Tag Archives: architect

Meet Stone Creek Custom Homes’ Brad Ynostrosa

DSC00983 IMG_5566_1024

If you call or visit Stone Creek Custom Homes, the first person youre likely to meet is Brad Ynostrosa, our Director of Sales. Brad has been with us since 2004. He relocated from Dallas to work with Jesse and Jason, but it was a long, adventurous road to get here.

Brad and Jesse have known each other for over twenty years and were actually roommates in Dallas at one time, and he has been friends with Jason for over ten years now. Brad was enrolled at Texas State when he decided he wanted to go into the Fire Service.

Brad:  I wanted to be a firefighter, so I went back to Dallas from San Marcos in an effort to get into the fire academy and EMT school. Its not an easy career path to get into. At the time they only accepted 21 candidates out of approximately 600 applicants per year. I was blessed enough to make it in and graduate.  A short time later, a good friend approached me with a very attractive opportunity to work for a home builder and I couldnt pass it up. I wish I could have done both – I have a great deal of respect for firefighters.

One thing led to another and before long Brad had experience, not only building homes, but working with concrete, real estate, and building material sales. Fulfilling his desire to return to the Texas Hill Country, he and his wife took a leap of faith and moved to SA.  His vast knowledge makes him an asset to Stone Creek. He goes above and beyond to help clients find the ideal land for their home and devise a truly custom floor plan that suits their lifestyle, including design needs and budget parameters.

Brad:  I love it when our clients dont already have land picked out. It puts me in action! I’m eager to offer up any assistance to those in need of land. It’s a difficult task for those don’t know what to look for. Its my job to look at land and know what it means from a cost standpoint and provide honest feedback to our customers.

When it comes to his personal life, Brad is a proud husband and father of three girls, including twins that arent identical but look identical.

Brad:  We love the outdoors! As for me, my three favorite things I like to do are hunting, fishing and golf. As a family, I would say anything to do with the water or outdoors. The kids love the beach. We go to the Seaside area of Florida each summer. They also love staying at my Dads ranch. Theres no place theyd rather be than at the beach or what they call, “Poppis Cow Farm,” even though my dad no longer has cows. I know I am blessed to have a job I love, three beautiful daughters and an amazing wife that supports me in all I do (including my outdoor adventures that can sometimes take me away from home for more than a few days at a time!).

Brad also enjoys offshore fishing and is gearing up for the annual guys trip to Port Mansfield in July. If youre looking to meet Poppi, Brads father moved to San Antonio part-time to be closer to his granddaughters and opened up a traditional barbershop called RY Barbershop, just outside of Timberwood Park. Come by for great conversation and an old-school shave and haircut!

For Brads exceptional guidance on your next home, call him anytime at 210-494-5400.

More Kitchen, Less Kitsch

For some of us, the kitchen is where we spend the majority of our time. High tech appliances and current trends are making kitchens more inviting than our living rooms. So if your family likes to gather around the kitchen, even when it’s not dinnertime, here are a few yummy ideas to consider for your next kitchen:

KITCHEN CONNECTIONS:  The kitchen is often a hub for home owners’ electronics. Two-thirds of NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) kitchen designers said they’re now incorporating docking and charging stations in kitchen remodels. Fifty-six percent said they included a flat-screen TV – so you don’t miss Manu’s 3-pointers while grabbing a snack.

ENERGY SAVINGS:  Home owners are always on the look-out for energy savings. Sixty percent of home designers expect energy-saving appliances to be in higher demand this year. Water-saving kitchen faucets are another energy-saver worth incorporating into your new kitchen. As far as finishes go, satin nickel is still a gorgeous choice.

OPEN SHELVING:  If you want to showcase your beautiful dishes or glassware, consider open shelving. Not only does it create an airy, fun feel to the kitchen, but it personalizes the space and allows you to show off that wedding china or other unique items. Not recommended if you’re a messy cook!

