House Design: Thought, Planning and Process - Schumacher Homes

Building a new custom home gives you an exciting opportunity: the opportunity to start over. A new house requires a lot of thought and planning. House design is about much more than just sifting through houseplans to find the one that physically fits your family's lifestyle. It also includes plumbing the depths of your personality to figure out what style you're comfortable with and would like to see reflectedin your new home. After all, your home's personality should be a reflection of your own.

One of the first things to consider in house design is curb appeal. Are you the type of person who wants their house to be unique and stand out on the block, or are you more comfortable choosing a house design that's similar to the neighbors'? House designs can vary drastically and some neighborhoods have restrictions on what kind of exterior designs are allowed. Make sure you check with your home association before making your final decision.

You have a little more latitude when it comes to the inside of the house. After you've chosen an exterior house design that suits you and is allowed in your neighborhood, you get to start working on the style of the interior rooms. Once you've settled on the basics, such as how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need, how many fireplaces you want, and whether or not you want a media room, you'll have to drill down to the details of your house design. It's time to pick the style and color for every room in the house.

Before starting this process, you might want to give some thought to the overall look of your home. Some things to consider might include how modern you want the house to look, how environmentally friendly you want it to be, and whether or not you want the same theme throughout the house. For instance, regarding modernity, you may want the function of modern appliances and fixtures throughout the house, but you may prefer the look of old-time antiques. In this case, you'll want to shop for new fixtures and appliances that look old in order to complete your house design. On the flip side, if you're someone who likes the ultra-contemporary look, you may want to carry that theme throughout the entire house.

If you decide on a house design that includes environmental friendliness, there are many ways to work this into your plan. You may want to consider kitchen countertops made of crushed recycled glass, or flooring made out of cork or bamboo. Consider installing a heated floor that keeps your feet warm and helps save energy in the winter. A few solar panels on the roof might also be in order, and skylights throughout the house will bring in some natural daylight. Energy-efficient appliances are also available and will add to the environmental friendliness of your house design.

Once you've decided on the overall look and feel of your house, it's time to tackle each room. Think about who will be using the room and the feeling you might want to create in the room. Do you want all the rooms to generally look the same, or do you want to feature a different theme in each room? Will you let the kids have a say in decorating their rooms? Will you use neutral colors throughout the house, or will you paint each room a different and exciting color? This is where it really starts to get interesting, so get the family together and start having some discussions about what you want your new home to look like.

House designs vary widely from family to family. When you walk into your new home, it should feel like your home, not just a house. Giving some thought to your house design ahead of time will really help pull your new home together and make it a place that's comfortable for you and that your guests look forward to visiting.