Choosing a custom home style is an exciting step of the home design process. The home style you choose will form the foundation of your home and make an impact on your lifestyle, habits, and memories for years to come. In order to choose which home style works best for you, it is important to first define your functional needs, design taste, and budget.
Variables to Be Aware of When Making Custom Home Choices
1. Evaluate Your Lifestyle
Your home is the foundation for your daily habits, and it must serve your daily functional needs with comfort and ease. Consider what lifestyle habits influence the features you are looking for in a home such as:
- Working from home spaces
- Entertainment ability and hosting space, like open concept layouts
- Having stairs or no stairs for mobility purposes
- Storage needs
- In-home gym
- Room for future family expansion
2. Identify Your Aesthetic Preferences
Next, take a look at your belongings and evaluate your personal design style. See what home style matches your personal design taste and what home style feels the most like you. Some common home design styles include:
- Farmhouse: Blends traditional materials with natural materials like wood, vintage accents, and a country twist. Usually has a muted color palette.
- Modern Contemporary: Maintains clean, straight lines, simple forms, and contrast in color pallettes
- Traditional or Craftsman: Emphasizes classic symmetry, natural stone, and ornate trim work to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
3. Consider Your Location And Surroundings
Next, consider your property’s layout and surroundings. Your local environment often dictates what features will work best and help your home function properly. Some factors to consider include:
- Soil composition
- Drainage
- Hills and knolls
Additionally, the location of your neighborhood or area might impact your decision. Some areas have more specific home designs than others, so it is important to consider uniformity to the surrounding area. Some factors to consider include:
- Neighborhood style
- Local or HOA rules and regulations
4. Consult A Professional
Lastly, it is vital that you consult with a professional home builder to determine what will work best for your property and home design goals. A professional will also be able to help you budget out the project so you can make the most of your money and get the features that matter most to you.
What Design Style Should I Choose For My Custom Home
Now that you have considered the variables that go into building a custom home, it is important to know what home style you should choose for your custom home. The design style should match both your design preferences and lifestyle.
Design taste preferences include things like, do you prefer modern architecture, traditional, or more historical, vintage architecture? Lifestyle habits to consider when choosing a design style for your custom home are things like hosting for parties or events, having hobby rooms or extra bedrooms for guests or family expansion. All of these factors are important when choosing the ideal design style for your custom built house.
Best Custom Home Design Styles For Pennsylvania Residents
Home styles are the architectural style and characteristics that define a house. There are a variety of different home styles that Mountain View Building offers, and each style of home has different features and benefits. Here are a few specific custom home styles that Pennsylvania residents love.
1. The Modern Farmhouse Home Style Is Popular In Pennsylvania
The Farmhouse design style is a favorite among Pennsylvanians and is a nice blend of modern architecture and rural character. Usually, farmhouse style homes have a white board-and-batten exterior, black metal window frames, and neutral, high contrast color schemes.
On the interior, farmhouse homes have a minimalist interior and great natural light because of their large multi-light windows. The modern farmhouse style is favorable for many families because of its large, open-concept layout, high ceilings, big porches, and ability to add many rooms for family expansion or extracurricular activities.
The Modern farmhouse home design is a great option for those who love to host because of its large, open-concept layout and spacious interior. It is also a great choice for anyone who appreciates rustic character but still wants modern sleek finishes. This light and airy, modern yet antique style affords the perfect balance of hominess and pristine functionality.
2. The Colonial Home Design Style Is a Favorite In Pennsylvania
Colonial homes are a local favorite home style among Pennsylvanians and are one of the best selling home styles in Pennsylvania. People love colonial style homes due to their historical, classic charm and symmetrical appearance. Colonial homes are usually two or three stories tall and are made of brick, stone, or wood clapboards. They feature evenly spaced windows with shutters and a centered front door, which gives it a homey charm.
The colonial style offers a timeless exterior and a highly customizable interior. Typically, colonial homes have a central-hall floor plan with a formal living and dining room on either side. While more traditional colonial interiors have a more compartmentalized floorplan, it is also a popular option to open up the floor plan to be more open-concept.
Colonial style homes are a great option for the history and rolling hills of Pennsylvania and will fit the style of most areas in Pennsylvania. Because of its flexibility in customization, colonial homes are a great option for those who want a lot of design control and customization while still appreciating the character and charm of the Colonial home style.
3. The Craftsman Home Style Is a Great Option For a Pennsylvania Custom Home
Another great option for your Pennsylvania custom home style is the craftsman style. Craftsman homes are characterized by its low-sloped roof lines, large tapered pillars, and generous covered porches. They are often made of wood clapboard or cedar shingles, stone, brick, or stucco.
The warm, open interior features exposed ceiling beams, abundant wood trim, and practical built-in cabinetry and tends to have an earth-tone color palette. Craftsman homes often have custom woodswork like built-in wooden shelving, windowseats, and other furniture that bring a beautiful natural look and save space in your home. The layout of craftsman homes is open and highly functional, as the floorplan is anchored around a central fireplace.
The natural wood accents and exposed beams make craftsman homes feel warm, sturdy, and homey. Craftsman style homes are a great custom home choice for anyone who appreciates expert woodwork accents, functionality, and desires a natural look to their home.
Hire Mountain View Building To Build Your Custom Home
Ready to get started on your custom home or home renovations? Contact Mountain View Builders as your custom building expert and get started today!
