So, not to be overly bias, but Stanley Martin has a lot of great floorplans.  It’s kind of what we’re known for – designing smart, functional homes that are luxurious, yes, but mostly intended to maximize and utilize space in a way that reflects how people live in their homes.  One of the floorplans that fits my family’s life and style the best is The Addison.  Offered at a number of our Loudoun and Montgomery County communities, The Addison has a base square footage of 3,111 and can be expanded to 6,246 SF, depending upon structural options added.  And the structural options are where I’d like to park it today and spend a little time gushing.

The Addison at The Orchards of Sandy Spring

The Addison at Greene Mill Preserve

The Addison offers a Bonus Room option that I find to be one of the most flexible and functional spaces we build.  Located just over the garage, with its own stairwell off the kitchen, and boasting 280 square foot (about half the size of my first apartment), the bonus room could be so many things to so many people.  For example, I find it to be an ideal space for an at-home office.  Tucked away from the rest of the home, the bonus room can serve as the perfect at-home work retreat, where the sights and sounds of the home are kept distant and you’re able to focus your thoughts and your efforts on the task at hand – work.  However, should you need a little snack/lunch/diet coke to keep you going, the kitchen is easily accessed and you can go right back up to the work space without getting distracted by the laundry that needs folding or the kids toys that STILL haven’t been put away.

The Addison's Optional Upper Level Layout with Bonus Room

Additionally, the bonus room comes fully equipped with a sizeable reach-in closet, linen closet, and full bath.  Seriously?!  Yes, so there are a number of ways in which this en suite bath could be tremendously useful.  As a guest suite…again, it’s strategic positioning away from the other bedrooms of the home, lend this to being an ideal living space for your visiting guests, as it really functions as its own little apartment.  Long gone are the days of awkwardly passing one another in the hallway, totally towel clad, post shower.  Nor do you have to worry about your guests being awoken by your child who has a tendency to wake up screaming around 3 AM because again, they’re on the other side of the house!

Also, it could be considered prime real estate for the oldest child in your family.  Moving into the bonus room would become somewhat of a rite of passage as the older siblings go to college and the younger siblings move up in the world.  The space is still well within the confines of the home, but it grants some sense of independence, which with so many teens, holds tremendous value.

And if you’re children are not yet old enough to use this space as a bedroom, it has the potential for a ROCKING play room.  The little alcoves and corners make a great set-up for play kitchen sets, Barbie dream houses, and Lego colonies as big as your child’s imagination.  And here’s the best part, you don’t feel compelled to pick up this play room daily, because (and this part is so genius) the location of the room is isolated enough that no one will see this room unless you show them!

Bonus Room - Merchandised as a play room/homework room at Greene Mill Preserve Model

Full Bath with Bonus Room also at Greene Mill Preserve Model

So much space and so many potential uses.  The Addison is offered at: Selma Estates in Leesburg, Greene Mill Preserve in Leesburg, Huntleigh at Creighton Farms in Aldie, The Orchards of Sandy Spring in Sandy Spring and Preserve at Rock Creek in Rockville.