#architecturecrush

This weekend, I drove past a half-built custom home in McLean and did the thing where I mentally move in before the drywall’s even up. Vaulted ceilings? Check. Chef’s kitchen with a hidden walk-in pantry? Obviously. A reading nook bathed in natural light? Don’t mind if I do.

But then I came home to my 90s-era split-level and sighed. I love my house—mostly—but there are quirks I’d erase in a heartbeat (looking at you, awkwardly placed laundry closet).

While researching, I stumbled on Mosaic’s page about custom home builds in McLean. What stuck with me wasn’t just the glossy photos (though those kitchens… whew), but the emphasis on "building around your life"—not forcing your life into a pre-existing floor plan.

It got me thinking:

Could I actually design a home where every room has a purpose (goodbye, junk drawer room)?

Are energy-efficient features (like smart windows) worth the upfront cost?

Should I start a vision board, or is that too extra?

For now, I’m filing this under "someday dreams." But it’s nice to know there are local teams who get that a "dream home" isn’t just about square footage—it’s about flow, light, and not having to walk through the guest bathroom to get to the backyard.