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:

Austin Ranch House Plan – Cute & Functional

One of Fine Line Homes’ newest ranch house plans is called the “Austin” and comments from visitors to the website have been coming in. The first impression usually comments on ‘how cute it looks’ with its ‘fresh cottage design.’ The front porch and cottage-style shingles on the front gable accent this look. But once inside the front door, prospective Buyers are also finding it very functional. It is clearly designed for Buyers who are looking for a small, attractive and ‘user friendly... [Read More]

The Doors – Part 1

Perhaps you haven't given too much thought to your front door style; perhaps you've thought a lot about it. But...have you considered the material your front door will be made of? You might assume the entry door will be made out of wood. Beautiful, yes, but solid wood doors are expensive, not very energy efficient and fade in sunlight over time requiring re-finishing. Steel doors, while usually much less expensive, typically don't offer the visual appeal and may easily be... [Read More]

Solar glass block lights

Landscaping...path lighting...steps...pool decks...gardens...soft nighttime illumination adds safety and attractiveness to your outdoor living areas. A discrete solar panel recharges AAA batteries, so there's no need for electrical wiring or hiring an electrician. Place these glass block pavers anywhere you desire a little more light at night! [Read More]

Garage Applause Part 2

Most of us have driven through neighborhoods where the garages are the dominant architectural element of most of the homes. But, there are numerous ways to achieve the garage that suits your needs and simultaneously minimize the garage's impact on streetscapes! Adding horizontal fascia lines or a shed roof in a front facing gable over a garage minimizes the visual effect of that gable. Changing the siding pattern and/or the addition of louvers breaks up the massing of a front-facing gable ... [Read More]

Garage Applause – Part 1

Many homebuyers want bigger attached garages, which can present a challenge to keep the garage from dominating the home's front elevation. Designing the home's garage flush with, or even recessed from, other elements of the front elevation de-emphasize the garage's visual impact. Setback requirements dictate how far the home/garage must be "set back" from the street. When the garage is mostly forward of the main body of the home, as with the Knoxville, one may hear less r... [Read More]

You want a bigger kitchen?

When the practical (storage) has been addressed, it may be possible with some plans to delete upper cabinets on an exterior wall and add windows. The added daylight is inviting, makes your kitchen feel larger and eases food preparation! Note that with an oversized pantry for added storage, upper cabinets at the back wall of the kitchen are not necessary, meaning more windows for added natural light which makes the kitchen look and feel much more spacious! [Read More]

Peace of Mind with a New Home Warranty by Residential Warranty

Peace of mind is important with any major purchase you might make. Building a new home is no exception and at Fine Line Homes we recognize that peace of mind is a critical component to being comfortable in moving forward with the home building process. The nagging “what if’s” always come into play. Quality construction by an experienced builder in business for more than 42 years offers some peace of mind, but at Fine Line Homes we go beyond that and offer each customer a home warr... [Read More]

Making your home office work – Designing with you at the center.

Making your home office work - Designing with you at the center. You may feel "exposed" if your back is to the doorway. If that's the only option, consider a mirror in front of you so you can easily see behind you. And what you sit on is even more important. "Any old chair", as opposed to an ergonomically correct chair, may add fatigue. If your home office is big enough, consider a second, very comfortable chair for a welcome break from the task seating. Lighting is essential for produc... [Read More]

A Pet Peeve – Slamming Kitchen Cabinet Doors

One thing that really annoys me is slamming the kitchen cabinet doors shut. Seems one of my kids or grandchildren close the door with force as they are walking away and end up banging the door when it closes. The Yorktowne Cabinetry, offered in cherry, oak, maple, hickory and knotty alder, features a soft close hinge to address this. Both the doors and drawers have the soft close amenity. The drawers are also full extension allowing them to slide all of the way open to see and remove every... [Read More]

Is the Entrance to Your Home Inviting?

Summer and warm weather have finally arrived after we have all endured what seemed like one of the longest and coldest winters around our area in quite a few years. We know it was cold this past winter with ice on the Great Lakes weeks after Memorial Day. It’s time to make sure your house is ready to go through next winter. Materials used on houses built today are mostly maintenance-free from having to paint on the exterior. Vinyl siding, windows, decking, exterior rails, columns, accent l... [Read More]