Designing your Dream Home – tips and tricks for smooth sailing
The process of designing your new home or remodeling your
existing home is an exciting time.
However, it can also be overwhelming.
There are many existing home plans on the internet, but it is very rare
to find one that exactly fits your needs. We recommend working with a local
architect that has designed other homes in the area where you want to live. Even
then, there are lots of decisions to be made. Here are some things to keep in
mind for smooth sailing in designing your dream home.
First, create a list of “must have” design ideas that are
most important to you. Write down all of
the spaces that you want in your new or remodeled home and add any wish lists
for certain areas such as kitchens and baths.
Do not worry about solving issues with the floor plan. That is what the architect does. It is helpful
for architects and builders if you create computer files with lots of photos of
things you like. Certain web sites like
Houzz and Pinterest make this easy.
Now,
you’re ready to interview architects. Most of them offer initial consultations
for free or a small fee, so meeting with a few is a good idea. During the
initial consultation, you should discuss project goals, budget, and learn about
each architect’s individual process and vision.
Look
for someone who has experience with your type of project and shares your
values. This is a relationship that you’ll have for some time, so make sure it
feels like a good fit. It is also a good idea to check references. The
same applies for the selection of your builder.
The first decision you’ll make with your architect is the main
floor plan. When you’re looking at a floor plan, imagine yourself walking
through the home. Go from the laundry room to putting the clothes away. Is it
convenient? Does the flow of the kitchen to the dining area feel right? Will
the bedrooms afford privacy for the occupants? When you’re coming in with an
armload of groceries, will you have an easy path to the kitchen? Will there be sounds coming from children in
other rooms while you are watching your favorite TV show? Do you need a
two-story home to accommodate everyone in your household, or is a single-level
ranch more to your liking? A single-level home certainly fits the household
that doesn’t want to deal with stairs. You can also integrate a first-floor
owner’s suite if you need more space but want to do most of your living on the
first floor.
Many today’s floor plans feature the open concept. It’s a
popular layout because the lack of walls between the kitchen, living room, and
dining area allow for more socializing. The chef is no longer cut off from the
activity outside the kitchen. As you look at the open floor plan in the home designs,
think about how the rooms connect. It might be one big space—long, square, or
rectangular—or an L-shape with the kitchen as the pivotal point. Do you prefer
one style over the other? How will your furniture fit in the layout? With an
open floor plan, you can create separate spaces, like a reading area or study
space. You can also separate spaces with ceiling treatments (beams, cased
openings, etc.). Envision how you will
use the main living area so you choose a floor plan that fits your family’s lifestyle.
Do not forget about the importance of the functional
spaces. Features
like a mudroom and the design and placement of the laundry room might not seem
as important in the big picture, but small details often spark a big change.
The mudroom, for example, is a threshold that protects your home from the great
outdoors and keeps the clutter under control, if you plan it that way. Cubbies
or cabinets are a smart choice here. Establish a system for organizing shoes,
backpacks, school stuff, leashes, and everything else that often gets lost when
it’s allowed to meander into the main living area. As far as the laundry room, some homeowners
prefer to have it closer to the master suite, while others want it near the
kitchen. Either is fine as long as it fits your family’s needs.
While architects are great at designing your home, they may
not be as familiar with the current cost of material and labor. During the preliminary
sketch stage, run the plans by your preferred builder for some preliminary
pricing to make sure that the design you are falling in love with will also
meet your budget. Also, ask your builder
if there are ways to achieve some of your architectural plan goals with a lower
cost. Most builders are familiar with
this process and will sometimes use the term “value engineering” to refer to
cutting costs while minimizing design changes.
Finally, try to enjoy the process! If you team up with a professional architect
and builder that you get along with, building your dream home can be very enjoyable!
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