Many of the trends that I saw at this year’s Design and Construction week are a continuation of the what I saw in 2016 and 2017.  I’m finding that homebuilding trends don’t typically change abruptly from year to year.  So the trends that I talked about in episode 5 and episode 55 still hold for this year.  But here is a list of a few new trends for 2018.




1.  Matte Black— Matte black was one the hottest finishes seen this year.  Matte black was seen in bathroom and kitchen faucets, on bathroom, kitchen and closet cabinetry, in lighting fixtures, hardware, on interior and exterior window finishes, interior and exterior doors, and in tile and countertops. Silver (chrome) and warm metal (brass) finishes are still very much on trend, but matte black was the newest kid on the block and was featured by many brands. 

To commemorate our 100th episode, I want to give you some of my favorite homebuilding and design tips that I’ve learned over the past 2 years of this podcast. I’ve learned so much, but these are some of the most relevant things.




We’ll go over 50 tips in this week’s mini lesson, but since this is the 100th episode, it only makes sense that I give you a list of 100 of the most important pieces of homebuilding knowledge that I've gained.  So we’ll go over 50 tips now and I’ll send you 50 more tips and tricks if you email me at info@BYHYU.com or you can get in touch with me through the "Contact Us"  tab above.



All you have to do is type the number "100" in the subject line and as a thank you for helping me get to episode 100,  I’ll send you a PDF of a list of 50 bonus tips, plus the 50 tips that we’ll cover in today, so you won’t have to take notes.  You’ll end up with a list of 100 of my favorite bits of homebuilding information.  Now don’t worry about me spamming you.  I wouldn’t do that. 




Before we get to the first 50 tips, I want to sincerely thank you for your loyalty and support and for encouraging me to keep the podcast going with your awesome reviews and kind emails.  I especially want to thank you for sharing the show with friends, family and coworkers by text, email and on social media.  You are the reason the show is doing so well. Since I’m not great with social media, I’ve been counting on you to spread the word about the podcast/blog and you’ve done that, so thank you.  




As we move forward with the podcast/blog, I’ll continue to give you quick tips, mini lessons and interviews that will help you make informed decisions about your homebuilding options, but when I actually break ground on my own project, I’ll be doing more regular project updates and I’ll tell you what materials, appliances, fixtures, and methods I’ve decided on and why.   Thank you again for all that you’ve done to help me over the past 2 years.  




Okay, let’s get into the first 50 most relelvant homebuilding tips.

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Solar energy harnesses the energy of the sun to power your house. A 2017 report from the International Energy Agency says that solar energy has become the world's fastest growing source of power--marking the first time that solar energy’s growth has surpassed that of all other fuels.




Most people who want to install a solar panel system are motivated to do so because either saving the planet is important to them and/or because saving money on their utility bills is important to them.  Either way, solar panel systems are tremendously beneficial. 




This week you'll get a basic overview of solar power systems, including the pros and cons of the different types of solar panels, the average cost, and the amount of maintenance needed.  We’ll also talk about leasing solar panels.




Before we get to the mini lesson, let’s go over a few Pro Terms: 
​On the grid, zero energy homes and off the grid.

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The refrigerator is one of the hardest working, most used appliances in a house. Back in the day, all they had were refrigerators with freezers on top and the main choice they had to make was color.  Remember harvest gold and avocado?

Today, we have so many choices in refrigerators that I thought I’d do a quick episode covering the pros and cons of each type of refrigerator to help us choose the best fridge for our new homes.  



We’ll talk about top freezer refrigerators and bottom freezer refrigerators, french door  refrigerators and side by side refrigerators, counter depth fridges and full refrigerator columns.   Plus I’ll tell you the rule of thumb for the amount of fridge space you need in cubic feet.

A few weeks ago I had to go to my architect and tell him I had completely forgotten to put a very important space in our house plan.  It hadn't even crossed my mind until I saw my husband putting up our Christmas decorations.  He’s the Christmas decorator, not me.  And he is quite the decorator.  He goes all out, so we will definitely need a dedicated space for our Christmas decor.  Just a couple of weeks ago we added a Christmas nook to our attic.  




