When it comes to building a new home with Schumacher Homes, we do our absolute best to make the process as easy and stress free as possible. If all goes to plan, the toughest part of the entire process will be choosing all of the exciting options for your house, making a plan on where to save and where to splurge. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of easy decisions throughout the customization process as well - these are all of the obvious must-haves for your family. When it comes to the ideal number of bathrooms and bedrooms to fit your family, a home office for your remote job, or a garage that can fit your extra large SUV, there isn’t really a choice. However, when thinking about sunrooms, high-end cabinets, extra storage space, or decorative ceilings, the choices become a bit more cloudy.
To begin down the laundry list of opportunities, you should always start with elements of structural design as these are items that can either never be changed or will cost you an arm and a leg should you ever decide to make an alteration in the future.
Ceiling Height
For obvious reasons, once your home has been constructed, it’s basically impossible to change the ceiling height, so this is a place where you might want to splurge up front if the aesthetic is important to you. It’s quite common, especially in an open floor plan, for our customers to appreciate an extra foot of ceiling height as it provides an even greater sense of space. Taller ceilings open a room both physically and mentally, providing a sense of both luxury and comfort. If this boundless feeling is something that is important to you, be sure to include it in your initial plan.
Design Square Footage
A second structural design element that is extremely difficult and costly to change later is the design square footage of the primary areas of your home. This can include building out a large kitchen for entertaining guests and spending time with your family, a bathroom that can meet the needs of your growing children, or the size and layout of your master suite - a place where you might end up spending more time than you originally realize. Stretching rooms and moving walls isn’t something you want to deal with in the future, so best to plan ahead.
Windows and Doors
While it may seem simple to add a window to any random wall in your new home, it’s actually a rather difficult process, as it can affect the structural integrity of your home.
We recommend working with your New Home Consultant to build in the ideal number of windows and doors to allow your home to be filled with natural sunlight and give you just the right views of your property.
Many of our customers love to install large windows or French doors and it is definitely best to splurge up front for these costs as they might be extremely difficult to add down the line.
Garage Size
It’s important to plan for the future when thinking about your garage. It’s easy to plan based on your current situation - perhaps your family currently owns two vehicles - but it’s important to consider what might be added down the line. Children grow up and start driving, that bonus check comes in and you finally purchase the motorcycle you’ve been dreaming of, or perhaps your collection of tools and gardening equipment simply grows to be too much for a small space.
Fireplace
If sitting by a warm fire in the dead of winter, cup of hot cocoa in hand while your favorite music plays throughout your home has always been a dream, it’s best to splurge now rather than tear up your walls later. Of course, the other decision that goes into a fireplace is whether you're more of the traditional wood burning type or if you’d prefer a direct vent, gas powered flame.
Those are some of the major structural items that can serve as deal breakers if your plan is to get to it later, but of course there are plenty of design features that must be considered when working with your customization budget as well.
To begin, let’s examine a few elements that can add some real style to your home, but without an extreme bust to your budget.
Exterior
The sort of exterior that you choose for your home can add real curb appeal and up the overall value without a huge dent in your pocket. Choosing between designer siding, insulated siding, or shake can be tough as they all have their own benefits, but one thing that we often recommend is going with bold colors or a 7” wide siding to mimic fiber cement. These little elements can make a large impact on the look of your home as neighbors pass by on the street.
Glass Front Door
The only real decision to make here is if you like the look or not. A glass front door can really make a statement as guests walk to the front door and the overall difference in cost to your home with this addition are relatively minimal.
Garage Doors with Windows
Again, this is an exterior design addition that is right for some people and wrong for others. Windows on the garage can really elevate the style of a home, alleviating any solid walls from the home, bringing an openness and airiness to the facade that can be coveted by friends and neighbors.
Moving from the exterior to the interior, you can only imagine how many customizations we offer at Schumacher Homes.
PRO TIP: We know this can all seem overwhelming, but don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Our team has worked with thousands of families and are well equipped to turn the seemingly infinite matrix of options into something simple and concise when it comes to decision time. We’ll help guide you to decisions that make your new home the home of your dreams.
Flooring
Love the hardwood look, but your budget tells you “no”? Not to worry. Both our laminate and Luxury Vinyl Flooring options can do the trick and to be quite honest, we often recommend these options even if budget isn’t an issue. With these options you can get the look and feel of hardwood, but at a much more appreciated cost. The real kicker is that their durability and color options often make them superior to the real stuff.
