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Design

Ortal
Ortal's Vent-Free Fireplace
From luxury fireplaces to doors that create a seamless indoor-outdoor feel, these products elevate any outdoor space.
June 4, 2025
Porches, downlights, and smart homes are all getting a second look. This week’s CB Signals highlights subtle but telling shifts across the industry
June 3, 2025
Credit: MBB Design Studio
A wood-drenched interior with light wood flooring, walls, and cabinetry, reflecting the 'wood-drenching' trend
New search data reveals evolving client priorities that are influencing everything from material choices to project timelines, and shaping how luxury builds will come together...
May 20, 2025
Anthology
Anthology's Moroccan Habitat tile
From warm neutrals to handcrafted designs, Coverings revealed a clear shift: homeowners want tile with dimension, texture, and a human touch.
May 14, 2025

Business

Logo for Custom Builder's 'Builder in 5' interview series
BUILDER IN 5: Five questions with Adam Breen of Breen Homes on staying small, building presence, and chasing the intangible moments of a home’s “first breath"
May 28, 2025
Intelligent Horizons | Adobe Stock
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One builder shares the importance of understanding some basics of psychology to hire and develop the strongest team
Dec. 26, 2024
Jokiewalker via Adobe Stock
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Without written protocols, contractors remain liable for how employees use vehicles. These tips from a lawyer can help protect you
Dec. 11, 2024
Barbara Banks Studio
ryan perrone headshot
Rather than join the successful family building company, Sarasota builder Ryan Perrone wanted to define the Perrone name for himself. Today, he’s closing in as a competitor to...
Nov. 21, 2024

Profiles

Kimbel's first Made in America home featured 90% Made in USA products. It inspired him to co-found the online database for American-made building products, American Grade
Kentucky Custom Builder Vince Kimbel runs American Grade, a database for contractors to easily specify US-made building products.
Dec. 31, 2024
Red Tree Builders/Alair Asheville
Red Tree Builders/Alair Asheville team volunteering after hurricane in North Carolina
An unexpected hurricane upended everything for Brandon Bryant and his team at Red Tree Builders/Alair Asheville. Here’s how the North Carolina custom builder handled it
Nov. 12, 2024
living stone design + build asheville nc
Living Stone Design + Build President Sean Sullivan is the Custom Home Builder of the Year. This is how Sullivan built his custom building company 
Sept. 11, 2024
Larry booth architect
Celebrated architect Laurence Booth, whose career spans half a century, shares insights on modernism's flaws, the characteristics of beauty, his design process, and more
Dec. 6, 2023

Data & Research

202852092 © Katarzyna Bialasiewicz | Dreamstime.com
Custom home builders working together on a project
Despite weakened demand from homebuyers and increased building costs, custom-building starts were consistent quarter-over-quarter
May 21, 2025
117483204 © Kwangmoo | Dreamstime.com
Home builder looks over plans at a jobsite as wage growth for residential professionals slows.
Although hourly wages for residential building workers remain high, their growth has slowed during the past year
May 6, 2025
5607798 © Mark Hryciw | Dreamstime.com
A closeup of a floor plan and tools used for a renovation at a time when home building pros feel cautious about the economy and their business.
With costs expected to rise and homeowners putting projects on the back burner, home building pros expect to see some tapering off of demand in the near future
April 16, 2025
NicolasMcComber / E+ via Getty Images
Homeowners stand in front of their custom home under construction holding an architect's model of the house
Following softening market share, custom home building saw some gains in the final quarter of 2024
Feb. 24, 2025

Products

Cosentino
cosentino_dekton_pietra
From cabinetry to surfacing materials, these products take an innovative approach to home design
March 19, 2025
Empava
Empava's Hot/Cold Plunge Indoor Tub from Empava
The International Builders’ Show and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas last week gave building product manufacturers the chance to show off their newest products
March 5, 2025
Photo: LG Electronics
ThinQ ON from LG Electronics
From secure entry systems to innovative kitchen appliances, these products take the smart home to the next level
Jan. 8, 2025
Photo: NKBA | Designer: Kristin Petro
A large kitchen. with island and uniquely shaped vent hood
From expressive color palettes to functional, clutter-free spaces, here’s what homeowners are gravitating toward in the new year
Dec. 18, 2024

Green & Sustainable

Photo: Cris Nolasco Photos
ADU in Los Angeles
In addition to staying true to the Craftsman-style main house on the site, this all-electric ADU makes it's own style statement
Dec. 23, 2024
Photo: Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects
Farmhouse custom home exterior with board-and-batten siding
Farmhouse style is more than just an aesthetic choice for this net zero, Passive House-certified Wisconsin custom home on a rural cattle farm
Dec. 4, 2024
Photo: tippapatt | stock.adobe.com
In addition to its standard uses, AutoCAD can also be used to create more energy-efficient designs.
AutoCAD has changed the way architects design buildings, however, its role in crafting sustainable home designs that reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact...
Nov. 25, 2024
what is a heat pump
Understand how to install heat pumps, what they do, and the future of heat pumps
Aug. 26, 2024

Construction

screenshot_20241230_at_3
Three houses and a shared accessory building make up this innovative use of an infill lot in central Austin, Texas
Dec. 30, 2024
Casey Dunn
exterior of home
The architect and builder of this subtly complex home share how they created a functional floor plan while embracing city views and adding pockets of surprise
Nov. 20, 2024
364544526 Andrri Zorii | Dreamstime.com
Modern outdoor patio with propane heater and firepit
The Propane Education & Research Council’s residential development lead takes on three propane myths—and backs it all up with data
Nov. 18, 2024
Courtesy Sika Rmax
construction site in the snow with below-grade insulation
Polyiso is widely used for insulation, but myths surround the material
Nov. 6, 2024