4 Spring Trends in Custom Home Building

Custom home construction is both an art and a science – as such, it constantly evolves. What was in vogue ten or even five years ago might not make much sense to current homebuilders. Today’s custom home builds place equal weight on form and function, creating beautiful spaces that work for your family’s size and budget. Explore some of the latest trends in custom home building.

The “Messy Kitchen”

The open concept home has been a popular choice for homeowners for years, and it makes sense: an open concept makes a home appear larger and makes it easier to entertain guests. There’s a major downside to an open concept floor plan, however: your guests risk looking at a pile of dirty dishes and kitchen counters as they eat the meal you just prepared. This is where the concept of a “messy kitchen” comes in: newer custom homes feature a hidden prep area tucked in behind the main kitchen space. This allows for minimal cleanup and more time for socializing with friends – isn’t that why you’re hosting in the first place?

More Natural Elements

Today’s custom homes, especially in temperate climates, have an increased focus on blurring the line between inside and outside spaces. While the sweltering summers of the west make it impossible to fully merge these two spaces, designers provide a practical answer by incorporating more natural elements into the home. A stark contrast to the tech and industrial trends favored at the turn of the millennium, today’s modern homes focus on interior landscaping and natural elements like stone, concrete, and copper.

Richer Color Palettes

If the neutral palettes of current home decorating magazines bring waves of disappointment, this year brings good news for those who love color. Current trends in home building feature retro vibes, like candy-coated high end appliances and even rich furnishings in luxe materials like velvet. Look for other warm accents in the form of copper or brass fixtures.

Open Shelving in the Kitchen

Today’s homes focus less on the pristine and more on the comfortable and cozy. One popular way to accomplish this is by incorporating open shelving throughout your kitchen. This not only gives your new house a homey feel, it also gives you the opportunity to turn your kitchen ware into art pieces.

Custom home building trends may evolve, but we think the focus on creating a home that’s functional and beautiful is here to stay. Would you try any of these new home design and construction trends? Tony McClung can help make your dream a reality – contact us to learn more.

Tips for a Successful Home Remodeling Project

Even though remodeling projects can seem extremely overwhelming, the process can be very smooth when you have some tips and tricks up your sleeve. Here are some rules to follow if you want your project to be a success.

1.     Plan Well Ahead of Time

If you make the product selection ahead of time, it will help in preventing delays later down the line. Proper planning also helps you to maintain a budget and ultimately leads you to save money as well. You know what you want and will get exactly that instead of things you might later regret.

2.     Keep In Mind The Future Prospects as Well

Long term-maintenance, energy loss, along with the various different repair costs can all add up very quickly. It is important that you add all of these expenses in your calculations when you are comparing prices.

3.     Know Your End Goal

Before you even decide to extensively renovate your house, it is important that you have a clear idea of what your end goal is going to be. Do you want to renovate because you want the value of your home to increase or just because you feel like making it more beautiful? It is important to answer all these questions before starting to work, as this will help set the guidelines as to how you want to work.

4.     Conduct Necessary Research

Take out time to have detailed discussions with family and friends. They might have gone through the renovation process themselves, therefore might offer you some valuable advice. This will help you in planning and avoiding the mistakes, which they might have made.

5. Partner with Professionals

Architectural design professionals like Tony McClung can make your home renovation project flow like a dream. Not only will Tony be acting as your project manager to handle all the tasks, communication, team organization and budgets but he will also make sure your home is built and designed correctly so it not only looks beautiful but lasts for years to come. 

By following these five tips, you will be able to complete your remodeling project successfully and efficiently. If you would like to partner with Tony McClung to give your home a custom remodel, give him a call at 214-668-7802.

Home Maintenance Tips (that you can do yourself!)

Home maintenance is definitely not restricted to the various different repairs you do around the house. In fact, if you do certain tasks regularly you will be able to avoid things from even breaking in the first place. However, if things do break, we have some easy DIY home maintenance tips to help you out. Instead of splurging on expensive professional help, you will be able to do everything on your own.

Here is an all-encompassing checklist of what every homeowner should do on a regular basis to avoid any problems around the house.

1.     Have the fireplace and the chimney checked and cleaned on a regular basis

Yes, we know. Here in Texas, we use our fireplaces about once or twice a year. But, a lot of us still love having a fireplace in our home for that cozy winter night. But, most of us tend to put off any attention to the fireplace until that winter day arrives, and we have no other option. However, it is very important to have both of these cleaned regularly. Not only is this going to save you from a lot of hassle afterward, this will make your house look super clean as well.

