The first step in designing a new custom home is creating a floor plan that reflects your unique lifestyle. Prospective homeowners must simultaneously consider functionality, flow, and visual aesthetics while adhering to a budget and timeline. A viable house plan will blend these elements seamlessly. It may sound challenging, but it is a fulfilling and exciting project with the right custom home builder as a partner.
Research is Key
Before tackling kitchen design or deciding on the number of bathrooms, there is some groundwork to cover. Namely, you need to understand the
local building codes and regulations that will apply to your specific project. These may include room dimensions, drainage requirements, structural safety requirements, and insulation and ventilation standards.
Professional home builders are knowledgeable about local requirements, but understanding these basic guidelines will help avoid arguments and misunderstandings throughout the design process.
Establish a Budget
Even if money is no object, creating a project budget is essential to establish parameters. Setting a budget in advance will provide scope and set limits for the floor plan design stage.
A budget will cover every aspect of the project, from labor and legal fees to the cost of engineers and architects, plumbers and electricians, and materials and finishes down to the smallest decorative detail.
Understand Your Space
The last step before designing your dream home is checking (and double-checking) the acreage you have to work with, taking into account any unusable land, easements, trees on site, or natural water features.
Designing for Your Lifestyle
Once you understand the space you have to work with, you can begin to allocate it according to your priorities. Remember, making one room large takes square footage from the rest of the rooms, so these decisions require some balance and compromise.
A large family may need more bedrooms, storage, and common areas, but a retired couple may prioritize a large outdoor area for entertaining. Homeowners must consider how the space will be used daily – and by whom.
For most people, thinking about design in terms of zones makes the most sense. This high-level strategy compels the homeowner to consider how the occupants will practically use the space while dividing the complex home design project into smaller, more manageable components. Defining zones organizes the layout logically.
Some standard zones that home designers consider include:
- Living Areas (dining, relaxation, play, entertainment, gardens, patio)
- Functional Areas (master bathroom/guest baths, kitchen, pantry, utility rooms, laundry, storage)
- Private Areas (bedrooms, walk-in closets)
- Work Areas (office, library, craft rooms, garage)
In larger homes, individual rooms may also have distinct zones – such as a master suite with a sleeping area, closets, master bath, reading nook, and dressing room.
Optimize Traffic Flow
Once the floor plan and zones have been defined, the next decision involves how everyone will move throughout the home. This process, known as designing traffic flow, is essential to creating an efficient and workable floor plan.
Think About Future Needs
When designing a home, you’ll need to consider what you need today and anticipate what you’ll need in the future. Priorities and requirements often change as families grow—whether by extending the family, caring for elderly relatives, starting a home business, or retiring and no longer having children at home. Making allowances for these future changes will facilitate the needed updates when they become necessary.
Preparing for the future could include:
- Having two masters on the main floor.
- Building a small outbuilding next to the pool.
- Leaving room for an addition.
- Choosing a flat roof to facilitate building a second story.
Choose a Professional Partner
One of the best ways to ensure your new custom home reflects your lifestyle is to partner with an experienced home builder. They have seen what works -and what doesn’t. When a problem arises, they can suggest a comparable workaround. When you aren’t sure how to create a space that will be highly functional and beautiful, they provide the inspiration and expertise.
Bruce Williams Homes has been helping Sarasota and Manatee residents to build their dream homes for over 50 years. You can trust us to offer the knowledge, skill and work ethic you need – as well as the spark of creativity that will set your home apart.
