Video Review: Costello Builders Custom Homes

Interested in learning more about Costello Builders and the types of homes that we create?

Check out this video review of one of our custom homes by Terrence and Sheila:


Owning a home is a big decision in itself; owning a home that you custom design and build is an even bigger one. While it may be a big decision to make, no experience is more rewarding that having your dream home built from the ground up. Terrence and Sheila have found lots of joy in their new home. This is why custom home building is such a great option.

Our focus at Costello Builders is on making dream homes into a reality. This Costello Builders review is a great example of our process and end goal.

Thanks for taking the time to watch this video and learn more about our custom home building solutions.

5 Things Homeowners Can Do to Save on Energy Costs

 

As a homeowner, saving on energy costs has two primary benefits; to reduce costs and to have less of an impact on the environment. Here are 5 ways that you can save on energy costs today:

1) Find a more efficient way to heat and cool your home

Every homeowner in Pennsylvania experiences the abrupt changes in temperatures that lead to higher heating and cooling costs. There is much talk about ways to save on energy costs in Pennsylvania because those who reside in the Keystone State may have their heating system fully on one day and reverse the temperature moderation the next. Whether or not you live in a state with wildly fluctuating temperatures, everyone is looking for ways to save on energy. Here are a few tricks that can have a major impact while heating and cooling your home:

Make sure that all vents are open and clean. This is a step that most people overlook, not fully understanding the importance of keeping their vents optimal for energy saving. Keeping all vents open and clean allows for proper airflow that will reduce the amount of energy used by your system.

Improve airflow to trap the right temperatures. Standing fans require far less power than your heating and cooling system and can circulate the air in your home properly. This means less work for your heating and cooling system, and thus, saving on energy.

2) Replace incandescent lights

Incandescent lights are on their way out. A ban has been placed on the manufacturing of the incandescent light bulb, as they no longer meet federal standards for energy efficiency. This is good news for those that are looking to save on energy costs but have not been fully educated on which bulbs to use. CFL (compact fluorescent) light bulbs are the new bulbs to use when looking to save energy. According to NPR, Americans would save a total of $700 million a year in energy costs if every household replaced just one incandescent bulb with an “Energy Star” rated CFL bulb.

3)  Install efficient showerheads to save water

When you use less water, you’ll also see savings in your gas or electric bill. Many experts say that water heating is the third most energy consuming function in your home.  Replacing your showerhead with new ones with less pressure while also taking shorter showers (yes, even in the cold winter) will greatly affect your energy bills.

4) Cook smarter

These tips work twofold, as they save on energy as well as your time in the kitchen. One of the most effective tips seems daunting at first, but save both time and energy in the long run. Planning ahead and cooking several meals at the same time will allow for smarter energy usage; less stopping and starting appliances greatly saves on energy. Other tips include adjusting the gas flame to never come up around the sides of your pans and making sure all lids (and the oven door) are closed unless you are checking on the food.

5)Wash clothes smarter

The biggest unnecessary use of energy when it comes to washing clothes comes from the heat in your dryer.  Trying with less heat is always a good idea, but there is an even more efficient way to dry. Using your dryer for just a few minutes to soften the clothes and then proceeding to line-dry is a great way to save on energy costs. Smaller and more frequent loads allow this task to feel less time consuming!

Homeowners who take the initiative to make changes like these typically find that the energy saving techniques are more than worth the effort.

Let us know if you have any other energy saving tips or tricks on Costello Builder’s Facebook page or by tweeting to us at CostelloBuild on Twitter!

Easy Summer Activities at Your Home

Now that the kids are home for the summer, there’s a chance they may let you know if they feel bored. Many kids seem to wait in anticipation all year for summer to arrive; only to be let down any time they aren’t on a looping rollercoaster or building a sandcastle among the roaring sound of ocean waves. For some parents, it seems as though their kids are never satisfied when making their own fun at the house.

Instead of getting upset or irritated by their natural need for constant activity, we should find ways to embrace and encourage their playful nature. Who knows, maybe we’ll even have some fun ourselves! Here are some easy summer activities for your home that should keep your kids occupied and allow some quality bonding time.

Use Tape for Games

Sometimes parents need to think like a child in order to keep their children occupied while staying at the house. Tape can be a helpful and creative tool for this. A simple roll of tape can be used for many games or activities.

