Pampered Mom's No. 1 MUST HAVE for any New Build

People often ask me questions about the building process.   A lot of them are in the middle of there's and they are always curious what we LOVE an what we would do differently the second time around.  I love this question.  Honestly, there is not much we would do differently, at least not at this point.  The thing about paint colors, cabinets, design, etc., is that these things change over time.  I mean, whoever thought avocado green appliances were ever "the thing to do," has me seriously baffled.  But it was a different time then, and we can only expect that homes need to be upgraded throughout the years.  Things like paint color, décor items, furniture, are easy to change.  What's not so easy is the design of a home.  You'll want to make sure you get that done the way like the first time, so you won't have to change anything in your immediate future!

There is however, one thing, one pre-construction item, that I would do EVERYTIME.  Hands down, it's the one thing I would never change in our new home.  Quite frankly, I am so used to it, that I am not sure I would be able to move to a home that did NOT have this key feature.  In fact, I feel SO strongly that this item should be considered by everyone who is building a new home.  It's also an item, that you may, or may not bring an increase in valuce, so it is a serious investment to think about.  For me, it's hands-down a NO BRAINER!

So what is it that I feel everyone home should have?

A Central Vac.  It adds so many key benefits to your home, I could not live without mine.  Aren't sure what a Central Vacuum is? 

It's a type of vacuum cleaner appliance, installed into a building as a semi-permanent fixture.
Central vacuum systems are designed to remove dirt and debris from homes and buildings, sending dirt particles through tubing installed inside the walls to a collection container in a remote utility space. The power unit is a permanent fixture, typically installed in a basement, garage, or storage room, along with the collection container. Inlets are installed in walls throughout the building that attach to power hoses and other central vacuum accessories to remove dust, particles, and small debris from interior rooms. Most power hoses typically have a power switch located on the handle. [Source]

Okay, hopefully that answered your question, if you were unfamiliar.  They are installed during construction because it runs through their own duct system throughout the house.  [Although I do believe you can install one after the fact - I just wouldn't want to personally try it.]  I have a hose, that plugs into special outlets throughout the home, and different attachments for cleaning.  Sounds simple right?!  It's because it is!  And I feel so strongly about the health benefits it has, that it's totally worth the initial investment.  If you have a Dyson, Kirby, or another name brand, high-end vacuum, you know they're expensive.  But what you may not be aware of, is that's it's not really cleaning your house.  The dirt, hair, and debris that your vacuum picks up, goes right back into the air, creating even more dust and pollution in the air you breath every day.  If you suffer from allergies, this is even worse news for you.  When a house is sealed up, there isn't much you can do to get all the dust out.  Sure, you can use your commercial dust spray, or vinegar, or natural products and wipe away the dust, but guess what?  It keeps coming back and floating all over your house.  There is really nothing that gets it out!  Bad news right?!?!

When you install a central vacuum system, the dirt, debris, hair, dust, and tiny particles are all picked up each time you vacuum, and instead of being blown out the other end, go through the duct system and OUT OF YOUR HOUSE!  It collects in a canister that you can then take out and dump in the trash - BOOM!

[Photo Source]

It's convenient, it gets into places you can't with a typical vacuum, and really makes the cleaning process incredibly EASY!  Have you ever realized the smell of your home after you vacuum with a typical bag or bagless vacuum?  Yuck!  You will have zero dirty smell after you vacuum with your central vac.  I mentioned before that you may or may not see an increase in the equity of your home.  It really depends on where you live.  It is a built in feature, so it's possible you will see an increase, in fact, it's property more likely than not.  But in communities where I live, people won't buy or not buy a house because they have one. It's basically just an added feature. None-the-less ... it's my
No. 1 thing I would never change and I would ADD to every New Build Home I lived in!

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Allegheny Patio Inspiration

So I am starting to plan out our Patio.  The outside of the house has always been a project we planned on working through this Summer and then implementing next Spring.  Today I got a wild hair and was flipping through every magazine I had [I mean all my coveted Pottery Barn Mags] in the house to come up with a "plan."

