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:

Silhouette family holding hands on the beach in front fo the sunset

Designing for Blended Families

In second marriages where kids are still in the household, home design takes on a special emphasis. Parents want to interact with all of the children and encourage the kids to spend time together. Open floorplans enhance communication—even if the parent is just working in the kitchen while keeping an eye on what the kids are doing in the family room. All parents share the experience of arguing with kids over loud TV/music/gaming volume coming from bedrooms. Solid core doors offer more pri... [Read More]

Home Design Ideas for Working From Home

As reported in the Pittsburgh Sun-Times, "Nationwide, the number of home-based businesses may range from 18 million to 38 million, depending on who is doing the counting." Add to that number an estimated 40 million Americans who telecommute (working from home part of the time) or bring work home to finish projects at night or on the weekends, and the importance of work space is easily understood. From traditional, dedicated home offices to flex spaces that serve double duty (as your home o... [Read More]

Smart phone playing music, with headphones plugged in, wrapped around a book

Design for De-stressing

Everyone has their own way to de-stress. For some it means relaxation, peace & quiet. For others, it's about de-compressing from a hectic day. Some de-stress by hanging out with friends, and others seek to rejuvenate, or recharge. What you like to do while you unwind will help shape the ideal space. The secret is finding a place in your home that works for you. If reading or watching a little TV is how you like to unwind, a sitting area in the primary bedroom may be the perfect answer... [Read More]

Better than “Mudroom”

The door from the garage has become our most-used entry into the home. So, we look at this space as a 'rear foyer'—not a mere mudroom. Just as you wouldn't make your laundry room a part of your front entry foyer, you won't see the laundry in your rear foyer, either! Our research revealed nothing is more stressful for Moms than getting the family out the door on-time in the morning, with everything they need. Rear foyers may offer solutions such as lockers for each of the kids, and even wa... [Read More]

Fenced in?

When you think "Vinyl Fencing" certain pictures probably come to mind, as well as notions of perceived advantages and disadvantages. Then there's SimTek, a product that will have you thinking about vinyl fencing in a whole new way. Crafted to look like stone walls, SimTek fencing looks great and is warranted to withstand hurricane force winds and temperature extremes. According to the manufacturer, SimTek fencing provides an excellent sound barrier, is maintenance free and is easy to install. [Read More]

Beyond the Number of Bedrooms

Typically we hear “how many bedrooms does a certain plan have?”. But another request is often presented when it comes to bedrooms. “I want a plan with the primary bedroom in the front facing the street” or others request the primary bedroom in the back for more perceived privacy. Placement of the primary bedroom suite seems to be for most, a black and white issue with few neutral on this subject. For this reason we have similar sized plans that provide a choice in the location of the prima... [Read More]

Building an Easy-Care, Low-Maintenance Home

Wouldn't having a low-maintenance home be "mentally freeing"? We agree, so selecting products used in the construction of your home which are easy to care for is one of "lenses" we use. Floor coverings are particularly important, because of the long reach. Just as certain carpeting is more stain-resistant, ease of cleaning should be a consideration in tile and hardwood floors, too. Bathrooms are another area where low-maintenance is critical. One-piece sink/countertops eliminate the se... [Read More]

Designing a Home for Entertaining

How do you like to entertain? Formal or informal, quiet conversations or game and movie nights, your entertaining preferences play a big role in determining the home that's just right for you. One of the hallmarks of today's home plans is a more "open" layout, with the eating area, kitchen and great room all open to each other, so that everyone is part of the fun. An open floor plan really pulls entertaining or family life together. More than just eliminating walls, today's kitchens... [Read More]

Woman sitting on the bed with a cup of tea

From simple pleasures to indulgences, it’s all about comfort

What are a few of the things you've learned to "put up with" in your current home? Noise? Lack of storage where you need it? Not enough windows? A poorly designed kitchen? Long waits just to use the bathroom? In addition to simply making us feel better, there is great comfort in exceptional home design. Eliminating unnecessary steps…not having to walk through one room just to get to another…and not being welcomed by piles of laundry waiting to be folded (or worse yet-washed!) when ent... [Read More]

Design Efficiency

Fine Line Homes proudly introduces the Kirkwood 3 bedroom house plan, ideal for growing households on a budget. Its storybook elevation beckons all who pass by while the covered front porch communicates a sense of "welcome". At just 36-feet in width, this home is perfect for narrower home sites. Add an optional third-car garage and the home is still less than 50-feet in width! This home is a study in design efficiency. The foundation is rectangular, eliminating expensive jogs. The fi... [Read More]