May The Best Home Win – part 3 – Storing Aspects

Here in installment #3 of our comparison of three top-selling one-story home plans around 1,600 square feet in size, we turn to Storing, another of the four “lenses” that home buyers report using to evaluate a home’s livability.  At Design Basics, we have learned the three keys to storage are: sufficient square footage devoted to storage; locating storage right where it is needed; and maximizing storage with organizational amenities.

Bedroom Closets.  At 37 lineal feet, (based on double rods and shelves) the Shelton Farm’s Suite walk-in closet offers the most storage, compared to 32 lineal feet for the Locklear and a surprising 31 lineal feet for the Jensen Falls.  More than adequate closet space feels so good!  Having walk-in closets in bedrooms 2 and 3, the Shelton Farm also easily outscores the two other homes in terms of closet accommodations for secondary bedrooms.

Kitchen. All three homes offer walk-in pantries, but at 6’-2” x 4’-9”, the Locklear’s pantry provides the most storage potential.  Being 7-feet long, the Shelton Farm’s island has room for a pull-out wastebasket/recycling drawer next to the sink.  Unencumbered by a sink and dishwasher, the Locklear provides the most island storage.

GARAGE. The Locklear’s 3-car garage is the deepest of these homes, offering the most storage potential.  The Jensen Falls’ standard third garage stall often becomes added storage in many households.  The Shelton Farm’s basic 2-car garage has minimal storage space.

LAUNDRY.  The Locklear, with the most spacious laundry room of these three designs, also provides the greatest amount of laundry room storage.  The Shelton Farm places shelves or cabinets above the washer and dryer.  No storage in the laundry is shown for the Jensen Falls

With an 11-foot high ceiling, the Jensen Falls can have three rods and shelves, in its suite’s walk-in closet, combining for 31 lineal feet of storage.  Photo courtesy Tailored Living