Our Selected Options - Ryan Homes Build

I'm a Pinterest sucker. So it was pretty clear that I had ideas brewing in my head. Also, my family bought a Ryan Home in 2003 (cannot believe it has been that long) and I remember the process pretty clearly. I was extremely interested with home layouts and options even at that time because my family did the same thing - chose a smaller scale home but chose to get many different options and upgrades instead of just "going big".

I was pretty straight to the point with our SR who might have been a bit surprised with how direct and confident (if you will) in my choices. Plus, we had already toured 2 of the Ryan Homes models that were being offered at this point in addition to other models that had options that could be factored in even if they were not offered models in our community.

Our options & upgrades for our Ernest Hemingway model:
- Elevation "B" - half of a porch with a bump-out on one side
- Traditionally a 3 bedroom layout, but we are doing the FOUR bedroom layout (this changes the size of the master bedroom and closet along with the layout of the hall bath)
- A rear-attached garage with a service door
- Un-finished basement with 3-piece rough-in for basement bath
- Rough-in for wet bar in basement
- White cabinets in laundry room (Andover Square White Timberlake Sonoma Square Maple Linen Timberlake)
- Wooden stairs and handrail with metal balusters
- Level 2 moulding (may change to level 3)
- Wood flooring throughout main floor (level "B")

Dining Room
- Additional windows on the side
- Tray ceiling
- Wood flooring (level "B")

Living Room
- Additional windows on the side
- Wood flooring (level "B")

Family Room
- Stone fireplace in the family room with a low hearth (debating the low hearth)
- Requesting a white mantel (not a non-standard, apparently just a request to ask our PM)
- Adding a blower to the fireplace (my parents did not have this option and the fireplace in their home is completely useless except for looks so we are hoping for a better use of the fireplace with this option - fingers crossed)
- Wood flooring (level "B")

Master Bedroom/Bathroom
- Level "C" tile in bathroom
- Additional window
- Shower ONLY in master bath
- Tiled pan in shower (non-standard)
- White cabinets (Sonoma Square Maple Linen Timberlake)
- Burlywood Santa Cecilia Light granite

Hall Bathroom (upstairs)
- Level "C" tile
- White cabinets (Andover Square White Timberlake Sonoma Square Maple Linen Timberlake)
- Santa Cecilia Light Uba Tuba granite

Bonus Room (over garage)
- Full bathroom & closet
- Level "B" tile in bathroom (may change to level "C")
- White cabinets (Andover Square White Timberlake Sonoma Square Maple Linen Timberlake)
- Santa Cecilia Light Uba Tuba granite

Our development is offering a "Dream Kitchen" incentive at this time (we paid additional for some of these features):
- Granite counters in Santa Cecilia Light New Caledonia Azul Platino
- White cabinets in Sonoma Square Maple Linen Timberlake
- Cooktop & double wall ovens
- We upgraded our appliances to Premier II, but kept the standard SS refrigerator
- Under cabinet lighting (I read mixed reviews on this one, but we are biting the bullet)
- Recessed lighting in the kitchen
- Upgraded faucet fixtures (unsure of what this really entails - but came with incentive)
- Wood flooring (level "B")

Our next appointment we have with our SR will be when the stones arrive for the fireplace selection. We have yet to choose the color of our exterior or our stone for the fireplace. We may do anywhere from blue to green to grey for exterior siding. And, I find it a bit odd that you select your counters and cabinets before selecting your flooring and tile (which is a different appointment). However, I do want a list of the "standards" that come along with the house.

I have been reading some blogs, but haven't gotten to read through as many as I'd like just yet, but am very curious to the experiences people have had and the ideas they come up with. I am making a list of the ideas others have listed in their blogs and may make a post on that later. I am grateful that others have posted their experiences because it opened my eyes significantly. It has been harder, however, to find blogs that relate the the neo-traditional homes that Ryan offers though.