Home & Hearth
Building a Better Home
Welcome spring! After a long and snowy winter season, we’re all relieved temperatures are getting warmer, and we can move our projects outdoors. Now is the time for new construction to really take off. We’re seeing a great deal of plans for new homes as a result of two very successful home shows. If you’re planning to build, there are some things to keep in mind during the building process.
If the plans you’re using come from a plan service, you may want to make some changes. Normally, these plans are very generic and may not reflect the exact layout that would work best for your lifestyle. Look at the placement of doors, windows, and closets. Would a pocket door work better in a tight space? Are there enough windows, and are they placed correctly? Is the closet in the laundry room taking up too much floor space? All of these questions will help you ensure the plan works before walls go up in the new house.
Once construction is started, it becomes easier to get a feel for the space and where certain items should be located. Many times, clients wait too long to think about where they want light switches. Try to review this before the electrician stops by. If you’re putting a desk in the kitchen, have the electrician keep the outlets at desk height rather than the standard height for kitchen counters. The outlets can also be placed under the kneehole space in the desk area, so cords can go through a grommet hole in the top and become less noticeable.
The kitchen layout is very important, especially if you have an island to consider. Which direction do you want to face while working at the island? How many people do you want to seat at the island? Remember to include outlets in the island and consider the best placement for ease of use.
Be sure to think ahead regarding towel bars. The contractor can reinforce the walls with extra backing to hang the towel bars or even grab bars in convenient locations. In home office areas, plan ahead for special wiring considerations.
Take the time to review your plans and discuss questions with your contractor to ensure you’re going to have a home that works best for your lifestyle. TPW
If the plans you’re using come from a plan service, you may want to make some changes. Normally, these plans are very generic and may not reflect the exact layout that would work best for your lifestyle. Look at the placement of doors, windows, and closets. Would a pocket door work better in a tight space? Are there enough windows, and are they placed correctly? Is the closet in the laundry room taking up too much floor space? All of these questions will help you ensure the plan works before walls go up in the new house.
Once construction is started, it becomes easier to get a feel for the space and where certain items should be located. Many times, clients wait too long to think about where they want light switches. Try to review this before the electrician stops by. If you’re putting a desk in the kitchen, have the electrician keep the outlets at desk height rather than the standard height for kitchen counters. The outlets can also be placed under the kneehole space in the desk area, so cords can go through a grommet hole in the top and become less noticeable.
The kitchen layout is very important, especially if you have an island to consider. Which direction do you want to face while working at the island? How many people do you want to seat at the island? Remember to include outlets in the island and consider the best placement for ease of use.
Be sure to think ahead regarding towel bars. The contractor can reinforce the walls with extra backing to hang the towel bars or even grab bars in convenient locations. In home office areas, plan ahead for special wiring considerations.
Take the time to review your plans and discuss questions with your contractor to ensure you’re going to have a home that works best for your lifestyle. TPW