Builder grade homes are built with function and efficiency in mind but don’t necessarily factor in unique elements that make the space uniquely yours. With that being said, builder grade homes can be viewed as a simple clean (often with a solid, consistent palette throughout) slate to add your custom touches too. It’s not too costly to make a few simple changes to make your builder grade home feel more and cozy through incorporating modern design elements.
Knobs, Pulls & Bathroom Hardware
Often times, builder grade homes are finished with pretty standard, common knobs and pulls. New, sleek knobs & pulls immediately add personality and can make your cabinets, drawers and doors feel custom. Adding something unexpected, like these unique hammered knobs below (left photo) from Crate & Barrel can really break up the space and draw in the eye. The photo on the right showing the ‘Gemma’ bathroom hardware set from Anthropologie is an example of a luxurious bathroom, hardware upgrade that would immediately make your bathroom feel more high end and luxurious. Try pairing new bathroom hardware with new coordinating mirrors and/or faucets.
Architectural Elements
If you’re looking for bigger impact changes, architectural elements such as wainscoting, bead board, slat walls or crown molding. For example, the photo below (on the left) from Within the Grove, exhibits her DIY slat wall which adds so much depth and warmth to the space. Within the Grove also describes the step by step instructions for executing this DIY yourself. In addition, Angela Rose Home has a great DIY instructional (pictured on the right below) for a Board and Batten wall project. Board and Batten adds major visual impact and sophistication to any space. Not only do these architectural additions at elegance to your space, but also more depth, making the space feel high end. Above all, adding any of these architectural additions to your space will bring personality & character to the space, separating it from that standard, builder grade feel.
Light Fixtures
This builder grade swap may feel obvious, but often times upgrading light fixtures can be an option that’s overlooked. The addition of a large scale, bold chandelier, unique pendant lights, or even swapping out the semi-flush mount lights in each room for something more sleek or unique can make a huge impact. For example, this Arren Black Flush Mount Light with Milk Round Shade from Crate & Barrel feature in the left image below, is a great swap for the typical builder grade ‘boob-light”. As an added bonus they’re under $100 each. The image in the middle below feature Nodes Large Linear Chandelier from Lulu & Georgia. Check out the bold Nodes Chandelier in the blogger Me& Mr. Jones’ dining room. The light fixture, while an investment piece, is worth its weight in gold as a it provides a huge impact to the space. The built-in feel of light fixtures make them feel like anchors to the space and therefore alter the overall feel of any room.
House Numbers
Changing out the builder grade home look is can also be done by starting from the outside, in. Especially in housing developments, everyone has the same font and metal finish of house numbers. Swapping out your house numbers for numbers that emanate your own personal flare is actually a very budget friendly swap. Almost always, upgrading your house numbers to a larger size can instantly modernize and refresh the look. To find something especially unique, you can even look to Etsy for some options. Our current favorite house numbers are these (shown in the left image below) Aurele 6″ Matte Black House Numbers from CB2. This gorgeous representation of modern, bold house number on the right hand side photo below executed both style and function with their house number selection. The added light above the numbers elevates the look even further. Get creative and we encourage you to select something bold, just be sure to follow the fire departments guidelines to ensure your house numbers can easily be seen in case of emergency.
Faucets
Switching out faucets with more character are a great way to upgrade your builder grade home bathrooms, kitchen & laundry room. There are so many options on the market for faucets, selecting one with a bold, sculptural shape will help set your home apart from the other builder grade homes. You can even consider adding a mixed metal element to your home wand coordinating the faucet with just the light fixtures or just the knobs & pulls and using a different (and complimentary) metal for the other hardware. The faucets featured in the Studio McGee Kitchen below is from Kallista and is a stunning example of a faucet that draws attention and upgrades the space.
Mirrors
Mirrors can be an overlooked detail in bathrooms as they feel like a permanent part of the space. However, it’s not too hard to DIY or take a quick bit of a contractors time to swap them out for something more special and unique. Replacing the typical large rectangular borderless bathroom mirrors with something like an arched or circular mirror with metal or wood border detail will make the space feel more customized and elevated. In the left photo below, is the Joan Lucite and Brass Arched Mirror from Anthropologie. This mirror is a beautiful example of a modern mirror with character and charm. Or you could opt for a double mirror look, like the picture on the right, below. When replacing builder grade mirrors for something with a more custom feel, shoot for something special with plenty of charm.
Paint
This may seem like an obvious upgrade, but there’s a specific method to using paint to upgrade your builder grade home for a more custom look. Painting only an accent wall can give off a cheap DIY look, but selecting a room to paint, using a sophisticated color and painting not only the walls, but also the ceiling provides a more polished professional look. This is also known as color drenching. Below are two modern, cozy examples of color drenching. One the left is a beautiful nursery with a Dusty Plaster Pink from Farrow & Ball. This will upgrade your builder grade home in a huge way, as different color selections can elegant moodiness in the space.
Takeaway
These builder grade to custom look swaps range from projects that affordable to projects that are slightly more of an investment. Regardless, even the more budget friendly swaps can add major personality to your space. In addition to these ideas, consider adding statement furniture pieces and and large art pieces to give your space a fresh, contemporary feel. Also, don’t forget to mix and match different textures and materials, such as metal and wood, to create a unique blend of cozy and modern. By incorporating these elements, you can transform your builder-grade home into a cozy and modern space that feels uniquely yours.
