It Rained on My Parade

The Parade of Homes just wrapped up in Tallahassee and I wanted to share a few thoughts on what I saw out there.  After church on Sunday, Wes and I picked a handful homes to visit.  All of these homes were within a few miles of each other and they ranged in price from $580,000 to $2,500,000.  So, I had high expectations! Our first stop was at the Gold/Platinum super winner of the Parade.  It was a cute home in a gated community and the curb appeal was nice.  My favorite feature of this home was the kitchen island with the raised end with a stained wood top.  Yes, that was my favorite thing.

The second house we visited had my favorite feature of the whole day.  It was the drop station/locker area.  I loved the small desk space and the lighting they chose.  Very clever!  I also really liked how they treated the wood steps off the back of the house.  It looked like they did a gray stain wash and it was a perfect choice to compliment the brick.  Great job Alexander Dinkelman Builders on thinking outside of the box.

Then, it was all downhill from there and the last house we visited was not even finished - not a cabinet, paint color or anything to see!  I understand that the world of construction has changed and builders aren't building furnished models like they used to or taking chances on spec homes with tons of unique features, but this is the PARADE!  This is your chance to show off your BEST work to hundreds of people who live in your town.  I will admit I only visited 4 houses, but they were the highest price points of the all the homes, so I had hoped for more.

Now, to keep this post being a total downer, I thought I would share some great information I found on realtor.com about features that are disappearing from new homes.  Most I agree with, but a few are definitely taking their time leaving my neck of the woods.

• Outdoor Kitchens and Fireplaces...creating an outdoor kitchen can be very expensive and I think the fire pit is taking the place of a fireplace.
• Laminate Countertops...I've still specified a few of these in the last few years, but only in laundry rooms.
• Sunrooms...this makes me happy.
• Media Rooms...this makes me very happy.
• 2-Story Foyer...I think these still can be done so they don't feel too overwhelming by using paneling and trim in creative ways.
• Whirlpool Tubs in Master Baths...you would agree with this if you've ever turned on the jets in one of these after a few weeks of not using them.  My child is still traumatized from when he was 2!

And here are few features they listed that are most likely found in new homes:

• Walk-In Closets and Laundry Rooms...duh!
• Great Room...isn't this a family room?  How will these ever not be a required room?
• 2-Car Garage...I would never own a home without one of these.
• Granite Countertops...I've become a huge fan of using quartz counters in my projects, but every once in a while I find a granite I really love.

If you are thinking of building or remodeling, give me a call.  I promise to bring amazing design to your project!