Her Home Claire Edition

BUILDING & REMODELING INSIGHTS

A DIVISION OF DESIGN BASICS, LLC

Inspired Design

3

Beyond Bedrooms

Her Home’s Home of the Year

Rub-A-Dub-Dub Get Rid of The Tub?

www.HerHome.com

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photo by David Sacks

Tailored specifically for you | Fast turnaround | Very reasonable prices Visit www.DesignBasics.com or call (800) 947-7526

THIS ISSUE FEATURES FINALLY ABOUT ME

I WISH I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT...

3 Your Home, Your Personality 4 Celebrating Claire

16 More Space in the Kitchen...

Damage Control

TRENDING

HOME DESIGN

5 Rub-A-Dub-Dub, Get Rid

21 Beyond 3 Bedrooms 22 Cutting Laundry Time in Half 23 Claire Home Plans!

of That Tub?

WOMAN-CENTRIC PRODUCTS

AND IN THIS ISSUE...

17 What’s Your Cost Per

9 Claire’s Most Wanted

Square Foot?

INSPIRED DESIGN

9

photo courtesy Armstrong Cabinets

12 Her Home’s

Home of the Year

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photo courtesy Kohler Co.

THIS IS NEW.

One magazine in four personality-specific versions!

A DIVISION OF DESIGN BASICS LLC

This issue celebrates “Claire” CHIEF EDITOR/CFO

Janie Murnane

ASSOCIATE EDITOR/BRANDING

Michele Anderson-Weaver GRAPHIC ARTS

Yen Gutowski SENIOR DESIGNER

Carl Cuozzo PLAN ALTERATIONS

Tricia Baker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

e’ve never done this before.

Which makes it risky, but the reward is so gratifying! At a home show, the personality basis created so much buzz and interest that women waited in lines that would rival a blockbuster movie premier! Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but in three days more than 600 women lined up at that booth to discover their “new home personality.” KA-BOOM! For the past several years we have written about the four primary personalities our research identified are most common among women home buyers. Those four named personas live differently, and show different preferences in home design, products for the home and decorating style. We call it “Finally About Me®” and if you’re not yet familiar with the concept, log on to HerHome.com, take three minutes to take the quiz and discover which persona you’re closest to!

Your home should be a reflection of who you are and how you live in a home – a “cookiecutter” option rarely works.

It’s a big challenge to address all four personalities in a single magazine. “Elises” are readers; “Margos” prefer bulleted text; “Claires” relate well to informational graphics and “Maggies” like lots of pictures. Of course, sometimes a picture is worth 1000 words…and there’s times when pictures don’t do an idea justice.

So what you have in front of you is one of the four versions of this Her Home Magazine. The topics and content are similar among all four versions, but the way the information is presented – text, graphics and photos – differs with each of the personalities!

Paul Foresman Janie Murnane

www.HerHome.com www.HerHome.com

We hope you enjoy this unique magazine, with its discussions about tubless bathrooms, must-have products and cutting laundry time in half. Then there’s another first, Her Home’s Home of the Year. As the home’s builder Tyrone Leslie commented, “Part of what made this home so successful is that it incorporates so many ideas that are attainable for the average buyer.” Finally, if you’ve been comparing contractors on a cost-per-square foot basis, you’ll want to check out “What’s Your Cost Per Square Foot?” beginning on page 17.

I’m a “Claire” and that persona describes me to a “T.” What about you? Have you taken the quiz? Do you “see yourself” in the results? I would love to hear back from you and hear what you discovered when you identified the persona you’re closest to!

DESIGN BASICS PUBLISHING

CH I E F E X ECU T I V E OF F I CE R

Myles Sherman CH I E F OP E RAT I NG OF F I CE R

Patrick Carmichael PRESIDENT

Kathryn Dick A S SOC I AT E P U B L I S H E R

Paul Foresman VP RECORDS MANAGEMENT/DATA INTEGRITY

Greg Dodge

cover photo by Jupiterimages

PUBLISHED BY: Design Basics, LLC

11112 John Galt Blvd., Omaha, NE 68137 www.DesignBasics.com | Info@DesignBasics.com phone: (800) 947-7526

CHIEF EDITOR

editor@HerHome.com Text and Design © 2012 by Design Basics LLC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher.

ISSN: 1553-6424 PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

Finally About Me! fireplace photos courtsey of Lennox Hearth Products

Which word would you most likely use to describe your ideal home: “haven,” “showcase,” “unique,” or “carefree”?

You see, the words we use reveal a lot about how we see ourselves and are a reflection of our personalities. In the same way, our personalities are reflected in our homes.

After all, there are few places on Earth where you have as much freedom to be yourself than in your home!

The neighborhood you choose…the home design you fall in love with…products and finishes you select for your home…even personal items you love to display...all of these reflect your personality. Many aspects of our lives are “learned”, but personality is a gift we were born with. And personality influences only grow stronger with age.