 

Our patio space is small, and oddly shaped.  We actually made it an awkward shape for a reason, which we were going to put a hot tube in the area that sticks out.  However, how we're wanting to really hang out back there, so we needed to update our plan ...

Also if you have taken the time to check out our home interiors, you know it's mostly filled with Pottery Barn or at the very least, a Pottery Barn-esque look.

The idea is to build a pergola off the kitchen, and built in an outdoor fireplace.  There will be drapery in this area, with vintage bulb lights and a nice table to entertaining and dining.  I love the idea of having an outdoor buffet or beverage station out there as well.

 

The area that is off of our family room would then be an extension of that space.  A nice outdoor sofa and with chairs for conversation.  Due to where our gas line is, our grill would also be over there.  We would use some of the bricks left over from our house to create a built in look for the grill that extends on part of the length on the patio.  Lastly, I would replace our outdoor light and put in a light\fan for the area to cool it off during those hot Texas Summer nights!

Imput, ideas?  I would love to hear them.  What have you done, what works, what doesn't?  I need suggestions!!

 

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Imhoff Home :: Kitchen Reveal

I contemplated not revealing our kitchen for a while longer, to me there are still things that need to be completed or polished just a bit more.  I thought about it for all of two seconds before I pulled out my camera and started shooting.  It's the heart of the home afterall.  When we have visitors or guests, everyone congregates to the kitchen and wraps themselves around our island which I love.

 

It's also open to our family room which I adore.  I am able to prep, cook and entertain, all while still visiting with those who are in relaxing in the great room.  It's something that I have never had.  Actually, there is a lot in this kitchen that I have never had before.  I am a newbie to granite, stainless steal, the island and an under mount sink.  It seriously feels like Christmas every time I am in there.

 

I honestly can't believe that I have done without for so long.  Not that I knew any better at the time.  I made it work with whatever I had, and honestly I was fine with it.  When the kids were babies, I didn't even have a dishwasher.  I washed every plate, glass and bottle with my hands, spending sometimes an hour after every meal, all while holding on to one or two babies at the same time. 

I spent a lot of time designing the kitchen, although not as much as I thought I would.  In my head I knew exactly what I wanted.  I knew I wanted it to be classic, yet with a twist of modern. 

We decided on white cabinets even though everyone at the design center told us not to, I went with a light granite, a dark stained island and a grey glass backsplash.  We also decided to upgrade our stovetop to a 6-burner gas stove - best investment yet!

 

To keep with the modern look, I chose clear glass filament pendant lights over the island and a circular chandelier for over the kitchen table.  I did save money on our kitchen hardware.  These are actually from Ikea and I get complimented on them ALL THE TIME!  Our tufted-back island barstools are from World Market.

 

It may surprise people, but my favorite part of the kitchen is actually our butler's bar and pantry.

So there you have it, our kitchen in a nutshell.  Hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow our blog for more house tours, DIY projects and home inspiration!

 

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Imhoff Home :: Master Bathroom Reveal

It's been a while since I last posted.  It certainly wasn't intentional, but with the move, unpacking and visitors, I've been out of my normal routine.

 

It's MAY, can you believe it?  I said that in May I would start to post photos of our new house and today, I am pleased to share with you our Master Bathroom.  Before I go any further, let me first say this...  I love the house.  I adore the house.  There are design selections in this house I would do over and there are design choices I would not choose again.  The master bathroom is one of those that I would NOT do again.  It isn't bad, and in pictures it looks quite nice, BUT, it's really not my style.  Even though I am the one who selected every piece, I think I wasn't really in bathroom mode.  It's hard to build a house and be 100% okay with everything you decide.  And the bathroom was constantly on the list of "did we do that right?!"

 

Maybe not, but none the less, it's still a great bathroom and it's not too bad that we will do anything about it.  We'll let the next owners worry about that ;)  So you ready to check it out?  The good, the bad and the ugly?  Here's our new master bathroom ...

 

 

So if you're asking yourself what we would have changed, the list a bit long, and really what it came down to was budget.  For instance, we wouldn't have used floor tile as the shower tile [but really had not other option.]  I think if budget would have allowed, we would have used glass all around the shower as opposed to the wall|window.  I would have chosen a lighter tile instead of the grey and wouldn't have used this to surround the bathtub either.

