Cary Living

Steve Wade recently contributed to an article for Cary Living.

Floor Planning

Designing a home that suits your life

By Julianne Winkler Smith

It’s been long enough. You’ve patiently endured settling for less than your ideal. No more mediocrity. You’re ready for the very best, so it’s time to take the plunge.

No, this isn’t about finding the idyllic love connection. The decision you’re about to make may actually be a bit more daunting: You’re going to build a house. Building your home can be an overwhelming and intimidating challenge, especially since emotions are so entwined in the process – we are talking about your dream here. 

There are seemingly endless decisions to made, big and small, from choosing total square-footage toeach outlet placement.

But you can do this! With a little information, as well as a fewprofessional insights to consider, the process can be made simpler…and maybe even fun.

“When creating a new home, you need to understand what is important to you and consider your lifestyle – current and future,” asserts Paul Longworth, Senior Project Manager with Toll Brothers, Inc. It’s vital to think not only about your present lifestage (newlywed, young family,etc.), but you must also anticipate what your future may bring – an empty nest, a resident elderly parent or in-law, or a home office. Paul continues, “Most people get so caught up in the excitement of shopping for a new home, they sometimes lose focus on what they actually need.”

Steve Wade, President of Raleigh’s own Matthews & Wade Building Company agrees, and adds, “Be thoughtful when planning your new home. It’s the largest investment you’re likely to ever make.”

Historically Speaking
Probably the best way to start the process of planning for your new home is to assess your current and past houses. What have you loved? What have you wished was different? What do you abhor? Where do you do most of your living, and why? Certainly you’ve heard yourself mutter things like, “If only we had a mudroom for the kids to dump all their stuff when they come in.” Or, “If I have to lug this laundry basket upstairs one more time…” You get the picture.

Now draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Label one side“Must-haves” and the other “Unacceptables.” Then, start writing! Interview family members for their input too, and you may be surprised at the valuable insight they supply. While visiting friends, you can secretly assess their homes and expand your list as well. You’ll be amazed at how much floor planning you can get done with this simple exercise.

Lifestyles & Lifestages
Next, picture an upside-down triangle, broad to narrow, and approach your floor planning in this way. First, start asking yourself the big questions. What style home best suits you? And does your desired style fit into the neighborhood you’re targeting? (That Frank Lloyd Wright design you’re pining for may not quite complement the row of traditional colonials to which your lot is adjacent.) Do you want a multi-story home, or a ranch? If you’re retirement age – or will be while in the home, you may want to consider a single-story, or a first-floor master. It’s important to consider the number of steps throughout the house in general, as your desire and ability to climb stairs will change over time.

Look at the overall living space…where do you see yourself doing most of your living in the house? Will a formal living room be used, or will it sit dormant most of the time? If, like most families, you tend togather primarily in the kitchen, be sure the space is designed to accommodate both cooking and connecting. And how many bedrooms do you really need? (Don’t forget future children…whether new or returning!) Individual room square-footage is vital as well. For example, if you believe that the kids’ bedrooms are made for sleeping (versus playing), perhaps it’s wise to go with smaller bedroom spaces and designate more area for a large bonus or playroom. Also, assess your visitor schedule; does it require a dedicated guest bedroom? And look at storage needs –often times, homes lack desired storage space, so that extra bedroom or hoped-for exercise room ultimately becomes a mini storage unit out of necessity.

Form vs. Function
Then there are spacing issues that go beyond total square-footage and number of rooms. For example, how many of us are awed by cathedral ceilings in a foyer and great room? We just love the “openness”, we say. But all that openness also cuts down on creating more usable spaces – for example, a second-floor office or craft room where all that air would otherwise be. The two-story ceiling also requires extra utility usage to heat and cool areas where no one will reside. But you may just crave all that airiness and light – and that’s OK too…remember, it’s your dream.

According to Steve Wade, “How the home flows is a factor sometimes overlooked when designing a new home. For example, how is the room accessibility? Does the home seem to ramble with no real sense of purpose?” It’s so easy to get excited about a particular layout without considering how that design will actually function with a real-live family inside. Review the natural traffic flow of a plan, being sure there is adequate room for all your furnishings, as well as space tomove about the home in a comfortable and easy way. “At a cost of about $130 - $200 per square foot for a custom home in Cary,” Steve adds,“it’s smart to assess not only the form and aesthetics of your floorplan design, but also how useful and functional every bit of space is going to be.”

Details, Details
After all that broad thinking, it’s time to focus in on the little things. An integral part of floor plans includes surface materials–siding versus brick on the exterior, and flooring and cabinetry inside.This is an area where careful design is key. After moving into a new home, there are few regrets like a patio door that opens up onto white carpeting instead of easy to clean floors.

“Craft and hobby rooms are increasingly popular,” remarks Steve. “And it’s imperative for these versatile spaces to have resilient flooring, such as a laminate material, that will withstand paint, glue, markers and clay.” These practical details can be easily forgotten in the flurry of aesthetic choices.

When you’re considering your lifestyle for those bigger decisions, pay attention to the details that could make your day-to-day living profoundly more pleasant and simple. If you’re a dog person, for example, how great would it be to have a dog shower (or muddy kid shower) built right into the garage or laundry room? Or there are those architectural details like perfect scale and impeccable finishes that have the power to bring a smile to your face each time you notice them.

Outdoor Living
“In a pleasant climate like ours, it’s very desirable to have outdoor living space options,” says Paul Longworth, “such as a screened-inporch, deck, patio or covered front porch.” And these aspects truly add to the beauty, livability and value of your new home.

Steve concurs wholeheartedly. “Allowing your home design to flow seamlessly outdoors is a great way to expand your livable space and enjoy more of your home.” He adds, “Consider factors such as view, sunposition during the winter and summer, and lot topography when you are planning outdoor living and play areas.”

Finally, when taking into account livability and function, think about your garage and driveway spaces too. Consider how many cars you have, or will have, especially once your kids are driving. If you entertain frequently, you may want your driveway to accommodate several additional vehicles. And although keeping your vehicles garaged is notas vital in North Carolina as it is in, say, Colorado, building your own home is the perfect opportunity to design a custom three-car garage: two spaces for your respective vehicles, and the other for that woodworking shop you’ve been fantasizing about for decades.

When getting ready to build your dream house, the bottom-line is to plan, plan, plan. Especially with regard to your floor plan. Be prepared by knowing specifically what you want and where you want it. And shop carefully for the right builder, interviewing several. As Steve asserts, “Do not settle for less than what you expect from your builder, in terms of quality, craftsmanship and service.”

When building, as opposed to going the resale route, you have the unique capacity to create a home that perfectly fits your family and your lifestyle. If planned well, with the help of a competent, thorough builder, you can love every aspect of your home and find pure satisfaction in all the little – and big – things. And each morning as you sip your coffee, you’ll be able to look around and know you’re not just dreaming.

Julianne Winkler Smith is a freelance writer and president of Eydo, Inc., a marketing and public relations firm based in Cary.