Even though Her Home Magazine is published from “her” perspective, all women don’t want to be thought of (or treated) the same. That truth inspired the womancentric team at Design Basics to go deeper with their research into women’s preferences in the home, its design and products used, to look for personality-based influences.

The research suggested four primary personas, and they were given names: Margo, Elise, Claire and Maggie.

These four fireplaces are representative of the four Finally About Me personalities.

Can you match the fireplace style with the corresponding personna? (Answers on page 21)

A fun, interactive quiz (“Finally About Me!”) was developed to help women identify which of the four personas were closest to her personality. While no one is “purely” or “exclusively” one of the personas (to varying degrees, everyone is a blend of the different personas), quiz results identify the primary personality.

It’s simply uncanny how knowing your personality helps you understand your preferences in home design and product choices. The quiz, which takes about 3 minutes, will likely save you hours by helping focus on your priorities and avoid wasting your time on things you’re probably not interested in.

For more regarding the quiz and all four personalities, visit HerHome.com. www.HerHome.com

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CELEBRATING CLAIRE

• Formal • Work/life balance • Form and function • Sophisticated • Quality-driven • Detail-oriented

“Wow! I love what you’ve done with your home!”

Claire hears those words. A lot!

Claire tends towards formal and traditional styles in her home.

You’ll usually see lots of symmetry in the design, such as centering a fireplace precisely opposite the kitchen island. Claire tends towards formal entertaining as well, so generous entertaining spaces, inside and out, are especially important.

laire is a planner. When looking to build new or remodel her home, she has a look that she wants to achieve and researches her options extensively. Claire stays on top of trends and what’s new in architecture, products for the home and interior design. Claire knows what she wants, which makes it relatively easy for Claire to make product selections.

When building a new home, Claire will show up at the jobsite frequently, just to make sure everything’s moving along as per her expectations. One of those expectations is that her builder is an orchestrator—making sure every detail has been planned out and communicated. From the materials used to the landscaping and how the home is situated on the homesite, everything is superbly coordinated. She was born detail-oriented, but her appreciation for quality is a learned trait. Quality, brand-name products are found throughout Claire’s home to the extent the budget allows.

Claire gives 100% to whatever she’s doing. At home, that means she may be a master gardener or a gourmet chef. So while she envisions her home being a showcase relative to her budget, her practical side means it also has to function superbly. So, that gourmet kitchen may need to accommodate two cooks at the same time.

RUB A DUB-DUB

GET RID OF THAT TUB?

above:

Often times the main focal point, bathroom design may hinge on bathtub selection. photo courtesy of Kohler Co.

uch was a response from New York Sales Professional Jim Cotungo in a recent Linked in® discussion on whether or not to build master bathrooms with a tub plus separate shower or forgo the tub in favor of oversized spa-type showers. Please understand, we’re discussing homes with two or more bathrooms and there is always a tub in another bathroom.

Throughout the home, today’s buyers are showing more practical housing preferences, such as the great room concept replacing formal living rooms. Buyers don’t want to pay for something they’re not going to use!

So many, many women we spoke with said the master suite bathtub is something they don’t need, use or even want. Of course, our increasingly busy lives affect this, too. Kerri Durkee, who specializes in home staging and redesign, summed it up well, “Personally, as a working mom, I don’t have the time to soak in a tub--and I have a Jacuzzi tub in my master bath that I wish were not there.” www.HerHome.com

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women

men

want tub no tub

want tub

The evolution of master bathroom design [1450-1500 sq. ft. ranch home examples]

no tub

1970s

About 1/3 of women, but less than 10% of men wanted a tub in the master bathroom IF the bathroom also had a large shower.

50 sq. ft.

48” shower only | 24”wide door

1980s

Gender differences showed up in a big way. Builders and new home sales professionals we talked with concur: when buyers have interest in master bath tubs, it’s mostly women looking for a tub to relax in—and not just the tub in the kids’ bath due to size and privacy issues.

Size matters.

Tub size was frequently brought up. Trish Holder, Publisher of Greenspiration Home (www.greenspirationhome. com), said “I’m starting to enjoy small baths in hotels a lot more. They fill up quicker and stay warm longer! And I don’t feel so guilty about all the water I am wasting at the expense of my children and others’ children as well. Shame on me for that big tub in my master bath. I really regret it.” While 40-50 gallons of water fills a standard 5-foot tub, larger tubs take as much as 80 to over 100 gallons, using all your hot water! Note: If you dream of having a large tub, talk with your contractor about larger capacity water lines (so the tub fills faster) and a larger capacity water heater (or separate water heater) for the tub.

Hygiene. Scott Smith, General Manager at Rooftight Homes in Fall River, Nova Scotia, pointed out “When women I talk with realize jetted tubs are simply recirculating the same water with their hair and dead skin cells, they quickly lose interest in a whirlpool tub.”

