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 […]

Over the years, one of the most common questions readers and students have asked me is what I would change if I built my home again. Honestly, there isn’t much I would change about my house (even after 9+ years of living in it), but you’re here because you want to learn from others’ regrets […]

Preparing to build your dream home can be an extremely overwhelming project … especially if you’ve never done it before. There are a million and one things you need to know before building a custom home. However, I’m going to make this easier for you and get you started by recommending four of my blog […]

Are you dreaming of building a house but the financial unknowns, including the cost to build a new home, have you up at night questioning whether or not this is the best decision for your family? Are you wondering if it would be easier (and cheaper) to just buy an existing home (although you can’t […]

I recently received a frantic email from a reader in response to the volatile new construction lumber prices. Here’s what she said: ‘I don’t know how anyone can build within their budget right now. We are in the process of going over the plans for our new build and the costs keep jumping up. The […]

Counters are one of the most expensive finishes you will choose for your home … this fact ALONE makes this an overwhelming decision! Selecting a countertop doesn’t have to be hard though … all you need is a little info so you can confidently choose the best countertop for your home! I’ll compare three of […]