Midwest build at ages 32 and 39 in 1990. What we did - what we wish we had done. (Many things we did are personal choices depending on age, location, likes, dislikes, children, forever home or a move up home etc. etc. etc. You may agree or disagree.)
What we did:
Outlets to the outside weather proof plugs switched to the front foyer coat closest. Great at Christmas!!
An outlet under each window for Christmas candle lights.
Outlet at banister height for Christmas garland with lights.
Light and switch for every closet.
Light in center of room & one plug switched for a lamp in each room. Center light has switch by bed too.
Back hallway is switched to a lamp down the hall and through the kitchen to the family room. There is
a switch to the same lamp going down the hall to the primary bedroom. This one light helps to
always light the way no matter where you are going in the house.
We took scrap 2 by 4s and put in blocking for curtain rods, toilet paper holders, towel rods, & garb bars.
(We did the latter ourselves then photographed and measured where all were so we could locate after
the drywall was put up. We still have not used the ones for grab bars but they are there.)
Christmas room storage lined with 2 by 4 shelves that are two feet deep with 3/4 OSB. No sagging.
This was an idea that our builder chuckled at. Everyone admires my labeled tubs and holiday
decorations. A great use of space and soooo organized.
Basement an extra row of block high for added height space.
Steel I beams and steel above garage doors for a soldier course of brick. No sagging.
Wood burning fireplace with gas jet.
Gas run to back yard for a firepit.
Big kitchen pantry with wooden shelves.
All closets and storage spaces were designed, completed and painted
before we moved in. We did this
closets ourselves. They are perfect for the way we live. We used galvanized pipe for closet rods. No
sagging and we had blocking behind the drywall for ease of hanging. Screws no molly bolts.
Behind sofa or at the end of the hall hardwire for a picture light. Also can serve as a night light.
Higher counters due to our heights. (In 1990 counters were pretty low. Now ours are the standard.)
Open stairway to the basement with beautiful railing. Heat rises - no issue. This was my father-in-laws
suggestion and we have loved it. The space is so open.
Cold spigot in the garage BUT my father-in-law said to do hot and cold to garage. We did not. Mistake.
Extra block on basement height for added open feeling and head space.
One inch pipe from the main at the street instead of 1/2 or 3/4. Always plenty of pressure.
Run a plastic pipe under sidewalks in case you want wiring to lights on the other side of the walk. You can
just cap it off until you are ready to use. So inexpensive to do before sidewalks are poured.
Insulation around entire bathroom for sound proofing. We insulated between bedrooms too.
Energy efficient honeycomb blinds. (They were expensive but have been a great purchase.) Draperies and
curtains have been changed but the blinds are still great - so energy efficient.
French doors to outside patio that are really sliders so no space is taken out of the eating area room per
the swing of the doors.
Room in basement that is all brick for storms. (aka: Tornadoes.) Also serves as the laundry room. (I am
one of those people that do not wish my laundry to be upstairs. But the plumbing is there incase we
ever have to switch.
Wider than normal halls (8 inches) and stairway to basement (6 inches.) (Wheel chair or stair chair.)
Determined where most furniture pieces would go so plugs were where we wanted them and cold air
returns and or registers we in the right places.
Fully insulated garage.
We went for timeless and traditional and not trendy which has served us well for 30+ years.
Garage large enough that car doors can be open without hitting one another and/or the walls.
What we wish we had done:
Pocket door on guest bath instead of a regular door. Pocket French doors on dining room instead of
regular French doors.
Double hung windows and not crank out windows. (The crank windows were 20 percent more expensive.)
Double hungs would allow the tops to be open for circulation without fear of rain getting in. This was
the biggest mistake on the entire house!! Super nice wooden windows that I hate. lol Yet I am well
aware crank out Andersons may be the choice of others.
Hard wired security lights. Easily added but easier to do in process. Times have changed.
Zero entry heated shower floor. (Was not a thing when we built in 1990. Getting ready to do.)
Two water meters. One for water and sewer used in the house and one just used for lawn watering. In
our town you pay sewer on water you use on lawn unless you have two meters. Expensive to add after
the fact. Also good not to have to pay sewer rates for water to wash cars.
Do not over landscape. Ours looked great for a few years and then we started to remove things. However, we love our shade trees. Our professional plan was great but just way too much after a few years of growth.
Nine foot ceilings throughout in addition to the two cathedral ceilings.
Would build the exact same house again with a few tweaks.
). Make sure the appliances you select are in stock or readily available.
