10 Custom Home Must-Haves

When you build a custom home, you’re creating a space for you and your family for many years to come. Along with that process comes the flexibility to incorporate whatever you can dream up. As you start to think about your must-haves and additional wants, here are a few ideas we think are worth considering.

Specific Rooms to Include in a Custom Home

Mud Rooms Help Out the Whole Family–Including Dogs

With fall right around the corner, we might start to see more rain in Ohio…maybe even snow. A mud room prevents dirty shoes (and paws) from wrecking your home. Plus, if your dog decides to shake off the rain, you won’t have to deal with puddles of water in inconvenient places.

You can spruce up this area with a bench, cubbies, a coat rack, or any number of additions to make it feel more cozy. For easy clean-up, consider laminate flooring.

A Second Master Bedroom Allows You to Plan for the Future

Accessibility is crucial, both for your visitors and for yourself. You might want your current master bedroom on your second floor, but you can add another master bedroom and bathroom on the main floor in case you have to move downstairs. In the meantime, it can serve as a guest room or in-law suite.

And an Extra Laundry Room Can Help, Too

With laundry rooms both upstairs and downstairs, you won’t have to run around. Guests can wash their clothes without interfering with your cleaning schedule. For larger families, this can help cut down on laundry build-up.

Finish Your Basement for a Multi-Purpose Spot

Basements are versatile when it comes to usability. This space can be used as another guest bedroom, a playroom, a movie theatre, or a combination of all three. While building a custom house means you want to stay in your home for a long time, an added bonus about adding a finished basement is it adds value to your home.

Some Considerations for Your Dream Kitchen

Prep space is a highly-sought after commodity in a home, so why not give yourself more counter space to work with by building in a kitchen island prep station? Chop veggies, mix lemonade, put the finishing touches on a charcuterie board—kitchen islands help free up counter space so you can keep your important appliances out without shifting things around. Add some stylish bar stools to one side for an easy breakfast bar plus some storage underneath for cutting boards and knives.

Additional storage space is always a great plan, especially if you have a big family. Additions like a walk-in pantryand deep kitchen drawers are convenient solutions for managing clutter. Deep kitchen drawers are often easier to access rather than cabinets you can’t reach. And a walk-in pantry allows you to store bulk food items without taking over your kitchen space.

Bathroom Features to Promote Relaxation

A walk-in shower helps for accessibility purposes and also adds a touch of luxury. Incorporate multiple rainforest showerheads and, if you’re tech savvy, you can set the temperature of smart showerheads through your smartphone. For those that prefer baths, add a stand-alone clawfoot tub where you can escape for some quiet time. Feel even more cozy with heated floors. Especially for Ohio winter, this feature is all the more useful.

Storage in the bathroom helps, too. In addition to your cabinetry, ask your custom home builder about incorporating plugs into drawers for hair dryers, water picks, and other bathroom necessities.

So the floor remains clutter-free, add a built-in hamper area to throw in dirty clothes and used towels. When it’s full, just lift it out and take it to the laundry room.

Some Custom Home Highlights to Make Your Life Easier

Central Vacuum Systems are a Dream for Cleaning Enthusiasts

A central vacuum system adds some power to your cleaning routine. It’s much quieter than a typical vacuum since the unit is located in your basement and much more powerful than your typical plug-in model.

Give Yourself Pantry Access from the Garage

Pantry access, or a “Costco door” lets you unload groceries without the hassle. The door passes from the garage to your kitchen, making it simple to unload groceries as soon as you get home. It also helps when you have groceries or packages delivered so the weather doesn’t impact them.

Trash and Recycling Chutes Make Chores More Convenient

You don’t want to have to make multiple trips back and forth for your groceries, and similarly, you probably don’t want to lug your trash and recycling to the garage either. Just like how a laundry chute functions, trash and recycling chutes go straight to the garage with the cans waiting underneath. This solution is particularly useful so you don’t have to deal with the smell of garbage or any bugs.

Take the Outdoors into Consideration During Planning

While siding choices depend on personal preference, stone veneer siding adds the most value to your home. It’s more fire-resistant than traditional vinyl siding and gives a sophisticated look. Steel doors also help with safety and keep in the heat and/or air conditioning, depending on the day.

During the colder months, it’s a huge advantage to have a heated driveway. You might have incorporated a spacious, three-car garage into your plans, but even if you don’t have to clean off your car in the morning, there’s still the issue of snow and ice . A heated driveway means you don’t have to rely on snow plows to be able to get out of the house.

There are endless options for what you can do to your outdoor space, but we encourage you to make it your own, with covered outdoor kitchens, sustainable gardens, and more. (For more ideas, check out our outdoor living space post!)

Ready to build your fully-customized dream home?

If North Star Premier Custom Homes feels like the right fit for you, please give us a call at 216-469-0286. We look forward to hearing about your dream home!