Upstate NY Custom Home Building Blog

What if you could give yourself the gift of a thoughtful, personalized future? Designing a family-friendly custom home means so much more than tacking on extra bedrooms or picking stain-resistant carpet. You're building a space that evolves with your lifestyle, to see you through the days of juggling toddlers to managing teens, and perhaps one day accommodating multiple generations under one roof.

Geber Homes has helped families across Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties create custom homes that are beautiful, functional, and ready for real life. We’re here today to walk you through proven strategies for designing a family-friendly custom home, drawing on our decades of experience as a leading custom home builder in Upstate NY.

How to Think Through Family-Friendly Custom Home Design, Step by Step

Before choosing finishes or floor plans, it’s important to pause and think about how your family actually lives, day to day, season to season, and year to year. Designing a custom home is your chance to build something that's going to sing in your key. Here’s a simple step-by-step process to guide your early planning.

Step 1: Map Out Your Daily Routine

Start by writing down what a typical weekday and weekend looks like for your household. This helps identify which parts of your layout need to be more open, which need more privacy, and where extra storage or organization could make life easier. Think about:

• What time people wake up, leave, return, and sleep

• Where clutter tends to pile up (shoes, backpacks, mail)

• Which rooms you spend the most time in

• When you need quiet vs active space

Step 2: Consider the Needs of Everyone in the Household

Think about each family member, including pets, and what would make their life more comfortable. For example:

• Young children may need visual connection from the kitchen to play areas

• Teenagers may want separation or sound-buffered bedrooms

• Pets may need an easy entry point from the yard or a clean-up zone

• Grandparents or in-laws may benefit from a main-floor bedroom or suite

Step 3: Think Ahead 5–10 Years

Your kids won’t always be little, and your home should grow with them. Ask yourself:

• Will that playroom turn into a homework zone or teen hangout?

• Should the mudroom be sized for sports equipment and backpacks now, but tools or hobby gear later?

• Could a flexible guest room eventually serve as an office or parent suite?

Step 4: Prioritize Features That Solve Real Problems

Once you’ve mapped out your lifestyle, focus your budget and layout on features that make daily life easier. For many of our clients in the Rochester and Finger Lakes areas, these priorities often include:

• A well-planned mudroom

• Open sightlines from kitchen to living spaces

• A quiet workspace or homework zone

• Pet-wash station for muddy Upstate NY seasons

• Ample storage to keep clutter under control

Start With a Flexible Floor Plan

Your floor plan sets the tone for how your family will move through the home, both now and for years to come. And when you're designing for kids, pets, and evolving needs, flexibility is just as important as square footage.

Open Concept vs. Defined Spaces

Open-concept layouts remain a favorite among families because they keep living, dining, and kitchen areas connected. This setup makes it easier to supervise young kids while cooking, host game nights, or simply stay engaged as a family. But total openness can become noisy or chaotic, especially as kids get older.

Many Gerber clients opt for semi-open layouts that blend visibility with structure. For example, a kitchen might open into a casual dining space but feature a half-wall or archway leading into the family room. This subtle division helps balance togetherness with a sense of privacy.

Gerber Floor Plan Design Tip

Consider flexible partitions, like sliding barn doors or built-in bookcases, that allow you to create defined spaces when needed without losing the openness of your floor plan.

Zoning for Quiet & Active Areas

Thoughtful zoning keeps family life running smoothly. Ideally, bedrooms and quiet spaces should be located away from high-traffic areas like the kitchen, mudroom, or laundry room. This matters not just for sleeping toddlers, but also for parents who work remotely or teens who need quiet for studying.

Some of the most popular design elements for family-friendly homes in the Rochester area include:

• Loft or bonus room upstairs that can evolve from a playroom to a teen hangout

• Finished basement with a rec room or in-home theater

• In-law suite for aging parents or long-term guests

• Jack-and-Jill bathrooms to minimize hallway congestion on school mornings

Curious about the costs of building a new home in the Rochester area this year? Our cost guide provides updated local information.

Kid-Friendly Design Details That Age Gracefully

Designing a custom home for a growing family means planning for how your kids’ needs will change over time. A well-designed space should support safe play in the early years, encourage independence during school age, and adapt as they move into the teenage phase. It can absolutely be done. Here are the timeless features that make the difference. 

Built-In Storage and Cubbies

Children come with a lot of gear. From sports equipment to school supplies to toys, it all needs somewhere to go. Built-in storage helps reduce clutter and keeps everything organized. Common features include:

• Mudrooms with cubbies and hooks for backpacks and jackets

• Window benches with built-in storage underneath

• Custom shelves or cabinets in shared bathrooms

• Pantry sections with kid-accessible snack storage

Convertible Homework and Study Areas

As your kids get older, it’s helpful to create quiet spots where they can focus on schoolwork. Homework nooks or small study areas can be built into a loft, hallway, or near the kitchen. These areas allow for supervision while keeping kids focused and minimizing distractions. This kind of flexible space can also be used later for crafts, a home office, or even a reading corner.

Shared Bathrooms and Flexible Bedrooms

In homes with multiple kids, Jack-and-Jill bathrooms are a smart addition. They allow two bedrooms to share a bathroom while still offering privacy from the rest of the house. Double sinks, built-in storage, and separate entrances make morning routines more efficient.

For bedrooms, bunk-bed ready spaces or layouts that allow for future rearranging help accommodate different needs as kids grow. Built-in storage and durable materials like scratch-resistant luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring are also important.