This week I'll give you a few quick tips to help you design and build a house with the holidays in mind.  Putting in a little extra thought and planning in before we build will make holiday decorating a lot easier and more enjoyable.   Now, I’ll be referring to Christmas for most of these tips, but these ideas should be helpful for those celebrating Hanukkah and other seasonal holidays.


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Lets get right to those quick tips.

If you’re like most of us, you’re dreaming of a spacious, well organized master closet.  A walk in master closet is what most people will op for, but if you’re limited by space or budget, you might have go with a reach in closet.  This week we’ll talk about the advantages of walk in closets versus reach in or wall closets, whether flat shoe shelves, slanted shoe shelves or shoe cubbies are better.  And we’ll go over open storage versus closed storage, plus the different materials used to fabricate closets.


Before we get to the mini lesson, let’s go over a couple of pro terms:


PRO TERMS
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Wall Hung Closet Systems and Floor Mounted Closet Systems

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Well BYHYU, I’m still coughing and a little hoarse, so I’ll make this post/podcast a really quick one, but I want to give you an update on my project and give you a few things to think about when designing your house.




First, let me address the Private BYHYU Facebook group I asked you about a few weeks ago.  I think it’s best to hold off on it for a while.  I’ll revisit that decision in a few months, maybe when I actually start building.   But thanks to all of you who wrote in expressing your interest in a group page.  I think it’s a great idea, and maybe we’ll have more people willing to participate in a few months.  You can still contact me to let me know that you're  interested in participating in the Facebook community group page.  Just message me through the contact page on this site or on the regular, public BYHYU Facebook page



Okay, let’s get right into that project update.

I recently wrote a guest blog post for a home improvement site called Kukun.  I thought you might like to hear the tips that I gave them for finding a good subcontractor (the post was actually on how to find a good electrician, but the tips apply to finding any good sub). 



I’ve covered many of these tips in several different previous podcast episodes, but  I want to go over all those tips in one single show so you can reference this week’s show notes when it comes time for you to search for your subs.  Plus I’ll give you a couple of new suggestions.

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Okay, let's get right to it.

Most of us have to consider budget when making decisions about our dream homes.  And some budgets are tighter than others.  So this week, I’ll give you some tips on the best places to save when building a house versus areas where you should splurge.


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Before we get to that, let's define a Pro Term: Value engineering.




Value engineering is term that you might hear some architects and contractors use when talking about saving money when building a house. Value engineering is an economical way of building that removes excessive costs, but preserves good design. In other words value engineering aims to lower the cost of building without lowering functionality.  That’s achieved by spending in some areas and saving in others.



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So, our tips this week will focus on value engineering.  Let’s get to it.

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​Since we compared front load washers and top load washers in last week’s mini lesson, it only makes sense that we cover dryers this week.  We’ll talk about gas versus electric dryers and cover some of the more popular dryer options, such as steam dryers and dryers with moisture sensors.  Plus, we’ll go over some best practices for installing the dryer vent system— what you can request that will decrease your risk of a dryer fire.

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Too often I hear homeowners talking about washers as if they were solely decorative items.  I'll often hear questions like “Do you like the burgundy or the navy blue washer better?” 



Listen, I like beautiful appliances as much as anyone else, but it’s also important to strongly consider functionality and performance when purchasing an appliance that’s as hard working as a washer. This week we’ll compare traditional top loading washers with front loading washers and I’ll tell you about the pros and cons of each.    



But let’s start with 2 pro terms this week.  We haven’t done that in a while.



Our pro terms this week are agitator and impeller.  Both agitators and impellers are used in top load washers to help get clothes clean.  Let’s start by talking about agitators.

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Oh My Goodness.  I’ve had such an eventful month.  First of all, my computer died last week, which is why I didn’t have an episode for you.  But I got a new MacBook Air a couple of days again, and I’m back in business.




Because of trouble with my computer and because I wanted to do something a little different, I spent more time away from the internet and library this month. I did more  research out in the field.  




At the beginning of the month, I went to the Kansas City Parade of Homes.  And this past week, I ventured out to different homebuilding job sites in an attempt to gather names and contact information for some subcontractors who I could potentially hire for my project. So, this episode will cover some lessons that I’ve learned this past month.  



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Let’s start with the most shocking thing that I was informed about, which inspired the title of this episode.  

