Questions after 1st consultation with an architect
emy_r
3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (17)
emy_r
3 years agoRelated Discussions
At wits end!! Please help w/ 1st floor layout plan -pic heavy
Comments (49)See, I'd just tell my DH that he could enjoy the sunrise while he's doing the laundry rather than while he's making coffee! ;) I kind of like the look of latest rendition, but I'm not loving the function. Leaving the laundry in the MBR would kill it for me. I know you don't mind it, but I can't imagine that it wouldn't be a sticking point for some potential buyer down the road. It would be for me. The issue raised earlier about kids having to come in the parents' room to do their laundry as they got older would be even stickier with the addition of another bedroom--i.e., room for a second kid with laundry needs. Could your stackable W/D fit in that closet area in the mudroom? Also, how will you use this desk? Will it become your home office space? If not, it seems like it would become a clutter magnet, ruining that nice view. I still prefer the rendition above where you reuse your sink and five-panel door. I think it makes the space far more useful in a house where useful space is at a premium....See MoreI'm back - 1st draft of our houseplan and kitchen input please
Comments (33)Hi all. We met with our house designer today. The goods and the bads. Bonus - he was able to give me another foot on the fridge wall (yay) so that helps with the blind corner (I want to close it off to preserve drawers) and the pantry was also enlarged which will allow for my small chest freezer. The overall kitchen dimension is 9' x 15'. The 'it will have to do': pantry is still around the corner. I think it will be okay. It will keep my peeps out of the sink/stove area. They will access pantry for cereal and snacks and the fridge is right there out of my work zone. I could get creative and have the kitchen side cabs open to the pantry and put the cereal and most used items there - how fun would that be? Because that wall backs to pantry I can also recess the cabs and fridge if I need them deeper as well. The MW has to go on that wall...and they are deeper than 12". I am feeling much relieved as this last draft that he did for us (he already sent it because our changes were few and to other parts of the house) is 99% on. We are still studying it though. :) I will post this latest draft with a few questions and see what you all think. There are 2 main things I am contemplating. One is the cupboard pantry reach through (I think dh would think that is CRAZY) but I think it may be a perfect compromise. Would that be something that is super expensive to do? The other is still trying to fit in this sort of thing. It is Michelle16's and she has a fridge and pantry flanking whereas I'd have just the fridge to the right and a corner would be on the left. I have 4' to play with there from fridge to where corner would start. I will try to post the new layout tonight but it may not be until tomorrow! Thanks. Lisa...See More1st Design Meeting - How to be effective not counter-productive?
Comments (6)We did go over much of what you both suggest in our initial meeting but it will certainly be repeated and refined in ongoing discussions. I take his instruction to bring visual aids to mean he wants to see what we 'see' in this dream phase, how consistent it is (or not), how it relates or can be adjusted to relate to the specifics and realities of our intended build needs and wants, budget, sq footage, views, etc. mshahmd - you're so right about 'inspiration' pictures often being of extraordinary and $$$$$$$ homes - that's not our direction at all and not the direction of most of my pictures. This will not be a large house but it will incorporate nice details and materials - and I'll gladly give up sq footage before I cheap out there. At this stage of my life I know what I want and size does not matter ;-) quality does. Mama Rachel thank you for the list and the link. We covered almost all of that with him already but of course it's a work in progress and subject to refinement. He already suggested some life scenarios for us to consider in our build....See MoreBuilding 1st home - questions
Comments (13)I will share my experience having had two fully custom homes designed and built. In both cases, the homes were built within budget and on schedule. The posters who say it depends on where you are located are correct. We are in a relatively low cost area. The cost to build in other parts of the country, as reported by actual experiences here on GW, is frankly shocking. If you are in a relatively low cost area, that's a good start. The biggest key to our successes was picking the right builder. In both cases we did not go with big firms. We chose men who ran their own companies and were personally involved in the builds. One was relatively new and one was very experienced, but the key is we trusted them and they personally cared about the final product. I feel there is nothing we could have done, as regular consumers not part of the industry, to have ensured success if we did not have a builder who cared and who hired subs who cared. In both cases the builders were very honest with us, and accurate, on their estimates which were closely aligned with the accuracy of the final contract prices. We had no change orders and stayed within our allowances. One key about picking the right builder, especially if you are interested in a budget-friendly build, is that you want quality quality quality in the basic structure of your home. You want a builder that understands that just because you don't want to spend money on the highest quality finishes or trendiest luxuries, doesn't mean you are "cheap". You want your resources to go towards quality in your foundation and structure. You want a builder that "gets" that and wants to do your build. The answer to you $150/sq foot cost question is, it depends. I understand wanting to have an idea what a home will cost before you embark on your journey. But the square foot method has so many flaws. One is that it typically applies only to conditioned space and as mojomom points out, counting only conditioned square footage itself is flawed. I would add to her examples the cost of porches. Even within conditioned space, the cost for a square foot of kitchen or bath is completely different than the cost to build more living room space. The cost to make a raw lot buildable is an area that is hard to determine in advance, especially without any specific lot in mind, and is where you certainly can have cost overruns and should have contingency. Since both of our builds involved well and septic I have no advice on tapping in to those basic utilities. In both of our builds, the electric companies were great and made it easy, they want new customers. In our first build (our current home) we had to pay extra to have underground lines through the woods. The build we did this year, the electric company put the lines underground for no charge. We initially looked into prefab and modular. Like others we were surprised at the very high total cost to complete and quickly moved on to site-built....See Moreemy_r
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJuneKnow
3 years agoemy_r
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agodoc5md
3 years agocpartist
3 years agoDenita
3 years ago
Related Stories
COFFEE WITH AN ARCHITECTA Quiz for Architects in Question
Should you trade in your T-square for a barista tray? Answer a few simple questions to find out
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROS11 Questions to Ask an Architect or a Building Designer
Before you make your hiring decision, ask these questions to find the right home design pro for your project
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURS13 Character-Filled Homes Between 1,000 and 1,500 Square Feet
See how homeowners have channeled their creativity into homes that are bright, inviting and one of a kind
Full StoryARCHITECTURESmaller and Smarter: An Architect’s Resolutions
This architect and midcentury fan plans to get out of his comfort zone in the new year
Full StoryMOST POPULAR8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer
Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start
Full StoryBEFORE AND AFTERSHouzz Tour: Architect Turns a Fishing Shack Into a Cozy Getaway
Scandinavian minimalism and a U.S. Forest Service cabin inspire this renovation near a Montana lake
Full StoryMOST POPULARThe Many Paths of Design, Part 1
Blame engineering issues, unforeseen revisions or even the Internet. As these diagrams show, it's probably not your fault
Full StoryBATHROOM MAKEOVERSReader Bathroom: $39,000 Brings New Jersey Bath Into the 21st Century
Removing an awkward closet in a 100-year-old bathroom makes way for a beautiful shower that pays tribute to the home’s history
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDAfter the Quakes: New Christchurch Houses 5 Years Later
These New Zealand architects and homeowners have overcome the obstacles and created strong, stylish new homes
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDHouzz Tour: A 1960s House Gets an Update for 21st-Century Living
Plywood storage units add modern-day convenience, while retro colors and laminates stay true to the home’s era
Full Story
emy_rOriginal Author