– PARENTING –
BUILDING OR BUYING A HOME WITH KIDS IN MIND By Leah England
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uilding or buying a home is an exciting time in the life of a family. A home will likely be your family’s biggest and most important investment, so it is crucial to think carefully about your needs now, and the needs of your family in the future. When you build a custom home with Coastal Signature Homes, we help our clients design each detail according to their family’s needs and specifications, but the essential tips we give our custom clients apply to home buyers as well. kids as they are playing, doing homework, or watching television while you attend to other tasks. With that said, it is important to also have your individual zones, because as much as you love your family, there is such a thing as too much togetherness. I always encourage our clients to consider space for a dedicated playroom (rooms over garages are great for this), a study, or an enlarged master suite with sitting area. Often called flex spaces, these rooms can transform and serve different functions as your children grow. Here is one of my favorite plans that Coastal Signature builds. The combined kitchen, dining and living area is fantastic for families and opens directly onto the
OPEN CONCEPT FLOOR PLANS
Open concept floor plans continue to be a desired home layout because they optimize sight lines to maximize views, provide great traffic flow for entertaining, and create a bright, relaxed atmosphere. For families, the additional advantage of open concepts is that you can keep an eye on your 36 ParenthoodIQ.com • WINTER 2019-20
