In case you missed the news, we’re building a house and each week I’m bringing you along as we venture through the process! So, if you haven’t read that post, click over and start there.
Last week’s post was raw and vulnerable and I was absolutely terrified to share it, but I knew that to appreciate how far we’ve come, you had to know where we started. I’ve gotten nearly a thousand comments, posts, messages, and emails from y’all and the love and support has been more of a blessing to Heather and me than we could have ever imagined. Thank y’all so much for loving on us so much. I’m going to reply to each and every one of you, it’s just taking me a little while to get to them all, so please have patience with me as I get that done.
This week, we’re talking house plans!
Now, Heather and I both have been looking at house plans for years. It’s a great way to kill some free time. ???? It’s also a great way to realize that you can’t afford all that you like.
Our years of “research” meant we both had some serious ideas about what we did and didn’t want in our house.
We really wanted a classic, timeless Southern look with 4 bedrooms with a bonus room. A large laundry room was on the list as was an open floor plan in the kitchen and living room area.
And I was pretty particular about the kitchen – as you might imagine. A large open kitchen was a must with a huge island. I have a really large island in my test kitchen and I just love having all that space. I’ve always wanted a window over my kitchen sink. A large pantry was on my list, too.
A while back, Heather found a house plan that had a small family studio in it that she thought would be great as an office, craft room, and combined fun space. And while the rest of that particular house plan wasn’t quite right, she’d always liked the idea of a family studio.
So when we stumbled across the Tanglewood plan from Louisiana-based Madden Home Design, we knew we had found something special. It had nearly everything we wanted. Nearly.
It had some seriously great bones and we knew with just a little tweaking, we’d have the plan that would be perfect for us. You can even see a 360 view of the great room and kitchen here…
So we set out to make a few tweaks. We enlarged the dining area a bit and expanded the pantry into some of the space in the master closet. We plan to put a small sink, coffee station, and small fridge in the pantry and use it as a butler’s pantry as well, so we needed a big pantry. Sort of like this one…
We just absolutely loved all the big doors. They’re 8 foot doors with 20-inch transoms over them! The idea of being able to open them all up on a pretty spring day sounded amazing! There’s even a big door in the kitchen – which I just love.
We added brick around about half of the house while keeping the board and batten on the rest. We also changed the colors a bit and have adopted more of a low country farmhouse vibe – if that’s even a thing.
Here’s some of our inspiration for the exterior in terms of style and colors…
So there you have it. The plans for the Chinaberry House – our forever home. And we are SO excited. But that’s not all. Nope. We’ve got even more crazy amazing news to share very, very soon. So y’all check back next week!
We in fact are preparing to break ground on this house plan ourselves this coming May. Your ideas for plan adjustments are very similar to ours. You mentioned that you are bricking the front face of the garage. If you have pictures, we would love to see. Also, assuming you are well into building, any comments of issues you encountered along the way would be appreciated.
Yes! You can see a lot of picture son the most recent update here: https://southernbite.com/category/chinaberry-house/ Let me know if you have other questions.
Great great floor plan. What was your sq footage?
Thanks!! The main house is about 3,700 with the bonus room included.
Thks. What was it without the bonus room ?
Just over 3,000.
Beautiful. Will be fun to watch. We will modify this plan a bit by taking BR 2,3 and 4 and making into 2 BR’s with en-suite baths. Will also eliminate front door to office and replace with windows. We will move MBR to porch door to a single and move to edge of porch and make outdoor kitchen in the corner by kitchen. Will do a pass through window from indoor to outdoor kitchen. Will make door and window from great room to back porch a triple slider door in attempt to bring in more light. Will be building in East Texas on a ridge between 2 lakes 700′ from county road. Will install infinity edge pool off back porch so it appears the pool is running into the back lake 200′ away. Will eliminate outdoor fireplace and instead do a firepit near pool. Plan is currently with architect. Architect might have some other ideas but do not want to deviate much from the overall look from the front. Thanks for sharing as we will surely learn from your experience.
Sounds like it will be beautiful, Mark! Hopefully you’ll share some pictures with us as well!
WOW What a beautiful house! I can picture it so clearly. I have to admit I am jealous of your beautiful kitchen and pantry! The changes you made are perfect for giving extra personality. The outside is breathtaking and will be timeless for years to come. Congratulations on making your dreams come true! You both worked so hard and deserve deserve it.
