We all have a dream of the perfect new home, everything is brand new, new applicances and furniture, the latest and greatest amenities, large living spaces, a luxurious master bedroom suite, plenty of storage and outdoor areas to enjoy during the fair weather months. Trends change over the years and various elements of the home become the latest features to be showcased. As we experience varying economic conditions and changes in the pressures of everyday living we look to our homes to provide more than shelter, they become a reflection of who we are and how we spend our time.

Most builders will bid the cost of a house by dollars per square foot. So you would think that you need to keep the square footage at a minimum to keep the price down, but the reality is that some areas of the home are simply more expensive than other areas. Consider the overall roof area and foundation area, the whirlpool tub, the two-story great room or the dining room chandelier. Alter or remove any of these items and the average square footage cost can drop, maybe making a home with increased square footage a little more affordable.

There are many options that will provide the conveniences you want without breaking the budget. Do you really need a formal living room and dining room in addition to a hearth room, and does your family need four bedrooms and a library? Look at a house plan that offers an open floor plan, one that enjoys rooms that flow easily from one space to another, and that can keep hallways to a minimum. Divide rooms by changing ceiling treatments or using counters with seating instead of walls to maintain that open look. Use large windows to bring light and the outdoors in for a more spacious feel. Now instead of having small rooms you have a large living space. Expand the informal dining area to accommodate a large dining table and convert the formal dining room into a library, or eliminate the dining room to save on square footage. If the step saving convenience of a one floor plan is important to you consider putting the master bedroom on the main floor and placing the secondary bedrooms on the upper level or in the lower level basement. This will save money on foundation and roof costs. A walk-out lower level/basement offers an extremely economic way to create additional square footage that feels every bit as warm and inviting as the main level and you have not expanded either the roof size or the foundation size.

Kitchens are critical to the overall character of the home and large kitchens with plenty of counter space are the most requested feature in our designs today. Islands or Peninsulas with seating are in demand. Islands can define and separate the kitchen from an adjacent room, creating an open effect that allows a space to feel and function much larger than its actual size. Islands can be decorated to make them look and feel like pieces of furniture and with all the lighting options available today, islands can be elevated to a major design aspect of the home. If granite or high end counter tops are too costly for your budget consider using the higher end product on the island and a nice laminate on the remaining counter. The mixing of finishes and colors is perfectly acceptable in today’s décor.

High ceilings are another element that many people are reconsidering. The two-story Great Rooms are beautiful show stoppers and add a really luxurious element to any home; but many of our customers are lowering the ceiling in the Great Room or Hearth Room to a 10 or 12 foot height. The lower, raised ceilings still offer the luxury desired and when paired with architecturally styled trim work such as stepped ceilings, crown moulding or beamed ceilings they can add the same decorative effect with less energy loss and an increased warm and cozy atmosphere as compared to the two-story high ceilings.

A first floor laundry room is a tremendous convenience and can double as a mud room. Entry from the garage into the home has, in recent years, become a secondary “foyer”, or “family entry”. A closet located here and maybe some built-ins for dropping off mail and book bags are a feature you may want to consider. These drop off centers help to maintain an orderly environment. Many people feel that this area is used more frequently, and opt to spend their money here, as opposed to a less frequently used formal dining room. If both rooms are in the budget, consider a butler’s pantry for ease of serving from the kitchen to the formal dining room. Recessing a furniture alcove in the dining room (if location permits) can create furniture placement advantages as well as help with the traffic flow around the extended dining area.

The master bedroom is a favorite place to enjoy luxury at its finest; but many people are rethinking that whirlpool tub. If it is a deal breaker, do you really think you will use it that often? Accent lighting, coffered ceilings or crown mouldings may be a less expensive method of showcasing luxury and promoting relaxation. Be sure that your walk-in closet is wide enough for hanging on both sides, it only takes a few more inches to provide double hanging space in a walk-in closet and this could add very little to the overall expense of the home. Don’t forget a linen closet, it need not be large but it can offer a great amount of inexpensive storage. If at all possible try to access the walk-in closet from the bathroom in the master suite, this will free up wall space for furniture placement and make a bedroom that is not quite so large function better and appear larger.

If you have easy access to attic areas consider taking advantage of them for unfinished storage areas or to create a built-in desk or alcove. This would most likely be found in a second floor situation, near the bedrooms or over the garage.

Less expensive floor treatments can be incorporated among the finer finishes of hardwood and ceramic. Put the more durable products in the high traffic areas and use carpet in the bedrooms.

At some time all of us will make a decision on how we want to live in our home. This is just meant to help you think about how some of the decisions affect your overall housing costs and what elements are optional to aid in keeping your building costs on budget. Our home plans, featured on this web site, offer many of the elements that I have mentioned here. If you have ideas that may make the Studer Plan you have selected function better for your needs we will be happy to work with you on minor changes. You may also purchase the plan from us and coordinate with your builder to modify the house making it the perfect home for you and your family.