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Fall Feast Table Scape

Fall 2022 Design Trend- Fall Feast Table Scape

The verdict is in! Orange and Black for spooky season is out and rich earthy tones and muted silvers are in. It’s like fall and winter had a baby and the results are stunning.
While the rich reds, oranges and yellows of falling leaves and fall décor are always a good choice to celebrate pumpkin spice lattes, shorter cooler days and cozy sweaters, this year we’ve decided to class it up a bit with warm wood browns and rich green. Keep reading to see how we designed this table scape for your next fall feast!

Fall Feast Table Scape

We started with a black and white gingham tablecloth for a neutral base as an anchor. Next, we layer different textures and patterns in brown tones using a wood round as the center pieces and woven jute placemats for each setting, lending to a rustic outdoor feel.

 

Instead of pumpkins or gourds, we chose pinecones and golden wheat to highlight the earth tones and accented the browns with candlesticks in rich green for a warm pop of color. Nothing sets the mood like candlelight, so we finished it off with tealights, various heights of candlesticks and green glassware. Pinecones also adorn the table around the center piece and black cloth napkins sit on the center of every white plate.

table scape

Protip: A smooth tablecloth can make or break your tablescape! ALWAYS steam your linens to remove creases and wrinkles, like this one: https://www.target.com/p/conair-portable-garment-steamer-white-gs2wb/-/A-78304884#lnk=sametab

If you tried this table scape, or used it as inspiration to make your own, we would love to see your photos! Please contact us here and we’ll share them on our Living in Billings community page! Click here to join if you haven’t already.

By Custom Homes, Update Your Home
Design

How to Design Your Dream Home

Have you ever daydreamed about what your dream home would be like? How you would feel while you’re there, where you’d put all your favorite things and how you’d decorate it?

We believe that everyone deserves to live in the home of their dreams, and we’ve put together some tips to help you design yours!

 

Tip #1: Put your family’s needs first.

Do you have a large family? Space for everyone to gather around to eat and spend time together is probably high on your list of necessities. An open floor plan and several bedrooms and bathrooms should be added to your list.

Is it important to have your main level living on one level? Or will you mind walking up and downstairs with baskets full of laundry? Think through where all your appliances should be, in line with your lifestyle.

Pets mean muddy paws. Is a mud room with a dog door a necessity? Or unnecessary for your lifestyle?

Do you love to spend time outside and entertain during the warm season? Consider a seamless indoor/outdoor transition from your kitchen and living area into to the back patio/yard.

Maybe you prefer to recreate inside and family movie nights are a must. Would your dream home include a large family room downstairs?

 

Tip #2: Balance your budget with your style.

Everyone has a budget when building a new home and we specialize in building luxury homes on a budget. Make a list of items that are an absolute necessity to your style and design. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of having an oversized soaking tub, or a master suite or a certain type of tile. Then make a list of things you’re willing to compromise on, or cross off your list. Work with your builder to get quotes on the items you want and make sure they fit into your overall budget. Your builder should help you stay under budget and help you find replacements or other options for things that might put you over.

 

Tip #3: Assess your style choices vs. current trends.

We all love watching HGTV or following dream home boards on Pinterest. But what’s in style now, might not be in style two years from now. When choosing colors, features, cabinets and tile, think through if you love it because it’s ‘in’ or you love it because you really love it and always imagined your home to have it. Are you content with design choices you make now, or will you hate your blue kitchen cabinets in two years and want to paint them? Thinking through big style design choices now vs. how you’ll feel about them in the future can save you thousands of dollars down the road!

Tip #4: Think about your current lifestyle and what you would change in your home now.

Make a list of all the things you wish you could change about your current home and incorporate them into your new design.

Do you cook constantly for your large family? Having a large island to prep food on and gather around might be at the top of your list. Maybe you are tired of walking across the kitchen to scrape food into the trash before putting it in dishwasher so your new house should include a garbage on the left-hand side of the sink and the dishwasher on the right so you have a seamless assembly line.

