The Comito Column ~ Custom Building Exposed

Update to the latest Custom Home Building and Remodeling trends in The Pikes Peak Region and beyond. New home products, green building, alternative energy efficient new homes, state of the art building techniques, architectural design trends will all be discussed. Get the latest on new home communities, niche properties, and great building lots in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas.

Outdoor Entertaining Spaces ~ A Must Have in Your New Custom Home

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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Coming off the Labor Day holiday many of us spent time outdoors enjoying the warm days with family and friends and in most cases these gatherings were probably centered around food and entertaining. Over the past few years one trend we have seen requested in almost every Colorado Springs Custom Home we design and build is outdoor living and entertaining space. With our fantastic Colorado weather, homeowners want to be able to live and entertain in comfortably appointed and decorated outdoor spaces, including complete outdoor kitchens and covered sitting areas with gas fireplaces. Check out this award winning outdoor space from a design-build team in Flat Head Lake, MT.

National Association Of Homebuilders ~ Outdoor Entertainment Space Adds New Dimension to Lakeside Retreat

When the owners of a home along Flathead Lake in Somers, Mont., approached the builder about creating an outdoor entertainment space, they specifically requested the inclusion of a kitchen and dining/gathering area that would enable them to prepare meals for friends and family while also feeling like part of the lakeside activities.

To meet that challenge, the builder/architect designed and positioned an outdoor kitchen on the main level of the home overlooking the beach, sunning deck and boat dock and adjacent to the main level outdoor living room. 

This outdoor kitchen earned the 2010 Best in American Living Awards Platinum award in the Outdoor Room category. 

 Convenient and Impressive - With a View

The outdoor kitchen features a large DCS barbecue/grill with two oven drawers and a special drawer for seasonings; generous granite countertops; and a spacious granite island prep bar - all strategically centered on the water view.

Double bi-parting, 6-foot patio doors provide convenient access to the interior kitchen and dining space, making it short work for even the most involved meals for large gatherings of friends and family.

 Low-Maintenance, Protected From the Elements 

While the low-maintenance kitchen is covered, the materials and finish were selected to further protect the kitchen from the elements.

The kitchen features stone tiled flooring and cabinet boxes built of marine-grade plywood with a marine finish. The cabinets boast scrub-planed, antique glazed cherry doors, and the pullout drawers provide perfect storage for the outdoor entertainment bar supplies.

 Efficient, Spacious, Flowing

The efficient kitchen design includes a corner sink, ice maker, large refrigerator, island prep bar and dining area for eight.

The space flows onto an expansive outdoor living room with access to the lawn and a beautiful stained and stamped concrete patio - which then leads to a generous lakeside deck and boat dock.


At Comito Building and Design, we build custom homes with our unique design-build approach, that begins with our team designing a home that perfectly suits your homesite and budget. If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online at Comito Building and Design.



2013 Paint Color Forecast by Sherwin Williams

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

 

While doing our own study on colors recently at Sherwin Williams, we came across this forecast of the hottest paint colors/styles for 2013. Today's dynamic palettes reflect our diverse mindsets, lifestyles and design philosophies. Click each heading to see the hot colors.

Midnight Mystery: Ssshh! We’ve got a secret. It’s our dark side, and we’re irresistibly drawn to exploring its murky depths and shadows. The colors are moody, the vibe is masculine and the aesthetic is both Victorian and futuristic. Visible mechanicals intrigue us, while theatrical effects, eerie collections and menswear-inspired fabrics like tweed and houndstooth evoke Sherlock Holmes and the Prohibition era of secret doors and speakeasies.

 

Honed Vitality: Time and nature work hand in hand to create a softened beauty that is restful and comforting. We experience it in the layered hues of mineral deposits, sea-buffed stones and the weathered shutters of a rustic farmhouse. The colors are chalky and earthy, the materials raw and organic, the finishes matte.It’s a homespun aesthetic inspired by our renewed appreciation for artisan craft, handmade quality and homemaking as a valued skill rather than a chore.

 

Vintage Moxie: We feel pretty, oh, so pretty, in a demure mid-century way — but with a new, modern edge. The retro glamour of pearls, florals and classic feminine silhouettes are tempered by fun and funky accents and attitude. The pastels are a bit bolder, including semi-precious gem tones like citrine, peridot and amethyst, set off by crisp neutrals. The look is still ladylike — but much more free-spirited than in your mother’s day.

