D.
Summary of Individual Requirements and Amenities
Please list each room and the appropriate amenities you would like to incorporate, be sure to underline important issues.
E.Describing
your Requirements
Describe
the overall feel for the interior of your home.
Describe any room in which you want to include certain features or
amenities (ie: master bath, Include a large whirlpool
tub, with separate shower and enclosed room for water closet, two vanities with
sinks, large linen closet and walk-in closet from bath, also include windows
and skylights).
3. Adjacencies
In
addition to selecting appropriate spaces to include in your home, you must
decide upon adjacent locations for important rooms. Please list Primary, Secondary and Not to be
adjacent conditions. This is where you
begin to adapt the program of the house to your specific needs.
There
are three categories to use while prioritizing your adjacencies:
Primary
Adjacency: This would constitute an adjacency
that you determine to be critical to the success of the design of your
house. A typical primary adjacency would
be Dining Room/Kitchen.
Secondary
Adjacency: This is something that you believe would
improve the quality of your home but may not be critical to the success of your
home. This is a good time to think about
your personal habits and preferences. If
you enjoy reading late at night, but don't want to keep everyone up, a
secondary adjacency may be Master Bedroom/Study.
Not to be
Adjacent: If there are rooms you would not like
to have adjacent to each other please indicate so in the appropriate
section.
Start
by resolving the Primary and Not to be Adjacent
categories first and then working on secondary adjacencies. Completing this section will be crucial to
the success and appropriateness of any design.
Primary Adjacencies:
i.e.: Kitchen to Dining Room
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Secondary Adjacencies:
i.e.: Master Bedroom to Study
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Not to be Adjacent:
i.e.: Master Bedroom to
Secondary Bedrooms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
4. Exterior Style and Type
Architectural
styles and types can range from the intuitive organic architecture of a prairie
home to the simplicity of a coastal cottage.
Below is a list of several types of architectural styles, please select
one that represents your family and interests and describe the different
characteristics you are looking for.
Also, Include any photographs or sketches that will reinforce the idea
of your stylistic preferences.
Historical American Styles and Types
Popular
throughout the eastern United States these historical styles reference a
variety of regional preferences including the architectural vocabulary of
Colonial, Georgian, Federal and Victorian designs.
Victorian 1880-1910
Cape Cod
Southern Coastal 1880-1920
Georgian 1720-1800
Colonial American 1780-1860
Williamsburg Colonial 1930-1990s
Salt Box
Country Farmhouse
Neo-Victorian 1980-1990s
European References (often referred to as Traditional)
Popular in the US beginning in the 1920's these European influenced styles have evolved
to reflect the varied tastes of many upscale developments across North America.
Traditional 1980-1990s
French Provincial
English Country
Italian Villa 1840-1880
Tudor 1890-1930
Neo-Tudor 1960-1990s
Mediterranean Southwestern / Floridian
Based
from Spanish, Spanish Colonial and Italian Renaissance architecture the
Mediterranean Styles typically offer tiled roofs, stuccoed
walls and landscaped courtyards. Prevalent in the former
Spanish
Territories
of
Florida
, the
Southwest and
California
.
Spanish Mission 1890-1920
Italian Renaissance 1845-1870
Pueblo 1900-1990s
Neo-Mediterranean 1970-1990s
Contemporary
Widely
misdescribed, a "Contemporary Home" has evolved to
refer to a variety of vague conditions including any style that features an
open plan, however most design professionals consider true contemporary styles
to include buildings that reflect an innovative or distinctive use of materials
and design. For our purposes we have
included the following styles.
International
Style 1930-1990s - Le Corbusier
Miesian 1950-1965 - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Prairie
Style / Wrightian 1900-1960 - Frank Lloyd Wright
Post
Modern 1960-1990s
Vacation
Vacation
Homes range from a simple cottage designed for the lake in the woods to a Post
and Beam log home with open rafters nestled in a mountain setting.
Cottage
Post and Beam
Log Cabins
Other Styles and Building Types
Other
styles might include the distinctive Craftsman Style popular in Southern
California in the 1920's or perhaps Ranch Style which is actually more a type
than a style.
Craftsman
1900-1930 - Greene Brothers
Ranch
Type Home 1950-1970
American
Vernacular 1980-1990s
Describe
Your Exterior Style
5. Site Conditions
A. Foundation
Options
The
slope or terrain of your proposed site can serve as one of the most important
factors in determining the type of foundations appropriate for your home. For example, in building a home on a slab
foundation you would typically look for a fairly level lot or appropriate
building site to minimize the amount on cut and fill that might otherwise be
required. Listed below are typical foundation types, circle the foundation you
require.
1. Basement
If
you are interested in a basement foundation, look for a lot that slopes down
from front to back or from side to side.
A lot which slopes up from front to back can be more difficult and
expensive because you have to allow for excessive steps or fill to access the
front door. If specifying a basement,
please answer the questions below.
a. Walk-out daylight basement or cellar
type
b. Finished or Unfinished
2. Slab Foundation
To
utilize a poured concrete slab foundation type, make sure the site can be
properly graded to be relatively flat, typically a 1 to 2 foot drop off from
one side to the other, while still accommodating for positive drainage away
from the home. A slab foundation is
often the simplest and least expensive option and consists of a poured concrete
surface with a thickened or turned-down perimeter and additional depth added
under load bearing interior walls.
3. Crawlspace Foundation
If
your lot slopes from 2 to 5 feet across the building site, a crawlspace
foundation might be appropriate, A typical crawlspace
foundation consists of a concrete block stem wall
approximately 3 feet tall that continues around the perimeter of the home with
structural piers located under load bearing points of a wood framed floor
system.
