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Many times our
clients cannot find the stock plan
that suits their exact needs. Custom design offers the opportunity to design a home that
meets your needs. We have proven ourselves as the firm to help you through this process.
We can approach your design from two ways. We can design a completely new custom home or modify a stock plan. Click through the information to the
right. You will find it helpful if you decide to build your
dream. There are many decisions to make and it may seem overwhelming. We have
developed a FREE Design Workbook to walk you through the steps. Design
Considerations
Lifestyle/occupation
The first step in designing your own home is to consider the way you live. What are
the day-to-day activities that occur in your home? Are there factors of occupation,
children, pets or relatives that may affect your design? For example, a retiring couple
with grown children does not have the same design needs as a family with three kids and
two dogs!
Style/Taste
Many clients desire a home that represents a particular style. We encourage our clients
not to try and categorize their style with a name but with design elements. Collect
pictures of stylistic elements that you like and we will assemble them into a home that
represents your taste. Remember, there are very few examples of "pure" style.
Most homes are comprised of many different elements.
Climate & Region
Consideration must be made in regards to your climate. Shading with the use of overhangs
and the proper placement of glazing, can make all the difference in the overall comfort of
your home. We take the meteorological data from your climate and determine the minimum
thermal envelope for your home. This and other design elements can have a major impact on
how you use and enjoy your home.
Location
Design depends greatly on your location. Considerations have to be made if your lot is
urban, suburban or rural. Many urban and suburban areas have zoning regulations in regards
to minimum setback, landscaping, maximum height, material and other restrictions. All of
the guidelines set forth by governing agencies should be identified prior to the design of
your home. Rural homes also present their challenges. Many times there are zoning laws
that govern rural homes. Outside of governing agencies the rural home may have special
needs. The home may not only be residential but also commercial. In the case of a farm the
home would have to address additional daily activities that would normally not be a
concern. Natural forces such as wind, rain and sun many times play a larger role in the
rural setting.
Size & Scale
It is important that the client have a good understanding of how large or small the home
is to be. The size of the home is greatly dependent on your room requirements and the size
of the lot. Before many hours are spent at the design table we will conduct a feasibility
study to determine if your requirements are realistic.
Budget
In the design of your home consider the construction cost budget for the project. With
proper planning you can solve budgetary problems early in the design process. A key
element in the design is to prioritize your requirements. All clients have requirements
that may be more important than others. Use the free design
workbook to help prioritize these requirements. We can advise you on these early
decisions to make your design ideas feasible. |
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