Painted Cabinets
Of course this is something that can be accomplished later with relative ease, but one thing that our customers love are white painted cabinets. This style gives a clean and crisp look to your designer kitchen and can really accent the entire common area in an open floor plan.
Lighting
A final item that can update your kitchen with minimal cost, or really any room if done appropriately, is pendant lighting. Finding the right pendants, something with a touch of pizazz, can quite literally brighten up the space and also offer a touch of style and intrigue.
Paint
Yes, paint. Tried and true, choosing the right paint can transform any room from ordinary to extraordinary, pardon the trope. This is an expense that you’re going to incur one way or another, so you may as well spend wisely. Quite obviously you can repaint your walls as often as you’d like, but it’s worth it to take the time and choose the perfect colors and temperatures during the planning stages so that everything is just right when you move into your new home.
Trim
Along with paint, think about trim. A simple modern farmhouse trim along with a larger base casing can go a long way in making your home a bit more elegant and exciting.
Locker System
This one might seem a bit out there, but organization is extremely on trend today. It’s all about eliminating clutter and creating a more meditative space that we can thrive within. Rather than having your kids throw their books and bags on the kitchen table or placing your dirty gym shoes by the garage entry door, perhaps a modern locker system can be installed in the entry way that not only provides and out of the way space for clutter, but gives your home a bit of modernist appeal.
Unfortunately, not every design element is nice to your pocketbook. Here are a few options to consider that might cost a bit extra, but can add a lot of value and excitement to your home.
Exterior
While there are some fantastic options on the budget friendly side of the spectrum for finishing materials on the outside of your home, there are also a few incredible options on the pricier side of the spectrum. Fiber cement siding, brock, or natural stone exteriors can really make your home pop and add an incredible amount of value were you ever to sell. If you have the room within your budget, these high quality materials can really be worth the larger investment.
Black Windows
Sure it might be a trend, but black window trim is going to be around for a long time and there is good reason for it - it looks incredible! Whether used to accent a farmhouse style home or to push a modern exterior even more-so into the present, black windows are a striking feature that we, and our customers, absolutely love.
Multi-Panel Sliding Doors
Some say that the most important part of home design is natural light, so why not add the king of all natural light features - the multi-panel sliding door?! Particularly incredible if you’re building in an area with moderate temperatures, adding an oversized sliding door will not only flood your home with sunlight, but provide an opportunity to open your home to your yard when entertaining or when simply enjoying a beautiful weekend afternoon.
Of course, as with the more budget friendly options, there are a myriad of design features for the interior of the home that can provide a bit of luxury and ambience to your home. Here are a few of those features to consider when deciding whether to save or to splurge.
Large 60” Linear Fireplace
It’s go big or go home when it comes to linear fireplaces. While the warmth and enjoyment that you get from one of these wall lining features is incredible, it’s really the statement that makes it worth the investment. If you are looking for a real show stopper during the winter months, this is a perfect place to go a little heavy on your budget.
Tile Shower with Glass
We’re big fans of turning the owner's retreat into a true homeowner’s retreat, complete with a spa bathroom. If you’ve dreamt of enjoying a steaming shower in luxurious corridors, it’s important to indulge in the right shower. Multiple shower heads, high end tile, and stunning glass doors can make your morning ritual into a moment of zen. Perhaps spending a bit extra here can even save you a few dollars on trips to the spa.
Freestanding Tub
If your bathroom has the space for it, a freestanding tub can be a piece of artwork. Dropped into a posh alcove, a freestanding tub provides that true bathing experience complete with air jets and bubbles. This is a true luxury spa bathroom experience.
Smart Home Automation
There is technology these days for nearly every aspect of your home. Be it doors that unlock as you approach, speakers that sync to up in every room of the home, lights that automatically turn off and on while you’re away, or a thermostat that adjusts based on your movements throughout the day, a smart home can make each and every day a bit easier and a bit more exciting.
As you can see, there are quite a few decisions that you’ll be able to make during the planning stages of your home, so it’s important to know where you want to save and where you want to splurge. Our team will help guide you along in the process, sharing all relevant information, options, costs, and opinions. Don’t worry, it’s fun!
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.