2.     Test The Garage Door Opener Monthly

It is important to check your garage door opener monthly to make sure that it is reversing whenever an obstruction hits it or whenever the sensor beam is interrupted by another object. When you check it regularly, you will know that there is a problem with it beforehand and will be well prepared for it.

3.     Inspect the door and window caulking

It is advised that you do this annually to avoid any mishaps. The caulking also helps save the energy and retains heat within the house. This will not only help you save a lot of money but will also help keep your house well maintained.           

By following the above mentioned three steps you can rest assured that your home maintenance is on point. And, at any time, if you need a professional's help to redesign something in your home, give Luxury Homes by Tony McClung a call today at 214-668-7802!

Features of a Modern Luxury Home

The features of luxury home evolve with the evolution of technology. Our goals have modernized along with the advancement of technological means. Following are some of the top features of luxury homes in 2018.

1.     Smartphone Technology

The smartphone technology is one of the most in-demand features of today's luxury homes. This helps control everything happening in your house from your phone. Whether it be locking the doors or turning off the central heating, everything is just one click away.

2.     Gourmet Kitchen Complete with Wine Room

The kitchen is considered to be one of the most important features of any house. A gourmet kitchen is one that will have warming drawers, a walk-in pantry, wine closet along with restaurant quality appliances. A wine room has also become a very important feature to incorporate into your luxury home.

3.     Spa Bathrooms

A lavish bathroom is something without which a luxury home will be incomplete in 2018. The washroom should feature a walk in bathroom, with heated floors huge soaking tubs, towel warmers and a steam shower. By adding a wooden element to the washroom, you will provide the washroom with a warm and natural appeal.

4.     Outdoor and Indoor Living

When living in a huge city, it is a privilege to have a backyard. The low maintenance and sustainable lifestyle of outdoor living is also a must to have in a luxury home. The sliding doors should open seamlessly to conjoin the room and the backyard making it seem like a part of the entire room. Adding a pool to the backyard will make it all the more interesting.

By incorporating the above four features into your custom luxury home, you will be able to give your home a new makeover and twist according to the 2018 renovation demands. If you are ready to discuss new design to remodel or custom build your home, give Tony McClung a call at 214-668-7802. 

Tips To Renovate Your House Beautifully, yet Economically

Most of us renovate our homes because we want them to look beautiful and feel more comfortable as well. If you want to renovate your home, you should consider this home renovation plan to be a business plan. If you are starting from scratch, this could also become your special project. The most important thing when it comes to renovating your home beautifully on a budget is to plan everything beforehand. Following are some of the tried and tested methods using which you will be able to save money along with decorating your home like you want to.

1. Budgeting

The very first step to renovating your home is to start with the budgeting. It is very important that you decide on the total expenses beforehand. Also, make sure that you do not overestimate the budget and research in depth about what you want and how much they are going to cost.

Keep in mind that hiring a professional like Tony McClung can be a benefit in the budgeting and design process. Architectural Designers like Tony will work to organize builders, interior designers and construction crews so your remodel project doesn't take over your life!

2. Choose The Correct Paint

The paint of any room is going to affect its lighting as well. When you are renovating your home on a budget, it is important that you keep everything simple. Keeping a color scheme, which you can use throughout the house, means you can save the money needed to buy various different shades. Be sure to check out sources like Pinterest, Joanna Gaines and other popular design sites for paint color scheme ideas that will be perfect in your home.

3. Make Small Rooms Appear Bigger

To make your house look bigger without any major renovation, you should know the art of making smaller rooms look appear bigger and more spacious. To do this you could use mirrors. This is a tried and tested method to make any room appear bigger.

By using the three above mentioned tips and trick you can make your house appear prettier and grander without having to spend loads and loads of money on it. Who thought renovating a house could be so easy and economical! 

February Custom Home Maintenance Ideas

February is here, and this month is a perfect time for some home maintenance tips to keep your house from feeling all cluttered and stale before Spring. Following are some of the easy tips you can use in February to declutter your house and clean it up without a hassle.

1.     Flip And Rotate The Mattress

The process of flipping and rotating the mattresses makes them feel completely new. During this process, you can also vacuum them to make them even cleaner. This helps in extending the life of your mattresses and also contributes to a good night’s sleep.

