I am interested in getting feedback on general tips and hints about home design. Specifically, what aspects of a home that you find particularly useful and valuable.
For example, a suggestion was made to me to put outlets near the roof to facilitate Christmas lights. Another suggestion was to put a piece of PVC pipe under your concrete driveway when it is poured to allow electrical or sprinkers to be run at a later date without demolition of the the drive. Finally, a friend designed a large closet specifically to put his entire Christmas tree in each year without having to dismantle it.
I would very much appreciate any other tips and hints that you particularly appreciate in your home. Thanks in advance.
Replies
Good topic! I would also love to hear some ideas since we are in the planning stages on our house. The outside xmas lights receptical is a great one, not sure if a closet is needed just for a tree though. :D I plan on putting extra insulation in the laundry room, since I cannot stand the sounds those machines make! (and my other half has them going 24 hours a day) The rental that I am currently staying in has a "whole house fan". I never would have thought I would want one of these but after having one its a must! They are perfect for days like today when its a nice 70 degrees outside.
John
No floor level outlets please. They're a safety issue if you've got kids or pets. They're a challenge to reach if you're pregnant, older and arthritic, nasty if you're using a chair. Chail rail height outlets/receptacles should be an industry standard as far as I'm concerned (and my contractor tells me they'd be faster and cheaper to install at that level as well).No matter how small the kitchen, have counters of differing heights to accommodate the different types of tasks people do in the kitchen (as well as the varying heights of people who might live/work in the kitchen).Those are probably my two biggest dreams/wishes.If you can't play a sport, be one.
My sister has a lighted and recessed "cubby" over her fireplace mantle rather than a tall flat wall. She loves it and puts flowers, art or seasonal displays in it.
Automatic lights in the pantry is another that I have heard often.
Automatic fan in the bathroom would probably be nice also.
A friend also had some void space between an office and a bathroom that happened to be on the same side as his built in book cases. He used the void to create a hidden area for a safe behind the bookcase. It is a very neat use of otherwise wasted space.
I've also considered a hidden room or closet. The kid in me really wants one! Personally I like gadgets. So I will probably also prewire everything that would be needed for a security system, built-in ethernet in every room, maybe an intercom system, maybe cieling speakers throughout the house. Even if I never install these things, it would be nice to know that the house is ready for it.John
We had a whole house fan. I turned it on when I started a fire in the fire place to move the heat around. Guess what happened? Stupid me. Also if you like living at the airport then put one in.I didnt like the noise.
"Also if you like living at the airport then put one in.I didnt like the noise."As with most things, some are better than others. The cheapest whole house fan you can get at Home Depot may be loud, but not all of them are. Some are more like a bathroom exhaust fan. Check out the HV1000 from Tamarack Technologies Inc. for example.It depends somewhat on your climate, but during certain times of the year they can be a very efficient means of cooling your house.
Enjoy your fan steve we spent our money on central air. TO EACH HIS OWN.
I think there is room for both. Central Air for the summer heat and the fan for the cool nights of spring and fall. (Again, local climate makes a difference.) I was only trying to point out that the old, large, loud fans like you had are not the only fan option and people should be aware that they can have one that doesn't make them feel like they are living in an airport.
I think there is room for both. Central Air for the summer heat and the fan for the cool nights of spring and fall. (Again, local climate makes a difference.)
I absolutely agree.
Here in Arkansas, central air for our hot, humid summers is a given, but we have weeks if not months in the spring and the fall when a house fan is a perfect, low-energy solution to cooling off. It has saved us hundreds of dollars on our electric bill in the two years since we installed it, and has more than paid for itself.
It's not silent, but it's no jet engine, either. Very liveable.
Leigh
There are enough tips to fill a book. Actually, it's been done!
Here are a couple.
Don't do anything fashionable, it will look dated in 15 years
Good advice, and something I keep in mind as I select materials for the new house. However, sometimes it's difficult to determine if the product/material I like is timeless or trendy!
Of course, we're building a timberframe, so there is a certain amount of built-in timelessness there, but with the finish materials, it can be difficult for me to judge.
Any tips there?
Leigh
Having picked timberframe as a "style" is a great start. Picking a style instantly narrows down your universe of selections to those which fit with or complement that look.
I'm not that good with colors, but one thing I found is that colors of nature nearly always go well with other natural colors. So earth tones (browns, terra cottas, straws, greens, and so forth, including desert colors such as plum and rust) all work well together, and fortunately, with Timberframe.
One thing you'll have to watch out for is that most ordinary building supplies are styled after Colonial, specifically English Colonial. So, light fixtures, doors, trim, and so forth are usually in a style that won't go with yours. For example, a painted six panel door won't go well, but a flat birch door, stained to complement other woods in the house, will.
Edited 3/31/2005 5:55 pm ET by WAYNEL5
The PVC conduit for cable is a great idea and exactly what I am looking for. I have read several books reading tips and traps for building homes. I am interested in suggestions like yours about what specific people love about their home or a home they know of. This does not mean it will be something I will also love but it is probably something that I have not put much thought into or much value into until you are in a position to really appreciate it on a daily basis. It could be something as simple as " I am sure glad I had a magazine holder installed into the bathroom wall". I think people spend tons of money on some things that do not lead to recognized pleasure on a daily basis and have many little inexpensive details that they frequently recognize as making a home special.
