The following will help you consider the pragmatic design aspects of your home. The proposed sizes of rooms, their function, and the needs and activities of the occupants will determine the layout and dimensions of your house. Your answers to the questions below will help to determine design priorities, as well as identify any extras.
1. List projected occupants (family members, relatives, etc.).
		a. pets, livestock, etc. (return to top)
2. Projected time of occupancy of each occupant (life, to 21 years, seasonal, etc.).
3. What transportation vehicles, construction equipment, farm equipment, etc., do you need to store, and what kind of shelter is required?
4. Have you determined the approximate total square footage of required living areas?
		a. If so, what is the square footage? b. How did you arrive at this size.... (return to top)
5.  List any circumstances particular to you or your family that may affect design (handicapped people, medical needs, noise considerations, lighting, air quality, temperature control, etc.).
6. Should expansion flexibility be a consideration?
		a. Is project to be done in phases? b. Do you know what rooms will need to be added and how large they might be? (return to top)
7. List activities and amount of time to be spent in rooms/spaces below, and approximate space required.  References to and measurement of the spaces in which you now live may be helpful.  Keep in mind furniture, equipment, storage requirements, etc.
		Living Family Kitchen Dining Sun space Baths Utility/laundry Pantry/storage Bedroom 1 (return to top)	Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Guest Study/library/den Project room Basement Garage/shop Other (return to top)
The following suggests other possible rooms and spaces to consider:
		Closets Greenhouse Air locks Mudroom Darkroom Powder room Broom closet Linen closet Dressing room Interior wood storage (return to top)	Playroom Breakfast nook Porch Patio Hot tub Pool Sauna Exterior wood storage Courtyard Barn (return to top)
Part II
This group of questions is intended to help you pinpoint how you would like your life and your living spaces to interact. Try to consider how things feel as well as how they look, and remember the flow of people, things and food through the environment. Indicate the things you find disturbing and the things that have a relaxing affect.
1. Bedroom
		a. Do you like to wake up to a bright and/or sunlit room? b. Do you like to be able to look outside while lying in bed? c. Do you prefer your bed to be a particular height off of the floor? d. Do you prefer windows, a fan or a air conditioner for ventilation. e. What are the privacy requirements of the bedroom from the outside and from the rest of the house? f. What are your storage requirements?  Give size and general description of items? g. Does the bedroom also need to function as a study, T.V. room, sitting room, etc.? h. Do you like a separate dressing area? i. What sleeping accommodations will be necessary for other family members or in the future? j. Would you feel comfortable if the bedroom had a cathedral area or would you prefer a flat ceiling? (return to top)
2. Bathroom
		a.  What are the special qualities you like in a bathroom? i.   Does it need to be especially bright or roomy?   b.  Should there be a bathroom attached to one or more bedrooms? c.  How private should the bathroom be from the rest of the house and from the outside? d.  Do you need a bathroom easily accessible from the outside? e.  Do you prefer fans or windows for ventilation? f.  Do you like to be able to see out a window while showering, washing or using the toilet? g.  Do you use the bathroom in a hurried or a leisurely manner? h.  Do you prefer showers or baths? i.   If both shall they be separate or combined i.  Do you bathe with others?  (looking for size of tub or shower here) j.  When you take a shower or bath do you use the bathroom to dress or undress? k.  Do you have a preference to a particular brand of fixtures? l.  What requirements do you have for mirrors? m.  What are your storage requirements? n.  What sort of bathing accommodations are necessary for other family members now or in the future? (Use the first 13 questions as a guide.)  (return to top)
3. Kitchen
		a.  What times of day and to what extent do you use the kitchen? b.  How many people should be able to use the kitchen at the same time? i. Cooking ii. Visiting / Chatting c.  Will the kitchen be used for eating as well as for food preparation? d.  What appliances are necessary? i. Sink (1) double / single / special ii. Garbage disposal iii. Refrigerator (size/type (side by side / over-under)) iv. Stove / oven (1) standard type 30" (2) cooktop w/ separate oven (3) electric / natural gas / propane v. Microwave counter, cabinet or range hood installation vi. Trash compactor vii. Freezer in kitchen or elsewhere viii. Other e.  Is there a particular appliance/fixture arrangement that suits you best? f.  Do you like to be able to look out the window while working in the kitchen? If so, from what area? g.  Do you like a bright or sunlit kitchen? h.  It is important to have an exhaust fan in the kitchen.   Do you have a preference for either a standard updraft or a down draft type? i.  How do you prefer to deal with waste and garbage?  Under counter, in kitchen , mud room, garage ? j.  Where and how would you like to store your food?  i. Cabinet ii. Walk-in pantry k.  How much cupboard and drawer space do you need? l.  Do you like pots and pans,  dishes, utensils and food to be visible or hidden? m.  Do you need additional ceiling height to allow for hanging of pots, pans? n.  What non-food item do you store in the kitchen? o.  Other items (such as desk, T.V., fireplace would you like in the kitchen? p.  Should the kitchen be separate from the rest of the house or linked to other areas? (return to top)
4. Dining
		a.  What sort of feeling should the dining area have? b.  Is the dining place a single or multipurpose area? c.   Is there a need for a formal dining area separate from the normal family dining area? d.  How many people should the dining area accommodate? i.  If table is to be expanded for a large gathering, can table be extended in the room, through an archway or opening, or moved to another area? e.  Will there be a large hutch, buffet, or other piece of furniture in this room? f.  Is natural or artificial light, or both, appropriate? g.  What is the best way to get food and dishes to and from the dining area? (return to top)
5. Living
		a.  How do you want the living area to feel? b.  Should it be separate or integrated into other living areas? c.  What activities go on in the living room? d.   How many people should it accommodate? e.  Should it have partitions and doors? f.  Should it be bright during the day? g.  What sort of artificial light is compatible with your image of the living space? h.  Is a fireplace desirable? i.  List any equipment you think should be in the living space (stereo, books, video, etc.). j.  How do phones and T.V. figure into your life? (return to top)
Part III
1.  What should the predominant feeling of the house be (rustic, informal, elegant, etc.)?
2. How would you describe the style that makes you feel most comfortable (modern, colonial, etc.)?
3. What other rooms or activity areas are necessary?
4. What guest accommodations are necessary?
5. Is additional storage space necessary?  (attic, utility, mud room)
6. How much interaction between the indoors and outdoors is desirable?
7. Do you like transitional spaces (porches, decks, etc.)?
8. Do you see the exterior landscape as formal, casual, or natural?
9. What requirements do you have for the outdoor activities and accessory buildings (pool, tennis, gardens, horses, basketball, etc.)?
10. What is your attitude toward dirt?  Where do you mind it and where is it okay?  How do you clean it up and how often?
11. How many vehicles do you have and how do they fit into your life.
12. Do you have pets?  How many and what kind?
13.  Plants?  How many?  Special requirements?
14. What sort of textures do you like?
15. What colors do you like?
16.  List the things you can't do in your present environment that you would like to do your new environment.
(return to top)

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