2.     Recycle the Unnecessary Paperwork

Just hold on to the necessary paperwork, which you know you would need in the future; recycle the junk mail, recipes which you would not be using, or any other printouts which have been lying around the house unused. Even though this might seem trivial, the change it will have on your home is going to be immense.

3.     Test All The Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

You should be checking these on a regular basis to ensure complete safety. During February, when the temperature is changing, it is important that you check up on these to ensure maximum security and safety.

4.     Dust the Fans, walls and Accessories

Although dusting is one of the most hated chores, it is very important to dust everything on a regular basis. You are going to be amazed by the difference this makes in the overall appearance of your house. To freshen up your home, even more, you can add an essential oil diffuser as well.

5.     Plan Out Your Garden      

February is one of the most amazing times to work on your garden. Not only is this going to brighten up the exterior of your house it is also going to help take your mind off things.    

If you ever have any questions about home remodeling or custom home building in Dallas TX, please reach out to Tony McClung at 214-668-7802. 

Home Design Trends In 2018

Can you believe that the first month of 2018 is almost over? The home design industry has already set the tone for what homes should look like in 2018 so, let's look at some trends that we are sure to see this year.  If you are planning on renovating your house this year, it is important to keep in mind some of the most recent trends in the industry.

Following are some styles, which are going to be big this year:

1. More Colorful Kitchens

Even though for a long time, white has been the classic color used for kitchen décor, in the year 2018, homeowners are moving away from the bland hues and incorporating rich colors into their kitchen décor. These colors include wooden tones and bright blues and yellows. This helps give the kitchen a fresher and warm feeling. 

 

2.  No Stainless Steel and White Sinks

Mostly thanks to Texas natives Chip and JoJo, the modern Fixer Upper farmhouse style, which started in the year 2017, is only going to get stronger during 2018. In the bathrooms, white sinks will be no more. They will be replaced by concrete, copper or stone sinks to provide the bathroom with a highly personalized effect.

 

3. Concrete Accents

 White marble, which has been in the home décor for a long time now has finally reached its end. This year it is concrete, which will be in the limelight. Used mostly for countertops and flooring, this marble is now going to be used in home accessories, for instance, furniture and pendant lightings. 

4. Casually Calm Bedrooms

This year, while designing bedrooms, it is important to keep in mind that less is more. Homeowners are advised to keep their bedroom minimalist and instead of going with bold and busy colors they should opt for a more soothing and neutral palette.

 

5. Vintage Lighting

Vintage lighting is back in the home décor scene. Lanterns, chandeliers, sconces, and pendants are all making a much awaited come back. This will help provide any room with a subtle warm glow.   

Working with Luxury Homes Designed and Built by Tony McClung ensures that your custom or newly remodeled home, will be decorated exactly as you want it. Tony McClung brings a team of builders, interior designers and more to customize your luxury home exactly as you wish. Give Tony McClung a call at 214-668-7802 to learn more about his expert custom home building team right here in Highland Park, TX.

What’s Included in a Luxury Custom Home Build, and How Much Does It Cost?

Maybe you’ve considered building a home, but must address the all-important question: Can I afford it? Luxury homes in Dallas come in all shapes and sizes. Chances are you can find a custom home that fits your needs and budget, but you’ll have to do a little legwork first. Here’s what you need to know about the home-building process:

Location, Location, Location

One of the biggest factors affecting your home-build will be where you build it. In Dallas, there is Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, Lakewood, Richardson, Plano, Frisco, North Dallas...just so may options! Dallas neighborhoods range from very expensive to “up and coming.” Choose the latter and you may find you can get more house for your buck. Even better, you may find that your home appreciates over time. Keep in mind that as you price out property in different neighborhoods, taxes may vary considerably by location. You can easily estimate your property tax by talking to a local government branch, or looking up tax records of nearby houses with a similar value (or projected value).

Renovations Versus New Builds

If you’re currently in a home that can no longer accommodate your growing family, you might be thinking that a renovation is the best option. In some cases, renovations can be a cost-effective alternative to starting a new home from scratch. In others, however, a new build may actually be more frugal. For example, adding an addition can uncover unforeseen problems that may make working with your existing structure a cost-sink. This may apply to older homes, especially those built before the 1950s (when both asbestos and lead-based paint were used). Remember, these are most dangerous when disturbed, so you could be looking at costly remediation to make your home hazard-free. Lead remediation alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In other words: do your homework before choosing a renovation over a new build.