If you have a child that collects toy cars, make a road or a race track on the carpet. Even the assembly of this activity can be great fun for children, let alone the finished product! Imagine the child’s excitement seeing their bedroom or the family living area slowly become a race track.

Tape can also be used for fun outdoor board games. Create a customizable board game on your deck or patio with activities within each square of the game. Come up with silly objectives or a simple scavenger hunt within the game to really ramp up the fun!

Camp Indoors

Obviously, camping outdoors is a great summer activity. However, families can’t always pitch a tent and camp outside any time their child is stricken with boredom. Indoor camping is a great alternative that kids seem to enjoy.  There is something about the unnatural use of rooms in the house that seem to keep children happily occupied. Tell ghost stories in the tent and use a candle or a lamp as a campfire!

Fun Creative Activities

Not every child is content sitting at a table with a paintbrush in hand. Some children need bit of silliness to explore their creative side. There are many ways to use household items to allow your children to do this while also having fun. If you have any leftover bubble wrap from your latest household purchase, let your kids use it to paint! Wrapping your child’s hands or feet for bubble wrap paintings may prove to be a fun activity while exploring their creative side!

Sponges are also another great tool for painting with your kids. Cut sponges into different shapes and lengths and let them paint something wild!

Help Your Kids Create Their Own Fun

Kids are very capable at keeping themselves occupied and creating fun for themselves. Many parents simply neglect to provide the right tools to allow this to happen. As we have explored, there are many ways that we can use regular household items to help our children have fun at home during the months of summer.
These suggestions are meant to get you started when thinking about home activities for your children. When you start thinking about potential activities in this way, the possibilities seem to be endless!

Let us know what easy summer activities your children enjoy on our Costello Builder’s Facebook page or on twitter at CostelloBuild!

Have a fun summer!

3 Ways to Improve Room Flow

"Room flow" can be a mysterious term. Many homeowners think of room flow as a highly ambiguous term with no real merit or visual proof. However, we believe that room flow is very real and very important. Proper room flow means that visitors standing in one room can look into another room without being jarred by a change in the look or feel in the style. It is always nice to have rooms that feel like a well-orchestrated plan.

Interested? Here are 3 ways to improve room flow in your house:

Synchronized Foundational Element

The coloring of your walls makes the most difference in how rooms feel and how a house works as a whole.  These are the essentials that need to flow before moving onto more intricate details.

 The best way to improve flow from room to room is with color variations.  This is a simple task which also saves on excess paint, but must be completed carefully. Color and paint variation is taking one base color from your home and mixing it with lighter colors for other rooms. We recommend using a dark base color and mixing it with white to add different shades from room to room. Ideally, using the primary color in the hallway and using different levels of variation between rooms creates wonderful flow when looking into rooms from a hallway.

Flooring for Flow

Your floors are the backdrop of your home. What you really want when exploring your flooring options is to have the same flooring throughout common areas in your home.  For instance, having the same flooring in the living spaces creates the proper backdrop for those areas and improves the overall flow of your home.

Well Placed Furniture and Accessories

Well placed furniture and accessories can also add to the flow of your house. The biggest tip for the placement of these items is to commit to either symmetrical or asymmetrical forms of balance for each room. While it doesn’t really matter which rooms have which, each room should be committed to one of these forms of balance.  Having an imbalanced room can disrupt the flow of the house and can create a jarring visual experience that can certainly be avoided.

Proper room flow is something that some homeowners may not take very seriously.  Once they see a home with an owner that considered room flow, however, they are bound to see and feel the difference.

Let us know if any of these tips helped you increase the room flow in your home! Visit our Costello Builder’s Facebook page or tweet at CostelloBuild on Twitter!

2014 Home Remodeling Trends

New years bring new trends for every industry, and home improvement is no exception. People are always looking for the next big thing to make their homes more modern and sophisticated. If you’re looking to approve the feel and functionality of your home, keep these home remodeling trends in mind.

1.       U-Sockets

Nowadays, people are plugged in to their smart devices 24/7, and these devices need to be charged all the time. However, charging all of your devices can take up a lot of your outlet space. But never fear – U-Socket is here! The new U-Socket wall plug is an outlet that also features two built-in USB ports to power devices including smart phones, tablets and digital cameras. The plug also has a smart sensor that allows it to power down when all devices are fully charged, which will save energy and save you money.

