--- title: Kurk Homes Blog | Lifestyle description: Lifestyle | Read design tips and learn more about the custom home building process. Kurk Homes is a third generation full-service custom builder that has been designing and building dream homes in and around Greater Houston and the Texas Hill Country since 1989. With two main offices in Tomball and New Braunfels, Kurk Homes serves customers within 100 miles of each office. Design and Build on your Land with a 20 year Warranty. --- [![kurkhomes-logo](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/kurkhomes-logo.png?width=290&height=70&name=kurkhomes-logo.png "kurkhomes-logo")](https://www.kurkhomes.com/) GREATER HOUSTON [(281) 809-6533](tel:+12818096533)HILL COUNTRY [(830) 608-1255](tel:+18306081255) - [Design & Build Process](https://www.kurkhomes.com/custom-design) - [Custom Plans](https://www.kurkhomes.com/custom-plans) - [Where We Build](https://www.kurkhomes.com/where-we-build) - [Why Us](https://www.kurkhomes.com/about-us) - [Photos & Events](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/) - [Contact Us](https://www.kurkhomes.com/contact) ### Search through our topics below! - [Recent Posts](https://blog.kurkhomes.com) - [Featured Plans](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/featured-plans#topic) - [Happenings](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/happenings#topic) - [Home Design](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/home-design#topic) - [Custom Home](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/custom-home#topic) - [New Home Construction](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/new-home-construction#topic) - [Tips](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/tips#topic) - [Tradition](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/tradition#topic) - [Southern Living](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/southern-living#topic) - [Press Releases](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/press-release#topic) - [Our Team](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/our-team#topic) - [News](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/news#topic) - [Lifestyle](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/lifestyle#topic) - [Houzz](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/houzz#topic) - [Design](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/tag/design#topic) ![Why More Texans Are Building Their Legacy Home Instead of Buying One](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Why-More-Texans-Are-Building-Their-Legacy-Home-Instead-of-Buying-One.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) September 22, 2026 ## [Why More Texans Are Building Their Legacy Home Instead of Buying One](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/why-more-texans-are-building-their-legacy-home-instead-of-buying-one) For many Texans, a home isn't just a place to live. It's where family traditions begin, milestones are celebrated, and memories... ![The Five Benefits of Building Custom Waterfront Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Waterfront-Custom-Homes.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) June 19, 2026 ## [The Five Benefits of Building Custom Waterfront Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/the-five-benefits-of-building-custom-waterfront-homes) There’s something timeless about living near the water. A waterfront home offers more than beautiful views—it can shape the way... ![5 Design Tips for Spring and Summer](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/5%20Design%20Ideas%20for%20the%20Spring%20and%20Summer.png) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) April 21, 2026 ## [5 Design Tips for Spring and Summer](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/5-design-tips-for-spring-and-summer) With a new season comes the perfect opportunity to refresh your home. There are many ways to style both your indoor and outdoor... ![Top 3 Texas Communities for Building Your Custom Home in 2026](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/communities-to-build-custom-homes-texas-hill-country.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) March 19, 2026 ## [Top 3 Texas Communities for Building Your Custom Home in 2026](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/top-3-texas-communities-for-building-your-custom-home-in-2026) If you’re ready for quieter mornings and more space, the countryside just outside big cities like Austin or Houston offers the... ![Why Empty-Nesters Are Choosing the Texas Hill Country for Their Forever Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Why-Empty-Nesters-Move-to-Texas-Hill-Country.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) February 11, 2026 ## [Why Empty-Nesters Are Choosing the Texas Hill Country for Their Forever Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/why-empty-nesters-are-choosing-the-texas-hill-country-for-their-forever-homes) Being an empty nester is a new and exciting chapter in one’s life, as children have moved out of the house and there are fewer... ![Why Architectural Designers Are Essential for Designing Your Dream Home](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Architectural-Designers-Essential-for-Designing-Dream-Home.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) January 22, 2026 ## [Why Architectural Designers Are Essential for Designing Your Dream Home](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/why-architectural-designers-are-essential-for-designing-your-dream-home) Designing a custom is a unique opportunity to shape the space where your life will unfold. At Kurk Homes, our in-house... ![Holiday Safety Tips for a Worry-Free Season](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Holiday-Safety-Tips-Kurk-Homes.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) December 19, 2025 ## [Holiday Safety Tips for a Worry-Free Season](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/holiday-safety-tips-for-a-worry-free-season) Festive holidays like Christmas bring joy and warmth to many homes. From family gatherings to beautiful decorations, these... ![5 Cozy Touches to Make your Texas Country Home Feel Magical this Christmas](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomesTGR-8321%20(1).jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) December 16, 2025 ## [5 Cozy Touches to Make your Texas Country Home Feel Magical this Christmas](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/5-cozy-touches-to-make-your-texas-country-home-feel-magical-this-christmas) As Christmas draws near, you’re probably dreaming up countless ways to decorate your home—from choosing the perfect color scheme... ![Why Kurk Homes are Perfect for Hosting Thanksgiving](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Thanksgiving-2200x1468.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) November 20, 2025 ## [Why Kurk Homes are Perfect for Hosting Thanksgiving](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/why-kurk-homes-are-perfect-for-hosting-thanksgiving) Thanksgiving is a time when loved ones gather around the table to share a meal and create memories that last a lifetime. The... ![Houston to Texas Hill Country: A Guide for Custom Home Buyers Looking to Make the Move West](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Moving-from-Houston-to-Texas-Hill-Country.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) November 4, 2025 ## [Houston to Texas Hill Country: A Guide for Custom Home Buyers Looking to Make the Move West](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/houston-to-texas-hill-country-a-guide-for-custom-home-buyers-looking-to-make-the-move-west) Custom building your dream home is more than just a construction project—it’s a lifestyle change. For many Houstonians, that... ![St. Patrick's Favorite House Colors](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/IMG_7193.