It took time for Jeremy Float to convince wife Erin to move into a condominium from their comfortable Powell home. Mainly, she was concerned about the relative inflexibility of floor plans in many condo units, most of which she envisioned as “boxy and small.”

Finally, Erin looked at a Truberry Group model at the Condominiums at Savona in Dublin’s Tartan West neighborhood Jeremy had been praising, and she liked what she saw in size and appearance. They decided to buy and build when a wooded lot became available. Truberry promised the flexibility they wanted when working from the basic floor plan of the Stockton model.

Last summer, The Floats moved into a 3,950-square-foot home that is like the original plan, but with some striking differences.

Those differences begin in the kitchen at the end of a short entry hall. Erin insisted on a large kitchen with an island – not a peninsula - because she likes to cook and entertain. A wall was bumped 3 feet into an adjoining bedroom, creating a kitchen with room for a huge double unit refrigerator-freezer combination, a five-burner gas stove, a double convection oven, lots of cabinet space, and the island with stool seating.

Setting the room off are Golden Peach granite countertops. The backsplash of ceramic tile designed to look like tumbled marble features an inset above the range bordered by metallic-looking tile, which adds an attractive focal point. Using ceramic tile throughout the home was a cost-conscience decision allowing “a luxury look but less expensive,” Erin says.

The laundry room beside the kitchen has ample cabinets available for additional storage, a countertop and a sink. There is also a laundry chute from the second floor.

In the dining area, the couple placed an extended table for potential large gatherings. To make the dark wood table stand out, Erin chose two hanging lanterns, intended for outdoor use.

Although they could have carpeted the great room, the couple chose to extend wood floors from the kitchen and dining room. For the corner gas fireplace, Erin wanted a simple, plain mantle created by a Truberry craftsman. It’s painted white, as is all trim in the home, and is extra deep to allow ample space for decorations. She also wanted a raised hearth for additional seating if needed. The facing and hearth are done in the same granite as the kitchen. Above the mantle, Jeremy hung a 5-foot round mirror with dark wood trim, adding an attractive feature to the long chimney wall that extends to a cathedral ceiling.

Off of the living area is the first floor bedroom, which was downsized but remains large enough to serve as the master suite. Its full bath includes a walk-in closet, a shower and a soaking tub.

The Floats, however, chose to focus on the master suite they created upstairs. At the top of the stairs overlooking the great room is an informal wine loft with a small table and chairs, a serving counter and cabinets, two under-the-counter wine coolers with glass fronts and wine racks. Off to one side is Jeremy’s office. It has a full bath and could be used as a bedroom.

Through a wide opening near the top of the stairs the couple added features they wanted in the master bedroom to make it feel “like staying in a luxury hotel.” A parlor with comfortable seating is off to one side of the bedroom, and is accessed through an opening adorned with white columns. To the other side is the expansive bath with a custom-finished, walk-in closet.

The large shower is a glass and ceramic tile enclosure with two benches, large shower heads and a hand-held shower head on one side. It has a window with one-way protective privacy covering that allows light in while being able to see out.

To create openness, Erin chose a free-standing claw-foot tub rather than a built-in opposite the vanity counter. The counter has two sinks, separated by a cabinet with storage receptacles.

Much of the lower level is finished. It has a furnished entertainment room with a “beverage area.” With wall cabinets, a cooler and dishwasher built-in below the granite counter top, it is designed as a room where Jeremy and friends can watch football.

Off of the entertainment room, two bedrooms have handy access to a full-bath. Both rooms have extra-deep well windows that allow outdoor lighting.

Behind the house is a permanent reserve home to numerous wildlife species. The couple can enjoy watching them while sitting on the wood deck or, eventually, in a hot tub they plan to install.

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor for Luxury Living Magazine.