Ziyale Norris

How to Design a Modern Cottage Home

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Ziyale Norris - Designing your home

Designing your dream home should feel like crafting your cozy haven, a retreat from the world’s chaos. Imagine stepping into your modern cottage– where every corner whispers tranquility and every detail oozes warmth. In this 5-minute read, you will learn how to design a modern cottage home.

What is a modern cottage home?

The modern cottage home style has modernized its prior modern farmhouse design and taken it up a notch. With this design, you still get rustic and cozy vibes and experience the benefits of modern home designs.

How do I get started in the design?

The modern cottage design is simple. below are some of the main components you should look out for.

Start with a color scheme:

When you decide on a color scheme neutral colors should be the primary bases. The goal is light and airy:

Whites and creams
Black
Beige
grays
Calming Blues
Gentle greens

Follow up with finishes:

Assuming you are building custom, semi-custom, or just remodeling your finishes can make or break the design. This is the meat and potatoes in my opinion

Rustic wood for a natural feel
Cute nooks in the kitchen or den
Barn doors to keep it cozy
Exposed lighting for a slightly industrial look
large windows for lots of natural light
Hardwood flooring
Picture quartz countertops
White tile backsplash (for the kitchen)
Stone fireplaces for cozy cuddling or reading
You could also decide on a wrap-around porch when you plan to build a modern cottage-style home.
Brass metal accents in furniture and appliances

Time to decorate:

When designing a modern cottage home the decor gives you a cozy rustic vibe, without straying from the modern look.

Super cozy furniture: slipcovers and wicker chairs are great to start
Vintage decor: Rugs and Cotton throw pillows
All Natural textiles: Cotton, linen, and straw to name a few
Reading nooks near the near in a warm corner for peaceful reading.
Greenery (inside and outside): gardens, succulent plants, vines, and other standard house plants will do
Vases and collected pottery are great additions
You can add some subtle floral patterns

What is the Modern cottage design style for?

When building or designing any home, the layout should reflect you! If you have a taste for modern cottage homes and an eye for rustic and warm environments this design is for you. Are you a warm, kind, hospitable bookworm who enjoys wine and friends? Want to maximize coziness as an empty nester? No matter who you are if you like warm natural lighting, cozy nooks, and all the greenery you can get your hands on, this design is for you.

Want some assistance?

If you are anything like me you don’t like to do the heavy lifting alone. So I always seek a professional opinion. GJ Gardner offers full-service custom home-building services. If you need help visualizing or planing Contact us here. If you are just browsing check out our home designs and download a floor plan you like.

How To Subdivide Your Property for Maximum Profit

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Ziyale Norris - Planning your build

In recent years, the price of property has changed, and finding quality land can be difficult. If you’re lucky enough to have a big backyard, your land could be ripe for subdivision. This post outlines how to subdivide your property, and what you need to know to potentially make a profit.

What is a subdivision?

Subdivision means dividing your property into two or more lots. To do this, you could:

Subdivide your land and sell the new lot for someone else to develop.
Build a house on the newly-created lot, which you could later sell or rent out.
Demolish your existing home and build three or four townhouses.

Why subdivide?

Over the past few decades, our overall population has increased, while the size of each family has decreased. This means:

A high value is placed on houses – and vacant land – in established areas. It’s even better if you have access to public transport and communal green spaces.
There’s a shortage of available properties, especially in urban areas.
A big lot of land could become potential equity to make a profit.

How does subdivision work?

Before you go any further, it is important to understand how subdivision works and assess if you are a good candidate for subdividing your land. There are some key questions to ask:

1. Find out if subdividing your property is possible

To be viable for subdivision, your lot of land should:

Comply with local zoning laws. Check with your local council to see if your property is in an area that allows subdivisions.
Ideally be relatively flat, to reduce the costs of construction and access.
Conform to your local council’s minimum lot size. This varies depending on where you live, but a good rule of thumb is to have at least 7535 square feet of usable land.
Have enough space to install another driveway.