 

What I love about it?  I love that it's serene.  I love that the countertops are tall, so you don't have to bend over.  I love that I don't have to share a sink or a countertop with the hubs.  I also love how the tub is separate from the shower.

 

Thanks for checking it out!  If you want to continue to follow our post home reveal, please follow our blog or pin some images for inspiration!



 

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Allegheney Family Room Inspiration

So here it is, the pieces that I am piecing together for our Family Room in Allegheny.  You'll notice many of the items are from our previous home, but I have added a few elements due to the hardwoods and all the natural light.

 

Until I get in the space it's hard to really fell the space itself.  This will be the room that our family spends the most time in, so it's important that all the elements are durable and family friendly.

 

Yes it's very neutral - I know.  I will bring in color with the pillows and mantle décor, but really - I'm a neutral kind of girl.  Colors stress me out :)

 

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Click to Folow Our Building Progress

Now you can follow along with us by clicking Home Construction above

 

By clicking above, you'll be able to scroll through our entire building process from start to finish.  Conveniently put in-order, so you can easily find the post or posts you're looking for!

 

Coming this May, our Home Tour tab will be available for viewing.

 



What's Your Landscaping Plan

 



It's hard to believe that just 2 months ago we were given this diagram of our landscaping for the new house.  After a few tweaks, we were happy with the plan in general.  You don't get a lot of say when it comes to the landscaping they provide.  It depends on the season, what they will have in stock and all must go a long with the "rules" of the neighborhood.  We also had to take into account all pants that could withstand extreme Texas heat.  Since I am not from Texas myself, I had to look up most of the plants before accepting the proposal.

 

The first diagram had a lot of red tones right up against our brick  It wasn't my ideal choice, and after some back and forth, we ended up choosing a more monochromatic pallet with a lot of green shades.

See Below for a few Tips to Consider before Landscaping your NEW Build!

Here is a sneak peek photo of some of the landscaping.

 

 

 Any thoughts on what do you did to make your house "more like your own" with landscaping?


- Tips to Consider Before Landscaping your NEW Build -

1. Select a Plant Pallet
Like I mentioned above, we had a lot of red and green tones when we first were given our landscaping outline.  With our brick having a lot of red tones, I didn't want the landscaping to get lost.  I wanted the landscaping to pop against the house.  Therefore we decided to use a green pallet. We are using different shades of green to compliment the home and hopefully give dimension.  I should say that you don't have to stick to a monochromatic look, you can use an array of colors within a color pallet.  Play around and get creative to create your space!

2.  Create Visual Height and Depth
Once you have the pallet in place, you'll want to use a mixture of both high and low plants and tress.  You'll want to use different hues to create depth.  Lay it out on paper and play around.  Make sure you're using the taller plants in the back, and smaller plants in the front.  This may seem obvious but when you receive your plants, they will all be very small [at least if you're a new build like us], and you may not be able to tell.   Make sure to do your research and use the plants which are known to get larger and taller in the future in the back, even if they're smaller to begin with.

3.  Consider your Outdoor Negative Space
Once you have the first draft of your landscaping diagram, begin to think about your negative space.  Where will you most likely hang out when you're in the yard?  Will you be dining outdoors, do you want to garden?  For us, we wanted the kids to have plenty of space to run and enough room for soccer goals in the back.  Therefore we had to place the trees in a way they wouldn't block our "negative space."  Are you putting in a pool, will you watch movies under the stars?  Whatever it is, you want to really visualize the space and how your landscaping can improve and stay clear of all your expected activities!

4.  Meet the Landscaper
This may be the most important tip when hiring an outside company or individual to landscape your yard.  You can write emails and messages until you're blue in the face, but until you're face-to-face, things can get crossed or forgotten completely.  Make sure everyone has the same plan before you begin.

 

#imhoffhome

 



What Exactly is Messy Mortar ...

