“When the time is right…”
The Strauch family: Scott and Kris, along with their children Addy and Maura, had envisioned building their dream home for many years. They had reserved two lots in Copperleaf in previous years, but the timing was never right for their family. And then…the time became right.
Homes by Chris had revealed through a Facebook post that they were in possession of the “best lot in the Northland,” and the Strauchs knew it was time to strike while the iron was hot. There was a greenspace lot on a cul-de-sac with a wooded backyard, and they had seen it and fallen in love with it. Kris reached out to custom builder Chris Ragland through the ‘contact us’ form on the Homes by Chris website, and the building process began with a phone call.
The Strauchs had been through the Parade of Homes houses, and Kris’s favorite existing floor plan was the 1.5 story Marlo. She knew the first two floors of the home were perfect for their family’s lifestyle, other than the ceilings. Considering Scott’s height, 6’ 7”, Kris knew the ceilings would need to be raised to accommodate that. They also added square footage onto the house to make each of their daughter’s rooms equal in size. Otherwise, the floor plan was strikingly beautiful and perfect for them!
The real fun came in designing the layout of the lower level. After spending hours and hours on Pinterest and Houzz, Kris was able to put together a vision for their lower level bar, media room, exercise room, and game area. The Strauchs wanted to make sure they were building a forever home which would fit their family’s needs now and when the children were grown and out of the home. The lower level is a blend of fun and function, and the various spaces throughout make it a great gathering place for all ages!
Building a home is an emotional experience, and the process of making selections is one which is done with care. As we spoke about the building process, Kris said this of working with Homes by Chris, “We met so much and things went smoothly along the way. As a couple, we got to be very hands-on in the design process. We met 2-3 times a week, and I knew I would miss Chris when we were done.” The Strauchs were deliberate in their choices after spending time walking through the existing model home and collecting ideas from Houzz and Pinterest. (To see more photos of the Strauchs’ home, click here: Strauch Home Photos)
Custom Home Additions:
*Built-in speakers throughout the home
*Ran conduit for future placement of TVs and cables
*Changed all light switches to the Legrand system
*Suspended the garage for additional storage and to free up garage space
*Suspended the front stoop to add a secret door and storm shelter
*Finished the lower level with 10’ ceilings
*Added barn wood to accent walls and as a sliding door to the exercise room
*Added 6” in depth to the drop zone to make the entry from the garage more spacious
*Added footage to the additional grill deck to make room for chairs
*Upgraded the insulation to blown-in for the exterior of the home
*Added sound-dampening insulation around the first floor bedroom and ½ bath to provide additional privacy
*Added finished ends on kitchen cabinetry to look more polished
*Added a pot filler in the kitchen
*Built in pull-out spice racks to the trim on the sides of the oven
*Built in corner inserts in kitchen cabinetry to make the corners easily accessible
*Modified the shelving on the master bathroom vanity
*Raised the height of one shower head in master bathroom
*Added height to all bedrooms
*Added square footage to the girls’ bedrooms
*Added 1’ to the front and side of the garage for extra room
*Built in a drop zone in the garage for additional storage and organization
*Built in a desk in the upstairs loft area for the girls to use
*Installed outlets with USB ports in them in the loft desk and girls’ bedrooms for electronics
*Included hair dryer storage in the girls’ bathroom drawers
*Added trim to the vaulted ceiling in guest bedroom
This house is a truly personalized home which was built upon hours of research and forethought. In the end, the Strauchs moved in to a home they always wanted to build. Not only did this beautiful lot become available, the time was finally right to make their move…and so they did.