2.       Curb-less Showers

Curbed showers are becoming a thing of the past. A curb-less shower offers the highest level of accessibility for everyone in your family. Curb-less showers are very contemporary, and include features like concrete floors and glass doors. One note though – curb-less showers make it no longer possible for homeowners to take baths.

3.       Freestanding Tubs

Don’t worry, bathtime lovers – there’s a trend for you, too. Stand-alone tubs are a trendy alternative to having a curb-less shower. Freestanding tubs take up less space, making your bathroom look and feel bigger. They come in a wide array of materials and finishes, including wood, copper and enamel, and they often feature artistic accents. It’s a great sculptural element to make your home more elegant.

4.       Cobalt Blue

Bright colors are definitely “in” this year, and cobalt blue is a particularly hot one. Cobalt blue is eye-catching and energizing, so it’s a great color for adding some flair to your home. Consider using cobalt blue for accent walls, doors, furniture or even appliances.

5.       Quartz

Quartz is a cheaper alternative to using granite as your countertop material. It looks similar to granite and is just as durable. Quartz is also more flexible than granite, so it’s easier to work with during the installation process. Since it’s stain resistant and will never require any sealing, it’s a virtually no-maintenance material for your counters.

6.       Modesty

The clean, white, industrial look of 2013 will give way to a more relaxed and modest feel this year. Expect to see exposed stone and wood elements paired with earth shades, rounded edges and raw metal finishes.

7.       Universal Design

There has been an increased demand for homes that are universal, or homes that are easy to use for everyone – children, the elderly, people with disabilities, etc. Incorporating more multigenerational features can go a long way in making time at home a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Some of these features include larger door and hallways, countertop high appliances and walk-in bathtubs. Many universal homes have all of the living spaces on the first floor, such as bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. to ensure easy access for all. 

7 Pumpkin Decorations for Every Autumn Holiday

Image: Alex G. (cc)

Fall decorations are some of the most colorful and creative decorations of the year! With so many natural resources available in the fall, it would be a shame to not incorporate them you’re your home’s decorations. Whether you’re decorating for Thanksgiving, Halloween, or just autumn in general, here are some fun and creative ways that you can use pumpkins to spruce things up around the house!

1. Pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern

The Jack-O-Lantern is a classic Halloween decoration, so how could we not include it in our list of pumpkin decorations? An oldie-but-a-goodie, this trademark Halloween decoration will always be one of the symbolic figureheads of October 31st.

2. Pumpkin Planter Pot 

Image: Wayne Wilkinson (cc)

Another great way to decorate with pumpkins is to turn them into a festive fall planter. This is an especially nice decoration for the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table. Hollow out the center of the pumpkin and cut off the top. You can either put a layer of soil inside the pumpkin, or simply use the pumpkin shell as a vase. Place an arrangement of seasonal grasses and flowers inside the pumpkin, and you have a beautiful flower planter that will look great either inside or outside your home!

3. Indoor Pumpkin Candleholders

To add a seasonal, elegant look to your home’s interior, purchase several small pumpkins (sometimes called Jack-Be-Littles) and hollow them out just like you would a regular Jack-O-Lantern. Instead of carving a face into the pumpkin, however, simply use an electric drill to make a number of circular holes in the rind. Make as many, or as few, holes as you want, and put a tea candle inside the mini pumpkins. Arrange the candleholders on your dining room table or you living room coffee table and your family wil love the warm glow they give off. For very small pumpkins, it’s likely best to keep the pumpkin’s top removed while the candles are lit. However, if you make larger candleholders out of medium-sized pumpkins, you can safely leave the tops on.

4. Pumpkin Potpourri

Create a decoration that will also warm your home with the smell of autumn and Thanksgiving. Hollow out the inside of a medium to large pumpkin before using a spoon or other utensil to scrape off slivers of pumpkin rind from the inside. If you choose, you can also use some of the outer pieces of the pumpkin rind to add a darker color to your potpourri.

