plan modifications Archives

Like a Perfectly Tailored Suit…Customized Home Plans

by Michele Weaver | Jul 17, 2020 | Great Design

To get the perfect suit, some people will go to a clothier and have a custom suit made to their specifications. But most of us are perfectly happy having alterations made to a quality suit. Design Basics creates dozens of custom home plans every year, but customizing a plan from our existing portfolio of over 2,000 designs will save you considerable time and money as compared with creating a new custom home plan from scratch. Either way, it’s going to be your new home and it should both reflect and reveal you!

We would like to share with you three recent examples of our home plan customization service:

Cedar Glen II - 3-Car (plan #42369) as designed.

Customized Home Plan

The customer liked much of the original plan but did not need two suites on the main floor. We enlarged the bedroom and closet in the front suite by relocating the powder bath and pivoting the dining area. This also created the more expansive kitchen the customer desired. The foundation changed from the original design’s basement to a slab, and the customer gained a larger laundry room. Windows bathe the rear of the home in natural light and built-ins provide added storage in the Great Room. The second floor and exterior design remained relatively unchanged.

The Cotter (plan #42031) as designed.

Customized Home Plan

This customer was interested in the ultimate Jack and Jill bathroom design shared by Bedrooms 2 and 3. Redesigning that bathroom pushed Bedroom 2 back. Deleting the bathtub in the suite bathroom allowed space for a larger walk-in shower and larger walk-in closet. A larger island with more storage and work surface replaced the original kitchen island design, and a large, covered outdoor living space was added behind the family and dining rooms. Finally, the garage was stretched a little bit wider, while the rest of the exterior remained mostly unchanged.

The Leftwich (plan #29300) as designed.

Customized Home Plan

A large kitchen and big walk-in pantry were priorities of this customer. So, the home was stretched wider through the middle and the staircase shifted over, gaining a window, and allowing for that oversized walk-in pantry along the route from the garage. The kitchen became more of a galley layout with a long island eating bar. In the suite bathroom, the original plan’s bathtub was omitted in favor of a larger shower, more spacious vanity, and private toilet area. The suite’s closet was also re-designed to create a direct connection into the laundry area. A generous outdoor living area was added along the back, part of which is covered. This customer also desired a more Contemporary/Mediterranean style exterior with front porch.