Our Blog

Should I renovate my home or tear it down and build new? While the answer is straightforward for many, it’s often more complex, requiring careful consideration and judgment.

(Caveat: This blog provides Turnstone Custom Homes' understanding of the relevant State and County "Improvement Tax" Code sections and Sussex County's current practices as of May 2025. Always consult with an attorney to evaluate your specific exposure to this tax .)

Annual award celebrates the top-rated and most admired home remodeling and design professionals across the global Houzz community

COVID had a devastating impact on home builders

Kitchens are the heart of the home where memories are made around food and good conversation. Kitchens deserve to be the centerpiece of every home and the design trends for 2022 will help turn your kitchen into a timeless classic for years to come. Check out the article here

Turnstone Custom Homes is a finalist in both the Best Home Builder and Best Home Remodeler categories for Coastal Style Magazine's Best of Coastal Style 2022! We are both thrilled and honored to be a finalist in both categories. Thank you to all who nominated us! We are incredibly excited for the next round of voting.

Turnstone Wins Best of Houzz 2022

Turnstone was recently recognized by the 2021 Rehoboth Cottage and Town Awards for two properties; The Modern Hickman and The Poolvue ! Check out the Article Here

The following summarizes how Turnstone expects Project Managers to conduct themselves during a renovation project. Be empathetic. Having strangers tearing your home apart is extremely stressful. Understand that the homeowner’s goal is to get you out of their home as quickly as possible, consistent with quality workmanship. This aligns with our goal of completing the project promptly to keep job schedules intact and protect project margins. Don’t leave the homeowner waiting and wondering. Nothing is more frustrating than not knowing when workers will be in your home. Always assume the homeowner has planned their day around you or the trade contractors. Make sure the homeowner knows the expected start and finish times each day and communicate daily to either reconfirm or notify of changes to the schedule beyond our control. Most importantly, be there when you say you’re going to be! If you say you’re breaking for lunch the homeowner assumes you will be back in an hour. Homeowners do not make a distinction between our performance and the performance of our trade partners – it’s all the same thing to them and they expect us to manage the trades. Confirm trade contractors’ arrival schedule the evening before. Most people understand that things happen, and people are sometimes late. In those cases, let the homeowner know immediately so they can adjust their plans. Over-communicate. Renovations are inherently unpredictable. It is impossible to over-communicate what is going on, problems uncovered and proposed solutions, schedules and progress reports. Daily job logs are essential, communicating in words and pictures what was achieved and what will happen next. Document all important discussions and share that documentation with the homeowner through the construction management portal. Assume the homeowner is busy. Get to the point. If the homeowner is feeling chatty, they’ll let you know. Respect the Owner’s property . The work area should be cleared of the owner’s possessions and furniture. Help the homeowner relocate possessions to a safe area if necessary. Never allow Turnstone personnel or trade partners to enter spaces that are not included in the scope of work unless absolutely required to complete the scope of work. Never lie . Always tell the whole truth – especially if we’ve made a mistake. Once the homeowner stops trusting your word, you will never regain their trust. Don’t “manage” your client. The Project Manager is responsible to make sure the homeowner knows the whole truth. Don’t spoon feed or spin information. Be a straight shooter, even when that is uncomfortable for you or the homeowner. If you think the homeowner is being unreasonable, ask your supervisor to intervene immediately to clear the air, reach consensus and reset realistic expectations. Require decisiveness. Notify your supervisor immediately if homeowner inattention or indecision is threatening the project schedule. It will be uncomfortable to confront the issue, but the homeowner will thank you when the project is done on schedule. The homeowner’s business is nobody else’s business. You will learn a lot about the homeowner and their family during the renovation. Respect the homeowner’s privacy and keep sensitive information to yourself. Clean up. Leave at least 15 minutes at the end of each day to organize materials and clean up construction debris and check the driveway and street for nails and screws. Demand the same of our trade partners. Don’t forget the neighbors. The homeowners can tolerate a lot of disruption because they get a beautifully renovated new home at the end of the project. The neighbors just get the disruption. Introduce yourself to the surrounding neighbors early on and give them your cell phone number. Set realistic expectations and let them know you are aware that the project will inconvenience them. Some neighbors will never be satisfied but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. If a neighbor becomes belligerent, disengage and schedule a meeting with your supervisor and the homeowner to discuss the situation. Conclusion. If you follow these rules consistently the homeowner will become your friend and partner in the project. Ignore these rules and your relationship with the homeowner will quickly deteriorate, making the entire process miserable for you and them.

