We are going to build a 1500 sq. ft. house w/ a basement soon! I am very excited. It is your typical cookie cutter open floor plan. I was just curious if anyone has any tips for features I could add that would make my life easier.

We have two dogs, and one toddler. We plan to have one more baby down the road after we get settled in again.

• Could you please suggest types of paint you found to work really well for washing walls over and over?
  
• Favorite types of flooring?
  
• Kitchen features that made your life easier (simplified)
  
• or anything else you can think of!!!!!

My fav. flooring is hardwood and we had it in our last house, even in the kitchen. I did get some knicks and scratches over time, but still looked great and felt homey.
Second to that is laminate flooring which seems like a good choice for you considering your family.
If you are able to break up your flooring choices between rooms and still have the flow, do it. That way if the carpet in the den gets mucky, you can replace just that carpet without having to do the entire main floor etc.

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Great tip!! Thanks so much!!!!

Electrical outlets. Put in twice as many as you think you'll need and then a couple more.

ATLEAST two bathrooms. Maybe 2 full ones and one half. I have one.... I need more...

We biult our house 5yrs ago pre~kids. Here is some things I wish I had done differently
*we have a well and we bought a jacuzzi type tub. I regret it. Every time you turn them on the clayish type dirt that has settled comes out, and we even have a filter.
*hardwood floors in high traffic area, not kid friendly, they are all scratched and dented.
*be sure to use primer before you paint, it will save from using so many coats
*we painted with semi gloss and it cleans well

Just a few off hand

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

Bathroom in the basement

recessed lights above your bed with the switch right there so you so not have to have night lights on your nightstands

lots of electrial outlets

hardwood or tile floors- carpet with young kids and animals is a nightmare to keep clean you can always put carpet on top of it when you want later on

soap dispenser in the kitchen sink so you do not have to have soap keep out

lazy susan in the kitchen

Make sure that ALL of the drawers pull completely out - so that you are using all of them and not just the front part- I hated my old house when the drawers only pulled so far out and you had to reach your hand in to get the stuff that was way in the back

sink in the laundrey area

soap dispenser in the kitchen sink so you do not have to have soap keep out- Bluejay


Ohh! I like this one!!!
Good frugle idea too! I could buy the jugs of soap vs. the small dispensers all the time! Sam's club here I come!

That is what I do!!- plus I hate clutter!! Anything that can be hiden away I am all for it!