Rob and Stacy's Split-Bedroom Ranch in North Carolina

A Tour of Plan DFD-12304

When Rob and Stacy set out to build their next home, they knew exactly what they needed: space for their family of four, room for guests, and a layout where everyone could have their own corner of the house without feeling disconnected. They found all of that in DFD-12304, a 2,400-square-foot, split-bedroom ranch they built in the countryside of Lewisville, North Carolina.

They were kind enough to open their doors and walk us through every room, every product they chose, and the lessons they picked up along the way.

Why Rob and Stacy Chose a Split-Bedroom Layout

If you have kids, you know the balancing act: you want to be close enough to keep tabs on everyone, but far enough that bedtime doesn't mean silence for the whole house. That's exactly why the split-bedroom layout was the deciding factor for Rob and Stacy.

"The space is open but private," Rob said. "We really love the layout of the plan. It fits our family. It's important to have all of our own spaces and keep those our unique spaces."

The primary suite sits on one end of the home, with the additional bedrooms and a guest room on the opposite side. Living areas fill the middle, creating a natural buffer between the two wings.

For Stacy, the guest accommodation sealed the deal.

"Our families are from out of town, so we're always encouraging them to come and stay. When they do, we want them to have a comfortable space."

The guest bedroom sits right next to its own bathroom, so visitors have privacy without navigating the rest of the house.

The kids get their own corner too, plus a bonus room above the garage where they have their own space to play and host friends upstairs.

The Plan: DFD-12304 at a Glance

DFD-12304 is a single-story country ranch with 2,400 heated square feet, four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and an open-concept layout. The main living area flows from the foyer through the great room, dining area, and kitchen. Large windows bring in natural light throughout, and the covered outdoor living space extends off the back, making the home feel larger than its footprint.

Modifications: Adding a Bonus Room and Basement

Rob and Stacy originally purchased the single-floor plan. After some discussion, they went back to the designer to add two big modifications.

First was the bonus room above the garage.

"After some back and forth with Stacy and I, we decided we would go with the bonus room upstairs," Rob said. It gives the kids a dedicated hangout space without taking up square footage on the main floor.

Second, an unfinished basement. This one came from their builder's recommendation.

"Our builder said, 'Hey, based on the topography outside, an unfinished basement might be perfect for resale value,'" Rob explained. They added the basement floor plan as a second modification.

Both modifications were handled directly through Direct From The Designers. "The whole process was super seamless," Rob said. "Communication back and forth was amazing."

If you're considering changes to any of our plans, our team offers free estimates on plan modification services.

Modifications: Customizing the Design

DFD-12304 is based on the popular DFD-7698 design, which Rob and Stacy made their own with their build. They made a number of smaller modifications themselves with help from their builder.

On the exterior, you'll notice they adjusted the facade by swapping the center peak over the entry for a shed dormer for a more casual country look. They also added metal roofing eyebrows over the far left and right windows, a small design detail that makes a big impact for curb appeal. Finally, the original plan has indoor-outdoor access for the powder bath in back, but Rob and Stacy chose to remove the exterior door.

Inside, Rob and Stacy preserved the layout of the original design, only making a few adjustments to better suit their tastes. First, the door for the office was moved from the wall it shares with the great room to the hallway with the kids' bedrooms. This streamlines the view from the living space and gives the office a more focused feel. Second, the layout of the primary bathroom was rearranged. The stall shower and toilet closet traded locations across the tub; this allowed them to use the space under the stairs to install a larger shower. The door to the walk-in closet was also moved from between the vanities to one side to create more countertop space.

Product Selections: Exterior

When you're picking exterior products for a new build, the big question is always the same: will this still look good and hold up years from now? Here's what Rob and Stacy went with and why.

James Hardie Siding

"We used James Hardie siding on the exterior because we wanted something that was durable and low-maintenance, but also had an elegant feel and a timeless design," Rob said. Fiber cement siding resists rot, fire, and pests, which matters in North Carolina's humid climate. "The color choices, the superior durability, and the lasting value made them an easy choice."

Owens Corning Roofing

For the roof, they went with Owens Corning shingles. "Between the color options, the industry-leading warranties, and the high-tech durability that the brand is known for, it made it an easy choice," Rob said. Owens Corning's architectural shingles come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Amarr Garage Doors

The garage doors came from Amarr. Rob liked their online design portal, which let them compare colors, features, and styles before committing. "We were really just looking for a trusted brand with a long history of customer satisfaction," he said.

