The Heatherglen subdivision in Shawnee, KS has announced its latest model is complete! Heatherglen is a maintenance-provided community tucked away in the beautiful rolling hills of Shawnee. Each lot features incredible views and most back up to plenty of treed and green space. The latest model features 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms on a private lot with solid wood floors throughout, a walk-in pantry, and a wall of glass in back with two decks that back to acres of trees & green space. Built with the modern homeowner in mind, this home has it all. Moffitt Built's tradition of building quality functional homes continues in this latest home. We're so proud of this project and can't wait to see the new happy homeowners enjoy it for years to come.

We have always held a soft spot for the classic American Bungalow - a detached one or one-and-a-half-story house with broad eaves, an open porch, and design details in the Arts and Crafts style. Though many other Bungalow styles have emerged over the years, the term most often describes homes with a wide porch as the main design feature. Craftsman Bungalows, West Coast Bungalows, and Swiss Chalet Bungalows all have a few things in common: the wide porch, a connection to the Arts and Crafts movement, and an efficient floorplan. As Builders, what piques our interest most, is the origin of the style. This article does a fantastic job detailing the emergence of the Bungalow, how it evolved, and what it means for today's architects and homeowners. Below, photos of a few of our favorites from legendary architects Frank Lloyd Wright and Greene & Greene. 

Land is a valuable resource. It's also something that we don't have infinite amounts of. For this reason, taking the time and care to plan out community developments while working in harmony with the common outdoor space, is crucial. At Moffitt Built, we like to ensure that the community areas and outdoor landscaping within a development are best utilized. Bringing together the community by incorporating interconnected pathways, sidewalks, and useable space make for a productive community where everyone knows their neighbor. Starting with each home's front yard or porch space establishes the sense of an open and integrated community. Efficient and creative use of the land makes for pleasant and happy homeowners. Share your favorite parts about your development!

No matter how much you plan ahead, it always seems like there's never enough storage space in your home. Storage space is a tricky element to plan out and generally, there's always that one room in the house where you think about the many storage possibilities you should have thought of prior to building. Whether you're building anew or remodeling your current space, keep in mind these clever and functional ways to create more storage space in the bathroom. Usually smaller in scope, bathrooms are spaces where storage space is essential but where you need to be creative in generating that extra storage space. Thinking outside of the box with built-ins, hanging storage, and recessed walls, you can make better use of your space and keep a fully functional, sightly, and organized handle on your stored goods.

There's a new Master in town and it's bigger and more glamorous than before. The Master Bath is quickly becoming more than a bath, but a haven. Homeowners are building both new and remodeling old Master baths in a lavish and exorbitant way. These days it's not uncommon to find pricy and exclusive shower features, built-in bathroom appliances, and even lounge areas in the Master bath. In fact, so many amenities are being showcased in the Master bath that they are often nearly as large as the Master bedroom itself. Master baths with expansive and breathtaking views also make the space more inviting. With new technology from heated floors to hidden LED lighting, the possibilities are endless in creating a 'liveable' bathroom space. Take a peek at some of the Master baths sure to leave you thirsty for more. 

We've made mention of just how important doors in your home can be and the implications they provide - giving rooms a certain character and inviting guests and loved ones into your various living areas. Salvaged doors can especially bring a certain unique character element to your home and can add color and personality to otherwise neutral areas. Salvaged doors can be a great way to lend a design focal point to a room or act as a starting point for schematic themes in a space. Not to mention, it's a great way to recycle old or unused material and breathe new life into a piece. In fact, a salvaged door has a variety of uses from a wall hanging to a coffee table. So, take a chance on a family heirloom or at your local flea market to see what kind of treasures you can find to add your very own touch of personality to your home. 

The advantages of building a custom home go beyond the obvious: a custom home built by a professional builder offers performance benefits that only a new home can. These hidden benefits are as crucial to the homeowners’ ultimate happiness as the design, if not more so. Many of these benefits are the happy offspring of the drive to save energy. 

In recent years, energy-efficient details have become standard and are mandated by many building codes, which as a result, has raised the quality baseline for all new construction. Most professional custom builders go well beyond this baseline. We work with designers and use the latest software to analyze how the thousands of items that go into your home will determine its performance, and we hire employees and subcontractors who will do the job right. 

A new home also provides a certain peace of mind and confidence that everything in the home will work the way it’s supposed to for years to come. That’s why we use proven products with good warranties, along with highly skilled installers. In fact, a lot of people build new homes for the same reason they buy new cars: to avoid unexpected, costly repairs.

Read more in our latest e-newsletter about why building a custom home goes beyond the benefits of your dream kitchen or the ultimate in your luxury Master suite.

When building or remodeling your home, there are so many options to consider: floor choices, paint colors, ceiling height, bathroom fixtures, and one less commonly thought of: your door choices. You might even wonder why weighing your options when it comes to door choices is even worth the effort. Take a minute to count the number of doors in your house. Not a small number, right? Consider then, the impact that a little attention to the doors can have on the overall style and design of your home. Doors are a simple way to dramatically update a space or improve functionality in the area. 

Investing in the right material, style, and taking into consideration the possibility of specialty doors, you can enhance not only your home's appeal but its efficiency. Doors, as the gateway to your home, another room, or a hidden feature, are something not to be overlooked. Take the time to weigh your options and even get creative and playful with it - show them your personality at the door! 

As an investment, home ownership is not only one of the most rewarding financial ventures but perhaps one of the steepest. Many Americans take years, if not decades, to make the decision to become a homeowner. While a majority of the time, the wait may be to pay off debt, build credit, or simply save enough for a down payment, studies have shown that homebuyers today, especially first-time homebuyers are simply waiting for exactly what they want. They're not willing to sacrifice any details and want to settle into a home that not only suits their every whim now but will also allow for growth later. Many first-time homebuyers are seeking a home that they can grow into. Similarly, many of these same buyers are not yet taking the plunge because they aren't able to afford the type of home they want at the moment. What these buyers are willing to sacrifice and what they aren't, is a very interesting study. 

The decision to purchase a home is not only about preference and logic, but is quite an emotional experience; one that many potential homeowners want to get just right the first time. 

Incorporating unique character accents into your home is precisely what makes it a home. A combination of personality, whimsy, functionality, and attention-to-detail can make your spaces enjoyable for years to come. If you're designing a custom home, you have the upper hand in choosing everything from layout, to materials, color, texture, and add-on features. From there, we could all take a cue from Italian design which incorporates function, glamor, and pays tribute to the classics. Italian style surely isn't for everyone but the governing tenets could inspire any proud homeowner. "Beautiful is better," is a design principle that Americans often forget, placing the importance, instead, on functionality. Beauty in everyday items makes your space that much happier, positive, and uplifting. Don't be afraid to use or get the most beautiful accessories and accents for your home! 

It's no surprise that another top design principle for Italians is "the kitchen is king." Italians love to cook and to share a meal with the entire family is more than just eating the food on your plate. It's an entire culinary and sensual experience. The kitchen often becomes the hub of the home, where families gather after a long day, where they visit, share coffee, stories, and laughter. The kitchen, therefore, should be given special attention in design. 

Ciao bella!