4. Raised Slab Foundation
Another
option to a crawlspace foundation is a raised slab foundation. This can be more cost effective because of
the cost of wood in a floor system.
Construction consists of a concrete block stem wall
approximately 3 feet tall that continues around the perimeter of the home that
is reinforced with concrete and steel, the interior area is then backfilled
with sand and a concrete slab is poured as the floor system.
B. Selecting a Building Site
Just
as in designing a home, selecting a building site for your family can be a
serious decision. Real Estate agents
tell us one of the most important factors in choosing a lot is the general
location or neighborhood. Important
factors include, adjacent property values, local
communities, schools, churches, shopping, views, lakefront access and proximity
to your work place. Even if you do not
have school age children, the resale and retained property values of a quality
school system will effect the value of your home for
many years to come.
1. Subdivision Requirements or Restrictive
Covenants
Are
there covenants or building requirements in the subdivision you are considering
such as, appropriate usage, exterior materials/colors, roof pitches, garage
access, etc..
2. Setbacks
Be
sure to allow for front rear and side setbacks when designing the width and
length of the home. Also allow for an
appropriate driveway, (about 10 feet wide) and if necessary, room for a
turn-around area (30 feet from side-entry garages)
3. Easements
Are
there any utility or drainage easements that could limit the use of the land? Easements usually exist along the rear or
side of a lot to allow for power, telephone, gas lines or storm-water
access. Typically you can not build
within this area, consult your local planning department for further
information.
4. Flood Plain
Before
purchasing your lot, check with the local zoning department to verify that the
proposed building site is not restricted by a flood plain or other natural
encumbrance.
5. Special Requirements
Such as additional parking spaces, detached garage or other structure,
area for boats or recreational vehicles. Do
you plan on installing a swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, gazebo or any
other outdoor living areas? Check local
codes and subdivision restrictive covenants for specific information.
6. Privacy
Homes that slope up from the front to back or sit up on a hill, offer
more privacy than those that slope away. "L"
or "H" shaped plans often help create private areas from adjoining
properties. Fences, trees and hedges
also offer a sense of privacy.
C. Designing
for your Site
Site
conditions can have a profound impact on the way your house is designed. Please be as specific as possible with all of
these questions. A site diagram which
maps distinguishing features can be very helpful.
If you already have your
site:
1. Describe the dimensions of your site
including width and depth.
2. If applicable, list the maximum width
and/or depth for your home?
3. List any requirements concerning garage
entry, for example, front, side or drive-under access.
4. Are there any physical features
(slopes, rocks, trees, waterfront, etc.) that might affect the design?
5. Are there any setbacks or zoning
constraints that will affect the placement of the building?
6. Are there any desirable or undesirable
views to take into consideration?
7. You can also include a photo of any
distinguishing features and plat map of your site with this application.
8. Include a site plan, if available.
9. Indicate any additional information regarding
the site which you feel may impact the design.
6. Summary
Once you have completed the previous sections, including Square Footage Calculations, Establishing a Program, Defining Requirements, Describing Features, Adjacencies, Exterior Styles and Site Conditions, you have established a comprehensive list of criteria necessary to effectively assist in the design of a new home or select from existing plans that might meet your specific needs.
If you prefer or if you have any trouble completing this form you can contact Accent Builders to schedule a pre-design meeting. Typically, a Design Services contract is prepared which will allow us to begin the design process in earnest so we can begin to help you clarify your goals.
7. Family Profile
If
you are designing a new home the name of record should be the primary contact
for the project. This will be the person
contacted on a regular basis, so it may be helpful to choose the most
accessible family member for the primary contact. Additional family member information should
include any planned family additions or live-in relatives that may vary while
you are in this home.
Name
Spouse's
Name
Home
Telephone
Home Address
City
State
Zip Code
Company
Work
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Spouse's
Company
Work
Address
City
State:
Zip Code:
Additional
Family Member Name
Age
Relation
8. Accent Builder's Design Services
After reviewing the initial parameters of your new home, we will produce preliminary floor plans and elevations for review. Following any revisions and necessary changes, we will then develop the final set of your plans which will include the following:
• Foundation Plans with appropriate details
• Fully Dimensioned 1/4" Scale Floor Plans
• Front, Rear and Side Elevations
• Floor Framing Plans
• Roof Plan and Roof Framing Plan
• Interior Elevations including Kitchen and Baths
• Full 3/8" Scale Building Section
• Stair and Fireplace Sections (if applicable)
• Exterior and Interior Walls Sections, Plan Details and Roof Sections
Once a set of approved plans is attained, we will advise you in the materials and products best suited both in function and style for your needs. You may find it useful to use the Resources page on our website to investigate these choices. In addition to helping you navigate your way through the pre-construction process, Accent Builders will develop a project budget based on the final design. Accent Builders offers a comprehensive range of Construction Services including the following:
• Project Administration
• Construction Management
• Construction and Supervision
• Structural Engineering
Founded in 1992 in Colorado, Accent Builders’ design and construction team consists of a wide range of professionals including Architects, Designers, Engineers and licensed Sub-Contractors. Much of our success can be attributed to the interactive coordination of these distinct disciplines, and to our continuing commitment to meet the growing needs of our clients. We sincerely hope this planning guide will help assist in evaluating your needs and look forward to working with you. Until then, do your homework, come prepared and we can make your new home everything you’ve dreamed of!
Sincerely,
Craig Reed
President
Accent Builders
(757) 428-0918
