Charlotte Custom Home Builder Offers Home Theater Tips

Just a few years ago, home theaters were considered luxuries for Charlotte's rich and famous. Today, however, they are quickly becoming middle-class must-haves. The quality of home theater equipment has been increasing while the prices have been decreasing.

As those prices have fallen and demand has risen, Charlotte custom home builders have been pushed to develop more flexible and affordable home theater options. Bulky, big-screen televisions and movie projectors have been replaced by sleek plasma screen and LCD televisions that can be hidden when not in use. Speakers are no longer eyesores taking up valuable space and, instead, can be seamlessly built into walls and ceilings.

"Today, installing a home theater is more convenient and affordable than ever," says Adam Ferrara of Beck Design Group. "As a result, more and more Charlotte homeowners are enjoying a movie-theater experience from the comfort of their own home."

If you are thinking about adding a home theater to your Charlotte home, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Room Requirements

In the past, homeowners were required to dedicate an entire room for their home theater. Today, however, many Charlotte homeowners are creating multipurpose rooms for their theaters. Regardless of whether the room is dedicated exclusively to a home theater or a multifunction room, the following elements are vital to creating a home theater you can enjoy:

• Square or Rectangular Room
• Enclosed
• Standard-Height Ceiling
• Windowless
• Controllable Light
• Home Theater Seating

Selecting Your Video Source

Choosing the type of video source can be an overwhelming decision for many homeowners. With so many choices available, it is important to know your needs. If you need a screen under 42 inches, for example, an LCD is the best choice because they're offered in a wider variety of sizes. If energy conservation is a concern, LCD would be the more energy efficient choice as well.

If you need a screen over 42 inches, a plasma screen is the best choice because they begin at 42 inches. These screens are a more affordable option when you're in the market for a larger screen. Plasma would also be the best choice if your viewing area is wider because they offer larger viewing angles.

On the other hand, if you want a crisp, large image, a projection system is the best option. "If you decide to use a projection system, the quality of the projector and screen are very important," says Ferrara.

Consider Audio Quality

The video and audio are the two most important components of a home theater. The goal of a home theater is to recreate a movie theater experience. The audio quality can have a big impact on whether this is accomplished.

"The audio quality is one of the most important elements of a home theater, yet it's also one of the most overlooked elements," says Ferrara. "When you're picking out the components for a home theater, keep in mind that the audio elements can hugely impact the overall experience. We recommend a high-performance audio surround sound system to recreate the movie theater's 360-degree sound coverage.

Seek Professional Assistance for Best Results

While these are only a few of the elements to consider when designing a home theater, they're enough to overwhelm most Charlotte homeowners. Designing and installing a home theater is an extremely technical process. A professional can recommend the best products and design for your space, while staying within your budget.

Stay tuned! In the next few weeks, we will highlight one of Beck Design Group's recent home theater projects that provides great examples of these elements in practice.

If you would like to learn more about creating a home theater that meets your budget, while still providing high-end performance, call Adam Ferrara with Beck Design Group at 803-746-7908 or email Adam. We look forward to helping you create a welcoming space for you and your family to enjoy a movie theater experience from the comfort of your home!

Fort Mill Custom Home Builder Finishes Another Project

We’re pleased to announce that we recently completed another custom home building project in Fort Mill’s Trinity Ridge neighborhood! This custom crafted home is an elegant combination of English cottage and Tudor. Located on a beautiful lot with ample yard space, this home is the perfect place to raise a family.

This stunning 4,000 square-foot home uses an open floor plan that marries a gourmet kitchen and large breakfast area with a comfortable family room, expansive foyer, and music room.

This newly constructed home displays beautiful details and custom built-ins throughout.  It also offers a three-car garage with an epoxy-finished floor, a mudroom with custom built-in cubbies, and a spacious laundry room. Whether it’s the arched doorways or the beautiful stone fireplace, Beck Design Group’s attention to detail is front and center.

“For this custom home building project, we were working with a client who had a great eye for detail,” says Adam Ferrara with Beck Design Group. “We take great pride in our reputation for quality craftsmanship, but this project sets a new standard for quality construction.”

Custom Built Kitchen

One of the most talked-about features of this home is its gourmet kitchen. This gorgeous kitchen has a spacious and convenient layout that opens into the greatroom. The custom cabinetry features inset doors and upper cabinets with rain glass and display lighting.

