2020 -- Five years later

 Howdy!

So it's been almost five years since we built this home.  Overall, we are very pleased  Of course, there are a few things that we would have done differently -- hindsight is always 20/20.  So, below are some items that we might consider doing differently. I'll post some photos in the near future!  I hope this is helpful to anyone building or remodeling their dream home.

General:

Doors -- would consider using 8' doors throughout.  Would prefer solid wood doors stained; or solid core doors (master bedroom and laundry room have solid core doors and greatly reduce noise).  If not stained, would paint the doors with a dark color (black or near black) with white trim.

Wood Flooring -- we used a very dark color on the wood.  Hubby was right and should have gone with a little lighter color -- the dark shows EVERYTHING -- white dog fur, dust, etc.

Lighting -- choose fixtures that the globes for cleaning are easy to remove and clean (or you can easily clean with the globes still on.  Recessed lighting has been amazing!

Layout -- 

• Pantry -- Have adequate storage in the pantry for the large appliances and other items used regularly
• Laundry Room -- have a dedicated room for laundry.  Ours is a pass through from the garage -- and I still don't know why I did this!  
• Cleaning Supplies Storage Closet -- Have adequate space for cleaning appliances and cleaning items -- vacuum cleaner, Floormate, steam mop, etc.
• Mudroom with a sink
• Dream world -- dog/boot wash; entry from outside to master bathroom when coming in from shop/outside dirty; butler's pantry with space for vases, table cloths, etc.
• Kitchen -- love having three entries -- need extra clearance in front of the refrigerator
• Guest rooms -- these are all right around 12x12.... could use an extra 2-3 ft lengthwise for the dimension between the wall the bed goes against and the opposite wall to allow a desk or chair to comfortably fit in the room with a queen bed, chest of drawers and night stand

Kitchen -- as they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home.  Our kitchen is a reasonable size, but there are a few items that would definitely be changed:

Things that are great:

• Copper single sink
• Love the knotty alder wood cabinets with Dark Walnut stain
• Slide out Trash that is full height.  For future, I'd consider a hidden drawer to hold the garbage bags.  Make sure this cabinet is completely enclosed -- keeps odors to the location
• Drawers under the cooktop and the other drawers
• Custom dividers for utensils -- these were built this last summer and they make opening the drawer and finding items so much easier

Appliances:

• I got talked into Kitchen Aid appliances.  The dishwasher has been great.  The oven with blue interior -- it is not nearly as easy to clean as my LG oven.  The cooktop -- I get very frustrated with it -- not nearly the control that I expect from a gas stove top.  If I had to do over again -- it would be LG appliances or Viking (if my budget could afford it).

Cabinets:

• Hardware -- I would go with black iron hardware next time
• For the bottom cabinets -- I would only do drawers -- no doors on any.  For the baking sheet cabinet, I'd do a narrow tall slide out (I bought hardware to build slideouts for all of my lower cabinets with doors

Layout:

• Need additional clearance for the refrigerator
• Coffee station cabinet would be handy
• Charging station

Living Room

• LOVE:
• Built-in Cabinetry
• Stone Fireplace
• Modifications
• Need just a little more space to have better layout and accomodate more people
• Window to back yard -- would do one single pane.  We never open it, and having a single unobstructed view would be amazing
• Add lighting to the built-in cabinets
• Ceiling fan -- would not have installed the light fixture (that is what they were supposed to have done)

Formal Dining

• LOVE:
• Recessed ceiling
• Arches into the room
• Modifications
• A little more space to fit all of the dining room furniture -- sideboard, buffet, china cabinet
• Lighting fixture -- Cleaning this one is a nightmare!

Master Bedroom

• Perfect size for us

Master Bathroom

• Love -- not having a shower curtain or glass door to clean
• Would modify layout -- use a stand alone tub
• Shower -- seat depth should be 18-24" deep; make sure built-in shelves have adequate space for what you use.