USA Houzz: Design Lessons From a Deluxe Spec House
You wouldn't guess it, but this Austin home was built on spec – here's what we can learn from its success
Elements of a successful spec house can offer ideas for your own home renovation. Developer Becky Fuller creates high-quality, stylish homes with a passion beyond dollar signs: “My houses are kind of like my babies,” she says. “I really don’t want to let them go until everything is just right.” Read on to discover Fuller’s top 10 tips for designing a home to sell. You just may find inspiration for your own dream home.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 502 square metres; 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms
Six months into retirement, after working nearly 30 years as a tech executive, Becky Fuller was bored. She also knew that taking up a hobby like tennis just wasn’t going to cut it. She needed something to sink her teeth into, a new endeavour. “I had always loved real estate. I’m one of those people who like to go to open houses for the fun of it, so I decided to try my hand at flipping a house,” Fuller says.
For her first project, she bought a small house in Austin for US$190,000, rehabbed it and sold it for US$475,000. Since then, her projects have grown from flips to complete tear-downs. Her latest project is this contemporary gem with loads of custom features that go far beyond the typical spec house. It recently sold to a California couple for US$2.9 million. Here are Fuller’s top 10 tips for successfully designing a spec home.
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 502 square metres; 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms
Six months into retirement, after working nearly 30 years as a tech executive, Becky Fuller was bored. She also knew that taking up a hobby like tennis just wasn’t going to cut it. She needed something to sink her teeth into, a new endeavour. “I had always loved real estate. I’m one of those people who like to go to open houses for the fun of it, so I decided to try my hand at flipping a house,” Fuller says.
For her first project, she bought a small house in Austin for US$190,000, rehabbed it and sold it for US$475,000. Since then, her projects have grown from flips to complete tear-downs. Her latest project is this contemporary gem with loads of custom features that go far beyond the typical spec house. It recently sold to a California couple for US$2.9 million. Here are Fuller’s top 10 tips for successfully designing a spec home.
1. Think location, location, location
Fuller wholeheartedly believes in this old real estate adage. “Always try to find a good piece of property in a high-demand neighbourhood,” she says.
As a tech executive, Fuller learned the value of bringing in top talent, and that lesson has extended to her career as a home builder. For this home, she teamed with interior designer Suzie Page of Page Home Design and Jodi Jacobsen and Kevin Alter of Alterstudio.
Fuller wholeheartedly believes in this old real estate adage. “Always try to find a good piece of property in a high-demand neighbourhood,” she says.
As a tech executive, Fuller learned the value of bringing in top talent, and that lesson has extended to her career as a home builder. For this home, she teamed with interior designer Suzie Page of Page Home Design and Jodi Jacobsen and Kevin Alter of Alterstudio.
2. Set the stage
“The key to a well-staged home is making it appear as if it isn’t staged,” Fuller says. Working with Page and Jacobsen, she chose furniture, art and accessories that add colour and character to the space. “You don’t want people to know the house is staged the second they walk through the door,” Fuller says. “You want them to assume somebody lives there.”
“The key to a well-staged home is making it appear as if it isn’t staged,” Fuller says. Working with Page and Jacobsen, she chose furniture, art and accessories that add colour and character to the space. “You don’t want people to know the house is staged the second they walk through the door,” Fuller says. “You want them to assume somebody lives there.”
3. Remember, quality counts
Here, floor-to-ceiling sliding doors lead to an ipe timber deck. The original plan was for the arbour over the deck to be made from ipe too, but when Fuller heard that over time the slats would begin to bow, she nixed that idea in favour of more expensive steel slats. “Quality is everything in this business,” she says. “You don’t want people to buy your house and complain about stuff falling apart. You should be conscious of quality and willing to pay extra for it.”
Here, floor-to-ceiling sliding doors lead to an ipe timber deck. The original plan was for the arbour over the deck to be made from ipe too, but when Fuller heard that over time the slats would begin to bow, she nixed that idea in favour of more expensive steel slats. “Quality is everything in this business,” she says. “You don’t want people to buy your house and complain about stuff falling apart. You should be conscious of quality and willing to pay extra for it.”