This designer kitchen also features Kamarica granite countertops imported from Brazil, gorgeous subway tile backsplash, and a large butler’s pantry. Other notable kitchen amenities include:

• Stainless Steel Appliances
• Viking Gas Range
• Viking Refrigerator
• Kraus Faucet and Sink

Built-In Coffee System
Another amenity we wanted to highlight is the Thermador built-in fully automatic coffee system. This modern luxury delivers customized cups of coffee or espresso with the press of a button. Talk about convenience!

This system’s built-in design allows it to provide benefits beyond just dispensing your morning cup of coffee. For example, it frees up valuable counter space that would normally be taken by the coffee maker.

To learn more about this project or to discuss how you can implement any of these gorgeous features into your home, call Adam Ferrara with Beck Design Group at 803-746-7908 or email Adam. We look forward to working with you to create a custom home that your family can enjoy for years to come!

Charlotte Custom Home Builder Uses Client Portal

At Beck Design Group, we pride ourselves on providing total service coverage for renovations, remodels, and custom home builds. This total service coverage includes the following:

• Design & Architecture Drawings
• Estimates & Budget Generations
• Total Budget Management
• Project Team Management & Selection
• Project Materials Selection Coordination
• Consultations & Interventions

In addition to these vital services, we’re also proud to offer a unique service to keep our clients “in the loop” and well informed: the Beck Design Group Client Portal.

The Beck Design Group Client Portal

Beck Design group is a new kind of personal-attention contractor. We ensure that every detail is handled and that our clients stay informed every step of the way. One of the ways we do this is through our Client Portal. This portal allows us to communicate with clients using one central location. If you have a question about any aspect of the project, you can simply login to the portal and see the answer for yourself. We take the guesswork out!

Below are a few examples of project materials that clients may view within the portal:

• Blueprints
• Permits
• Progress Photos
• Project Documents
• Site Photos

“The Client Portal provides a one-stop location for the project details,” says Adam Ferrara with Beck Design Group. “Not only do we take care of every detail for our clients, but we also provide them with a way to keep track of all of the details as well.”

Client Portal Designed for Charlotte Homeowners on the Go

At Beck Design Group, we realize that our clients have busy lives. Whether they’re traveling to and from work, taking the kids to school or soccer practice, going on family vacation, we’ve made it easy for them to stay in the loop.

To do this, we designed the Client Portal so that it is accessible from any device. This means you can access important project documents from your computer, mobile phone, iPad, or tablet.

“We wanted to make sure all of the project information was provided to the client in a manner that could be accessed from anywhere,” says Ferrara. “We wanted to ensure that you could access the important project documents even if you were using your mobile phone while on vacation at the beach.”

To learn more about the benefits of using a personal-attention contractor, please call Adam Ferrara with Beck Design Group at 803-746-7908 or email Adam. We look forward to showing you the difference total service coverage makes for renovations, remodels, and custom home builds!

Charlotte Outdoor Living Project Highlight: Outdoor Fireplace

Today, we’re excited to highlight the progress on one of our outdoor living projects in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood. For this project, we’re designing and building an outdoor living space with an outdoor fireplace.

“For this Myers Park project, we’re designing and building a custom outdoor living space,” said Adam Ferrara with Beck Design Group. “The space will include a seating area with the focal point being the outdoor fireplace.”

Outdoor Fireplaces Popular Additions to Charlotte Outdoor Living Spaces

Rather than retreating indoors at the first sign of cool weather, homeowners are extending the livability of their outdoor living spaces. One of the most popular ways to do this is by adding an outdoor fireplace.

Installed for their ambiance as well as their warmth, these fireplaces transform backyards into comfortable outdoor living rooms. They also provide a place for families to gather, regardless of the weather.

“Outdoor fireplaces continue to gain popularity,” says Ferrara. “As the demand for outdoor living spaces has grown in recent years, the demand for outdoor fireplaces leads the trend. For many Charlotte homeowners, an outdoor fireplace is an essential element of any outdoor living space.”

Additional Benefits of Outdoor Fireplaces

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, here are a few of the other benefits an outdoor fireplace can provide:

• Good source of lighting for your outdoor living space.
• Provides a vertical focal point and anchors the backyard.
• Extends the livable space of your home.

Beck Design Group can help you design and create your own custom outdoor fireplace. To learn more, call Adam Ferrara at 803-746-7908 or email Adam. We look forward to discussing how you can enhance your outdoor living space and enjoy the wonderful fall season!

New Fort Mill Custom Home Builder Ad in Baxter Village Bulletin

Check out our latest advertisement in this month's Baxter Village Bulletin! We're proud to be one of the top Baxter Village custom home builders and enjoy being a part of the community. Over the years, we've been able to be a part of so many great projects in the Baxter Village/Fort Mill area and have gotten to know so many great people. Below is a little more information about our experience and the services we offer.

