This is the stage at which a schematic for the design of your home is created. You will design the style and flow of each space to suit the specific needs of your lifestyle. If your tastes are traditional, you’ll design rooms separated by walls and doors. If you prefer a more contemporary style of architecture, use an open-concept design with fewer walls and doors with tall or vaulted ceilings. Consider your personal style and living habits when you determine your home’s basic form. Make determinations based on functionality and relationships between the number of spaces, the size of each space, and the proximity of each space to the others. In the design stage, you’ll make sure that everything has its place and that each space has a look and feel that complements the activities that will occur within it.
Although the architect will visit your site to ensure an ideal connection between your home and the land, good design begins with the inside of the home, addressing the needs of all aspects of your lifestyle. Design spaces based on your daily activities as well as your hobbies and special activities. Consider how your needs will change over time. Do you need that extra bedroom now, or could it be added later?
Based on your guidance, detailed floor plans are developed. These plans will determine your home’s design dimensions and how the construction process of your home will proceed. It is therefore extremely important to remain thoroughly engaged in this process and this process will require a great deal of your time and energy; but it’s also exciting and rewarding to watch your plans transformed into a home. Your design decisions will initiate the creation of a detailed schematic of the home’s design, which in turn will influence the host of decisions that must be made by the architect and builder. It is critical for you to devote the time necessary to develop a design that you will be happy with and excited about.
Once the floor plan is determined, consider the outdoor spaces you want to create. Consider the details of exterior imagery, roof pitch, and elevation. You’ll need to discuss these features with your architect and builder, since they relate to the operation and performance of the highly efficient, green building, and/or mechanical systems of your home.
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