In our interviews, some ladies thought soaking in a tub of dirty water and soap scum was just offensive. One individual said she felt she would need to shower off after taking a bath!

Her Home Publisher Janie Murnane added, “Women can develop infections due to soaking in bubble bath or other products that can cause irritation.”

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www.HerHome.com

65 sq. ft.

36”shower + 60” tub 24” wide door

1990s

2000s

110 sq. ft.

48” shower + 72” tub 28” wide door

2010s

108 sq. ft.

80” doorless shower | 32”wide door

This sumptuous bathroom by Moen has it all! photo courtesy of Moen

Age and accessibility. Many younger buyers were willing to explore tubless bathroom options, but others simply wouldn’t consider purchasing such a home. And while numerous builders, Realtors and older home owners identified dangers associated with getting in and out of a bathtub, many also said seniors wouldn’t give up their long, hot soaks.

Ginny Knauff, Tile Design Consultant with QDI Stone was emphatic, “I could not ever imagine not having a tub! I look forward to my bath every day! Yes every day! What can I say, it’s part of my therapy. I am an active adult, with terrible arthritis. I have four grown children and will soon be a grand mom. There’s nothing better than soaking in a nice bubble bath with candles and a glass of wine. What is more comfortable to aching joints, lower back pain, arthritis, chronic pain, etc. than a nice warm bubble bath, taking all of the weight you have carried around all day long, away?

In your dream bathroom, if there’s a tub, how does it make you feel?

Aesthetic appeals of a beautiful bathtub are unmatched. Designers strive to create a focal point – and the tub itself, the tub surround, faucet and lighting can be the inspiration. The natural place for a nice window is often above the tub. The bathtub is really a multi-sensory experience. In your dream bathroom, if there’s a tub, how does it make you feel?

Of course, the trend towards oversized showers ushered in a new level of luxury

appointments of their own, from fanciful lighting to body sprays. Again, talk with your builder and plumber to ensure you have adequate water flow plus plenty of water heating capacity. And make sure you can run just one showerhead when you prefer.

“We’ve only used the tub 3 times in 5 years!” was typical of regrets

we heard over having to clean a bathtub that wasn’t being used. Larger/deeper tubs are even more difficult to clean.

Less upkeep…a larger shower… a private toilet area… added linen storage… separate vanities...tubless bathrooms have their advantages. Then there’s the cost. Deleting a fancy tub may save thousands of dollars – including installation – money that could be spent elsewhere.

What about resale? Some Realtors we spoke to felt the lack of a tub in the master bathroom would hurt resale, others said buyers were shying away from homes that didn’t have an oversize shower, regardless of the presence of a tub. Builders confirmed Realtors’ influence, citing Realtors who convinced buyers they needed a tub for resale, but the bathtub desirability statistics clearly favor no tub.

Younger buyers planning on moving again were more concerned about resale, viewing the master bathtub as an investment. In effect, they were building for the next buyer, not for themselves! Custom home buyers and older individuals were less concerned about resale. “If it’s popular in new homes, it will be popular in resale homes, too,” represented feedback we received. Custom home designers suggested future buyers would just remodel the bathroom if it was really important.

Remodelers and home stagers agreed that if the seller’s budget allowed, taking the tub out of the master bath and installing a big shower was a sure way to get a home sold.

“There’s nothing better than soaking in a nice bubble bath with candles and a glass of wine.” www.HerHome.com

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Ultimately, the best decision on including a tub in your owner’s suite comes down to your preferences and your beliefs. Do you dream of a master bathtub? Why? Is it because you enjoy soaking in it or because a beautiful bathroom should have a beautiful bathtub? What size bathtub is ideal? Are age or accessibility issues a factor? Can you have the bathtub and the larger shower too? Are you making the decision based on what you want, or for the next owner of that home?

Thanks to everyone who joined our exploration into tubless owner’s bathrooms! Today’s trend is towards large showers, but tub bathing has strong, passionate advocates. We offer one last piece of advice—be true to yourself.

If you’ll regret not having a tub in the owner’s bath, then insist upon a tub. And if you’ll regret devoting that extra space and expense to a tub, forgo the tub. After all, it’s your money!

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www.HerHome.com

above left: Luxury showering can include special showerheads pre-set with your preferred temperature and spray patterns. photo courtesy Moen above right:

Kohler’s sok® overflowing bath with chromatherapy for added stress relief. photo courtesy of Kohler Co.

above: Delta’s all-inclusive shower has everything seniors asked for: traditional showerhead + hand shower + grab bars + no threshold, made possible by the trench floor drain (inset photo). photos courtesy DeltaFaucet.com

Claire

Most Wanted

{Gourmet kitchen amenities} Armstrong Cabinets Design Specialist Julia Dowd recognized Claire’s need for organization in the kitchen—specifically having things located exactly where they were needed.

