Category: Tips and Tricks

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Functional Floor Plan Design To Suite Your Family’s Needs

Creating your functional floor plan design is a HUGE part of building your home. We imagine you’ll want to build a home that flows well and is functional for YOUR family … plus, you’ll want it to fit into your budget. We’ve come up with 3 tips to help you design the perfect floor plan so that your home *does* flow well and *is* functional for the way YOUR family lives.

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH A GOOD FLOOR PLAN?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer as to what makes a ‘good floor plan’. 

The answer is relative and subjective depending on the person. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer as to what constitutes a ‘good floor plan’. 

However, what makes a ‘good floor plan’ for YOU all starts with considering how YOUR family will live in the home. 

TIP 1: CONSIDER HOW YOUR FAMILY WILL LIVE IN THE HOME

When you thoroughly consider what is most and least important to you in your future home, as well as how your family will live in the home, you’re better able to create a custom floor plan that is both functional and perfect for YOUR family.

When thinking about your room sizes and your home’s layout, focus your square footage on the rooms that will be used most often by your family.

The only way to do this effectively is if you truly think about how your family will live in the home.

A few ideas to get you started …

Where do you picture your children doing their homework?

Where do you picture your future grandchildren playing?

How do you envision you and/or your spouse cooking? 

Where will your family eat dinner?

Where will your children hang out when their friends are over? 

Where will you relax as a family?

Where will you go when you need a break from the family?

And keep in mind that this is YOUR home so it doesn’t matter what other people think is important or necessary when it comes to room sizes.

The bottom line … really consider how your family will move around the house and what rooms are most important for YOUR family.

This leads us to the next tip which is a big ‘DO’ when it comes to the dos and don’ts when designing a floor plan.


TIP 2: DO CONSIDER YOUR FLOOR PLAN MUST-HAVES

Our biggest piece of advice when it comes to the ‘dos and don’ts’ of creating your floor plan is pretty simple …

DON’T sacrifice your must-haves in your home, but 

DO sacrifice your ‘not-worth-the-money’ items (even if it’s is something others tell you that its a must have in your houme).

Your budget is obviously going to be a huge factor when it comes to square footage and other aspects of your floor plan. 

Unless you have an unlimited budget (which is very few people!), you’ll have to make some cuts to your ‘dream home’ based on your budget. The last thing you should be cutting is your must-haves. 

I recommend that you start thinking about your absolute must-haves in your future home as well as things that would be nice to have (e.g. sloped ceilings) and things that aren’t worth the money to you (e.g. finished rec room or basement). 

Are there rooms that you can’t live without (e.g. four bathrooms because you have a large family)?

Are there rooms that aren’t that important to you so they can either be smaller or removed altogether (e.g. formal dining room)?

Do keep in mind that spouses don’t always have the same idea of what’s most and least important in their future home, so make sure to communicate with your spouse to ensure that you’re both on ‘the same page’.

TIP 3: CONSIDER THE FLOW OF YOUR PLAN

Tip 3 answers the question of what makes a good floor plan design. This all starts with considering the flow of your plan as you modify and tweak it.

With any floor plan, it’s VERY important to mentally walk through your plan while it’s on paper. This includes custom floor plans and, even more importantly, stock floor plans because they rarely make sense for real family living.

When walking through your plan on paper, you should think in-depth about how the rooms flow into each other.

Does the plan feel choppy? 

Do the rooms seamlessly flow into each other … or are there odd little hallways that don’t really make sense? 

Is there ‘dead space’ anywhere? 

Is there plenty of walking space to get from one room to another? 

Can you see into private rooms from the main areas of the home (e.g. can you see into a powder room from the dining room)?

These are just a few questions to get you started. As you create (or tweak) your floor plan, be sure to ‘walk through’ your plan on paper and make sure the flow of your plan makes sense for real family living.

Be sure to reachout to us for your new home inquireies and crerating a custom floor plan for your family.

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Upgrade Your Master Bath to Add Value To Your Home

master bath remodel

The master bathroom is a major selling point for any home. When renovating, incorporate sleek surfaces for a sparkling space that makes cleaning a cinch.

The master bath should be as large and bright as possible. A separate water closet and a spacious shower with multiple showerheads are a big selling point. There is also the trend of a separate sink and water closet for each person and only sharing the shower, which we see in the most distinctive homes.

Check our portfolio here

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Tips And Suggestions To Keep In Mind When Working With A General Contractor…

Establish Good Communication With Your Contractor

Ask the contractor how he prefers to communicate with you. Good options include:

  • Being onsite and talking with your contractor every morning before work begins.
  • Having your contractor’s cell phone number and the OK to call or text anytime.
  • Talking with the job foreman every day at a pre-determined time.

