Building New With Karli and Spencer

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Karli and Spencer are excited for the opportunity to completely personalize their home this time around with Eastbrook Homes. With the memories of lengthy and time-consuming renovations living rent-free in their minds, the couple is firm on not wanting to do that again! After deciding to build new, the next question was where? Although they loved being near family in Byron Center and initially considered our Walnut Ridge community, their frequent trips to the lakeshore influenced their decision to ultimately choose Emerald Springs in Allendale. Emerald Springs is a great central location between the sought-after lakeshore and Grand Rapids, while offering an excellent school district and beautiful natural scenery. A great choice!

Building new with Eastbrook Homes gives Karli and Spencer a lot of freedom to ensure this home is exactly what they need. They’ve already begun making what will prove to be an abundance of choices by the end of this process, but they’re not intimidated! Being expertly led through each step by the Eastbrook team takes a lot of stress out of the equation. In this stage of choosing a lot, their Eastbrook realtor Natalie Rowlader helped the couple narrow down options by discussing their lifestyle. Since Karli and Spencer need a fenced yard for their two adorable rescue dogs, Natalie showed them two gorgeous wooded corner lots, and they immediately chose lot 6 – the bigger of the two. With the lot nailed down, it’s time to meet with more Eastbrook experts to start the exciting design process! Follow along to see what they choose next!

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With their location confirmed, it’s time for Karli and Spencer to decide on a floor plan that fits every aspect of their life and future. As second-time Eastbrook Homes buyers, they come into this with an idea of what they like in the Stockton plan they have now – and what they’d like to change. 

The young couple needs a home that will grow with them as their life changes, whether that means adding to their family or welcoming aging parents. They love that the Stockton has easy outside access for their two dogs, but wonder if they can add more space. Fortunately, Eastbrook Homes Sales Agent Natalie Rowlader confirms the Stockton floor plan has the option to add a Michigan Room either off the dining room or the living room, based on their needs. All of Eastbrook’s floor plans can be easily modified or upgraded to suit the needs of our buyers. Karli and Spencer expressed their need for more storage space and an upgraded pantry, and were happy to hear these can all be accommodated. To explore more home plans and modification options, they jumped into the Eastbrook website to play with the interactive floor plan feature, which also allows you to model any structural changes you may want. In the end, the Stockton still has their hearts (with a few upgrades!). Stay tuned to see what modifications are chosen next when the couple visits the Home Creation Studio. 

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Our homeowners Karli and Spencer have made some big decisions so far, from choosing the right community to finding the perfect lot for their dogs and growing family. But the next decision might be the biggest of all: Selecting the interior and exterior color palettes and design finishes for their new Eastbrook home. Coming from a previous Stockton, the couple already has a good idea of what they want – more space and functionality – and ideas on how to achieve it. Pocket doors, kitchen cabinets to the ceiling and an additional 200 sq ft sunroom are a few. But the real fun happens in the 4,000 sq ft Home Creation Studio. And, Eastbrook Homes Interior Designer Megan Mansfield is here to help.

Megan prepares for the meeting by narrowing down the overwhelming choices and making appropriate recommendations for the couple’s lifestyle, guided by the design questionnaire she sent them in advance. Ideas flowed during this creative collaboration, from how to break up an all-white kitchen by playing with cabinet colors and accents to ensuring the floors will hold up well to their dogs. Now, it’s time to break ground on this perfect plan. Follow along as we watch Karli and Spencer bring their dream home to life!

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It may not look like much yet, but Karli and Spencer are thrilled to see the hole dug for the foundation of their new home after weeks of anticipation. Their beautiful lot at Emerald Springs in Allendale, MI, is beginning to transform into their vision of “home sweet home.” Construction Manager Steven Velthuis, who is overseeing the development of Emerald Springs, walked the couple through the process. Steve will be their point of contact throughout the build, working closely with them to ensure every detail meets their expectations.

For Karli, the whole process is starting to feel much more real now that she can see exactly where her new home will be. Meanwhile, Spencer is eyeing up a different detail – an extra-long driveway. Seeing how far away from the neighbors and the street they’ll be, against the beautiful wooded lot, is exciting. They’re both looking forward to enjoying more privacy in this new Stockton home plan. And of course, both are imagining all the space their two rescue dogs will have to roam. This project is really starting to take off! Follow along as concrete is poured and the home they’ve imagined begins to take shape.

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While Michigan weather may have delayed progress on Karli and Spencer’s Stockton dream home, the determination hasn’t been deterred. Construction Manager Steve Velthuis and the team know how to work during even the coldest weather to keep things moving at the build site in Allendale. Working backwards to frame the house first and then do the undergrounds protects the agreed-upon timeline. With more than 50 years experience building homes in Michigan, this is far from the Eastbrook team’s first rodeo, and they’re well equipped with strategies that work year-round. One way Steve keeps things moving is by planning for the materials to arrive before the framers. 

Meanwhile, the Stockton model home is nearing completion, giving Karli and Spencer a chance to compare the finishes in the model with their own selections. The floor plan is the same, but the house itself feels completely different. With so many modification opportunities – from the flooring to the number of closets and adding a Michigan room – no two Eastbrook houses look the same. The couple is confident they made all the right design choices, and they’re excited to walk through their own home soon. Stay tuned to watch this home they’ve envisioned begin to take shape.

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Karli and Spencer are excited to see their new Stockton come to life on the lot in Allendale, next to their gorgeous tree-lined backyard. There’s been a lot of progress made since their last visit: The framing and trim is up, the roof is on, and Construction Manager Steve Velthuis confirms the team has started the mechanical stage. Watching as their design choices are executed reaffirms the couple’s decisions. They love their big picture windows and more modern features, like the black windows, front door, straight beams, and more clean lines on the exterior. The 4-foot bump added to the garage will be the perfect storage place for Spencer’s tools. And the office space will also house a murphy bed, doubling as a cozy guest room for overnight visitors. 

The modifications don’t end there – from changes to the kitchen pantry, first floor full bath, 9-foot ceilings upstairs and more, Karli and Spencer truly designed a unique home that fits their lifestyle perfectly. And they’ve loved watching it come together, whether by visiting the site or via their real-time video stream they can check anytime, anywhere. It’s another way Eastbrook takes the stress out of crafting your dream home. After this visit, Karli and Spencer left with a new dream in mind: opening the large casement windows in their bedroom to soak in the serene view of the towering sycamore tree. Follow along as we watch more of their Emerald Springs home take shape!

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Ready to start your own journey of building new? Let Eastbrook Homes help! With over 50 years of experience as a West Michigan home builder, we take pride in our customizable home plans and diverse set of move-in-ready homes ready to meet the unique needs of each and every homeowner. Download our free Interactive Home Building Guide, browse our online feature gallery, or explore our community map to locate the perfect Eastbrook community for you and your family. Connect with us today to get started!