Have you ever wanted a quick reference for aging-in-place issues? Are you wondering how to incorporate some aesthetically pleasing designs into your projects? If so, the Aging-In-Pace Checklist might be suited to your needs. The checklist below contains features, suggested by The National Association of Homebuilders, that you may want to consider for your next construction or renovation project. It also provides a quick reference for various aging-in-place issues. Exterior Low maintenance exterior (vinyl, brick) Low maintenance plants and shrubs Deck, patio or balcony surfaces no more than ½ inch below interior floor level Overall Floor Plan Main living on a single story, including a full bath No steps between rooms/areas on the same level 5 ft. by 5 ft. clear turn space in living area, kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom Hallways Minimum of 36-inches wide, wider is preferred Well lit Entry Accessible path of travel to the home At least one no-step entry with a cover Sensor light at exterior no-step entry focusing on the front door lock There needs to be 32-inches of clear width, with includes a 36-inch door Non-slip flooring in the foyer Entry door sidelight or high/low peep hole viewer; sidelight should provide both privacy and safety Doorbell in accessible location Surface to place packages when opening the door Thresholds Flush preferable Exterior ½ inch maximum with a bevel Interior maximum of a quarter inch Interior Doors There needs to be 32-inches of clear width, which requires a 36-inch door Levered door handles Windows Plenty of windows for natural light Lowered windows or taller windows with lower sill height Low maintenance exterior and interior finishes Easy to operate hardware Garage or Carport Covered carports and boarding spaces Wider than average carports to accommodate lifts on vans Door heights may need to be nine feet to accommodate some raised roof vans If code requires floor to be several inches below entrance to house for fume protection, can slope entire floor from front to back to eliminate need for ramp or step

2021 Renovation Trends

Kiplinger Touts Delaware's Tax Advantages.

2020 has been a year most would like to forget. While it has been challenging on so many levels, this year has been a true testament to the collaboration, work ethic, dedication and professionalism of our people. As of this writing, our Team and their families are healthy. I'm proud of how they managed to work every day through a global pandemic and remain healthy and laser focused.

Check out our Newsletter here

Careful planning is the key to getting a home office environment where you can be truly productive

I’ve received numerous compliments lately on how prepared we seem to be for the challenges of the pandemic. Several clients with projects either in design or underway have commented on how we haven’t missed a beat. I would love to tell you that I planned for a moment like this, but that would be a stretch. What is true is that we have learned a lot working with clients who live far away from their new home construction project. Those lessons, and the systems we have adopted for working with remote clients, are serving us very well during this challenge. We owe this to our talented, dedicated staff, who relentlessly follow procedures, and to our online construction management/communications portal. The two together combine to make the perfect home building experience.

Watch the Turnstone Team install this swimming pool on to the roof of one of our beautiful custom homes in Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Click here to read our Newsletter for March 2020.

Imagine relaxing by crystal blue water on a white sandy beach with the palm trees swaying in the wind, without leaving home. A company called Crystal Lagoons has teamed with a number of developers to bring Caribbean Resorts amenities to inland communities. Could a Delaware farm field transform into a resort. Read the article and decide for yourself.

When designing a custom home, we take everything into consideration from the foundation to the shingles. But what if we also took into consideration our pets? As it turns out, there are a number of high-end amenities which can be added to custom homes that make both our lives and our furry friends’ lives luxurious. Some of these amenities include dog washes, dog friendly landscaping, and pet friendly paint and flooring.

Click here to read our February 2020 Newsletter

We at Turnstone are beyond excited to have one of our kitchen designs be recognized for it's creative use of space. Our corner kitchen cabinet in this design really made the design one of a kind. Granted, these particular corner cabinets are a bit pricey and not for the price conscious. However, the design and article demonstrates all the possibilities of how to save space in your kitchen without sacrificing on design and quality.

This beautiful home in Rehoboth was originally built in the 1940s and is approximately five blocks from the boardwalk. The owners utilized incredible use of space to fit a family of nine yet did not sacrifice on design or quality.

