This is a great thread for those contemplating building a new home. Clients are often bringing me sketches of floor plans or plans they've found online. Such plans can be helpful as a point of departure but almost always require a complete redo. What helps me more is a detailed conversation about lifestyle, philosophy of art and design, and a deep understanding of the site.

--Passive solar, ventilation and daylighting strategies: Passive solar strategies are simple, economical strategies for working with the daily sun cycle during the four seasons, so as to keep hot summer sun and temperatures from entering the house, while permitting the warming sun to enter the house during the colder winter season. Cooling natural breezes and ventilation strategies are also easy, but important to consider. The same applies to daylighting strategies. It takes very little to take advantage of these strategies if site selection and house design include them from the outset of the project. For example, aligning the long axis of the house facing south and the short axis facing east and west, maximizes natural light and minimizes glare and heat gain. Properly designed roof over hangs, trellis or arbor designs, combined with appropriate sized and positioned operable window selection will greatly enhance the livability of a home, at minimal costs, and will make a substantial improvement in day-to-day comfort, livability, utility and operating expenses. --Terrain, drainage and soils conditions: Surprisingly, many consumers do not understand or recognize some simple, but highly influential factors when viewing a potential piece of property. Some of these factors are: 1) Terrain: Flat terrain, for example, is the easiest and least expensive on which to build. Downhill sloping lots are often easier on which to build than uphill sloping lots. In general, avoid uphill sloping lots. 2) Drainage: Even land which appears flat has surface (and perhaps subsurface) drainage patterns. Avoid building in natural drainage areas (especially flood plains), and always ensure finish grading which channels surface water far away from the perimeter of the house. 3) Soils: Many sites may have soil conditions which include substantial portions of clayey or expansive soil materials. Expansive soils are potentially dangerous, and may often cause cracking and movement of the house’s foundation and interiors. If one suspects property has expansive soils, always use a geotechnical engineer to test the soils and make recommendations for proper foundations given the existing soil conditions. This is particularly true for hillside sites. Never buy or build on a site which has received loose fill materials. Loose, uncompacted fill materials have unpredictable bearing capacities and tendencies for movement when wet and saturated. Such sites can be disasterous! --Other site features: Many consumers fall in love with a particular property, for a variety of good reasons—views, natural vegetation and trees, privacy, family history, the opportunity to finally raise chickens and goats, etc. All of these features are fine, but always do your due diligence first and carefully review all of the criteria above before falling in love with a piece of land. Remember, a house cannot be any better than the land on which it’s located.

Hi Mr Carter. I’m interested in the first part of your Post about “Tips on buying Land” and the beginning of your “Designing a Plan”. You said searching Houzz I can find them. How might I do that please? I appreciate the quality of your commentary. Thanks Marilyn

I absolutely love working under the warm glow of a pendant light. You could hang a corded pendant on a hook above your desk. Could you get a second floor lamp as well, same as what you have, to put in another corner? I like your idea about a white bookshelf. I think once you have a few more light sources, a mirror, some art, and real or faux plants/tree if you like greenery, your office will feel a lot cozier. Some people even work with a daylight lamp on the side of their desk.