Closing on a builder spec house. Bland kitchen.. Design help!
Jenifer Broughton
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
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Good Idea to Paint Builder Cabinets after Closing in New Build Home?
Comments (30)On the topic of cabinet finish.. as many stated the finish from the manufacturer will far surpass an onsite paint job. It is true you seem to save if you paint yourselves, but through the upgrade option, do you also get internal upgrades? Is all the hardware soft close (hinges and drawers) Is your overlay a full or standard? Look up cabinet construction Another question -if you switched out cabinets after- is the countertop. If you plan on a solid surface, removing cabinets to switch out after the fact could be VERY expensive... 1- can the stone be salvaged, 2-If not you will have the cost of a whole new countertop! I also considered doing things to the kitchen after we moved in and opted out of that.. Boy was I glad. Life moves fast and when you move in you really want to move in. I'd go with builder and what you really want and avoid all the small surprises that will arise doing work after the fact. Good luck in your process!!...See MoreCustom/Spec Builder
Comments (15)Very simply, you've found a builder that is sort of a mid-range production model. If you're OK with that, willing to live with his "packages" and aware that you will have less control (make sure you get costs of any upgrades you want IN WRITING right now), then fine. If you're not, search on for another builder. Keep in mind that it's possible a fully custom builder who IS willing to delete those items you feel you don't need may not end up being less expensive. A builder that is doing packages is saving up front on buying certain items in large quantities. That's why removing them doesn't save YOU that much - they aren't costing him that much and so you don't get the full retail price difference between those items for not using them. Calling himself a "custom" builder is certainly stretching the terminology here. It's not that custom builders don't do spec houses - they do. Mine occasionally will do a spec house when he has time on his hands, found a super handy lot, or just has something he wants to try. OTOH, he never builds the same house twice, either. True custom pretty much means every house is a proto-type. Since the builder has never done THAT house before, either, it's harder to be specific about what it will cost or foresee the little quirky things that will happen. Hence, why they're more expensive....See MoreHelp my bland house! Living room ideas?
Comments (18)Your look IS modern farmhouse/boho. Boho is short for "Bohemian" which is an eclectic patterned colorful look like the pottery from Bohemia in Czechoslovakia. I'm not even sure what "modern farmhouse" is for a reference, but the emphasis seems to be on monochrome blacks and whites and splashes of whimsy and color. You have all that except for the splash part, and this is up to you what you would find fun to put on the walls. The fireplace brick stands out somewhat discordantly, so I'd do a neutral light piece of art to cover up some of that checkered colored brick. Easy fix. I'd also replace the carved fussy doors on the cabinets next to the fireplace with something more angular and plain if I was obsessive about "modern" farmhouse. But the doors you have are perfectly "boho." The room looks lovely as is. Don't be so hard on yourself! Perhaps at some point the perfect piece of art may come along that speaks to you. Meanwhile you can maybe pick up something neutral and "modern farmhouse" at your local discount mart. Mine has lots of stuff like that in the home section. Placekeeper stuff. Inexpensive, big impact and then later when you have time donate to Goodwill and find that perfect piece at the antique store like Johanna Gaines does! OR, go to the local Goodwill and buy that piece that someone else just got rid of . . . ....See MoreReplacing new basic builder kitchen with third-party option post-close
Comments (8)Here is a thought....since the layout and electrical isn't changing in your vision, could you use the builder basic boxes and get custom doors made for the cupboards? Would that work at all? I hear you about spotty granite (ugh). If you are planning to remove whatever they put in, is there a formica or laminate option? I think I'd choose the least option from a price point of view and then if you can use it again elsewhere in the house, formica is relatively easy to take out and cut to size etc - and more DIY than if it is a stone of some sort. But I think you'd want your flooring to run under the cabinets, so if they install and you want to change the flooring out, you'll be tearing all of it out. Do you have specific cabinets in mind? Have you talked to that company for a price quote? I think I'd start there and that will give you a good idea of price difference between what the builder wants and the other quote. Counters - well that can be quite a price range so you'd better get a quote on that too. I guess you really need to do some comparison shopping for what you want to get good ideas for pricing. It might be worth booking an appointment with a kitchen designer who can help you sort through the options available from the builder and other options available. You don't want to spend money twice if you can avoid it so I think some professional help (not some paid salesperson from the builder) might be a good idea to give you some feedback and options. Look at some posts on Houzz from "The Cooks kitchen". She has some really good kitchen ideas and is willing to share her knowledge generously. The layout you've shown above from the builder doesn't look bad at all, but maybe a professional can find a way to make the most of the choices available to you and limit some expenses and waste if possible....See MoreJenifer Broughton
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