Oct. 5, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire Inc.

A new homeowner in the Prairie Tree neighborhood had a decision to make: Build on a vacant lot the family had just purchased or acquire an adjacent lot and remodel an existing home?

“We looked at both scenarios,” said the project’s builder, Jesse Deffenbaugh of Deffenbaugh Homes.

“We had a home design to do a new house on the lot, but it would have been a little tight, and the yard would have had some limitations because of size. Long term, remodeling ended up giving them extra space, and now there’s room for a pool in the backyard if they choose. It was a really smart decision long term, and I think it’s going to be a great house for them.”

Photos by Corey Gross Photography 

The home at 5000 S. Caraway Drive was built in 1990. It had never been remodeled, “and it was ready for it,” Deffenbaugh said.

“We’re seeing that with many homes in this neighborhood. We’ve done several in the last few years and have others in planning mode. In this case, we had a house priced out brand new, and it ended up that remodeling brought the cost in about 20 percent less, and they gained much more.”

The Caraway project will be one of a dozen stops on the Showcase of Remodeled Homes from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, which also offers one virtual tour.

The event from the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire Inc. offers visitors a chance to tour indoor and outdoor spaces to get ideas for their next home remodeling or landscaping project.

“When you see an existing house, there often are going to be things wrong with it as a home for you,” Deffenbaugh said. “We can generally fix it. You can’t change everything, but you can change a lot.”

That’s definitely the case with this house, which added about 2,500 square feet and completely changed the layout, eliminating “all sorts of angled walls,” opening it up and creating standout spaces like the kitchen.

Here’s a look at the kitchen before:

And after:

“There are now four bedrooms and a guest suite upstairs, with a laundry, and then a gym, pantry and powder room on the main-level addition,” Deffenbaugh said.

Before and after:

“We had an area underneath what we needed for space in the bedrooms, and it’s got a 12-foot ceiling, so it’s great for a treadmill workout, or if you wanted to put a golf simulator in there, you could.”

Black and white marble flooring is one of several modern touches brought to a more traditional home.

Before and after:

“This home is timeless,” Deffenbaugh said. “One thing I really like about it is that it’s not time-stamped 2023. We can go back 10 years from now and it’s going to look sharp.”

That’s definitely the case with the outdoor living space too.

“Our goal was to create a backyard and entertainment space that serves as an extension of the indoor living space,” said Cole Jenkins, associate landscape designer with Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals.

Before and after:

The main focal point is the elevated three-season covered porch and fireplace area.

With geometric porcelain tile flooring, wrapped in natural stone veneer planters and perched up above the rest of the backyard, “you are able to see out over the other communal spaces and expansive green areas,” Jenkins said.

The project included a stone-veneer fire pit with a crushed limestone patio, separate outdoor dining area, kitchen space with dual cooking appliances and a recessed walk-in hot tub pad.

“We incorporated many symmetrical elements, using straight lines and geometric shapes to dial in the formal style of landscape and architecture that the homeowner was looking for,” Jenkins said.

“We kept the color palette restricted to create a sense of uniformity and a feel of sophistication throughout. The pathways and landscape beds are well defined and provide structure to the space. This timeless style of landscape architecture is one that homeowners will want to consider when brainstorming and designing their future landscape projects.”

The industry has seen a small downtick since the surge during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were staying at home more, but “overall there is still a strong demand for customers seeking outdoor-living upgrades throughout the area,” Jenkins added. “We continue to fill our schedules and are fortunate enough that our community is still strongly interested in enhancing its outdoor spaces.”

For those considering home renovations, Deffenbaugh said builders also have capacity.

“We’re getting a lot of past clients, and it’s a mixed bag of people coming into a house they haven’t lived in with things they want to change or people who have been in the homes awhile and are ready to update them,” he said.

The Home Builders Association has many members willing to help you with your next home-related project. Find and connect with members through an online directory here.

In the case of landscaping projects, Jenkins advises that owners come up with a realistic budget and reach out well in advance.

“Our teams are available to meet with you at any point in the year and begin the process of bringing your dreams to fruition,” he said. “If you are considering or planning for a project next season or even further along in the future, it’s never too early to reach out and get connected with our design team. This fall is an excellent time to reach out for a project next spring.”

To learn more about the Showcase of Remodeled Homes, click here. 

And for an easy event experience, download the Sioux Empire Home Builders Guide app from the Apple Store or Google Play.