Summer Home Maintenance Tips from Your Trusted Custom Home Builder in Holland, Michigan

Summer Home Maintenance Tips from Your Trusted Custom Home Builder in Holland, Michigan

Jun 17, 2025

As the temperatures rise and the days get longer, it’s the perfect time to make sure your home is ready for everything summer brings. At Troxel Custom Homes, we know that maintaining your home seasonally is just as important as building it right from the start. Whether you’re living in your forever home or planning your dream custom build, summer maintenance helps protect your investment and keep your home running efficiently year after year.

Here are 5 essential summer home maintenance tips from our team of experienced builders and home experts:

  • Service your HVAC System: Summer heat can push your cooling system to the limit. Clean or replace filters monthly and schedule a professional tune-up to ensure it’s running efficiently and not driving up your energy bill.
  • Trim Landscaping Around Your Home: Overgrown trees and shrubs can cause damage to siding, reduce airflow, and become a breeding ground for pests. Keep your landscaping neat and well-maintained to avoid long-term issues.
  • Power Wash Exterior Surfaces: Siding, decks, patios, and even driveways accumulate pollen, mold and grime fast in warm weather. A good power wash boots curb appeal and extends the life of your exterior materials.
  • Inspect Gutters and Downspouts: Summer storms can cause debris to build-up in your gutters, leading to poor drainage and potential water damage. Check them regularly and clear out blockages before they become a problem.
  • Consider Smart Shading for Energy Efficiency: Smart shading strategies – like awnings, pergolas, or even well-placed trees – can help keep your home cooler and reduce cooling costs. This ties into our belief in thoughtful, energy-efficient home design from the very beginning.

At Troxel Custom Homes, we specialize in building high-quality homes tailored to Michigan families. But our commitment doesn’t end when we hand over the keys. We are here to support you every season. If you have questions about home maintenance or you’re ready to begin your own custom build, we’re here to help!

Give Troxel Custom Homes a call today to learn more or schedule a consultation – we’d love to help you bring your dream home to life.

Color Trends for New Home Builds in 2024

Color Trends for New Home Builds in 2024

Feb 27, 2024

As we step into 2024, the world of new home design is witnessing a fascinating evolution in color trends that promises to redefine the aesthetic landscape of new home builds. From soothing neutrals to bold and bright hues, the predicted color trends for this year are almost as diverse as they are alluring.

1. Nature-Inspired Palettes.

In an era marked by growing appreciation for sustainability and “being one” with nature, home builders are expected to embrace earthy tones and organic hues. Shades like moss green, terracotta, and warm browns are predicted to dominate interior spaces, bringing a sense of tranquility and grounding to living environments. These colors not only evoke a connection to nature, but also create a very inviting atmosphere within homes.

2. Timeless Neutrals (with a twist).

While neutrals have always been a staple to interior design, 2024 is set to witness a shift towards more dynamic neutral tones. Classic whites, beiges, and grays will be infused with subtle undertones, such as soft pinks, muted blues, or gentle greens. This nuanced approach adds depth and character to neutral palettes, ensuring they remain timeless yet contemporary.

3. Tech-Inspired Hues

As technology continues to shape our lives, it’s only natural that it influences design trends as well. Expect to see a surge in the popularity of tech-inspired colors like futuristic metallics, digital blues, and electric yellows. These colors not only reflect our increasingly digital lifestyle, but also add a modern and edgy vibe to home interiors, particularly in urban and contemporary settings.

4. Monochromatic Elegance

For those who appreciate simplicity and sophistication, monochromatic color schemes are set to take center stage. Variations of a single color, such as different shades of gray, will be used to create a cohesive and elegant look. This approach allows for a clean and minimalist aesthetic while providing a canvas for highlighting architectural details.

In conclusion, the predicted color trends for new home builds in 2024 encompass a wide spectrum, catering to diverse tastes. Whether you’re drawn to the serenity of nature-inspired palettes, or the modernity of tech-inspired hues, the upcoming year offers an exciting array of possibilities for creating personalized and stunning living spaces. Embrace the colors that resonate with your style and watch as your home becomes a canvas for self-expression. That is what we love at Troxel Custom Homes. Helping you turn a house, into a home that brings you comfort in the many years to come.

