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Custom Home Builder Chad Collins of Collins Design-Build wins North Carolina Home Building Award; Best Aging or Accessible Built Residential Home.

Finding a cul-de-sac lot to build on in Chapel Hill North Carolina is almost, well quite frankly is impossible. With such limited opportunities available for new construction it is important that one builds a timeless home of value for not only your family to enjoy but all those that pass by. To represent the community well was a goal during this custom home build.

With aging parents and wheelchair use in mind, this home required all the aging in place principles such as a zero entry front door, wide hallways and doorways, lower height light switches, zero entry showers with grab bars and an elevator.

I mean you cannot build in Orange County and not certify the home Green, right? This home scored a 56 on the HERS Index Rating and earned the SILVER Certification under the National Green Building Standard as awarded by the NAHB’s Home Innovations Research Lab.

As you approach the home on the serpentine concrete sidewalk, the oversized front porch is appointed with exterior stone veneer walls and custom cut stone paver flooring. The front door is a double mahogany arch top with clear glass.

Entering into the two-story foyer you are greeted with a regal custom iron flowing staircase worthy of the Beverly Hillbillies house. Look over your right shoulder and you will see a custom coffered ceiling design that will stop you in your tracks. To the left of the foyer is the personal office space with custom built shelving and accessible ladder for top shelf items.

The living room showcases a linear fireplace with multicolor lighting controls surrounded by stone tile hearth and custom built floating shelving. The oversized kitchen is designed for cooking and entertaining at the same time. This home has two dishwashers one on either side of the oversize kitchen sink. A secret passage for the in law suite allows for direct access from a secondary bedroom into the kitchen without traveling through the formal spaces.

The fully accessible rear screen porch has stain grade wood ceiling, two ceiling fans, a custom built grilling station and a stone veneer exterior fireplace.

The upstairs features the main bedroom suite, three bedrooms with induvial private bathrooms, a game room, and a theater room which sits directly over the four car garage.

Building a fully accessible home requires a lot of upfront planning. There is more to aging in place principles than just lever door handles and bathroom grab bars. For example, we drop our first floor framing joists into our foundation so that we can achieve zero entry at all points of entry, including garages and porches.

As we age, many are opting to stay in their homes instead of moving after retirement. If you are among the growing population of aging adults, it is important to make sure your home has both long- and short-term solutions to ensure your safety and comfort throughout your golden years. Here are several tips to help make sure any environment is optimal for aging in place, a home designed for independent living.

AGING-IN-PLACE IDEAS:

Lighting. Without proper illumination throughout your home, you may be exposing yourself to a potential slip and fall. Night or security lights inside and outside your home allow you to safely walk around when it is dark. Recessed lighting fixtures in common areas and hallways are also options to consider.

Furniture. Examine the seating options available in your home. Do you have a sofa or chair that is too soft or too low? Certain types of seating can make it difficult sit or get up easily. Consider adding appropriately firm furniture options to you home. Chairs or sofas higher off the ground with arms can minimize discomfort.

Walkways. Any type of throw rug or bath mat can become a tripping hazard if they are not properly secured. If you do not want to remove your rug, non-slips pads help but they are not a full-proof option. Apply double-sided carpet tape or caulk to securely attach the rug to the floor. The limitation with this option is that the floor underneath may be damaged if not set properly.

Kitchen. There is an array of appliances to improve your ease of use around the kitchen. Lever-handle faucets with a pull-out spray, a raised dishwasher to avoid back strain and a side-by-side refrigerator with slide-out shelves are options. Other modifications to your kitchen, such as installing a pull-out cutting board or larger cabinets with drawer pulls can make cooking in your home more enjoyable.

 Bathroom. The right type of fixtures in your bathroom can create a barrier-free environment. Lever handles on faucets and a slide-bar-type hand-held shower are attractive options for boomers. You may want to install a curbless shower. Not only does this type of adjustment help you from stepping over something, curbless showers can be rolled into with a wheelchair if necessary.

As a builder  with an Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation we can help you or your loved one find customized designs and build an award winning Aging-In-Place home. Contact us below for more information:

Chad & Emilee Collins

Chad Collins is an Unlimited Licensed General Contractor, Licensed Home Inspector, and award-winning custom home builder based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. As the founder of Collins Design-Build, Chad has earned a reputation for creating luxury, timeless custom homes throughout Orange County, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and the surrounding Triangle region. His projects are known for exceptional craftsmanship, high-performance construction, universal design, and premium client experience.

Recognized as one of the Triangle Business Journal’s top custom home builders, Chad blends extensive construction expertise with thoughtful design to build homes that are beautiful, durable, healthy, and highly energy efficient. His credentials include Accredited Master Builder, Master Certified Green Professional, and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist—distinctions held by only a select group of builders statewide.

Chad’s 30 plus year career began in building materials, retail, and field operations, quickly earning him leadership roles with local, regional, and national home builders. His ability to streamline operations, lead high-performing teams, and deliver luxury homes with exceptional quality helped him close more than $6 million in custom home projects in a single year and win the 2001 Builder of the Year award.

As the founder of Collins Design-Build, Chad has earned numerous industry honors, including National Certified Green Professional Builder of the Year, Home Builder of the Year for Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties, MAME Building Company of the Year, multiple STARS Awards, Parade of Homes Gold Awards, and multiple Best Green Built Home recognitions. His firm also builds certified green homes and ENERGY STAR homes as a standard—not an upgrade.

Chad is widely respected as a leader in North Carolina’s building community. He has served as President of the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties, Regional Vice President for the North Carolina Home Builders Association, and President of the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce. In 2018, he was appointed by the Governor to the North Carolina Home Inspectors Licensing Board.

In addition to building award-winning custom homes, Chad is a residential construction expert witness, assisting attorneys, homeowners, and insurers in cases involving construction defects, building standards, and accessibility issues. His professional background and extensive field experience make him a trusted authority in courtroom, arbitration, and litigation support.

Chad is also an approved Continuing Education Instructor for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors and a recognized speaker for the National Association of Home Builders. He has written and taught courses on green building, construction management, and aging-in-place for contractors and university programs, including Duke University’s OLLI Continuing Education Program.

Categorized in: Awards, Collins Design Build News, Uncategorized

This post was written by Collins Design Build