2. Call in an expert

Once you’ve done your assessment, call in an expert to get a professional perspective on your plan ideas. You could speak to a surveyor, a certified town planner, or an experienced builder. They can advise you about zoning, overlays, and minimum lot size. Planning overlays identify features of the environment that might be impacted by a new development. In some cases, subdivisions may not be permitted due to protected vegetation, flooding, bushfire risk, or the location of protected buildings.

3. Apply for planning permission

With the help of your builder or surveyor, it’s time to put together a development proposal. You’ll need to outline how you suggest splitting the land and show plans for a proposed house, driveway, and car park.

A Final Word

Subdividing your land is a complex endeavor but can be well worth the effort. With over 120 franchisees and multiple global offices, G.J. Gardner Homes has proven project experience coupled with local expertise and can help you through the process. Contact your local office to see how we can assist you with your subdivision plans.

How to Build a Custom Home: Our 8-Step Guide

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Ziyale Norris - The building process

There’s nothing like the feeling of coming home to a space completely customized to your liking. From choosing land to designing home plans and watching the build take shape, a custom home build is a rewarding process.

For those lucky enough to be considering a custom home build, it’s a MUST to fully understand the building process and the steps to make your dream a reality. Here are some general steps you can expect on your custom home-building journey.

Step One: Preparation

preparation is the most important step of the custom home-building process. Before contacting a home builder, it is important to break down your budget and building time frames to determine if building a home is right for you.

Things to consider include:

Land cost
Local taxes, permits, and fees
Home builder and construction costs
Landscaping costs
Home furnishing costs
Mortgage and loan payments
Initial down payment
Padding (money set aside for unexpected costs during the build)

This budget breakdown can assist in deciding the size, locations, and land you can afford for your new home. Also, you should note the build timeframe and if you have specific needs for your family. Which means finding and buying your land, end-of-home leases, schools, new family members, and more.

If you are still looking for the type of custom home build you want, our Custom Home Designs page is a recommended resource for guiding your home build process.

Step Two: Choosing A Custom Home Builder

Before starting your custom home building journey and rushing into a decision, it is important to research home builders and find one that meets your needs.

Research online by looking for the home builder’s experience, custom home expertise, and previously completed projects to get an idea of their capabilities and expected outcomes for your custom home build. This helps set your expectations for your future home with this builder.

For example, at G.J. Gardner Homes, our expert custom home builders and new home consultants are readily available at our showrooms. This saves you the trouble of gathering a custom home-building team with a group of third-party contractors. Just attend an initial consultation to find out what you want. We can help create design plans, get permits, and find land.

Step Three: Design Your Dream Home

Great, you now have a home builder and secured your land. It is time to start drawing up your dream home design and future floor plan. For your first consultation with your home builder, it is important to bring to the meeting a list of wants and needs with a level of importance in mind.

Consider the following:

Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
Garage size
Room arrangements and preferred floor plan layouts
Overall size of the home
How many stories are in the home
Budget
Architectural and interior design style
Negotiable inclusions (e.g. pool, covered patio, fireplaces, wine cellar, media room)

Alternatively, if you don’t want to start your home design from scratch, Your builder should have existing home design plans to choose from and further customize.

After the first meeting, your home builder will draw up custom home design plans into a floor plan with an estimated price for a custom home build. We call this a purchase agreement. Once you review the documents, you can provide feedback and make any changes you want.

Find a Local Show Room

Step Four: Obtain Financing

You’ve completed the home floor plan and cost estimations, it is time to talk about how you will finance your home build. You can finance with a construction loan, cash, or a combination.

This is only a suggestion, but if you plan to get financing through a third party, speak to your local lender or mortgage broker to find the best options available.

Step Five: Finishes & Fixtures

Arguably the best part of the design process, it’s now time to select your preferred finishes and fixtures. Meaning, countertops, flooring, hardware, lighting, windows, trim, cabinetry, and more. Your builder should walk you through depending on how much you want to customize.

