You have decided to design your new home. Surely you will already have a clear image in your mind. However, finding an existing property that fits your wishes is rare. There are many things to consider. And that's why we show you how to make your dream home come true.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: It all starts with a vision
Step 1. Get inspired
Before starting to draw, consult an architect or buy specific software. At first, think only of your wishes.
Step 2. Visit your favorite neighborhoods:
there is a very specific reason why I am! Probably, you will see many houses similar to the one of your dreams. Don't take pricing or convenience into consideration, not yet. You are just looking for inspiration.
Step 3. Visit the homes for sale or rent in the neighborhoods you like over the weekend
Each will have characteristics that will inspire you and others that will leave you indifferent. Take note of your every opinion: you need to know what you want but also what you don't want.
Step 4. Take photographs at all corners of the buildings you like, both inside and out
The shots will allow you to remember many more details; after having seen so many houses, it will be easy to get confused or forget aspects that, perhaps, are important.
Step 5. Get organized
Dreaming is good and it is essential to put your vision on paper; however, losing your photos and notes won't help you much. Dedicate a folder to the project.
- Get a good notepad and always keep it handy. Opt for an accounting notebook: it has numbered pages suitable for drawing. It will allow you to keep your thoughts tidy and make clear sketches. You will also be able to paste photos and write down telephone numbers that are useful for your project.
- Dedicate the first few pages to the elements that your home absolutely must have, such as three bathrooms or bamboo floors.
- Devote a couple more pages to the Wish List, which will contain all those items seen in other houses that you like. You could write down the name of a certain style of furniture or those tiles that would look great in your bathroom.
Step 6. Now that you know what you like, it's time to focus on the following details:
- Do you prefer to live in the city or in the countryside?
- Are you planning to build a huge house that has a playroom for the children and a garden for the dogs or do you want a cozy little house to live in with your sweetheart?
- Do you like modern lines or rustic furnishings?
- Will you opt for standard building techniques or will you consider eco-sustainable ones?
- But above all, what is your budget?
- These questions will guide you from your vision to concrete steps to take to build.
- The more information you give to the architect or builder, the more you will get what you want, without breaking the budget.
Step 7. Localization
Where you will build your home is a factor to consider right away.
- The terrain is very important. Buildings on a hill are governed by different rules than those that apply to buildings on the plain.
- A particularly wooded area represents a non-negligible variable when the time comes to design the arrangement of the windows, not to mention that of any solar panels and other energy sources.
- Lots near the motorway or other crowded areas will result in greater attention to acoustics than isolated locations.
- Access to services varies depending on the location. Find out about the availability of those services that we usually take for granted.
- The choice of the area marks the difference between what is the dream house and what could be a nightmare house!
- Make a list of real estate agents who could give you objective advice.
Method 2 of 2: Develop the design
Step 1. Contact an architect
Designing a house successfully and effectively requires the intervention of a professional. Your part is knowing what you want, while the expert's is helping you to realize your goals and tell you what is feasible and what is not.
Step 2. Make a sketch to move from the concept to the concrete idea
Simple example: you want three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a large room, to be used as both a living room and a dining room.
- Divide the rooms. Example: in the right area of the house, two bedrooms and a bathroom; in the left area, separated from the right by a corridor, a bedroom and the main bathroom; in the central area, the entrance and the large room and, to its left, the kitchen, the laundry room and the access door to the garage. Your project will be more fun and flexible if you change the layout of the rooms several times, in order to find the ideal one.
- From this basic idea, consider the structure that will surround the rooms. Villas, for example, are different from apartments, and what works for one structure will certainly not work for another.
Step 3. Create a plan using software:
you will choose the layout of the rooms, walls, windows, etc.
- Do not create a plan that only takes into account your dreams: also consider practical elements, such as the integrity of the structure, the plans for the floods, the drainage, the slope and all those details to see with the advice of a architect.
- Mistakes made during the "vision" phase cost nothing. Mistakes made during the design phase aren't as cheap. But bring those mistakes into the construction phase and you'll find yourself overshooting your budget considerably.
Step 4. Delegation
Knowing when to hire professionals will make your dream come true.
You created the concept, you are the creator of the dream. You've done the research, you've found the property, you've established your purpose, and you know exactly what you want. Now, turn to the people who can help you in a concrete way to realize your project
Advice
- Talk to a professional from the very beginning of the process. A good architect will save you time and money.
- Create your project using a pencil, a ruler and architectural paper (you will find it in the most well-stocked stationeries). Draw on a wooden kitchen cutting board. Or make your project on a blackboard using chalk, especially if you know you will be making a lot of changes in a short time.
- A pair of scissors and glue will be your best friends during the "vision" phase.
- If you find it difficult to visualize the design, contact a studio that can carry out the project in 3D. Nowadays, it is possible to create a realistic version of both the interior and exterior. Do a Google search to find the one closest to your home.
- Keep everything in one folder, so you won't lose anything and find each sheet right away.
- Take your time. Think about how you will use each space, the furniture, the corridors and every single detail of the rooms. Cut pieces of paper to create the furniture and other elements and try to understand how to make the rooms harmonious by also taking into account the windows, doors and circulation paths.
- Another idea is to find an uncrowded car park where you can imagine the size of your home and draw the spaces for the rooms, doors and corridors with chalk. This will give you the opportunity to truly perceive the spaces. Don't forget to visualize the walls and doors. This is a great exercise for developing new ideas.
Warnings
- Avoid giving your plan to the professionals involved right away - allow them to give you ideas that you never imagined and that you might like. In any case, your project must be ready before talking to the architect and other insiders.
- The architect will help you check if your sketches comply with municipal and state building, electricity, mechanical, plumbing and fire safety regulations. A permit is required to build a structure.
- Ask the municipality before proceeding, so you will know what you can build on your property, what are the limits, what is the maximum height allowed for your building, etc.
