The Beautiful Thing About Built-Ins

Perhaps the most popular item on the wish-list of any homebuyer today is "character". This wish-list item is often difficult to describe except to say "I'll know it when I see it"! There really is no one specific thing that a home must have in order to have character, but among the homebuyers I've worked with, all agree that the home should have that je nais se quoi - that thing that pulls them in and says "this is home".

My favorite item that can give any home a little bit of personality is the built-in. I've found them to consistently grab the attention of my homebuyers whenever we've come across them. A few have even had built-ins added after their home purchase. Built-ins are quite versatile in nature. Here is an extremely small sampling of what they have to offer.

Built-ins surrounding the fireplace are by far the most common option I come across regardless of the age or price range of the home.

Another popular trend, especially among homes less than 20 years old, is the tv nook above the fireplace. This particular one was made for the wide flat-screen, but I still see way too many (even in new construction) that only fit the 25-27" tube sets. Consider this built-in carefully if you EVER plan on upgrading your tv.

For larger homes, a butler's pantry gives both style and function to the transition area between the kitchen and formal dining room.

This is a great example of one of my favorite built-in options. Bonus rooms can sometimes be a bit awkard to furnish because of the sloping ceilings. But with built-ins you can adapt to the shape of the room with no problem.

Here is another wonderful example of how versatile built-ins can be. You can create a special place for your library just about anywhere - even underneath the stairs!

Benches - whether in a sunroom, a breakfast nook, or made as a window seat - can add a bit of charm to any home. The addition of drawers underneath for extra storage just can't be beat.

One thing I think everyone would enjoy is the built-in work area. I see versions of this option both in high-end homes with spacious, exquisite offices as well as in smaller homes with little nooks that can be found just about everywhere - hallways, bedrooms, closets, underneath the stairs - you name it!

I absolutely love built-ins. They are functional, space-saving, and eye-catching. Best of all, the options in design are endless. They can be fancy and expansive or they can be simple and abbreviated. It really doesn't matter if you are in the market for an 800 sq.ft. condo or an 8,000 sq.ft. mansion. Built-ins are wonderful in any home.