What is the process for designing a new home? What are the steps in competing a
new home design? The answers to these questions vary from job to job, but generally include some of the same elements. The first step in contemplating a new home design is to interview and select a design firm. There are many choices and many different prices to choose from when selecting a design team to complete your
new home design. Ask about their experience, ask for references, ask if they have designed homes similar to what you are looking for. Also, ask exactly what you will receive for the fees you pay.
After you interview and select a design firm, the first step will be to lay out your site plan. This shows how your home or building will be situated on your lot or land. Then the designer will help you decide on your floor-plan. The floor plan includes the locations of all the rooms, garages, porches, patios and more along with notes and dimensions. Once your floor plans are complete, you will move to the elevations stage of the design. This is where an experienced design team will help you to decide exactly what you want your house or building to look like on the outside from all four sides. These elevations outline exterior material choices, such as brick, stone or stucco, architectural details, and generally showcase the exterior features of the home. These pages will show whether the style is French country, Mediterranean, traditional, Tuscan, Victorian, English or another architectural style.
Once floor plans and elevations have been completed, then it is time to finish the plan. A finished plan will include electrical details, a roof plan, in some cases a framing plan, and also where required, sections. Sections are cut-aways that show different areas of the home from different angles as if you are looking at a slice through of that area of the home. Finally you will receive several pages of general construction notes. These notation pages are to help guide your builder in many different areas of construction. These notation pages are critical and careful attention needs to be paid to these pages as they will help tremendously during the construction process. Services such as space planning, land planning, interior elevations, artistic renderings and much more are usually offered by experienced design firms. Think carefully before you choose your design firm, make sure they are capable of delivering what you expect in a
new architectural design, and happy building!
