Most people think of designing their new home as the fun part of the process. And it should be. But designing a home that fits your family needs, site, climate, budget and lifestyle also takes time and research. Even if you plan to work with an Architect, Designer or other professional, chances are good that you will want to scratch out some ideas on your own first.Your first step is to determine your budget. Don't make the mistake of designing a home you can't afford to build. It can be very disappointing to invest time and money into a project that you can not afford to build. A good design and realistic budgeting go hand in hand.Know your building site. Visualize the home on your site. Note where the sun sets, where do you have trees on the site and check to see where slopes and rises are on the property. Use these natural features to their full potential. Look for the best views so you can plan for windows or decks to face in those directions.Have a site plan drawn up, with the location of trees, hills and driveways marked out. The site plan also provides locations of your septic system, water and hydro. With the site plan in hand, check out the local building inspectors for restrictions and permits.Begin your home design with a wish list. Go through home magazines and tear out photos that show something you particularly like, whether it is a built-in entertainment center, a kitchen island or a stone fireplace. Collect and study these so that you can put them to use when you begin to design your home. Decide on how you want your home to look - traditional, Victorian, country or contemporary. Make notes on what appeals to you and your family. Get the entire family in on these discussions and don't be afraid to let your imagination roam.Once you have your wish list drawn out on paper, sit down with your designer and he or she will help you fine-tune your design ideas. They will be able to point out any problems in the early stages and suggest ways to save money in one area, which may allow you to indulge somewhat in another area.The next stage in the design phase will involve taking your floor plan ideas and transferring them to working drawings. Your designers will begin by interviewing you and your family at length to get a detailed idea of your home needs. This phase will entail modifying your sketches to a workable plan. Depending on the complexity of your home, the design phase can take from several weeks to six months to complete.During the design phase, it is critical that you think carefully and creatively about what you need from your home, and that you communicate your ideas well. My goal is that you will be completely satisfied with a design that comprises the best solutions possible to meet your needs. Changes can be expensive after construction begins. A few months is not much time to spend on the design of a home built to last generations. The time you invest now in planning and design will complement and reflect the beauty of your new home.
