In 2023, we made a conscious effort to showcase more custom projects. And we did just that. From full-home case studies to close examinations of specific custom elements—like entryways, fireplaces, and an 11-foot free-standing wine cube, to name a few—we shined a spotlight on several custom projects that we’re not only inspiring but educational in their designs and construction.
We’ve organized those stories below for easy reference and consumption. And keep checking Custom Builder throughout 2024 for even more case studies and Design Details.
Full-Home Case Studies
A Smart Home Built Smart
Custom builder August Homes blends efficient, hi-tech home automation systems with high-performance, sustainable building strategies... Read More
Hosting Multiple Generations for Generations to Come
Despite juggling numerous program and site considerations, architect Joel Wenzel designed a long-lasting, multi-generational retreat that nestles seamlessly into its bucolic surroundings… Read More
Merging Ancient Construction With Modern Living
This vacation home from House + House Architects and builder Womack Construction pushes the boundaries of traditional log construction techniques and incorporates elegant details elevating this typically rustic building method... Read More
Making a Home Among the Redwoods
Most prospective homeowners would have rejected this small, infill site and its crumbling cottage with redwood roots growing into the foundation. But not architect Heidi Richardson, who, through high ceilings, abundant glazing, and thoughtful spatial detailing, was able to achieve the improbable... Read More
Building a ‘Happy Place’ on Florida’s Waterfront
Building a custom waterfront home is no simple construction project. It’s a specialty task requiring specific expertise. Ricky Perrone, president of Perrone Construction, a custom home builder in Sarasota, Fla., long known for its waterfront work, knows that well… Read More
Delicate Details Rendered in Robust Rammed Earth
People have been building with rammed earth for than a thousand years, so why is it still seen as an alternative form of construction? The CALX Cabin, by builder Earthform Design and designer Brandon Gore, is a sterling example of what is possible when building custom with rammed earth… Read More
An Artistic Use of Dramatic Lighting
This 7,500-square-foot Lake Winnebago home nicknamed "The Retreat," designed by Viewpoint Residential Design and built by Walker Custom Homes, is an example of how significant an impact dramatic lighting can have on a home's aesthetic… Read More
Design Details
Building a Custom Wine Cube in an NYC Penthouse
An 11-foot wine cube enveloping a pantry is the stand out features of this customized West Chelsea penthouse... Read More
A Multigenerational Mountain Retreat With a Custom Bunk Room
With aging-in-place amenities and a spacious bunk room, this legacy mountain retreat is designed to be enjoyed for generations to come... Read More
An Indoor-Outdoor Fireplace That Preserves Livable Space
The Tributary Residence, designed by PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes (M-T-N Design) and builder Rand Olsen Construction, includes a unique double-sided Isokern fireplace that combines gas and wood-burning elements while serving both outdoor and indoor spaces... Read More
Space-Saving Helix Stairs for an East Village Apartment
These custom winding stairs in architect James Wagman’s “Heavy Metal” project actually aren’t made from metal at all… Read More
Lateral Thinking for a Custom Vertical Fireplace
This one-of-a-kind fireplace, part of the "Hillside Paradise" project from Soloway Designs and builder PNCI Construction, includes a vertical gas range that climbs almost the entire height of the wall... Read More
A Mount St. Helens Retreat With a Grand Entryway
Situated on Yale Lake beneath Mount St. Helens, this neomodern vacation home is designed to look like a rustic mountain lodge, and central to that style is its vaulted entryway finished with natural wood and stone... Read More
Stepping Into Lake Minnetonka Luxury
This Wayzata Bay custom home features an arched portico entryway with a few unique architectural touches... Read More
This 2-In-1 Swimming Pool Isn’t What It Seems
A front-to-back walkway connects two swimming pools outside of this waterfront Florida home... Read More
A Lakefront Dock That Embraces Indoor/Outdoor Living
This screened dock on Hog Pen Creek in Austin, Texas takes its design cues from the home's numerous indoor/outdoor living spaces... Read More
Finding the Best Angle—a Lake Austin Dock Framed to Fit the Home’s Sight Lines
This two-tiered waterfront dock on Lake Austin was constructed on an angle to provide homeowners with the best views of the lake from every room in the house... Read More
An Open-Air Balcony That Functions Like a Birdcage
This wonderfully unique "birdcage" outdoor lounge, designed by Khoury Vogt Architects and built by BRW Builders of Destin, is a showcase of creative craftsmanship and masterful millwork—the latter provided by E F San Juan Inc… Read More
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