Thank you so very much, Marie!
CONGRATULATIONS!! I am SO excited for your family and the beginnings of the Chinaberry House. Your story is very much like my husband and my story……had dreams, worked long and hard, saved every penny we could til we could afford land. Continued to save and FINALLY was able to start our dream home…..a custom designed log home built with some hands-on experience. We have LOVED every minute of our dream home in the past 32 years since we moved in.
THANK YOU for allowing us the opportunity to come along on your dream house journey! I look forward to following along!
Thank you so much, Judy!
Congratulations on your new home. May God bless you and your family in your new space. What a great house plan.
Thanks, Edie!
Perfect, love your changes. Although, I would change the entrance to the “butler’s pantry” to the other side making it more accessible to the kitchen and for that matter, the master room that needs coffee in the a.m. 🙂
Thanks, Sheeva! We’ll certainly put some thought into that.
Love, LOVE, Love House! Thanks for sharing the Build on your Blog!!!
Did you Know that Many Building Materials are Sky Rocketing in Price !!!
You may want to ask your Contractor/Builder if you can expect an Increase in Price for the Build over any early Estimates!!!! Better to know now so you can make any revisions in your Plan about what part is Built/Finish now and what may be Finished latter!
Hi Freda! Yes, we are painfully aware of the exorbitant cost of lumber. We’ve been watching the prices closely with our builder for a while and still think it’s the right time since interest rates are so low. It’s a trade off for sure. The fear is that interest rates will go back up and the cost of lumber won’t come back down.
Congratulations to you & Heather, I’m so happy-for you both as you start this wonderful journey for your dream home. It is absolutely beautiful & I’m so glad-to follow you as you achieve your forever home. I wish the best of luck always.
Thank you so very much, Mary!
Congratulations! Thanks so much for sharing this adventure as you build your beautiful forever home. Looking forward to the next posting.
Thanks, Linda!
Best Wishes on your beautiful home. It is so beautiful.
Thank you, Karen!
Beautiful home! I am in love with the pantry. I can’t wait to hear the good news next week. Please tell Heather “Happy Mother’s Day”!
Will do! Thanks so much, Sue!!
God Bless you and your family. I’m so excited for you all. The house and property look gorgeous!
Thank you so very much, Sue!
Congratulations!!! This is beautiful!! Well deserving!
Thank you!!!
This is a great plan, and I love, love, love the rear porches. Gotta have nice porches in the perfect Southern house. As a home designer, I’d like to suggest that you play around with furniture placement in the great room well in advance of moving in, as you may find it tricky to get in as much seating as you like. The room has a lot of spaces opening onto it, meaning a great deal of your square footage will be eaten up by circulation from one room to another. You’re probably going to have a TV in the room, so think about where you can put seating so that everyone can see it the TV without craning their necks or turning sideways. These are things many designers fail to take into consideration, and homebuyers don’t realize it until they move in.
Thanks so much, Lemelia! We’re very fortunate to have befriended a family who is building the same house and are nearly finished. We were able to tour the home during the construction process to get a feel for things like that. We are certainly keeping the layout of the great room in mind as we move forward.
Awesome design! I love it, and I know you and your family will, too, when it’s finished. We almost built a house once; we found a design we loved and a great builder. Alas, we had to move out of state.
I hope you and your family enjoy the journey, as well as the new house.
Thank, Judy! We’re super excited!
Hi Stacey, Heather and wee one.
The house plans look great and look forward to the fulfilment of your dreams for your Chinaberry House.
btw – love the name and the sentiment behind it.
Onward and upward!
Thanks so much, Eve! Onward and upward! 🙂
My dream was always to build a new house and to design my kitchen, but it never happened. I’m so happy you and your family get to realize your dream at your young age. This will also be a time that will test your marriage. I’ll be following your progress and praying all goes well. Stay strong!
Thanks so much, Terri!
What a glorious start to your “forever home”! I can imagine you in that great kitchen cooking up new recipes for all of us. Keep the faith and remember, you, Heather, and your son have a lot to look forward to and to be grateful for. Anxiously waiting for follow-ups on the house and the other great news you hinted about.
Always,
Cheryl (Heard) Graber
North Carolina
Thank you so much, Cheryl! We are certainly grateful!
Congratulations on your new house. It’s going to be fabulous. I agree that you need a window over the sink. I insisted on this when we were building a cottage for my Dad. Everyone was annoyed with me but it was definitely worth it. Thanks for sharing your recipes (I have tried several of them) and this new part of your life.