Additions & Renovations

Our expertise is in the design build process to help create room additions, garage additions, renovations, and custom cabinetry. With our 10 years of custom remodeling experience, Beck Design Group continues to raise the bar on quality construction while delivering compelling results within your budget!

Outdoor Living & Covered Porches

Our passion is custom outdoor living and landscaped construction, screened/open outdoor rooms, patios, decks, outdoor buildings and landscape design. We design and build outdoor kitchens, dining and living areas that are perfect for entertaining. Take it outdoors and add more square footage to your home!

Call builder Adam Ferrara at 803-746-7908, email us at adam@beckdesigngroupllc.com, or visit our website to schedule a private meeting at your home to discuss your next project.

Fall Provides the Perfect Season for Charlotte Outdoor Living

Fall is right around the corner and we couldn’t be happier! At Beck Design Group, we love fall! Fall is the time when the weather becomes cooler, football season begins, the leaves change colors, and we celebrate Thanksgiving. Also, did we mention that football season starts?

While the summer months are perfect for entertaining outside, many Charlotte homeowners also like to take advantage of fall’s milder weather to host their guests outdoors. As a result, Beck Design Group usually sees a spike in interest for outdoor living spaces.

“Outdoor living areas are now considered a popular necessity for enjoying your home and entertaining guests,” said Adam Ferrara, owner of Beck Design Group. “Outdoor living spaces are also a great way to expand the overall livable square footage of your home.”

Outdoor Living Embraces Modern Styles

Today’s outdoor living spaces aren’t your average backyard spaces. These modern spaces incorporate fireplaces, installed grills, outdoor kitchens, integrated sound systems, televisions, and refrigerators. Thanks to the emergence of outdoor-specific appliances, these items that were once thought of as luxury items are now affordable. The notion of having a functioning outdoor kitchen is no longer unrealistic.

“Charlotte homeowners enjoy entertaining and want to create spaces that are inviting,” says Ferrara. “These outdoor kitchens provide the perfect place to gather and add convenience.”

Charlotte Outdoor Living Projects

At Beck Design Group, we work with Charlotte homeowners on designing and building custom outdoor living spaces. We offer the following outdoor living design/build projects:

• Decks and Patios
• Gazebos
• Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits
• Screened Porches
• Living Areas
• Outdoor Kitchens
• Built-In Grills

Beck Design Group can help you design and create your own custom outdoor living space. To learn more, please call Adam Ferrara at 803-746-7908 or email Adam. We look forward to discussing how you can enhance your outdoor living space and enjoy the wonderful fall season!

Charlotte Bathroom Remodeling Trends Help Increase Home Values

The volatile real estate market in Charlotte means that many homeowners are staying in their homes for longer periods of time. According to a recent survey by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, 87% of homeowners said they plan to stay in their homes one to twenty years longer than pre-downturn. As a result of this, many homeowners are turning to remodeling projects to update or repair their homes.

“We’ve seen a steady increase in Charlotte home remodeling projects,” says Adam Ferrara of Beck Design Group, a Greater Charlotte kitchen and bath remodeling company. “Homeowners are staying put so they want to make the necessary upgrades and updates in their homes.” 

One of the best ways to invest in your home is by remodeling your bathroom. Investing in a bathroom remodel has the ability to increase your home’s resale value and create a more personal space. 

“The truth is, according to most realtors, a bathroom renovation can help boost the resale value of your home and even possibly help it sell faster,” said Ferrara. 

Below are a few of Charlotte’s hottest trends in bathroom remodeling that can add to the overall value of your home.

Charlotte Bathroom Remodeling Trends

• More Spacious Showers – Homeowners are opening up the shower to give it a more luxurious feel. In smaller bathrooms, they are removing the tub to expand the shower.
• Dual-Flush Toilets – Homeowners and buyers are demanding green technology and energy-saving features. Duel-flush toilets are a hot new technology that uses more water to flush solids than to flush liquids.
• Automatic Lighting Dimmers – Leaving the light or the fan running increases your energy bill. These dimmers provide an automated solution that will turn the light and fan off after a certain period of time.
• More Storage Space – Homeowners and buyers are seeking more storage space. One way homeowners are creating this additional space is by moving away from two-bowl sinks in favor of one, leaving more counter space for storage. 

If you would like to learn more about the newest trends in Charlotte bathroom remodeling and how they can boost your home’s value, please call Adam Ferrara with Beck Design Group at 803-746-7908 or email Adam. We look forward to working with you and ensuring that you enjoy the time spent in your home, whether it’s one year or twenty!