A new four-bedroom plan by Rehoboth Beach, Del.–based Schell Brothers aims to be the ultimate family home, where every square foot of living space is maximized to make a busy brood’s life easier.
A variation of the home that company owner Chris Schell designed for his own family, the Brady model in the Magnolia Green master planned community replaces outdated formal spaces with practical features such as a large mudroom, a central second-floor laundry room, and a private deck accessible from the owner’s suite.
Located in the Richmond suburb of Moseley, Va., the Brady is Schell’s segue into a move-up market segment and a departure from its usual master-down, retiree-driven beach clientele. The open, L-shaped layout of the first floor is a popular concept across many of the company’s plans, Schell says, although customers who are used to the idea of a formal dining and living room sometimes take some convincing.
“When we talk to them and ask, if you’re going to pay for 3,000 square feet of space, wouldn’t you rather allocate that space to a room you use a lot more and to space that makes your main living area feel better, more open, and bright?” he asks. “Nine times out of ten they come around.”
Even just a few steps into the Brady, it’s apparent that the home is designed to respond to owners’ on-the-go lifestyles. The spacious mudroom off the garage can include a landing desk for keys, mail, and other items family members might be bringing in. Built-in benches, optional storage cubbies, and an upper row of cabinets with hooks for coats or backpacks help keep clutter at bay. Dog or cat bowls can be tucked into a nook at the base of the cabinets, where they’re within reach to pets but won’t be tripped on in a scramble to get out the door. The mudroom opens both to the kitchen and a large pantry that allows homeowners to tuck their food storage out of sight from guests but within a few steps from the food preparation area.
The kitchen includes a large command-center island that can serve as an informal gathering space for small or large groups. A “bumped out” dining nook next to the kitchen provides design flexibility. “It adds a lot more exterior wall that opens onto the living area, which allows you to add a lot more windows and a lot more natural light,” Schell says.
A first-floor flex space can be used as a study, den, additional bedroom, or as a formal living room or dining room for homeowners who can’t bear to part with them, Schell says.
On the second floor, an optional playroom includes built-in cabinets with homework desks and storage for games or toys. Two bathrooms are shared between three bedrooms with walk-in closets. A central laundry room off the hallway is easily accessible from all bedrooms.
The owner’s suite is situated in the rear bumped-out part of the home, with an elegant boxed tray ceiling and a large window for views of the backyard. The luxury master bath opens into spacious his-and-hers walk-in closets, and a deck accessible only from the owner’s bedroom offers a quiet, private retreat. Schell says the layout was designed to let kids and parents enjoy their respective spaces without being too far removed from each other.
Outside, three areas wrap around the bump-out, including a screened porch, a trellis-covered grill area, and a spacious courtyard with a fireplace. Carmen Marinelli, vice president of construction at Schell Brothers, says the outdoor area is built for easy movement between indoor and outdoor spaces. “It’s not like an at-grade patio,” he says. “We raise the walls and bring the courtyard elevation up to just one step below the living level of the home.”
The flexible floor plan is appreciated by home buyers, Marinelli adds. “There’s a beautiful outdoor space, there’s space for your children, and there’s space for you as adults.”
