Most Anticipated Upgrade

[justmed]

So, I was speaking with my wife about this last night. This will be our first house, and we're renting in a basement now so being above ground is upgrad enough:D

I think personally, Im most looking forward to the plasma ready wall, I love the nice clean look of a hanging TV and it saves spaces.

Close second is a natural gas line to the outside for our BBQ. I hate running out of propane when people are over.

Close third is the hardwood flooring we chose in the main floor

:)

[Hespeler Boy]

The upgrades I'm looking forward to are the rounded corner beads, followed by the door to the garage, and then possibly a soaker tub in the master ensuite, but I'm not sure if you can get that upgrade in a town home?

[smartsexystylish]

I can't wait to get into my upgraded master ensuite soaker tub, walk around bare foot on my beautiful hardwood (on the main floor) and look at my LCD TV on my plasma niche over the gas fireplace!

We too got the additional gas line to the backyard and we just purchased an awesome gas bbq (Best time to buy is NOW if you don't have one FYI!!!)

And the interior door to the garage is a huge PLUS!

I am also big on light and I cannot wait to have my BOW window in the great room =)

That's all I can think of at the moment =)

[justmed]

oh yeah... forgot about the door to the garage, thats an awesome one we went with too.

Hespeler, I cant remember about the soaker tub but I believe there was an upgrade for that in the townhouses, you're in luck

[babymaeby]

Having a backyard does it for me! I can't wait to get out of this little 2 bedroom apt with NO outdoor space...but close 2nd, the gas fireplace in the great room.

Good question!

[Style]

Well let me see! A fourth bedroom for guests is nice! A Plasma niche above the fireplace is great as well! Hardwood on main floor with a Oak staircase, upgraded ensuite with soaker tub, but the best upgrade I think is the Granite that my wife chose for our kitchen! We had our design appointment and I think everything is gonna look really sharp!:)

[K.C.]

The upgrade I'm most anticipating is having Niagara Falls in my shower! We have this custom vertical spa being put into our Frameless Clear Glass Shower http://www.moen.ca/products/275

We're also having Mattamy build a bathroom with super shower in the basement for our son. The basement shower will also include the Niagara Falls option!

K.C.

[jrb]

Most anticipated Upgrade.................

Well.....it depends on budget..........LOL.........My wish list is always getting bigger and right now I am guessing at pricing on upgrades based on what people have said in the Milton Board........Below is everything I am looking forward too.....LOL

Hard wood floors on main level
Fireplace, plasma ready
Upgraded stair case, banister....[not sure if oak or maple] but i know i dont want carpet on the stairs......
Flat ceilings on main level, no stucco
Pot lights
Cornice moldings
Door to garage
Soaker tub in main bath......
Under cupboard lighting
Backsplash in kitchen

Those are the main things......LOL............not sure if the budget can afford all of that....LOL

[Style]

Jrb sounds nice! Mattamy must of given you some money towards upgrades anyway! With the money we got it covered our all OAK staircase without the stain of course or the upgraded rails and pickets we chose! Im sure everyone wishes they had unlimited money to spend but its better to upgrade the things that are too hard to do later! Alot of stuff is better to do after market as its cheaper! Good luck and your design guide and day will come before you know it!

[jrb]

Style, thanks for the reminder about the upgrade allowance from Mattamy. I keep forgetting that.........LOL..................I think I have $2,000 to use at the upgrade center from Mattamy.

I am thinking of using oak hard wood on first floor. I like the maple, but people keep telling me Oak will hide scratches more than maple. In addition, the colour I like for the hardwood, looks nicier on the oak than on the maple.

I am just not sure if I should use a oak stair case to match flooring material or go with maple...........LOL........

I bought a Southgate End, the stair case is a central feature when you walk in that model so I want it to look good. I want a "square" post at base of stairs as i think that looks better than what the builder uses. I am just not sure of cost.

My guess is an oak or maple staircase will be $2500.00 plus 1000. for stain.......Then the upgraded rail and pickets....LOL.............