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This week we’ll learn some interior design basics, especially as it pertains to new and remodeled homes.  You’ll hear my conversation with Betsy Helmuth, owner of Affordable Interior Design and host of her own interior design podcast called Big Design, Small Budget.  It’s one of my new favorites.  I just love it and here’s why: In the same way this podcast simplifies and demystifies homebuilding concepts, Betsy, on Big Design Small Budget, simplifies and demystifies interior design.  So, to go along with BYHYU’S tips and tricks for building your dream house, Betsy gives strategies for decorating your dream house.


And she really knows her stuff.  She’s appeared on the Today Show, HGTV, DIY Network, CBS, NBC, plus she’s been featured in dozens of magazines and newspapers.



Today you’ll hear her expert opinion on what to do and where to start when designing rooms from scratch.  Betsy will tell us what fixtures and finishes should stay consistent throughout the whole house, and when it’s ok to add in different color palettes and styles.  We’ll also hear why Betsy says that investment furniture and an all-neutral rooms are no-no’s. ​

I recently got a request from a listener named Don.  He asked me to discuss home generators.  On the heels of so many storms that have affected the United States and the Caribbean, we definitely need to at least consider installing a home generator. They can provide power during the outages that often accompany major storms.  Thank you, Don, for a great show idea.  Let’s get right to it.




There are 2 general types of generators that can be used during power outages— standby generators and backup generators. ​

So this week I have a project update.  A few weeks ago I told you about the trouble that I had getting my house plans started  in episode 79 called My house plans— back to the drawing board.  


But now, I have a good report.  I’ll tell you about the treasures that I’ve found since recording that episode, including a markup tool that I used to tweak my house plan and the person that I’ve got helping me.

You’ve probably  dreamed about having a fireplace in your living room, master bedroom, your outdoor living space, or even your master bathroom.  Fireplaces these days are far more than a practical source of heat.  That’s why people not only in Vermont and Michigan want them, but people building homes in California, Texas, and even Las Vegas plan to have fireplaces installed in their dream homes.  Fireplaces add beauty, character, coziness and drama to almost any space and they also add to the perceived value of a house.



This week, we'll go over the pros and cons of the different types of fireplaces, including wood burning, gas, electric and alcohol burning/ethanol fireplaces.



Let’s start with wood burning fireplaces.

 

​Last week we talked about the pros of cons of the different types of pool construction. After you decide what type of pool structure you want, you’ll have to decide want type of sanitization system you’ll use to keep your pool  free of bacteria, viruses and algae. 



​The most common systems are chlorine, saltwater, and ultraviolet light. Let’s briefly go over each system and discuss the advantages of each.

This week’s episode will give you the pros and cons of different types swimming pools in hopes of helping you decide whether your dream house should even include a swimming pool, and if so, what kind.   We’ll compare vinyl, fiberglass and concrete pools this week, and next week we’ll talk about sanitation systems, including chlorine, saltwater and ultraviolet light systems.  Let’s begin today’s lesson by briefly discussing how a pool might impact the resale value of your house.

Even if, like me, you want hardwood, tile and/or vinyl flooring throughout most of your house, many of us love the warmth, style and soft surface that carpet provides, especially in bedrooms.  Carpeting also muffles sound, so it can be especially practical in kids bedrooms or playrooms.




This week’s episode will give you a better understanding how to choose quality carpeting.  Carpeting that should last you at least 15 or 20 years.

This week we have the final part of my interview with Sue Burkett, Strategic Marketing Leader for Owens Corning.  She’s educating us about how we can make a statement with roof color, using Owens Corning roof shingles.

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The roof plays a huge part in your home's aesthetics.  If you think of the front of your house as if it were a face, then the roof is like hair.  And roof color, like hair color, can drastically alter overall appearance and reflect your personal style.



Let’s take a listen/look at the final part of my interview with Sue, as she tells us how roof color can make our homes uniquely personal.

​Too often we think of our home’s roof as only a structural element, when, in fact, choosing roofing that’s also stylish and unique is a great opportunity to make our house stand out from others in the neighborhood.  On average, a roof accounts for 40% of the home’s exterior appearance.  So choosing the perfect roof color is vitally important in building a distinctive and attractive dream home.




