About the NDI Blog
Welcome! If you are looking for a custom builder, you will do a lot of research. You will ask your neighbors, your friends and your family what they think. You will Google. You will comb through Pinterest. You will watch …
Expert Q&A: How To Get Your House Ready To Sell
The northern Virginia real estate market has been on fire over the last few years. Even as interest rates have ticked up, marketable homes are still flying off the shelf. So if you are thinking about selling, you should consider …
Jen In The Kitchen (with her son, Andrew): Cinnamon (Baked) Doughnuts
My son Andrew and I started baking together last year. Baking is not my forte, mainly because I am absolutely terrible at following directions. Baking requires a type of precision in the kitchen that I do not possess. But when …
Expert Q&A: Should I Be Concerned About Rising Mortgage Rates?
When Paul and I bought our first home in 2000, the mortgage rate was over 8%. While that seemed “normal” back then, today’s buyer has been accustomed to the historically low rates we’ve had for over a decade. So when …
Jen In The Kitchen: The Ultimate Burrata Board
Looking for an easy recipe for entertaining a crowd? I love a good food board (check out this post and this post for more ideas!) when I’m entertaining. They’re fun and so easy to make! I came across this article …
Home Building FAQs: What Money Do I Need Upfront When Building?
I started a blog series answering common home building questions. My goal is to provide you with a quick answer (300 words or less!) to a common question and when I can, give you resources to find more information on …
How To Build A Custom Home Series: Building Permit Fees
I recently started a new blog series chronicling the step by step process of building a custom home. I thought it would be helpful to blog about the process from start to finish. I did a similar series a few years ago but …
Jen In The Kitchen: Salt & Pepper Fish
I love making fish at home, especially when the recipe is easy and healthy. At the beginning of the year, I set out to make 1 new recipe per week in 2022 (check out my New Year’s Resolution), and this …
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 8 which feels a little early this year. If you are looking for some last minute gift ideas for that favorite mama in your life (MIYL), I got ya covered. And as of the …
Design Tips That Will Keep Your Home Neat & Clutter Free
If you are thinking about building a new home because you need more space, you might consider ways to incorporate smart storage spaces without creating “too much” storage space. I know for some, especially if you are currently living in …
5 Tips For Making Secondary Bathroom Selections
If you are building a custom home, you will eventually go through the color selection process, where you will choose the colors and design elements for your home. For some clients, this is a very exciting time. It is something …