 

 High Voltage: Electronics, alternative rock and digital technology — plug those influences into one socket and you get a blast of high-voltage look-at-me colors. We’re not shying away from them; we’re splashing them across everything from cars to appliances to upholstery. It’s consumerism as self-expression, giving the bold and the not-so-bold equal permission to be non conformists. All those bold hues need a palette purifier, bringing black, white, gray and clear acrylics into the picture.

At Comito Building and Design, we build custom homes with our unique design-build approach, that begins with our team designing a home that perfectly suits your homesite and budget. If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online at Comito Building and Design.

Semi-Custom vs. Custom Builders

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Monday, August 20, 2012

Many new customers that we talk to about building a new Colorado Springs Custom Home are confused about the difference between a semi-custom home and a custom home. 

The decision to build a custom home or a semi-custom home is a key first decision and one that largely impacts the choices you will make down the line from light fixtures to flooring to bedrooms.

But what is the true difference between custom and semi-custom homes?

Custom homes
Custom homes give you, as the homeowner, full control over the quality and function of your new home. These homes are unique; they are designed specifically for you and the piece of land on which you want to build. Those desiring a custom home often work with a design-build team which helps them decide on their piece of land and design a home to fit that particular homesite. Because of their originality, custom homes require you to make many decisions, and some time will be spent researching products and visiting stores that sell these products.

House in the palm of a hand 300x199 Building a Custom Dream Home: Advantages and DisadvantagesSemi-custom homes
With semi-custom homes, the builder provides you with pre-designed house styles and floor plans, and you pick the one that best fits your housing preferences. Often times, these existing designs can be modified slightly to fit personal specifications. Modifications might also be made for a specific piece of land on which you want to build. Similarly, there is some flexibility in the products and features that you choose for these houses; however, the home builder usually has narrowed the choices for you.

Advantages of custom homes

  • When building a custom home, you have full control over each aspect of your home.
  • You are an integral  part of the design-build team, your ideas, desires and budget drive the project.
  • The home is designed specifically to your homesite which enables the home to  take full advantage of any views or focal points.
  • Ultimately, you decide every product and feature in the house.
  • As a custom home owner, you live in a unique home and can appreciate each of the choices you made during the building process.
  • The functionality and quality of your home is to your standards and meshes perfectly with your lifestyle.

Disadvantages of custom homes

  • Building a custom home is typically more expensive depending on the products and features you choose.
  • The unique products and features in custom homes are not purchased at bulk rate costs; therefore, you often pay more per square foot.
  • Typically, custom homes take longer to build.

Advantages of semi-custom homes

  • You can find a new home that fits your needs, but you do not have to develop a blueprint from scratch.
  • While working within your builder’s pre-set budgets, you can often choose quality features and products to customize the home.
  • Some products and features, though not as unique as those in some custom homes, may be purchased at bulk rate costs; therefore, the cost per square foot is less.
  • By beginning the home-building process with a pre-designed home style and floor plan, some people feel more confident in their ability to build a house that fits personal wants and needs.

Home owning family 300x199 Building a Custom Dream Home: Advantages and DisadvantagesDisadvantages of semi-custom homes

  • You may have to make significant sacrifices on products and house styles.
  • Quality and functionality may be compromised.
  • Multiple modifications to these homes may cause you to spend more money than was originally anticipated or budgeted.
  • Homebuilders set budgets that may rule out some high-end home products and features.

While there are advantages and disadvantages to both types of homes, it is important for those looking to build a home to accurately assess their desired home specifications. How important is uniqueness? What is your budget? What is your construction time frame? Asking these types of questions can greatly aid you in making a decision on the type of home to build and better ensure that you enjoy one of the largest investments you’ll ever make – your new home.

At Comito Building and Design, we build custom homes with our unique design-build approach, that begins with our team designing a home that perfectly suits your homesite and budget. If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online at Comito Building and Design.


Who Will Be Your Building Partner?

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Monday, August 06, 2012

“Within budget”…”on time”….”quality workmanship”…”superior service”…”positive experience”….”lasting relationships”…if you are currently shopping for a home designer and/or builder you have heard these phrases over and over. And while they are legitimate and worthy of the truth, they don’t distinguish one builder from another, and they are each subjective phrases.