Are you tired of hauling laundry up and down stairs? Design your new home with the laundry room right off your master walk in closet. Love a hot cup of coffee and a good book to relax outside in the morning? Consider adding a coffee bar and front and/or back patio to fit into your routine.

 

The last and most important tip we can give is to interview various builders and make sure you find one that cares about keeping you under budget and will work with you to include all of your necessities and desires into your dream home without breaking the bank.

 

If you’re ready to take the next step to making your dream home a realty, click here to get in touch with us!

By Custom Homes, Update Your Home
How to Choose the Perfect Lot

How to Choose the Perfect Lot

When you start thinking of building your dream home, choosing the right lot is the very first step! Here are some things to consider while looking at different locations and areas so you can find one that best fits your family’s needs.

  1. School Districts. If you have school aged children, evaluate what district they would be in and what bus routes and commute times are like. Maybe you want the ability to walk to school, or you don’t mind a short commute to drive, or an even longer one where they can ride a bus.
  2. The next thing to consider is commute times to and from your job. Do you want to live on the same side of town you work on? Or are you ok with a longer commute time because you love the area and are willing to drive? Or maybe you work from home and commute isn’t an issue and we add a home office to your floor plan.
  3. What’s important to your lifestyle? Do you love to golf? Then maybe a lot on a golf course is for you. Do you want a view? Look for lots in areas of town that provide that. Are running/walking or bike trails important? Even sidewalks can make or break a lot choice for some people. Do you prefer to live in a gated community or an up-and-coming neighborhood? Thinking about the answers to these questions will narrow down your choices.
  4. Lot size. Is having a large, fenced yard important to you? Or would you rather have little yard care to manage? Do you have pets that need room to run or just a little dog that needs a small yard? Maybe a larger patio space to entertain is more your style and you’d rather not have to mow grass.

We encourage you to make a list of things you are unwilling to compromise on and a list of things you desire for your lot. This will save you time, frustration and instantly narrow down your choices to what will fit you and your needs!

When you’re ready to look at lots and discuss your new build, we are just a phone call away! 406-591-0221

By Infinity Homes Blog
So Many Choices

Home Building Myths #5: BUSTED

Myth #5 There are too many choices

One of the most fun, and sometimes overwhelming parts of building a home, is that there are too many choices. Thinking about picking every single thing that will go into your new build can be daunting, from paint colors to plumbing fixtures.

But, it doesn’t have to be. Here is our step by step process to help you choose your finishes without feeling flustered by too many decisions. We even have a show room in our office!

We start by only showing you the options that fit into your budget.

We set up several meetings with you to focus on one topic at a time.

The first meeting is the exterior of the house. Choosing colors, stone finishes, porch and patio options.

Next we focus on cabinets. We work with incredible local cabinet companies who can create a 3D rendering of your selections to show you exactly what they will look like in your house. We walk you through picking door style, countertops and color schemes to go with your kitchen and bathroom cabinets!

The third meeting is all things flooring! Choose the type and color of flooring that fits your lifestyle.

Once we have some of the major colors and designs, like counter tops and flooring picked out, we talk paint colors and trim. This is also when we’ll have you design your closets!

Lastly, we tie everything together with your plumbing and lighting finishes.

We’ve gone through this process with our buyers countless times, which means that we’ve simplified it just for you! We’ll walk through the process with you every step of the way.

Get in touch with us here to set up your design consultation!

By Infinity Homes Blog
Floor Plans

Home Building Myths #4: BUSTED

Myth #4 Can’t change floor plans

We hear all the time that when you hire a builder, you are stuck with one of their “cookie cutter” floor plans.