Thanks so much, Cathy! Glad to hear I was right to stand my ground on my window! 🙂
I love the plans! If I was building it, the master bedroom entrance would be opposite the study- away from the kitchen. And each bedroom would have en-suite bath- no sharing of bathroom noise, light, etc. I love the outdoor areas and the kitchen!
Thanks, Vivian! We’ve made a few other small changes and are turning the bedrooms with the jack-and-jill bath into a “suite” of sorts for our son, so one of those won’t be used as a bedroom, but more of a man cave.
Love the house plans. It’s going to be an amazing journey, just be sure y’all agree on everything little thing along the way, keep those communication lines open. There’s nothing like seeing the home of your dreams take shape, with the little tweaks that truly make it your own.
Congratulations! Love y’all!
Thanks so much, Pat! We’ve been warned about the stress it could put on our marriage so we’ve been very clear about expectations and communication ahead of it all to hopefully head all that off.
Beautiful house! I am so envious of your kitchen, I always wanted a large kitchen with lots of space but never got one. Say, do you need a roommate/taste tester? I’m available.
Seriously I think Vickie’s ideas are great. I would suggest hand held showers also. Sometimes with just the overhead shower the water doesn’t always go where you want it when sitting down. At 81 years of age I’m speaking from experience. Also keep steps at a minimum, going up and down stairs takes a toll on knees.
Thanks so much, Lynda! We’ve been very cautious to plan this as our “forever” home with those ideas in mind. We plan to have zero-entry showers and will only have the bonus room upstairs.
The plans looks good….don’t want to rain on your day, but there is a difference between “a want and a need ” Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should! Be Thankful for where you are, always plan for a safe tomorrow!!!
Our experience up to this point has certainly made us aware of the difference. Thanks, Jean.
I am in love with your house plans! I am enjoying your journey. You all so deserve this. You have waited a long time for this and been through many ups and downs and scrimped and saved. IT’s YOUR TIME! Enjoy it. It won’t always be easy. I can say this firsthand, as we built our own home too, but it will be worth it. Thanks for opening your door and giving us a firsthand peek.
Thank you, Lori! And thank you for coming along on the journey!!
Absolutely STUNNING! Can’t wait to see the progress in the weeks to come.
Thanks, Terry!
That plan is gorgeous!! So happy and excited for you and your family. Can’t wait to watch the progress.
Thanks, Kathy! We’re excited to be able to share more!
Oh gosh, I’m so envious! Gorgeous house plans, congrats!
It appears that suggestions may be welcome? K, hold on to your chef’s hat: Everywhere in my 1940’s house where I’ve had to replace crumbling lath and plaster walls, I’ve taken the opportunity to insulate , even the interior walls. The house is so much quieter, especially in bedrooms and rooms adjacent to bathrooms. Add as many outlets as you can, as well as lots of breakers to handle them easily. My old kitchen had one (one!) breaker. It now has 7 in its own submain. Provide a few chases at the breaker boxes for running wires into the attic to address any future needs. Use the best wiring you can for accommodating Smart Home technology. I shouldn’t have to mention to not run any plumbing in outside walls? Stacy, I don’t see the quilting room??!
Thanks, Patty! We’ve certainly added quite a few outlets and switches to the existing plan. We’ll certainly keep your others suggestions in mind as we move forward. Maybe the family studio could double as the quilting room? ????
Congratulations! This is so exciting for you and your family. I love the house and can’t wait to keep reading the journey ahead for you. The kitchen is gorgeous! I have always wanted a huge open kitchen and large pantry. But that is just a dream for me. Again congrats and I am so happy for you!
Awww! Thank you so much, Mistie!!
The plans are awesome!! I love having the window over the sink! We have beautiful, tall Ponderosa pines, dogwood, and black oak in my neck of the woods. An open floor plan is the only way to go, especially when it’s hot out. You can open up all the doors and windows and let the breeze flow through! I’m so excited for you and your family!!
We’re so excited for that! Thanks so much, Christine!
What a beautiful home! I couldn’t be happier for all of you! I am a nurse and since you are saying this will be your forever home, I’d like to pass on some unsolicited advice. Please have someone (designer) to go over these plans with you before you start your build. You need to consider the showers having seats-which I think all showers should have anyway. No female enjoys balancing on one foot while trying to shave her legs, kids fall and break bones and may need to sit in order to shower, and of course the obvious, as you get older, being able to sit while you shower is just safer.
