Here is a little backstory of my love affair with M/I Homes: In 2015 Will and I were on the hunt for the right home for our family. We had needs and wants but we also had a budget (gets you every time). We knew we wanted to build and were pretty set on location; however, the builder was up in the air. We toured and toured model home after model home, spec home after spec home until one fateful day, on my own, I walked into the M/I model home (knowing they were new to our area) and called Will before I even made it back to my car. I told him, "this builder fits in line with our style and budget perfectly, and they have several floor plans we can work with". Looking at their website we were able to locate all of their model homes in our area and we visited every single one (trust me, we were known in the M/I community after our tour of homes). We met with Ursula, our amazing sales rep, and were thrilled with the possibilities M/I could provide us with. If you have ever built a home you know that the term "base price" should be used VERY loosely. With M/I Homes we were pleasantly surprised they were not the norm. Now, don't get me wrong, Will and I did some big upgrades (third car garage, turning a half bath into a full, and making an office a bedroom) and some minor upgrades (hardwood tile throughout, customizing tile work in kitchen and baths, etc...). But, a lot of the wow factors were base price options with M/I (i.e.: 42" custom cabinets, 8 ft. doors, tankless water heaters, covered patios, 5 1/4" baseboards, granite counter tops throughout, etc..). This, along with their well deisgned floor plan options and aesthetics made it the perfect fit for our family. Their website says it perfectly, "each home has been built with uncompromising quality, innovative design and enduring value in the best, most desirable locations possible. M/I Homes believes the more you know about the home building and buying process, the more comfortable you'll be."
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We made several design upgrade choices when we were building because we knew that some things our builder would not be able to accomplish with the restrictions they have placed on them (they aren't custom builders but are incredible none the less). In our Master Bath (and all the other baths for that matter) we had them put clips on the mirror as opposed to glue so it could be easily removed and replaced with something more aesthetically appealing. Unscrewing a few clips makes for a much easier removal than ripping glued drywall, trust me. **Side Note** Something you will learn about me, I like to test the waters. I get a vision/plan and feel confident but like trying things in small doses before I over commit (I recommend this to my clients as well, "Oh, you love this pattern? Well, let's use it in some throw pillows or a piece of art before we commit your entire house to it"). Now, don't get me wrong, I love a blood pattern and am NOT afraid to use it. Just remember that trends are just that, trends. They are not timeless classics and you will eventually tire of them.**Side Note Over** When we did our brick wall in the mudroom it was all in preparation to try in the bathroom. So, that brings me to our latest update. We bought a few more sheets of our favorite faux brick paneling and used the same Sherwin Williams paint from the previous DIY and we were ready to go! After removing the mirror, we installed the brick paneling. Using an air compressed nail gun made for a quick install (aside from cutting holes for the light fixtures)! After that, we trimmed it and caulked the seams to create a cleaner look. Next, we removed the original lights and installed the new ones that I had ordered. I found some great black mirrors at Home Goods that fit the space perfectly. The price and style were just what I was looking for. We had to wait a few days for my marble shelves to arrive but once they did, everything came together. I am so happy with the result and even happier with the cost. Do not be scared to DIY and ditch the builder grade look. You will make your house a home and it will reflect your style. I get emails, messages, calls, and/or texts daily asking if I can help someone with their home. The conversation usually starts like this, " I am not sure what I really need but I need help". So, what do I do? My services vary from client to client and I try to tailor a plan that will suit them best. My services range from simply coming over for a consultation and pointing out easy and quick fixes that will make your space function better and be aesthetically more appealing to a complete shopping trip and installation. So many people know what they like and do not like but have zero direction on how to get there while others are really at a loss. Then there are those with impeccable taste that feel "stuck", they know what they want but have been staring at the space for so long they cannot move forward. I love meeting with clients and creating a plan that suits their needs and finances. Everyone is different and has different needs.
Going from Johnna Hold (hobby) to Johnna Hold Designs (job) was a hard shift mentally. How was I going to put a value on something I truly loved doing? While my calendar is overwhelming at times this transition has been so rewarding. There really is no better feeling than seeing my clients (turned friends) happy and thankful for their new space. My husband has encouraged me to take the leap for YEARS, well, now he is very gracious in his "I told you so's" and constantly encourages me to keep my focus on WHY I am doing what I do. My 8 and 12 year olds are seeing their mom pursue her dreams and they in turn will have courage to pursue theirs. So, what do I do? I answer with, "What do you need". Love, Johnna |
Author: JohnnaHome Stager and Redesigner Archives
May 2018
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