We have quite the "team" doing this house.... we have the Architects... and an independent designer - not an "interior designer" to pick colors etc - but a design firm that specializes in a "holistic" design approach - their job is to do all the design work that requires cabinets - fixtures - lighting fixtures - as well as a complete review of door placements and which way they swing - etc. So this firm designs for the build - exactly where every wall socket goes - and exactly how high a wall sconce should be off the floor etc. Super detailed.
We also have a lighting design firm - and their job is to design all of the interior and exterior lighting. Lighting can make a room or house. How the lights are placed (up or down lighting) - the type - etc. With the stone that's in the interior of the house - there will be lighting that does nothing but accent and shadow the stone walls.
What we've found with working with a team like this -- is some fantastic little changes that will make all the difference in the world. They're not expensive changed -- they're just "if you did X look what it would do to Y". I personally - having retired from being in the furniture and design business as a wholesaler -- love this stuff. A sofa is just a sofa - until you get the right fabric and accent pillows etc on it.
Our builders - don't build "normal" houses... it's all custom stuff... and they have been fantastic at bringing ideas to the process - having done various things in other builds. They also bring what they all refer to as "value engineering" to the table. There's many ways to skin the cat -- and they look at stuff and say -- if you turned this wall into a pour in place wall - we could then just use "lick and stick" stone instead of building it out of full stone... WAY CHEAPER to do lick and stick! So all of that is where we are at now -- a total review of how it's to be built and the line items plugged in and minor adjustments made as that review process gets drilled down on.
I love this stuff... it gives me something to do other than to figure out what changes I'd want to make to which car over the winter. Some folks think the process is too complicated or overwhelming -- I love it and love the details and I know how important those can be. It isn't the first house we've built -- or the first remodel so we understand the little things that you forgot in the last one -- or you placed wrong in the last one...Like you want a table lamp over by the sofa but that's not against the wall -- so you need a floor receptacle etc. Our cell phones and all their related chargers etc will be INSIDE a drawer so we don't have that kind of stuff out in the open. It might seem small -- but to me it's a "why not" kind of detail. No different than which way a door swings.
I won't have a built in coffee maker... While it's the rage right now - we tend not to do trendy.. because 10 years from now - that one is out of date and the new one doesn't fit in that hole -- etc. We use "getting a good cup of coffee" as an excuse to walk into town. And I'm a certified coffee freak! Besides - it gives me an excused to BS with my buddy Rizzo... The Starbucks here (and I'm not defending their coffee -- (I only get coffee from made with the Clover) is the center of the known universe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SSLance
When we did our kitchen, we went and picked out all of the appliances we (she) wanted first...then I sat down with a pencil and paper (and an eraser...don't forget the eraser) and designed the kitchen around where the appliances would fit. It took many renditions before we finally found a plan that would work while making the most and best use of the space available. So I'm well aware of what the planning phase is like. 
Make sure you save room in the kitchen for one of these...
We love ours!
Designed the whole damn kitchen layout around it, but it is totally worth it if you like good coffee. |
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