For Iva and Rahul, their first home meant one thing above all else: a place to raise their daughter. But as both soon-to-be first-time parents and first-time homeowners, the couple had a lot to think through in a short amount of time.
To start, should they buy an existing home or build a new one? The more they thought about what was best for their family (and the more they struggled to find an existing modern farmhouse home), the more building made sense. “With a baby on the way, we knew a fixer-upper was just not in the cards for us, which is why we decided to build a custom home,” Iva said.
With that decision made, now they had to choose where to build. Should they be part of a community, or find land on their own? Once again, thinking about their daughter guided their decision. “We narrowed our search to the Murrysville area and knew we wanted to be in a planned community,” Iva said. The ease that would come with being part of a planned community would mean the most time possible with their daughter.
“Rahul and I both wanted to have the shortest commute possible, so we could quickly come home at the end of each day to our baby girl,” Iva said. With their decisions made, now it was time to design their home.
Building the modern farmhouse home of their dreams
Upon visiting Schumacher Homes’ Pittsburgh, PA design studio, Iva and Rahul knew a modern farmhouse plan was “a must-have” for them. As they reviewed home designs, one plan in particular caught their eye. “The Windsor floor plan literally checked off every box on our list,” Iva said. That list included:
With those boxes checked, Iva and Rahul only made minor changes to the floor plan. The biggest was adding a morning room off the kitchen, which let Iva and Rahul shift the dining area. “I wanted to be able to look out to the great room while standing in the kitchen without anything getting in the way, and that is exactly what we got,” Iva said. “We also made the pantry a bit bigger to make a continuous line of cabinets along the kitchen/morning room wall.”
Watching their home come together
With a baby on the way, Iva and Rahul couldn’t wait to move into their new home. By choosing to build in a planned community, they did themselves a huge favor. Crews could start construction quickly thanks to land already being prepared to build on.
“The process that stood out the most was the start of construction,” Iva said. “It was amazing to see just how quickly our empty piece of land turned into the foundation of our dream home, both literally and figuratively. Rahul and I were so amazed walking through our framed-in house and seeing our floor plan (which we had only seen on paper) coming to life!”
Walking into their new home
Now that Iva and Rahul have welcomed their little one into the world, they’re understandably busier (and more tired) than ever. But not so much that they still can’t help but feel excited by what’s to come for their family.
“Walking into our new home each day leaves us in awe. It is still hard to believe that this home is actually ours. We feel a great sense of accomplishment (and responsibility!) in becoming homeowners for the first time,” Iva said.
Their favorite room so far? The two-story great room. “The large picture windows and gorgeous shiplap fireplace make us basically never want to leave home!” Iva said. “We are looking forward to many cozy nights curled up by the fireplace.”
For us at Schumacher Homes, it’s a privilege to help first-time homeowners like Iva and Rahul find the best solution for their families. If you’re ready to explore building a custom home, we can help you navigate the process. We’ll break down even the most complicated parts, from finding land to understanding construction loans, into simple, easy-to-understand steps so you can make your dream home a reality.
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 32 markets in 14 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 19,000 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. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.