[Style]

Jrb, A All Oak staircase in my opinion is well worth the money and looks beautiful, plus it isnt really something that you can do easily afterwards. Your prices may be close but just as a ballpark figure we bought a Victoria 34 foot detached and prices were 2595 for all oak staircase with upgraded 1 and three quarter inch posts and handrail. The price to stain the stairs we decided to match it to the Dundee oak expresso we are getting on the main floor is 975 that includes all the stairs ie stringers,risers and the handrails and posts! So that 1000 would cover all your staining maybe alittle cheaper for your model!
On another side note if you decided to go with the posts they have as standard but upgrade to the square posts which costs in our plan 111 then you could get the all oak staircase for around 1632 plus the cost of stain. To me If you like the included handrail and just wanna change the posts pay the 111 and go for the 1632 staircase then pay the around 975 to stain the stairs and handrails and posts!
Oak is better if you have pets or young kids as it does hide scratches easier, It has a more grain like look! Maple staircases are around 500 more but I personally prefer the oak look as I have a gorgeous one in my current house!

if your curious about certain prices just send me a shoutout and I will quote you our price. It may be a little higher then yours but it will give you a ballpark figure! When you get your design guide it is overwhelming and exciting.But everything costs and its best to save the money as there are alot of very nice upgrades available.But like I said its easier to upgrade the harder ones now and get the smaller ones done cheaper aftermarket! Good luck!:)

[jrb]

Hi Style,

Maybe we need a thread for design questions.....LOL

One question on your staircase........

I like the look of white pickets, riser and stringer and the tread stained. Have you known anyone who did the staircase that way?

I am wondering if having all the stair case, risers, treads, stringers pickets and handrails stained......it would be too much.......or is that a better look than what i described?

[Style]

It depends on personal preference! I like it to all be as closely matched to my hardwood as possible! The other option is also beautiful as well and white does go with anything! the only think I dont like is having a carpet runner on your stairs! It takes away from the stairs being the focal point and also I didnt want anyone driving staples through my hardwood to hold teh runner in place! Look in a few house designing magazines or online to get the true look of what you want!
if you go hardwood on the main floor i would also suggest around 3/4 inch thick so that way down the road it can be sanded and stained again! We went with the 2 and a quarter by 3/4 inch Dundee hardwood!

My Wife liked the look of the white pickets and risers and I was warming up to the thought but I went with what flowed with my hardwood!

[jrb]

Hi Style,

So, did you put a runner on the stairs.................I agree it can take away the look of the stairs. It is a shame to spend a few thousand on an upgraded stair case to cover it with a runner.

Everytime I watch a TV show now I am looking at the staircase.....LOL.......I am partial to the white pickets, riser etc and stained treads but I will have to give it more thought.........I also want a square post at base of stairs not the turned one that the builder uses.............

I am sure you can buy some beautiful runners at a good carpet store. I am not sure how much dammage would be done to the stair case by not using a runner. I wonder if there is any other option to installing a runner besides staples?

[Style]

No we didnt go with the runner and our current stairs arent covered either and they still look great with a pet and 2 young kids!
For the money you spend you want to show it off not cover it up! The white risers and pickets would look very nice

[BrianNSara]

ill take this one lol...




but it would also have to come with them >>>


but on a serious note. I like wood staircase's but i don't want to have this over them....

[Style]

Looks very Sharp! Good choice!

[K.C.]

but on a serious note. I like wood staircase's but i don't want to have this over them....

We currently have a really nice all wood staircase with a runner on it. It's a pain to clean it because you have to both vacuum it and dust the side parts with a wet cloth. I hate it so much I'm going with all carpet stairs in the new house. All wood is kind of slippery if you're absent minded like me. I have to run down the stairs every day for the couriers because I work at home. One slip and I'm toast on all wood.

[jrb]

great pic of the wooden stairs with white risers. I love that look............I would really like to duplicate that in my townhouse..................When my family see it they will say OMG you painted white over oak..........LOL

[K.C.]

I like that look too. Oak is kind of grainy ... I think the white punches it up and makes it softer. You should get exactly what you like and ignore everybody else. It works for me. :)

[babymaeby]

lol - just don't wear a skirt when walking up that staircase - yikes!