At Custom One Homes, giving back and connecting to our community are two of our core values. In that spirit, we wanted to forge a meaningful partnership with a respected, local philanthropic organization in 2017. We are excited and proud to announce that we will be supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation this year!

Known worldwide for their mission to empower children facing life-threatening medical conditions, the Make-A-Wish Foundation never ceases to touch hearts and inspire generosity. We can think of few causes more worthwhile than encouraging and bringing joy to these families experiencing such monumental circumstances.

In the coming months, there are many ways to join us as we grant wishes and support families in our community. We will share more details as different events approach – read below to see what we have up our sleeves so far!

May Make-A-Wish Ball: pull out your formal wear and join us as we dance the night away in style!

July Golf Event: tee off with us as we spend a day in the sun playing in a competitive golf tournament.

August Make-A-Wish Walk: friends of all ages are welcome to walk with our team as we raise funds and awareness.

November Women and Wine Event: women are invited to come enjoy fabulous food, drinks and time spent with friends old and new!

In honor of putting the finishing touches on our Parade Homes this week, we’re sharing another little glimpse of our design process! It takes a village to plan, create, build, and coordinate the coming together of these homes. We’re sincerely grateful for each and every person on our team that contributes their craftsmanship and skills to turn our clients’ dreams into reality.

Today, we’d like to shine the spotlight on the talented, trendsetting designers that help provide the creative vision for our homes. We’re forever in awe of their stunning work and brilliant ideas! Each year, the Parade of Homes’ guidebook features a style section that explores the working processes of prominent local designers. This year, we’re proud to announce that our colleague, Lisa Robbins of Design Creatif, is included among the fabulous featured professionals!

Lisa partnered with our team to style Parade Models #30 and #44, an updated classic and modern farmhouse in Woodbury. The article features design details on #30; this sophisticated home is full of timeless finishes mixed with a little flash and glamor. Want to get a behind the scenes look into an interior designer’s process? Pick up the Spring Parade of Homes guidebook to see more of Lisa’s inspiring plans and beautiful mood board!

Whether or not this unseasonably warm weather is here to stay (fingers crossed!), one thing remains certain: the Spring Parade of Homes is nearly here. Each year, we can hardly wait for everyone to emerge from their winter hibernation and explore the homes we’ve been working away on!

As a custom home builder, we can think of few events that so perfectly combine what we love. Sharing our team’s exceptional craftsmanship and connecting with our local community are two of our greatest joys. Our contractors, project managers, and vendor partners are the best in the business – we’ll sing their praises any chance we can get!

Another highlight of the Spring Parade is forecasting what design trends will define the coming year. 2017 may have just begun, but our designers have been playing with mood boards and dreaming up ideas for months already!

If you’ve started plotting your must-see parade models, we’d humbly suggest adding numbers 30, 44, 52, and 64 to your list. From an urban farmhouse to a sophisticated traditional, a cozy rambler to a modern classic; we’re showing homes that suit every lifestyle. Click on the photos above to discover more information and location details!

At Custom One, our team is passionate about solving design issues for our clients. Every construction choice we make is grounded in our dedication to delivering the home you desire without compromise. From beginning to end, project managers to trade partners, every member of our staff practices agile craftsmanship that’s rooted in solid building science.

Throughout 2017, we hope to spotlight our company’s commitment to innovative design technology. Our new blog series, Craftsmanship without Compromise, will cover some of the products and procedures we have in place to guarantee the highest quality homes for our clients. First up? Aeroseal Solutions!

HVAC systems play a huge part in your home’s overall health, safety, and efficiency. Though they’re far less glamorous than marble countertops or accent lights, a top-notch air system is an important and lasting investment. Our phenomenal HVAC partner, Genz-Ryan, shares our passion for providing the most advanced technological solutions for our clients.

Getting down to details, what are Aeroseal solutions? Simply stated, Aeroseal is a sealant made of vinyl acetate polymer (ingredients commonly found in hairspray or chewing gum). Used in many prestigious medical facilities, such as Minnesota’s own Mayo Clinic, this safe sealant is used to fortify air ducts from leaks or other compromises.

