Where to use tile, wood, carpet – and other types of flooring in your new home

Posted by Travars Built Homes on

What kind of flooring will your new home come with, when you build an NC custom home?

It can depend on what your builder offers, and the floor plan that you choose. Here’s what to expect in a Travars Built Home.

Kitchens

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

Most kitchens in North Carolina new homes have hardwood floors. With Travars Built Homes, site finished, real oak hardwood is our standard. Ask us what some homeowners want for flooring when they have dogs. We’ll also tell you why tile isn’t as common in NC kitchens as in some parts of the country.

Living rooms / great rooms

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

Hardwood in the living room gives a clean, fresh look to gathering areas, with easy cleanup. Decide which stain color you’d like to go with on site, when you go there during the build to see what looks best with the cabinetry, in the sunlight.

Breakfast rooms

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

The hardwoods keep on flowing throughout all the main living areas in your Travars Built Home, with sweeping open space that’s beautiful from one room to the next, like this breakfast room.

Laundry rooms

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

Laundry rooms have tile floors in Travars Built Homes. Have fun choosing the personality you want in spaces like this, that get a lot of use! Ask us how to make your laundry room even better, with folding tables, cubbies, shelves, and more space.

Mud rooms

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

Mud rooms have tile floors too. They’re designed for easy cleanup of everything that tracks into the home from outdoors. It’s also great for furry friends. Ask how to tuck a dog house, pet shower, or other accommodation into your custom home, like the one you see in this mud room.

Bathrooms

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

Every full bathroom in a Travars Built Home comes with a tile floor, too. There’s a big trend right now for tile that looks like wood, which can give it a rustic, contemporary look that can be really beautiful, like this floor.

Bedrooms

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

Bedrooms typically come with carpet, which Travars Built Homes makes more comfortable and long lasting with 8 pound pad beneath and a variety of choices. We can install hardwood instead – it’s one of the many things you can decide what to do with, when you build a custom home the way you want it.

Library / home offices

New Home Flooring Types | NC Custom Homes

Most offices and libraries in Travars Built Homes have beautiful oak hardwood flooring like this home. It can depend on the location of these rooms – all main living areas on the first floor typically have hardwood as a standard. Ask us about other flooring you’d like in your home – cork, bamboo, concrete, laminate – we can create whatever effect you would like.

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14 ways to create welcoming indoor/outdoor living spaces for your NC new home

Posted by Travars Built Homes on

Building indoor/outdoor living into your NC new home can make it feel more open and spacious – with easy flow through to extra space where you can stretch out and enjoy natural light, fresh air, scenery and activities.

Get ideas from these 14 photos of indoor/outdoor porches, decks, windows and doors. See what comes standard (or can be easily customized) when you build a new custom home with Travars Built Homes.

Sliding glass doors

Double sliding glass doors are one of the most exciting new trends in NC custom homes. Framed by matching windows on either side, they promote natural light as well as access to a covered porch, screen porch, deck or patio through multiple entrances that extend gathering areas into everything your outdoor living area offers.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Open space

Note how much more open space is felt in this NC custom home by adding outdoor living space separated by a wall of glass. The more you can view, the more your indoor open space can create a connection with back yard nature. Ask NC custom home builder Travars Built Homes about ways to add more – and bigger – windows, all over your new home, with modifications in its design phase.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Wall of windows

Indoor/outdoor living space that is connected through a glass door as well as a wall of windows adds extra dimension. This Modern Farmhouse screen porch extends living space with massive windows across the entire area. Note the dark framed windows – a huge trend for NC new homes.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Deck extension

Extending outdoor living area with a deck that stretches beyond a screen porch offers even more opportunities to leverage all the activities conducive to including nature in your new home.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Big screen porch with detail work

Think through the size of your screen porch when you’re looking at blueprints with the builder. Some floor plans already dedicate space that’s integral to the home. Others can have a porch added on. Note the detail work that makes this indoor/outdoor living especially inviting.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Patios

Consider stepping down from your screen porch to a patio below suitable for a hot tub spa, barbeque, or other fun outdoor gathering space. Check with the general contractor about impervious space and other regulations, to see what’s possible where you’re building.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Railings

Whether rails are required due to height or you simply prefer to have deck space walled in, there are various approaches you can take with a custom home. Wood railings and wrought iron railings are the most popular treatments in NC. See how creative you can be, when you create a special look with Travars Built Homes.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Maximize (outdoor) open space

Open space isn’t just for the interior of your home. When the world awaits outside, relax on a wide open deck where you can sit and ponder. This deck was designed to encompass two entrances into the home (the breakfast room and the laundry/mud room). Want more? The possibilities are nearly endless, when you build a custom home in NC.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Fans and lighting

