If you’re planning to build a custom home, you’re probably already feeling it… that mix of excitement and “oh-my-gosh-there-are-so-many-decisions” anxiety before you build your home. Let me reassure you …  You’re not behind.  You’re not doing it wrong.  And you don’t need to have all the answers yet. But before you dive into floor plans, […]

Building a custom home is one of the most exciting (and overwhelming) projects you’ll ever take on. You’ll make hundreds (and hundreds) of decisions … selecting flooring, counters, paint colors, exterior materials, and SO. MUCH. MORE. But what about the small details that often get overlooked? That’s what we’re talking about in this episode. I’m […]

One of the biggest concerns when building a custom home is going over budget. However, YOU don’t have to fear this because I know it’s possible to build within (or very close to) budget … you just need to know where to splurge and save when building your home. In this episode, I’ll walk you […]

This episode is for anyone out there who is building a lake house and, more specifically, looking for trending exterior paint colors for lake houses in 2025. I decided to record this episode because, ironically, a significant number of my clients inside BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ are planning to build a lake house.  For some, it’s […]

I love (LOVE) the look of this calming neutral family room, but it’s just a little out of my price range (ok, a lot out of my price range)! The good news … I created a similar Serena & Lily look for less than half the cost. A low decor budget does NOT mean your […]

Hey! Welcome to the Before You Build podcast! I’m your host Carrie Barker (a.k.a. Caroline on Design) and in today’s episode, I have actually switched gears. This episode was supposed to be about home exterior design trends that we’ll see in 2024. However, I decided on a whim to talk about home exterior design classic […]