What Is a Flex Room?
What is it like to become an empty-nester and move into a new home at the same time? What about both of these life changes combined with moving to a new state? We asked Happy Homeowners Keith and Peg Blais for their new home design and relocation tips to help other empty nesters during their move!
Relocating
The Blais family has an extra special connection to M/I Homes with two of their family members being M/I Homes employees! When Keith started his position as VP of Land, the family knew they would need to move to Indianapolis from their home in Chicago. After years of raising their children and making dear friends at their home there, this was going to be a big change for them! They chose to build a new ranch home in one of M/I Homes’ communities in Noblesville, Indiana.
As the fourth home builder Keith has worked for during his career, Keith told us that his new M/I Home was truly superior in quality and architecture than the homes he had seen built in his past jobs. “The construction managers and superintendents were very attentive to our needs, and answered all our questions in a timely fashion,” Keith told us. “Everybody at M/I strives to make processes and experiences better for the customers, and they did a terrific job demonstrating this during our new home construction.”“Everybody at M/I strives to make processes and experiences better for the customers, and they did a terrific job demonstrating this during our new home construction.”
When we asked the couple for their tips on how to relocate to another state, they told us that transparency between them and their home builder helped alleviate extra stresses. Peg loved how easy M/I made the design selection process for them after working closely with a Design Consultant on what was most important to her for her new home’s layout. This made it easier to envision adult children being able to come stay with them when they visit!
The timing with Keith’s new position meant that the couple needed to make their long distance move right before Christmas. M/I worked closely with them to make sure everything was finished on time to be ready for them, and the Customer Care team continued to keep communication open to make sure the Blaises had everything they needed.
Peg told us, “We had forgotten about how the buying process worked since we were in our previous home for 25 years. A lot of things have changed since then, like the technology in homes now. M/I made everything easy for us to make the move!”
Redecorating
The Blaises loves their new home’s classic colors and modern decor. One of the couple’s favorite features in their new home design is their home’s bonus room. This home plan feature made it so much easier to take on the task of having to get rid of photos or other memories.
Because the photos on their walls at their old house were outdated, the Blais family took their move as an opportunity to get updated professional family photos taken, which now hang on the walls at their new home!
The bonus room acts as a fun “memory room” for their adult children to stay in when they come to visit. Flipping through old photo albums over a cup of tea with Mom or Dad as they look back on memories from childhood has been a Blais family favorite so far.
One of their other favorite interior design features is the ability to finally put family heirlooms and collectibles on display. One of Peg’s favorites, a collection of Shamrock glasses from her Irish heritage, was always tucked away in a cabinet at the previous house, due to a lack of space in a safe spot for them. More counter space makes for the perfect display for her collection. Keith’s architectural glass frames also now fit perfectly on their home’s gorgeous mantel. The couple loves being able to see these valuables every day!
Making New Memories
Because M/I made it possible for Keith and Peg to move in on time and start unpacking right away, the entire Blais family was still able to all get together for Christmas, this time at the new house! Helping their parents celebrate their new home, the Blais children were excited to make new traditions for family Christmas in Indy.
Since getting settled into their new home, the Blaises have been able to have many friends and family come visit them from back home. After giving the full tour and showing off their new family portraits, the Blaises enjoy taking their loved ones to tour other M/I Homes communities and models in the area. This has been one of the family’s favorite things to do, as Keith and Peg show more of the quality and care they received when working with M/I Homes.
We loved hearing the Blais family’s home design tips and tricks for empty nesters, seeing their newly decorated ranch home filled with new pictures and decor, and seeing their faces light up as they recalled their favorite parts of getting to move into a brand new home in a new state. For more happy homeowner pictures and stories, check out our other recent happy families in their new M/I Homes!
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