Should I drop the off center Fireplace from my custom build
5 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (28)
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
Related Discussions
Help - need to chop 90K off my build - Ideas?
Comments (60)I go against the popular opinion here, so take it for what it's worth. Also, I suspect you've already made some decisions, but here goes anyway. If it were me, I would keep the high quality materials and reduce square footage. You can always add on space later, especially if you plan for it now. But cheap quality materials will be a source of regret for you forever. And the house will never, ever give you a feeling of rightness. You will always feel disappointed. What I personally would eliminate (your choices will certainly be different): Drop from a 3 car garage to a 2 car garage Do you really need both a formal living room AND a family room? If you keep both, don't sink the floor of the living room. As someone mentioned it seems very dated, and it is also a bit of a hazard. I have never been in a house that had one and not seen a guest stumble at the threshold at least once. You have a lovely eat-in kitchen and a large dining room. Do you need both? We have not eaten in our formal dining room one single time since we added a large eating area to our kitchen twelve years ago. We entertain frequently, but in the winter everyone gathers in the kitchen and in the summer everyone is out on the back patio. What I would absolutely keep: The porch. It is a wonderful feature and gives your house distinction. Rosefolly...See MoreEntry Lanterns...off-centered or centered w/ off-set front door?
Comments (7)I think that you should only consider sight lines. In your case everyone will be coming in the door and presumably looking dead ahead. you'll get the most bang (since I assume you'll have some fabulous fixture in your entry) if you centre the lights on the door. Also a centred light viewed through the transom windows above a front door is a great warm greeting from the street (if your door is surrounded by glass). I went through the build process recently myself (moved in two months ago) trust me, you can't over think this stuff. There are tiny details all over the place now that I wish I had given more consideration. They don't spoil the experience of my new house, it's not that bad, but they do draw my eye in over and over and over. One of those niggling issues is my dining room light fixture which is centred on the dimensions of the room per plan, but does not account for the fact that the dining room opens to both a hall and my foyer so visual appears much bigger....See MoreMy Land Surveyor is Blowing Me off.. What should I do
Comments (24)Yes, cpartist, if it was one or 2 reasonably timed phone calls, and the surveyor freaked out, told the client he was busy with his other clients and that the client should go elsewhere, then I would request the retainer be returned and I would gladly go find someone less busy. But it's been a week since the revisions were asked for, and the surveyor "keeps blowing me off". A week for a change to a drawing is about the minimum time I would expect, given the first drawing took at least 3-4 weeks? Today would probably be my first call. But it sounds like OP has made enough calls already to be considered an impact to the surveyor's time. And that's why the surveyor is probably telling him that he's given priority to the other clients, I'm guessing. Yes, if he's actually put the OP on the back burner in favour of existing clients, then I wonder how he's ever gotten repeat business. But firing him now is going to mean a longer delay, and even more money lost. And unfortunately, it's not going to be the last person who acts unprofessionally in this venture, so if OP doesn't have a favourite drink yet, he soon will....See MoreShould we let our custom builder go and build with someone else?
Comments (20)Move On. Do not pressure yourselves about when you break ground, and only do so *after* you have vetted every aspect of the house over time. Hire an architect to draw your plans. You can tell him what you liked and didn't like about stock plans, but let him draw your house to fit your needs and your lot. (Do not rely on anything the architect tells you about building costs. He's not building anything.) Put your plans out to bid. This is where you'll see cost *estimates*. Your actual cost will be much more. Do not think that the architect or the contractor will be *building* your house. You will have to check on every sub's work every day. From the start, the lead carpenter is going to be *building your house*. He will probably need to tweak the architectural plans to make it all come together. This is common because, as I said, architects don't swing the hammers or have to make Angle A fit against Angle B in the real world. Almost none of the cutie-pie builder plans are live-able 'as is'. They usually have five different architectural styles pasted on a 'box', drawn in some story book setting. They short on natural light and go long on elaborate porches that nobody has used since the advent of air conditioning -- but that cost an arm and a leg to build and to maintain. Look at the living space. Look for windows on at least two sides of most rooms. Ignore anything labeled "bonus room". Think about orientation on your lot -- how light will strike each room during the day or how some aspect will enhance or block the light....See MoreRelated Professionals
Palatine General Contractors · Rock Island General Contractors · University City General Contractors · Aspen Hill Interior Designers & Decorators · Beachwood Architects & Building Designers · San Diego Furniture & Accessories · San Francisco Furniture & Accessories · New Bern General Contractors · Arizona City General Contractors · Hoffman Estates Fireplaces · Cusseta Interior Designers & Decorators · Rosaryville Interior Designers & Decorators · Elgin General Contractors · Mount Holly General Contractors · Saginaw General Contractors- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
Related Stories

FUN HOUZZEverything I Need to Know About Decorating I Learned from Downton Abbey
Mind your manors with these 10 decorating tips from the PBS series, returning on January 5
Full Story
BATHROOM MAKEOVERSWhat I Learned From My Master Bathroom Renovation
Houzz writer Becky Harris lived through her own remodel recently. She shares what it was like and gives her top tips
Full Story
HOMES AROUND THE WORLDHousehold Habits and Customs to Borrow From Other Countries
Discover why salt may be the perfect house-warming gift, how to clean rugs in snow and why you should invest in a pair of ‘toilet slippers’
Full Story
FEEL-GOOD HOME12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers
These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable
Full Story
PRO TIPSSet Your Business Apart by Building Your Brand Online and Off
Check out these tips for getting noticed by homeowners looking to hire pros
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Updated French Country Style Centered on a Stove
What to do when you've got a beautiful Lacanche range? Make it the star of your kitchen renovation, for starters
Full Story
CONTRACTOR TIPSBuilding Permits: What to Know About Green Building and Energy Codes
In Part 4 of our series examining the residential permit process, we review typical green building and energy code requirements
Full Story
FRONT DOOR COLORSFront and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Blue
Who knew having the blues could be so fun? These 8 exterior color palettes celebrate sunny-day skies to electric nights
Full Story
DENS AND LIBRARIESThese Rooms Put the Allure of Books Front and Center
Immerse yourself in a collection of book-filled rooms that indulge a passion for the printed page
Full Story
FRONT DOOR COLORSFront and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Orange
Bring high energy and spirit to your home's entryway with a vibrant shade of orange on the front door
Full Story
chiflipper