One of our greatest values here at Schumacher Homes is that of continual improvement. Our team is made of the sort of folks who are never fully satisfied with just being great, we want to be better every day. So, when looking at our award winning, 1917 sq.ft. Santa Barbara house plan, we immediately asked ourselves, “How do we follow up and improve upon this already solid design plan that has become a homeowner favorite?”
The solution was relatively simple: we listened to our customers. Through their suggestions, and a bit of our own design whimsy and knowhow, we created a new plan that incorporated a number of the modern features and design elements that everybody already loved about the original Santa Barbara plan, but in a bigger, bolder, and, some might say, better layout. As you’ll see laid out here, the Santa Barbara II is the result of adding a few inches here and there, resulting in a more fluid, spacious, and all around fabulous open concept home that offers 2,370 sq.ft. of space - over 400 more square feet from the original!
The Great Room
Perhaps the feature that sets the Santa Barbara II apart from its predecessor the most is the expansiveness of the open great room. The primary principal of the open floor concept home is to have plenty of space for relaxing, entertaining, or spending time with your family.
Guided by a few modern floor plan design techniques, we were able to create a larger space by increasing the depth of the room by 1 foot and the width by 2 feet. This seemingly small change in the layout opens the great room by quite a lot, creating a magnificent area for entertaining or family time while keeping it all connected to the kitchen and the open foyer. In addition, by increasing the size of the great room, our designers were able to expand the kitchen, adding an extra 12” of countertop space so you have more room to chop vegetables or store an additional countertop convenience as well as providing extra cabinet space below, which we all know is always a good thing to have. Ultimately, those few inches added to the great room and kitchen drastically increase the flow and overall open feeling.
The Kitchen and Morning Room
All of the fabulous features that our homeowners love about the original Santa Barbara kitchen have been preserved and in some cases strengthened. The large center island is still the highlight of the open space, dividing the kitchen from the great room, fashioning a multifunctional countertop that can be used for cumbersome cooking projects or hosting hors d'oeuvres and fostering dialogue during a party. The generous counter space and cabinetry, as mentioned, has been made even more generous in this updated version of the Santa Barbara kitchen and the large, walk-in pantry has been preserved as well. There certainly is no shortage of storage space in this kitchen.
In addition to the kitchen itself, the morning room concept from the original floor plan has been kept in this plan. This recess is the perfect place for a family table where you can share meals in the evening, enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning sunlight, or have your kids work on an art project while you tend to dinner. The sliding patio door illuminates your kitchen with soothing, natural light and provides and easy connection to the yard. It’s a welcome spot for both people and pets.
HOT TIP: Plan ahead and think about how you’ll use your home before construction gets underway. This way our team can work with you to make key adjustments ahead of time that will make your home even better in the long run like adding extra wall sockets, recessed lighting, window placements, or other attributes that will be a bit more of a pain to handle after construction is complete.
The Flex Room
One of the most popular pieces of our original Santa Barbara design is the flex room, so it was a no brainer to keep that as a key component in the new floor plan. The best part of the flex room is, perhaps quite obviously, its flexibility. Some homeowners choose to use the space as a formal dining room, a place for gathering friends and family to enjoy holiday meals or weekend gastronome events. Others opt to create a safe place for their children to play or create without tearing the house apart. Still others design the flex room as a home office as remote work has become such a major trend these days. The possibilities can seem a bit overwhelming, but rest assured that our design teams are ready to help you develop the space into something that you will absolutely love.
The Mudroom
The Santa Barbara II was also enhanced with a number of clever design elements that are loved in our larger home plans, so you can thank our talented designers in finding ways to include them in this more economical floor plan. One great addition is the mudroom that has been placed conveniently next to the laundry room on your way in from the garage. This is particularly great for customers with kids and pets, giving you an opportunity to throw those grass stained soccer uniforms right into the laundry and keep those filthy cleats along with your dog leashes in the mud room, never dirtying the common spaces of the home. Our homeowners also appreciate having an adjoining powder room in this same location which is great for guests or for washing your hands after a bit of tooling around in the garage.
The Pocket Office
A design challenge always flares up when circulating from the more ‘public’ to the ‘private’ areas of an open home floor plan. One place where this issue was thoughtfully addressed in the Santa Barbara II layout is through the creation of what we call the ‘pocket office’. This sensible space was created as a transitional moment between the communal space and the owner’s retreat and serves a perfect opportunity for a small home office where kids can work on their homework or you can sift through emails on a Saturday morning. It also acts as a welcome barrier between the quiet respite of your master bedroom and the cacophony that can sometimes be the main living space in your home.
The Owner’s Retreat
The private owner’s retreat was designed with both privacy and comfort in mind. Compared to the original Santa Barbara plan, the space has been enlarged by one foot, giving a bit more room to arrange your bedroom in the perfect way and the suite is located in the back of the home where you can enjoy your privacy away from the common areas and other bedrooms. In addition to the privacy and comfort, the floor plan has the owner’s retreat stretching past the morning room which maximizes its potential for natural sunlight and a view into the yard, making the space feel open and warm.
A luxurious, spacious spa bath with dual vanities and an enclosed lavatory is set between two generously sized walk-in closets allowing plenty of personal space for your morning routine and storage needs. The owner's retreat even has private access to the laundry room which is simply one more example of how the Santa Barbara II was revamped to include some of our homeowners’ favorite details.
HOT TIP: From tubs to textures to lighting, there are a plethora of incredible ways to bring your bathroom vision to life. Check out a few examples of what to consider when designing the perfect master bathroom and our designers and new home consultants will gladly tailor your new bathroom to your dreams.
Rounding out the Santa Barbara II house plan, our team has added an additional foot of space to both of the bedrooms within the home, giving children or guests a bit more space to call their own.
All said and done, the Santa Barbara II was built around the already adored original concept, but along with around 450 extra square feet, it incorporates several details and features of our larger, two story homes, that our customers absolutely love while still allowing for your own personal customization and finishing touches to make it your own.
The Santa Barbara II has (4) elevations to choose from, each with their own unique style and characteristics - American Tradition, Craftsman, French Country and Modern Farmhouse. Here are two of our homeowner favorites:
Santa Barbara II Craftsman Elevation
The timeless charm of an American craftsman-style plan is faithfully reflected in this Santa Barbara II elevation. A large, open-web front porch is airy and inviting to guests, while enhancing curb appeal. Stone accents anchor the main areas of the home, while horizontal and vertical siding mesh to create a sense of verticality and draw the eye upward to gable accents decorative windows.
Santa Barbara II French Country Elevation
Inspired by the stunning homes of Provence, French country design incorporates steep roof pitches that draw the eye upward, and create a dramatic curb appeal. The formal symmetry of the windows, and the use of mixed materials of stone and stucco create a warm, welcoming Old-Word charm with a relaxed ‘Southern feel’. The large front porch beckons all who enter to stop, relax and enjoy a warm summer evening in the company of family and friends.
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.