Not only does this new technology protect your family’s air quality, but it saves you money by lowering overall utility expenses. After construction’s finished, it’s virtually impossible to fix ductwork without significant cost. We care about doing things right the first time when creating homes for our clients, which is why we recommend this product for every project!

Trends will always be rising and falling in popularity, but certain design shifts have an undeniable influence. The biggest home architecture change of the modern era? We would have to point to the progression towards open floor plans. Beyond being a matter of preference, open concept plans have become the new baseline of family dwellings. For proof, look no further than this article about them on Houzz – at the time it was published over 600,000 photos of open-plan interiors could be found on the site. Obviously, this trend has some legs if it has become so widely admired!

A huge majority of our clients incorporate elements of open-living into their homes. In essence, an open floor plan removes the walls that traditionally separated main level family spaces. Instead of closing off more formal rooms, these homes apply a distinctly holistic mindset to everyday settings. Open floor plans encourage free flowing, casual family time. As a result, a wide range of activity coincides in these multifaceted spaces.

Beyond increased community and interaction, open concepts are remarkably convenient. Parents don’t need to fret about kids getting into trouble in the next room anymore. With everyone gathered together, multitasking things like meal prep and homework monitoring becomes a far more achievable undertaking. The same goes for hosting guests – no one’s removed from the action!

Last but not least, flowing layouts look good. A lack of separation between rooms makes homes feel spacious and bright. Design choices also become more cohesive and harmonious; different areas truly function as pieces of a whole. We love helping our clients create open plans that reflect their unique lifestyles and tastes – peruse some of our favorite finished spaces below!

In the first days of this new year, we can’t help but reflect on 2016 – our team was busy! At the top of our list of highlights? Helping 12 wonderful clients build and move into their new homes. There is nothing like the feeling of seeing a family walk into their forever home for the first time. It’s the heart of what we do and what motivates us to go to work each day.

Throughout creating these stunning homes, we partnered with countless top-notch vendors and contractors. Together, we hung 3,360 sheets of drywall and brewed a whopping 1,820 gallons of coffee – we’ve got to keep our energy somehow, right? Our colleagues help sustain us at every turn; we’re so grateful for each and every one of them.

Another bright spot in 2016 for us was continuing to invest in our community. It was a sincere pleasure to support the East Ridge High School football team – we loved cheering on the Raptors each Friday night! We particularly had a blast giving out 1,300 seat cushions and mini footballs. During the holidays, we also carried on our cherished tradition of opening one of our models for photos with Santa Claus. It’s always a joy to help families gather together and celebrate the Christmas season!

Thank you to every person that contributed to making the past year so unforgettable for us! We can only hope 2017 will be full of just as many memorable moments.

Building a custom home is all about choices. Instead of settling for a pre-packaged set of finishes, a custom home client has a passion for creating something uniquely their own. Each decision reflects a specific lifestyle. Every furnishing expresses a distinct taste. Savvy observers of rising home trends, we know our clients bring a lot of knowledge to the table! However, it remains our job to stay educated and informed on all things design.

One element of design we feel most strongly about? Color. Often misused and abused (we’ve all seen those homes, right?), when approached with thoughtfulness color can transform any space. In the hands of a skilled designer, color is a secret weapon – it brings places to life! Color influences how we process environments and helps shape our moods. Warm tones make us feel welcomed or stimulated, while cool hues promote relaxation and serenity.

Picking a room’s color scheme may come naturally since it often flows from your home’s overall style. However, we find that people often miss the boat on color’s most useful attribute: providing balance. Bright, bold, and playful pops of color are the icing on the cake – the finishing touch that brings a room together! We can’t help thinking that the experts at Pantone were on the same wavelength when they picked their 2017 color of the year. Their lively shade, greenery, brings a rejuvenating burst of nature indoors!

Our designers often use plants to complete the look of our client’s spaces. They’re the perfect accent to add color, texture, and variety to any interior. Well-placed floral and botanical arrangements especially help to break up more neutral homes. Their striking colors draw your eye and guide it through the room. Browse below at more excellent examples of rooms finished with a bright dose of greenery!