Try to meet with the project leader at least once a day. This is an opportunity for you to hear progress reports and find out what work is scheduled over the coming days — and to ask your questions and voice any concerns you have.

Great Tips And Ideas To Keep In Mind When Working With A Contractor

Keep a Project Journal

Your project journal is your friend and ally. Use it to:

  • Record progress.
  • Note things you want to ask your contractor.
  • Jot down ideas.
  • Record product order numbers.
  • Note upcoming delivery dates.

Be a Good Customer

One of the best ways to get quality work out of a contractor and construction crew is to make them enjoy working for you. That means being decisive with the contractor — and giving him a check promptly at the agreed-to points in the project.

Being friendly and accommodating of the workers is a great way to motivate them to do their best for you. Try:

  • Designating a bathroom that they can use.
  • Greeting them by name each morning.
  • Serving them cold lemonade on a hot day.
  • Complimenting their work (as long as you feel it’s worthy of praise).

Read more of our blog posts here—>>> https://parkerscustombuilders.com/posts/

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Making a Small House Plan Feel Big

If you’re planning to design a smaller home, you should recognize that less square footage doesn’t have to feel smaller. Here are some of the design choices that will make any home live large:

Vaulted ceilings. Vaulted ceilings make any room feel significantly larger. For a little extra flair, consider a barrel-vaulted ceiling, with a radius angle connecting the two roof planes. Or, for a truly magnificent effect, opt for a dome-vaulted ceiling. Whichever style of vaulted ceiling you choose, you’ll find the resulting space to be airy and spacious.

Open layout.Doorways and walls take up space, while an open floor plan reclaims it for you. With an open kitchen/dining/living area, even a small home plan can feel expansive. Plus, an open floor plan encourages togetherness among family members.

Indoor/outdoor connection. Nothing feels bigger than the great outdoors. Homes with strong indoor/outdoor connections naturally feel larger. Large windows with simple dressings will help create a good connection to the outdoors. Also, look for small house plans with sliding or French doors and built-in patio areas.

Clerestory windows. Any windows that are placed above eye level will lend a small home extra spaciousness. Throughout time, home designers have understood that high windows create excellent natural light to help make spaces appear larger. One design element to keep in mind: Clerestory windows won’t compromise your privacy.

Minimalism. Clutter is the enemy of spaciousness. For instance, while Marie Antoinette’s bedroom at Versailles is actually a fairly large room, it feels cramped due to the over-the-top Baroque styling. Gilded flowers, lush draperies and busy fabric patterns make her room feel small. On the opposite end of the design spectrum, we find minimalism, which is so simple and understated as to make any room feel larger. To make your home feel bigger, opt for contemporary, minimalist design, and look for small home designs that include plenty of built-in storage.

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Tips for Choosing a Home Plan to Fit Your Lot

1. Start with lot dimensions. 

Knowing your lot’s basic measurements and allowable building area will allow you to quickly sort through potential house plans. For instance, a skinny, long lot will do best with narrow house plans.

2. Prioritize important features.

Beyond meeting basic lot requirements, a dream home should be comfortable and convenient for the residents. Work together as a family to make a list of “must have” features for your new home. For instance, if you’re planning to retire in this home, it makes sense to consider single story house plans.

3. Showcase natural features.

You may be lucky enough to have a fantastic view. If your dream home will look out over a lake, stream or mountain range, be sure to select a home plan that has living spaces that face toward that special feature. Even small cottage house plans can be designed with walls of windows to take in that amazing view. Look for plenty of windows facing the showcase view.

4. Get inspired. 

Get creative as you compile ideas for your dream home’s floor plan. The hardest part of the home design process is visualizing what you want and need without any pre-existing image. We recommend starting a collage board where you can clip out home features you’d love to have in your own home.

These are a few of the top considerations when selecting a house plan for a specific lot. Think of this as your starting point. As you dive into the home plan selection process, other traits, such as orientation and the potential for future expansion, will come into play.

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Kitchens with multiple purposes

When choosing a design that’s right for you, consider your,s and your family’s needs. Do you own at least one of everything and need a place to store all your gadgets? Would the island become a catch-all or would it be a great place to prepare a meal and watch over the kids as they are doing their homework? Would a window be nice for extra light or the serenity it would provide?

There are several considerations you should make when choosing a new house plan or remodeling your current kitchen that’s right for you.

Islands

Kitchen Islands are becoming more and more popular these days, especially with the growing need for a multi-functional space. Islands offer additional storage and room for food preparation. When the kitchen isn’t being used for cooking, an island can be used as a craft area, or kids can do their homework there. Many islands also have a breakfast bar area, so informal meals may be served here.

