Starter Homes Spotlight: Part 1

It wasn’t that long ago that my husband and I were house hunting. We purchased our home 4 years ago and we are now living in what many people term as a starter home. It was the first house that we bought, but it definitely wasn’t the first house that we looked at. Our poor real estate agent had the patience of a saint. (Thanks, Brent!) We must have looked at over 50 houses before we finally settled on the one that we are living in now.

If I had to do it over again, I probably would have just built a house. We were so specific in what we wanted in our house that we ended up compromising on several things. Looking back, I feel that we would have been happier had we been able to go over the house plan and just build.

This week we are looking at starter homes. These are the houses that many couples buy for their first home. Typically, they are on the small size. One thing that Nelson Design Group is great at is making sure that every bit of space is useful. You won’t find any strange angles or odd corners in our plans.

This post is going to be about our power packed smaller homes. All of these homes will have less than 2,000 square feet. Don’t let that deter you. I have never lived in a home that had more than 2,000 square feet. These homes will give you everything that you need and a space that is all your own.

Kalie’s Place (MEN 5077)

This home is not a sprawling mansion, but give this plan a long look. This 1,400 square foot home features 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths. A 2 car garage gives you plenty of space to shelter your vehicles from the weather. This plan was built by one of our recommended builders and they provided us with gorgeous photos of the finished home.

The home is fronted by a large covered porch that opens into the Foyer. This is actually one large room that encompasses the Foyer, Great Room, Kitchen and Dining Area. The Great Room part of the space features a fireplace and large windows facing the covered porch. The Kitchen and Dining Area feature an island with seating for 4 and an entrance to the Grilling Porch on the rear of the home.

As you move down the hall into the rest of the home you will find the Laundry Room and the hall bathroom which is shared by the 2 smaller bedrooms. These bedrooms, however, feature their own walk-in closets. The Master Suite features a boxed ceiling, access to its own private bathroom and two walk-in closets, one for him and one for her. The garage which is accessed through the Laundry Room also has a storage area and a place for the water heater.

Stone Brook (NDG 422)

This rustic little beauty features 1,400 square feet of living space with 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. As you come into the home from the covered front porch you find yourself in a large Great Room which features a stonework fireplace. From the Great Room you can walk immediately into one of the bedrooms which has its own bathroom and access to the large Grilling Porch on the rear of the home. The Grilling Porch features a cleaning table with its own sink. These make this plan perfect for those who love to fish and hunt.

Moving from the Grilling Porch, you find your way in the Kitchen. The Kitchen features room for a pantry as well as for a small laundry area with a stacked washer and dryer. I had an apartment once that had the laundry area set up like that. It was incredibly convenient to be able to gather the laundry and throw it in and keep it running while I was cooking. (I spend a LOT of time cooking, FYI.)

The kitchen features lots of counter space with a bar area for seating 4. The Breakfast Room butts up against the Kitchen and has a lovely window seat giving you a place to sit and look out on your property out of three windows.

Moving upstairs, you find Bedroom number 2 with sloped ceilings. I used to have dreams as a kid of having a room with sloped ceilings. It just seemed so cool to me to be that close to the roof when it rained. This bedroom features a window that has its own dormer. Can you just imagine having a small writing desk there?

The second floor also features a sleeping loft/office area with built in bookshelves and window seat facing a large picture window. The Sleeping Loft is open to the Great Room below so even if you are working on something, you can still keep an eye on what’s going on in the main portion of the house. This plan gives you plenty of windows to enjoy the beauty of the land around you.

White Bluffs Cabin (NDG 1404)

This lovely plan gives you 1,800 square feet of living space with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Entering the home through the large covered Front Porch, you find yourself in an open floor plan with a Great Room, Kitchen and Breakfast Room. The Great Room features vaulted ceilings and a stonework fireplace to enjoy on those cozy winter nights.

From the Great Room you can access the Master Suite. The Master Bedroom features vaulted ceilings and a gorgeous picture window. The Master Bath gives you space for both a shower and a whirlpool tub with an entry into the walk-in closet.

Returning to the Great Room you make your way to the Kitchen which features a high bar with seating for 6 and a Breakfast Room. The Breakfast Room features a large picture window that overlooks the Grilling Porch on the rear of the home and gives you plenty of natural light. The Kitchen also has a window right above the sink. My grandmother loved watching the birds while she was washing dishes. It’s just a simple pleasure in life.

