakes. If there is a design flaw, the builder does not have to call the architect to discuss the problem. The builder is the "architect" so he fixes immediately and the construction process proceeds on schedule. 

You can save a huge amount of time and money. In some cases, communication between a separate architect and builder can take weeks. Both lead busy lives, and it might be nearly impossible to bring them together. When your architect is your builder, he or she can address any questions or changes immediately. Plus, the rest of the team will be on the same page much, much faster.

Time isn’t the only thing you’ll save. Hiring one professional instead of two can drastically reduce costs. You’ll have more value in the long run, because he or she will be able to address concerns about the design or execution of the building all at once.

If you’re looking for an "architect builder" to design and build your dream home in Dallas Texas, you’re in luck. Tony McClung has more than 50 years of experience crafting some of Texas’, Colorado's and New Mexico's most beautiful properties. Tony is also able to design your home in 3D so you can virtually walk through your home before construction even begins. For more information about turning your dreams into a reality, call (214) 668-7802.