One in a series.
So your family is together over the holidays or you think you will have some extra time to dream.
Why not start thinking about your new home or cottage! You know, the ideal place you will design and build sometime over the next two, five, maybe 10 or more years.
But how should you get started. We all seem to have a good idea how our perfect home or cottage will look and feel. However, the ideas are all in our heads, not down on paper where they can easily be shared and developed.
The last thing you need is another stressful task. So here is an easy way to begin this process whether you will develop the design on your own or whether you wish to involve your extended family or close friends. At CedarCoast, we have found the key to be: KEEP THE PROCESS FUN. It is tough to be creative when you start out stressed!
Two important suggestions to keep in mind to support the creative process and have fun:
Firstly, throw out all of the floor plans you have collected. They are of little use at best and often promote a design concept that is inappropriate to your situation, building site or budget.
Secondly, don’t censor your ideas at this stage. You may have an idea in your head you feel will be too costly to implement. Write it down anyway; a design professional can often suggest alternate approaches, ultimately producing the look you want by other means or with less costly materials. And, don’t worry about seemingly conflicting suggestions; it will all work out.
3D design can help you flush out the architectural design details
THE TASK. List all of the rooms in your new home or vacation retreat. Don’t forget storage spaces, utility rooms or mudrooms. Treat living spaces outside your home such as decks, patios or walkways the same way. Once listed, write the name of each ‘room’ on the top of a separate page.
Next, answer five questions about each room.
Who will use this room?
What furniture do I picture in this living space?
What should this room feel like?
What do I need to store in this space?
And, What would I like to see from the window?
Leave these lists close by where you can add to them whenever you picture yourself walking around and living in your virtual home. Beyond the five questions listed, jot down anything that comes to mind for each room. You can download our list from our website at http://www.cedarcoasthomes.com/smartplan.php.
Be as specific or general as you want to be. Use your own words. Importantly, at this stage, only concern yourself with questions easily answered. This is about getting the ideas important to you and how you wish to live down on paper. You will be amazed at how quickly your new home or vacation retreat starts to take shape.
Email us for assistance anytime at info@cedarcoasthomes.com. Look for the next design blog in the series. Happy Holidays and have fun.
Recent Comments