A beautiful house is nothing more than a beautiful house if it does not have the certain je ne sais quoi that you bring to it, it’s just wood and brick and stone and textiles without the unique touches that you integrate. How do you ensure it is truly home?

5 Tips for Personalizing Your Custom Home

Build the home of your dreams:

1. Prioritize the Spaces That’ll Make the House Your Home

When people build a home, often they think about resale value and features that the next set of homeowners will want. But when you’re building your forever home, you have the opportunity to prioritize you. If you’ve always dreamt of a chef-level kitchen, a fully-equipped home gym (including rock wall because… of course), a home theater, a basement bar that’s trendier than anything in town, or a backyard that sets the scene for endless play and exploration for the kids (and you because… of course), now is the time to make them a reality.

From purpose-built spaces to a floor plan that’s perfect for your lifestyle, every element of your custom home can – and should – encompass your needs, goals, and aspirations.

2. Incorporate Smart Home Technology

Smart home tech is an interesting feature because the goal is for you to completely forget about it. From automatic thermostats, lights, and shades to smart safety locks, sensors, and surveillance, you can easily customize and control your environment to enhance safety, security, efficiency, and convenience. When planned as part of your build, the technology is fully integrated into your everyday life. It works in the background while you live your best life.

Arrive home from work to a lighting scene optimized for the time of day and mood, the HVAC humming to your desired temperature, a babysitter who has a unique access code for their afterschool shift, and a recipe based on what you currently have on the fridge… Smart technology can make every aspect of your home – from convenience to coziness – uniquely yours.

3. Personalize for Future You

Seventy-seven percent of adults over 50 prefer to age in place, citing the desire to remain as independent as possible, as well as the benefits of comfortable, familiar surroundings. For that to be a viable option, you need a house that can evolve with you, adapting to your needs as the years pass. Planning for the future is one key way to personalize your custom home, and it’s arguably the most powerful. Just ask future you!

There are myriad ways to incorporate accessible and universal design principles into your home, seamlessly. It could be as simple as utilizing an open floor plan, installing no-step entryways and door jambs, soft-closing drawers and doors, and wider hallways and doorways or as forward-thinking as installing an elevator.

During a recent custom build on Barrington Estate, for example, G&G clients Jeff and Cindy Jarecki were already looking ahead. We worked with the Elevator Company to install an elevator to meet their needs now and down the road. Today, the discretely integrated elevator is a big convenience (laundry day is so much easier!). Tomorrow, it may be the key to independence for Jeff and Cindy.

4. Consider the Community

To us, home is more than what’s behind your doors. It’s also what you experience when you step outside, stroll down the sidewalks, visit local parks, drop your child at school, and stop at area shops. It’s  the people who you call “neighbor.” While you might not be able to create a fully customized community, you can choose one that boasts the privacy, features, amenities, and location you want.

Real estate expert Kenny Raymond of the Raymond International Group, says it perfectly:

Finding the right house is like discovering a hidden gem, but choosing the right neighborhood is like uncovering the perfect setting for that gem to truly shine. It’s not just about where you live, but how you live and thrive in that space. The neighborhood you choose shapes your daily experiences, your sense of community, and ultimately, your happiness.

Learn more about where G&G builds and the communities our clients are proud to call home.

5. All Details Great and Small

With a custom built home, you are in the driver’s seat. You make every decision, every selection. From the big (e.g. what architectural style you want) to the small (e.g. what color paint should grace the powder room), there is nothing you don’t control. And that can be intimidating! How do you put it all together into an elegant and coherent whole?

You rely on your team. Working with our professionals and our expert partners (like designer Hilari Goris) helps you cut through the chaos and overwhelm to get at the heart of what matters. While larger details need to be ironed out early in the process, don’t neglect the small ones. Accessories, artwork, colors… These are all integral in personalizing your custom home and ensuring it reflects your interests, personality, and priorities.

 With G&G, It’s Personal

As homeowner Jeff Jarecki says, “It struck me early on that Joe [G&G owner] does a great job of listening to his clients.” Listening to you, and truly hearing your needs and goals, is how a beautiful house becomes a stunning forever home.

We want to learn about your dreams. Connect with G&G Custom Homes.