Planning for a new home can be an exciting, challenging and sometimes overwhelming experience. For most of us, a new home is one of the largest financial decisions we will make, and one that done properly can provide benefits for years to come. Not only in dollars and cents, but also in the many things money can't buy. The right home reflects the priorities of your family, from a vaulted Great Room perfect for Holiday Celebrations to a sunlit Breakfast Area ideal for Saturday morning pancakes.
We have designed this Planning Guide to assist you in the selection and design of your new home. It is equally useful for selecting from a library of existing plans as well as guiding you in the design of a custom home. You will be asked to define priorities, establish needs and explore adjacencies, all of which combine to form a foundation of guidelines from which to proceed.
If you are interested in designing a new home through Accent Builders, simply include a completed copy of this guide along with any additional sketches or ideas for a design proposal.
Most of us wouldn't think twice about hiring an expert Financial Planner to set up our retirement accounts, use that same good judgment by selecting quality design and construction services when you plan your next home.
If there's anything else we can do, just give us a call at
(757) 428-0918 or drop us a note at sales@accent-builders.com
Please provide contact information along with completing the Planning Guide.
Table
of Contents
1. Family Description
2. Project Information
A. Square
Footage Calculations
B. Establishing
Your Program
C. Defining
Your Requirements
D. Summary
of Individual Requirements
E. Describing
your Requirements
3. Adjacencies
A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Not
to be Adjacent
4. Exterior Style and Type
5. Site Conditions
A. Foundation Options
B. Selecting a Building Site
C. Designing for Your Specific Site
6. Summary
7. Family Profile
8. Accent Builder's Services
1. Family Description
The Family Description helps define potential design priorities for your home. Primarily you should describe your family’s habits, hobbies, activities and personal preferences that may inform the design of your home. Consider the following topics when describing your family, but do not limit yourself to these topics; they are simply a guide to get you started. You do not need to answer all of these questions or any of these questions if they do not apply. Use the blank pages provided at the end of this guide for additional input.
1. Where do you spend most of your
time?
2. Do you need a home office or bring your
work home regularly?
3. Does your job require anything specific
in the home?
4. What are your family's hobbies and how
might that affect design?
5. Do you intend to have any special
exterior spaces, pool, and gazebo?
6. Do you need a guest room and adjacent
bath?
7. Would you share rooms, bathrooms, etc, are there any
conflicts to be resolved?
8. Do you intend to have a work or storage
area in the garage?
9. Are you a particularly private
person? How about the rest of your
family?
10. Do you need a quiet place to escape or
nap?
11. Do you entertain regularly? Formally or Informally?
12. Is yours the home where all the
neighborhood kids spend a rainy afternoon?
13. Which rooms do you seldom use?
14. Are there children living at home, how
will their needs change as they grow older?
15. Do you need a separate, formal Living
Room?
16.
Any additional information?
2. Project Information
A. Square Footage Calculations
Square
footage is determined by four main categories:
Interior conditioned area: Interior square footage
represent heated/cooled floor only and do not include two story or vaulted
spaces, garages, bonus rooms, covered porches or any other unfinished
areas. These measurements are from the
outside face of the stud.
Interior unconditioned area: This would include items
such as a garage, an unfinished basement and any storage or utility rooms that
are not included in air-conditioned area.
Exterior covered area: Covered porches and decks.
Exterior uncovered area: Open decks and patios.
B. Establishing your Program
This section allows you to make programming selections that will determine the make-up of your home. The list below shows the standard rooms and sizes to calculate typical square footage requirements.
Circle the necessary rooms and size, then multiply the number together and write that number under “square footage”. The numbers shown below represent typical room sizes, however, if you have an alternate room dimension, just write the desired length and width next to Size C and calculate the square footage. After you have calculated all of the numbers add 20% to the subtotal for circulation secondary areas. This is your estimated Total Square Footage Requirement.
Interior Finished Areas
Sq. Ft. Sub Total:
Other Rooms
Add a 20% circulation factor:
Sq. Ft. Sub Total:
Square Footage can easily vary 10% or more depending on overall layout
Unfinished Areas
Sq. Ft Sub Total:
Exterior Areas
Sq. Ft Sub Total:
With an added 20% circulation factor your total
is:
The initial programming list above represents the features your home will include as well as the projected total square footage.
