step 2d: View Home Designs

Home Design Considerations

What should you look for when drafting plans for your home:

• Traffic Patterns:
  
  Traffic should flow to one side of the room rather than through its center; i.e., by placing the door ways in the corners
  
  more traffic information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/room_design.htm
  
  
  
• Kitchen:
  
  Location of the kitchen should have direct access to the dining area and garage where grocery items can be unloaded conveniently.
  
  Traffic should not flow through the kitchen working area.
  
  Larger kitchens have a greater resale value than smaller kitchens — you will want to design the working area with appliances in a triangular position for easy working
  
  more information on kitchen layout:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/kitchens_baths.htm
  
  see kitchen design basics:
  http://www.kitchen-bath.com
  
  see our kitchen design directory:
  home improvement center: kitchens
  
  
  
• Private Areas:
  
  Bedrooms and bathrooms should be separated visually from the working areas of the house.
  
  You should have at least one bathroom near working and relaxation areas and with easy access from the outside.
  
  Never situate bathrooms where you must pass through one room to get to the facilities.
  
  It is almost a necessity (particularly in a resale) that the master bedroom has an attached master bathroom.
  
  The master bathroom should be large, with full size bath, shower, his/her vanity sinks and exhaust vans that vent to the outside
  
  see bathroom design basics:
  http://www.kitchen-bath.com/
  
  see our bathroom design directory:
  home improvement center: bathrooms
  
  
  
• Living Areas:
  
  Living areas include the dining room, living/family room, and den
  
  Designs may vary with rooms segmented by walls or merged into a larger, multi-purpose room with boundaries such as pillars segmented one room from the other
  
  see our main-floor design directory:
  home improvement center: main floor
  
  
  
• Energy Efficiency:
  
  There are some great energy efficient products on the market that can reduce your energy costs and keep you more comfortable
  
  the government has published materials on energy efficient homes:
  elements of an energy efficient home
  home energy advisor
  energy information for your home
  
  see our energy design directory:
  home improvement center: attic floor
  
  
  
• Foundations:
  
  Poured concrete is the most expensive foundation and best choice for full basements because of its strength and resistance to leaks
  
  Cinder block is a substitute to concrete, but is not as strong and is subject to leakage.
  
  Monolithic concrete slaps are used with homes without basements bringing the cost and implementation down
  
  more structural information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/structural.htm
  
  
  
• Plumbing/Electrical:
  
  more plumbing information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/plumbing.htm
  
  more electrical information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/electrical.htm
  
  
  
• Room Dimensions:
  
  bedroom: not less than 7 feet in any direction
  closets: depth at 24 inches or more
  hallways: minimum width 3 feet
  dining room: big enough for 8-person dining table
  kitchen: work aisle at least 42 inches wide
  
  more room dimension information:
  http://www.andyshowto.com/room_design.htm

Search House Plans

You can use these plans, often referred to as "stock plans", as a reference guide for custom designing your home. Or you may take a stock plan and revise it to fit your needs and budget:

• Research house plans:
  click to view our directory of house plans
  
  
  Some other search suggestions:
  

  The COOL House Plans
  The House Plans Search Engine has over 9,250 house plans and 100 garages by 93 nationally recognized designers.

  eHouse Plans
  Collection of house plans from residential designers and architects.

Search Architects to Custom Design Your Home

or use the local yellow pages to search architects:
search home architect

Other Places to Look:

• Use an online architect:
  http://www.virtualarchitect.com
  
  Design, Review, & Repair Architectural Services:
  http://www.beforethearchitect.com
  Another online directory for architects:
  http://www.architectsusa.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=search
  
  
  
• Use a draftsman to modify an existing plan — less expensive:
  http://www.servicemagic.com
  search yellow pages:
  search for drafting services

Search 3D Design Software

• Punch! Professional Home Design:
  http://www.punchsoftware.com/
  Punch! user and support group:
  http://www.punch-alternatives.com
  
  Other home design recommendations from b4ubuild.com:
  http://www.b4ubuild.com/links/cadd.shtml