New Home Features Archives

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:

I Wish I had Thought About That!

Form and function. Beautiful and practical. Great home design has to have both. The bathroom in a primary suite has always been a "hot button" for home buyers. Hence, bath design receives lots of attention. Designers often start with creating the first impression--what you see when you first walk into the bathroom. Recently, we've been wowed by some visually stunning primary suite baths, only to discover practical considerations, such as convenient towel storage, was obviously an afterthou... [Read More]

Anatomy of “High Design”

We're often asked to describe what makes a great floor plan. While there is no single answer that works for everyone, we'll use the Oakridge home plan to point out some of the most-wanted features in new homes. [caption id="attachment_5646" align="alignright" width="300"] Click to enlarge.[/caption] A garage that's big enough for storage. The Oakridge's garage is 26-feet deep-plenty of space for long-term storage items. There's a rear foyer entry from the garage. You don't step direc... [Read More]

More than Merely Convenient…

...stairs from the garage leading directly to a basement can minimize a lot of problem issues. One of the most obvious is moving large/bulky items in and out of that lower level. Relying only on an interior staircase may present challenges, particularly if that inside staircase has angles or is "U-shaped" when moving furniture. Additionally, direct basement access from the garage can be quite handy for home and D-I-Y projects. Your workbench and tools may be located in the garage, in the b... [Read More]

More Enjoyable, Safer Too!

Bathrooms and stairways are where most fall accident occur in homes. While we may not be able to do much about slippery wet floors, we can do something for stairway safety and enhance aesthetics at the same time. The Jamestown design has a staircase along an exterior wall, making it a natural candidate for a window at that staircase landing. Some buyers, in order to save a few dollars, will eliminate that window. But the added daylight can make a huge difference in terms of safety. It's ge... [Read More]

Interior Door Widths: A Decision You’ll Never Regret

[caption id="attachment_5707" align="alignright" width="215"] Photo courtesy: JELD-WEN[/caption] When building a new home, interior door widths are one instance where wider is better. Building codes address door width, but codes are typically adopted on a local basis and may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Take for instance a family that was moving a portable crib from one room to another--it measured 31-inches wide, fully assembled. You can bet they were glad to have opted for ... [Read More]

Home Security, Part 2

Read Home Security Part 1 After you have identified the perils from which you seek to protect your home, you have a few more important decisions: [caption id="attachment_5705" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo courtesy: Nest[/caption] Professionally installed vs. D-I-Y. Who will install your security system typically depends on its level of sophistication and whether there will be remote monitoring. Know that "free" or deeply discounted professional installation costs are... [Read More]

Home Security, Part 1

Before selecting and investing in a security system, first identify what you're looking to protect. Beyond making sure your doors and windows are secure, here are the most common issues and solutions: [caption id="attachment_5702" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo courtesy: Nest[/caption] Break-ins: Motion sensors, garage door monitor, lighting, panic button, etc. Surveillance: Video and audio monitoring to keep you aware of who is at the front door before you choose t... [Read More]

Home Office Design

Whether you work from home or have a home-based business, you want your work space to be comfortable and conducive for getting the job done. Determine how you will use the space and how often--is it your primary or supplemental work space? And, will other people need access, such as other family members, customers, vendors, etc.? We talked with several women that work from home and the main areas of concern included Space tailored to their needs. Layout/location in the home. ... [Read More]

Travel Center

Always on the go? Then you're sure to appreciate our Travel Center option, designed to keep everything handy and make packing a snap! You know where your suitcase has been...so you're probably not going to want to pack it on the clean bedspread! Our travel center was inspired by customers who wanted storage plus convenience when it came to preparing to leave town. "I know where that suitcase has been, and it's not getting packed on my clean bedspread!" "I live for spontaneous travel. I ... [Read More]

Can a Floor Plan Be Too Open?

No doubt about it, homes with open floor plans sell. And for good reason--everyone feels connected, there's a feeling of spaciousness, and open floor plans entertain well. But can a floor plan be too open? Many buyers prefer a plan with two entertaining areas. The Hatteras offers multiple spaces for entertaining with the open area on the main level and a loft that would make a great game room on the upper level. [Read More]