Caught up in the Details

While we are waiting for the final blueprints to be drafted for approval (this Saturday!!!) we are now diving into the details...  Sometime next week, we will have the opportunity to go to the design gallery where we'll make decisions about appliances, flooring, colors, cabinets, fixtures, counters, etc.  The biggest challenge here will be to stay within our budget!  As I previously mentioned, we spent a large portion of our budget on structural changes - moving or adding rooms, adding windows, etc.  This was partly because we are buying during a huge promotion - the His or Hers package.  The builders are offering a free half-finished basement OR free classic kitchen package, free Venetian bath, free hard wood floors in the foyer and kitchen, and free Crown/chair/picture frame molding for the dining room.  We went with the hers, since the basement will be my new project - So lots of upgrades will be included!

This is the 10x4 island that will be in the kitchen!  The classic kitchen upgrades include the staggered cabinets, recessed lighting, water line for the ice maker, garbage disposal, and upgraded cabinets.

This is the Venetian Bath - which includes a soaking tub, HUGE walk-in shower, marble countertops, and his and hers vanities for our house layout!

And the crown, rail and picture frame molding for the dining room!

The next hurdle is choosing some of our options... While some are no-brainers, like adding a second shower head to the shower, we have to make some other decisions...

Like what color hardwood floors... We're adding them to the dining room and powder room in addition to the already included kitchen, foyer and hall:

English Leather (I think this one is my favorite!)

Antique Bronze

Cherry Hill

And what type/color of cabinets for the kitchen - in order by price (all cabinet choices will be in all baths too!):

Landen Maple - Rouge

Winstead - Sarsaparilla

Briarcliff II - Sarsaparilla

Winstead - White (hard to see on here...)

This is a better view!

...or lastly (and probably my favorite!)

Briarcliff II - White

but again, because it's white here's a better view:

Then of course there is the counter top dilemna, which is highly dependent on the cabinet choice because of color schemes and pricing.  If we go with the white cabinets, I'll likely be forced to choose a high quality nice dark colored or white marbled laminate.  Not my favorite choice, but it would mean getting the cabinets of my choice and we can always upgrade the countertops later to a soapstone, concrete, or granite.  If we go with a darker colored cabinet, I could afford to do Corian countertops, which are very nice, but I'm not in love with the speckled look of most of the Corian options that my builder offers.  So I'm leaning toward laminate at the moment, with the idea we can upgrade in a few years... laminate has come a long way.  Have you seen Formica's new look??

or

I'm also debating between light fixtures.  Builders grade is that ugly horrible gold/brass look.  So this is one area we have to upgrade. We'll also be upgrading the doorknobs and hinges to match whatever metal we choose.  Brushed nickel or Herloom Bronze?  I really like the Heirloom Bronze, but if we go with a white kitchen, I wonder if the brushed nickel won't look better?

And lastly is the appliances... we are going to go with GAS for the stove, and stainless steel is our preference, so we have two options that have a significant price difference:

GE Cafe Series, 5 burner, double oven drawer, convection oven

(If I can squeeze this cost in - I will go with the above option!)

GE Profile, 5 burner oven

Well - flooring, cabinets, counter tops, lighting/doorknob packages, and appliances... I think that's enough decision making for today.  Maybe next time we'll talk about which tiles and marble surround will look good in the Venetian Bath, and if we go with a gray scheme, should we also upgrade the flooring.  Or which fireplace surround is better - slate or marble?  And what color carpet to get in the family room, study and upstairs hall and bedrooms.  Or what front door is the best? (I've already added side lite windows to the front door in the structural decisions.)  And my favorite - is the Composite deck worth it and does 12x16 vs. 14x16 deck size really make a difference?  Until then - let me know which of the above items you like best!  :D