So while you consider who will be your partner in creating your home, think to yourself “what are the top 3-5 aspects of our new home and the process that are the most important to me and my family?” If you decide that quality, budget and service are your highest priorities than develop a list of questions that will make it clear to you whether a designer/builder can deliver on these aspects of the process. For me to tell you, “our materials are all high quality” doesn’t very well prove to you anything. However, if I show you a variety of options within our framing methods, our insulation product and our a/c systems than you can decide if these represent “quality materials.” Furthermore, toasting to your newly poured foundation with a glass of champagne might not be your idea of superior service.

My point is that our team at Comito Building and Design makes it our priority to understand your expectations and your desired experience and we work to deliver on that. We are unique in many ways: our design experience, our construction experience and our genuine care about what you experience and receive. Please let me know how I can help you understand the details of our design/build process.

– Claude Comito

Why Choose A Design-Build Firm?

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Monday, June 18, 2012
At Comito Building and Design, we utilize a collaborative Design-Build approach 
that brings together professional architectural design and the actual construction
of the project into one fluid process, carried out by our experienced team. 

We have found that this process provides better continuity of service and saves our clients time and money. Here is some more information on the Design-Build concept from The National Association of Homebuilders.

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The Design-Build Advantage ~ National Association of Home Builders

If you want to build your dream home, a design-build firm can work with you at each
stage of design and construction to create the home that best matches your desires
and budget. The efficiencies of the design-build process help ensure that your time
and your money are well spent. This is one-stop shopping at its best.

A look at the budget all along the way.

At or shortly after your initial meeting, the design-build firm will generate a 
ballpark estimate for your new home or remodeling project. Based on this initial
 estimate- and with your "okay" to proceed- the firm will then produce a preliminary
design, including the first set of preliminary sketches and a more detailed estimate.
When all design decisions, allowances, and selections have been made, a set of complete
construction drawings can be created and a final contract price established. With
the design-build process the firm is designing to your budget from the beginning,
which eliminates the home being over designed for the budget.

The same team handles design and construction.

During construction you have the reassurance of knowing that the team in charge 
of building or remodeling your home is completely familiar with the design. You 
run less risk that design elements will be misinterpreted or that necessary materials
will not be available and cause delays or changes. Because the work is centralized
in one firm, the design-build process greatly reduces the chances of costly or time-consuming
surprises.

You are a part of the design build team, your priorities drive the project.

As the customer, you are the most important member of the design-build team. Your
wishes and ideas drive design, materials selection, and budget. You bring to the
 table your specific design concerns and desires. The design-build firm provides
 the building and design experience, knowledge, and skills that turn your ideas 
into reality. Often, your builder or remodeler can show you value engineering examples
and present a menu of economical, practical, and aesthetic solutions to frequently
encountered design problems to help you stay in budget. Your design-build team can
counsel you in choosing materials and finishes for your home that represent good
 values and that complete your vision of your new or remodeled home.

A design-build firm offers you more than just a pretty house. From the start, design
solutions are strongly rooted in practical application and experience. Project planning
takes into account the realities of the construction process and the budget you 
have established.

When you work with a design-build firm, you enter into a solid partnership with 
experienced professionals whose skills and knowledge from the start can help you
 realize your dreams for a new or improved home.


www.nahb.com
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It is also important to note that we can become your building team at any point 
during the planning phase. While we prefer the Design-Build approach, we would love
the opportunity to talk with you about any blueprints you have already created.

Contact us for more information.
 719-219-5421.

Value Engineering: The Importance & Tips

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Monday, May 14, 2012

As part of our Design-Build process we focus a lot on value engineering the plans we design. The process of Value Engineering is closely looking at how a plan or blueprint functions in an effort to make the living space as efficient and cost effective to build while maintaining the overall feel and design of the home. In many cases simplifying the plan a little bit can save big money, in order to realize the benefit of Value Engineering it is important to have an experienced builder who has a handle on current construction costs on your team at the start of the design process. This is a great article with an example of how it is done.


Value engineering can save time and money on any size job, even a multimillion-dollar home. The key is to start early with a team that you trust and communicate well with, says Robert Hidey of Robert Hidey Architects in Irvine, CA. “We ask a lot of questions initially, trying to drill into budget issues and define the overall direction of the project,”

He recommends that construction costs be reviewed at the conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction document phases. “I’d say 50 percent or more of the time it’s not done that way, and we end up at the back end of a project when it’s very difficult to take significant dollars out. You can always dial back the finishes and minimize some of the ornamental detailing, but the sad part is you’re downgrading to hit a construction budget.”

