Category: Outdoor Spaces

Custom Home Building, Design Inspiration, Luxury Custom Homes, Outdoor Spaces, Trends, Uncategorized

Outdoor Spaces: Must Haves

One of the most important aspects of designing outdoor spaces is creating different experiences – from intimate dining under the stars, to open yards for playing tag and catching fireflies, to lounge areas where the whole family can relax and reconnect. Which is why our list of Must Have’s when building custom includes a variety of features and outdoor rooms, like outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, water features, free play areas, al fresco dining spots, lounge areas, outdoor kitchens, and if you have the space, an outdoor pool is something the whole family will enjoy during the summer months.

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Design Inspiration, Design Solution, Luxury Custom Homes, Outdoor Spaces, Trends

Interview with Landscape Designer Scott Bryon

For the 30 years BGD&C Custom Homes has been building in and supporting the local communities of the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park, so has our long time collaborator, Scott Byron & Co., been beautifying the area with their gorgeous, engaging landscape designs. We are excited to spotlight Scott Byron, CEO of Scott Byron & Co., who has over 40 years of experience in design, construction, maintenance, and project management. Byron’s goal is to create the most positive end result for the client, while “making sure the land is properly preserved and the design is complimentary to the architecture and setting”. We hope that while you are sheltering in place these beautiful gardens will provide you with inspiration.

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Custom Home Building, Design Inspiration, Luxury Custom Homes, Outdoor Spaces, Tech Tips, Trends, Uncategorized

2020 Custom Home Trends

As we welcome a new year and a new decade, we are excited about the latest trends in luxury and custom homes. Technology and sustainability are always at the forefront of design and home building, but we are seeing an increase in various other trends as well. Here are the top four trends we expect to see more of in custom homes in the new year.

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Custom Home Building, Design Inspiration, Design Solution, Luxury Custom Homes, Outdoor Spaces

Designing and Building Outdoor Spaces: Getting the Most Out of Summer

Summer is ever fleeting in Chicago. Which is why outdoor living space have always been at the top of our clients’ wish lists. We all want to soak up every last drop of the warm Summer nights before they are gone. 

At BGD&C we love to provide beautiful and relaxing outdoor hardscapes, dining areas, fireplaces, and covered porches for our clients whenever possible. Living in the city where space is at a premium, sometimes means getting creative and utilizing rooftops for decks, loggias and pools. We then collaborate with the city’s top landscape designers to execute each client’s unique vision.

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Custom Home Building, Design Inspiration, Luxury Custom Homes, Outdoor Spaces, Uncategorized

Take a Dip: Custom Pools

A well-designed swimming pool can transform your outdoor space into a tropical escape, or in the case of an indoor pool, provide you with a serene retreat you can use 365 days out of the year.

Whether you prefer to lounge poolside in the sun or swim laps for exercise, BGD&C Custom Homes has created many custom pools for our clients over the years – right here in the city. Here are some of our favorite pools we have built to date

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Case Study, Design Solution, Outdoor Spaces

Design Solution: Lincoln Park Venetian Gardens

Struck by the beauty of the Palazzos on the Grand Canal in Venice, the original client of our Lincoln Park Venetian Home requested BGD&C design a true Italian Villa on Chicago’s Gold Coast. When the subsequent owner purchased the home and adjoining properties, BGD&C was called upon to design and build a main plaza, indoor swimming pool and a guest house.

With the indoor swimming pool being on the lower level of the home, providing natural light into the space presented a design challenge. Together with the interior and landscape design teams, BGD&C Custom Homes crafted a solution that served a dual purpose.

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Outdoor Spaces, Trends

Summertime Dining Al Fresco

As more people are choosing to move to the city when they become empty-nesters, and more and more young families are choosing to stay in the city, outdoor living and dining spaces are now a “must have” and seem to be on everyone’s wish list. From the smallest balcony to the most expansive lawn, these al fresco spaces are being lovingly transformed into charming and idyllic areas for living.

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