Bake the pumpkin rind slivers on a cookie sheet in the oven at about 110°F until the pieces are completely dry. Let them cool for approximately 3 hours. Next, take an orange and cut thin slices of orange onto a cookie sheet for drying. You can cook the orange slices the same way you did the pumpkin slices, at 110°F until dry. The orange slices will also need approximately 3 hours to cool. After both cookie sheets have fully cooled, mix the pumpkin and orange slices into a potpourri bowl and add several sticks of cinnamon and as many cloves as you like. You can also add a few drops of cinnamon oil or clove oil if you like. Place several bowls of the potpourri around the house to create a warm, lasting scent for your home.  

5. Metallic Pumpkin Accents

Image: Wonderlane (cc)

A big trend in decorating this Halloween is the use of pumpkins as metallic accents for flowerbeds and pumpkin/gourde arrangements. Simply purchase a can of metallic spray paint and paint the outside of your pumpkin. Arrange your metallic pumpkin accent in your flowerbed or by your other holiday decorations and you’re done! The metallic highlights provided by these kinds of pumpkins will add that little something extra to make your Halloween decorations really pop.

6.  Glitter Pumpkin Accents

Like the metallic pumpkin accents described above, glitter pumpkin accents provide that extra touch to any autumn arrangement inside or outside your home.  To create one, simply cover the exterior of any size pumpkin with glue or adhesive spray. Before the glue or adhesive dries, apply a glitter powder of your choice. In no time at all, you have a dazzling, colorful accent for any seasonal display.

7. Lace Pumpkin Accents

Lastly, lace pumpkin accents provide a unique and elegant way to decorate for fall. Simply purchase lace fabric in any color of your choosing and tie it to a pumpkin of any size. You can get very creative with the colors and sizes of lace pumpkin arrangements, with everything from traditional black lace on orange pumpkins to green lace on painted black pumpkins. This customized approach to pumpkin decorating is great because you can make your decorations match the décor of any room in your house!

There you have it! 7 fun and creative ways to use pumpkins to decorate your home! If you have ideas for pumpkin decorations that we haven’t mentioned already, please tell us about them in the comments section!

Should You Buy a Home or Build a New One?

Image: Leonid Mamchenkov (cc)

If you and your family want to move out of your current house but don’t know whether to buy a home or build a new one, look no further. There are pros and cons to both options but by considering each idea thoroughly, you’ll be able to make the decision that is best for you.

The Benefits of Buying a Home

The big pro of buying an already completed home is pretty easy to figure out: you don’t have to pay to build it. But there are also some other benefits to buying over building. For one, you don’t have to wait as long to move in. If you’re really dissatisfied with your current house and want a new place immediately, buying might be the path for you.

Another benefit of buying over building is that you have a template to work from in terms of interior design. With a new home, everything comes from your mind’s eye which can be a little overwhelming for some people. When you buy a home, you know ahead of time what space is available, how the rooms are laid out, how much yard space you have, etc. For some families, this is a more desirable situation. If, however, you know exactly what you want your house to look like, building a new home may be the better choice for you.

The Benefits of Building a New Home

When you choose to build your own home, you get a say in every aspect of how your house will look. You get to decide how many bedrooms you want, how many stories the house will have and what kinds of kitchen features will be installed.

In addition to custom designing the interior of your home, you also get to design the exterior of your home from the get-go. You can choose the siding and roofing and even where you want the windows and how big they should be. The possibilities are as endless, as long as you can finance your custom-made dream.

The Disadvantages of Building a New Home

Financing your new home can get rather pricey. Not only do you have to purchase the land, but you also have to pay for the construction of the house itself. Then there’s everything inside the house. You need to pay for plumbing, electrical hookups and heating and cooling systems. And then you have to pay for landscaping. That sounds like a lot, right? Well yes. But building a home may be the better option when you consider the disadvantages of buying a home from someone else.

The Disadvantages of Buying a Home

The benefits of buying a home may, at first glance, appear to outweigh the cost of building a new one. However, when you consider how much money most people spend fixing up their recently-purchased houses, building doesn’t seem so pricey. According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), homeowners in 2011 spent $79 million on household furnishings and equipment alone.

So while, at first, it may seem cheaper to buy rather than build, you need to consider the additional costs that you’ll rack up after purchasing someone else’s house. After you change the floor tiles, fix the leaks, buy furniture that fits, repaint, etc., you end up spending much more than you originally planned. Rather than buying an okay house and piling money into it over time, you might want to consider building the house you’ve always wanted right from the start.