This is the second article in a series of articles designed to get you thinking. There are few things more frustrating than realizing you've left out an important item in your custom home. In most every case it costs a lot more to add something after the fact. Or, even worse, it cannot be done!

Here is a reminder of the articles in this series:

1. The Exterior of the home.
2. The Interior of the home.
3. The Framework of the home.

So, are we doing so far? You should now have lots of ideas, and decisions, about the exterior portion of your soon-to-be Custom Dream Home.

Now, let's get started on the next area for ideas and decision-making

The Interior of the Home

• Floor plan / style. Open? Formal areas? Split floor plan? Traffic flow?
• Ceiling height. A higher ceiling is more open and luxurious. How about cathedral and/or vaulted ceilings.
• Will there be a separate living room, den, office, laundry room? Location and space allocation on each.
• Design of exterior doors, interior doors and windows.
• Design elements like arches, pillars, niches, accent lighting, floor accents, raised or sunken floors, stone or other accents, etc.
• Fireplaces: number and location
• Floor covering by room. Try to be consistent with same carpet and same tile throughout house.
• Carpet (type, color, style, durability),
• Tile (ceramic, porcelain, stone, Saltillo, vinyl/linoleum, color, style, care requirements, etc.)
• Bathrooms: style, layout, countertops, cabinets, sinks, mirrors, medicine cabinets, tub, shower, lighting, commode (space or door for privacy?). Some upper-level homes even have bidet and/or urinal.
• Powder rooms. You may not need a full bath in a public area.
• Kitchen: style, layout (remember the importance of the working triangle. Refrigerator space (including pre-plumb for water, countertops (granite, synthetic, etc.), cabinets, sinks, water fixtures, filtered water, hot water on demand, oven, two ovens, wall oven(s), stovetop (gas or electric, number of burners, grill, etc.), ventilation, disposal, 110 volt A/C under sink, pantry (the more spacious the better), prep/working space, additional storage, lighting, bar seating, eat-in seating space. Lighting for sink, work space, cabinets, under cabinets, bar, pantry, seating / eating areas, etc. Upgrade appliances. Coordinate appliances.
• Separate Dining Room? Lighting, accent lights; allow sufficient space, room for buffet (if desired). Location of Dining Room should be near the kitchen.
• Separate formal Living Room or Great Room? Access to other areas of home, fireplace, sufficient space for projected furniture layout.
• Entertainment area. Which room? Pre-wired for CATV, 110 volt A/C, sound, and lighting. Consider sound deadening. Space and location of TV, seating, etc.
• Man Cave. Same as entertainment area, separate, or none. Design accordingly.
• Separate Office or Den? Separate entrance from exterior if you work from home and have visiting clients? Location and sufficient space for desk(s), bookcases, filing, storage. Remember to have multiple location for 110 power, CATV (cable), phone, LAN , etc. Lighting for multiple workspaces and overhead. Ceiling fan. Soundproofing? Double door? (some office furniture is BIG). Some home offices have their own attached bathroom.
• Laundry area. In garage or separate Laundry Room (she'll be much happier with the latter). Pre-stub for both 220 volt A/C and Natural Gas (if available). Ventilation, laundry sink, cabinets, ironing area, rod to hang dried clothes, etc.
• Hallways. Consider width of halls (4' minimum?), accessibility, tight turns, ability to move bulky furniture into rooms, door placement, etc. Work hallways into your plan appropriately. An excess of hallways is often considered as wasted space.
• Broom or utility closet in hallway. Make this large enough to be truly usable.
• Consider 36" doors for bedrooms. Much easier to move furniture in and out.
• Bedrooms. Number of bedrooms (consider future situations, resale, etc.). Will kid's bedrooms be split from Master Bedroom? Do you want the occupants have some privacy, or not too much? How about separate bathrooms? Or, how about a Jack & Jill bath? (Upper level homes typically have these design / convenience features.)
• Bedroom closets. Sufficient space plus accessible. No tacky doors. Closet systems?
• Surface treatment on interior walls: various types of texturing or use a flat plaster treatment, or? Don't forget the ceilings.
• Master Bedroom. Plenty of space. Separate sitting area? Exterior door to back porch or? Determine locations for furniture, outlets (phone, CATV, 110 volt A/C, etc.) Lighting options. Sound insulation? Raised ceiling?
• Master Bath. Determine style. Enclosed / closable door to commode area (trust me, it's worth it!). Double sinks, counter tops, medicine cabinets, cabinets and drawers, tub (make it nice), walk-in shower, flooring, mirrors, lighting, etc., etc.
• Master Closet. Spacious. Plan on more space for her (that's just the way it is get over it), closet system, 110 volt A/C access, lighting, etc.
• Garage. These are actually meant for parking vehicles, not just for storage. Plan for both! Workspace, workbenches, shelving, cabinets, hot water heater, water softener, lawn equipment, etc., etc., etc. Some even use overhead storage. Make sure at least one bay is LONG enough to park a long vehicle, or a boat / trailer, etc. Space for each vehicle plus more space.
• Mother-in-Law quarters. Some plan for this, many don't always required for present or future. Think about your situation. Build as a stand-alone or as part of the main house? Separate entrance from exterior? Include kitchenette? Include living space in addition to bedroom? Separate entrance to main house?
• Exercise room. Space for equipment. Flooring. Additional Air Conditioning vent?

Wow! There are a lot of things to consider. Not all of these ideas are necessary in every home, but these ideas will make you think about what you really want in your Custom Dream Home. Doing your homework here will truly pay off in the long run!

We've now completed the Exterior and Interior. Stay tuned for finalizing with the Framework.