The Principles of Designing a House
You need to go over many home designs and plans before making final choices. You may like the appearance of a house, but you want to ensure it will work well for your needs. For example, a home appropriate for an urban neighborhood might not work in a rustic setting. The more effort you put into the preplanning stage of design, the better the outcome. Does this Spark an idea?
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Roof Lines Define Style
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Begin the process of sketching a home with a roof line you prefer. For example, you might like multiple roof lines vs. a ranch-roof home. You might choose an A-frame house or a house with a hip roof. Figure out if one or more porches on the home will be important to you. You can drive around neighborhoods in your area to determine houses that are visually appealing to you and take notice of how any home's roof line helps define the architectural style.
Choose Doors and Windows
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Examine door and window placement important to the design. For example, if you like the look of an English Tudor home with a double-door entry, you might prefer strong window frames and a very traditional look in terms of architecture. Sketch your ideal home from curbside view first so that you can devise a floor plan to fit with your preferences. Window and door placement will matter in designing the layout of interior rooms.
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Review Property Features
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Take the building lot into consideration. If you desire a two-story home with a double drive-under garage, you will need to acquire a sloping property to accommodate this. Figure out if having close neighbors is acceptable to you. Or you might want to select a property in a rural area if a wooded area or large garden space is important to you. If you like a subdivision already under development, review home styles that fit the neighborhood and also meet your criteria for a nice home.
Design an Appropriate Interior Layout
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Create a layout that fits your family’s needs. For example, if you need a small in-law apartment in your home space, construct this apartment over a garage in a large attic. Examine how to design living room and kitchen space that match the formality of how you really live. If you entertain business clients, for example, include a formal dining room in your home. Never settle on a floor plan until you’ve reviewed many options and made lots of sketches.
Plan Exterior Materials
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Design the ideal exterior, and adjust according to the budget. For example, you can use brown brick, beige siding and stacked stone veneer versus having an all-brick exterior. Many homes have less expensive siding on the sides and back areas with an all-brick front. Interesting combinations of materials usually create the most attractive homes, however. If you can’t afford an all-brick house, use brick on the foundation and chimney areas only. Use landscaping design, quality window shutters, brass light fixtures and a nice porch to create an upscale look to the home.
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References
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