Your Role on the Design Team

Hiring a professional member of the AIBD was your best decision thus far, but work on your new home or addition has only just begun. As the project owner, you'll play an important role in reviewing and approving design proposals and revisions. The materials selection process is equally important cabinets, carpets, doors, plumbing fixtures, hardware, windows and much more. Don't be overwhelmed. Your Professional Building Designer is there for advice and will guide you each step of the way.

Perhaps the most telling time spent with a building designer is in the first few meetings. Your needs, budget, taste, life-style and goals will be discussed in depth. The information garnered from these conversations will become the source inspiration from which a building designer will prepare preliminary design sketches. So, it's a good idea for you, and other who will live with you, to do some "homework" first.

DESIGN IDEAS AND OBJECTIVES

To help better communicate your ideas and goals to a building designer, consider preparing a scrapbook. It's fun, and everyone in the family can contribute to their own "chapter". Collect newspaper clippings, magazine article, product brochures, paint chips, photos—anything that will illustrate a desired "look" or convey information about a design detail that strikes your fancy. Collect any existing information, too: a site plan of the property; a mortgage survey plan; or in the case of an addition or renovation, an existing blueprint of the structure.

Begin collecting and organizing scrapbook items months in advance of when you plan to first meet with your building designer. A scrapbook saves you from having to accurately recall design particulars form memory and will "jump start" the design process. More importantly, an experienced building designer can immediately determine if your design expectation are consistent with your construction budget.

PRIORITIZING YOUR "WISH LIST"

As you fill the pages of your scrapbook, consider the things you like most about your current residence, and things you wish to be different in your new home. Create two lists to record your thoughts, "new" and "old". New will list conditions and things you want or need in your new home; Old will list conditions and things about your current home which you like that can remain the same.

FINE TUNING YOUR "WISH LIST"

The next step is to prioritize the items in both lists by order of importance. Of course, items can be reordered any number of times before you're satisfied. Fine-tuning a wish list with a spouse or family member will delineate your project goals more effectively.

You can benefit from this exercise in other ways, too. Assuming you must deviate from your original program goals due to a budget cap, items at the bottom of the New list can be ear-marked as the first "give-backs". This should result in the least negative impact on your preferred design.

Alternately, "give-back" items can offer direction in planning a future phase of construction, when funds become available. For example, structural provisions can be made during initial construction to accommodate a family room addition or second level bedrooms; utilities can be run and capped off where they'll be easily accessible for future tie-ins. Such planning now translates into reduced demolition and tear-back expenses when the next phase of construction eventually begins.

Consider the following questions as you prepare your scrapbook and lists, and make a note of anything else you feel is important to you project goals:

• What style of home appeals to you? Do all rooms have to be on one level?
• Do you need more closet space; a bigger kitchen; a private study?
• Do you want an oversized garage; a workshop; a sewing room?
• Do you need extra space for large family gatherings?
• Does a low-maintenance exterior fit your busy lifestyle?
• Does your business require a home office?
• How important are the outdoor spaces? Would you like an expansive rear deck; a relaxing front porch?
• Do you want custom hardwood molding, cabinetry and other millwork?

Helping their clients to solidify design objectives is serious work for Professional Building Designers. But, you and your family are important members of the design team, too. Together, your scrapbook and comments will define the design-task to your expectations. And that ultimately translates into years of enjoyment from a living environment you helped to create!

Why You Should Use a Professional Building Designer

How To Find the Right Building Designer

Working with Your Building Designer