With a new decade comes fresh, new colors. Some of the trending colors include Pantone's Classic Blue, Behr's Back to Nature, Sherwin-William's Navy, and a color palate of 12 hues from Valspar.

If you’re building a new home in Sussex County, Delaware your home will be subject to numerous government inspections along the way. The Sussex County Building Department conducts inspections at various points during construction. The cities of Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Bethany Beach and others have their own inspections regimes.

Successful builders are choosy about the people they work with. Here's why.

FloodIQ.com Website Offers a Fascinating Glimpse into Your Home’s Flood Risk

In October 2019, Home Builder Digest recognized Turnstone as one of the best custom home builders in Delaware. Their glowing review of Turnstone is absolutely amazing.

The construction and trade industries are primarily dominated by the male population. However, more and more women are becoming interested in this field. In an article from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), they talk about how important it is to have women in this field.

The Perfect Roof Deck Surface – Pedestal Mounted Pavers We were recently asked to renovate a large roof deck for a customer. The flat roof was leaking due to inadequate sloping and degradation of the surface. We fixed the slope problem by installing tapered rigid insulation panels and installed a new EPDM membrane. These steps fixed the ponding and leaking problems but also created a sloped surface instead of the client’s preferred flat surface. The exposed membrane would be subject to degradation over time as well as damage from furniture, etc. The look was very “industrial”. After searching far and wide for a viable solution we found what turned out to be the PERFECT solution, and our client is beyond thrilled with the outcome.

The Baby Boomer Generation is one of America's largest generational populations and have very specific wants and desires. In 2019, The National Association of Home Builders updated their survey on "What Buyers Really Want" based on 3,996 home buyers.

The most popular kitchen design trend of 2019 is mixing different metals together as accents. This article from Pure Wow offers new ideas to try in your kitchen. Click here to read the article.

ICF materials are taking beach towns by storm. Check out this article by Common Sense Home to know the pros and cons about building a home utilizing ICF construction. Click here to read the article.

By Dave Eppes Local Realtors will tell you that there has always been a price premium for Rehoboth Beach when compared to Dewey Beach. The main reason is Dewey’s reputation as a party town. I have owned homes in Dewey Beach since 1988, so I feel as if I know a thing or two about life in Dewey Beach. 

Guest blog courtesy of Marc Frey of SchagrinGAS Heating & Air Conditioning

Turnstone has some exciting stuff going on. Click here to learn more.

When building a new home, it is important to understand the best ways to maximize the space. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) the top five space maximization trends are right sizing, outdoor living, fireplaces, storage space, and transitional/flex space. Utilizing these trends in your custom home will guarantee a show stopping design the maximizes your space.

For many people, building a custom home is a process that involves several ups and downs spread out over a year or more. We thought this blogger provided a very thoughtful and fair explanation of what she learned from her home building process, which include the following:

The Delaware Business Times Fastest 50 showcases the 50 fastest growing businesses in Delaware that represent the future of Delaware's economy and embody the entrepreneurial spirit critical for leadership and success. Turnstone is honored and humbled to be selected as one of the Fastest 50 for 2019.

When it comes to ordering supplies, builders tend to order from trusted, local distributors for various reasons such as cost and quality. In addition, the relationship a builder forms with their supplier can lead to faster turnaround times and much better service after the sale.

Check out our Newsletter for May 2019

For immediate release

Go to almost any builder’s conference and your likely to see this chart or something like it. Builders love to share it because it is a fairly accurate depiction of the highs and lows the client experiences in the custom home building process.

Check out our Newsletter for March 2019

Turnstone Custom Homes has entered into an agreement to share resources and ideas with Lewis Builders of Carmel, CA. 

Check our our Newsletter for February 2019

The analysts at Kiplinger have again ranked Delaware as a tax-friendly state for retirees. As happy as we are with this ranking, it doesn’t tell the full story for Sussex County residents. Among the ranking factors is the level of real estate taxes, which Kiplinger averages at the state level. But that doesn’t do justice to Sussex County, which has far lower real estate taxes than the state average.

One of the best things about a total kitchen renovation/expansion is gaining more room for all the latest gadgets and gizmos that no longer fit into the typical foodie’s outdated kitchen.

Check out our Newsletter for December 2018!