Blog Post

The best part of buying a new home is you get to choose the features and finishes to fit your personal style and lifestyle!  Making these decisions can be stressful, but at Cornerstone Homes we make it easy, exciting and fun. These “finishes” refer to items that are the finishing touches of the home – cabinets, flooring, countertops, faucets, lighting and more. 

Cornerstone has a variety of resources to help you with the “finishing” options selection process.  We have model homes that feature various products, a design studio, and a dedicated Design Consultant who will be with you every step of the way!  This person will offer guidance on selecting options for your lifestyle, what items do or do not go well together, pricing and more.  

Choosing the details of your home while staying within your budget may seem overwhelming.   Lori Melton, our experienced design consultant, will get to know you , what you’re looking for and what is important to you, making this personalized process as easy and stress-free as possible.  With her experience and “eye” for details, she will  make sure your decisions will bring you happiness for years to come!  Here are some tips from Lori to make your design appointment easy,  breezy and fun:

Start a Lookbook: Think of this as the most fun homework assignment you’ve ever received. A lookbook is a collection of photos that you put together to draw inspiration.   Browse sites like Pinterest, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, or whichever publication catches your eye! Create a folder of photos on your desktop or print them out to start visualizing exactly what you want.  Bring them with you and share with Lori! 

Write Out Your Must-Haves: When it comes to your dream forever home, you most likely have a few “must-haves” that are non-negotiable. Whether it’s white kitchen cabinets, quartz countertops, brushed nickel finishes, dark hardwood floors, beige tile, and more, make sure to keep a list.  You will find that Cornerstone offers so many choices to fit every lifestyle. 

Stick To The Timeline:The building process is truly an incredible combination of many moving parts. Selecting options is time-sensitive as it could impact how quickly your home gets built. Be sure to stay in communication with Lori on the necessary timing for options meetings.  

When it comes to your design appointment, one of the ways you can help yourself (and your team) is to stick to the schedule — which means prioritizing your appointment over other commitments that can be moved, and working with Lori to make your decisions on time. This will allow the rest of your process to be smooth sailing!

Know Your Budget: If you go into your design appointment with a clear idea of what you’re hoping to spend (and how flexible you can be), you can make the best use of your time and feel confident with all of your choices. As an expert design consultant who works with budgets of all sizes, Lori will make sure to take you through all of the options that fit, so you can be sure that you’re not missing out on anything.

Get a Head Start: The early bird catches the worm, right? Before your design appointment, you can visit the design center all on your own or attend one of our casual, “Wine and Design” events and browse with your future neighbors and Cornerstone staff.   Spending time in the design center will help you get familiar with all  our options as well as help you visualize the choices that you’re not sure of just yet. After all, there’s nothing more fun than a “sneak peek” to get a head start on your selections. Bonus tip: tour a model home again!

Have Fun: Go into your design appointment with one word in mind — fun. This part of the process is all about creating the heart and soul of your home, and we want it to be enjoyable from beginning to end. Dress comfortably, feel confident in your choices, keep an open mind, and start bringing your dream home to life! 

Not only will Lori assist you, but will be a valuable resource of information about design trends, materials, products, prices for your personal needs and budget. And with little bit of preparation, you can rest assured that this experience will be the start of many new adventures in this next chapter.  

 From all of us at Cornerstone Homes, happy designing!