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The beginning of the choices, choices, and more choices
Our first choice was a new development in our immediate area closer to the boys' current school. It turned out that area's kids were being bussed to a different school further away. When we inquired, both builders there were sold out of the current phase with closings in April.
We'd hoped to make the move over summer to avoid disrupting the boys' schoolyear, so waiting several months for the next phase to open didn't appeal to us. Still, we continued to view these builders' different model homes in other developments, one further west, and another here in the south end. We narrowed our home choices down to about 3 models, 2 of which were with the same builder.
While revisiting one of those models, the sales rep advised us that the prices were about to increase. We popped in the day before the increase curious to see how many lots were left, and ended up putting in a reservation! Indeed the price went up the next day and twice after that. Our future home is already worth 3% more.
It's been a whirlwind ever since, there were sooooooo many choices to make. I actually even took college-level interior design courses (Scott Yetman was an awesome teacher), but I never imagined it would be like this. Class projects were generally one room at a time, not a whole house to be co-ordinated simultaneously. After having chosen a model that most fit our needs, next we had a chance to stipulate any structural changes we'd like. Some of the items we inquired about were too pricey, and the changes we did decide to go ahead with at this point all ended up to be no extra charge. That certainly fits our budget!
We chose to remove a halfwall separating the kitchen/breakfast area and family room. We chose to have our ensuite bath door swing into our room rather than into the bath where it would block access to the shower. We asked that the laundry cabinets be relocated to a different wall in the laundry room in order to accomodate our stacking W/D where the cabinet would have been. We shortened the length of the dining room windows (from the floor up) in order to accomodate a window seat below them. And lastly as far as structural changes go, we asked for the dining room to have a fourth wall rather than being completely open on one side into the hallway. It will have a drywalled opening capable of accomodating a set of french doors instead.
There are a few other things we'd have *liked* to do and similarly, as you'll see later, alternate finishes we'd have *liked* to select, but our budget would not allow. An important tip we learned would be to leave more of the budget for personalizing. If we had to do it again, I'd buy a model whose list price is no more than 75% of our budget. That would allow much more room to "play".
At the time we signed for the structural changes, we also selected our exterior colors for the brick, siding, trim, and doors. We chose a light palette of neutral tans/beiges except for the front door which will be a medium-deep blue that should pop out against the rest. The house was designed by Barry J. Hobin and has (I believe) somewhat of an arts & crafts style to it including numerous generously-sized multi-lite mullioned windows with transoms. I've been a fan of Hobin's designs since becoming familiar with them shortly after moving to Ottawa. We didn't specifically go looking for his designs; we were more interested in room sizes and layout. What luck that the house has great esthetic design as well as being practical for our needs. I hope I can do justice to the decor inside.
Scott Yetman's Furniture Collection http://www.celadoncollection/intro.html
Barry J. Hobin & Associates http://www.hobinarc.com
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