goinghome

CREATING A HOUSE FULL OF LOVE AND MEMORIES with PLATINUM HOMES

words by AUBREY TYSON photography by BRENT HAMMOND

A home is more than a place where you hang your hat at the end of the night. It is a safe haven to create memories, a retreat from the grit and gruel of day-today life, and more importantly, it is a place to give love, to feel loved.

That feeling of home, of love and relaxation are present when you step foot in a Platinum Home. From customized finishings and relaxing color schemes to functional and accessible layouts, each new build with Platinum is a personal project for owners Matt and Ben Orner.

"Every home we build is seen as an individual project,” says Matt Orner. “We are involved from beginning to end, side-by-side with our clients. We want them to feel like this is their house. Like they have the option to customize within their budget and are happy with the end result. We want their new home to be a place where they can create memories with their family and build a future together."

A common theme for their homes is the practical two-story design with all of the bedrooms and laundry on the upper level. This design is a favorite for their past and current customers, who enjoy the freedom to entertain and use the main level for everyday activities.

“The first thing you notice about our homes is the upper-level living space,” says Hollie Kietzer, sales consultant for Platinum Homes. “We designed this area for convenience and luxury. A lot of our clients are adults with children. That means carrying around a lot of laundry up and down the stairs if the bedrooms are scattered throughout the house. By utilizing the second floor, we are able to eliminate a few simple parenting headaches."

he Bloomington, one of their recently completed show homes, feels like a relaxing lake retreat in the middle of the city. Offering 2,452 square feet, not including the unfinished basement, there is room to grow and create a personalized space. From the calming grey walls and white trim to the custom fireplace and quartz countertops as well as the custom mudroom lockers, this house screams luxury the minute you step inside.

The focal point for the main level is the expansive modern kitchen, including a white tile backsplash, an eat up snack bar and a large walk-in pantry along with beautiful quartz countertops. Aside from basic amenities like the stainless-steel appliance package, you will find well thought out space-saving features. With enough space to entertain and cook up a feast, the kitchen area is welcoming and leads into the dining and living room areas.

The living room is wide open and features a gas fireplace with a cultured stone surround and custom-built maple mantle with maple built-ins on both sides. Just imagine a lazy Sunday with coffee in hand, rain falling outside the large picture window and a soft fire glowing, creating the perfect quiet, peaceful day you crave.

Walking upstairs, you can feel the soft carpet is a step above the usual construction grade found in new homes. The warm and comfortable carpet is carried throughout the upper-level to all four bedrooms for both warmth and sound insulation.

"Our customers love the feel of the upgraded carpet,” says Kietzer. “The plush softness is a large draw to potential buyers walking through our show homes. It is one of the many features that can be chosen by the homeowner. When we start the build process, we go through each and every option for customization including flooring selections and color schemes."

The master suite is the true winner of the home. With a tray ceiling and large windows, the room feels comfortable and large. Walking into the master bath, you can see the detail that went into creating a spa-like space for the future owners.

"From the double vanity and cosmetic counter to the tiled shower and large walk-in closet, we wanted to make the master suite a retreat,” says Matt Orner. “Whether you have children or are a married couple just starting out, your bedroom tends to become your safe haven. It is the place you go when you want to leave behind the day's stresses. When we came up with the concept for this floor plan, I thought to myself, ‘What would I want at the end of the day?’ Those details, like the added space for the walk-in closet, the extra vanity area, and the tiled shower are there to create a comfortable space."

Leaving the basement unfinished is another way Matt and Ben Orner make sure their clients can make the house their own. With the space to create pretty much any type of living space, new homeowners enjoy the ability to be completely creative with the basement and have the option to finish it on their own time. From man caves with a bar to a play area for the kids or a meditation room for the woman of the house, the options are virtually endless with an unfinished basement.

Although they have seen a rise in customers wanting the basement finished prior to moving in, Orner explains that this option is always up to the client and in no way do they want to have the homeowners feel rushed into finishing such a large space right away.

This level of customer service and communication is what truly sets Platinum apart from other builders in the Fargo-Moorhead area. From the first meeting to move-in day, you feel as if you are their only customer and your opinion truly matters. Not only is their attention to detail present in their builds, but their attention regarding their clients is also evident in everything they do. Each house they complete is made with love and feels like a genuinely comfortable home.