If you have been following along to the Hubs & I's house construction, you know that there was a bit of controversy with the bricks.  Theoretically, it was probably our lack of knowledge of the entire subject that led us to our dissatisfaction.  Looking back, I should have done more research, but then again, I didn't know there were different ways to mortar brick.  I just knew what I liked :)  So scientific of me don't you think?!

 

When I would thumb through magazines or look at exterior brick photos on Pinterest, all the houses seemed to have the same "look" to them.  Each of the exteriors used a "messy mortar" application. This type of mason style was used back in the early 30's, maybe even before, and mostly when the brick wasn't going to be seen from the outside of the home.  You see this look a lot when exposing brick during a renovation, and realizing that the mason just didn't "clean up" his work.  BUT, because of the old feel of the brick, this method has become more and more popular, especially with new builds.

 

The Hubs and I had chosen our brick based on another home in the neighborhood we feel in love with.  To us, that was the end of it.  The brick arrived on site and I kept telling him - "It looks so much darker than the brick we selected."  We finally were able to meet with our builder and much to our surprise, this was the same brick, however they used the messy mortar style application.  Since the brick was half way done, the brickmason did have to go back over some of his work, but eventually, the home was complete with the style.  I have to say, I am in love with how it turned out.  Who knew there was more to the story?!  To me, it gives the house a bit of character compared to those who's houses lacked additional mortar - totally personal preference.  Let me show you in photos ...

 

Home with Messy Mortar:

 

 

 

Home without Messy Mortar [Acid Washed] with same brick as above:

 

[source]

 

See the difference?

 

Most masonries use an acid wash over the brick after completion.  This basically takes off additional mortar, giving the brick a more clean look.   Messy Mortar is where the brick mason not only uses a white wash application but then spears on additional mortar giving it a whiter appearance all together.  There is also another form of mortar that requires the same amount of skill called, Weeping Mortar.  The beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  This particular technique was used a lot with Tudor style homes.  I personally do not like this type of brickwork.  To me, it looks unfinished and "sloppy," for lack of a better term, BUT, it's widely used.  Some people probably think messy mortar looks old and incomplete as well.

 

 

Home with Weeping Mortar:

 

[source]

 





Whether you love it or hate it, one thing is for sure.  Before you build a brick house or before you do any projects that require brick to your existing home, do your research and know what you like.  Our brick would have looked 100% different if we had chosen to do an acid wash, or even a white wash on the house.  What a difference a little mortar can do!

 

 

Here are some of my favorite Messy Mortar Houses ...

[source]

 

[source]

 

[source]

 

What do you think?  Love it or hate it?!

Hello Lighting

This was a HUGE week in terms of progress on the house.  These past 5 days a lot of the larger finishes went in.  As of today, all of the tile for the floors, showers and tubs are complete.  The lights have been installed both inside and out, and all of the electrical is finished.  When you walk into the space, it now feels like a home.  Crazy what finishes do!

 

Another post for another day on the tile and how we thought we made a HUGE mistake in the Master Bath AND how we ended up saving Major Mullah on the lighting selections!

 

Here are a few images of some of the fixtures.  My kitchen pendants are on back order, so cross your fingers they get here shortly!

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They're Here - Countertops

Introducing my new infatuation - our countertops.

If I could touch them right now I would be kissing every inch of these bad boys. I am in love!

It took a while to get to this point, but to see them installed in all their glory, it's exactly what Ryan and I wanted.  I couldn't be happier with our choice.

 

The countertops are a granite stone called Golden Exotica.  If you do a search for this particular stone, you'll notice that they come up REALLY yellow.  9 out of 10 times if you ask for Golden Exotica, it's going to be a yellow granite.  However, if you recall our granite post HERE and HERE, you'll see that these were an exception.  When we saw them in the stone yard, we had to have them.  Thank goodness it all worked out!

 

All the countertops went in yesterday, including our master bath.  Here's a quick view of the countertops in there, which I am also extremely pleased with!  Now that the main construction is done, it's time to focus on all of the finishes.  Today the tile should be arriving!

 



A part of me was sad yesterday when I saw the countertops in the kitchen.  I love them so much and I was sad because that stone stays with the house.  I don't know how long I will live here, but if I could, I would so take these with me :)





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