Letter from the Publisher   Custom buyers expect more . . . and Today’s Custom Home delivers. Today’s Custom Home was specifically designed to serve the needs and interests of people actively involved in the process of planning or building their next custom home or major renovation project – in short, your needs and interests. We educate you about the custom building process, inform you about the latest trends and techniques, and entertain you with glimpses into some of Charlotte's finest homes. In fact, since Today’s Custom Home is the only local publication and website entirely devoted to building custom homes, you can be certain that the experts we speak with, the neighborhoods we tour, and the craftsmen we spotlight will be accessible for your project.   As you plan that project, bear in mind that everything old is new again as Old World architectural styles and casual European lifestyles continue to have a major impact on today’s home designs. Take the neighborhood on our Spring cover - Bretagne. By placing a heavy emphasis on amenities combined with traditional English, French and Italian architecture, Bretagne hopes to give its homeowners the feeling that they are living in a luxurious European resort.  In Concord, The Vineyards strives to recreate the ambiance of the Italian countryside in an exclusive enclave of true Tuscan-style homes designed around gracious courtyards. Since embracing the outdoors is at the heart of today’s casual lifestyles, we visit several firms dedicated to transforming your yard into a true retreat. Whether that’s through a comprehensive plan based on your needs, new varieties of plants bred to add color to your landscape, a range of new materials or the addition of a hardscape, the choice is up to you. When you do venture indoors, there are a multitude of firms devoted to giving your rooms a new look, your kitchen a new life, and making your home a healthier environment.