Moving to Vancouver, WA, or building new construction in Clark County? The floor plan matters more than finishes. It affects noise, storage, privacy, and how the home works every day.

This guide covers three popular New Tradition Homes plans: Willamette, Laurelhurst, and Bainbridge. You’ll see who each, which upgrades usually pay off, and what to confirm before you sign.

How to pick the right New Tradition Homes plan for your life

Use this quick checklist:

• Stairs: Do you want most living on the main, or a true two-story?
• Primary bedroom location: Main floor or upstairs?
• Main-floor bedroom + full bath: Do you need a real guest or a multigenerational setup?
• Work-from-home: Do you need a room with a door?
• Noise: Open-to-below spaces are louder.
• Natural light: Window placement and ceiling height matter.
• Storage and garage: 3-car garages provide ample space for daily storage.
• Lot limits: Lot size controls patio depth and some footprint options.

Plan match (quick):

• Willamette: mostly main-level living, bonus room upstairs
• Laurelhurst: main-floor suite plus strong upstairs space
• Bainbridge: two-story great room, primary on main

Reality checks before you commit

• Tour a model or a similar home.
• Look for soffits and fixed structural elements. Many cannot be removed.
• Think about sound travel in open-to-below spaces.
• Confirm laundry location (main vs upstairs).
• Get a written list of what is standard vs upgrade.
• Use 3D tours to narrow options fast.

Willamette: main-level living with a bonus room upstairs

The Willamette is about 2,500 sq ft, usually 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with a bonus room upstairs. Most daily living stays on the main.

Best for:

• Downsizers who want a mostly one-level layout
• Couples who want a guest space and a flex room
• Buyers who want a 3-car garage option

What people like

• 3-car garage options (often with a bump-out for storage or tools)
• Two front bedrooms (office + guest room)
• Shared full bath near the front bedrooms
• Open kitchen and great room
• The primary suite is separate from the other bedrooms

Tradeoff:

• Front bedrooms face the street. Plan privacy early (window coverings, landscaping).

Upgrades that matter + one pitfall

Price these early:

• 11-foot ceilings (big change in feel and light)
• Extended covered patio
• Window options for more light
• Primary bath options:
  • Walk-in shower (removes tub)
  • Use the tub space for a vanity or closet option (depends on layout)
  • Larger shower options (often called “indulgence”)

Pitfall:

• Soffits: may hide ducts or wiring and usually cannot be changed later. Confirm before framing.

Bonus room notes:

• You may be able to close it off for a bedroom-style space.
• A half bath may be an option.
• Often, there is no full bath upstairs, depending on the option set.

Laurelhurst: two-story plan with a main-floor suite

The Laurelhurst is a true two-story plan, around 3,445 sq ft. The main advantage is the main-floor flex suite, plus strong upstairs bedroom space.

Best for:

• Big households
• Buyers who need a main-floor bedroom and bath
• Guests, parents, or long-term live-in family

Flex suite options

Standard setup:

• Main-floor bedroom + full bath

Options that change function:

• Wet bar option
• Patio door option for outside access
• Some options shift nearby areas like the garage entry and pantry location. Confirm the exact layout sheet.

Use cases:

• Guests: standard setup.
• Long-term family: wet bar + patio door if available.

Structural upgrades that usually pay off

• Convert a half bath to a full bath on the main (if offered)
• Extended covered patio
• Expand the interior footprint tied to the patio area (if offered)
• Extend the patio further (if the lot allows)

A lot of questions:

• What are the setbacks?
• What is the max covered patio depth?
• How much yard do you need?
• Do patio changes affect fencing, drainage, or outdoor storage?

Bainbridge: two-story great room with primary on the main floor

The Bainbridge is just over 3,000 sq ft, often with a 3-car garage. The main feature is the two-story great room.

Best for:

• Buyers who want an open great room
• Primary-on-main households
• People who will plan for noise control

Layout highlights

• Den/office near the entry
• Two-story great room
• Defined dining area
• Kitchen counter seating
• Main-floor laundry

Upstairs options that affect comfort

• Wall off the loft + add French doors (helps with noise and privacy)
• Wet bar in the loft (if offered)
• Second-story windows were allowed (hard to add later)
• Second laundry upstairs (if offered, but reduces loft space)
• Combine two bedrooms into one larger room (if the plan allows)

Primary bath notes:

• Walk-in shower options may replace the tub.
• Ask about bath window options during the build.

Conclusion: quick plan recap

• Willamette: best for mostly main-level living
• Laurelhurst: best for a main-floor suite and bigger households
• Bainbridge: best for a two-story great room

Next steps:

• Tour a model or use a 3D tour.
• List your non-negotiables (suite needs, laundry floor, office).
• Price structural upgrades early (ceilings, patio, bath layout, walls/doors).
• Confirm what cannot change later (soffits, open-to-below areas).