To illustrate proven value engineering tactics for the custom home building market, Hidey put together this side-by-side comparison of two homes designed in 2002 (before VE) and 2012 (after VE efforts). The concepts include condensed program spaces (no living room or family room); simplified, functional outdoor spaces; a simplified roof structure; and the elimination of recessed and shaped window openings.

Example Before Value Engineering:



After Value Engineering:




Working With Architectural Review Boards

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

If I’m going to build my new custom home in an established Colorado Springs community or neighborhood, why do I have to submit my plans to an Architectural Review Board?  Why can’t I just build what I want to?  As a design/build firm in The Pikes Peak Region, we are sometimes asked these questions by our clients.  Understanding the thought process behind Architectural Review Boards and what they actually do usually alleviates any concerns the potential homeowners may have. 

 

These boards are set up either by the developer of the community or by the residents themselves to help maintain the aesthetic harmony of the community.  Chances are, if you’re going to buy property in a community, you already like what you see – either the look of the homes, the amenities, or the feel of the neighborhood.  The Boards make sure that it continues to stay that way.  They establish and publish a set of guidelines which gives you the philosophy of the community and the procedures for the new property owners to follow to ensure a smooth process.

 

The Board usually consists of current homeowners, most of whom usually have some kind of background in residential construction, either as architects, home designers, or builders.  Their main task is to protect the property values of the community while encouraging a diversity of design styles and materials.  They are not there to tell you what to build, but to ensure that what you build enhances the environment.  With that in mind, they may offer suggestions on how to tweak your house plans while still accommodating individual tastes and preferences. 

 

The main items that a Board looks for when they review proposed plans are: 

  • A home that is consistent in design and scale within its chosen architectural style;
  • Color and material selections that present a pleasing exterior appearance and color palette with approved building materials; and
  • the diversity of materials within the context of the surrounding area, more specifically the street where the home will be located.

 What follows is a typical experience with an Architectural Review Board: 

  • Final Design Review – You will submit final drawings and all applicable details of the plans, as well as final exterior material and color selections.  Most Boards will require that your home and driveway be staked for their inspection before final approval is given.
  • Landscape Review – At some point in construction, you will submit your landscape plan for review.  It will indicate which plantings you have selected for the site and their locations.
  • Most Boards require the payment of some type of fees.  If a construction deposit is required, it will be returned once construction is complete. 
  • At any time during construction, if the exterior design, materials, or colors change, another submittal will be required for those changes.
  • Just remember that the Architectural Review Board has the best interests of the community in mind when they review your plans - they look at the big picture.  Ultimately, it is for the betterment of your property value as well.

 

If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online at Comito Building and Design.

Cheap vs. Value

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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

As we enter our 4th year of economic downturn with the resultant stresses in the housing market the temptation is greater than ever to go “cheap.” Cheap lots, cheap architects, cheap builders, cheap subs, cheap materials and components and on and on…..

Unfortunately “cheap” almost never equates to good value. While it’s true that many things involved in building cost less than 4 or 5 years ago, there is still no free lunch.

Do you really want to buy a lot that is cheap but offers no view, challenging conditions and is not in a quality area?

Do you really want to hire a cheap designer or architect or draftsman who can’t really spend the time necessary to sweat the details?

Do you really want to commission a builder that is foregoing a reasonable profit to survive but that will be gone soon – maybe while building your home? Or, one that hires the cheapest subs with little talent?

Do you really want to accept inferior lumber, windows, insulation, cabinetry, floor coverings, etc. etc. to save a few bucks? Only to be disappointed and face the prospect of replacing them too soon?

Common sense tells us that a superior home will cost more than an inferior home. A superior home, built by a quality builder with a proven track record, will be built with quality as its theme from the foundation to the final finish details. It will be built to exacting standards, according to a plan that has been carefully prepared by an accomplished architect and builder.

All of us have to find ways to cut cost and offer high quality homes for less in order to be successful. But we also must focus on perfecting performance and customer care as our reputation is on the line with every home we build. If you only want cheap, it’s easy to find – and it’s everywhere. I submit that value is what you really should be looking for.