While it’s true that most builders do have their main floor plans to choose from, this is just a starting point for you to customize! We are here to build your custom dream home for YOU.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a customizing a floor plan:

  1. Do you entertain often? Then wide spaces and an open floor plan might better suit your needs.
  2. Do you want main level living? This means that everything you need, laundry, kitchen, bathrooms, your bedroom, are all on one level.
  3. Do you need a space for children? Maybe a basement might benefit you for a play area separate from the main living area.
  4. How much outdoor living do you wish to have? Spend most of the warm days outside? Make sure you have the right natural lighting inside and your design flows between an indoor/outdoor space.
  5. Do you like your privacy and enjoy retreating to a separate space? Or maybe you work from home and need to separate your work and living spaces. Look at options for a more closed floor plan or one with multi-stories.

We are always here to help answer your questions and help you make the best choices that fit your lifestyle. You can get in touch with us here.

By Infinity Homes Blog
The Stillwater - Infinity Homes

The Stillwater

By Floor Plans
The Kooteni - Infinity Homes

The Kooteni

By Floor Plans
Infinity Homes MT

Home Building Myths #3: BUSTED

Myth #3- I can’t find a lot.

One of the misconceptions we hear often is that you need to find your own lot before you build.

This is also not true! We work with several developers around town to find our clients a lot in the size they need and the area of town to fit their lifestyle. Or maybe you already own a lot or land and want to build… we can design a custom home that fits your existing plot!

Here are some things to consider when looking for a lot to purchase:

  1. Are there utility hookups? If the land isn’t already being developed by a developers, you’ll need to know if it has gas, water, sewer etc. or if this is something you will have to add. Cisterns, wells and septic tanks are common in the rural areas surrounding Billings.
  2. How is it zoned? Make sure the lot you are looking at is zoned for residential building, not business or agriculture.
  3. How much preparation will the lot need? Clearing trees and brush and grading could become a costly expense to tackle on your own.
  4. Consider what your desired neighborhood will look like in 5-10 years. It may all be new construction and dirt lots now, but in a few short years the entire neighborhood may be developed, everyone will have gorgeous landscaping and your property value will increase.

We are always here to help you make the best choices for you! If you have questions about building or finding a lot, please reach out. We can point you in the right direction!

By Infinity Homes Blog
Infinity Homes MT

Home Building Myths #2: BUSTED

Home Building Myth #2- I can’t get financing for new construction.

This is simply isn’t true!

We ourselves work with several lenders to make building a reality for our clients. From the VA to First Time Home Buyers, we work with you and your unique situation to get you into your dream home.

Another myth we hear frequently is that you always need 20% down to build. Also not true. We have several options we can explore together including Builder Financed down payments.

The first step is to find a lender and get pre-approved. If you don’t already work with a lender or know where to start, we can help with that!

Next we will work with you to work out the details of your new build based on your pre-approved budget.

Are you ready to get your questions answered? Reach out to us for a free consultation. We are happy to answer your lending questions and get you connected to the right lenders for your unique situation!

By Infinity Homes Blog
Infinity Homes Billings mt

Home Building Myths #1: BUSTED

Myth #1- “I can’t afford to build.”

People think that building is synonymous with expensive. This couldn’t be further from the truth!

Pre-build homes always go up in value. And the older they get, the more expensive they get and the more updates they need! On average, remodeling costs twice as much per square foot as a new build does! Sometimes in inflated markets, it’s actually cheaper to build than find something within budget. Doesn’t it make more sense to build exactly what you need within your budget, and have a custom brand new build that needs no updates?

A good builder will stay within your budget and only show you floor plan and customization options that fit within that. Building never has to go outside your budget unless you say so.

How do you know what your budget even is? We work with you just like any other home purchase… we need a pre-approval letter from your lender. Maybe you don’t know where to start, in that case we will point you in the right direction! A mortgage lender will give you your qualifications on an amount of purchase per your personal finances.

Do your research and choose a builder who has a long standing reputation of happy clients and proof that they stay within budget.  Let’s fit your custom build into your budget, contact us to set up a free consultation!

By Infinity Homes Blog