TL;DR
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A House Beautiful report featuring advice from designer Shandon Barrett and home-building executive Tammy Crosby recommends spending early on elements that are costly or disruptive to change later, including layouts, windows, flooring and the exterior. It suggests saving on replaceable finishes, appliances, accessories and unfinished bonus rooms, while planning utilities and dimensions for future upgrades.
House Beautiful’s report on new-home budgets recommends putting money into choices that are difficult or expensive to change after construction, while delaying features that can be replaced or completed later. Interior designer Shandon Barrett and The House Designers CEO Tammy Crosby advise homeowners to settle key layouts, windows, flooring and exterior materials early, and to consider simpler fixtures, standard appliances and unfinished bonus rooms to manage costs.
The experts’ central distinction is between structural or labor-intensive decisions and finishes that can be swapped without major construction. Crosby says moving water or gas lines later can require breaking concrete slabs or cutting floor joists. She recommends deciding on kitchen and bathroom layouts during planning and considering plumbing rough-ins for potential future features, such as a basement bathroom, outdoor kitchen or ice-maker.
Windows and doors also warrant early decisions, the report says, because changing their size or location can involve siding, framing and drywall work. Crosby recommends considering larger or additional windows in living areas and stairwells, and says double- or triple-pane low-emissivity glass may reduce energy bills over the home’s life. The report also identifies continuous hard-surface flooring in main living areas and durable roofing and siding as choices that can be disruptive and costly to replace.
For savings, Barrett and Crosby point to decorative lighting, plumbing fixtures, cabinet pulls, paint, trim and accessories, which can generally be upgraded over time. Crosby says homeowners can accept standard appliances or reuse existing ones, provided appliance openings and utility connections suit the models they may want later. A bonus room can also remain unfinished until needed, though the home’s design should account for future use.
Where Early Spending Can Prevent Rework
The advice matters because a lower initial price for an item does not always mean a lower total cost. Changing plumbing routes, openings or flooring after a home is complete can involve demolition, replacement materials and labor, while upgrading a light fixture or repainting a room is typically a more contained project. Making major decisions before construction can help homeowners avoid paying for work twice.
The report does not provide cost estimates or quantify potential savings. Its guidance is a set of expert recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular upgrade will pay for itself. Homeowners’ priorities will depend on their budget, climate, household needs and plans for the property. The practical takeaway is to compare the likely cost and disruption of future changes against the cost of planning for them now.
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The Difference Between Fixed and Flexible
In the House Beautiful report, Barrett frames budgeting as a question of where money is spent, rather than spending the most. He advises prioritizing permanent finishes, craftsmanship and everyday essentials, while not feeling pressured to finish every part of a home immediately. Crosby’s examples apply that approach to construction: concealed systems and exterior protection are harder to retrofit than many visible decorative choices.
The report also distinguishes between preparing for a future feature and installing it immediately. For example, a homeowner might add plumbing rough-ins during construction but postpone fixtures, or frame a bonus room and complete its interior later. Such choices require planning with the builder so future dimensions, connections and intended uses are compatible; the source does not detail specific code or permit requirements.
““It’s not about spending the most money; it’s about spending it in the right places.””
— Shandon Barrett, interior designer at Love vs. Design
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Costs Depend on the Build
The supplied report does not give specific price ranges, project budgets or quantified return-on-investment figures for the recommended choices. Crosby says efficient windows can save thousands in energy bills over a home’s life, but the source provides no calculation, location, time period or comparison baseline for that estimate. Actual performance and costs can vary by climate, materials, labor rates and the home’s design.
It is also unclear which recommendations will suit any particular homeowner. The report does not compare product brands or establish that one flooring, window or exterior option is best for every project. Decisions about future rough-ins, appliance connections and unfinished spaces should be checked against the final plans and local requirements with the building professionals involved.
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Apply the Advice During Design
For homeowners planning a build, the next step is to review the floor plan and budget with their builder before construction decisions are locked in. Identify layouts, openings, utility locations and exterior materials that would be disruptive to change, then ask for the cost of preparing for likely future needs. Confirm that appliance dimensions and hookups match the intended plan, even if standard appliances are installed initially.
Homeowners can then set a separate list of items to defer, such as decorative fixtures, custom paint, accessories or bonus-room finishes. The report offers no timetable for a particular project; the sequence and cost of decisions will depend on the build. Its guidance is to make early choices around the work that would be hardest to redo and leave more flexible upgrades for later.
standard kitchen appliances for new homes
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Key Questions
What does the report recommend spending more on?
It recommends prioritizing kitchen and bathroom layouts, window and door plans, main-area flooring, and durable exterior materials, because changes can involve substantial labor or disruption after construction.
Which new-house upgrades can be delayed?
The experts identify decorative fixtures, cabinet hardware, paint, trim, accessories and some bonus-room finishes as possible later upgrades. These choices are generally easier to change than plumbing routes or structural openings.
Should homeowners install all appliances during construction?
Not necessarily, according to Crosby. The report says homeowners may use a standard package or existing appliances, but should make sure the openings and utility connections suit the appliances they may want later.
Can a bonus room be left unfinished?
The report says a bonus room may be framed and finished later when a household needs the space or has the budget. Homeowners should discuss the plan with their builder so the room’s intended future use is accounted for.
Does the report quantify how much these choices save?
No. It provides expert recommendations but no overall budget comparison or detailed savings calculations. Crosby’s energy-bill statement about efficient windows is not accompanied by a specified location, timeframe or baseline.
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