Screen porch ceiling fans come standard in Travars Built Homes, to add further enjoyment to outdoor living space. Lighting extends enjoyment of gathering areas like this no matter what time of day you feel like relaxing or getting together on your screen porch.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Personality

See the personality you can build in, through the design decisions you make – and the craftsmanship of a Travars Built Home. See the difference in choice with this wrought iron railing as compared to wood railings. The deck that stretches from the screen porch you see here was designed for maximum space. Note the detailed trim and ceiling treatments. Everything adds up, as you create your home the way you want it.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

French doors

The classic tradition of French doors can add an inviting touch to your outdoor living area. Tag on additional windows, for even more access to everything you want to see and do from the inside, out.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Open or enclosed

Travars Built Homes enclose your screen porch in comfort so your outdoor living enjoyment can be at its fullest. Screen walls. Screen door. Screen under the decking. Beadboard ceiling. Fan. Check out the details and relax. You’re going to love this.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

Extending the view

Got views on all sides of your new home? Ask us about floor plans that give you a glimpse around the corner from your screen porch, like this NC custom home. Soak in all the reasons you chose your homesite, as you maximize your indoor/outdoor living with a view.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

All brick

Wrap your indoor/outdoor living space with the solid feeling of strength, on your all brick home. This screen porch is an integral part of the home, with a doorway tucked into the brick corner that adds dimension.

Indoor outdoor living spaces | NC new homes

In North Carolina, new home exteriors are typically sided in fiber cement, brick or vinyl. The material and colors you choose are dependent on your community covenants as well as personal taste. Talk with your custom home designer at Travars Built Homes about more indoor/outdoor living ideas.

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5 easy steps to get an NC custom home price quote

Posted by Travars Built Homes on

Building a custom home is very different from purchasing a new or existing home. You often won’t find set pricing online because custom home builders need to know a few details to provide a quote you can count on.

Here are the 5 easy steps we walk through with you, so you can get a personalized custom home quote with 10 pages of details.

Step 1: Call Travars Built Homes at 919-740-7536. We can cover a lot about what you’d like to do in a ten minute conversation. And check here for quick answers to common custom home building questions.

NC Custom Home Photo Tours

Step 2: Email. Send the names of floor plans you’re interested in knowing more about. Need ideas? Request house plans, here.

If you own a lot, send the address, plot plan, soil determinations, improvement permits, community covenants and anything else that can help us provide you with the most precise information possible.

Step 3: Come to your 30 minute no obligation custom home consultation. We’ll go over the details in your 10 page custom home pricing quote. Take it home. Make notes on the things you’d like to consider changing, such as floor plan modifications. Email your questions so we can provide even more information.

Farmhouse Kitchen Island | Mebane NC New Homes

Step 4: Meet with Travars Built Homes at your lot for your free onsite lot assessment, where you’ll learn what it takes to build at your homesite. Find out about everything about your location that impacts build costs – before you sign your purchase agreement. Still looking for the right lot? We can help with your search, too.

Step 5: Read more about what makes Travars Built Homes unique, and meet one more time to go over the details in your final quote for the floor plan you want to build. We can cover any modifications discussed at your initial custom home consultation, and site work specific to your homesite. Your build costs are locked in with your purchase agreement!

Wendell North Carolina New Homes

Interested in a custom home quote? Contact Travars Built Homes. We will show you everything that comes included – and the flexibility you have for personalization – when you build your new home on your lot or neighborhood in central NC.

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7 Fireplaces for NC new homes

Posted by Travars Built Homes on

Make winter days cozy with the inviting warmth and ambient glow of flickering flames in your custom home fireplace.

The type of fireplace you choose (gas or woodburning), style of surround (slate, brick, stone, marble, tile, or other material), and mantle can make your fireplace the focal point of the room — whether it’s in the great room, master bedroom and/or bath, keeping room, rec room, screen porch, or anywhere else.

Here are 7 fireplace design ideas for your North Carolina new home:

Fireplace Idea #1: Brick character

The solid character of brick is a popular choice for fireplace surrounds in NC new homes. It has a hint of outdoor living and adds color. See how it pulls together this shiplap and wood.

Brick Fireplace Built Ins | Mebane NC New Homes

Fireplace Idea #2: Stone tradition

The tradition of stone can add a feeling of comfort and strength in your fireplace surround. See how amazing it looks surrounded by lanterns, beams and natural light.

Chatham County New Homes | Beam Ceiling
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Fireplace Idea #3: Soft tile

Soft tile like this NC custom home fireplace surround is designed to blend with the grey walls around it. Dark blue ship lap above, ceiling fan and lots of windows around the fireplace make this corner of the home very appealing.

Durham Custom Home Builder | Fireplace Ideas

Fireplace Idea #4: Two-sided brick

Two-sided brick for a see-through fireplace emphasizes the importance of this custom home’s central point. The towering floor to ceiling structure provides a feeling of warmth to the entire living area, across several rooms.

Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Two Sided Fireplace

Fireplace Idea #5: Slate surround

The simplicity of a slate surround goes well with today’s emphasis on clean, straight-forward designs. It adds to the black and white look you see in this NC new home, that is extremely well received.

Fireplace Idea #6: Built in bookcases and cubbies

The classic personality and functionality of cubbies and bookcases surrounding the fireplace is still a highly sought after look. Ever popular shiplap adds to the theme you see here that’s punched up by the grey tile you see in this NC custom home.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Living Room Built Ins

Fireplace Idea #7: Wood tones

This custom NC home punctuates the light and airy feel of lots of open space, natural light, cubbies and cupboards by pulling out hardwood tones in this stone fireplace surround and flagstone hearth.

Let us know what look you like best. Find other fireplace photos you’d like to emulate in your new home build? Bring them to your custom home consultation meeting with Travars Built Homes.

Homes without a fireplace: When is it better to leave out the fireplace?

Not every floor plan offers a fireplace. Travars Built Homes can add a fireplace to your plan. Or we can build your home without one.

Cost: Perhaps you would rather use the cost for a fireplace on something else in your home, like a chef’s kitchen.

Lifestyle: You may want to use fireplace space for something else inside your home, like a wall full of cubbies or large entertainment center.

Ask your build on your lot general contractor what’s possible in your plan.

Wendell North Carolina New Homes

Talk with the NC custom home builders at Travars Built Homes about what it takes to build in more options. Get started:

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What you can learn at a custom home consultation (cost, quality, and scope)

Posted by Travars Built Homes on

A price quote and design meeting from a custom home builder is very different from semi-custom and production builders.

You’ll know which builder is best for your new home within minutes of sitting with Travars Built Homes at your custom home consultation. Quickly see how you can be more informed, involved, and creative, in just 5 easy steps.

During your custom home consultation, we’ll show you:

– What your floor plan costs – and ways to save money

– Features, finishes and the flexibility for choices

– What you can customize, modify and change

– How long it will take to build

– Who takes care of permits, blueprints and site work

Mebane NC New Homes | White Farmhouse Exterior

Our homebuyers often tell us they are amazed and excited about the depth of detail we provide – including build aspects nobody else has told them about.

The quote we provide is extremely precise – and our pricing has never been beat, apples to apples, by any comparable home builder.

The accuracy of our award winning proprietary estimating system will help ensure you know everything possible that it takes to build your new home, including next steps – your on site lot assessment with the builder – even before you purchase land or sign a purchase agreement with Travars Built Homes.

Your personal pricing package provides peace of mind, with the strength and comfort of our high quality materials and craftsmanship in writing. No hidden costs. No unnecessary surprises.

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    Build Budget:
    400 - 450K450 - 500K500 - 600K600 - 700K700 - 800K800 - 900K900K+

    11 Best bathroom layouts for your new home

    Posted by Travars Built Homes on

    Get owner’s suite bathroom ideas with practical solutions and beautiful options to make the best use of space in your custom home floor plan.

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    These 11 owner’s suite bath layouts for your NC new home can change everything, as you customize your floor plan and build on your lot with Travars Built Homes.

    Bathroom Layout #1: Single long vanity

    If your floor plan has the space for a single long vanity, a 7′ granite countertop can provide enough room for two sinks and space to spread out. A single piece of granite can be as long as 10′ without a seam.

    White Modern Farmhouse Bathrooms | Mebane NC New Homes

    Bathroom Layout #2: Closet through the bath

    A big walk in closet with lots of shelving and rods – and easy access to the bathroom – makes plans with a closet through the bath a popular choice.

    Wendell North Carolina New Homes | Freestanding Tub

    Bathroom Layout #3: Tiny touches with designer appeal

    When you build on your lot with NC custom home builder Travars Built Homes, you can personalize your owner’s suite bathroom with lights, mirrors, cabinetry, tile and other customization that adds a fun designer touch – without a big price tag.

    Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse

    Bathroom Layout #4: Barn doors

    The owner’s suite bathroom is a great place for barn doors in a variety of styles and materials. Choices depend on the door opening and available wall space for barn doors to slide. What a great way to maximize maneuverability, without a swinging door.

    Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Owners Suite Bath

    Bathroom Layout #5: Frameless shower

    Want a way to make your owner’s suite bathroom layout look even more open? Consider a frameless shower, like this. The marble countertop here adds artistry, too.

    Chatham County New Homes | First Floor Owners Suite Bath

    Bathroom Layout #6: Large shower and deep tub

    Looking for the luxury of a deep tub and large shower? Travars Built Homes offers a variety of custom home floor plans – and modifications – that provide extra space in the owner’s suite bathroom – to create leisurely master suite retreats that allow you to linger and relax.

    Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | White Gray Bathroom

    Bathroom Layout #7: Big shower instead of a tub

    Don’t need a soaking tub? Focus on floor plans with a big shower – or ask for ways to modify the owner’s suite bathroom with a massive shower instead of a combined or separate shower and tub in NC new homes.

    Bathroom Layout #8: Vaulted ceiling

    A vaulted ceiling can add a feeling of spaciousness, when the roofline allows it in one story home or two story homes with the owner’s suite upstairs. Ask your build on your lot general contractor what’s possible in your plan.

    Raleigh Custom Homes | First Floor Owners Suite Bath

    Bathroom Layout #9: Best use of compact spaces

    Custom home owner’s suite bathroom sizes are designed in a wide variety of sizes, with typical square footage between 10-12 feet x 12-15 feet. Tighter spaces call for more creative tucking with your designer – like this.

    Wendell North Carolina New Homes | En Suite Master Bath

    Bathroom Layout #10: Freestanding tubs

    The romance of a freestanding tub has become a top requested upgrade in new homes. Touted as more open and comfortable, freestanding tubs can also require a few more inches of space.

    Wendell North Carolina New Homes | Large Tile Shower

    Bathroom Layout #11: Open space

    Most master bathrooms allow for about 10′ of width to accommodate typical vanities, tub, shower, and maneuverability. Talk with the NC custom home builders at Travars Built Homes about what it takes to build in more options.
     

    Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Farmhouse White Bathroom

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    How to Build a Modern Farmhouse in North Carolina

    Posted by Travars Built Homes on

    “Modern Farmhouse” conjures a feeling of peaceful countryside living. But in a traditional sense, this popular architectural style adapts the term “farmhouse” loosely.

    Looking for modern farmhouse builders? Travars Built Homes can build a custom farmhouse on your lot in North Carolina. Here’s how:

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    A Modern Farmhouse is actually one of the most adaptable architectural styles, with the flexibility to invoke touches of urban, contemporary, traditional and industrial effects, on a palate that can be easily personalized with your own whimsey – like this:

    White and Black Modern Farmhouse Bath | Mebane NC New Homes

    Add a touch of Shiplap walls. Hint of cedar. Traditional brick fireplace surround. (Or a wide variety of other outdoorsy touches.)

    Brick Fireplace Built Ins | Mebane NC New Homes

    Nothing says “Modern Farmhouse” better than white board and batt. Metal roof accents. Black framed windows.

    Mebane NC New Homes | White Farmhouse Exterior

    Carry that theme inside, with back to back to basics simplicity in white and black kitchens designed for home cooking.

    Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Two Story Kitchen

    Modern Farmhouse kitchens get a lot of attention, as a great place to combine contemporary and urban appeal, with ample space to create.

    Chatham County New Homes | Farmhouse Kitchen

    Be clever with black hanging lights when you design your Modern Farmhouse feel. Consider creating a sense of support structure, with cedar wood beams in the ceiling.

    Chatham County New Homes | Beam Ceiling

    Another mix of architectural styles in Modern Farmhouses is the industrial look of metal to add functionality and style, like sliding barn door accents with black light fixture tie-ins.

    Chatham County New Homes | First Floor Owner Suite

    Consider the artistry of hand painted look like these faux wood gray framed mirrors, set amongst lantern style lights. Can you name the 3 architectural styles that blend into this small space?

    Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse

    Like the look of black framed windows that’s a signature look on many Modern Farmhouse exteriors? Carry that through to the glass in your bathrooms, for a bold, contemporary feel.

    Farmhouse Bathroom | NC Homebuilder

    Take your time looking at tile choices – what you do with your floors can add a lot of personality to small spaces. See how different a laundry room can look with a black and white pattern like this:

    Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | NC Homebuilder

    Versus a black and white tile floor pattern like this. (Note the open storage spaces, too, that are also a big trend in Modern Farmhouse new homes in NC.

    Laundry Mudroom Door to Master Closet | Mebane NC New Homes

    Ask your NC custom home builder how many places you can add built-in storage centers, cabinets and closets. You might be surprised at the flexibility you have when you design build your new home with a builder like Travars Built Homes.

    Built In Cabinets Walk In Closet | Mebane NC New Homes

    Drop zones are a huge draw for every architectural style of new homes – and a must for a Modern Farmhouse feel. How big do you want it to be? What kind of tuck away access do you want it to have?

    Raleigh Custom Homes | Built in Drop Zone

    Bathrooms are one of the best places to mix architectural styles to achieve today’s Modern Farmhouse appeal – like this blend of quaint and classic, with a barn style framed mirror, trough sink and chrome faucets.

    White and Black Bathrooms | Mebane NC New Homes

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