Product Selections: Interior

This is where things get fun. Rob and Stacy mixed brands, finishes, and styles throughout the house, and every choice had a reason behind it.

KitchenAid Appliances

Rob had strong opinions about the kitchen, and the KitchenAid lineup was non-negotiable. Two standouts: a built-in refrigerator with a two-door bottom-mount freezer configuration ("The kids can have all of their frozen stuff in the bottom, and then with a single door up top, you get to maximize all the space.") and a combo microwave-oven stacked vertically. The combo unit keeps the kitchen clean and uncluttered while giving the kids easy microwave access without sacrificing oven space.

Chesapeake Flooring

Stacy chose Chesapeake Flooring's Atlantic collection in Heritage Wharf to use throughout the house. "It was really important for us to find a product that would hold up well and would also hide the mess on those days when we don't get the vacuum out," she said. The engineered hardwood planks are wire-brushed for texture, with a lighter base tone and dark knotty accents that help camouflage everyday wear.

Sherwin-Williams Paint Colors

The entire interior is painted in Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029). "There is a reason why this color is so popular," Stacy said. "It really is the perfect greige." It has warm undertones, and it's versatile enough to work with both light and dark furnishings.

They chose Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore (SW 7069) as an accent color for the fireplace surround, the range hood, under the kitchen island, and a couple of accent walls. "It makes a great bold statement and gives us a lot of really nice contrast against the whites and light colors," Stacy said.

Delta Faucets

Stacy went with Delta Faucets in matte black as the primary finish, with champagne bronze in one of the bathrooms. "I just love the modern, timeless options that we were provided with," she said. They used a few different Delta models across the house, coordinating without being matchy.

Hunter Fan Lighting

For lighting and ceiling fans, they chose Hunter. Stacy picked different styles for different rooms, like clean-lined modern fixtures in the primary bathroom and something "a little more fun and funky" in the boys' bathroom. All fixtures are dimmable.

Graber Window Coverings

Window coverings came from Graber. "Graber is one of the largest in the industry," Rob said. The deciding factor for the kids' rooms was Graber's Certified Best for Kids rating, which eliminates cords and other safety hazards. The brand also carries a limited lifetime warranty.

Dimplex Electric Fireplace

The home is all-electric, so a gas fireplace was out. Rob researched electric options and landed on Dimplex. "We looked at a lot of electric fireplaces. Dimplex was by far the most realistic," he said. It provides heat and ambiance without requiring gas lines or venting.

The Outdoor Living Space

"Welcome to my absolute favorite part of the house," Rob said as he walked onto the covered outdoor living area. It's designed for year-round use. Overhead heaters and a wood-burning fireplace keep the space warm through colder months, while motorized exterior shades from Universal Screens roll down on tracks to make it bug-proof in summer.

"Stacy and I love to entertain, we love to have people over, and we love the outdoors, so this becomes a natural extension of everything that I love," Rob said. The space connects directly to the kitchen and great room through wide patio doors, making it easy to move between indoor and outdoor living when hosting.

Finding the Right Builder

This is Rob and Stacy's third home build, so they had a pretty clear idea of what to look for in a builder. They went with Foothills Modern Homes, a company in the Lewisville area run by Dave Stenson.

"You go out on Google, you search for ratings and reviews, you search for work that they've done," Rob said about his builder search. After narrowing the field, they sat down with Dave in person. "We hit it off. We loved everything about his approach to building." Communication stayed open throughout the entire project. "Dave has been there from start to finish, very communicative with us every step of the way."

Advice for Future Home Builders

We asked Rob and Stacy what they'd tell someone who's about to start their own build. Both had a clear answer.

Stacy's recommendation: start with a design board. "Understand what is the overall style and the look and the feel that you're going for. Build that design board so you can take that from place to place. Have those colors ready to match up. It really helps to narrow down every choice that you're making from there on out."

Rob's advice centered on teamwork. "It's a team process between me and Stacy, our kids had a say, and then our builder. There's always going to be give and take, there's always going to be decisions to make. But having a vision up front and aligning on that vision makes some of those tradeoffs a little bit easier."

Explore Plan DFD-12304

Rob and Stacy's home started as a floor plan on our website, and now it's where their family gathers and entertains. If their story inspires yours, take a look at Plan DFD-12304 and see if it's the right fit. Our team can walk you through modifications, pricing, and anything else you need to get started. Give us a call at 877-895-5299 or start a live chat.