Happy New Year! We are excited to start off 2017 with four contracts already signed! Yes, that’s right – you can build in the winter months, and sometimes, you’ll find a great promotion or offer when doing so! This past year, we watched as 36 houses were completed and followed some of the trends in home selections. We are so excited to see what new homeowners will select to personalize their homes in 2017. In the meantime, take a look at what some existing homeowners gravitated to in 2016 to find some inspiration as you make your own selections.
Cabinet Selections
Linen and slate colored cabinets were our top picks for cabinets. Various shades of white cabinets have been popular for many years, but slate has started creeping in as seen in many interior blog, magazines and designer showcases.
Siding
Slate siding has grown in popularity, and as vinyl siding has evolved into a durable and reliable siding choice, we have seen a rise of darker colors being selected. This color both hides the dirt that may appear from gardening and provides a nice contrast to the white garage doors and exterior framework.
Granite
Caledonia was our number one selection for granite; it pairs nicely with many different cabinet and flooring combinations and provides both durability and character to your home. Granite is a practical and sustainable choice that emphasizes quality and has the ability to hold up to all of life’s activities! It is used in both the kitchen and bathroom as the standard surface, and while it does have some porosity, granite is sealed prior to installation so stains only occur if a liquid with a strong oil or dye is left on the counter for several hours.
Flooring
This beautiful birch hand-scraped chestnut hardwood flooring is dark enough to contrast light cabinets, ties in well with many granite options and is still light enough to not show too much dust or pet hair. Because of this, we have seen it as 2016’s number one hardwood floor choice. We primarily use engineered hardwood floors to keep our commitment to provide a quality home at an affordable price. This type of hardwood can be installed and walked on on the same day and the cost comparison to other types of hardwood is not even close. But if you’d like something different, we have three tiers of hardwood floor options, so you’ll be able to select what fits your style and personality.
Floor Plans
The biggest selection you will make during the process is the first choice you’re asked to make – which floor plan you would like to build. While many other selections could be changed down the road, this one is much more of a commitment and often takes a lot of touring and discussion to make a choice that is right for each prospective homeowner. This year, we saw The Bettendorf as our number one pick overall! The Bettendorf is our gorgeous model home and is easy to fall in love with, because of its spacious rooms and split-ranch floor plan. The number one pick for two-story homes was The MacDonald, as we have recently seen a desire to combine the traditional dining room with the more modern open-concept floor plan.
With many choices to make along the way, we hope to make the selection process as enjoyable as possible. From our customer portal to touring available homes, our team is here to help you find your dream home!