Armstrong’s “chef center” includes a cooktop base cabinet with deep drawers for pots and pans flanked by side pull-outs, one having tiered shelves and the other with a perforated organizer with hooks for utensils. Top it off with additional vertical pull-outs for spices and seasonings! photo courtesy of Armstrong. Armstrong Cabinets’ chef center organizes pots, pans, utensils, oils and spices within hand’s reach and optimize your cooking space while maintaining a beautiful environment free of clutter. www.Armstrong.com

{An attractive entry door}

{A remarkable fireplace}

{Natural light}

{Beautiful storage}

“Women, who more often initiate the entry door selection or replacement project, initially start with design, looking for a door that matches her home and interior style,” according to Frank Lin, Therma-Tru Doors Manager of Market Insights.

The company has also done research that shows that attractive entry doors significantly increase a home’s perceived value.

Joe Benedetti, Manager of Fireplace Engineering for Lennox Hearth Products knows that when it comes to selecting a fireplace, “The majority of decisionmakers are women.” Because fireplaces are often the center point of the room, Lennox focuses on a wide range of designs and accessories for the ultimate in customization.” And for Claire’s practical side, “easy-to-use, straight-forward controls and minimal maintenance.”

“Claire knows what she wants, drama…the WOW factor. Skylights are a key design element as well as a light source. Claire will appreciate accessories such as timed open/close operations and rain sensors which will automatically close an open skylight.

In addition, the VELUX brand name, no-leak guarantee and quality reputation are important to Claire.” – Tim Miller, President of VELUX America.

Heineken’s hilarious “Walk-in Fridge” TV commercial spoofed an excited homeowner showing off her fabulous new closet. Her joy and exuberance exemplified the reality that a great closet makes for a great day! Amanda LaBlanc from TV’s The Amandas on the Style Network says, “Touring Claire’s home? Expect to hear ‘Come look at my closet!’ Claire’s closet is a showcase for innovation in function and aesthetics.”

photo courtesy of VeluxUSA. Skylights provide additional daylight—a welcome kitchen amenity! Photo courtesy Velux USA

photo courtesy of Schulte. Schulte Classica closet organization system in cherry finish. www.SchulteStorage.com

photo courtesy of Therma-Tru. Double entry doors rom Therma-Tru Doors’ Rustic Collection. www.ThermaTru.com

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www.HerHome.com

photo courtesy of Lennox. With it’s big firebox and dramatic flame, Lennox’s Montebello DLX fireplace is right at home for Claire! www.Lennox.com

www.VeluxUSA.com

{Inspired outdoor living}

{Culinary art}

{A focal point...}

{Warm floors}

Memorable outdoor entertaining starts with imagining what types of activities and how many people? Then , the design can begin to take shape. With composite TREX decking, contrasting colors can be used to compliment sophisticated shapes to create a lasting, truly distinctive outdoor living space!

More than a mere oven, according to the manufacturer, Wolf’s Convection Steam oven:

…not an eyesore! “As the single largest architectural element on the front of her home, Claire will likely start her search from among carriage-style garage doors with glass inserts and decorative hardware for a truly distinctive garage door.” – Vickie Lents, Marketing Director, Amarr Garage Doors.

Women are up to nine times more likely to suffer from cold feet than men, attributed to several male/female physiological differences. Is it any wonder why in-floor heating is highly desired?

According to the manufacturer, the STEP WarmfloorTM low-voltage radiant heating mats are 2 to 2.5 times more energy efficient than underfloor hot water tubing or electric cable systems and are compatible with any floor covering. Whether it’s a single room or your entire home, your feet will thank you!

photo courtesy TREX. www.Trex.com

• better preserves nutrients, • keeps foods moist, • browns meats, • cook multiple dishes together with no flavor transfer, • eliminates fat without compromising taste, • saves steps by cooking complex dishes in one pan, • even rejuvenates leftovers! photo courtesy of Wolf. Moisture, heat and airflow work in concert in Wolf’s Convection Steam Oven. www.Subzero-Wolf.com

photo courtesy of Amarr. All homes don’t look the same, why should the garage doors? Shown: Amarr Garage Doors’ Classica Lucerne with Danube windows and Canterbury hardware. www.Amarr.com

photo courtsey of Step Residential.

WarmfloorTM radiant heating pads can be installed under any floor covering. www.WarmFloor.com

www.HerHome.com

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An Idea Whose Time Has Come written by Paul Foresman | photos courtesy of Heritage Homes

The Idea Home’s open floorplan is ideal for socializing!

The kitchen island doubles as the home’s command center.

Note also, the dishwasher is strategically separated from the sink so that you can stand in front of the sink and still have the dishwasher door open.

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www.HerHome.com

“Outstanding!” That’s how builder Tyrone

Leslie of Heritage Homes in Fargo, North Dakota, described public reaction to the company’s Woman-Centric “Idea Home,” which debuted in their local Parade of Homes.

ccording to Leslie, “This ‘Georgetown’ was our most remarkable Parade Home in years, and it received a tremendous amount of attention.”

