Determining What You Want

First and foremost, your home must be livable for you and your family.  Consider your Lifestyle, how you want your home to Function, and the design Style you want.  

Lifestyle                                                                                                                                                          How do you spend your time?  Weekends?  What are your priorities--family life, entertaining, outdoor activities, travel, hobbies?  Are you a sporty family or a family of readers?  Do you like a clean and orderly house, or do you let pets sleep on the furniture?  Do you work from home?  Are you considering adding children to the mix, or will this end up being your empty nest or retirement home?  These concepts and more should be discussed and well thought through.

Function                                                                                                                                                         It starts with practicality and function.  A well-designed home must take into account what rooms you need and how you'll use them.  An open floor plan with a central hub might best suit a growing family.  A big kitchen island can encourage togetherness--homework on one end, someone helping themself to a sandwich on the other.  Multiple dining areas inside and out are great for entertaining in all seasons.  Do you even need a formal dining room?  Do you need a living room and a family room?  A designated television room and/or a quiet library-type room might fit your needs. Do you prefer his and her baths?  Do you need a private home office?       

Style is a huge and complex subject.  I'll attack it in my next post.  Stay tuned.