The Breakfast Room gives you access to the downstairs half bath, Laundry Room and Storage Room with built in shelving. It also allows you to go out onto the Grilling Porch. Cup of coffee and watching the sunrise, anyone?

From the Great Room you find the stairs and the access door giving you storage under the stairs. Again, I’m so jealous of having a storage cubby under the stairs. I can see my kiddos pretending to be Harry Potter under there.

The second-floor features Bedrooms 2 and 3 and the bathroom they share. This little cabin is large in potential. It would make a perfect getaway for any family!

Mosspoint Creek (NDG 837)

This lovely cabin gives you nearly 1,000 square feet of living space with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. The first thing you notice about this plan is that lovely shed roof. It gives you such a feeling of getting away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Then you mount the stairs on the covered porch and enter the Great Room. This is an open floor plan of the Great Room and Dining/Kitchen Area. This space gives you a warm and cozy feeling.

From the Great Room you find a short hallway that leads to both the Bath and the Master Bedroom with its bay window. Think of sitting there watching snow fall and just being all nestled and warm with a cup of hot chocolate. This Bedroom also has a walk in closet.

From the Great Room you can make your way either upstairs or downstairs to the optional basement. Moving upstairs, you will find the second bedroom and a loft overlooking the Great Room below. This would make an amazing retirement home or getaway home!

Austin Place (MEN 5040)

This home gives you a wonderful footprint and allows you to either go upscale or to dress it down a little. This 1,600 square foot home features 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 2 car garage. When you pull into the home in the garage you immediately notice that it gives you space for storage in the back part of the garage. The garage opens up to the Foyer which then leads to a short entry way hall way that leads either to the Laundry Room with built in storage or the open floor plan Great Room, Dining Room and Kitchen area.

The Great Room features a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. The Kitchen gives you a large island with a setup for a gas range. It also has a closet and a corner pantry for all of your needs. Off the Great Room you find yourself in Bedrooms 2 and 3 and their shared bathroom. If you go through the Great Room your attention is drawn to the 12’ patio doors that lead to the large screened porch on the rear of the home.

Off the Great Room are the Master Suite with its boxed ceilings and adjacent Master Bath. The Master Bath features a whirlpool tub and large glass shower with his and her sinks. The Master Bath leads into the large walk-in closet with built in shelving for shoes and accessories. This home is so popular to modify because it gives you a great set up that can be adjusted to whatever you need it to be.

Here at Nelson Design Group, we are always ready to make your dream home a reality. If we don’t have the plan that is right for you, we’ll make one. We are experts in our field and have been doing this for over 30 years. Give us a call today and we will be glad to help.

Maybe you're looking for something in particular? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Come check out Nelson Design Group’s collection of over 1,800 house plans. And come check out the past blog posts in our house plan series:

• Farmhouse style
• Farmhouse House Plans
• Contemporary Modern style
• Contemporary Modern House Plans
• Rustic Style
• Rustic House plans
• Mountain and Cabins House Style
• Mountain and Cabin House Plans
• Examining House Styles: Pool Houses
• House Plan Spotlight: Pool Houses
• Examining House Styles: The Florida Collection
• House Plan Spotlight: The Florida Collection
• Outdoor Buildings: Garages and Pool Houses

Here at Nelson Design Group, we are always ready to make your dream home a reality. If we don’t have the plan that is right for you, we’ll make one. We are experts in our field and have been doing this for over 30 years. Give us a call today and we will be glad to help.

Benefits of Nelson Design Group

If you are looking at building a house, check out our Building Your Dream Home blog series. This series walks you through step by step on how to build a house and is updated regularly.

• Building Your Dream Home: Concept and Design
• Building Your Dream Home: Loans and Permits
• Building Your Dream Home: Site Prep and Grading
• Building Your Dream Home: Foundations and Underground Utilities
• Building Your Dream Home: Framing
• Building Your Dream Home: Roofing
• Building Your Dream Home: Rough-In
• Building Your Dream Home: Exterior Doors
• Building Your Dream Home: Choosing Windows

If you haven’t found a builder yet, we have a Find-a-Builder tool right here on our website. These are builders from around the country that we have vetted just for you! They are skilled in their professions and do a great job.

Nelson Design Group has over 1,800 house plans for you to choose from. If you’re unsure about finding what you need, give us a call at (870) 931-5777. Our representatives are always happy to help.

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