OPEN FLOOR PLAN:  Beyond open shelving, open kitchen floor plan designs are in much higher demand than a traditional closed kitchen space. This is a great design to incorporate for active families who like to host parties. Just remember that everyone will be able to see what you’re doing in the kitchen. You’ll also need to consider how the kitchen décor will complement the rest of the house.

KITCHEN SINKS:  With the growing popularity of warm metal fixtures and wood cabinets, consider a plain white kitchen sink or even a colored kitchen sink as opposed to traditional stainless steel. Imagine a striking canary yellow or a beautiful blue to help the kitchen pop!

LOOK UP:  Ceiling design is a lovely way to stylize your kitchen and make it an incredible showpiece. Statement-making ceilings are hot! You can use lighting, bulkheads, coffer ceilings or even murals, if you want to go nuts, to enhance your kitchen ceiling.

Remember to beware of flash-in-the-pan trends, such as crazy colors or design choices that may date your home. Custom home designs and all of the intricate decisions you’ll face are what we do best! Give us a call us at 210-494-5400 to get started.

What Kind of Roof Do You Want Over Your Head?

Standing Seam Metal Roof from Stone Creek Custom Homes

When deciding on what kind of roof you want for your new custom-built home, there are a myriad of considerations, such as longevity, durability and environmental characteristics that must be weighed. What aesthetic are you going for? What’s your budget?  At Stone Creek Custom Homes, we do our best to make sure our clients know all of the factors before making such an important decision. When it comes to roofing, there are three main options:  tile, metal and asphalt shingle. We always tell people we put on a 30-year shingle, metal lasts 50 and tile lasts a lifetime, unless you get a hailstorm!

Asphalt Shingle

According to todayshomeowner.com, asphalt shingles have cornered 80% of the residential roofing market. Asphalt Shingles are the most popular type of roofing for homes, mainly because they’re the most economical choice.

If you’re trying to go green, asphalt shingles aren’t the best option. They’re not considered eco-friendly because they are a petroleum-based product, and while they can be recycled, it’s more likely they’ll end up in a landfill.

The good news is, today’s asphalt shingles are made to look like slate, wood shakes or even tile, so you can still have a beautiful-looking roof. Colors and styles vary, including architectural shingles, which create an attractive contoured, dimensional look, but aren’t recommended for low-sloping roofs.

Metal

According to the National Roofing Contractors Association, the popularity of metal roofing products has increased significantly in recent years. No longer simply corrugated tin roofs, modern metal roofs are not only attractive but are considered a high-tech roofing solution that’s lightweight, durable and fire-resistant. They’re also the energy-efficient choice because they reflect heat from the sun.

Aluminum, copper, copper-and-asphalt, steel and lead are all very durable, although certainly more expensive than asphalt shingles. Steel and aluminum are the most common and viable options because they hold paint well and are the least expensive metals. Although aluminum is prone to damage because it’s a softer metal, it’s less likely to corrode than steel.

Tile

Tile is more expensive than asphalt shingles and metal, but if aesthetics is your number one priority for your new custom home, tile roofs can’t be beat when it comes to a stunning visage. The half cylinders of tile roofing are common on Spanish Colonial and Mission styles, a prevalent choice in south Texas.

Terra cotta tiles have survived the test of time, not only because they give your house a warm, sunny façade, but because they’re great at keeping buildings cool – a quality which can’t be underestimated during summer!

Solar Shingle

Solar Shingles are a great alternative roofing choice. Only commercially available since 2005, solar shingles allow you to transform your roof into a source of energy, making it the most eco-conscious choice. Designed to look like traditional asphalt shingles, solar shingles are photovoltaic cells that are able to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. While solar shingles are considered a more expensive roofing solution, newer designs are much more cost-efficient and can be installed in 10 hours, compared to what used to take up to 30 hours.

Whatever type of roof you’re considering for your new custom home, we’re here to help guide you! For more information, call us today at 210-494-5400.