One of the biggest reasons to design a custom home rather than buying a previously owned property or a “spec” home is getting to make sure your home perfectly fits the needs of your family’s lifestyle. When designing a home for your family, the most important feature is its functionality. Whether your family includes young kids, older adults, or pets, considering the current and future needs of your household is a vital step in designing your home. A home that can adapt with your family ensures that it is a valuable investment for years to come.
Design That Fits Your Lifestyle and Priorities
Homes are not “one size fits all.” Each family has different wants, needs, and priorities. Take a look at what matters to your family. Consider things like:
- Placement of your laundry room. Would you prefer the laundry to be near the master bedroom, on the same level with kids’ rooms, or in a mudroom area between the garage and the main home? Some people strongly prefer a laundry room near the bedrooms, especially if that reduces trips up and down stairs; others like a main-floor laundry room. The makeup of your family may help determine which would be the most functional for you.
- Layout of your kitchen and pantry. One modern trend is a built-in pass-through connecting the garage directly to a separate kitchen pantry, so you can unload groceries directly from the car without making multiple trips. Large pantries can help you reduce kitchen clutter and provide economical storage areas (letting you buy in bulk and save money on staples).
- Integration of indoor-outdoor space. If you have a large family or want to use your outdoor space for entertaining, planning deck and patio space that is big enough to accommodate the right size tables and features is important! Designing in helpful elements like gas and electric hookups, integrated lighting and fire features, and easy paths from the kitchen or wet bar to the outdoor space can also enhance your ability to use your space.
Designing for Flexibility
If you’re planning to stay in your new custom home for some length of time, designing with intention can allow you to have the flexibility to make changes to your home as your family’s needs change. Some examples of design choices that promote long-term flexibility are
- A nursery that’s large enough to convert to a full-size bedroom as your child ages and bedrooms that are versatile enough to repurpose once your kids leave the nest
- Quality materials and finishes, like neutral hardwood floors, that will retain value and allow you to easily and economically change the décor in the room (like rugs and paint colors) to incorporate design trends
- Ensuring that a staircase from a main-floor deck doesn’t block light or access to a lower-level walk-out basement that you may want to eventually convert to a rec room
Universal Design for all Ages
Universal design principles help ensure that occupants of all ages and abilities can fully enjoy your home. Incorporating these design features can benefit your whole family as well as improving your home’s resale value. Some common universal design principles include
- Reducing the number of stairs to get from the bedrooms to the main living spaces of the home and from the garage to the kitchen. This helps protect children from fall hazards, improves convenience and your quality of life, and benefits older adults who hope to age in place
- Widening doors, hallways, and bathrooms to allow easier access (which also gives the look and feel of a modern, trendy open floor plan)
- A main floor master suite to help give you privacy, make it easier to navigate your home if you are injured or disabled, and be easier to manage as an older adult
Homes by Brill will get to know you and your family before we start designing your home. We will work with you to identify your family’s needs and craft a home designed just for you! We have built nearly 500 homes in the Des Moines metro area and look forward to helping your family design and build the perfect home.
Download our free eBook see more about some of the coolest current trends in custom home design; check out our website to learn more about our personalized design and build process; or contact us today to schedule a consultation!
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