Tips for Building Your 1st ( or 2nd or 3rd) New Home

My friend Adele is about to start the exciting process of building her 1st brand new home. Like most people, she is thrilled and also a little nervous. Actually, in her own words she is "seriously nervous to make all those decisions" and "freaking out about building!!!" She asked for a little advice and this got me thinking. With all the experience I've had working with new home buyers at the McArthur Homes Design Studio and building two homes for myself, what advice would I give to Adele and others who are building a new home? Here's what I came up with...

#1 The best thing you can do is to start with a great builder. Check customer reviews and make sure that current home owners are happy with their home and the design process. The builder you're looking at should have an in-house Design Studio so that you don't have to drive all over town picking up samples and comparing items. Most builders will let you visit the Design Studio before even signing a contract so that you can see the quality of the products that they offer. McArthur Homes, the builder I work for, offers an award-winning Design Studio. We have many full-sized kitchens and baths so that you can actually see how different combinations would look in your home. We also brought in large samples of every product so that you can really feel confidant in the selections that you have made. You can click here to check out more on the McArthur Homes Design Studio.

#2 Take the time to identify your own personal style. Most people just don't know where to start. At the McArthur Homes Design Studio I've noticed that people can easily get overwhelmed by the details when they don't have a vision of what they want their home to look like when all is said and done. I strongly recommend taking pictures of model homes, homes of friends or family that you like, finding pictures online and in magazines (I love checking out HGTV's Rate My Space for inspiration). I have a personal file at home for "dream home" ideas. I also recommend taking little notes on what you liked about each picture. Is it the color on the walls? A piece of furniture? Maybe you just like the overall cozy feeling of the room. Whatever it is, identify it and save it. Then go back through and pick out your very favorite things until you have a good idea of what you want your new home to look like. You might be surprised to find that most of the pictures you like have dark wood floors, or maybe you gravitate to lighting and plumbing with a sleek look and a brushed nickel finish.

#3 Spend money where it counts! The number one problem I have seen with new home buyers is that they often spend too much on the unimportant details and not enough where it will really make an impact. Don't be afraid to invest in your cabinets. A beautiful glazed alder cabinet will go a long way in a kitchen, even if the countertops are just a laminate. (WilsonArt has some gorgeous laminate countertop options available if you want to do something great on a budget!) Cabinets are also great for resale because no one looking at buying a home wants to have to rip out and replace cabinets. It is just too expensive to do it later. Another good place to invest in your home is on the flooring, especially in high traffic areas like entrys, kitchens and family rooms. Spend a little money to do it right the first time and you won't have to worry about ripping up and replacing things later on. I personally recommend natural hardwood floors because they can are cozy and can be refinished for years to come. I also love the new Mohawk SmartStrand carpet. In the picture below, my friend Dixie chose knotted alder cabinets with a black glaze for a rich look. An affordable laminate countertop and bright backsplash contrast nicely with the deep alder cabinets.

#4 Use contrast to your advantage. Not everyone likes a harsh contrast of black and white, but an all beige room is boring. Add some interest with one or two items that are a darker or lighter than everything else, like a bright backsplash, a deep hardwood floor or an ebony countertop. Neutral can still be exciting if there is variation in light and dark. Remember that you can always bring in color with your paint, furniture, art and accessories so you don't need to worry about creating too much color variety in your home selections. I love the combination of light countertop and flooring with deep cabinets in the pic below.


#5 Details, details, details. Drawing from your "dream home" file, take note of details that can make your home more functional, or more custom-feeling. Here are a few of my favorites:

Roll-out trays in lower kitchen cabinetry & a built-in spice rack for easy storage

Christmas light outlet in the soffit of your home (mine has a digital timer switch so that I can easily control when the Christmas lights turn off and on)

A few glass cabinets in the kitchen to showcase your fav dishware

Built-in bench at the master shower to give you that spa feel

Cabinetry built-ins, recessed niches or anything else that makes your home more functional for you

#6 Move-in and make it your own. Once you've moved into your brand new home you can really personalize it to your taste. Adding interest & texture with accent paint, draperies, wood, metal and upholstered furniture, rugs and other accesories will bring your home to life. Don't forget to refer to your "dream home" file for inspiration but also make it yours with personal touches like family photos and mementos. Then invite over your closest famiy and friends and enjoy...

If you have any questions or would like additional tips. Feel free to contact me at kristi@mcarthurhomes.com.