How to: Design a Floor PlanHow to: Design a Floor Plan Whether you're working with a pro or doodling your own version of a home, these 10 steps will guide you through mapping out your floor plan design.  Imagine yourself living in each room of your home. How will it look and feel? What will you see in front, behind, above and below? What sounds will you hear?
Convey your ideas to your designer and builder with a notebook of clippings (or scans burned to a CD) of homes and features that speak to you. This will give the professionals an idea of what you want your home to look like and an indication of the quality you expect. Consider the makeup of your family (adults only, adults and kids, aging parents), how you live (formal or casual, hectic or relaxed) and if you like to entertain or have special hobbies. For example, a casual couple won't need a formal entryway or dining room, whereas high-octane families should consider cozy, peaceful spaces to regroup. Bigger isn't always better. It does, however, cost more. Before you jump on the wasted-space bandwagon, make sure the number, type and size of rooms in your home reflect what will take place within them. To do this, think of your rooms in terms of activities. For example, instead of "kitchen" and "living room," think "cooking" and "family time." Some experts recommend downsizing square footage by as much as 30 percent and putting the money saved into higher quality. Take note of the advantages and challenges of your building site, including geography, topography, vegetation, climate, sun and wind exposure, views and sounds. Then determine how these factors will affect each room in your home. Also, consider how your home impacts the beauty of the site—you'll want to leave the best attributes untouched so you can enjoy them. First, identify access points for vehicles and pedestrians, then within those boundaries, determine the shape of the house and direction it will face. Room placement will be based on your list of activities from Number 4. Start by breaking down your list into private and communal activities and where in the house each one should take place. Then draw a bubble diagram by grouping bubbles (rooms) according to where you want them to be positioned. Finally, square off the bubbles to create a rough floor plan, adding enough space for walls. Architectural components are integral to your home, but they also tend to hog space (and cost money, so don't forget to figure them into your budget). Some popular elements: window seats, large windows, massive trusses, dormers, and hipped or gabled roofs. Most people can't get everything they want. So make cuts that work for your lifestyle, whether it' shaving off square footage, minimizing special features or reducing quality. (Be careful with lower-quality items; there are some things you shouldn't skimp on, like windows and doors.) You don't have to start from scratch with a new floor plan. Instead, look at your timber company' file of standard plans that you can tweak based on your lifestyle and home site. (For tips on how to do this, turn the page.) Professional guidance and recommendations are crucial throughout the entire home-building process. But, remember, this is your home, so make sure you discuss every suggestion thoroughly. And don't be afraid to get a second opinion if you have concerns. Also, you want to work with someone who' excited about your project and not trying to make a statement of his own or, worse, make his job easier. Related Links: Design It Right Designing a Seamless Floor Plan
|
|
