From Builder Grade to Custom Made: My Modern Minimalistic 1 story Home Tour

Welcome to my home tour! In this blog post, I’m thrilled to take you on a journey through our builder grade to a custom made, modern minimalistic one-story home. I’m just getting around to sharing this home although we moved into this home in July of 2021. We came from a much larger home previously and we were craving simple and minimalistic. To see our old home, click here. This smaller, one-story home has been perfect for our family of four. Although this home was a Mattamy spec home, and I wasn’t able to pick anything, I was satisfied with the blank slate I had to work with. All the colors the builder chose were neutral and modern and I was able to envision our home. Join me as I share the story of how we turned a builder-grade house into a personalized sanctuary filled with warmth, style, and character.

As you explore our home, I hope you’ll feel the love and warmth that fills every room. From quiet mornings sipping coffee in the kitchen, classical music playing in our office while working away, our lively kids and their friends running and laughing throughout our home, to hosting friends and family in our living area. Our home is a place where memories are made and cherished.

The Inspiration Behind the Transformation

The design and decor of our home were inspired by a desire to create a space that truly reflects our family’s personality and lifestyle. I wanted a blend of modern minimalism with cozy comfort, incorporating elements that evoke a sense of warmth and invitation. While I drew inspiration from various design styles, including modern, transitional, and minimalistic elements, my overarching theme was to create a timeless and cohesive look throughout the home. To achieve this aesthetic, I incorporated neutral color palettes, natural textures, and a mix of contemporary and classic furnishings.

Transforming our home from builder-grade to custom was pretty seamless. I had a vision and I knew what I wanted. The next step was to find someone to bring my vision to life. We hired Almega Homes to do all our after-market projects. I was able to share my vision with Kaeley from Almega Homes and together we made it all come to life. While Ryan and I loved the smart floor plan and the neutral colors of the spec home, we were disappointed with the storage and functionality of the home. We knew we were going to have to add cabinets and shelves in a few areas. The areas inside the house that we had Almega Homes add to were the living room, kitchen, breakfast nook, and laundry room. You’ll see before and afters as we go through the house. Let’s go!

Entryway

As you enter our home, there’s a welcoming hallway leading into the bright open-concept living area. We had Almega add beams on two areas down this hallway to give it a little character. 

Bench | Throw Blanket | Oversized Pillow | Throw Pillow | Mirror | Tree | Basket

Office

Before we head to the living area, let’s take a left into our home office. Our office is one of my favorite rooms in this home. I wanted bright, clean, and welcoming with a sophisticated feel. Navy & Black are sophisticated, rich, and moody, so I added a few touches throughout the office. “Alexa, play classical instrumentals.”

Mango Wood Vases | Mango Wood Boxes | Black/White Books | Black Books | White Books | Antique Natural Books | Grey Books | Alexa | Envelope Holder | Clear Sticky Note Holder | Black Chain Decor item | Marble Stapler | Marble Pen Holder | Black Vases | Round White Vase | Faux Green Plants | Natural Wood Boxes | Terra Cotta Vases | Navy Frame | Crystal Decanters | Pink Peony Vase

Boys Gameroom

Ok, let’s head to the game room. We turn left as we exit the office and head down another hall, past the laundry room. I am EXCITED to share this room with you all! This room took some thinking, planning, and researching. It’s not your regular Gameroom, it’s actually a bedroom. However, since this house didn’t have a gameroom I wanted this room to be an area where the boys could chill with their friends but also be able to transform into a guest room if needed. I needed a STURDY bunk bed as I knew many boys would be in this room at a time. This bunk bed has held up wonderfully. I love the futon feature on the bottom as it functions as a sofa most days but transforms into a comfortable bed for sleepovers and guests. I made sure to purchase a comfortable mattress for both the futon and the twin bed on top. A game room isn’t complete without bean bags. These have been great for the kids and their friends.

Bunk Bed | Futon Mattress | Futon Cover | Twin Mattress | Twin Mattress Protector | Twin Blanket | Twin Sheets | Navy Throw Pillows | Camel Blanket | Oversized Linen Throw Pillows | Linen Blanket | Table Lamp | Speaker Alarm Clock | Table-side Plant | Navy Bean Bags | Ottomans | Wall Art | Side Table | Rug | Framed Art | Wall Art | Wall Art 2 | TV Stand | TV Stand 2

Kitchen & Breakfast Nook

Heading back to the front of the house, we turn left at the entry hallway and head into the main living area. This open-concept living area is one of our favorite spaces. The kitchen seamlessly flows into the dining and living areas. It’s the heart of our home, where we gather with family and friends to share meals, laughter, and memories.

