New Home Features

When building there are so many new home features to choose from – though it’s exciting, some can find the amount of choices a bit daunting. It’s inevitable that you will be met with options that you hadn’t even considered. We’re here to share our knowledge so you can get a jump on the building process – it will make you feel more confident going into the design phase.

Must Read Articles About New Home Features :

Exterior of a home with a tan colored entry doro

5 Essential Front Door Color Ideas to Choose From

The color you choose for your front door ultimately defines your house in terms of class, style, and taste. There are several front door color ideas that you can choose from — however, they should fit in with the overall palette of your home. Choosing your front door color will depend on the color of your house, your preferences, and how you’ve decorated. Here are five bold front door colors and tips on how to pick them.

exterior of a two story home with a garage and deck

10 Popular Custom Home Customizations

Customizations take a new home from typical to tailor-made. So, if personalization is what you crave, why settle for ordinary when it comes to your dream home? Here are 10 popular customizations you might love in your new home.

Everything You Need to Know About Ranch Homes

Learn why the one-story, open layout has made a comeback. The common saying, “as American as baseball and apple pie” could easily add “ranch homes.” A study released by the National Association of Home Builders shows two-thirds of home buyers (64%) would like a single-story home. To better understand the demand, here are some reasons the single story structure is popular again.

Closeup of Quartz Countertops in a kitchen

Quartz Versus Granite Countertops

Designing a house opens the doors to tons of options. Picking out the countertops in a new home for your food preparation and eating areas might be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your building project. Quartz and granite offer their pros and cons, so it’s important to have a baseline understanding of each before you make your final selection.

Recent New Home Features Articles:

Basement flooring part 2

Once you've done the hard work--all you can to control moisture in your basement--it's time for choosing the flooring surface. Basement flooring options run the gamut from vinyl and laminates to carpeting and woods. Most of the same considerations apply in selecting basement flooring as flooring above grade, with one noticeable difference-temperature. Specifically, the basement floor can feel cold to bare feet, one reason carpeting is often the choice. One of my neighbors was a professiona... [Read More]

Basement flooring part 1

If your home sits (or will sit) on a basement foundation, there is a great potential for finishing off some portion of that space as living space. But prior to dreaming about that space, first address the reality of moisture. [caption id="attachment_17922" align="alignright" width="339"] A wet concrete floor can wick water into walls and molding, promoting mold growth. Photo by Concrete Network[/caption] If yours is, or will be, a newly-built home, check to make sure specifica... [Read More]

Black and white image of a child peaking through the blinds

Reclaiming a little more time

Ahh, windows. We love them for natural light and for breezes. But because most of us aren't exhibitionists, we also install window coverings to control the light coming in. Blinds are a popular choice for window coverings, but faux wood or aluminum are easiest to clean because of their smooth surface. Textured blinds collect more dust and are harder to clean. Curtains can be more colorful and more personalized window fashions. Look for curtains that you can throw in the washing machine or ... [Read More]

Where’s the Stairs?

Typically home designs include the stairs near the front entrance often in the foyer. The stairs can be one of the first things guests see when they enter your home. That may not always be a good thing if the stairs end up as a catch-all for items you eventually will carry to the second floor. Imagine a design where the stairs are concealed somewhat that you may actually hear “Where’re the stairs”? The Jamestown is a home design that offers a convenient location yet the stairs are tucke... [Read More]

You light up my life

A new Lighting Facts label developed by the U.S. Department Of Energy helps buyers understand and select appropriate L.E.D. bulbs. In addition to the amount of light produced and energy used, the label identifies the CRI for color vibrancy on a scale of 1 (worst) to 100 (best). The label also identifies the lamp's color temperature (warm white - cool white - natural light) which, for example, helps explain why a soft yellow wall paint may appear beige when your lights are turned on. [Read More]

Planning for Outdoor Living

The best time to consider and plan for outdoor living is when you select and design your home to build. Decks, patios and courtyards are ways to extend living to the great outdoors. You will want to give consideration to electric needs, lighting and storage. A roof covered patio such as one featured on the Scottsdale home design means you never need to cancel grilling out just because it is raining. [Read More]

An extra seat in my WHAT?

Homebuyers have a strong preference for a "powder" bath or 1/2 bath so guests need not appreciate your son's rubber duckies in the tub. However, we've all seen homes where that powder bath location left us a bit... bewildered. Bathroom noise is one issue to consider, as is the view. Specifically, if the door to the powder bath is left open, are you staring at the toilet? Terry Golden, a Realtor® in Lansing Michigan, used to refer (humorously) to that layout as "having an extra seat in the ... [Read More]

Home Plans are Copyrighted

There is considerable confusion over home plan copyrights. Basically, you cannot use someone else's home design without their written permission, which usually requires paying a fee to "license" the use of that home design for the purposes of building your new home. Even if you intend to make changes to the design, you must first license the underlying house plan. Failure to do so is a violation of copyright law which can halt construction at any point and cost you up to $150,000. Copyi... [Read More]

pile of question marks, one glowing blue, and one glowing orange

How Big is “Big Enough”

[caption id="attachment_4577" align="alignright" width="300"] Room Dimension 11'-0" W. x 10'-10" D.[/caption] Debate continues on minimum acceptable secondary bedroom sizes, especially homes envisioned for first- and second-time buyers. Laptop computers and tablets have made study desks somewhat unnecessary. But two basic needs haven't changed. Beds are typically 6-feet long and a dresser opposite the bed's footboard is typically 2-feet deep. Therefore, to provide a minimal 3-... [Read More]

Bright Idea!

Adequate light levels are non-negotiable, especially as homeowners age, and less of the available light passes through their eyes' lenses. Over-the-mirror bath light bars are still common but are being augmented by pendant lights or wall sconces flanking both sides of the mirror providing better overall illumination for applying makeup or for his shaving. Additionally, decorative ceiling lights and even smaller chandeliers accentuate many of today's bathrooms. Recessed lighting such as can... [Read More]