You dream of a new home that will carry a heightened level of "wow" factor. Building a custom home is the best way to achieve this, where you can select a floor plan that not only meets your functional needs but also has a high potential for enhancement to create that jaw-dropping effect.

There are a number of ways to augment a standard floor plan to create a truly stunning work of art. Depending on your particular style, features can be added, altered, and placed just right to achieve exactly the new home experience you're looking for. Here are a few ideas.

Natural Light 

Nothing enhances unique features quite like light and shadow. Allowing an abundance of natural light into your space will breathe life into those stunning features you're madly in love with. The play on light and shadow can highlight beautiful vaulted ceilings, a uniquely shaped room, or reveal every remarkable detail in the workmanship of your home. 

Consider the direction and placement of your home on your particular lot, where the light will be at certain times of day, and design your home in such a way that it captures light in just the right way. For those grey days, high-end custom lighting can be arranged to mimic these same effects or cast unique patterns of light and shadows. 

Vertical Beams 

We see plenty of homes designed to use open, natural wood beams on the rooflines to enhance the design of a vaulted ceiling, but have you considered using vertical beams to enhance a two-storey, open-to-below feature? This type of feature can visually tie both floors together with a spectacular display of natural wood elements, bringing warmth to an otherwise empty, open space.

Elegant Archways 

Seen in many 18th-century or older estate homes and educational buildings across the globe, highly detailed archways elevate the stateliness of a home tenfold. If your style is more traditional, victorian, or colonial, this type of feature commands attention and sets the level of sophistication for the rest of the home. Complete with crown moulding throughout the rooms around them, this feature can turn your home into a palace.

The Fifth Wall 

Your ceiling is a surface not to be left behind. Coffered ceilings visually define a space in an otherwise open concept room, and adding crown moulding and pot lighting adds one more level of luxury to the design. If you prefer flat ceilings, make them look finished with crown moulding around the perimeter, and accentuate your lighting with ornate medallions to give that more elegant look to the space.

Ceilings don't always need to be white, either. They can be finished with natural wood texture, or a tray ceiling painted with a feature colour. Even wallpaper is coming back to add a texture and design to draw your eye upward.

Custom Millwork 

Not only are built-in shelves functional for any space, but the way they're designed can create the focal point of any room. Bookshelves can be capped with beautiful arches, decorative ornate designs, and a wainscoting design above. Build in matching detailed cabinets at the bottom to hide away other items not meant for display. Your bookshelves are displayed more as an entire wall feature than a few pieces of individual furniture, creating a more complete and planned look to the space – your custom cabinetry options are vast! 

Chair Rail & Wainscoting 

Speaking of millwork, another way to add a level of depth to your home's design is to include chair rails or wainscoting in spaces that are appropriate. By adding this feature to a staircase, your home has a stunning visual feature that spans an otherwise unusable wall. Wrap a dining room for a more elegant eating and entertaining space. Add wainscoting to a large master bedroom to make an oversized space feel more homey.

Fireplace 

Of course, what is a custom home without a fireplace? Your fireplace can be a striking focal point in your great room, or even between your bedroom and ensuite bath. With the wide variety of fireplaces available in today's homes, your unique style can shine through. A fireplace would be a great addition to an outdoor kitchen, making summer barbecues just that much warmer and more inviting.

Balance and Contrast 

No matter what features, designs, or unique style you're looking to achieve, contrast and balance are the most important and basic concepts to consider. If you're installing dark floors, your walls and cabinets should be light. If you're using wallpaper in your design, consider only doing a feature wall as to not overwhelm the space with too much texture and pattern.

There are many interesting ways in which to add depth, texture, and sophistication to your new home. If it's "wow" factor you're looking for, pay attention to detail in every space within your home. Every feature adds up, from small details to major character pieces, highlighting the exquisite architecture of your custom home.