Leslie continued, “Part of what made the home so successful is that it incorporates so many thoughtful ideas that are attainable for the average buyer. We focused on livability throughout the home, and opened people’s eyes to truly affordable amenities they had never seen or even imagined. I knew we had a winner when I started hearing comments like ‘Oh, you guys have thought of everything!’”

The Georgetown entertains beautifully! Uninterrupted long entry views gaze out the wall of windows at the back of the Great room, adding to the home’s feeling of spaciousness. Parade home visitors praised the free-flowing kitchen/dining/great room layout. Glass backsplash tiles were a real “WOW” factor, and harmonized with the staggered height cabinetry to create a stunning visual backdrop.

It’s inevitable. When entertaining, guests just end up around the kitchen island. As the heart of the socializing area, the angled island plays visually with the corner fireplace in perfect symmetry. Situating the fireplace in the corner allows for repeating tall windows, providing abundant natural light. People are naturally drawn to sunny spaces and the spacious eating area continues the daylight theme.

Another entertaining amenity is the secluded location of the powder bath—in that it does not share a wall with entertaining areas providing desirable privacy.

Similarly, the staircase was located to the back of the home so that it does not interrupt entertaining.

Stress is one of the most pervasive issues we face.

Therefore, Heritage Homes focused on de-stressing aspects in their Idea Home. Like entering into a rear foyer when coming in from the garage—not a laundry room with piles of ‘aromatic’ laundry to be washed! Then just a few short steps and you’re in the kitchen, minimizing carrying heavy grocery sacks.

Heritage Homes moved the laundry room to the second floor, meaning no more lugging laundry baskets up and down stairs! For peace and quiet, those laundry room walls were insulated—which is also why a quiet, belt-drive garage door opener was chosen.

Wake up and smell the coffee—straight from your master suite coffee bar, situated just outside the owner’s bathroom! In that bathroom, there’s a large shower and a private water closet complete with Heritage Homes’ “toilet buddy”—in-wall storage for extra toilet paper, hygiene products and magazines. Even the shared hall bathroom is a stress-reducing design, with two sinks separated from the toilet and tub area, decreasing scheduling conflicts.

www.HerHome.com

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top left:

A coffee bar is ideally located within the master suite, situated between the bedroom and bathroom. below left:

The Idea Home’s toe-kick kitchen cabinet drawers were crowd favorites! top right:

The Baking Center—for the gourmet cook and grandkids’ creations! middle right:

A half wall provides separate his and her vanity space and also smoothes the transition when one vanity is higher for added comfort when used by taller individuals. bottom right:

Pets are part of your family, too, and the Idea Home’s Pet Center was one of the most popular ideas of all! opposite page:

The Travel Center ensures the suitcase is always convenient and means a dirty suitcase need never meet your clean bedspread!

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www.HerHome.com

43013-54Y: Heritage Homes Georgetown is based on Design Basics “Moss Bluff ” plan, tailored to their specific market preferences. plan

Storing and organization was prioritized in Heritage Homes’ Georgetown. In addition to the front entry closet, a generous walk-in closet in the rear foyer is ideal for bulk item storage (i.e., paper goods) the vacuum cleaner, and coats. That rear foyer also presents a drop zone just inside the door from the garage. Designed to liberate the kitchen from clutter, the drop zone provided mail slots and the corresponding necessity—a pull-out wastebasket and paper shredder in the base cabinet!

Abundant cabinetry graced the Idea Homes’ kitchen, with everyone applauding the soft touch drawers in the toe-kick area under the base cabinets. Designed for pie plates, cookie sheets and similar shallow items, these innovative drawers pop out with a gentle nudge from your toe—a testimony to eliminating “wasted space.”

Then there’s the upstairs storage—oh my! In addition to two big linen closets, all secondary bedrooms offer walk-in closets big enough to swallow the clothes, games and other assorted little treasures. And in the owner’s suite… two walk-ins! According to Leslie, “The closets were a big deal with visitors to our Parade home. We’ve never designed a home with too much closet space, but this one might come close!”

Flexible areas in the home received rave reviews from Parade-goers, too. One of the most popular was the optional pet center in the rear foyer, complete with its convenient raised-height doggie shower! Adjacent cabinetry included a roll-out pet food storage bin and even a toekick drawer which makes the food and water dish disappear! Gardeners and other hobbyists talked about additional uses for the pet shower.

How would you use that flex room to the front of the Georgetown— as a den, music room or even a quaint parlor? Walls as well as twin doors leading into the space can be added or deleted to suit the homeowner’s desire for openness or privacy. And in the kitchen, in lieu of a planning center, a baking center at one end for memorable afternoons with the kids or grandkids.

Another flex favorite was the travel center in the home’s larger mas-

ter suite closet, providing a convenient place to store the suitcase and then pack it without having to load it on the bed! Leslie commented, “The travel center really hit home with Parade visitors! It eliminates the annoyance of constantly running into the luggage when getting ready for your trip, which is also a great stress reliever.”

