By Jenny Clark
Warning: This blog is meant to be lighthearted Halloween fun. Nothing serious here, just seriously great designs!
Need a reason to build your own house as opposed to buying a preexisting home? Here’s one—DEAD PEOPLE! Look, I don’t know about y’all, but when my future kids ask if there’s something under their beds, I want my answer to be a firm “No.” Likewise, when my future mother-in-law explains that she was just chased down the hall by a snarling clown creature, I want to be confident when I say to my husband—“Honey, Mom's not getting enough sleep.”
Find a house plan. Build a brand new home. Avoid ghosts. Start here!
The truth is, when you buy a preexisting house, especially a super old one, you’re never 100% sure of its history. For instance:
- Did someone die in it? How? When? Where? Were they murdered?
- Was the house ever used as a morgue or mortuary?
- Is there a “pet sematary” out back?
- Are deadly spiders popping out of the walls RIGHT THIS SECOND!?!
One would hope that last one would be caught during the inspection, but you never know.
On the other hand, if you build your own house, you won’t have to worry about any of that. Why? Because everything’s new! It’s beautiful! It’s awesome! It’s like the first day of Spring or the spank of a newborn’s butt…It’s perfection!! (See footnote below **)
But look—just because your newly built house is less likely to actually be haunted, that doesn’t mean it can’t rock Halloween. And, by "Halloween," I mean any day you feel like getting your ghost on! Take Floor Plan 18-4512, for instance. Look at those vaulted ceilings... Can you imagine the amazing spiderweb designs you could hang in this place? Plus, the plan sports a gas fireplace, and nothing screams FALL like the smell of a fire in a gas fireplace. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the appeal of an electric fireplace that can be flicked on at a moment’s notice, but when it comes to that pure, crisp aroma of burning wood, gas fireplaces will forever reign supreme. It’s like the difference between getting a real Christmas tree and opting for a fake one accompanied with pine scented spray. I have one word for that nonsense—BOO!
Cabin floor plan 497-47 is another design that could facilitate a very happy Halloween. Why? Well, for one, it features a media room. It’s also a cabin...a cabin with a media room...can you imagine building this rustic home in the middle of the woods and enjoying a SCARY MOVIE MARATHON on Halloween night?! I have three words for that: Pretty. Friggin’. COOL.
Speaking of pretty friggin’ cool things, check out the huge wraparound porch on floor plan 72-110. A porch like that is capable of presenting 360 degrees of Halloween decorations!
Or, how about the spacious four-seat kitchen island of floor plan 47-937? How cool would it be to carve a pumpkin on that island for your kids or grandchildren? Just think: you could even catch your favorite movie or sports game while slicing and dicing (note the open sight line from the island to the great room)!
Floor plan 497-43 also features a kitchen island, as well as a chic master bath that boasts a corner tub, dual vanities, and a shower with a seat. Any horror movie fan will tell you that possessing a hip master bath is absolutely critical to one’s overall health and sanity. Why? Because, whenever you enter a bathroom—ANY BATHROOM—ANYWHERE—LIKE, EVER—all bets are off. Among other horrors, you can be...
- stabbed while taking a shower (Psycho)
- attacked while taking a bath (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
- stabbed while running a bath (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers)
- attacked by an alien creature while using the toilet (Dreamcatcher)
- axed in the head (Friday the 13th)
- almost axed in the head (The Shining)
- harassed by sink-born voices and sprayed with blood (It)
- kidnapped (Halloween 2007)
- and, my personal favorite—shot, bludgeoned, electrocuted, left for dead, and forced to saw off your own foot (Saw)
Like, for real—stuff always goes down in the bathroom. And since we can’t exactly avoid going to the bathroom, we might as well make sure our primary rest stop is super comfortable. That way, when the Grim Reaper comes a knockin', we can die with a smile on our face and pride in our hearts.
Closets are another big thing in the land of horror and Halloween. For example, if you suddenly want to give your spouse a scare on Halloween night, hiding in the closet and jumping out when they open the door is usually a good way of accomplishing this. (It’s also a good way of making your spouse hate you, but whatever).
So, when you go to select your floor plan, consider the master closet. For one, is it big enough to hold your clothes? Shoes? A ghoul or two? Floor plan 47-937, for instance, offers a couple of walk-in closets, while home plan 47-943 (above) features a walk-in closet in the master bedroom as well as skylights in the bonus room. While your mind may not immediately land on "skylights" when you’re thinking about Halloween, they’re a great amenity to have. From homeowners who enjoy extra natural light by day, to moon-obsessed homeowners who turn into werewolves by night, skylights ooze mass appeal.
Now, being that this is a Halloween blog, I think it's only appropriate that we close it out with a trick and treat. If you're a Halloween enthusiast like myself, you enjoy talking about haunted homes, creepy clowns, and ghoulish goblins. That's just how Halloween folks roll. So, that's the treat. The trick is... wait or it... this blog isn't really about any of that. The purpose of this blog is to present examples of trendy house plans and help you understand what to look for in a plan.
First, review the absolutely critical spaces, like the overall layout, kitchen and master suite (this includes the master bath and closet space). Do these areas satisfy your needs? For instance, if you regularly cook large meals and own a hundred pairs of shoes, a spacious kitchen and master closet are two must-haves. Next, take note of secondary areas, like porches — i.e. does the plan provide enough outdoor living space for you? Then, think about any extra rooms you might need or want, like a home office or media room. Finally, start looking at more granular details, like ceiling height and window size/placement.
At the end of the day, remember two things: 1) just about any house plan can be customized. 2) If you start to feel overwhelmed or have questions — call 1-800-913-2350! We're here to help you.
**…You know, unless there are angry dead people buried on the land that you built your new house on top of. If so, I suggest steering clear of creepy trees, saying some Hail Marys, drinking a whole lot of hard liquor, and...yeah, good luck!