This week, and next week, we’ll hear about Owens Corning Roofing. Now, you probably know Owens Corning’s insulation by its signature pink color.  But they also produce other products for the home, including roofing.  Sue Burkett will tell us about Owens Corning roof shingles, which come in many beautiful hues that are tasteful, but far from ordinary.




Let’s get right to it.  Here’s the first part of my interview with Sue Burkett, Strategic Marketing Leader for Owens Corning.

This week we’re talking about dishwashers. We’ll cover some of the newest and most popular options that you’ll have to choose from when selecting a new dishwasher.  Since most of our homes already had a dishwasher installed when we bought them, many of us have never had to shop for a dishwasher. I’m hoping these 12 quick tips will help you narrow your choices.



Before we get to that, shouts out go to Jamie and Ankur for their 5 star ratings and reviews.  Thank you both for taking the time to let me know that you like the podcast.  Ankur lives in Australia and says “Your podcast is simply awesome and just what an aspiring home builder needs.” Jamie, who’s here in the US, and is actually in the construction industry says, in part,  “My new home will certainly be better because of your help and tips. Thanks.”   


I want thank you both for those kind words and I also want to thank all of you who sent me encouraging emails and offers to help with my house plan after hearing last week’s episode.  I cannot even express how much comfort and support I felt. You’re the best. 
I appreciate so much.


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Alright, ready to get into our 12 dishwasher quick tips?

​"I was dissed and I don't know why."  That could have been the title to this week's post.
This will be a short and probably surprising update on my project.  I’ve hit a stumbling block--actually two.   But, I’m working through it. 


If you typically read the blog posts here, this week, you might want to listen on the player above.  I'm not sure I can effectively communicate my level of frustration or confusion  in writing.

If you’ve decided to hire a builder to be your general contractor, site supervisor, or even a consultant for the construction of your new house, there are a whole slew of questions that you’ll want to ask him (or her) before you commit to working with him. 



There’s the basic list of questions that you’ve probably heard before.  These are questions that most people ask when they're vetting, or investigating, a builder.   I bet you can guess many of them:

-Are you licensed and insured?
-How many years have you been building?
-What kind of warranty do you offer?
-How do you handle change orders?
-How many homes do you typically have under construction at one time?
-How often should I expect updates from you?
-Have you ever owned a construction company under a different name? 
      
You’ll want to ask this so you can pull up the better business bureau reports from all            construction companies owned by that builder.

-And finally, you should also ask him to provide me with a list of references?  

Remember to ask for the names of a few clients from the last couple of years and a few clients from 10-15 years ago.  That way, you’ll not only get to talk to people about the builder’s current work habits, but you’ll also get some idea of how his work holds up over time.




This isn’t an exhaustive list of questions, but those are some of the more common questions that homeowners ask builders that they’re considering for their projects.  Now,  you should definitely start with those questions,  but realize that even the most mediocre builder will have acceptable answers for those questions.




Since you’re listening to this podcast/reading this blog post, I’m pretty sure, you don’t want just a mediocre builder or a mediocre home.  Most of us want to a build high quality home that’s comfortable, durable and energy efficient.




So, last week, when I came across a blog post called “10 questions to ask your prospective builder,” I wanted to share those questions with you.  Those questions go beyond what the average homeowner typically asks.   The list of questions comes from one of my favorite websites, energyvanguard.com.  We’ll cover 9 of those 10 question today.

I know what you’re thinking… Really, Michelle? A full mini lesson on kitchen sinks. White or stainless steel.  What else is there to choose?  What’s the big deal?  



Well, even if, like me, you don’t cook most days of the week, you do probably use your kitchen sink every single day, and probably several times a day.  



The kitchen sink is one the hardest working fixtures in the entire house.  So, we need to choose the best sink for our kitchen routine and our kitchen design. 




Some sink materials are tougher than others.  Taking the time to become familiar with different sink features and materials will help you find a sink that will make your kitchen look great and function well. This week we’ll go over the pros and cons of the most common kitchen sink materials, then I’ll give you a few tips for choosing the best sink size and style for your home and habits.




Before we get to this week’s mini lesson, let’s go over this week’s Pro Term:  Farmhouse sink