Bort Custom Homes blog

Must-Haves For Your Custom Home

cyrusdb17 — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:55:20 GMT

Building a custom home means you have control over every detail. You can design each corner to suit your lifestyle perfectly.

However, when your custom design-builder asks if you have any must-haves when building your new custom home, does your mind go blank? It’s easy to get overwhelmed with choices and get fatigued by decision after decision.

To help you decide on the best ideas for your custom home build, we’ve compiled a list of must-haves that we love adding to our clients’ homes. These options are functional touches that elevate your space and make your custom build feel like it was made just for you.

Kitchen Must-Haves

Under Cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting is a subtle upgrade that most people don’t realize they can’t live without until they have it. It makes your space lighter and brighter, makes cooking and cleaning easier with more visibility, and prevents you from adding clutter to your countertops with task lighting. While a small decorative lamp may add an elegant touch, under-cabinet lighting eases eye strain while looking at cookbooks, helps you gauge your onions’ caramelization levels, and allows you to swipe up every last crumb.

Garage-Grocery Access

Make unloading your groceries a breeze by adding a small, fire-proofed door between your garage and your kitchen or pantry. Depending on your home’s layout, this door can open directly into the kitchen, butler’s pantry, or include a small lift if the garage is on a lower floor.

Butler’s Pantry

Butler’s pantries are making a comeback in custom homes for a good reason — they are a pure utilitarian upgrade. These spaces range from small areas that have storage and a prep space to fully plumbed areas with sinks, refrigeration, and countertops. If you love entertaining, butler’s pantries are a godsend — prep for your guests and simply close the door, hiding the mess. They also multiply your usable space while leaving your kitchen serene and uncluttered.

Bathroom Must-Haves

Hidden Drawer Outlets

Outlets in bathrooms are useful, but can lead to your space being cluttered, especially if they are higher up on the walls. Many personal appliances and tools that are stored in the bathroom require outlets — think beard trimmers, flatirons and curling wands, electric toothbrushes, and hairdryers. With all those tools, a countertop can quickly become cluttered. Hidden drawer outlets make plugging these appliances in easy, and can allow you to easily store everything when you are done. You can even opt for outlets with shutoff timers to ensure your safety when storing hot tools!

Rainfall Shower

A rainfall shower makes every day feel like a little luxury. These showers have a head mounted on the ceiling that offers a relaxing, serene shower experience. These showerheads are ideal for walk-in oversized showers to make your bathroom into a serene escape.

Heated Floors & Towel Racks

Radiant heating in floors is an excellent upgrade that is not only luxurious for you, but adds resale value and creates a true spa-like environment. Radiant underfloor heating can be easily installed during the build process and helps your home stay energy efficient. Paired with heated towel racks, your bathroom will become your favorite room in the house.

Accessible First Floor Bathroom

Ensuite bathrooms are necessary, but an accessible first-floor full bathroom is a true must-have. It adds an option when you are entertaining, so guests don’t have to traipse through your home. Adding a shower to it makes it easy for those staying overnight to have a private place to wash up, and adds options for aging in the place down the road.

Living Room Must-Haves

Custom Built-In Shelves

Very few elements can upgrade a living room like built-in shelving and cabinetry. It looks polished and adds character to your home in addition to adding storage or a place to show off your personality. In addition, it offers a great way to house your TV or media center.

Dedicated TV Outlet

TVs are a mainstay in the living room — why not add a dedicated outlet exactly where you’ll need one? TV wires are unsightly and can create a trap for dust. Better yet, work with your builder to run the TV wires through the wall safely and hide them altogether.

Automated Window Treatments

Window treatments add texture and flexibility to your space, but automated window treatments in your living room can be set to adjust at specific times of day — ensure your space is sun-drenched during the day but have the shades rolled down for privacy at night. And with the touch of a button, you can make your room dark for movie night.

Bedroom Must-Haves

Adjacent Walk-In Closets

Closet space in bedrooms is a make-or-break element for most homeowners. And rather than having one large closet, have one for each of you. These adjacent closets mean you can each have your own space, whether you love to have every color-coded and organized, or you tend to live out of laundry baskets. Clutter can stay contained within your closets without making your primary suite look and feel busy.

Personal Fireplace

A personal fireplace in the bedroom may seem like something only seen in older homes, but it instantly adds charm and character to your home. Plus, it helps heat your space, and it adds a cozy ambiance to your private retreat.

Private Balcony or Patio

A private terrace in your bedroom gives a resort feel to your home. You can add a sitting area to enjoy the weather, keep a serene and private garden, or add a relaxing hammock or lounge to ensure you get use of your indoor outdoor space.

Rooms to Consider

Dedicated Mudroom

A mudroom is an absolute necessity — it adds storage, contains muddy kids or pets, and creates a secondary entrance for your home. A mudroom often seems like an afterthought, but designed well, it can be a central place for seasonal storage, outdoor supplies, and even upgrades like a dog-wash station or a powder room for quick washing up.

Dedicated Laundry Room

Some homeowners eschew a dedicated laundry room as a waste of space and would rather place those appliances in the basement or a closet. But a spacious laundry room can be a workhorse in your house. With countertops for folding, built-in drying racks and hanging stations, and storage for cleaning supplies, a laundry room is an undercover indicator of luxury.

