Designing your new home starts well before construction actually begins. Sometimes it starts even before your lot is cleared. The reason is that design is much more than choosing the countertops and paint color (though that is part of the process). Designing your home is about choosing the layout that works best for your family—and this has to happen before the foundation can even be poured.
In this article, we’ve broken down the steps into three parts we’re calling the three F’s: floorplan, finishes, and fixtures. Though designing the floorplan of your home can be exciting in its own right, the real fun starts with finishes and fixtures. This is what makes the home stand out as uniquely yours. It all starts with the layout though, so that’s where we’ll begin.
1. Floorplan
As we mentioned, the design process begins with planning the layout or floorplan of your home. What’s important to you and your family? Do you want an expansive kitchen with a walk-in pantry or would you rather save the extra space for a sunroom? Maybe you and your spouse are empty-nesters and looking for a smaller floorplan with less maintenance.
In the design phase of new construction, you’ll have the opportunity to make these decisions and choose the layout that works best for your family. A great example of this is the CarrHomes community of Waterford Creek. The community website even features an interactive design studio that allows you to add and remove features to help you decide what you like best.
Finishes
When we think about design, the first thing that pops into our heads are finishes. This includes paint color or wallpaper, countertops, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and flooring.
Another perk of purchasing new construction is your builder should have all the latest materials and paint options in their design studio, so you don’t have to go to the hardware store and try to figure out which cabinet finish works best with which countertop material. The builder’s design team should also guide you in choosing these finishes to make sure you’re creating the perfect atmosphere.
Fixtures
We’ve come to picking the fixtures for your new home. A lot of these decisions will be based on the finishes you chose. However, the fixtures also play a big part in making the interior of your home stand out.
For instance, in a white kitchen, you could go with a sleek stainless faucet, small electric cooktop, and recessed lighting for a minimal feel. Or you may like large accent fixtures, such as hanging pendant lights and Viking Range. Either option works great in a white kitchen, it just depends on your personal preference. The team at Van Metre Homes has a great selection of fixtures, and they do an excellent job helping buyers choose those that best suit their particular taste. Designing your new home is a fun—and exciting—experience. Go check out one of the websites we linked earlier, and play around with a virtual design studio if you haven’t already. This will be a great intro into the world of interior design.