December is here and the holidays have officially arrived! Often marked by memories and merriment, the period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s can also be incredibly stress filled. Schedules are jam-packed with parties. Errands occur on a non-stop loop. Festive treat-baking is an expectation. All of these extra seasonal activities can be meaningful and lovely, but they don’t leave a lot of time for relaxing.

Want to know the perfect holiday refuge? A beautiful master bathroom. Think about it; the bathroom is a private, intimate, often solitary place. You already spend a considerable amount of time there each day, why not build in a little breathing room around the holidays for extra soothing bubbles baths? If baths aren’t your style, maybe your me-time is taking longer showers while enjoying a favorite podcast? Or perhaps you add a simple rotation of stretches to your morning routine? It doesn’t matter what you choose, as long as it helps keep you centered and mindful in the midst of the holiday hustle!

Designing a custom home is all about creating your version of everyday luxury. We cannot think of a better place to define what that means than in one of your home’s most functional spaces. The best part? Whatever a relaxing master suite looks like is completely up to you! There are zero rules in this game, no hidden agenda or dictated requirements. (Unlike that corporate holiday party that you’re dreading having to attend.) From soaking tubs to rain showers, our clients tastes truly run the gamut. Feast your eyes on some of our favorite swoon-worthy master baths below!

Interior design trends are certainly a reflection of their time. From shag carpets to wood paneling, pastel appliances to subway tile, each era’s major style touchstones are products of that culture. When it comes to modern interior design trends, there’s no doubt that the kitchen is the current epicenter. Why the kitchen? One only needs to look at the rise of chef influenced pop-culture for the answer. Food Network, cooking blogs, magazines, and Pinterest are all thriving hives of culinary inspiration!

It’s no wonder then that chef-worthy upgrades are popping up in more and more home kitchens. Today’s serious home chef is no culinary novice. It makes perfect sense that they crave kitchens that keep up with their level of skill! If your space is feeling ill-equipped to match your ambitions, read on below to discover our favorite chef-style, kitchen upgrades!

Ambitious Islands. We cannot sing the praises of well-planned islands enough – they’re the perfect catch-all kitchen space! Whether you need space for food prep, hidden appliances, organized storage, or a buffet area for hosting; islands are your best bet.

Designated Areas. Mimic the masters on this one and design your kitchen with different task-specific areas in mind. For example, if your island is veggie chopping central, then equip it with what you’ll need. Install a small sink for rinsing produce, store your knives and cutting boards there, and make sure the trash is handy for scraps!

Smart Storage. A classic hallmark of any restaurant kitchen is open, easy-access cookware storage. Whether you implement open shelves or hanging pots and pans, these simple solutions keep your tools at your reach when they’re most needed!

Personal Touches. If you’re going to the trouble of designing a state-of-the-art kitchen, then make sure it suits your needs. If you’re a master baker, then splurge on double ovens. If pasta is your passion, then install a stovetop faucet. If hosting is your jam, then go all-out on a custom bar. Do what works for you and your lifestyle!

The humble hearth has a long history of being the centerpiece of the home. Originally a necessity for heating and cooking, modern fireplaces have transformed from a basic need to more of a statement piece. All homes, with the rare exception, come equipped with central heating systems these days. Yet the fireplace remains the benchmark for creating cozy family spaces. It’s the quintessential welcoming backdrop.

There’s just a certain magic about being around a real fire. Nothing is more soothing than listening to crackling wood and watching dancing flames as a bonfire smell tinges the air. Fireplaces invite us to slow down, to settle in for a while and simply enjoy time spent in good company.

Fireplaces are not only a classic gathering place, they’re also an opportunity to showcase your unique taste, family memories, and treasured heirlooms. While the mantel is a time-honored design element, contemporary iterations run the gamut of all interior design styles! Browse through a collection of our favorite stunning client mantelpieces below. No matter the style, each of these fireplaces is a captivating design focal point!