Home Gym

Another room that’s often combined with other spaces, the home gym is definitely something to add to your custom build. When you have control over the design, you can make space for it. Add a no-frills extension of your garage for lifting weights, or create a serene yoga studio with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Top-Shelf Extras

Home Speakers

A whole-home audio system can elevate your home, especially for entertaining. When designing a custom house, you can add speakers in strategic locations and built-in electrical or Bluetooth so you can easily have seamless audio throughout your home.

Personal Wine Cellar

Whether a connoisseur or just an occasional fan of a good bottle of red, a wine cellar can be added creatively without taking up much space. A nook of unused space can easily become a charming and upscale addition to your luxury home. If wine isn’t your thing, consider a barrel room for whiskey instead!

En Suite Laundry On Upper Floors

While a dedicated laundry room is a necessity, an auxiliary laundry room on the second floor of your home makes laundry day a breeze. You can incorporate a small washer and dryer into a generous walk-in closet, or add a jack-and-jill style laundry room between your primary suite and the kids’ room for efficiency and ease.

Electrical Vehicle Charging Station

The point of a custom build is that you can plan for every convenience — including electrical car charging stations. Add one to your garage for your own car to make “fueling” up quick and easy.

Get In Touch With A Top-Rated Longview, TX Custom Home Builder Today

BORT design offers expertise for highly customized and technical home builds. If you can dream it, we can build it. Your custom home build should be personalized and capture your lifestyle requirements and ideals in every room.
To learn more about our approach to custom home design, get in touch for a consultation.

Commercial Renovations: A Complete Guide to Planning, Budgeting, & Executing Your Project

cyrusdb17 — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:52:18 GMT

Investing in your physical space is one of the most important decisions you can make for your business. Whether it’s retail, a corporate office, or a healthcare facility, your building makes the first impression on everyone who walks through the door.

In Longview and other areas of East Texas, commercial renovations can help modernize your building, improve efficiency, and enhance your customer or employee experience.

This guide will walk you through the complexities of a commercial remodel, from the first 3-D renderings to the final inspections.

What Is a Commercial Renovation?

A commercial renovation refers to the entire process of remodeling, repairing, or restoring your business’s property. Commercial renovations often involve rigorous safety codes and high-traffic planning that are above and beyond the standards for residential work.

Commercial renovations can include interior build-outs, historical restoration, or complete overhauls to make a space more functional for its intended business use.

Common Types of Commercial Renovation Projects

Commercial remodels can take many shapes and sizes. A project could be an interior remodel for an independent, local retailer or a brand-new office buildout. Some common types of commercial renovation include:

Office Remodels: Many outdated office spaces need a shift from traditional cubicles to open-concept, hybrid-ready workspaces.

Retail Tenant Improvements: Leased spaces need customization too — such as a redesign for the brand’s specific aesthetic and functional needs.

Medical & Professional Offices: Health clinics or law firms must meet modern accessibility (ADA) and privacy standards, while providing a comfortable experience for clients and patients.

Hospitality & Restaurant Updates: Keeping up with current trends is important in the hospitality industry. This can include upgrading dining areas or commercial kitchens and refreshing facades to attract more foot traffic.

Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list. Any commercial space can undergo renovations: from heavy industrial manufacturing facilities to massive skyscrapers. But in Longview, TX, these are the most common types.

Benefits of Renovating a Commercial Building

Aside from creating a space that better serves your business function, renovating is a great way to improve how occupants feel in your space.

Modern, well-lit, and comfortable offices are more productive for employees. Likewise, a welcoming and spacious retail store is more likely to attract shoppers and enhance their experience.

Renovating also allows you to add energy-efficient features like LED lighting and modern HVAC, reducing your utility costs. In addition, a new space can increase your market value, leading to excellent return on investment.

How to Plan a Successful Commercial Renovation

A renovation is a big undertaking. We recommend these steps to get started:

Define Your Goals and Scope

Determine the “why” behind your project. Are you expanding to accommodate more staff, or are you modernizing to stay competitive? Your goals will help you decide what the must-have features are and can help you find a partner that’s aligned with your vision.

To help you make sense of different options, we use 3D renderings at Bort Design & Build. This helps you visualize the result before any work begins, ensuring your plans and scope match the intended outcomes.

Verify Permits, Zoning, and Certificate of Occupancy

Longview, TX, has specific requirements for commercial development. You must ensure your project complies with the City of Longview’s Unified Development Code. Any change in building use may require a new Certificate of Occupancy (CO), and all structural, electrical, or plumbing work will need permits through the Longview Development Services portal.

Assess Existing Conditions and Building Systems

Before starting, it’s vital to work with a professional to evaluate the “bones” of the building. This includes checking the foundation, the age of the roof, and the capacity of the electrical panel to handle new technology or machinery. This assessment will help uncover issues before construction starts, and help you prioritize and plan better.

If additional scope or work is required, you can budget for it now and make decisions accordingly.

