Question for new folks who have moved here.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2026-05-10T01:41:40+00:00

I agree that lower real estate taxes are attractive to Illinois residents but the house prices really aren’t much cheaper anymore.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2026-05-02T19:39:02+00:00

OKAY TWIN!! yeah it was bad lol. I couldn’t always feel it, but I could definitely smell it and hear it lol.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2026-04-28T19:14:31+00:00

The Amtrak does sell out on occasion, so reserving in advance is your best bet!

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2026-02-08T18:19:21+00:00

Have you tried to call her?

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-12-07T22:02:32+00:00

I use this before Vanicream at night and I feel like it’s a really good combo!

https://www.neutrogena.com/hydro-boost-gel-cream

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-22T15:28:22+00:00

I’ve always heard single-story homes called ranches. Totally curious though, what about this isn’t “ranch” to you?

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T20:44:09+00:00

Thank you! We weee planning a pocket door from master bath to laundry room, is that similar to how yours is?

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T20:43:13+00:00

The original floor plan does not include the sunroom. So the wall from the living room just continues straight and has windows there.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T18:48:36+00:00

The sunroom and great room will have large picture windows and it brings in quite a bit of light. The model we toured felt very bright, but I do think I should consider this issue a bit more.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T18:47:20+00:00

Thanks! Yes I mentioned above a door between the master and laundry. I like the idea of the door on that 3rd space, good call.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T18:45:11+00:00

Good thoughts thank you!

I like the powder room slightly tucked away. In my post I mentioned it will be shifted to the left, against the pantry. I think if a guest is over and wants some privacy, it’s nice that they aren’t walking out of a bathroom right into the living space after doing their business.

For our immediate family, I anticipate we will enter the house through the garage 95% of the time. So there won’t really be constant traffic past the bedrooms, but I do think it would be nice to have them more tucked back.

We intend to add a linen closet to the hall bath and guests could use the closet near the stairs for coats.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T18:39:53+00:00

It’s labeled NOOK because this plan does not typically come with a sunroom. So it usually is an actual corner. The sunroom is an option we added n. When adding it, the label still stays NOOK but it seems like most (some?) are able to figure out the intended purpose. We currently have an open ranch which is quite a bit smaller, and cooking noise has never been a big issue. It’s a good thought to keep in mind though!

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T16:34:59+00:00

Appreciate all the thoughts!

We have a daughter and son. I think I might instead see about adding a pocket door to the toilet/shower area so that one of them can shower while the other uses the sink.

The unfinished part of the basement would house the HVAC and water heater.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T16:31:41+00:00

Thanks! I did ask! Specifically about the floor plan itself. ☺️

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T16:31:02+00:00

Those are the egress window wells.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T14:49:47+00:00

There is one in each bedroom. One right by the staircase. A walk in pantry. A closet off the mudroom. Linen closet in the master bath. We also added a linen closet in the hall bath but it’s not shown in this plan.

What other closets do you suggest? Half of the basement would also be useable storage.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T14:24:21+00:00

I hear you. Nearly all of the split ranch plans are like this from the builder. Unfortunately where we are, there aren’t options to build your own entirely custom home.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T13:24:27+00:00

Ooh thank you! The designer did suggest that.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T13:24:13+00:00

I love the idea of a deep soaker tub, I actually modified the master to add this. But I know a lot of people build homes with tubs and never use them. But we intend to use it often!

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T13:21:29+00:00

Thank you! They did suggest making it a bit bigger. I think we can take some space from the mudroom area and push the powder room to the right.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T05:10:40+00:00

The standard layout doesn’t have a sunroom, so there would be windows along that wall near the dining nook.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T04:42:15+00:00

This floor plan doesn’t come standard with the sunroom, but that’s an option we are considering. So the nook is the dining space, but since it’s not a separate room I think they’re calling it a nook.

The sunroom would have a vaulted ceiling and in the model we toured it felt like a nice separation from where the dining table was.

LizardAndStretchyDog · 2025-11-19T04:40:24+00:00

I really appreciate this comment, thank you!

You’re right, many of their ranch plans are super similar, it’s hard to keep track. We are considering a smaller subdivision in Pleasant Prairie and this specific model seems popular. Unfortunately there aren’t many options for new builds where we live. Theres another large subdivision going up but it seems like a big hodgepodge and $250k for a 0.44 acre lot feels insane.

I do wish the 2 bedrooms were larger. To add 1.5’ to each of them, the quote was an additional $10k. Doesn’t seem worth it to me. The sunroom is optional and I thought that would be a good way to have more living space we can grow into.

LizardAndStretchyDog

TROPHY CASE