Sold!

We can't wait to call our Rome "Home Sweet Home"!  This summer has been full of exciting changes for our family and yesterday we were able to put the SOLD sign on the lot where we are going to build our new home.  After recently moving back to Virginia, starting two new jobs and moving in with the in laws (my hubby's parents) it is a dream come true to have a picture of our destination in this journey.  This blog is also a bit of a change as it is my first one and I initially thought it crazy to even be reading the blogs about everyone's experiences with home building.  But after extensively reading many of the Rome blogs that are out there and even meeting a fellow Rome blogger (you know who you are!)- I couldn't resist the urge to recount our family's experience with building our new Ryan Home.  

Our home search started long before we even moved to Virginia so when we were finally able to relocate to be closer to family, my husband and I both knew exactly what we wanted in our next home.  Some of the requirements included a 2 car garage, a front porch, a laundry ROOM (not just one of the closets that you open- if the house didn't have that it was off the list no matter what other amenities that it had), a large master suite (with LOTS of closet space- mainly for all my shoes and all of his gray polos), a study and of course, a great kitchen with a large pantry.  The list was quite extensive (and pretty specific).  After dragging our kids to countless open houses and visiting a number of builders, we were ecstatic to find that the Rome 99.9% of everything that we were looking for.  Plus- my brother and sister in law have a Ryan Home and they love it too!

We are just in the preliminary stages of deciding on the options but we are well on our way to creating the home that works best for us.  Some of the things that we know we are getting right now-

-the Up Upgraded bathroom (my husband thinks it funny that I call it that instead of the Owners Bathroom Type E w/ soaking tub & shower Alternate layout- Can't waste words honey!)

-Morning Room with Gourmet Island

-One of our non standard requests: french glass doors from the family room into the study

-Elevation E (can't have rocking chairs without a front porch!)

-Side car garage (this was something that we REALLY wanted but was also included in the neighborhood specifications so YAY! for the side car garage credit!).

-Partial stone (also included with the side car garage).  I'm thinking something similar to this color palette.

I'll include more of the options later, but I wanted to thank all you bloggers- especially my fellow Romers for all of the helpful tips and stories about your experiences.  It has helped us decide on several options and given us great ideas for our own Rome Sweet Home.