Top 4 Ways to Boost Curb Appeal of Your New Home

Posted by Travars Built Homes on February 1, 2019

Love the layout, hate the exterior of the custom floor plan you want to build? Change it! Here are 4 ways to increase curb appeal in the Chapel Hill area by considering different exterior materials for the build of your new home, with pros and cons.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #1: Vinyl Siding

If you want to save money, vinyl is an exterior material worth considering. Be sure to take your time with your color selection, and take a look at all the options.

Pros: Want a more custom look? You can dress things up with shutters, gable vents, corbels or column wraps. Vinyl can be cleaned with power washing and typically would not be repainted at a later date.

Cons: Some communities do not allow vinyl exteriors. Vinyl siding may fade – with darker colors absorbing more sunlight than lighter colors. It can also expand and shrink with temperatures.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #2: Vinyl Siding and Veneer

A small amount of stone veneer and picture frame details around the windows can make a big difference. The stone water table provides another texture for this home, and won’t break the bank if the amount of stone is kept to just enough for a water table and column base. If you are doing exterior selections, consider picking the stone first. Then choose roofing with a similar color scheme, such as Drift Wood or Weathered Wood shingles.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #3: Fiber Cement Siding With Stone Accents

The curb appeal of this fiber cement and stone home does a very nice job of blending multiple texture types and materials. The medium blue shakes seen on the face of the garage wall break the patterned straight lines. They also pull the color right out of the stone veneer below. The light blue lap siding on the sides and rear of home and complementing white picture frames around the windows, gable vents and gutters combine to make a well balanced exterior. The Mackenzie seen just below follows this formula and also looks great!

Pros: The mix of materials and colors make this home feel custom and comfortable. Adding stone to the front but keeping the other 3 sides of the home in fiber cement saves on cost.

Cons: Fiber cement costs more than vinyl. Stone veneer costs more than fiber cement.

**Request a build price for the Mackenzie, here.**

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #4: All Brick and Stone

The classic look of full brick veneer creates curb appeal so compelling that some entire communities require it. This full brick home is even more interesting due to the brick color choice and the stone front accent on the garage face.

Pros: Bricks are sturdy and durable, typically requiring almost no maintenance other than occasional power washing.

Cons: That low maintenance and solid look comes with a higher price tag than most exterior materials.

Get information about building a custom home with Travars Built Homes – including more ways to create a cost effective new home in North Carolina.

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Find floor plans with the features you’re looking for, in your North Carolina new custom home.

View new home tours in our photo galleries, including examples of:

Modern farmhouse interiors
Colonial, craftsman, and contemporary exteriors with stone, brick, board and batten, and more
One story, two story, main floor master, and multi-generational layouts

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Orange County NC New Homes | Chapel Hill Home Builders

Ryecroft

2603 sq ft | 3-4 Beds | 2.5-3.5 Baths | One Story

This Chapel Hill, NC new home, a Midtown Designs plan, offers open concept living in a one story Contemporary Craftsman floor plan with a covered porch out front and a screen porch in the back. The master suite bath has dual vanities, garden tub, walk-in shower and walk-in closet. The family room opens to the island kitchen with a walk-in pantry. The upstairs media room and playroom complete this modern living home plan.

Let’s Get Started – Request Ryecroft Flyer and Pricing

We’ll email you the floor plan flyer with the home layout and plan overview.
Next, we will prepare a full 10-page construction package with everything included in your build — and walk through it together in a custom home consultation.
You’ll be amazed at what’s already included in a Travars Built Home.

*Plans are illustrative and may reflect optional features. Floor plans and renderings are copyright Midtown & Associates

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Riverstone B

3883 sq ft under the roof | 3089 heated sq ft | 4 Beds | 2.5 Baths | Main Floor Primary Suite

Start Here: Get the Riverstone B Plan Flyer

We’ll send you the floor plan flyer so you can view the layout and key details.
As a next step, we’ll prepare a personalized 10-page construction package that outlines everything included in your custom home — ready to review together at your convenience.
You’ll be surprised by how much comes standard with Travars Built Homes.

*Plans are illustrative and may reflect optional features. Floor plans and renderings are copyright ArchitecturalDesigns & Associates

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Modern Farmhouse

2449 sq ft | 3-4 Beds | 2-3 Baths | One Story

This one story Modern Farmhouse by Architectural Designs offers two huge covered porches, on the front and rear of this spacious home. It can be built with up to four bedrooms including a private master suite with spa style bath. The gourmet kitchen has a huge walk in pantry and big island. The great room is open to the kitchen, foyer, dining, and large outdoor living covered porch. The master suite has a massive walk-in closet and separate vanities in the bathroom. Upstairs, the bonus space can become a guest suite or family game room.

Start Here: Get the Modern Farmhouse Plan Flyer

The flyer includes the layout and plan information.
From there, we’ll prepare a detailed 10-page construction package that outlines your build — ready to review when you are.
You’ll be amazed at what’s already included in every Travars Built Home.

