Buy house plans or hire an architect for home build?

2 years ago

Can anyone offer advice on whether we should buy house plans or hire local architect to help design a home? Which is the best site for good house plans? Seems like most house plans have to be tweaked anyway and I've read some reviews which say the plans needed to be totally reworked and were a waste of money. Owner has basic layout set in their mind. About a 2800 sq ft home with attached garage and first floor master, most important. Spacious kitchen and dining, family room not totally open to kitchen, and a cozy feel. Also, I read that "open" floor plans are a thing of the past now. I am interested in the new design trend. I like idea of good kitchen and dining flow or access to one another but large family room with some separation to cut down on noise and a cold, not cozy feel, with "too much openness" Any advice appreciated.

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Mrs Pete

2 years ago

I read that "open" floor plans are a thing of the past now. I am interested in the new design trend.

False. Regardless, you shouldn't build a house based upon trends. The house will outlast any trends.

Start with the site

Absolutely true.

I think the biggest difference wasn't in how the plans were developed, but how well the owners defined their needs.

This makes a lot of sense. Don't get caught up in countertops, French doors, or pictures of mudrooms just yet -- start with a well-discussed list of what rooms you need /how you need each one to function.

To back up what Jennifer is saying, I grew up in a farmhouse that my grandmother designed on graph paper. My family's lived in that house for almost 100 years now, and the plan still works well. It's really well designed: it has some of the best flow I've ever seen, the main rooms face south and east, and every room has windows. The one thing that's a problem is the small closets, but that was the way things were around 1925 when she and my Poppy built the house.

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