Planning for your future home improvements while in quarantine.

Planning for your future home improvements while in quarantine.

May 15, 2020

Here in Michigan we have had a “stay at home order” since mid March, giving us lots of time to make a laundry list of things in our homes that need to be done, and things we want changed. Now that we have a list of wants and needs, what next?

Some things, like clearing out pantries, and tidying up the kids’ playroom are things we can tackle on our own. Turn on Marie Kondo, spark some joy, and declutter. Other things, like wanting to add another wing onto your existing home for family expansion, well… you may need some help with that. 

Start with an outline. Browse through pictures, magazines, and websites like Houzz. Save pictures of homes, products, or details you really like so you can refer back to them later. Think about your lifestyle and different aspects of your home that will reflect that. In your renovation, are you looking for more room to entertain (when you can finally have friends over), or maybe a whole room dedicated to music for your talented children to practice and record in? These are all important pieces that can make your home uniquely yours. Now that you have an idea, (or a few) of what you want your home to look like and incorporate, we would love to hear from you.

At Troxel Custom Homes, we pride ourselves in our unique processes that include the homeowner every step of the way to make sure your home is just that: uniquely YOURS. On our website, you can download our New Home Starter Guide. It includes what we talked about above, and more to help you get started, and is a great place to keep all of your notes. We hope you are staying safe, and healthy, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Earth Day 2020

Earth Day 2020

Apr 22, 2020

Earth Day this year brings new meaning to our lives. As we all have been affected in significant ways by the pandemic covering all corners of the earth, we realize that HOME truly where the heart is. We are spending more time than ever in our homes as we seek shelter with those we love and hold most dear.

For Earth Day this year, we need to think all the more about how our homes affect our planet and how they affect our physical and mental health. I think we all realize that building energy-efficient homes that minimize our impact on our world is a good thing; it is something that we have been doing as a standard at Troxel Custom Homes for many years. But this year I think we are all starting to think about how healthy our HOME is for US!  Our physical well being can be affected by heating and air-conditioning systems that ensure enough fresh air is being brought into the home – how is our air filtered and treated, what products are used and how might those affect air quality, and how is light treated (both natural and otherwise)? It’s also important to know how your home affects your mental health. Through the use of thoughtful design, careful product integration, and lifestyle consideration a home can become more than just shelter. It can actually become a refuge; a space that warmly embraces us, an environment that allows us to thrive, and a space that your family and friends recognize as special and uniquely yours. Your home can be the warm and embracing hug that we all wish we could experience more in these trying times.

If you are interested in exploring what that can look like either as a renovation to the home you have now, or a truly custom home built just for you, we are here to talk! The initial conversation where we listen to your dreams and introduce you to our process is free of charge!

Should I renovate? Or build a new home?

Should I renovate? Or build a new home?

Mar 24, 2020

The Case for Renovations (remodeling & additions):

a)      Your home is dated, worn, or doesn’t meet your needs anymore … but you really like where you live – remodeling, and maybe an addition, with Troxel Custom Homes can bring your existing home up to date with your current and future lifestyle!

b)     You are moving and have a specific area you want to be in, but just can’t find the right existing home – consider working with Troxel Custom Homes to show you what might be possible to renovate an existing home to meeting your expectation and desires.

Before Renovation
After Renovation

The Case for a New Custom Home:

a)      You are moving to an area where there just aren’t existing homes available but there is available land – Troxel Custom Homes will help you pick the right location and then help you bring your dream home to reality.

b)     You want a home that will fit exactly what your lifestyle demands now and into the future – Troxel Custom Homes can help design and build that perfect home for you.

Foundation of a new home
Finished new home

Whether you choose to renovate or to build, Troxel Custom Homes will work with you to balance your budget, the size/design of the project, and the specifications (finish details) to be sure that you can be happy for years to come in your new space.