Keystone Blog
Quick answer: To prepare for the design phase of building a custom home, homeowners recommend five things: keep a written list of questions, tour model homes in person, attend a Design Studio open house (the first Tuesday of every month exclusively at our Design Studio in Lancaster, PA), communicate and compromise with your partner, and arrive at your design meeting with a plan and an open mind.
The design phase is where your custom home really starts to feel like yours. It's also where the details add up fast: cabinets, countertops, fixtures, finishes, and a hundred little decisions in between. So who better to learn from than homeowners who just went through it?
We asked Keystone Custom Homes homeowners currently in the design process to share what helped them most while designing their new home. Here are their five biggest takeaways for anyone entering the design phase of the home building process.
Their number one tip? Ask lots of questions, and don't trust your memory. This couple kept a running spreadsheet of questions and reminders so nothing slipped through the cracks. With so many custom options to consider, having a written list means every meeting with your team is productive and nothing gets forgotten.
Homeowner recommendation: Start a shared document or spreadsheet the day you sign. Add questions as they come to you, and bring the list to every appointment.
Nothing prepares you for design decisions like walking through finished homes. These homeowners toured every model home in their area, asked their New Home Advisors plenty of questions, and even chatted with neighbors in the communities they visited.
They didn't stop there. They turned model home visits into day trips, driving a couple of hours to see homes with specific design elements they were curious about. Seeing a feature in person told them far more than a photo ever could.
Homeowner recommendation: Make a list of the design elements you're considering, then find model homes that showcase them, even if it means a road trip.
The Keystone Custom Homes Lancaster Design Studio hosts an open house on the first Tuesday of every month, and these homeowners called it one of the most important steps in their journey. Walking through the studio let them see finishes, fixtures, cabinets, and countertops together in person, and it changed their minds on selections they thought they'd locked in from pictures alone. If you are browsing from a distance, we have virtual tours of all of our Design Studios here.
Bonus: seeing everything ahead of time took a lot of the nerves out of their official design meeting.
Homeowner recommendation: Visit an open house before your design meeting. Seeing options in person is often the deciding factor, and it helps you walk in calm and confident.
If you're building a home with anyone else, such as a partner, family members, or a co-buyer, you'll be blending different tastes and opinions. Talk through every choice, and find a happy medium. If one person makes a sacrifice on one selection, the other gives a little somewhere else. That give-and-take is how a home comes together as a reflection of everyone who lives in it.
Homeowner recommendation: Treat design decisions as a team sport. Agree upfront on how you'll handle disagreements so the process stays fun.
Waiting for your design meeting? Use that time well. These homeowners suggest visiting your local hardware store to look at similar cabinets and finishes and experiment with combinations. It's an easy, low-pressure way to start visualizing your home.
Then, when your design meeting arrives, show up with a plan and an open mind. The Design Studio is beautifully staged with plenty of inspiration, so having a direction keeps you focused while leaving room to discover options you'll love.
Homeowner recommendation: Mix and match finishes at a hardware store, attend an open house if one falls before your meeting, and arrive with a plan, but stay open to what you see.
Keep a running list or spreadsheet of questions, tour model homes to see design elements in person, attend a Design Studio open house before your design meeting, browse cabinets and finishes at a local hardware store, and arrive at your design meeting with a plan and an open mind.
The Design Studio, specifically in Lancaster, hosts an open house on the first Tuesday of every month. Homeowners under contract or those interested in the process can walk through and see cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and finishes together in person before their official design meeting.
Yes. Homeowners say touring model homes was one of the most valuable ways to prepare. Seeing finishes in person, rather than in photos, often changes selections, and asking New Home Advisors and community neighbors questions builds confidence.
Communicate throughout the process and find a happy medium. If one person compromises on one selection, the other gives a little on another. Agreeing upfront on how to handle differing opinions keeps the design phase enjoyable.
Visit a local hardware store to view similar cabinets and finishes, and attend a Design Studio open house if one falls before your meeting. Both help you visualize your home and walk in with a plan.
The design phase is one of the most exciting parts of building a custom home, and a little preparation goes a long way. Find a community near you, stop by a Design Studio open house on the first Tuesday of the month in Lancaster, PA, and bring your questions. If you are new to the home build process, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Get started with an appointment with a New Home Advisor in your community of interest. Call 717-368-9831, start a live chat, or email info@keytstonecustomhome.com.
Welcome to your MyKeystone account! Save your favorites, get personalized recommendations, and more!
No, I Want to Keep Viewing Homes