Courtesy Lutron
Study with architectural lighting
Lighting consultant and educator Kelly Inglis shares her thoughts on the expensive finishes that disappear without proper illumination, and the control systems that can make fewer...
© Endeavor Business Media / Visbeen Architects
Builder in 5 logo | Wayne Visbeen
Kate Wichlinski
exterior of an Alexandria, Va., home
© Endeavor Business Media / John Cannon Homes
cbjohn_cannonhomes
Courtesy Kalen Development
Exterior of a home by Kalen Development
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Design

Courtesy Lutron
Study illuminated with strategic downlights
Lighting specialist Kelly Inglis on the grid-and-go approach overtaking custom homes, and what builders and architects lose when lighting gets treated as an afterthought
April 8, 2026
Wrapped around a glass elevator, this staircase posed a unique challenge: create an open, visually interesting design while remaining structurally sound.
Wrapped around a pneumatic elevator and spanning three floors, this staircase in a custom North Carolina home uses a curved I-beam to maintain structural integrity without sacrificing...
April 3, 2026
Rebecca Lehde, Inspiro8
Cantilevered bedroom suite at night
Extending 20 feet beyond its stone base, this Greenville, S.C., primary suite hovers in the treetops, with views to the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond
April 1, 2026
From appraisals to certifications to insurance research, the industry is recognizing high-performance features in home value. But project teams have a role to play, too
March 30, 2026

Business

© Endeavor Business Media / Ashley Sheaffer
Ashley Sheaffer / Women at WIRC logo
Women at WIRC
In this episode of Women at WIRC, KBF Design Gallery's Ashley Sheaffer talks about how her team is using AI to improve everyday tasks and what that means for staying competitive...
March 25, 2026
© Endeavor Business Media / Dyna Builders
Ren Chandler, founder of Dyna Builders
With an in-house metal shop, design services, and a floating house factory, Dyna Builders is uniquely positioned in Seattle, but founder Ren Chandler says it’s the company’s approach...
March 24, 2026
Fittings Metal Collection
rhone_cellarette_couture
Fittings Metal Collection brings custom fabrication to wine racks, shelving and more, treating every piece as an opportunity to adorn the kitchen or bath
March 19, 2026
Courtesy Landry Design Group
Exterior of a Southern California luxury home
A new survey tracks the health of the custom residential architecture segment and highlights trends in specialty rooms, kitchens, material choices, and remodeling activity, offering...
March 18, 2026

Profiles

Graphic of the Builder in 5 Q&A series from Custom Builder
In this Builder in 5 interview, Mancini Burns Design partners Bella Mancini and Taryn Burns discuss their expanded concierge services, emphasizing proactive project management...
March 3, 2026
© Endeavor Business Media / Richard Pedranti Architect
builder_in_5_pedranti
Richard Pedranti builds custom homes that don't make clients choose between performance and design. The Milford, Pa.-based architect explains his approach to delivering both
Feb. 19, 2026
Graphic image promoting Custom Builder's Builder in 5 Q&A series, with Marnie Oursler of Maryland
Delaware's Marnie Oursler of Marnie Custom Homes on the shift from seasonal retreats to year-round waterfront homes, and what it takes to build these more complex projects right...
Jan. 16, 2026
Duoma Atelier's husband and wife team sit on a couch, facing the camera
A husband and wife team start a design/build company, bringing workplace and wellness attributes to flex space and ADU design
Dec. 24, 2025

Industry Insights

Women at WIRC podcast HBI episode cover
Women at WIRC
In this episode of Women at WIRC, two HBI trainers explain why transitioning service members are uniquely suited for construction careers and how their program is helping to make...
Feb. 18, 2026
Casey Dunn
Kassarine Pass home by Mark Odom Studio in Austin (interior shot)
From emerging markets and AI to materials innovation and evolving kitchen and bath priorities, these trends illuminate where custom residential work is headed next
Jan. 21, 2026
Stijn Knapen
Residence in Belgium that uses recycled PVC (Pretty Plastic Panels) in its facade
Innovative materials are teeing up to reshape residential construction, boosting performance, sustainability, and design possibilities for builders and architects
Jan. 20, 2026
Design by Lisa Peck | Photo by Chad Holder | Courtesy of NKBA
Wellness-inspired bathroom design
From larger spa-like layouts to smart features, clients are drawn to designs that enhance their well-being
Jan. 8, 2026

Products

Ceramica Fondovalle
Ceramica Fondovalle's Infinito 2.0 Collection in Fantasy Dark
Coverings 2026 gathered housing industry pros in Las Vegas to see the latest in tile and stone. Here are five trends that stood out and are set to make their mark in the year ...
April 8, 2026
E by Emser TIle
E by Emser Tile's Martel Collection
NAHB drew 300 entries across nine categories this year. These eight products came out on top
March 11, 2026
Picture of three teens on a beach with surf boards, who later became the founders of Cerno Group
Cerno Group makes its fixtures start to finish—wood, metal, glass, and optics—under one roof in Orange County, where lean manufacturing principles guide the process
March 10, 2026
Westlake Royal Building Products
Cedar Renditions Siding in the finish Aluzinc
True to its Orlando, Fla. location, this year's International Builders' Show had an array of resilient building products to explore
Feb. 26, 2026

Green & Sustainable

Photo: Caplow Manzano
Exterior photo of a WELL for Residential ceritified home
Programs like Phius, Energy Star, WELL, LEED, and NGBS promise verification and offer a guiding framework. But what do they actually deliver for project teams?
March 17, 2026
Gemini-created graphic
Q&A graphic showing a headshot of Kat Klingenberg of Phius
A Q&A with the passive building pioneer who's been waiting for the rest of us to catch up
March 4, 2026
Irvin Serrano Photography
Exterior of a net zero passive house in Durham NH by Kaplan Thompson Architects
After watching the costly struggle of a landlord's renovation, a New Hampshire couple chose to build new, creating a farmhouse that looks traditional but performs like the future...
Dec. 5, 2025
© Endeavor Business Media / Michal Porter
untitled_design_2
Women at WIRC
In the latest episode of Women at WIRC, we speak with Michal Porter, senior lead scientist at Dupont, about her efforts to advance green building products and materials and how...
Dec. 3, 2025

Construction Trends

Exterior of a Cover offsite home built in Pacific Palisades after the January 2025 wildfire
The home took a steel-panelized construction approach, blending midcentury modern aesthetics with wildfire resilience, and was completed in under a year after the 2025 fires
Feb. 12, 2026
Shake shacks was built by hybrid architecture in seattle and featured on Custom Builder
In a densely populated Seattle neighbor­hood, two adjacent infill sites were developed, dubbed The Lookout and Shake Shacks
Feb. 11, 2026
Early adopters in residential construction and design are using AI to manage project timelines, find better material pricing, and accelerate client approvals. But success depends...
Jan. 5, 2026
Andrew Sherman
This 4,000-square-foot home in North Carolina uses SCIPs to create a structure that is both weather-resistant and efficient.
Extreme weather is a growing challenge for homeowners on the coast, but this 4,000-square-foot vacation home in Oak Island, N.C. is prepared to withstand the harshest storms
Oct. 22, 2025