It’s no surprise that purchasing a home is full of ups, downs, and plenty of changes. After Anastasia and her husband Austin purchased their first home in 2016, they quickly realized there were several things they would go back and change if they could. Living in a development made the pair decide that in the future, having a large plot of land would be the way to go for their lifestyle.
Despite wanting these changes, the couple wasn’t sure if building a custom home was within their budget. “We decided to call the Greensboro/Winston, NC location and get a quick quote to see if it could work,” said Anastasia. “After receiving their quote, they were both realized that their dreams may be a possibility sooner than they thought. “We couldn’t believe how much Schumacher could offer and all within our budget.” So, they quickly agreed to move forward and start designing their dream home.
Why did you choose Schumacher Homes?
“We looked at a few other builders, and they could not give us the customizations we wanted and didn’t have the great standard options like granite throughout like Schumacher does.”
With space being the main priority when it came to lot selection, space is exactly what Anastasia and Austin got when they located the perfect 11-acre plot! Finding a lot that checked all the boxes was a process, “we looked at several lots and many were either too sloped, not big enough or on a busy road.” Eventually, the couple found a lot with plenty of privacy, flat, on the end of a cul-de-sac and it even had a creek running through one side. The lot was a match and they put in the offer the day it was listed.
Now with the property settled on, it was time to pick out a floor plan that would be a perfect fit for them. Their original home was a two-story plan and with this new home, they both knew that a one-story plan was what they dreamed of. After looking through plans, the Santa Barbara II Craftsman stood out from the rest. Anastasia said, “it had a cozy feel with a lot of different rustic elements.”
Being able to customize their floor plan was what originally drew the couple to Schumacher Homes. So, it was no surprise that they were both eager to make changes to build the perfect space for them. “The customizations are our favorite part,” they both agreed. To the Santa Barbara II plan, they added a covered back patio off the dining area, so they had space to enjoy their land. Another customization added was adding a cathedral ceiling to the main living space. To truly make the space unique they added stained beams to the ceiling to help tie back to the rustic feel they envisioned. Finally, to complete their dream living space, they added a floor-to-ceiling stacked stone fireplace.
What is your favorite room in the new house? Why is that?
“Our great room/kitchen! The exposed beams with our stone fireplace just feels so cozy! We love to relax at our kitchen island which seats 6 and entertain!”
Customizing the layout wasn’t the only way Anastasia and Austin were able to customize their dream home. With two golden retrievers, the couple wanted to make sure they chose materials that would hold up to their dogs. This meant waterproof and scratch-resistant Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) was a no-brainer. “We also knew we wanted a pop of color, Anastasia remarked, “so we made our large kitchen island a navy shade.” That island is now is a staple when they have friends over and entertain.
Having the perfect floor plan has been life-changing for them both. “It was so surreal!” They both agree on how exciting it is to call this their forever home. Getting rid of stairs and moving into a one-story home has been amazing. “Everything is so convenient,” says Austin. “Our laundry room is directly next to our large walk-in closets, and we love the very spacious walk-in pantry!”
Anything else you’d like to share with other future homeowners?
“We definitely recommend scheduling all in one day if you can for the interior selections and the pre-construction meeting - that’s what we did and while it was a long day, it was really helpful to get it all done at once! Also - have a good amount set aside as the safety net. We ended up having to dig 700ft for our well - much further than we anticipated- so it was great to already have funds set aside to cover that!”
Looking back, both agree building their dream home was the right decision. Getting to select everything from floor plan details to interior finishes was the way to go. Now Anastasia and Austin (plus their adorable dogs) have the perfect home that has everything they could need and then some.
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 22 locations in 11 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends.