At Benchmark Custom Homes, "family-oriented" isn't just a tagline; it's packed into every blueprint we draw. Long before the first wall goes up, we're thinking about how a family actually moves through a house: where the kids or grandkids will play, where the dog will sleep, where muddy shoes and muddy paws end up after a long day outside. Building custom homes means building around real life, not just floor plans. For most families in Kirkwood, this includes kids who need room to be kids and pets who are every bit as much a part of the household.
From our first conversation with a young family with kids, one thing was non-negotiable: there had to be a slide. Not a 'maybe,' not an afterthought—part of the vision from day one. So we designed the home around it, installing a bright red, curly slide from the top floor to the basement. You don't know you need it until you see a kid's face light up. 'Go play downstairs' becomes the best invitation, and a trip to the basement turns into an adventure. It's a small feature, but it says a lot about our thinking: a custom home should be as fun as it is well-built.
We applied the same family-first design to different homeowners who had their four-legged household members in mind. Rather than treating the dogs as an afterthought in the backyard, we gave them their own dedicated space. A fenced, gravel-and-turf retreat complete with a built-in wash station and fire hydrant right off the patio. Muddy paws get hosed off before they ever hit the back door, the lawn stays pristine, and the family dog gets a little turf of their own to patrol. It's a feature that makes life easier for their owner and a lot more comfortable for the pups.
Build the house you want for your little ones, four-legged ones, and everyone in between, because the best homes are the ones that work for everybody living in them.
For more information, visit benchmarkhomesstl.com