Here's your chance to design a Homearama home

Ever offered unsolicited comments and suggestions while visiting Homearama, the Tidewater Builders Association's showcase of custom homes?

Now's your chance to have your say before one of the homes is complete, plus maybe snag some free tickets to this autumn's show at The Riverfront at Harbour View in Suffolk.

Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods, along with Retnauer Design Associates, wants readers of The Virginian-Pilot to help design three rooms in their planned 3,600-square-foot house at Fall Homearama: mud room, kitchen, and master bathroom.

"We are trying to create a design motif that doesn't have wasted space and unusable areas," said Stephen Quick of Stephen Alexander Homes who, along with father Steve and brother Alex, have been in business since 1998. The builders have captured numerous Homearama awards over the past several years, including the People's Choice and Critics' Choice honors.

Weighing in is simple. Just visit www.hamptonroads.com/pilothouse2011 to offer your 2 cents worth. Click on the link for each room, or comment at the end of the online story there.

Do you have storage solution suggestions? How about thoughts on cabinet style, finishes and hardware in the kitchen? Does the master bathroom need multiple shower heads or a television on the wall? What about mirrors or tile? Quick said all advice is welcome and needed.

Some of their best ideas on how to make their homes more practical have come from the public, he said.

"It will be well-designed, and practical from an organizational standpoint," Quick added. "We want spaces that function well." For example; kids' lockers in the mud room.

He wants the home to have the charm of a Charleston, S.C., bed-and-breakfast inn.

Two decades ago, The Virginian-Pilot asked readers to submit ideas on their perfect dream home. Sandra Amidon, staff vice president of Homearama's home shows and special projects, said the response was amazing.

Larry Hill of L.R. Hill Custom Builders said answers to one question, "What one feature would you like to see in your next home?", provided much-needed input in 1991.

Ideas included a laundry chute, electrical outlets under the front windows for Christmas candles, a kitchen bookcase and a larger utility room. Readers enjoyed seeing some of their ideas come to fruition, Hill said. Times have changed, but opinions from the community continue to be valuable, he noted.

Quick said he wants readers to consider the question, "What will make it easier for you to live your life?"

Publisher Maurice Jones said The Virginian-Pilot is delighted to offer readers a voice online.

"Being able to engage them in the development of a product is fabulous," he said, noting that the collaboration with readers and the involved parties is a "win-win."

Comments will be accepted through Aug. 6. Ideas will be narrowed down and voted on online from Aug. 7 to 22.

"We'll take everybody's feedback," Quick said. "We want the home to be optimized for storage and livability."

Fall Homearama will be held Oct. 15 to 30 and will feature nine homes priced from $500,000. For details on the homes showcase, go to www.tbaonline.org.

Cindy Butler Focke, butler496@aol.com