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) March 17, 2020 ## [St. Patrick's Favorite House Colors](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/st-patricks-green-homes) How many shades of green can homes be? As plentiful as the shamrocks in Ireland, say we! Here are some of our favorite green... ![Elements of a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Kitchen_155x225.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) April 30, 2019 ## [Elements of a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/elements-of-a-modern-farmhouse-kitchen) Farmhouse kitchens are appealing more to homeowners because of both the simplicity of the style and the utilitarian design. ... ![Unique Additions to Custom Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/curved-staircase-wall-round-black-table-gold-planter-fiddle-leaf-fig.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) March 29, 2019 ## [Unique Additions to Custom Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/unique-additions-to-custom-homes) Building a custom home is an exciting time, but it's also something you really want to get right. Among the considerations you'll... ![Building a Home for Storage: Capitalizing on Space](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Under-the-Stair-Creative-DVD-Storage-Ideas-for-Classic-Home-Plan-with-Mahogany-FLoor-Design-646x969.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) January 16, 2019 ## [Building a Home for Storage: Capitalizing on Space](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/building-a-home-for-storage-capitalizing-on-space) When you build a home, you can make it what you really want and need. But one of the areas where people could miss out on all... ![January Home Checklist from Kurk Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/brooke-lark-194254-unsplash.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) January 11, 2019 ## [January Home Checklist from Kurk Homes](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/january-home-checklist-from-kurk-homes) Starting a new year is always exciting. While we all have new hopes and resolutions in place, we wish to keep our families safe.... ![Southern Living Recipe: Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/brooke-lark-93583-unsplash.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) January 3, 2019 ## [Southern Living Recipe: Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/southern-living-recipe-creamy-chicken-rice-soup) The perfect meal when it feels a little crisp outside is Southern Living's [Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup](https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/creamy-chicken-rice-soup). A great choice that the... ![Texas Holiday Traditions](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/daeun-kim-488641-unsplash.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) December 20, 2018 ## [Texas Holiday Traditions](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/texas-holiday-traditions) For many homeowners, the holidays are a time to fall in love with what makes your space so special — all over again. ’Tis also... ![Decorating Your Front Door During the Holiday Season](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/element5-digital-462698-unsplash-1.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) December 12, 2018 ## [Decorating Your Front Door During the Holiday Season](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/decorating-your-front-door-during-the-holiday-season) It’s that time of year again, and one of the most festive areas of your home could be your front door. After all, this is what... ![Thanksgiving Turkeys & Table Settings](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/IMG_4809.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) November 22, 2018 ## [Thanksgiving Turkeys & Table Settings](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/thanksgiving-turkeys-and-table-settings) {% video\_player "embed\_player" overrideable=False, type='scriptV4', hide\_playlist=True, viral\_sharing=False,... ![The Tuscany Plan | Kurk Homes Design](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes_Tuscany_Home.png) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) November 5, 2018 ## [The Tuscany Plan | Kurk Homes Design](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/the-tuscany-plan-kurk-homes-design) There are many different options to consider when building your home. Our design team will customize any house plan to suit your... ![Planning Out Your MUD Room](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Unknown-4-1.jpeg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) October 30, 2018 ## [Planning Out Your MUD Room](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/planning-out-your-mud-room) Whether you have a mud room already, you're planning on adding one, or if you are designing one in your future home, you probably... ![Home Building Traditions](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/829ab76d66e5930322af0f3d8c726c86--bible-decor-house-bible-verse-home-decor.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) October 15, 2018 ## [Home Building Traditions](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/home-building-traditions) There are many different traditions surrounding home building, but one of the most common is doing something that isn't seen but... ![2018 Energy Star Certified Homes Partner](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Green%20Grass%20Photo%20Earth%20Hour%20Instagram%20Post.png) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) August 21, 2018 ## [2018 Energy Star Certified Homes Partner](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/2018-energy-star-certified-homes-partner) When rigorous ENERGY STAR® requirements are applied to new home construction, the result is a home built better from the ground... ![Designing a Custom Home to include Farmhouse Features](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/davids-kokainis-525811-unsplash.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) August 8, 2018 ## [Designing a Custom Home to include Farmhouse Features](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/designing-a-custom-home-to-include-farmhouse-features) There are a lot of ways to design and build a custom home, and one of the most popular options includes the addition of... ![Building a Home for Entertaining](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/intKurkHomes079new.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) November 20, 2017 ## [Building a Home for Entertaining](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/entertainers-home-entertainers-home-entertainers-home-entertainers-home) Whether you’re always hosting family for gatherings around the holidays or your home is just the go-to destination for your group... ![What Is Universal Design](https://kurkhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/universal-design-cropped.jpg) ![](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/hubfs/KurkHomes-Sep2017/Image/favicon.png) June 15, 2017 ## [What Is Universal Design](https://blog.kurkhomes.com/what-is-universal-design) Universal Design is a way of strategizing a plan, or modifying a home, to maximize accessibility for any person that may have... 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