Custom home building is no small feat, especially when it comes to the intricacies of interior design selections. To help demystify the process, we’ve teamed up with Jill Dick, Design Consultant with Bob Webb Homes, Central Ohio’s premier custom builder with over 60 years local experience. Jill will be sharing her expert insights and experiences in interior design selections and the custom home building process in this article.
But first, a little about where we are today—the Bob Webb Design Center located in Lewis Center. This incredible studio is a testament to Becky Webb’s commitment to innovative interior design and the custom build process. We highly recommend scheduling a private tour via their website, www.bobwebb.com, to experience it firsthand. To say that we are impressed is an understatement. From award winning kitchen designs to the backyard pool and patio that your neighbors will envy – Bob Webb can do it all, and this studio has been helping makes many Central Ohioans dreams a reality.
The Custom Home Building Process
Building your custom home may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Understanding the steps to building a custom home can make the experience smoother and more enjoyable. Additionally, choosing a builder with the level of proven experience as Bob Webb, and a documented process will ensure success and a simply stunning custom-built home.
Why Custom Build?
Unmatched Personalization
Custom interior design allows you to create a space that fits your needs and tastes perfectly. Custom home builders work closely with clients to ensure that every detail aligns with their vision and in no area is this more readily seen than Interior design selections.
This includes incorporating special fixtures and layouts that enhance functionality. The goal is to create a home that meets the client’s specific needs and preferences. A smooth and choreographed Collaboration between the builder, designer and client is key to achieving a successful outcome.
- Unique Designs: No two custom-built interiors are the same, offering a level of individuality that production building can’t match.
- Perfect Fit: Custom solutions ensure that design selections are tailored to fit your space perfectly, eliminating awkward gaps or ill-fitting pieces.
- Expert Guidance: Consulting and aligning with highly experienced experts during the custom home building process offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance not only the outcome, but the overall experience as well. . Experienced professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and a keen eye for detail, ensuring that every aspect of your home meets high standards of quality and functionality.
- Stress Reduction: By managing the complexities of the building process, experts can substantially reduce stress, allowing you to focus on the excitement of creating your dream home.
Quality and Craftsmanship
When you opt for custom design, you’re investing in quality. Skilled artisans and craftsmen use superior materials and techniques to create pieces that are not only beautiful but also durable.
- Higher Quality Materials: Custom builds use premium materials that stand the test of time.
- Attention to Detail: Craftsmen pay meticulous attention to every detail, ensuring a flawless finish. (Examples: Post frame re-walk and gap insulation additions)
- Enduring Investment: Choosing custom design is not just about immediate aesthetics or functionality; it’s also an investment in your future. Custom-built homes tend to have a higher resale value, attributing to their uniqueness, high-quality materials, and superior craftsmanship. A well-designed custom home can age gracefully, maintaining its charm and efficiency for years to come, thereby offering excellent long-term value.
Building Your Custom Home with Bob Webb – The Design Process
Interview with Jill Dick
Q: How long have you been with Bob Webb helping clients with the design process?
A: I’ve been with Bob Webb for 18 months, but I started in my first design studio back in 1999.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I was born and raised in Columbus. I moved to Lexington, Kentucky at the age of 20 and stayed there for almost 10 years. After various jobs, I found my passion for design, which has been my focus since 1999.
Q: What do you feel is unique about the Bob Webb design process?
A: We aim to complete all selections before digging begins, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Our smaller company size allows us to provide personalized attention, making sure our clients are always taken care of.
Q: What’s your favorite part of the Bob Webb design process?
A: My favorite part is working with clients and making sure they are happy. It’s exciting to help someone figure out their home. Budgets are important, but helping clients find the look they want within that budget is always rewarding.
Q: How would you recommend a client prepare for a Bob Webb design appointment with you?
A: Appointments are typically broken down into different areas. For the Exterior appointment, it is helpful to have thoughts on what colors they may want to use on their new home’s exterior. It is important to not come into the appointment locked into one color, because their community may have specific requirements in the use of colors/materials that need to be followed. So, it is helpful to have ideas, but to be open to other possibilities. Interior selections take place over multiple meetings – and I like to share with the homeowners what we will be discussing at the next meeting so they can be prepared. We start with the bigger pieces of the puzzle and work our way down to the little details of the home. So, we start with the main flooring and kitchen area, then the primary bath, then the next largest space. Once those large spaces are tackled, we can work on the details of the home.
Q: Do they have an expectation of how long the appointment should take?
A: It is partially driven by the size of the home. Typically, I budget one hour for the selection and completion of the exteriors; and I budget three to four Interior selection appointments, each a three-hour session. After three hours everyone’s brain seems to tire, we’ve looked at a lot of color and a lot of options; and I want folks feeling confident in the choices they are making. Of course, if we are working with an out-of-town homebuyer who has limited time in town for selections, we find a way to press on to make the best use of their time in town. We simply make sure to get a break in the middle of the appointment. Then, when all decisions are made, we have one final appointment that lasts roughly 2-3 hours. At this appointment we are auditing all selections as they have been recorded for accuracy, and the homeowners are signing off – confirming that these items recorded are the items they have selected for their new home. While it can be the most boring appointment, it is definitely the most crucial – since all materials are ordered and installed based off of this paperwork.
Q: Do you do you advise clients before they come into these appointments to bring photos videos anything from online like things that they like I saw this like Pinterest?
A: Pinterest is great! Yes, story boards and inspiration pictures are awesome! My best advice is to not get focused on a specific tile, for example, because that may not be available either in this region or the picture could be older and that tile is no longer available. Focus on the vibe that you like in the picture rather than a specific product. I once had a client, before the internet, that could not tell me what she liked. She could show me what she didn’t like, and brought in 15 different books to explain that to me. And that is truly helpful. Pictures often convey what can’t be put into words.
Q: If someone is building with Bob Webb, do they have options outside of what’s in here in the design studio?
A: In most cases, yes. However, I advise homebuyers that once they leave the materials offered thru our Studio, they could potentially pick materials well outside of their budget. For example, our Studio is located inside the America’s Floor Source showroom; so homebuyers are walking thru all kinds of flooring options on their way into their appointment. Our team has worked hard to procure the best flooring options at the most budget conscious levels; when we go outside of the Studio offerings, we have less control over the pricing, etc.
Q: OK, give us the scoop, what trends are you seeing that you’re on board with?
A: I really like that the “guidelines” for selecting finish materials has changed. Everything is more relaxed. For example, when I started with my first builder it was common practice to have the floor color match the kitchen cabinets and the brass door hardware match the brass kitchen cabinet hardware. Things have loosened up – and that allows for a more creative, curated look. Also, I have always loved working with tile, and have a little bit of a tile background; so I do appreciate that tiles are getting larger…there are fewer grout lines to deal with for one thing! The world in general is trying to become lower maintenance, I mean, who has the time? Unfortunately, because it is a newer trend and also more labor intensive, it is more of a premium price point. But it is a possibility to consider if you want fewer grout joints to care for over time.
Wrapping Up
We are so grateful to Jill for spending some time with us today, and sharing her expertise! Feeling inspired? Book a call with Bob Webb today and start building your dream home with award-winning kitchen designs, outdoor kitchen designs, and stunning backyard pools. Visit www.bobwebb.com to get started! If you would like a list of active MLS listings, please visit www.TheOhioHomeStore.com.