*Plans are illustrative and may reflect optional features. Floor plans and renderings are copyright ArchitecturalDesigns.com & Associates

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Contemporary Craftsman Home with Bonus Over Garage

Mackenzie

2507 sq ft | 3-4 Beds | 2-3 Baths | One Story

This one story Contemporary Craftsman custom home, an Architectural Designs home plan, combines Modern Farmhouse features for beautiful curb appeal. The Mackenzie offers up to four bedrooms including a private master suite with access to the laundry room through the closet. The gourmet kitchen has a butler’s pantry as well as a big walk-in pantry and island for sitting. The optional covered outdoor kitchen can provide additional space for entertaining.

Send Me the Mackenzie Flyer and Pricing

*Plans are illustrative and may reflect optional features. Floor plans and renderings are copyright ArchitecturalDesigns.com & Associates

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Carolina Farmhouse

2950 sq ft | 2-3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | One Story Farmhouse

This one story farmhouse plan, an Architectural Designs home plan, offers a big covered front porch, open concept living spaces, private master suite with spa bath, huge walk in closet with an island, and direct laundry room access.

The kitchen has a spacious island, large walk in pantry, and windows above the sink facing the reach porch.

The separate mud room has a huge drop zone for easy access storage space. Every bedroom has a walk in closets. The spacious walk in pantry has a window with lots of natural light.

Start Here: Get the Carolina Farmhouse Plan Flyer

TBH builds custom homes across Chatham County and the surrounding region, in new home neighborhoods and countryside locations where you can “bring your own builder.” We can help you learn what it takes to build your new home at your home site.

*Plans are illustrative and may reflect optional features. Floor plans and renderings are copyright ArchitecturalDesigns.com and Architect

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Samantha

1668 sq ft | 3 Beds | 2 Baths | One Story

This Country Home plan offers one story living with an open concept kitchen, living, and dining for flow-through entertaining. The covered porch off the dining room adds outdoor living area.

Let’s Get Started – Request Samantha Flyer and Pricing

*Plans are illustrative and may reflect optional features. Floor plans and renderings are copyright ArchitecturalDesigns & Associates

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3 Ways to Get a Better Bathroom for Your Guests

Posted by Travars Built Homes on January 24, 2019

Here are 3 different floor plan layout approaches for your guest suite bathroom from design build custom home builder Travars Built Homes:

Approach #1 The bathroom is attached to the guest bedroom and hallway.

Approach #2 The bathroom is between two bedrooms (also know as a “Jack and Jill” bath)

Approach #3 The bathroom is only accessible through the bedroom – this allows for complete privacy.

Design Build Custom Home Process

Build On Your Lot North Carolina

Guest Suite Bathroom Idea #1: Bath Shared with Common Areas

One of the most common layouts for a guest suite maximizes usability while minimizing cost by including a full bath with access from both the guest bedroom and main areas.

The layout has a second door from the guest bedroom directly into the bath so guests have full privacy but homeowners are spared the expense of an additional private bath.

See more of this modern farmhouse, the Norwich here:

Modern Farmhouse Floor Plan | Pittsboro New Home Builder

Guest Suite Bathroom Idea #2: Jack and Jill Bath

This floor plan illustrates a “Jack and Jill” bathroom, where two bedrooms share a bathroom. With this layout, a guest would share a bathroom with someone in another bedroom, but would have the ability to close off that bathroom.

Jack and Jill Floor Plan | Pittsboro New Home Builder

This floor plan, the Blackstone also has a powder room on the main floor, so the designation of this layout would be that the Jack and Jill bathroom would typically be limited to use by people in those two bedrooms, with semi-private usage.

Guest Suite Bathroom Idea #3: Full, Private Bath

In this floor plan, there is already a full bath beside the mudroom and guest bedroom. With a small expansion to the exterior wall of the bathroom, we can change the functionality of the space.

Take a look at the redline modifications. By expanding the bathroom slightly, it can be accessed en-suite, providing total privacy for the guest suite:

The redline modification at the foyer illustrates how to add a separate powder room on the main floor.

Get in touch with the team at Travars Built Homes for more floor plans and details about building a new home in Chapel Hill, Durham, Pittsboro, or another area in central North Carolina.

Bluffton Way

2669 sq ft | 4 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | First Floor Primary

Farmhouse floor plan | Chatham County NC

This modern farmhouse floor plan, ready to build in Chatham County NC, has an inviting front porch, downstairs master suite, family room with 12′ ceiling and a fireplace, open island kitchen, flex room off the foyer and mud room.

Upstairs, the Bluffton Way, modern farmhouse floor plan by Frank Betz, has three bedrooms, a full bath, and a bonus room above the garage.

Looking for a new custom home already in process, where you can make some choices and move in sooner? Contact us about available homes we are building across Chatham County, including a new mini subdivision in Pittsboro, coming soon.

