Building a House

[Chronicle]

DH & I just purchased a 2 acre lot and we're planning on building a new house. Neither of us has ever built a house before and realize we only have one shot to get it right.

We know we want the master bedroom and bath on the main level. We also want a walk-in pantry and a dry basement for DH's workshop. What else should we be looking for. Any ideas on what your perfect house would include?

[inneedofhope]

I like an open floor plan, so I can watch TV while I cook! My ideal would be a huge kitchen with room for my computer area, eating area, and living room.

[ironmaiden]

There is a whole "science" of which direction to face your house, trees to plant around it, how to have the windows ...
So that your house gets good natural light (don't need to flick on lights in the daytime). If you live somewhere cold, you'd want to have the sunlight to help warm the house during the day. And to get the maximum amount of cross breeze running through the house if you live in an area where there are many months where AC does not have to be used. Trees to shade a house during the hot months. If living where it is cold, these trees would have to be the types to lose your trees in the winter. Even the color you paint your house - darker colors for cold winter places, light colors for places where it is hot. Something to think about

Another suggestion would be to go to lots of open houses - see what you like and don't like.

[jzkitten]

I would want a craft room with plenty of storage. Also a computer/library room as we love to read and have a collection of various books and magazines. Also a large kitchen with plenty of cabinets and counters. Esp if you do a lot of baking and canning.

[guest32]

Well, we stumbled onto our dream house a few years ago
The things I really love are a HUGE kitchen island...that's where everyone congregates, and it's great for entertaining. Ours is counter height with no cooktop or anything...just counter (about 4' x6') Also, I like the bay eating nook...it seems so much larger than a regular eat-in kitchen. The house dd just bought has the same feature and it makes the kitchen area seem so much bigger, plus the extra light is a big bonus. I love my laundry room, but I wish it was oriented so it had a window. It has a huge pantry, storage above the w/d, and large sink and counter space, and a hanging rack for drying. Another great feature to consider is having your toilet in a seperate little room of the bathrooms. This makes it easier and more funtional for people to share the space.
The features I would add if I were to ever build would be lots of (deep) kitchen drawers. And pocket doors! We have a few and I can't believe how much space they save (no door swing to take up wall space)
I envy you the opportunity to build!!! Land around here has gotten so outrageous, it's just not feasible. We are only on 1/2 acre.

[alabamagirl]

Lots of storage.

I would LOVE a fireplace in the bedroom - it seems like it would be very relaxing and romantic.

[canadian gardener]

I'd like all on one level, especially having a front loading washer machine and dryer in my kitchen or in a main floor laundry anyways.

In the kitchen I'd have those big deep drawers that pull out and hold stuff like shelves used to but much easier. Pull out shelves basically.

I'd have lots more undercabinet lighting in the kitchen.

I'd go for an ensuite as well as a main bathroom.

Built in bookshelves, they look so nice in that Craftsman style of home, or those Hampton's style East Coast houses.

[Darlene]

How exciting for you!

My dream home would not have a master suite, I think they are a waste of space. Use the extra room for family spaces.

Need 1+1/2 baths, don't need more. (somehow I've gotten by with 1 all my life but don't know how, lol) Think too that it's character building for people to learn to take turns and schedule their showers, lol.

Big kitchen with an island~ storage cabinets & counters on both sides of my stove. One cabinet would have lazy susan for spices the other would hold oils, vinegars, hot sauce etc.
Large table in kitchen with extra leaves for large groups & no diningroom table. I think they too are a waste of space since they are used so seldom. Kitchen to me is the heart of the home and a big table with a nice view is just right. Sink needs to overlook the yard and needs to be deep for those big soup pots. Your standing there doing dishes, isn't it nice to look outside and enjoy the sights while you do them?

Livingroom needs a woodburning fireplace (with insert to help heat the house) and be large (no other living/family room needed)

Would love to have a "den" with a wall of built in bookcases, nice comfy couch and chair, wall of windows with good light.

Finished basement would be nice for a game room, workshop & laundryroom that has a sink and folding table

Lots of windows to let the outside in.

Mudroom just outside kitchen

I like ceiling fans too, even though some of the decorating shows don't.

More outlets than you think you'll need.

OK, that's enough for now,lol.

[AmyMCGS]

We built our home a little over a year ago, and I love it.

One feature I especially like: the laundry room is upstairs, where the bedrooms are. After all, that's where most of the laundry comes from, right?

One suggestion: don't forget to build in storage areas. That's the only thing lacking in this house-- we have bedroom closets and that's it. If I did it again, I'd build a storage room in the basement for the Christmas decorations, etc.

[Sari]

I'd want to make sure there is a large closet or a bathroom in the central part of the house (maybe your basement will serve this purpose) for when tornado or other storm comes there's a safe place to go.

[marei]

I would love my washer and dryer on the main floor or upstairs as somebody else mentioned. Would like to have a pantry, pocket doors, built in oven - maybe two and a stovetop in the counter rather than a stove. Planning on re-doing our kitchen within the next couple of years and will certainly have some but not all of the above.