C. Defining your Requirements
The
following questions will help further define the type of home you are looking
for.
1. How many levels?
One Story, Two Story,
Split
Level,
Please specify type: basement/cellar
List ceiling heights
3. Based on the information on the previous pages:
Will one of the bedrooms be used as an
office?
Will
the bonus room serve as a future bedroom?
4. What types of closets are important in your secondary bedrooms.
Walk-in (4'x5') or standard (2'x5')?
5. Do you plan to have separate formal and private areas in
your home?
If so please explain?
6. Describe ceiling designs for specific rooms.
D.
Summary of Individual Requirements and Amenities
Please list each room and the appropriate amenities you would like to incorporate, be sure to underline important issues.
E.Describing
your Requirements
Describe
the overall feel for the interior of your home.
Describe any room in which you want to include certain features or
amenities (ie: master bath, Include a large whirlpool
tub, with separate shower and enclosed room for water closet, two vanities with
sinks, large linen closet and walk-in closet from bath, also include windows
and skylights).
3. Adjacencies
In
addition to selecting appropriate spaces to include in your home, you must
decide upon adjacent locations for important rooms. Please list Primary, Secondary and Not to be
adjacent conditions. This is where you
begin to adapt the program of the house to your specific needs.
There
are three categories to use while prioritizing your adjacencies:
Primary
Adjacency: This would constitute an adjacency
that you determine to be critical to the success of the design of your
house. A typical primary adjacency would
be Dining Room/Kitchen.
Secondary
Adjacency: This is something that you believe would
improve the quality of your home but may not be critical to the success of your
home. This is a good time to think about
your personal habits and preferences. If
you enjoy reading late at night, but don't want to keep everyone up, a
secondary adjacency may be Master Bedroom/Study.
Not to be
Adjacent: If there are rooms you would not like
to have adjacent to each other please indicate so in the appropriate
section.
Start
by resolving the Primary and Not to be Adjacent
categories first and then working on secondary adjacencies. Completing this section will be crucial to
the success and appropriateness of any design.
Primary Adjacencies:
i.e.: Kitchen to Dining Room
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Secondary Adjacencies:
i.e.: Master Bedroom to Study
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Not to be Adjacent:
i.e.: Master Bedroom to
Secondary Bedrooms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
4. Exterior Style and Type
Architectural
styles and types can range from the intuitive organic architecture of a prairie
home to the simplicity of a coastal cottage.
Below is a list of several types of architectural styles, please select
one that represents your family and interests and describe the different
characteristics you are looking for.
Also, Include any photographs or sketches that will reinforce the idea
of your stylistic preferences.
Historical American Styles and Types
Popular
throughout the eastern United States these historical styles reference a
variety of regional preferences including the architectural vocabulary of
Colonial, Georgian, Federal and Victorian designs.
Victorian 1880-1910
Cape Cod
Southern Coastal 1880-1920
Georgian 1720-1800
Colonial American 1780-1860
Williamsburg Colonial 1930-1990s
Salt Box
Country Farmhouse
Neo-Victorian 1980-1990s
European References (often referred to as Traditional)
Popular in the US beginning in the 1920's these European influenced styles have evolved
to reflect the varied tastes of many upscale developments across North America.
Traditional 1980-1990s
French Provincial
English Country
Italian Villa 1840-1880
Tudor 1890-1930
Neo-Tudor 1960-1990s
Mediterranean Southwestern / Floridian
Based
from Spanish, Spanish Colonial and Italian Renaissance architecture the
Mediterranean Styles typically offer tiled roofs, stuccoed
walls and landscaped courtyards. Prevalent in the former
Spanish
Territories
of
Florida
, the
Southwest and
California
.
Spanish Mission 1890-1920
Italian Renaissance 1845-1870
Pueblo 1900-1990s
Neo-Mediterranean 1970-1990s
Contemporary
Widely
misdescribed, a "Contemporary Home" has evolved to
refer to a variety of vague conditions including any style that features an
open plan, however most design professionals consider true contemporary styles
to include buildings that reflect an innovative or distinctive use of materials
and design. For our purposes we have
included the following styles.