One thing I like in our house is the "playroom". The kids are grown and gone, but I use it as a workshop and studio. It has nine foot ceilings and lots of windows for light and ventilation. Wife isn't wild about the mess I make in there (it's right off the living room and has a glass door), especially when I decide to use saw or router or sander, which sends dust into the rest of the house, or when I use paints and thinners that smell. I am an artist too, so it has good light (though it isn't "north light") for painting. It also has a door to the outside. Good for getting Christmas trees in and out of living room.
As a builder/realtor I've developed some peeves over the years that include:
Front door coat closet
Back door mud entry
2 car garage 24X24 NOT 19X19!
Light up the kitchen! and the pantry.
Illuminated 3 way switches (so you'll know if the outside lights are on somewhere)
All ceiling fixtures 'fan' braced.
Telephone, cable & RJ45 in every dry room (includes garage)
There are more but the main thing to remember is: The house will out live you, so think of the future owners, and everything cost a lot less before, than after it's painted!
Joe
I posted on Breaktime, but I'll add a few here as well.
The most important design 'nice to have' that I can think of is site placement. If you screw that up, then it really doesn't matter how well designed your home is, it still won't work. After that, the suggestions below, but of course everything is personal.
South facing windows with ledges for plants. Large, well designed closets. I'll differ with the guy who doesn't like walk in closets. They do use more floor space, but because you can have a smaller door to get to more storage, they free up wall space in the bedroom. The benefit of that is more flexible furniture placement. I'd put built in storage everywhere it is humanly possible to fit it. My dream house would have vanity sinks (properly hidden behind a door) in every bedroom allowing for toothbrushing/teenage primping/etc without tying up the bathroom. Light in the shower. Women who shave usually do it there - it's a pain to do in the dark. Plus it makes the space feel bigger. You can get the same effect with clear shower doors - but I hate shower doors. Skylights are nice in a bathroom, but generally it is dark when I'm getting ready for work, so they are kind of wasted on me. I like more power outlets per linear foot of wall than code calls for. Also, I would love to have extra power outlets where my desk is located. With all of my equipment I literally have 4 surge protectors, some plugged into each other. And I still have to unplug something when I want to recharge a battery. In a home with a more open design, I like differing ceiling heights to differentiate spaces.
On the outside, I like nice big deciduous trees on my east, west and southern fronts. They make beautiful shadow patterns inside the house as well as reducing the cooling load, but they don't entirely block the sun for those plants I have inside. My dream house would have a nice courtyard that gets sun and moisture but is sheltered from the wind and prying eyes by the house.
As for the Christmas tree idea - part of the fun of Christmas for me is decorating the thing with my children, so for me that seems kind of silly, but to each his own.
My dream house would have vanity sinks (properly hidden behind a door) in every bedroom allowing for toothbrushing/teenage primping/etc without tying up the bathroom.
Great idea! I thought about it for the house we're building, but everyone just looks at me like I'm crazy for suggesting it. I think I'll push the issue--since one of the upstairs bedrooms backs up on the plumbing wall for that bath, it is definitely doable for that room at least.
And considering we're building on a lake, and expect to have lots of guests, that kind of thing can make visits go more smoothly, and one full guest bath go farther!
Leigh
"...everyone just looks at me like I'm crazy for suggesting it"
They just have no vision. In my college days the dorms that had this set up were the most livable and comfortable. In a home it definitely makes the bathroom go farther, keeps it neater, and it makes for less contention over counter space.
Don't forget to post pictures of your project!
Given that you are on a lake, I have a couple of suggestions.
First, all the glossy magazines and most upper-end homes present large bathtubs in front of a big window with one of the best views in the house. Please question the value of sacrificing this view to a bathtub that is used very rarely! If it were me, I'd put the water closet in front of that view, so I could really enjoy it! (And the window wouldn't have to be so big.)
I feel similarly about furniture that is grouped around the fireplace. I use the fireplace rarely. I much prefer to gaze out the window at a natural view, so our furniture is placed accordingly. The fireplace works well to provide ambiance in the background. I mention this because furniture placement should be considered before building.
Note that a view that faces south is far superior to one that looks north. One feels part of the former, while looking north feels like looking at a postcard. Especially on sunny days, light coming into the house is one of the greatest of pleasures.
Speaking of which, while designing the architecture, try to have windows on two sides in all the most important rooms. There is a huge difference--let me repeat, a huge difference--compared to a room with windows on one wall. Light, ventilation, breezes, openess, etc. I consider this to be one of the most fundamental priorities in building a home.
I'd be sure to include a walk-in pantry for the kitchen: basically a walk-in closet with rows of 12" shelving, with bright lighting. You can put a ton of stuff in there, it is all easily accessible, and it is so much cheaper than kitchen cabinets!
Recessed lighting is not good if the ceiling is 8' or less. It is great however if you limit it to the perimeter of a room to wash the walls. This will make the room feel both larger and warmer.
