Sometimes it seems as if the names for the rooms in our homes are a little out of touch. We don’t really live in our living rooms. Nobody powders anything in a powder room. And for most of us, the bedroom is much more than a place to put a bed.

There’s no doubt that the way we use our kitchens has changed pretty dramatically over the years. Some of the tasks we perform in the kitchen, however, have remained. The kitchen may have become the social center for our homes, but it’s still the place where we prepare our meals.

Building a new custom home can feel like a huge step of faith—particularly if it’s the first time you’ve taken on a project of this kind. It doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience, however.  There’s a logical progression to the process and knowing what the steps are can take a lot of anxiety out of what should be a really enjoyable experience.

Today’s washers and dryers are really a step up from the ones that used to be relegated to the basement years ago. They are much more efficient. 

Sometimes there’s a bit of a gap between your sense of style and the budget you have to work with—particularly when you have an appreciation for quality. It can happen when you’re buying clothes, purchasing a car, or building a custom home in the Poconos.

You’ve heard people say that you get what you pay for. To some extent, that’s true. Quality doesn’t come cheap. If you’re buying a car, you won’t get a Lexus for the price of a Chevy Spark. The same is true when you’re building a new home.  But does paying more guarantee higher quality?

When you start getting serious about the possibility of building a new custom home a lot of your time and energy will go into collecting ideas and information. You’ll gather information about floor plans, locations, interior designs, and even building materials.

One of the major considerations in building a new custom home is how you plan to set up the kitchen. There’s probably not a more important room in the house when it comes to setting the tone of the home. And it’s arguably the most used room in your entire home. It’s kind of a big deal!

Often when homeowners interact with their homebuilders, they restrict those interactions to things such as negotiating the price, reviewing floor plans, and discussing the construction schedule. While those are imporant issues, there are other topics that are more interesting—and potentially helpful to you if you want to create a home that looks and feels great.

Sometimes you hear someone talk about a house having character. But what does that really mean? And how can you add character to your home?