International
Style 1930-1990s - Le Corbusier
Miesian 1950-1965 - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Prairie
Style / Wrightian 1900-1960 - Frank Lloyd Wright
Post
Modern 1960-1990s
Vacation
Vacation
Homes range from a simple cottage designed for the lake in the woods to a Post
and Beam log home with open rafters nestled in a mountain setting.
Cottage
Post and Beam
Log Cabins
Other Styles and Building Types
Other
styles might include the distinctive Craftsman Style popular in Southern
California in the 1920's or perhaps Ranch Style which is actually more a type
than a style.
Craftsman
1900-1930 - Greene Brothers
Ranch
Type Home 1950-1970
American
Vernacular 1980-1990s
Describe
Your Exterior Style
5. Site Conditions
A. Foundation
Options
The
slope or terrain of your proposed site can serve as one of the most important
factors in determining the type of foundations appropriate for your home. For example, in building a home on a slab
foundation you would typically look for a fairly level lot or appropriate
building site to minimize the amount on cut and fill that might otherwise be
required. Listed below are typical foundation types, circle the foundation you
require.
1. Basement
If
you are interested in a basement foundation, look for a lot that slopes down
from front to back or from side to side.
A lot which slopes up from front to back can be more difficult and
expensive because you have to allow for excessive steps or fill to access the
front door. If specifying a basement,
please answer the questions below.
a. Walk-out daylight basement or cellar
type
b. Finished or Unfinished
2. Slab Foundation
To
utilize a poured concrete slab foundation type, make sure the site can be
properly graded to be relatively flat, typically a 1 to 2 foot drop off from
one side to the other, while still accommodating for positive drainage away
from the home. A slab foundation is
often the simplest and least expensive option and consists of a poured concrete
surface with a thickened or turned-down perimeter and additional depth added
under load bearing interior walls.
3. Crawlspace Foundation
If
your lot slopes from 2 to 5 feet across the building site, a crawlspace
foundation might be appropriate, A typical crawlspace
foundation consists of a concrete block stem wall
approximately 3 feet tall that continues around the perimeter of the home with
structural piers located under load bearing points of a wood framed floor
system.
4. Raised Slab Foundation
Another
option to a crawlspace foundation is a raised slab foundation. This can be more cost effective because of
the cost of wood in a floor system.
Construction consists of a concrete block stem wall
approximately 3 feet tall that continues around the perimeter of the home that
is reinforced with concrete and steel, the interior area is then backfilled
with sand and a concrete slab is poured as the floor system.
B. Selecting a Building Site
Just
as in designing a home, selecting a building site for your family can be a
serious decision. Real Estate agents
tell us one of the most important factors in choosing a lot is the general
location or neighborhood. Important
factors include, adjacent property values, local
communities, schools, churches, shopping, views, lakefront access and proximity
to your work place. Even if you do not
have school age children, the resale and retained property values of a quality
school system will effect the value of your home for
many years to come.
1. Subdivision Requirements or Restrictive
Covenants
Are
there covenants or building requirements in the subdivision you are considering
such as, appropriate usage, exterior materials/colors, roof pitches, garage
access, etc..
2. Setbacks
Be
sure to allow for front rear and side setbacks when designing the width and
length of the home. Also allow for an
appropriate driveway, (about 10 feet wide) and if necessary, room for a
turn-around area (30 feet from side-entry garages)
3. Easements
Are
there any utility or drainage easements that could limit the use of the land? Easements usually exist along the rear or
side of a lot to allow for power, telephone, gas lines or storm-water
access. Typically you can not build
within this area, consult your local planning department for further
information.
4. Flood Plain
Before
purchasing your lot, check with the local zoning department to verify that the
proposed building site is not restricted by a flood plain or other natural
encumbrance.
5. Special Requirements
Such as additional parking spaces, detached garage or other structure,
area for boats or recreational vehicles. Do
you plan on installing a swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, gazebo or any
other outdoor living areas? Check local
codes and subdivision restrictive covenants for specific information.
6. Privacy
Homes that slope up from the front to back or sit up on a hill, offer
more privacy than those that slope away. "L"
or "H" shaped plans often help create private areas from adjoining
properties. Fences, trees and hedges
also offer a sense of privacy.
C. Designing
for your Si
