SOURCE: Hello Lovely Studio
Getting prepared for a custom build is both exciting and terrifying. Your dream of building a custom home is coming to life but now it may suddenly dawn on you that you’re in a world you know little about. The advice I give to all my clients, regardless of project type, is to start learning about the process as early as possible.
Your team of architects, builders and designers will advise you as you go but success often depends on the ability to stay calm during all of the inevitable storms. The easiest way to prepare for that is by having a deep understanding of what will be expected of you.
In order to make the process of building as simple as possible I’ve compiled a list of decisions you should consider before the first shovel breaks ground.
Table of Contents
Pre-Build Review
One of the most valuable uses of time and money is to focus on ensuring that your architectural designs are perfect before you move ahead with your custom home. It’s hard to make changes to the structure once construction begins so work diligently to get it right before you begin.
Reviewing Architectural Plans
Consider bringing in an extra set of eyes to review all the planning materials before construction begins. I have caught numerous aesthetic errors by reviewing architectural plans. While architects and drafting technicians are experts at the structural aspect of your home, designers have an eye for the aesthetics of your home including the exterior.
Pore over the plans and consider how each of your choices will look when the home is built. Look for symmetry and balance and don’t be afraid to question the choices made. This is your final review before work begins so be thorough.
Room Layouts
Your architectural plans will not include furniture layouts and this can sometimes lead to issues if the room layouts have not been considered. Look at each room and consider how you would use the space.
Is the door in a location that will interfere with your furniture? Do the windows add or detract from the symmetry of the room? Are there architectural features that overwhelm the space? Try to envision the future of each room and whether the structure will support this vision.
Creating One Cohesive Vision
One of the biggest challenges for any homeowner is how to create a home that flows from room to room and feels like it’s all part of the greater whole. You want to use unifying materials and create a cohesive flow throughout the entire home. Review plans to determine if any spaces feel distinctly separate and consider how to better align the aesthetics.
Future-Proofing
Most of us don’t consider ourselves 10, 20 or 30 years in the future when designing a home for today. While you may currently have a family of young kids you want to look to the future when building a custom home. Don’t plan a home around the needs of today only. You want to ensure that this home grows with you and doesn’t feel like a tribute to the past.
Aging can mean living with a walker or a wheelchair but will your doorways and hallways accommodate those devices? Do you anticipate your home being multi-generational at some point in the future? If so, are you planning for separate living quarters? Have you considered the slipping hazard of your materials selections if there will be older people living in your home?
These are all decisions you can consider today to make your future both safer and easier for your family.
Architectural Considerations
SOURCE: Studio McGee
The decisions you make in regards to the structure of your home need to be considered in depth before your custom home build begins. These have long lasting effects and can’t easily be changed so spend time now reviewing and revising everything.
Window Sizes and Placement
Windows are placed on architectural plans in consideration of the home’s interior. We want each room to have natural light. Sometimes that can result in an exterior that feels lacking in symmetry and balance.
When reviewing architectural plans I will often change window locations and sizes so that there is balance on both the interior and exterior of the home. This can be very time consuming but ultimately makes a huge difference to the aesthetics of your house. If you’re not happy with the placement of your windows, request the review asap because once framing begins you may not have the ability to make changes.
Ceiling Detail
Unless specified most ceilings will be drywalled with no additional details included. Ceilings with additional design elements look gorgeous and can elevate your home’s appearance however they need to be considered early on in the process.
If you want mouldings, beams, coffered ceilings or beadboard, request that it be included in the architectural plans so you can plan and budget for the changes. Even crown moulding must be outlined in the plans at this early stage. Consider all your options but be aware that time limitations may not allow for unplanned changes at a later date so plan accordingly.
Millwork
Do you love the look of built-in bookcases, an intricate fireplace mantel or custom cabinets in your home office? All of these need to be considered at the design stage of your custom build.
Millwork design is a specialty that requires a skilled carpenter and these gifted tradespeople can be booked solid for many months. This won’t be a last minute add-on so plan for this if you intend to include any millwork in your design.
Staircase design
When reviewing your architectural plans it’s easy to forget about the staircase. The layout can be straight, L-shaped, U-shaped or spiral but there’s more to consider. The riser, tread and stair width should all be discussed as well as the style of bannister or hand rail.
The style of your staircase should be aligned with your overall design aesthetic. Spend time learning about the various materials and how they align with different design aesthetics. Not sure what your design style is? Take my free design quiz and we’ll expertly assess your results. You’ll get instant feedback including a document to help you understand your design style.
Fireplace Design
If your dream home includes a floor to ceiling fireplace or a custom made mantel you’ll need to consider this during the design phase. All fireplaces are not created equally and some will require additional designs like millwork drawings and elevations. There may also be a need to order a custom part (ie special order insert) so address this early in the process.
