Home Building and Home Renovation Resources
BrightLeaf blogs are a collection of media, interactive tools, and digital sessions to help educate, inform, and empower you with the knowledge on everything homes, all things construction, real estate, and design.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your knowledge on the current real estate market or housing industry, understand what the latest interior or exterior design trends are, or need to know the right questions to ask when you’re thinking about building a home or that next remodeling project, our expert insights at BrightLeaf have you covered.
BrightLeaf’s mission is to change the way people live – through innovation. We fulfill this mission by providing a better way to get families in the home of their dreams through award-winning custom home building, remodeling, and expert real estate services.
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See The Latest BrightLeaf Insights Below
What’s Trending in Residential Ceiling Designs for Custom Homes?
Congratulations on beginning construction on your new high-ceiling house! Having your own luxury home is a great way to give…
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Build a Four Seasons Room in Your Custom Home
During the planning process of designing your dream custom home, you want to add value and functionality to your home.…
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Choosing Between a Single-Story or Two-Story Custom Home
Deciding between a single-story home and a two-story home for you and your family is a personal decision. There are…
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Choosing Appliances for Your Custom Kitchen
Your kitchen is one of the most important home investments you’ll make. It doesn't matter if you're remodeling an old…
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English Cottage Style Homes for the Modern Lifestyle
Some old-style homes are making back a triumphant entry in neighborhoods near you. English cottage-style homes come at the top…
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Why It’s Important to Choose a Professional Home Builder
Building a custom home is a huge investment. Therefore, you want everything to go as you've planned. There’s a lot…
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Home Addition Checklist: Set Your Project Up Like An Expert
When planning a home addition project, there are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration. After…
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High-End Elements to Incorporate into a Custom Home Build Design
Beauty lies in the little details. We have a firm belief in this statement, especially when it comes to high-end…
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What Makes Open Floor Plans So Popular?
People enjoy being in spacious, open surroundings. When there’s room to spread out and the home has a sense of…
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How to Build an Energy Efficient Home Using BrightLeaf’s Building Science
New construction means a better-built home, right? That's the assumption when it comes home building - and anything else "new"…
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Five Things To Know When Building A Luxury Custom Home
There is no place like home. This statement could not be truer when it comes to luxury custom homes. A…
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Why A Custom Built Home Offers More Value than Buying a Resale Property
Finding a new home is a daunting process. You search endlessly online, squeeze as many showings into your schedule as…
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Why You Need to Incorporate Flex Space Into Your Home
We can all relate to the need for flexible and adaptable spaces in our homes, even after the 2020 pandemic…
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Community Spotlight: The Chicago Suburb of Western Springs
Tree-lined streets, neighborhood parks, an active downtown, convenient location, great schools - these are just the highlights of the Chicago…
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Luxury Design Trends You Should Try in 2021
After the past year of remote-everything living, we’re sure you’re feeling a little uninspired by the current interiors of your…
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Why It Makes Sense to Fully Insulate Your Basement
We’ve fielded quite a few questions on why would it make sense to insulate foundation walls and basement slabs since…
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How to Maximize Your Design Using Your Lot
Just like any other custom home project, there are various aspects to consider before we recommend any concrete planning begins.…
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Why Is Now the Time to Build a Custom Home?
If you’ve ever fantasized about living in your dream home, you’re not alone. Millions of homeowners think about taking the…
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6 Amazing Tips to Design Energy-Efficient Homes
From sustainable techniques to conscientious sourcing, homeowners are embracing the green homes trend more and more. Nowadays, it’s all about…
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Designing and Building a Downers Grove Custom Home with a View
Say hello to our latest custom built home in Downers Grove! This five bedroom, four and a half bathroom home…
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15 Questions to Answer Before Hiring an Architect
You’re considering building a custom home. You feel inspired by the idea of crafting a space that perfectly reflects your…
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What effect do the latest interest rates have on custom home building?
Home shoppers were thrilled last year when interest rates dropped to unprecedented levels below 3%. The Fed dropped rates to…
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What is ice damming and how can I prevent it in my home?
The snow, wind, and freezing temps of a Chicago winter are brutal enough, but when you add the stress and…
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The Tale of The Zero Energy Ready Home That Survived Sub-Zero Temps Without Heat
In January 2019, energy usage, uncomfortable homes, high heating bills, and broken pipes became top of mind in the wake…
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15 Most Important Questions to Ask a Builder Before You Hire Them
Finding the right builder to work with can feel as daunting as building the home itself. You want to trust…
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The Benefits Of Designing Your Home With BrightLeaf
One of the most exciting parts of custom home building is developing the design for it. Good design isn’t just…
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There’s An App for That: How BrightLeaf Delivers Project Management & Peace of Mind
How BrightLeaf Delivers Project Management and Peace of Mind You’ve heard plenty of negative experiences – whether it’s from friends,…
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How a New Construction Home Can Improve Your Family’s Health
You’re planning to build a custom home in the future. You know how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want, the…
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What is the process of building a custom home?
Building a custom home can seem intimidating at first and you might not be sure where to start. This is…
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7 Elements of a Modern Farmhouse Home Build
Farmhouses are a picturesque and iconic design style in American culture that bring about feelings of wholesome comfort. However, the…
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How Long Does It Take To Build A Custom Home?
Timeline is often a very important piece of planning your custom home build and is a question that we receive…
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What Are My Options If I Want To Build A Home?
The time has come for a major upgrade to your living situation. Maybe you want to move due to a…
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Interior Design Hacks To Create More Space In Your Home
Creative Ways To Maximize Small Space With Design There are plenty of creative ways to make the best out of…
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Creating More Open Space With Natural Lighting & Intentional Design
While not everyone may think of natural light as a design element, illuminating your house can be a game-changer. Opening…
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What Is A Typical Budget For Remodeling A Home?
You love where you live - from the location, to the neighborhood, to the nearby downtown, your current living situation…
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Zero Energy Ready Homes Are The Future Of Home Building
What Exactly Is A Zero Energy Ready Home? The U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E.) created the Zero Energy Ready Home program in…
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All-Electric Custom Homes: The Next Generation Of Residential Life In Illinois
Electric homes offer a world of benefits for both builders (in the way homes are built) and home buyers (in…
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Why Building Green Custom Homes Is Better
Building Green Is About Building A Home Better In Every Single Way Building green is about building a home better…
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Financial Impact On The Housing Market Is Getting Better
The Wheels Haven't Fallen Off Just Yet “Americans are spending money and time upgrading their homes so they can maximize…
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Green Sustainable Custom Homes vs. Traditional Custom Homes
According to the United States Green Building Council, their LEED for Homes program has certified 10,000 homes since it started in 2008. What…
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BrightLeaf Has Been Awarded The 2020 Housing Innovation Award By The U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded BrightLeaf as the recipient of the 2020 Housing Innovation Award this year in the Attached…
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BrightLeaf Listed Among The Best Farmhouse Builders In The U.S.
BrightLeaf Homes has been listed as one of the best farmhouse-themed custom home builders in the United States by Home Builder…
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How To Build A Custom Home From Start To Finish
Designing and building your own custom home might seem like a difficult task to undertake but getting started isn’t as…
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Building Green Homes Is An $81 Billion Dollar Industry
"You spend two-thirds of your life at home". According to the EPA, Americans are spending 90% of their time indoors.…
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How BrightLeaf Delivers Project Management and Peace of Mind
You’ve heard plenty of negative experiences – whether it’s from friends, family, or neighbors – about building a custom home:…
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