Consider Your Budget

A home cost in Dallas will vary greatly depending on the scope of the build and where you choose to build it. There is no set cost for custom homes, as each McClung home is completely unique and tailored to the individual. As a good rule of thumb, however, expect a new build to cost anywhere from $100-$400 per square foot. Having a home that meets your exact specifications, however, can be priceless.

Tony McClung will guide you through the custom home building process using his decades of experience and architectural design knowledge. For more information about our custom homes, please contact us.

Tony McClung: Dallas Custom Home Builder

If you’re designing a custom home in Dallas, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the options available. Often, the most difficult part of custom home building is choosing the features you want, and accommodating them to your budget. The right partner can make all the difference in getting the home of your dreams, all on time and within your means. Whether you’re undertaking a house remodeling or building a structure from the ground up, you’ll want a partner with both experience and vision. Tony McClung sets himself apart from the competition and is committed to helping you build the custom home of your dreams.

About Tony McClung

Tony McClung knew what he wanted to do with his life earlier than most. In fact, it started in the seventh grade, when he built an addition to his family’s garage – from the foundation, to framing, and even the roof. Now, Tony McClung has over 50 years of architectural design experience, which gives him an eye for detail and vision. His building experience also gives him the foundation for the practical consideration of homebuilding, from timelines to permits.

Truly Custom Homes

Some firms label themselves as “custom home builders” but still have a group of templates for you to choose from. Tony McClung believes that a true custom home should be exactly to an owner’s specifications. That’s why we design unique floor plans and spaces, giving new meaning to the term custom homes in Dallas. Every project he does gets tailored to the client’s exact wishes, and you’ll have the benefit of his expert guidance throughout the entire process.

At Tony McClung Homes, we start with the idea that your home should make a statement, both on the outside and the inside. From curb appeal to the interior finishing touches, Tony can help you choose the features that will make your home the best on the block.

Home Remodeling

Sometimes, we want to stay in our current homes, but our expanding families and evolving needs mean we outgrow our existing spaces. When this applies, a custom home remodeling partner is essential. Whether it’s redesigning a kitchen to accommodate entertaining or creating a bath that’s a welcome respite from the daily grind, we help make your vision a reality. Our firm can handle it all, from the planning and zoning stages to choosing the raw materials for construction. That’s the Tony McClung difference – and it’s something you won’t find anywhere else in Dallas.

What You Need to Know Before Building a Home

Increasingly, Dallas residents are turning to custom home-building, as it ensures they’ll have all the features they desire. There is nothing more frustrating than undergoing a home renovation, only to realize your dreams won’t fit in an existing space. What’s more, owners of new homes don’t have to contend with hazards such as lead-based paint, asbestos, mold, or other things known to cause health issues. Before building your home in Dallas, however, you must follow a set of certain steps. Follow this home checklist to get into your dream home:

1. Know Your Budget

Estimating costs of a custom home can be difficult, but it’s essential to know how many boxes you can check off your wish list while still remaining in-budget. To start, research the median home price in the area you want to build (these numbers are available on popular home sites like Zillow and Home Advisor). By design, the cost of building a custom home varies widely, but the range is $100-$400 per square foot. Both your chosen location and the cost of your materials will determine the bulk of your investment (and explain any variances).

2. Obtain Financing for Both Land and Structure

Getting financing for a custom home-build is generally more involved, especially if you don’t already own the land. Not many banks offer construction loans, so be prepared to talk to lenders until you find the right fit. Keep in mind that custom home loans typically require excellent credit and up to 25% down payment, as this will factor into your budget. It’s also important to remember that banks might require you to keep extra reserves in the event of construction hiccups.

3. Hire an Architect and a Builder

It’s your job to find the right candidate to bring your vision to life. Tony McClung is both a builder and an architect, so he can help you create your vision – then make it a reality. He has also established a network of experienced and responsible subcontractors who can help deliver your custom home-building project within a timeframe that works for you.

As you go through the planning process, keep in mind that construction hiccups can happen, whether it’s a delay in obtaining materials or an unforeseen issue with the land. Extensive planning can help minimize the chances of these delays. That’s why it’s important to prepare as much as possible before breaking ground on your structure.