Technology was also on display in the Idea Home. Right now, do you have an AC adaptor for recharging your cell phone or tablet plugged in, but it’s not in use? At the drop zone, Heritage Homes provided a recharging center with combination AC and USB wall outlets, eliminating the need for bulky AC adaptors and reducing energy consumption.

Then there’s Heritage’s “home automation package,” controlled from a smart phone or tablet. Cameras in a nursery and at the front door provide peace of mind. Remote monitoring of heating and cooling, lighting and security systems can help take the worry out of traveling.

Over and over, visitors touring the Idea Home proclaimed “What a great idea!” At $349,000 with an added third car garage stall, the 2,612 square foot Georgetown was not the biggest home in the Parade, nor was it anywhere near the most expensive. Yet this was the home everyone was talking about, including comments such as “Why don’t all builders build homes like this?” According to Leslie, the answer’s rather simple. “We embraced a woman-centric approach in our home building company and teamed up with Design Basics. For the last several years we’ve been keenly involved in listening to what our buyers want. The feedback we’ve received, mostly from women, inspired us to design our homes differently and gave us a new appreciation for products included in our homes as well as options we suggest. We’ve also revamped how we work with our clients to take the entire process from stressful to delightful. Our customer satisfaction survey scores have soared!”

Remarkable!

www.HerHome.com

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Helping buyers make wise, informed decisions regarding their homes and the products that go into those homes.

I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT...

Creating More Space in the Kitchen When we moved into our new home, we thought we knew we had “made it” because we now had a dishwasher! Our previous home, smaller and older, had a very modest kitchen and no room for such a luxury.

If space in your kitchen is at a premium, consider one of the “under sink” dishwashers. GE offers dishwashers designed to be installed under the sink, with a special tub to allow for sink plumbing. Some models can also be installed beneath a cooktop!

Learn more at www.geappliances.com

Damage Control

Whether you are tired of damage to doors, trim, or walls, you can do better than traditional door stops. Perfect Products’ DoorSaver II replaces one of your door’s hinge pins and controls how far the door swings open. An added benefit—you’ll never again run the vacuum cleaner (or your toe!) into those low, wall-mounted door stops!

Learn more at www.doorsaver.com

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www.HerHome.com

What’s Your COST PER SQUARE FOOT? or most home builders, asking them, “What’s your cost per square foot?” is a little like asking a mechanic what it’s going to cost to fix the engine in your car before he’s had a chance to look it over.

Without knowing more, a price is just a shot in the dark. Do you have a bad spark plug wire or does the entire motor need to be rebuilt?

WHY DO BUYERS ASK BUILDERS ABOUT THE COST PER SQUARE FOOT? Everybody uses it. Real estate agents…mortgage loan officers…appraisers…the entire existing home market uses this square footage price as a barometer for establishing home values and listing prices. But is a used BMW 5-series worth as much as a brand new one? Used homes don’t come with warranties and they were not built to today’s construction or energy codes…

It’s easy.

• Easy to calculate ~ price ÷ square footage = cost/sq. ft.

• Easy to understand • Easy to use • Easily accessible ~ major real estate websites publish this information.

Can you afford what you want? You want a feel for whether what you want is within your budget.

You want to get a fair deal. There are so many variables! Cost per square foot seems like a fair way to ensure you’re not getting ripped off, but can be a rip-off tool itself.

You’re a bargain shopper. Lowest price can make sense for standardized, mass-produced products, like big-screen TV or even a new convertible. Still, you’re not buying that car on the basis of its “cost per pound,” which is akin to purchasing a new home on its cost per square foot.

Chevrolet Corvette $17.02/lb Mazda Miata $9.59/lb

www.HerHome.com

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10 ThingsBefore You Need Comparing New

{Cost is driven by design.} Sophisticated rooflines and grand entryways add cost but not square footage. Simple rectangular foundations reduce a home’s square foot cost compared to homes with numerous foundation jogs.

Carpet typically comes in 12’-wide rolls, so designing a bedroom 12’-8” wide is expensive due to the added labor (cutting and seaming the carpet) and increased material waste.

Tall, tiered or vaulted ceilings and artful ceiling details increase the cost per square foot compared to homes with 8-foot high flat ceilings.

Then there’s the cost of the home plans. Predrawn plans might cost $1,000, about $.50 per square foot for a 2,000 square foot home. Custom-drawn plans typically range from $2-$10 or more per square foot.

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{The included materials /products used differs by builder.} Your price includes granite countertops, but granite runs about $40 to over $100 per square foot based on color and thickness. Are the included hardwood floors 3/4” or the cheaper 3/8” thickness?

Five-inch wide wood flooring is considerably more expensive than the same three-inch wide flooring. Even within name brands, product prices vary widely. For example, quiet dishwashers—something you’ll truly appreciate—cost more than their entrylevel counterparts by the same manufacturer.

