Builder-grade homes often lack the personality & specialty upgrades that add character. I’ll be sharing tips to help personalize your home with custom touches sure to transform!

Tip #1: Embellish with Elegant New Lighting

I recommend replacing all light fixtures, especially the hallway flush mounts that are telltale of a builder-grade home, you know what I’m talking about, those boob lights as we like to call them. I encourage you to add wall sconces to create positive drama. It’s a must that all of the homes we touch have dimmable lighting throughout. Mixing metals adds interest so don’t be afraid to blend. Our rule of thumb is to blend no more than 2 metals in one space.

Tip #2: Dramatize with Wall or Ceiling Details

We love utilizing the fifth wall, your ceilings! Adding texture to a ceiling or walls through use of wallpaper, decorative beams, custom-built architectural details, nickel gap, board and batten, etc. These character upgrades truly elevate any room of the home.

Tip #3: Sophisticate with Shutters or Drapery

Consider replacing any ready-made, installed blinds with woven shades or even light and airy drapery. This can add so much softness, texture & personality to a space while allowing in much more natural light.

Tip #4: Enhance with a Custom Home Exterior

Replacing your builder-grade entry door with 1/2 or 3/4 glass in wood or a paint grade finish can really add curb appeal & bring in lots of natural light to your foyer. Adding specialty lighting, a metal roof accent or corbels to the exterior facade is a great way to give your exterior a more custom look.

Tip #5: Beautify with a Backyard Makeover

Decks are not cheap these days but they are a necessity. Consider adding pavers to create a patio & fire pit with a custom landscape design befitting your love for outdoor living. Lots of planters with boxwoods or your favorite flowers creates a relaxing oasis that can extend your living space to the outdoors.

Swapping out the builder-grade interior doors for a shaker stye or french doors & updating that awful brass hardware to brushed nickel or matte black can be a game changer. One tip to really bring cohesion throughout the home is adding a stain & extra flat matte poly to your oak flooring. It helps tone down that yellow/orangish undertone & creates a much warmer feel. The extra matte poly helps hide scratches too! We like to use Silvered Gray Stain by DuraSeal. You can see it in some of the photos displayed above.

If you're thrilled to own a home, but less enthused with the lack of personality in it, GRAB YOUR INVESTMENT GUIDE HERE to help you estimate the investment of your remodel or new build project with our firm. We can't wait to create YOUR custom space!

Until next time,

Virginia