Conduct an Energy and Code Compliance Review

Texas building codes are becoming stricter regarding energy efficiency. A review ensures your insulation, windows, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems meet current standards, avoiding costly fixes during inspections.

Creating a Realistic Budget and Timeline

There are lots of do’s and don’ts for commercial renovations. The biggest questions we get are around budgeting and timeline. Here’s everything you need to know:

Cost Factors

Depending on the type of commercial remodel, your costs will vary. Commercial costs are driven by square footage, material quality, and the complexity of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. For example, a medical office remodel in East Texas will typically cost more per square foot than a basic retail store due to specialized plumbing and electrical needs.

Plan For Contingencies and Hidden Costs

Even with assessments, it’s vital to have money set aside for emergencies. We recommend keeping a 10-15% contingency fund separate in your budget. In renovation work, opening up the walls can reveal old wiring or structural issues that weren’t visible during the initial walkthrough.

How Long Do Commercial Renovations Typically Take?

A commercial renovation can take between three months and over a year. It depends on the scope. A simple interior retail upgrade will be quick, while a full gut renovation of a medical facility will take longer.

You can typically expect the following timelines for each phase:

Design/Permitting: 1-3 months.

Construction: 2-9 months.

Closeout: 2-4 weeks.

However, this will depend on your exact project and scope. Get in touch today for a detailed estimate and timeline for your project.

Choosing the Right Commercial Renovation Contractor

For a successful commercial remodeling project, you’ll want a partner who understands the local real estate market, building codes, permitting process, and any regulations. Selecting a local professional is the first step — but to get the best service, consider looking for a family-run team for your small- to medium-sized commercial construction project. This ensures you get local experience, decades of expertise, and a team that treats your project like their own.

Next, you’ll want to be sure their approach can offer you the smoothest possible outcome. Design-build firms are popular for commercial renovation in Longview, TX, and surrounding areas because they streamline the entire process and provide a singular point of contact. This model is efficient because the designers and builders are on the same team, eliminating communication gaps, providing transparent pricing, and ensuring the project stays on schedule.

Bort Design & Build is a family-owned and operated design-build firm in Longview, TX, with experience delivering high-quality commercial and residential renovations. Our attention to detail is unmatched, and our personalized service is tailored to your goals. We pride ourselves on our clear and flexible approach to every project, ensuring you feel confident every step of the way.

Essential Steps During the Renovation Process

Procurement and Material Lead Times

Procurement begins as soon as possible to ensure timely deliveries and availability of materials when needed. Particularly with current supply chain fluctuations, ordering long-lead items like commercial HVAC units or specialized glass should happen as soon as the design is finalized to prevent project delays.

Scheduling Construction to Minimize Downtime

If your business remains open during the remodel, we can work on a phased construction schedule — often performing loud or disruptive work during off-hours to keep your operations running while still making progress day-to-day.

Communication With Tenants and Stakeholders

Clear communication is vital, and that includes everyone who is affected by the project. We help communicate with everyone involved — from the build team to project owners to tenants of the space — to make sure expectations are clear, and timelines are transparent.

Quality Control and Inspections

Throughout the build, the City of Longview or other municipalities will have inspectors visit for “rough-ins” and final inspections. Our dedicated project manager ensures every detail meets both the city’s safety codes and Bort Design & Build’s high standards for craftsmanship.

Commercial Renovation ROI: What to Expect

If you want to maximize the ROI of your space, a renovation is a smart investment. A well-executed renovation in the East Texas market can help provide a solid return on investment in a few different ways:

More attractive to customers and clients

An updated space can help boost your business by setting a good impression and creating a more enticing environment. Whether you are a retail boutique, a medical office, or a corporate headquarters, creating a space where people feel comfortable and happy will pay off.

Higher lease rates

A modern space can command a premium when it comes to lease rates, so if you are renting out an office space or retail shop, renovating can boost your bottom line.

Lowered operational and maintenance costs

New systems require fewer repairs. In addition, energy-efficient systems and newer, more innovative and sustainable materials can lower the energy consumption of your space and increase performance while reducing utility bills.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Commercial Renovations

Underestimating Regulatory Requirements

Skipping a permit or failing to account for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility can lead to lawsuits or being forced to tear out and redo work.

Choosing Low-Cost, Low-Quality Materials

In high-traffic commercial environments, residential-grade materials will fail within a year. Investing in commercial-grade flooring and finishes saves money in the long run.

Poor Timeline or Stakeholder Communication

Delays often happen when the owner, designer, and contractor aren’t in sync. The design-build approach solves this by keeping all parties under one roof.

Ignoring Post-Construction Closeout

The project isn’t done when the paint dries. Ensure you receive all warranties, operation manuals for new equipment, and a final lien release from your contractor. Don’t skip final walkthroughs either — a good builder will help make sure everything meets or exceeds expectations and matches your vision.

Get Started With Your Longview, TX Commercial Project Today

Ready to transform your commercial space? With over 30 years of experience serving Longview, Tyler, and the greater East Texas area, Bort Design & Build is your local expert in design-build commercial remodeling. From initial consultation and 3D visualization to the final handover, we take the stress out of the renovation process.
Get in touch to get started.