Cabinets

Form and function go hand in hand when it comes to selecting cabinetry. Because the cabinets are really the focal point of your kitchen, it is important that you select a design that is pleasing to you. There are so many options out there, from traditional to contemporary, made from all types of materials. Got some decorative plates or glassware that you’d like to display? Opt for a glass-door cabinet. Is cabinet organization not your strong point? Perhaps a solid wood cabinet door is the way to go. Speaking of organization, cabinet manufacturers nowadays have a variety of unique storage systems that can help you maximize the use of your cabinetry.

Countertops

Like cabinets, countertops must be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. Consider what is important to you, and what you will be using the counter for. Perhaps a a built-in butcher block would be useful. Are you planning to cut vegetables on your counter or put hot pans on it? You’ll need to find a durable, scratch resistant countertop. There are so many different materials out there to choose from, you are bound to find something that matches your needs and budget.

Flooring

You will want to select a floor type that fits with the style of your cabinets and countertops. However, you’ll also need to consider how much traffic it can handle. Will the kids be running through with their soccer cleats on? Then you’ll definitely need a durable, scratch resistant floor! Do you cook a lot? Then perhaps a spill proof option is right for you.

Lighting

Poorly planned lighting can be a real buzz kill in your kitchen! Plan ahead of time what areas you think you’ll need what types of light. For example, if you have a designated food prep area, then perhaps some under cabinet lighting would be ideal. If another part of the kitchen is designated for entertaining mood lighting would definitely be appropriate. Also pay special attention to where you place your light switches and how many you have. You don’t want to have so many lighting options that you don’t know which to choose when you walk into the kitchen!

Storage

What types of things will you be storing in your kitchen? Beyond just pots and pans and dishes, will you need office storage for papers and bills? How much room will you devote to food storage? Also, special consideration is necessary if you live with elderly adults, who may need to have medications at a reachable height. On the other hand, if you live with young children, you’ll want to make sure that those types of items are a safe distance from their grasp.

Appliances

In addition to the finish on your appliances, you’ll want to decide what size your kitchen can house as well as its location. You definitely don’t want to have your fridge directly in front of the stove, so that you can only open one at a time! Be very meticulous when it comes to measuring space, because there’s nothing worse than finding out your brand new fridge won’t fit!

Space Planning

All of your hard work selecting cabinetry, lighting, countertops, and everything else will mean nothing if you don’t plan your space ahead. Think about what your kitchen will be used for. How many people will be in the kitchen at once? Will it be a gathering space for entertaining in addition to a food prep area? Then perhaps you will want to divide it into two separate areas-one for food preparation and the other for entertaining. Is it the hub of your home, from where you direct all of the day’s affairs? If so, you may need to plan in a space for a computer area or message center.

There are also plenty of extras you can add on to your kitchen. Butler’s pantries are very handy for food and appliance storage. Another neat option is an appliance garage, which allows you to easily access your mixers and toasters without having to always have them visible on your counter tops. For more information about planning your new home builds perfect kitchen or a kitchen remodel, contact us @ 231-798-3541

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How to choose a color scheme

  1. Choose a Color Scheme From the Largest Pattern in the Space. If you’ve got patterned upholstery, a colorful rug or large piece of artwork, pluck colors you like from the pattern. …
  2. Decorate From Dark to Light, Vertically. …
  3. Use the Color Wheel. …
  4. Back to Black. …
  5. Go With Grays. …
  6. Contrast Warm and Cool. …
  7. Showcase Your Personal Style.
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How To Shop For Your Remodel…

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Around half the cost of a remodel is in materials, so try to be mindful of potential downfalls.

If you’re a DIY’er, avoiding some minor and major mistakes can help you make the most out of your investment. I hope you already know it’s best to buy quality materials from trusted local vendors and to install classic, long-lasting materials that will be around for generations. Below are a few more tips on shopping and getting ready for your remodel…

1. Know the downfalls of buying off the shelf. 

Check the box. Does it look like it has been opened or returned? Don’t buy it. Returned items may have damage and missing parts.

2. Get recommendations of showrooms and lumberyards. 

A good builder should have established relationships with reps he or she trusts, so use the recommended suppliers if you can. If you’re a DIYer, try asking around for some good suggestions. When all else fails, add 30 percent to any delivery time frame you’re told and build a healthy contingency fund into your budget, just in case.

3. Just because it’s cheaper… 

A lot of houses are still piped with copper, so repairs and remodeling will generally be done in copper as well. Half-inch copper pipe is 5/8 inch in diameter, but the thickness of the copper depends on the type. Many stores sell type M and L. Type M is cheaper because it’s thinner — but saving money in materials now could mean tearing open walls later to find a pinhole leak that has sprung.