Flooring direction
If you don’t specify the direction you’d like your flooring to travel you may find yourself dealing with the decision of a flooring installer who had a different vision. Never leave any installation decision to the installer. They’re only job is installation and they aren’t considering your preferences or even what makes the most sense.
Take time to consider your materials and the space itself to make a decision about direction. This applies to the main areas of your home but also to the secondary areas that have different flooring. This means spaces like kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
Plumbing Locations
This one is a little easier because we know that kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and bars all require plumbing. There is also the water heater location and shutoff valves to consider. Review all designs to ensure that the plumbing has been placed correctly and makes sense with the vision you have for each room.
Electrical Planning
Creating electrical plans is time consuming and tedious but makes a difference to how you live in your space. If you want to opt out of these conversations because it feels too technical, think again.
Electrical plans include switch and outlet planning as well. You’ll want to consider how you plan to move through your home and plan for that. Don’t forget to include floor plugs in open concept areas so you’re not tripping over cords.
Lighting Layouts
The lighting in your home should be thoroughly and carefully considered because lighting can make or break a room. You’ll want to include all three types of lighting throughout your home (if you’re not sure about the three types of lighting, read this post).
Lighting plans are complicated but can change the way you move through your home. If you want to turn off the living room lights from the second floor as you head to bed, you’ll need to be part of the lighting discussion.
Kitchen Planning
SOURCE: House and Home
Appliance Selections
Most homeowners are unaware of how early in the process appliances need to be ordered. They can take several months to arrive so it’s important to do your research early.
Consider your budget, your aesthetic preferences and your lifestyle when shopping for appliances. You’ll likely have these for some time to come so be sure you know what your options are before you make a selection.
Cabinetry
Cabinet design includes maximizing your space for ideal functionality but it also includes aesthetic choices like materials, colour, and embellishments like glass fronts. Most homeowners have an idea of their preferences when it comes to colour and style but if you want a really functional kitchen, consider the inside as well.
Think about what you like and how you like to organize both cabinets and drawers. Plan for any inserts or organizational features that will create more ease in your life.
Countertops
Most clients love this part of the design process but it has to be done in conjunction with all the other pieces in the kitchen. Never shop for your countertop in isolation but rather build a plan that includes all the materials together. You want to consider the colours of your flooring, cabinetry and backsplash tile along with your countertop. If you feel overwhelmed by these decisions, consider hiring a designer early on. These decisions need to be made quickly and indecision will cost you time and money.
Hardware
Hardware for cabinetry is often a last minute decision and can come at a time when your budget has been exhausted. This can lead to beautiful cabinets with inferior hardware that brings down the entire look.
The cost of a handle or pull multiplied by the number of doors and drawers can add up but don’t cheap out on this because it’s the jewelry to your perfect outfit and can make or break the look. Want some inspiration for your home’s hardware selections? Read this post.
Plumbing fixtures
As a designer I can tell you that shopping for plumbing fixtures always takes longer than you expect. We just don’t consider plumbing fixtures very often in our day-to-day life.
There are functional decisions like durability and water efficiency to consider. You also want to consider ease of use, i.e. a single lever faucet is easier for small kids versus a widespread set. Aesthetically, you’ll want to consider the finish and ensure that it works with all the other finishes in your space.
Decorating Decisions
SOURCE: Pinterest
These decisions tend to be less stressful but they often come later in the process when you may be burned out so consider them early on. Many homeowners already have the decorating decisions locked in because for many of us, this is the part of our custom home we’ve been dreaming about for years.
Furniture Sizing Before Framing
Even if you don’t have an interior designer on your team it’s a good idea to engage one for help with furniture planning before you begin to build. Architects focus on the structural aspects of your home but if your sectional doesn’t fit into the living room you’ll wish you had that additional help.
It’s often difficult to tell from the plans whether a room is ideally designed for living. There are times when a space is revealed to be too small to accommodate larger items but once a home is built you’re left with few choices. Plan early even if you can’t afford to buy new furniture yet. You’ll be grateful you did!
Storage Planning
Nobody has ever complained of too much storage. If you review your architectural plans you’ll likely find some dead space that can be converted into storage. Often it’s not a difficult amendment and only requires some additional planning.
For the main areas of your home, be sure to consider how you live. Do you require a linen closet in addition to the laundry room? Do you want a walk-in closet for every family member? Do you require built in storage in the bathrooms? Everything is possible but planning ahead will save time and money.
Paint Planning
This is the last piece of the design puzzle so don’t start collecting paint chips at this early stage. It’s fun to spend time on Pinterest and create your dream home board but remember that paint is only selected after all the materials, furniture and artwork have been selected. Doing this in the reverse order will cause difficulties sourcing furniture and materials so don’t have your heart set on a paint colour until the time is right.
The earlier an interior designer becomes involved in a custom home, the greater the opportunity to improve both the beauty and functionality of the finished home, often while avoiding costly changes during construction.
If you are planning a custom build and feel overwhelmed, reach out to me. I’d love to discuss how I can help make your vision a reality.
