5 Features Worth the Cost in our New Build
Sharing the best design decisions that were worth the splurge in our new build.
Last week I shared five things I regret about our new build, so today The aim was to shed light on our favorite features that were 100% worth splurging on.
From to show-stopping to subtle, these design choices are what make our home feel truly custom and one of a kind. While they were an investment up front, they have added even more value to our home, and would pay off in the long run should we decide to sell one day.
Vaulted ceilings
I spent a long time finding inspiration and narrowing down my must-haves for our house. One of those was vaulted ceilings and beams in the living room and our bedroom, and it is one of my favorite things about our home.
It is one of those features that instantly gives that 'wow' factor the moment you step inside. I remember these trusses being one of the most complicated and costly additions, but boy was it worth it.
Vaulted ceilings are the primary expense, but I think the beams are just as much of a focal point, and they can be added to any existing ceiling (one of my most recommend upgrades!)
There genuinely is no substitute and it is hard to convey through pictures, but they bring such an elevated feel to a space. I have no doubt that they added more value to our home than the incurred cost.
In the rest of our home the ceilings are 9'4″ which is fairly standard for new builds in our area, and for me, that ceiling height is well suited.
7' doors
Taller ceilings require taller doors. The “standard” door height is 6'8″, which works for 8' ceilings, but we sized up to 7' since our ceilings are 9'4″.
It is not a detail you may notice right away, but much like tall ceilings, taller doors instantly make a home feel more elevated and custom.
I have experienced the difference firsthand—our Spanish Sanctuary has standard 6'8″ doors with 9'+ ceilings, and it feels very builder-grade and lackluster. Just look at the photo above compared to this—truly a design travesty.
Large divided windows
When designing our home, I fell in love with the look of classic large steel framed and arched windows. While the metal construction and arched top was out of our budget, we were able to find SDL (simulated divided lite) vinyl windows with a black exterior and white interior.
In the living room and bedrooms, the windows are all 5' and 6' tall which feel proportional to the ceiling height. And, just like ceilings and doors (sensing a theme here?) taller windows make a room feel larger and more grand. They also allow more light in, and if you have a view of nature, you must take advantage of it!
I am also glad we went with casement windows for the majority of our home. They feel more traditional and elevated compared to the more common single hung windows.
Windows can be expensive, and honestly we would have gone even larger if we had the budget, but I am happy we did not cut costs here. I wrote a detailed window selection guide for anyone going through the process!
Custom archways
One design element that had been etched into my mind after traveling the world was distinctive archways. I created my mockup on paper, handed it over to my builder, and watched them work their magic.
For a skilled drywaller, it actually does not take as much time or effort as you'd think (Lucas now builds all of our DIY archways!)
It is worth noting that this does have a greater impact on thicker walls. Our hallway transition is a load bearing block wall and over 11″ thick, so it was the well suited opportunity to create a more elaborate archway.
We created the same design on a standard 5″ wall leading to our closet, and while it does not quite pack the same punch, it is still a well composed and unique design moment:
Curved stair landing
Our staircase is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door, and The aim was to make it stand out. I was set on a curved landing to add movement and make it feel grand. To bring my vision come to life, I drew out the stair shapes by hand and traced it onto the plywood.
Building the curved steps was not actually all that difficult—the biggest expense associated with this feature were the curved oak stair treads. Those had to be custom made locally and stained to match our existing wood floors.
In addition, we hired a local metal fabricator to design and install a custom iron handrail.
Though it added thousands to our final bill, this design feature sets the stage when you walk inside, and it was worth every penny.
Here are a few more honorable mentions that I am glad we splurged on:
- Level 5 smooth drywall finish (this is up there with the other top 5!)
- Ceiling speakers in select rooms (and all of our smart home features)
- 7″ baseboards
- Custom arched front door
- Dormers and high pitched roofline
- Hand-textured stucco and exterior stonework
- Arched exterior window trim
I hope this has been helpful to anyone else building or planning to in the future. There are an overwhelming amount of decisions that need to be made, so my best advice is to be clear on your vision, prioritize what's most important to you and do not stress as much about things that can be added or changed later.
Do you have any added features in your home that you cannot live without? Share in the comments!
Coming soon: all the spring things 🌼