Our bathroom is on the plain side--it's a utilitarian space for us, not a luxury one, so no worries there about the view!
We have focused the views from the areas we spend the most time in--the kitchen and the eating area, as well as the living room (the lake and thus the views are to the South). There is a large rock-faced fireplace in the living room (dividing the living room and the kitchen), but the views are at a right angle to it, providing multiple focal points for the room.
I love to cook (I usually hang out over on Cooks Talk) and so the kitchen has had the most design time put into it (G). I have two walk-in pantries and few overhead cabinets (they would prevent me from putting the windows to gaze out at the lake through!)
Your suggestions are good ones, and I generally agree with them. Thanks for posting!
Leigh
I agree with your comments about the fireplace but for slightely differenct reasons.
Most family rooms have a fireplace that is as you describe, centrally located and most of the furniture is aranged around it. But we all know what the main focus of the room really is .... THE TV. The TV usually get wedged next to the fireplace in the corner.
Not sure what the solution is. I'm building a new house and I guess we will have a FP in the family room. I just need to find a way to design it around the way I will use it...infrequently!
PS My brother in law just bought a new mcmansion with 3 fireplaces. Hasn't used any of them yet (been in a year). Odds he will use all three once in the 10 years 100 - 1. Odds he will use two in 10 years 50 - 1. Seems like a wast of money.
"I just need to find a way to design it around the way I will use it...infrequently!"
Consider getting a flat panel TV and mounting it over the fireplace - then the furniture arrangement is always correct. You can have doors to hide the TV when you are enjoying the fire.
Or put the tv in the fireplace and play a dvd of a fire when you want one.
In the addition I'm designing for the house we're buying, we will probably have a fireplace in an inglenook off the new living room. We probably won't have a TV in the living room, but the next owner probably will. You will be able to see the fireplace just fine from the seating area, with comfortable benches on either side.
Mike
My dream house would have vanity sinks (properly hidden behind a door) in every bedroom allowing for toothbrushing/teenage primping/etc without tying up the bathroom.
Great idea! I thought about it for the house we're building, but everyone just looks at me like I'm crazy for suggesting it. I think I'll push the issue--since one of the upstairs bedrooms backs up on the plumbing wall for that bath, it is definitely doable for that room at least.
2 houses I can remember:
House #1 had furniture-like vanities/sinks in 1 or 2 BR's (only 1 shared BA on that house's 2nd floor, so the vanities were probably quite helpful).
House #2 had 2 BR's with small closets. Open the maybe 24-30" closet door and the entire closet consited of a vanity/sink. Towel bar on side closet walls, mirror & light above vanity, full length mirror on 'inside' side of door. The light may have been connected to the door, but can't remember for sure (so that the light comes on when the door opens). Plus the BR's had regular walk in closets.
jt8
It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. --Chinese proverb
Many houses in England (land of serious underplumbing) have bedroom basins. Makes a lot of sense to me...
As a framer, I can say my fave feature is a tray or "turtleback" ceiling, vs. vaulted and cathedral ceilings. They don't waste heat and air, they're faster to frame, and they give the house a warmer feelingJason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling
A feature I saw on my neighbor's house that I thought was neat was a waterproof outlet at the top of the wall under the roof overhang--I assume he plugs in decorative Christmas lights that go along the fascia.
Electircal outlets above the fireplace mantel.
Lights/fan in bathroom on motion detectors (must if you have kids)
Put all exhaust fans (bath/laundry/kitchen) in the attic.
Why not have motion ativated faucet in baths (again if you have kids..)
Consider using an easily adjustable closet organizer system, instead of bolting in beautiful shelving that doesn't accomodate your current wardrobe.
Counting the shirts, shoes, and long dresses is great for figuring out which types of storage you need in your closet, but in five years you will probably need something totally different.
And it's a certainty that the closet design will need to change if you have any fo these changing family needs....
... A woman who decides to stay home from corporate work to raise a family will go from suits, dresses and high heels to lots more jeans, running shoes and casual shirts.
... that two foot tall 2 year old becomes a pre-teen, with a corresponding increase in volume of clothing as well as size of each piece. :)
... Becoming an emptynester means that kid's room will become an office or sewing room, etc. And still need a bed for guests and grandkids.
Personally, I like Rubbermaid's Configurations system. The mounting rail is bolted into the studs, and the hanging tracks hold all the options... pull-out baskets, shoe racks, show rods, tie/belt/scarf pull-out, pull-out non-slip pant racks, and adjustable shelf lengths and rods! You can change the thing in minutes. And it is soooooo much easier to install (NO cutting!).
http://www.rubbermaidcloset.com/hpd/rubbermaidcloset/jhtml/index.jhtml;jsessionid=ZEMFJWFD2DLJECQHUCBCGWQ
-rayna
I built in a dishwasher into kitchen wall and raised it 12" above floor to aid in filling it.
At the same time i built can goods storage into the wall around the dw 2 sides and above using the unused space between the 2 x 4 framing.
For the kitchen lower cupboards i installed low voltage halogen lights controlled by burgular alarm magnetic switches , this idea was in response to seeing wife using flashlight to fin things in the back corners due to U shapped layout of cupboards