4. Sometimes you don’t get what you thought you were paying for.

Some brands spend more on advertising than on making quality products. Do your research and make sure the product you’re buying is current. The situation is always changing, but make sure you know what you’re getting and who you’ll call if it turns out to be a dud.

5. Let someone else be the guinea pig.

I have tested materials and products on my own house over the years so I can vouch for them in my work. If you are not in the business, you should be buying products that have been well regarded for many years.

6. Buy local.

There are many reasons to buy local and support your region’s economy, but two big ones have to do with shipping. Make sure to factor in the cost of shipping when pricing out materials. A local vendor will usually not charge extra for shipping, and you can schedule the delivery. Shipments of online purchases can result in headaches if no one is around when a big, heavy delivery shows up.

7. Buy salvaged. 

You can often get better-quality building materials with more character for less money by buying salvaged. You will pay more in labor, but once again, this is an opportunity to support your community.

8. Buy extra.

“Waste” is the term we use for extra materials ordered, because the cutoffs usually end up as just that (unless they’re recycled). The best way to figure out how much waste to order is by following a manufacturer’s or installer’s recommendations.

9. Have someone else check your work.

Before you approve a special order, especially for windows and doors, have someone else familiar with the job look over the order. You can’t send a custom door back because you didn’t notice they got the door swing wrong or because the window is designed for 2-by-4 walls, not 2-by-6.

10. Buy early.

Stopping work to wait for materials to arrive is costly. Double the lead time you were told and you’ll usually be safe. Delays happen all the time. If the materials are onsite, the contractor can check measurements and answer questions that the spec sheet doesn’t address.

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If you’re thinking about building a new home give this a read: https://parkerscustombuilders.com/the-cost-to-build-a-new-home/

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Choosing The Right Material For Your Countertops…

Tempting as it is to choose a countertop based on looks alone, a material’s durability, maintenance and cost are also important factors to consider when making a selection for a remodel or custom built new home.

Find a good fit

Homeowners need to take into consideration the way they live before settling on a countertop surface. If you have three kids and you’re making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the countertops every day, you might not want to go with that white granite and lean toward the solid surface countertops.

Countertop choices

The good news is if you have your hearts set on a certain look, but the material just doesn’t match with your lifestyle, odds are there’s another material that does.

Granite, the top choice in countertops, is available in a variety of shades such as blacks, whites, greens, corals and beiges, and no two pieces are exactly the same. Granite is available in two finishes. A polished finish results in a shiny look and often darkens the appearance of the stone, while honing is soft and matte. Costs for granite depend on many variables, including color, finish and origin of the stone.

If you pick a granite that is relatively easy to get, it could be affordable. If you pick a granite that needs to be ordered or even imported that can be pretty expensive.

Other natural stone materials, like marble, limestone and soapstone, are softer than granite and require delicate use and greater care. All stone countertops must be sealed periodically.

Engineered stone countertops come in a wider variety of colors than natural stone countertops, are more durable and are easy to maintain. However, engineered stone won’t save any money or very little over granite because the two materials cost roughly the same.

Solid surface countertops have a lot of appeal. They come in countless colors, are seamless, resist stains and scratches can be buffed out. One major downfall though: Hot pans can damage solid-surface countertops.

Concrete countertops, which can be completely customized with pigments, are gaining popularity. Concrete is available in several different finishes: trowel (smooth), ground (sanded to expose the sand aggregate) and pressed (a tool is used to reveal marblelike veining). Extreme or abrupt changes in temperature may cause concrete to warp or curl, damp sponges left on the counter can cause discoloration and acidic spills may etch the surface. To keep a concrete countertop looking its best, it’s advisable to seal them up to four times per year and wax with a paste every two to three months.

Wood countertops, like butcher block, instantly warm up a kitchen. They are easy to clean and any scratches can be sanded out. Water damages butcher block quite easily though So wood countertops must be oiled frequently to seal the surface.

Laminate is the most affordable countertop material on the market and comes in an array of colors and designs. Laminate can scorch if a hot pan touches the surface though and has a reputation for scratching easily. However, the product has made strides in scratch-resistance in recent years.

On the edge

Square edges are standard on most countertops, but decorative edges like radius, bullnose, bevel, egg and ogee — while a bit more expensive — are another way to customize a kitchen. Availability of edges varies based on countertop materials.

Mix and match

Can’t decide on just one material? Then mix and match surfaces. Try using a different material on islands than the rest of the countertops to differentiate the space. Another option is to inset another material into a countertop for specific tasks. Butcher block is common for chopping as is marble for baking.

Before making a decision on countertop material, see the surface in person, whether that means visiting a showroom or viewing samples in-home.

And be sure to checkout more tips and tricks like How to choose energy efficient windows for your new home.