Jun 23, 2023

Take a Tour of "Cinderella", The Basden Family's Stunning Granbury

Experiencing the process of building your dream home and watching it come to life is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This experience came to life for the Basden family, who designed and built a stunning Granbury E home on their family property in Fayette County. With a navy exterior, a wraparound porch, and a spacious kitchen, this home is an absolute dream come true. Join us as Ann Basden takes us on a tour, and fills us in on the creative customizations that transformed this house into a home.

The Basden family began their process at Tilson's Katy office, working alongside Eric McKiernan. The Basdens knew they wanted a farmhouse-style home with enough space to accommodate their family, as well as additional rooms for friends and family. They had built a home before, but they knew this would be their Forever Home. With their list of must-haves and don't-wants ready to go, they dove into the process, taking their time scouring all of the available floor plans, until they found the perfect one: the Granbury. With help from Eric, they began customizing the floor plan to meet their needs. After starting construction on the home, the Basden family's construction superintendent, Jonathan Bass, lovingly named the home "Cinderella" for her gorgeous blue exterior. He frequently referred to their closing date as getting Cinderella to the Ball, and the name has stuck with the home long after closing.

Inspiration from Tilson's Model Homes

They toured the model homes at the Boerne Design Center for more inspiration and incorporated bits and pieces from each model they saw into their own home. The kitchen cabinetry was inspired by the Breckenridge and Fredericksburg models, and the stone arch at the cooktop and at the front of their island was inspired by the kitchen stonework in the La Salle, the Fredericksburg, the Breckenridge, and the San Jacinto models.

Customizations to the Home

The Basdens made some incredible customizations to their home, starting with adding stone bases to each of the cedar posts on the front porch. When you enter the home, you'll notice that the foyer isn't open to the second story like the standard model - the Basdens chose to floor it in to create a flex space upstairs. They wanted a formal dining room, so they converted the study into a dining room and bumped out the front wall to make sure it could accommodate the dining table and chairs they already had. To keep the exterior of the home symmetrical, Ann's closet was also bumped out to match. This additional square footage was added by removing some square footage from the porch, so the footprint of the home didn't change.

A massive pantry was created in the space underneath the stairs - where the original powder bathroom was located - with custom shelving that allows for plenty of space for canned goods and staple food items. The powder bath was relocated to the original pantry location, and a drop zone was added by the door to the breezeway, leading to the detached garage. They wanted to create a bar area off of the kitchen, so additional counter space and cabinetry, including a wine rack and space for an under-cabinet refrigerator, were added to the breakfast area. They chose the cathedral ceiling in the living room that extends onto the rear covered porch, both of which they extended even further. A beautiful outdoor wood-burning fireplace was added to the rear of the back porch, with a full-stone face.

The couple plans to age in place in their new home, so throughout the home, doorways were widened, grab bars were added in the master bathroom, along with a roll-in shower featuring a seat and additional grab bars. and all of the cabinets were raised to 36" tall. Last but not least, they chose the alternate utility room, which moves the utility to be adjacent to the master closet, directly across from the stairway.

Selecting the Colors

The Basden family attended their color selection appointment with their daughter, who flew in from Los Angeles to offer her expertise. Ann knew she wanted to steer away from the popular white farmhouse look, opting instead for Sherwin Williams "In the Navy" for the exterior siding color. For the interior, they decided on a neutral color palette, featuring dark kitchen cabinets, white bathroom and utility cabinets, beautiful quartz countertops, and gray-toned luxury vinyl plank flooring. Personal touches were added throughout the home through deco tile selections and accent walls, reflecting the couple's personality.

Additional Features

The master bedroom in the home is a sight to behold, with large windows that flood the room with natural light. Located adjacent to the master bedroom is the utility room, which adds an element of convenience. On the second story of the home, a bonus room allows a place for the kids to hang out, along with extra bedrooms down the hall for friends and family who come to stay. Additionally, a kitchenette stocked with snacks and beverages sits across from the created flex space to ensure a comfortable stay. This home truly goes to show Tilson Homes' commitment to providing customized solutions for nearly every aspect of the homeowner's needs.

From the custom cabinetry to the color palette to the bonus room and the detached garage, the Basden family's dream home is the ultimate example of how Tilson Homes can create a personalized solution that is both practical and beautiful. If you're looking to fulfill your own dream of building a home on your land that is ideally suited to your lifestyle, then Tilson Homes is the right choice. Contact us today to explore your options and begin the journey toward your dream home!