Start Here: Get the Bluffton Way Plan Flyer

*Plans are illustrative and may reflect optional features. Floor plans and renderings are copyright Frank Betz and Associates

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Tag: Design Build Custom Homes

Love the layout, hate the exterior of the custom floor plan you want to build? Change it! Here are 4 ways to increase curb appeal in the Chapel Hill area by considering different exterior materials for the build of your new home, with pros and cons.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #1: Vinyl Siding

If you want to save money, vinyl is an exterior material worth considering. Be sure to take your time with your color selection, and take a look at all the options.

Pros: Want a more custom look? You can dress things up with shutters, gable vents, corbels or column wraps. Vinyl can be cleaned with power washing and typically would not be repainted at a later date.

Cons: Some communities do not allow vinyl exteriors. Vinyl siding may fade – with darker colors absorbing more sunlight than lighter colors. It can also expand and shrink with temperatures.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #2: Vinyl Siding and Veneer

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #3: Fiber Cement Siding With Stone Accents

Pros: The mix of materials and colors make this home feel custom and comfortable. Adding stone to the front but keeping the other 3 sides of the home in fiber cement saves on cost.

Cons: Fiber cement costs more than vinyl. Stone veneer costs more than fiber cement.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #4: All Brick and Stone

The classic look of full brick veneer creates curb appeal so compelling that some entire communities require it. This full brick home is even more interesting due to the brick color choice and the stone front accent on the garage face.

Pros: Bricks are sturdy and durable, typically requiring almost no maintenance other than occasional power washing.

Cons: That low maintenance and solid look comes with a higher price tag than most exterior materials.

Get information about building a custom home with Travars Built Homes – including more ways to create a cost effective new home in North Carolina.

Find floor plans with the features you’re looking for, in your North Carolina new custom home.

Start here to explore new home floor plans with our house plan search tool to find plans based on:

Looking for something special, beyond these trending favorites?

Let us know which plans you like best – and what else you need – as well as where you plan to build your new home and what price range you’re seeking.

We can conduct a personalized search for you in our vast database, beyond what you see here, to find more plans to think about.

View new home tours in our photo galleries, including examples of:

2603 sq ft | 3-4 Beds | 2.5-3.5 Baths | One Story

Let’s Get Started – Request Ryecroft Flyer and Pricing

3883 sq ft under the roof | 3089 heated sq ft | 4 Beds | 2.5 Baths | Main Floor Primary Suite

Start Here: Get the Riverstone B Plan Flyer

2449 sq ft | 3-4 Beds | 2-3 Baths | One Story

Start Here: Get the Modern Farmhouse Plan Flyer

2507 sq ft | 3-4 Beds | 2-3 Baths | One Story

Send Me the Mackenzie Flyer and Pricing

2950 sq ft | 2-3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | One Story Farmhouse

Start Here: Get the Carolina Farmhouse Plan Flyer

1668 sq ft | 3 Beds | 2 Baths | One Story

Let’s Get Started – Request Samantha Flyer and Pricing

Here are 3 different floor plan layout approaches for your guest suite bathroom from design build custom home builder Travars Built Homes:

Approach #1 The bathroom is attached to the guest bedroom and hallway.

Approach #2 The bathroom is between two bedrooms (also know as a “Jack and Jill” bath)

Approach #3 The bathroom is only accessible through the bedroom – this allows for complete privacy.

Guest Suite Bathroom Idea #1: Bath Shared with Common Areas

One of the most common layouts for a guest suite maximizes usability while minimizing cost by including a full bath with access from both the guest bedroom and main areas.

The layout has a second door from the guest bedroom directly into the bath so guests have full privacy but homeowners are spared the expense of an additional private bath.

See more of this modern farmhouse, the Norwich here:

Guest Suite Bathroom Idea #2: Jack and Jill Bath

This floor plan illustrates a “Jack and Jill” bathroom, where two bedrooms share a bathroom. With this layout, a guest would share a bathroom with someone in another bedroom, but would have the ability to close off that bathroom.

This floor plan, the Blackstone also has a powder room on the main floor, so the designation of this layout would be that the Jack and Jill bathroom would typically be limited to use by people in those two bedrooms, with semi-private usage.

Guest Suite Bathroom Idea #3: Full, Private Bath

In this floor plan, there is already a full bath beside the mudroom and guest bedroom. With a small expansion to the exterior wall of the bathroom, we can change the functionality of the space.

Take a look at the redline modifications. By expanding the bathroom slightly, it can be accessed en-suite, providing total privacy for the guest suite:

The redline modification at the foyer illustrates how to add a separate powder room on the main floor.

Get in touch with the team at Travars Built Homes for more floor plans and details about building a new home in Chapel Hill, Durham, Pittsboro, or another area in central North Carolina.

2669 sq ft | 4 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | First Floor Primary

Start Here: Get the Bluffton Way Plan Flyer