Options Analysis

July 2006 Special Advertising Section

We all know that the options are endless when you are building a home. Price, function, design, and convenience are just some of the factors that play into the choices we make. When considering more permanent fixtures—solid things like fireplaces, ceilings, built-in storage, and windows—it pays to weigh what’s out there.

“This is almost a full-time job, all the decisions that need to be made,” says Shane Walgamuth, owner of Shane Homes in Minneapolis. “Homeowners tend to get overwhelmed and say [to builders] ‘You take care of it.’”

It can, however, be done. With proper planning and well-educated research, paring down alternatives can be fun and painless. One key piece of advice? Think before you do anything. Don Nelson, president and owner of American Classic Homes in Stillwater, has watched one too many clients jump the gun and end up paying in the end—one client chose laminate counters for a kitchen only to turn around nine months later and redo them all in granite. “People always have more wants than budget,” Nelson says.  If there’s something you really want in your home but don’t quite have the budget for it at building time, Nelson recommends waiting to install it, as long as the feature is easy to add at a later time.

In other words, know what you want before executing. But what should you keep in mind when narrowing down the field? “Buyers will always keep price in mind and should keep price in mind,” says Bob Appert of K. Hovnanian Homes in Lake Elmo. “[But] what should be considered is the overall value the feature provides, not simply price alone. Quality, durability, and life of the product should also be a significant part of the decision.”

It also helps if homeowners take note of what they have and visualize how they want things to ultimately evolve. Visiting showrooms and models can help solidify plans. “Coming into a fully decorated model [home], we can show them what options they have,” says Paul Donnay, president of Donnay Homes in Maple Grove. “From [what they see], they can upgrade from there.”

Let the decision-making begin.

Ceilings
“Choices in ceilings are growing, and [they’ve traditionally been] kind of overlooked,” says David Frosch, owner of Kootenia Homes in Woodbury. “Two decades ago we went from eight feet to nine feet, and now we’re at ten to eleven feet.”

Whether adding drama or intimacy to a room, ceilings are essential. Heights range anywhere from a standard eight feet to a lofty twenty feet, and different looks can be achieved with vaults, racetracks, textures, and other details. “The thing to think about here is how dramatic and open you want your home to feel,” Appert says. Try incorporating different styles throughout a home for varied effects. Tray vaults, reminiscent of a wedding cake or stacked boxes that add height to a room, for example, create varying levels in the ceiling. Coffers, a series of recessed wood panels, give a rich, warm, sophisticated look and are normally found in libraries or dens. Try round or domed ceilings for an airy, cathedral-like feeling, or wooden beams for a rustic, Old World feel.