Straight-Forward Starter Homes That Don’t Sacrifice Style & Comfort

Straight-Forward Starter Homes That Don’t Sacrifice Style & Comfort

You’ve searched high and low for your first home. You’ve browsed all the realtor websites, all the neighborhoods. Nothing sparks your happiness, so instead of compromising on something existing, you are going to build your new home from the ground up.

The trick with building your starter home, of course, is being smart about what features, amenities, and styles you like and that won’t drain your pocketbook. Not an easy thing to do.

But don’t despair. We here at Associated Designs Inc., have highlighted for you three straightforward starter homes packed with all the modern features and amenities, and wrapped in time-tested exterior styles. And yes: They won’t break the bank.

“It’s common to be a little overwhelmed by all the prices and options to building your first home,” said Rick McAlexander, CEO of Associated Designs. “You may have to battle outsize expectations on a limited budget, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste, style, and features.”

Craftsman House Plan, Starter Home Plan, Bailey 30-262
The Bailey (30-262)

If you’re looking for comfort with a little charm, the Bailey craftsman-style house plan has the perfect porch-sitting atmosphere. Four sets of slender posts support the front of the roof, creating an inviting full-width front porch. Sip your morning coffee or snuggle up to watch the sunset with a glass of wine.

This house plan is a compact, contemporary, two-story home with 1,600 square feet of living space. But it’s got all the amenities and modern features. When you enter the home, you step into a small foyer with a stairway and convenient coat closet. But after that, the house opens up into a large living area with a parlor on the right and living room on the left that flows right into the kitchen.

The parlor connects with a den or dining room (your choice!) and when those double doors are open, it creates an expansive living area for those parties you have planned. The parlor’s rear windows are actually French doors that open to the backyard and create ample natural light.

The kitchen is no exception to the open feel of the home, with a large eating bar and ample room for the busy cook. A door connects the kitchen to the garage (especially convenient for unloading groceries), and a half bathroom and utility closet are to the right (also conveniently placed but out of sight). But let’s not forget there’s a whole second floor available in this house plan.

“The bungalow has a master suite on the second floor that may seem small,” said McAlexander. “But when you add in the private bathroom with oversize shower and the long closet with ample storage, this starter home design has the best of everything.”

Starter House Plan, Cedar Ridge 30-855, Craftsman Home Plan
The Cedar Ridge (30-855)

When considering a home design or layout, the type of lot you pick may determine the type of house you build. For a narrow lot, the Cedar Ridge design is a perfect starter home that has all the amenities and features with plenty of space – and all in a 1,763-square-foot, two-story country cottage.

“The best part about this house is that it packs it all in with room to spare,” said McAlexander. “You get a fireplace, a walk-in closet for the master suite, separate bedrooms and an extra storage area upstairs, a den, and an open floor plan. Everything is where it should be, which makes for easy comfort and happy living.”

The first floor of this home design features a kitchen, living room and dining room all connected for easy flow. The U-shaped kitchen has a long eating bar and plenty of workspace with a utility room nearby (but out of sight). The owners’ suite is also down a short hallway off the living room, complete with private bath and walk-in closet. A den near the front entry can serve as a bonus room, office or whatever you desire.

The second floor features two bedrooms for the kids, another bathroom to share, and an extra storage space or attic area. For a home on a narrow lot, this design packs in all the features so you aren’t missing out anything.

Starter House Plan, Pine Creek 30-885, Shingle Style Home Plan
The Pine Creek (30-885)

For a single-story house plan that has it’s own unique charm, the Pine Creek design is a must. This home has a Cape Cod-style feel to it, and the layout puts everything within reach.

“It’s a design that just makes sense,” said McAlexander. “And for a starter home like this one to have as much to it as this one does, it’s pretty great. I’m a huge fan of the design’s ability to be both smart and comfortable.”

At close to 1,780 square feet of living space, the Pine Creek boasts an open layout with the great room, dining area and kitchen on one side of the house and three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the other side of the house. Your entertaining and family gatherings won’t have to mingle with your personal space.

A comforting fireplace is the focus of the great room area, framed by a window on each side. The dining area and kitchen behind the great room open up into each other for that modern feel and easy flow for serving and entertaining. A center island in the kitchen means you have ample room to cook, chat, and share delicious meals.

Down the hallway off the kitchen is the utility room with built-in cupboards and storage space. The utility room is also connected to the garage, which means it can double as a mudroom. Further down the hallway are two secondary bedrooms with a shared bathroom, and the owners’ suite complete with walk-in closet and private bath.

“A starter home shouldn’t be a downer. You shouldn’t have to settle for less,” said McAlexander. “You may have a limited budget, but if you’re building your first home, you can still get all the amenities you want without sacrificing style.”

And that’s the ultimate point: Your first home will be exactly what you wanted. 

As seen on Newswire

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