Pet-Friendly Amenities That Blend In

Pets are an important part of many families, and a custom home should include features that make daily life easier for both owners and animals. The goal is to include pet-friendly elements that feel like a natural part of the home, not bulky add-ons.

Mudroom Dog Wash Stations

One of the most popular pet features is a dog wash station, usually located in the mudroom or laundry area. This is a raised shower or basin with a sprayer that allows you to easily rinse off muddy paws or give your pet a full bath without using the main bathroom.

This is especially useful in Upstate New York, where snow, mud, and outdoor play can lead to daily messes. Many folks with young children also enjoy the opportunity to hose them down in this dedicated space after a great time outdoors.

Built-In Pet Features

Instead of using temporary solutions like baby gates or portable feeders, built-in options create a sleek look. These can include:

• Pet gates that slide into the wall like a pocket door

• Feeding stations built into kitchen islands or cabinets

• Pet doors leading to fenced-in yards

• Designated pet bed areas under stairs or window seats

Durable Flooring and Wall Finishes

Pets and kids often share the same high-traffic spaces. Choosing the right materials can reduce wear and tear while keeping the home looking its best. We often install:

• Luxury vinyl plank or porcelain tile in kitchens and mudrooms

• Easy-clean wall paint finishes like satin or eggshell

Stair runners or grip-friendly materials on steps

Outdoor Living Spaces for Four-Season Fun

A family-friendly home isn’t complete without thoughtful, functional outdoor areas that expand your living options in every season. 

Covered Patios and Screened Porches

Covered outdoor areas extend your living space and provide shelter from both the summer sun and rainy days. Screened porches are a great way to enjoy the outdoors without bugs, and they can double as a play space, reading nook, or outdoor dining area. Adding heaters or ceiling fans can help extend their use into the spring and fall.

Safe, Open Spaces for Play

If you have kids, a level backyard with room to run is a must. Whether it’s a swing set, sandbox, or large green space, having a fenced and visible area for play gives both kids and parents peace of mind.

For homes with pets, a fenced yard or dedicated pet run allows your animals to enjoy the outdoors safely. Some families choose to install pet doors that lead directly from the mudroom to the backyard.

Family Gardens and Fire Pits

Outdoor spaces can also be great for gathering or learning. Raised garden beds give kids a chance to get involved in growing vegetables or flowers. Fire pits create a year-round gathering spot for s’mores, stories, and family time, even during chilly months. These thoughtful features will be the backdrop to many memories and deserve extra thought and care during custom home design. 

Planning for Multigenerational Living

More families in Upstate New York are choosing to live together under one roof. Perhaps this looks like aging parents moving in, adult children returning home, or extended relatives staying long-term. Designing your custom home with multigenerational living in mind ensures that everyone has space, comfort, and privacy.

Consider a Main-Floor In-Law Suite

One of the most effective solutions is adding a private main-floor suite. This can include a bedroom, full bath, sitting area, and even a small kitchenette. Locating this suite on the first level makes it accessible for older adults who may want to avoid stairs. Some families also design a separate entrance or garage bay for added independence.

Create Flexible Shared Spaces

When multiple generations live together, shared spaces like the kitchen and living room need to work harder. Consider:

• A larger kitchen island with seating for 5–6 people

• Double ovens or expanded pantry space for shared cooking

• Two laundry areas (main and lower level) to ease traffic

• A finished basement or loft that can serve as a retreat for teens or younger adults

Include Sound Separation and Privacy Zones

Privacy is key when people of different ages and schedules share a home. Features that help:

• Insulated interior walls between bedrooms and living spaces

• Zoned HVAC systems for comfort control in separate areas

• Pocket doors or sliding barn doors to section off wings of the home when needed

Plan for Long-Term Accessibility

Designing with aging in place in mind can add long-term value. Even if no one in your household needs it today, including wider doorways, walk-in showers, lever door handles, and minimal steps can make your home safer and more usable for years to come.

Energy-Efficient and Smart-Home Features That Simplify Family Life

Smart technology and energy-efficient design help keep the home running smoothly while lowering monthly utility costs and reducing maintenance over time.

Smart-Home Technology

Smart-home systems can help you stay organized, improve security, and save energy. Families often include features like:

• Smart thermostats to manage temperature zones by room

• Video doorbells and motion sensors for added security

• Voice-activated assistants that help kids control lighting or music

• Wi-Fi-enabled appliances that notify you when laundry is done or the oven is preheated

Energy-Efficient Heating, Cooling, and Lighting

Zoned heating and cooling systems allow families to keep sleeping areas cooler while keeping living spaces comfortable. This helps reduce energy waste and improve comfort for everyone. High-efficiency furnaces, low-E windows, and extra insulation are all standard options in most custom builds today.

LED lighting, programmable switches, and solar-ready wiring can also make your home more efficient and future-proof.

Garage and Charging Setup

As electric vehicles become more common, many homeowners choose to pre-wire their garages for EV charging stations. This small upgrade during construction can save time and cost later on, especially for families who plan ahead.

Ready to Build Your Family-Friendly Custom Home in Rochester or the Finger Lakes?

From flexible floor plans to smart pet and kid-friendly features, Gerber Homes specializes in designing custom homes that grow with your family. If you're building in Monroe, Ontario, or Wayne County, our team is ready to bring your custom home vision to life, beautifully, practically, and on budget. Connect with us today! Let’s build a home that facilitates your family's future.