Obviously, even with builder’s spec sheets you can’t get a true comparison of cost per square foot.

{Land costs.} Did the cost per square foot quoted include the home site? A $25,000 lot represents $12.50 per square foot for a 2,000 square foot home. But if building that same home on a $60,000 lot, the home site equates to $30 per square foot, $17.50 per square foot higher!

Neighborhood covenants such as requiring a full masonry front elevation, and community amenities like walking trails, pocket parks, clubhouses and pools all have a cost which is passed along to each homebuyer through higher prices for the building lot.

{What’s included in the price?}

{The total size of the home.}

Builder A includes hardwood flooring, Builder B figures carpet. Builder C includes full sod and a generous landscaping allowance, Builder D’s price only includes grass seed in the front and side yards. Such factors don’t affect the size of your home but can raise or lower the cost per square foot.

Costs for permits, fees, inspections and utility hook-ups are unaffected by a home’s size. A smaller home will still have a kitchen sink, dishwasher, range, refrigerator, and microwave—just like a larger house. Generally, smaller homes have higher costs per square foot (assuming comparable finishes.)

to Know Homes by Their Cost Per Square Foot

{Your choices have a huge impact on your cost per square foot.} {Quality workmanship isn’t cheap.}

{Methods used to calculate square footage differ.} {The type of home you build impacts cost.} One story homes are wider/ deeper than twostory homes of the same square footage. With bigger roof systems and bigger foundations (and bigger building lots!) one-story homes are more expensive on a cost per square foot basis.

Was the second-story area of a 2-story high entry foyer included?

How about the staircase and its openings— was it counted once or twice? Were measurements to the outside of exterior framing or to the outside of brick?

Such differences can have a dramatic impact on the home’s reported square footage and thus its cost per square foot!

Different framers, electricians, plumbers and painters’ prices vary, too. The value of caring craftsmen shows up when you have annoying air leaks around your new windows, doors that close by themselves or poor water pressure in your master bathroom. Or, will you benefit from your builder’s longstanding relationships with quality sub-contractors, though it may cost more? Also, labor rates vary significantly by region. Your brother may have gotten a new home built in Texas for $90 a square foot, but in the northeast, the identical home will cost more.

Would you believe just your kitchen selections alone could increase your home’s overall cost by $1020 per square foot or more? It’s true! Because of expensive cabinetry, countertops, faucets, flooring and appliances, kitchens might be well over $500 per square foot! Most builders’ pricing includes “allowances” for common selections such as lighting fixtures—but allowances vary by builder.

Other amenities that increase cost without increasing square footage include: fireplaces; lighting; crown molding; window treatments and even paint; along with “hidden” products such as high performance insulation or soundproofing drywall.

{What square footage was included?} The basement? Attic spaces? The foundation, walls and roof are already there so finishing space in a basement or attic costs less. If the price per square foot of the home was calculated based on “finished” square footage, finished basements and attics lower the home’s overall cost per square foot.

Do you include a porch, deck or patio?

If the garage is not included in the home’s reported square footage, then a bigger garage won’t affect the price per square foot because those square feet don’t count, right? So, why not build a 4-car garage? Obviously garages and decks aren’t free.

Cost per square foot comparison is meaningless if the square footage of these areas is counted differently by various builders. www.HerHome.com

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MOVING FORWARD...

Check out your builder. We hear horror stories of builders who will quote a price based purely on square feet and then pound the buyer with extras after the job is started. Reputable builders will have a long list of references from happy homeowners.

Contact those references! Similarly, there is great value in a builder’s longevity. You don’t last in homebuilding without treating customers right. What’s the cost per square foot of your new home warranty?

Every home builder can give you a detailed and accurate cost per square foot. A “production” builder who builds the same portfolio of plans over and over again, develops entire neighborhoods and offers limited personalization can most quickly quote you a price per square foot. Their fixed standards, limited variables and economies of scale typically enable them to offer the lowest cost per square foot.

Semi-custom builders offer a wider variety of home designs, building sites and finishes for your home. Such builders will typically modify their home plans to suit your needs, too. They may initially provide a price range, such as “$100 to $200 per square foot depending on what you want” – not very satisfying, but know as you make decisions, the ultimate price per square foot comes clearer into focus.

A custom home builder may never build the same home twice. She doesn’t have historical data for that specific home to look back on as a starting point. Knowing that custom home buyers often have specific products and amenities in mind, providing a cost per square foot before the plans and details are firmed up can lead to disastrous results.

DO YOU REALLY WANT THE CHEAPEST? Even if you can get fairly comparable cost per square foot info from multiple builders—meaning they’re all bidding using the same set of plans, specifications, home site cost factors, product amenities, finishes, etc.—are you going to automatically take the lowest price per square foot? How do you suppose the builder with the lowest price per square foot was able to do it?

