For over 30 years, Craftmark Homes has been building a “Legacy of Luxury” across the Washington, D.C. Metro area, delivering over 9,000 beautiful homes with a hands-on passion for design and peerless construction quality. But what happens between selecting your perfect floorplan and getting the keys to your dream home?

Enter the selections process: the exciting, creative journey where a house truly becomes your home. To get an insider’s perspective on how buyers are customizing their spaces today, we sat down with Lori Windsor, one of Craftmark’s expert sales professionals. From forecasting the latest interior trends to breaking down the secret to a stress-free design experience, Lori shares her top tips for bringing your vision to life.

The Craftmark Philosophy: Taking It One Step at a Time

Walking into a design appointment can feel daunting. With endless options for flooring, cabinetry, and fixtures, it is easy to get overwhelmed. As a sales professional with an interior design specialty, Lori serves as a personal guide for buyers, ensuring their new home reflects Craftmark’s trusted reputation while perfectly fitting their personal style.

Her biggest piece of advice for buyers who feel overwhelmed? Keep it simple.

“It’s easy, just take one step at a time,” Lori advises. She grounds the entire process by focusing on the big picture first. “I start off by asking what style they want to convey in their new home and what color palette appeals to them currently. Once we know the color palette, I can make suggestions from there.”

Current Trends: Polished Details and Espresso Palettes

Whether you are looking at the new luxury 3-4 level townhomes at Vantage Hill in Reston, VA, or the luxury city-style single-family homes at Strathmore View in North Bethesda, MD, modern buyers have a distinct eye for detail.

When asked about the most popular design selections and finishes buyers are requesting right now, Lori notes a strong lean toward sophisticated, customized touches. She is currently seeing a high demand for mixing metals, rich espresso palettes, upgraded trim packages, and framed bathroom mirrors to create a highly polished, bespoke look.

Buyers are also falling in love with specific architectural details unique to Craftmark floorplans. While we know buyers adore the private dressing room feel of the walk-in closets at Strathmore View, Lori points out two other show-stopping features:

• The Fairland at Vantage Hill: “It’s definitely the Dry Bar!” Lori notes. It serves as a perfect hub for entertaining.
• The Biltmore at The Woods at Occoquan Overlook: Here, buyers are captivated by the multiple tray ceilings. Lori recommends taking this architectural feature to the next level by upgrading the light fixtures or even adding hardwood directly to the tray ceilings for a dramatic, custom finish.

Designing for Your Lifestyle: Urban Convenience vs. Estate Entertaining

A home’s interior should always complement its location and the homeowner’s lifestyle. Craftmark boasts a diverse portfolio, from urban infill locations to expansive luxury estates. Lori notices that buyers prioritize completely different design elements depending on the community they choose:

• The Urban Buyer: For buyers moving into highly walkable, amenity-rich communities, maximizing space is key. “I think urban buyers look for storage opportunities, which is great because we offer a lot of built-in options,” Lori explains.
• The Estate Buyer: For those building larger single-family estate homes such as those in Phase 3 “The Oaks” at The Woods at Occoquan Overlook in Lorton, VA, the focus shifts toward managing an active, expansive household. “They love and enjoy the mudroom built-ins to keep everything organized,” Lori says. “They tend to entertain a lot, and there is a big focus on kitchen customization.”

Craftmark Green: Where Luxury Meets Sustainability

 A core pillar of Craftmark’s architectural excellence is our commitment to energy efficiency. As an ENERGY STAR® partner utilizing individual HERS® (Home Energy Rating System) testing, Craftmark ensures that homes are as efficient as they are beautiful.

However, many buyers don’t immediately understand what makes a “Craftmark Green” home so special. Lori makes it a point to educate buyers that they never have to sacrifice high-end luxury to achieve incredible efficiency.

“Most people are not sure what that actually entails,” she says. “Explaining the framing, windows, blower door test, and mastic seal duct work helps to break it down. People appreciate the brochure insert that also explains additional features in more detail and, most of all, the savings it provides.”

Ready to Get Inspired?

If you are preparing for your selections appointment or just starting your homebuying journey, visualizing your future space is th best first step. Craftmark offers several comprehensive video tours of available floor plans on our YouTube Channel.

If Lori had to recommend just one to spark your imagination?

“The Kenmore video does offer a multitude of features that can be adjusted to work in any of our floorplans,” she suggests, referencing the beautifully staged model home tour available virtually. “So, it’s a wonderful tool to get started!”

For more inspiration, explore our current locations, floor plans, and portfolio and get started on your customization journey with Craftmark Homes today.