In June of this year, we were commissioned to design a new home for a client who had just purchased a lot on the water. Custom home design is a very complicated process, beginning with multiple discussions to determine the clients' needs and wishes. But it's also an excellent way to get exactly what you want in your home!
Wait, did I mention it's a complicated process? Oh yes, I think I did.
We are currently on our thirteenth version of this home plan, and not quite there yet. When plans go from a "concept in your mind" to paper, compromises have to be made along the way to make sure everything fits properly, the rooms communicate well together, and you get all the spaces you need and want. Sometimes what seems like it ought to work just doesn't when you view it drawn to-scale!
As you can see from this photograph of the plan for the first floor, it is a fairly large home, with a full second story and semi-attached garage. Many changes happened along the way such as moving the staircase, enlarging the master bedroom, downsizing the kitchen, deepening the back porch, changing the window configuration and placement, changing the garage from two story with bonus apartment to single story with no apartment...and now to story-and-a-half... And like any puzzle, changing one piece in any area will have a ripple effect that may require changes to the entire floor plan. Then, once the floor plans have been approved, the exterior shell is drawn, revised and re-drawn.
It's a complicated process, but a fun one! It requires a good deal of patience from the designer and the client, but knowing in the end that you've given someone the home of their dreams is a reward that's worth the effort! And after this, imagine how simple it will seem to be to design a simple home addition...well, maybe not all that simple... But then, the easy stuff is never much fun!
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