4. Have an eye for details
Along with quality, Fuller also appreciates the importance of aesthetics. The kitchen of this home features quartzite counters and walnut cabinets. “We originally had a stainless steel refrigerator but it stuck out like a sore thumb, so I had it covered in a walnut veneer,” Fuller says. “If something isn’t working, you have to be willing to do it over and get it right.”
Along with quality, Fuller also appreciates the importance of aesthetics. The kitchen of this home features quartzite counters and walnut cabinets. “We originally had a stainless steel refrigerator but it stuck out like a sore thumb, so I had it covered in a walnut veneer,” Fuller says. “If something isn’t working, you have to be willing to do it over and get it right.”
5. Keep up with trends
“Formal dining rooms just aren’t that important to many families today,” Fuller says. “I prefer to keep them open to the kitchen, but still want them to have their own individual character.” A sculptural chandelier, oversized art and an area rug help delineate the space from the kitchen.
“Formal dining rooms just aren’t that important to many families today,” Fuller says. “I prefer to keep them open to the kitchen, but still want them to have their own individual character.” A sculptural chandelier, oversized art and an area rug help delineate the space from the kitchen.
6. Know your buyers
Fuller likes to include an office on the first floor in all her homes. “In Austin, so many people work in the tech industry and often work from home, so it’s important to create a distinct workspace for them,” she says. A first-floor office can also easily transition to a guest room or a bedroom for an ageing couple who can no longer utilise stairs.
Fuller likes to include an office on the first floor in all her homes. “In Austin, so many people work in the tech industry and often work from home, so it’s important to create a distinct workspace for them,” she says. A first-floor office can also easily transition to a guest room or a bedroom for an ageing couple who can no longer utilise stairs.
7. Know where to make sacrifices
When it comes to making the most of a home’s square footage, Fuller prefers to make the living spaces larger and is willing to go a little smaller with the bedrooms and bathrooms. “Bedrooms really don’t need to be that big, especially if you make them feel bigger than they actually are,” she says. This master bedroom features high ceilings and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that gives the illusion of more space.
When it comes to making the most of a home’s square footage, Fuller prefers to make the living spaces larger and is willing to go a little smaller with the bedrooms and bathrooms. “Bedrooms really don’t need to be that big, especially if you make them feel bigger than they actually are,” she says. This master bedroom features high ceilings and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that gives the illusion of more space.
8. Be willing to take advice
A sliding panel reveals a window running along the floor of the master bedroom that looks out to the backyard pool. “This clever window was completely the architect’s idea,” Fuller says. “I was a little suspicious at first, but it’s such a neat little surprise and it’s really pretty at night when the pool is all lit up.”
A sliding panel reveals a window running along the floor of the master bedroom that looks out to the backyard pool. “This clever window was completely the architect’s idea,” Fuller says. “I was a little suspicious at first, but it’s such a neat little surprise and it’s really pretty at night when the pool is all lit up.”
9. Work in the wow factor
Though the master bathroom might not be overly large, it’s definitely dramatic. High-end marble tiles, floating walnut cabinets and a skylight create a distinct space that’s likely to make most people completely forget about square meterage.
Though the master bathroom might not be overly large, it’s definitely dramatic. High-end marble tiles, floating walnut cabinets and a skylight create a distinct space that’s likely to make most people completely forget about square meterage.
10. Fix your mistakes
The backyard’s infinity pool was originally covered in a mirrored tile that Fuller describes as “stunning”, but the Texas summer sun caused a few of the tiles to literally pop off, so she had the pool recovered in a dark grey porcelain tile.
Builder: BF Homes LLC; architect: Alterstudio; design: Page Home Design
The backyard’s infinity pool was originally covered in a mirrored tile that Fuller describes as “stunning”, but the Texas summer sun caused a few of the tiles to literally pop off, so she had the pool recovered in a dark grey porcelain tile.
Builder: BF Homes LLC; architect: Alterstudio; design: Page Home Design
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