She could advise you on the width of doorways and halls as there may be a wheelchair down the road for one or both of you; you need to plan on that now. There are other little pieces of advice she could give and help you to incorporate into the design of your home without it looking like you built a nursing home but should allow you to remain in your forever home as long as possible.
Thanks for sharing this journey with us. What an uplifting story this has been and am so thankful you all are being so blessed!
Thanks so much, Vickie! We’re happy to get all the advise we can! All showers will have seats. That was a request from Heather early on. We have looked at door width and have several showers that will be zero entry – just in case. ????
This style looks exactly like you.
I’m thrilled for your family.
Thanks you, Trisha! We’re so excited!!
So Happy for you!!!!! Beautiful home for you and your family to enjoy!
Thanks, Jean!!
What beautiful house plans and I know it will be the central focus of your family with many many wonderful memories to be made! You both have certainly earned this!! Congratulations!
That’s so sweet! Thank you, Judith!
It’s just beautiful, Stacey! There’s no place like home.
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks, Joy!
What a Beauty! How Fun!! I am looking forward to stepping and walking through this journey with ya’ll!
Thank you, Kathy! We’re so excited to bring you along!
Beautiful, I imagined you would extend the pantry. I would change the door to be off the kitchen doorway to the outside and extend it a little further in that direction to include the outside door and the kitchen entrance. I’m really loving this plan. I’m beyond happy for you and your family. I’ve built, with my bare hands and little help, 4 homes over the past 61 yrs. I hope to build at least one more before I leave this world. One other recommendation…a really big fuse box and split those outlets and rooms up. You can never have enough outlets in any room, do more than the recommended, you won’t be sorry. Make at least one bathroom and all doorways handicapped accessible. Love Ya.
Thank you so much for these tips, Barbara! Love you too, friend! We certainly have considered handicap accessibility in the planning the interior.
Wow! This is exciting! I love everything about this plan and I am really looking forward to following your progress! Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Amy!
Your home will be BEAUTIFUL!!! How exciting to get your dream house!!!!! I wish you all the best and much luck trying to build a house and keep up with your work – steady as she goes!!! Hang in there!!!
Thank you, Jane!! ????
Absolutely beautiful. That is indeed a dream home. I’m excited to be able to watch it as it’s built. You are blessed.
We are blessed far beyond what we deserve. Thank you, Suellen!
Just beautiful, I’m so proud for y’all! A window over the kitchen sink was exactly what I wanted in my kitchen when we built our house years ago. I use to look out & watch my kids playing, now I watch the grandkids play, & watch my garden grow. I love the name, The Chinaberry House!
What a sweet sentiment about the window! I’m so excited to have one. Thanks, Carolyn!
Beautiful! Congratulations. I love it.
Thank you, Hattie!!
I would suggest permanent walkways in the attic to access water heaters & A/C & heating units, condensate drain pans. Keep in mind good pitch on condensate drains & water heater catch pans – with no sagging – that would help with drain leaks in attic. Also some permanent lights up there with switch near entrance.
Such a beautiful home! Enjoy!
I love it. Sounds and looks perfect. Now I’m jealous. ???? Can’t wait for more.
Beautiful!! Truly a dream house!! Congratulations, I look forward to your journey!
Nice tweeks!
It looks beautiful!! Congratulations!!????????
BEAUTIFUL!! So happy for you!
Wow super duper nice! So happy for you. Greeting from Alberta.
I am just reading about y’alls plans and how you arrived here and I am blown away. The house plans sound amazing and love the story about the connection to your Bigmama. Can’t wait to follow along this journey with your family. Congrats and love your blog, your cookbooks, your stories and your recipes.
Beautiful! Blessings as you continue to work out all the plans.
Congratulations! I’m so happy and excited for y’all! The house is absolutely beautiful!
Thank you, Patty!!
I built a house 26 years ago. It is a bit crazy while doing it, so hang in there it is worth it. Congrats to you and yours.
So excited for you all! I know it will be your dream home filled with lots of love❣️
It’s going to be beautiful???????? Can’t wait for my invite to open house??????????
congratulations!!! My husband and I built our house 38 years ago. So, just one piece of advice – be sure to keep the communication lines open.