The living area is on the right and the kitchen is on the left. As you’ll see in the before photo below, this area started out as a white kitchen, which is beautiful. I love an all-white kitchen. However, I had an all-white kitchen in our previous home and I wanted to mix it up a bit. I had Almega Homes paint the island a Navy/Charcoal. The color is “Cyberspace” by Sherwin Williams and I love it. I had the breakfast nook under cabinets painted this same color to easily transition from the kitchen to the breakfast nook.

Before

After

Soap Bottles | Faux Greenery | Oil & Vinegar Dispenser | Round Marble Cutting Board | Rectangle Cutting Board | Faux Plant in Terra Cotta Vase | Cookbook Stand | White Tea Kettle | Counter Stool | Glass Storage Jars

As you can see from the before picture, this was just a room, with no cabinets, storage, or anything. Since I needed a functional breakfast nook, we added cabinets and shelves up above, a countertop for serving and beverages, and cabinets down below for storage. This has been SO great to have! I’ve always loved this light fixture, so I had Almega switch out the builder-grade light fixture.

Breakfast Nook Light Fixture | Kitchen Chairs | Wooden Bowl | Green Moss Balls | Gold Frames | Coffee Maker | Faux Plants | White Ceramic Pitcher | White Ceramic Vase | Thin Gold Frame | Wall Basket | White Ceramic Small Vase | Brown Faux Books | Wooden Box | Eucalyptus Stems | Table Tray | Glass Storage Jars | Japanese Green Tea

Living Room

To the right of the kitchen is our living room. As you’ll see from the before photo below, only a fireplace existed on this wall. Almega Homes did a beautiful job of recreating my vision for this space. The top shelves are great for decor and the bottom cabinets hold family games, home decor items, and much more! Very functional. I love the natural beam we added under the TV as well.

Before

After

One of my favorite pieces of furniture in our home is this piano. A friend of ours was getting rid of it and I jumped at the opportunity to take it off her hands. It’s what I’ve always envisioned for our home. Myself and the kids play on it often.

This sofa has been worth every penny. We went with a lovesac sactional and it is amazing! We LOVE it! Stains easily come off and it’s super cozy. It’s a family favorite for sure. I told my husband, you buy whatever couch you want because the bedroom is mine when I need a break from living in a home full of boys. 😉 I kid.. I love my boys.. But I do love my quiet time just a tad too. 😉

Clear Vase | Eucalyptus Stems | Basket | Candle Stick | Blue Frame | Black/White Framed Photo | Small White Vases | Black Decor Knot | Chanel Coffee Table Book | Black/White Coffee Table Books | Wall Basket | Black Books | Faux Plant | Faux Plant on Piano | Coffee Table Basket | Framed Art | Rectangle Basket | Wood Bead Garland | Wooden Vases | Wicker Basket | Black Mirror | White Throw Pillow | Navy Throw Pillow

Master Bedroom

Let’s head into our Master, which is just off the kitchen to the left. I like our bedroom to be calming, neutral, and bright. We really didn’t change a thing in here from our old home. We brought everything over and it fit perfectly. 🙂

Mirrors | Mirrored Vanity | Vanity Chair | Lamp | Lamp Shade | Bed | Dresser | Sheets | Linen Duvet | Quilt & Shams | Accent Pillow | Wall Vases | Faux Magnolia Stems | Rug | Faux Plants | Makeup Mirror

Master Bathroom

Our master bath isn’t the biggest bathroom but it has everything we need and works just fine. I just had to get creative with under-sink organization. The original builders had picked out neutral, bright colors to work with and I just added a pop of color here and there.

Towel Holder | Towels | Bathtub Tray | Hand Towels | Full Length Mirror | Framed Art | Framed Art 2 | Framed Art 3 | Vase | Faux Greenery

Thank you for joining me on this virtual home tour! Through thoughtful planning and meticulous attention to detail, our home has been transformed into a sanctuary that truly reflects who we are as a family. I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into our space and feel inspired to infuse your own home with creativity, personality, and love. Whether you’re embarking on a renovation project or simply dreaming of future possibilities, remember that home is where the heart is, and it’s the little touches that make it truly special.