Weekly Design Inspiration: Building Mistakes
As we move out of those frigid winter days and into the spring, only one thing comes to mind for us over at CPD and that is build season! Due to our climate, clients are always looking to break ground as soon as it starts to thaw. For all of you out there thinking of building a custom home we wanted to let you in on a few mistakes that we have seen people make time and time again and how to avoid these hangups!
Not Getting a Designer Early Enough
We love when clients get their contractor and architect involved early in the process; everyone plays a vital role in the design of a house! Although many people may believe that you should bring on a designer in the later stages of a build, we actually have a lot to contribute early on! We understand how the house should flow, the extras you may want, and where to create show-stopping moments. If you want things like a walk-in pantry, an extra laundry room in the basement, or that luxury stove from Europe, then these are all things best accounted for early on.
Source: McCroskey Interiors
Source: Lark & Linen
Not Including Allowances
Although we believe that the home-building process should be fun, we know that having constant conversations about money can be stressful and draining. It is inevitable that there will be mistakes that happen on-site, or delays, or unforeseeable circumstances that get in the way. For that reason we always work with our clients to create a budget for a custom home that allows for these contingencies. Without that extra money set aside you may have to start compromising on the design of your home which may cause further delays in the build.
Source: Heidi Caillier
Source: Chris Loves Julia
Making Lighting Decisions Too Late
As designers we are constantly needing to think in three dimensions. Not only do we think about the floor plan, but we also need to think about the plumbing, how you’ll use the space, the concept, and yes, the lighting. Too often things like lighting are an afterthought and lights are misaligned or highlight the wrong thing. Lighting needs to be considered from the start because some lighting changes are harder to fix than others. For example, changing the location of a light on a tile wall would be very costly. Also, try to think into the future if you can! How many charging stations will you want for your electric cars? Will you expand the outdoor living space and want an outdoor kitchen and lighting?
Source: Chris Loves Julia
Source: Ashley Montgomery Design
Design Tip: We know that building a house is a multi-year commitment. That means that when you’re designing you need to be thinking years ahead. How old will the kids be? Will I want to grow old here? Will this trendy feature still work for me in a few years? For all of these reasons and more it’s best to hire a professional who has experience in this field.