Step Six: Construction Starts

The construction and building phase can begin once the final floor plan and purchase agreement are signed and settled. You can expect the following:

Site clearing and preparation
Foundations, framing, and roof
Utility installation
Insulation and drywall
Flooring, lighting, paint and millwork
Fixtures and appliances
Finish work such as final paint, wall coverings, trim
Landscaping

This is such an exciting time in your custom home build journey as you can see your plans come to life physically!

Step Seven: Final Walk-Through

After we complete the home, you will do a final walk-through. It is your opportunity to inspect and ask questions before the official closing of your home.

Step Eight: Closing The Home

Following your final walk-through and closing, your home builder will hand over the keys to your new home.

At G.J. Gardner Homes, we specialize in custom home builds with extensive experience in creating tailored home solutions nationwide. If you are thinking about a custom home build, a semi-custom, or just looking to learn more our team is here to help you experience the joy of home building.

Want to learn more? Contact our home design experts today by visiting our website or calling our team.

9 Reasons To Build a Custom Home

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Ziyale Norris - Designing your home

Building a custom home can be rewarding, eye-opening, and transformational. At G.J. Gardner we believe building custom is the best way to get your dream home. From design choices to eco-friendly Builds, these are our 9 Best reasons for building a custom home. If you read to the end we’ve. tacked on bonus reasons that not all home builders will share with you.

1. Choose from lots of designs.

Most custom home builders offer a wide range of customizable home designs to suit different needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a small cozy home or a large luxurious mansion, there’s a design tailored to your liking.

2. Get expert guidance from a local builder.

There are a lot of little details in building a home. Working with an expert in your local market makes making decision-making simple. This way you make fewer decisions along the way. You get room to focus on getting exactly what you want.

3. Quality of materials and fixtures.

building a custom home allows you to choose from the best materials on the market, or the highest quality materials in your budget. Getting your dream home design becomes a lot less stressful when you know you’re getting the best outcome with any budget or constraints you may have.

4. Existing designs or craft an original.

If you need inspiration you can start with an existing design and change details as you see fit. You can also bring your imagination to life and work with a designer to craft your custom dream home. Either way, your dreams become reality.

5. Flexible floor plans.

Changing floor plans is a game changer for those who choose a preset design! You can add or remove rooms, adjust layouts based on your family’s needs, and plan for the future to fit your family’s needs.

6. Vast network of trusted suppliers and contractors.

Finding contractors, electricians, plumbers, etc. on your own is a huge pain. Like a few builders G.J. Gardner gives you access to a large network of seasoned verified suppliers/contractors. This is how you problem-proof your new home construction. For you, this means fewer mistakes and a quality home that elevates your comfort.

Design your dream home today

7. Energy-efficient and Eco-friendly building.

G.J. Building your home custom gives you a lot of freedom. It also makes it super easy to go green. Builders can use eco-friendly build practices that reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on energy bills in the long run.

8. Build with the latest technology.

Building a Custom Home offers the ability to build with the latest smart home technologies making life easier and efficient. Utilizing tech like lighting, temperature control, and security systems to enhance comfort and ease in your home.

9. Creative Freedom.

Working directly with a builder puts you in every step of the process. Allowing you to be in control of the design and finishes. Often this allows for a more unique design that fits your style and personality making your home glow with a personal touch.

10. (Bonus Reason) Complete warranty and after-sales service satisfaction with your new home:

Here is a bonus reason for you! Not all builders do this but G.J. Gardner Homes offers a complete warranty and after-sales service to ensure you are satisfied with your new home. We want to give every home buyer peace of mind and that starts by making sure your home build is covered from the start.

With the help of an experienced builder like G.J. Gardner Homes, you can confidently create the home of your dreams.

Need help getting started?

We could not pack all the information you need into one blog. So, if you have more questions we have a team of professionals who can guide you. We aim to give families joy in a home that meets their style and needs.

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