As most of you know we are in the process of building our dream home.  We have not started the actual building process yet, but so much work goes in before the dirt is ever touched!  We have been busy behind the scenes designing and planning everything.  It is so much fun, but SO MUCH WORK.  We have been trying to think of every single detail to get it exactly how we want.  A couple months ago I reached out to yall for feedback on your own homes.  What you love, what you would change, things you have seen, etc to get more ideas and make sure we hadn’t missed something.  I thought this info would be helpful for anyone looking to build or remodel their own homes so I am sharing all of YOUR advice on must haves in a custom home!

MUST HAVES IN A CUSTOM HOME

Here are the things you sent to me.  Yall love plugs as much as I do 🙂

• 2 Dishwashers
• Lower microwave in island or butlers pantry.  Easy for kids to use and keeps it hidden so you don’t have to see it when you look into a beautiful kitchen
• Pull out spice rack in vent hood corbels
• “Costco Door” a small door that leads from your garage directly into your pantry so it is easy to unload the large stuff
• Pot & Pan drawers below stovetop
• 1 large farmhouse sink with no divider
• Small dorm fridge in Pantry for extra drinks.  Great for the kids
• Motion Sensor light in pantry so your light goes on and off
• Appliance Garage so you can leave toasters, blenders, etc plugged in and then cover them up
• If using deep doors in the kitchen add smaller drawers above for more storage
• Instant hot water in kitchen
• Have a separate ice maker.  Sonic type ice preferred
• Huge pantry
• Outlet in office closet so I can put the printer in there, out of the way
• Outlets in floor by sofa for sofa table lamps
• Built in vanity in master closet
• Plug in master closet for steamer
• Plugs in pantry for appliances and Dyson Stick Vacuum.
• Plug in mantle for Christmas lights
• Smart switches.  Controlled by Alexa.  You can sit in bed and say “Alexa turn off lights, turn on fan, etc”
• Plugs in bathroom drawers for hair dryers, curling irons, etc
• Strip of outlets under kitchen cabinets so the backsplash stays clean looking and has no outlets on them
• Outlets with built in night lights and USB ports
• Outlets in gutters on roof for Christmas lights with a switch by the front door.  We have ours on a timer so they go on and off automatically.
• Outlet for charging your car because I think it is the wave of the future
• Alarm keypad in master bedroom as well as by the doors.  This way if alarm goes off in the middle of the night and needs to be turned off you don’t have to run through the entire house.  It will also show you which zone caused the alarm to go off so you know where to look.
• Built in luggage storage in master closet
• Storage everywhere.  Use all dead space
• Light and fan switch behind nightstand in Master Bedroom so you can turn on/off lights and fan while in bed.  No one likes to get out of bed when they are comfortable
• Linen closets in bathrooms with pull out hampers
• towel warmers in bathroom
• Walk in shower with no door.  The glass never stays clean
• heated bathroom floors
• central vac system
• Laundry Room next to master closet
• Stackable washer and dryer in Master Closet if Laundry Room isn’t close by
• 2 laundry rooms.  1 specifically for the kids upstairs so they can do their own laundry
• Laundry chute from upstairs directly to laundry room
• Wrapping station in laundry room
• Dog washing station in laundry room
• PET OWNERS: Built in dog crate in laundry room/mudroom that goes directly into fenced in back yard so that dog can go in/out all day long
• Electronic drop zone with lots of plugs so everyone can put their devices in one spot to charge.  Kids know to leave them there overnight because they are not allowed in their rooms
• 2nd fridge in garage
• Add extra attic space
• Add a water fountain in your mudroom or garage.  If kids are outside playing they can run in really quickly and use it.   Plus it looks cute
• Electric lift in garage to attic.  Makes storing things so much easier!
• Water softener, pot filler, lighting up staircase, retractable screen on our porch, charging drawer, sink at outside grill
• Pool storage closet
• Soft close drawers throughout home
• outdoor fireplace
• If your family is taller. . . do taller countertops
• Storm Shelter/safe room
• If you add a workout room make it accessible to the entire family.  Many people put it off the master bathroom, but then if you have older kids and they want to use it with friends you may not want everyone in your master bath.

So seems like plugs and storage are on the top of everyone’s lists!  I hope this list helps you like it helped me.  Love this little community and THANK YOU so much for taking the time to send in your tips!

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