Designing Your House Plan
Zach and I had been eyeing up a house plan that we found online for over a year, so when we finally purchased our forever land, we had a pretty good idea of the house we would be building. There are thousands of plans that can be viewed and purchased online. Check with your state requirements on whether or not you need a licensed architect/structural engineer in your state to sign and seal a house plan.
Since we had so much time to think this design over, we were more than aware of the changes we wanted to make. We strongly suggest that after choosing a plan, you take the time to absorb it. Think about the minor nuisances of your everyday life and how your design would affect them. Because we wanted to make changes, we had to work with an architect. Many of these websites that provide house plans will also work with you to make any revisions. Still, we wanted our experience to be a little more personal. Luckily, we had already been working with a local architecture firm on several other projects and were familiar with their work. To find the right architect for your project, do your research. Look for recommendations, review their portfolios, and don’t be afraid to shop around. If you don’t have a clear vision, a good architect will be able to lead you in the right direction.
While the architect worked on blocking out phase 1 of our design, I decided to take it upon myself to create some mood boards (see example below). Although Zach and I were pretty clear on our home’s layout, we weren’t convinced which direction we would go with the style. It may seem like such a secondary concern, but the style can affect the home’s design: roof lines, placement of windows and doors, porch layouts, and the list goes on. Little did I know, our architect ended up asking for a few inspirational photos anyway. Be sure to share your style vision with your architect so they can include these details in your plan.
To create our vision, we started using Pinterest; I even forced Zach into starting his own account. As much as he wanted to say, “I’ll just leave that part up to you.” I knew he would have opinions. We both “pinned” photos of houses and rooms that inspired us, and then we shared what we pinned. We actually agreed on a lot of what the other chose, and we learned a lot about each other’s style too. For instance, Zach loves crystal fixtures (who would have thought), and we both loved checkered marble, herringbone wood floors, and decadent trims. We also both agreed that we wanted a timeless look, something that wasn’t going to go out of style any time soon. Where did this lead us? Well, if you guessed modern chateau, you’d be correct.
Here are a couple more design decisions that you are going to have to make upon ordering your house plan or meeting with your architect:
Foundation types: Slab, crawl space, or basement
Ceiling heights: 8 foot is typical, but you can go up from there
Framing: 2x4, which is the standard, or 2x6, which is becoming more and more popular and may be required by your township
Type of construction: steel, concrete, wood, etc.
The most important thing to consider when choosing your house plan is the budget. Many design decisions you are going to make may be based on budget alone. Here are a few things we tell our customers to consider:
Square Footage- a smaller home will be more economical than a bigger home
Ranch vs. Two Story- building up is typically cheaper than building out
Slabs vs. Basements- less concrete is cheaper
Windows- fewer windows are more cost-effective
Materials- pretty materials come with a pretty price tag
There is a lot to consider when choosing or designing your house plan. Although some of it may be overwhelming, this is the first time you’ll be able to see your vision come to life, so enjoy the process. You are another step closer to your new home.
Blog Post Image: Design Brigette Romanek of Romanek Design · Photography Nicki Sebastian for Rip & Tan
