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So you have decided to build or remodel a home and have chosen an architect that will help you throughout the process. Your goal is to design a functional house for all family members that is also breathtaking to gaze at. Though that doesn’t seem that hard you will soon find that this process is much more intense than you first expected.

The design process will allow you to account for the unique needs and desires of your household, to ensure the finished product is everything you dreamed of. You will be forced to take a good look at your family from a variety of angles to develop the design essentials that will create a home that fits your family the way it should.

When designing a home, you’ll want to explore these areas which will help to ensure the finished space will fill the needs of your family:

1. Function

Mentally walk through the home room by room, and create a list of all the activities that will take place throughout the home. Consider entertaining guests, space for hobbies, dining preferences, and other aspects of everyday life. Also, make sure your new space makes up for what your current home is lacking— are you spending much of your time indoors because of the absence of an outdoor living area? Do you avoid hosting guests because of a lack of comfortable space? This is the time to speak up for what you want and what you feel like you were missing in all of your previous homes.

2. Lifestyle

Evaluating your family’s lifestyle can assist you in creating a functional design for your new home. For example, if you host extended family for holidays, you’ll need ample room to keep guests comfortable; if you don’t entertain regularly, certain design features may not be as important to you. Also, think about your previous homes and consider the design aspects you liked and disliked and how each space served the needs of your family.

3. For Now or Forever?

Having an idea of how long you see your family in this new home will aid you in creating a design that fits your needs for the timeframe you’ll be living there. If you see this home as your forever home, you’ll need to put some thought into what you need now, as well as what you’ll need down the road. If you’ll be in this home for a shorter period of time, you may be able to forego certain elements that you won’t need during those later years, saving unnecessary project expenses and utilizing the budget for more current needs.

4. Life Stage

Considering your life stage is important to developing a design that fits your family now, and in the future. A family with young children who intend to make the house their forever home should design for current needs and account for functional changes as children age and leave the nest. While it is impossible to predict every need that will arise in the future, developing a master plan will provide a solid foundation to support your life and giving consideration to future design flexibility as you move forward.

5. Shared Visions

When designing a new home, often there are two partners’ visions that come into play. It isn’t uncommon that one partner wants something while the other partner wants the total opposite. In order to create a new space to accommodate the needs and wants of both parties, you must find a way to merge individual vision. Consider each partner’s goals for the project — and develop a design that meets everyone’s functional needs. You will then be free to get creative as you discover ways to meld individual style preferences.

Designing a perfect home is harder than it appears. It is showing the world your family’s style, needs and desires and that is a huge job to accomplish, especially if you are on your own. An architect will be able to guide you in the right direction and ask those questions you might overlook. They also take the roll of a personal friend who can give you their honest opinion of what they think would be best for the home and your family.

Together your architect and you will choose the most breathtaking design for your home and the results will be greater than you could ever imagine.

© 2017 Kevin Harris, Architect, LLC

Kevin Harris, Architect, LLC designs custom homes to satisfy, support and sustain our client’s best life, to be an authentic expression of their site, lifestyle and culture, while remaining rooted in history and expressive of the times. For more information on Kevin or the firm go to www.kevinharrisarchitect.com.