From Drab to Fab: Even New Homes Need Help

In a world of chain restaurants, convenience stores and mega-malls, everything is beginning to look alike. For the sake of increased productivity, many communities are slowly becoming duplicates of one another. Nothing is unique or one-of-a-kind anymore. The same can be said of the housing market: many home designs tend to be cut out of the same cloth. If you live in a suburb or new development, you may only have a handful of layouts to choose from, so most neighborhoods tend to appear repetitive. It's not that the new homes aren't appealing: simply not special, which can make them feel ordinary and drab. Therefore, if you want to stand out from the crowd, here are a few ideas to help turn your cookie-cutter house plan into a custom-made homeland.

Give It a Personality
New homes are great: new foundation, plumbing and that new carpet smell. Plus, there's something comforting, safe and familiar about a suburb where everything looks the same. But it also makes these neighborhoods very competitive in terms of real estate value. Look on any government assessor's website to research these developments and you'll see that almost all of them are being appraised, bought and sold at the same price. Since the market is so aggressive, if you drive around one of these areas you'll see a lot of "photocopy houses" as well as a lot of "For Sale" signs. Therefore, it's important to put your own stamp on a home. Make it different from your neighbor's so that it not only has its own charm and personality, but when it comes time to sell your house has something different to offer: a customized look within a suburban community.

Step Back In Time
One great way to turn your monotonous home design into something unique is to go historic. Since brand new houses don't yet have a story to tell, you now have the opportunity to create your own stories, your own history. So though it's a recent addition it can still have an antique feel with the right remodels. And they don't have to be huge projects. You don't need to gut the place and rebuild in order to create a historic look. Instead, replace a modern window with stained glass to add some rustic charisma. Invest in some carved woodwork on your staircase. Swap the carpet or linoleum with reclaimed wood floors. Install some engraved stonework around the fireplace mantel. The finer points are often what set a house apart: it shows that the homeowners care about small customized details, which will speak highly of the house's overall quality and upkeep.

House of the Future
However, even in historic homes, you still need all the bells and whistles. A great way to transform a cookie-cutter floor plan is to modify and update the house fixtures. Kitchens are big selling points but most come standard with a fridge, dishwasher and range unit. But if you add a few modern touches you could turn a boring kitchen into a state-of-the-art space. Install stainless steel appliances for a sleek, streamlined look. Put in dishwasher or warming drawers. Swap the Formica with natural stone countertops. Even hardwood floors can seem homogenous, so set yourself apart with tiled flooring or quality linoleum. Also, bathrooms are typically a tub, toilet, and sink. Why not add a Jacuzzi, a steam shower, or even a sauna to give the space its own distinct character.

Bring the Inside Out
Never ignore your exterior space. Curb appeal creates a formidable first impression on guests and potential buyers. But most new homes don't even come with sod, much less landscaping. So once you plant your grass and flower beds, take a look around: do your neighbors have the exact same privacy fence? That identical front porch? A matching back deck? Though it may be beautiful on its own, if your exterior replicates your neighbor's it can appear drab and depressing. So why not dare to be different. Get rid of your cement slab and build a wooden front porch with rocking chairs to boot. Integrate a stamped concrete patio at the bottom of your decking. Enclose the whole area and turn it into a screened-in patio. Or better yet, why not connect the front to the back with a wrap-around porch. Either way, with a little creative innovation you can turn a customary landscape into a custom-made countryside.

Don't Waste Space
Most new homes have at least one extra room: an unfinished basement, a spare bedroom, or a living room that's never used. Why not turn these empty spaces into something exceptional. A finished basement is always a great investment, especially if you turn it into a bedroom with egress windows and an additional half-bath. But if you want to get inventive, why not turn it into a home theater with a projection television and stadium seating. Or turn it into a rec room with a full wet bar, pool table, and a flat screen for the big game. Most guest rooms simply contain a bed and end up being used for storage. Instead, why not turn it into a home gym or a personalized office space. And living rooms are tricky. Typically these rooms hold a couple pieces of nice furniture and are never thought about again. Why not turn these areas into functional rooms: install built-in bookshelves to create a home library, a table and chairs for a formal dining room, or maybe add a roll-top desk, liquor cabinet, and piano to form an old-fashioned parlor.