Plus, you want your builder to make a profit on building your home. If she doesn’t, she won’t be in business to take care of any warranty issues with your home.

So...if you choose to, use preliminary cost per square foot numbers to determine if you’re “in the ballpark” budget-wise.

Don’t assume they’ll be the basis of your purchase agreement. Exercise great caution when using cost per square foot in comparing builders and their homes. Even if you believe you’ve got an “apples for apples” comparison, the low cost per square foot builder might just be one of those bad apples!

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Beyond Three Bedrooms hether new construction or remodeling, dual owner’s suites and independent in-law suites are increasingly in demand. It might amaze you to find out just how many committed, happy couples choose not to share the same bedroom. It could be conflicting schedules, medical conditions or simply snoring, but the need for getting a good night’s sleep is paramount to a good life.

Design Basics’ “Hester” is a popular 3-bedroom family plan. It’s also possible to build this home with a second master suite, shown as the “Sadie” plan. (Yes, the dual owner’s-suite version does utilize storage space from the original design’s garage, but if doing this conversion as a remodel, the contractor will build that closet floor accordingly.)

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41 54 the Hester | plan 29344-54Y 1720 total sq. ft.

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the Sadie | plan 29353-54Y 1774 total sq. ft.

(Fireplace answers left to right: Maggie, Margo, Elise, Claire) To order building plans, call 800-947-7526 or visit www.HerHome.com

Cu ing Laundry Time in Half photo courtesy of VeluxUSA

ired of waiting around for the dryer to get finished so you can get the next load in? Want to get more of the laundry done after your guests have departed? Occasionally run into a laundry “emergency” wherein the washer’s in use, your daughter needs her work clothes clean, and she has to be at work in just two hours?

How about two laundry pairs in one laundry room! Many dryer cycles take a lot longer than wash cycles. Trish, a single Mom, told us, “Even though there are just three people in our household, I never seem to have time to keep up on the laundry.” Trish’s solution? A laundry room with two dryers.

You may have seen homes with a small washer and dryer in the owner’s suite plus a separate laundry room. That works for some, but we’re suggesting a second laundry pair in one laundry room (works best in more spacious laundry rooms).

the Silver Creek | plan 42028-54Y

1863 main level sq. ft. | 613 upper level sq. ft.

2476 total sq. ft.

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optional basement stair location

alternate layout for two laundry pairs

To order building plans, call 800-947-7526 or visit www.HerHome.com

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www.HerHome.com

Researching this amenity, we heard comments like “It’s the only way to keep up!” One gentleman said, “Brilliant! My wife wants to know when she will get her second pair!” Janie Murnane, publisher of Her Home added, “The more the laundry has to be separated, the more this idea makes sense to me.”

Advantages of dual laundry pairs: • cuts laundry time in half; • uses no more water, gas or electricity; • get laundry done during off-peak times!

the Baxter | plan 50030-54Y

the Blanchett | plan 42078-54Y

1590 total sq. ft.

1513 main level sq. ft. | 822 upper level sq. ft.

2335 total sq. ft.

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40

40

40

44

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49 bonus room adds 483 sq. ft.

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1. 50028-54Y Elise Version 1552 total sq. ft.

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1.

1. 42077-54Y Elise Version 2043 total sq. ft.

2. 50027-54Y Margo Version 1512 total sq. ft.

2. 42075-54Y Margo Version 2215 total sq. ft.

3. 50029-54Y Maggie Version 1502 total sq. ft.

3. 42076-54Y Maggie Version 2012 total sq. ft.

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3.

2.

To order building plans, call 800-947-7526 or visit www.HerHome.com

3.

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the Presley | plan 50034-54Y

the Hewitt | plan 42069-54Y

1436 main level sq. ft. | 329 upper level sq. ft.

1765 total sq. ft.

1120 main level sq. ft. | 1209 upper level sq. ft.

2329 total sq. ft.

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40

40

44

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49

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unfinished storage adds 180 sq. ft.

1. 50033-54Y Elise Version 1462 total sq. ft.

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1. 42071-54Y Elise Version 2294 total sq. ft.

2. 50031-54Y Margo Version 1733 total sq. ft.

2. 42070-54Y Margo Version 2119 total sq. ft.

3. 50032-54Y Maggie Version 1470 total sq. ft.

3. 42068-54Y Maggie Version 2377 total sq. ft.

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2.

To order building plans, call 800-947-7526 or visit www.HerHome.com

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THEN

NOW VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

CAMERA

ONLINE HOME PLAN SEARCHES

Square footage...number of bedrooms...width...traditional online home plan searches simply filter down the number of plans to look at. Logical, but it does little to help you identify the perfect home.

Livability Search is different.

In addition to the traditional search criteria, select how important each of the Livability aspects (entertaining, de-stressing, storing, and flexible living) are to you!

It’s fun, intuitive, and more quickly helps you identify the home of your dreams!

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