Dear Expert: With so many personal variables associated with designing and building a home, how can I ensure that my architect will be able to “read my mind,” so to speak, and provide a design that fits my ideas without having to continuously redraw the plan to get it right?
A: Early communication and alignment are key! It’s important for you to have time to communicate your ideas, your likes and dislikes, to an architect and builder before they attempt to come up with a design. However, building a home is a very personal journey and it is often difficult for some to openly communicate ideas if there is no proof they are being “heard.” Before you begin designing, think about your lifestyle and how you live. Think about what is most important to you, and how you want people to feel when they visit. Ask for documentation and clarification from them through pictures and words so you know your ideas were heard. This critical alignment will deliver you a design that will meet and exceed your expectations.
Expert Note: “Before you begin designing, think about your lifestyle and how you live.”
—Amy Dirkes, AIA, LEED® AP
Project architect, Nor-Son, Inc.
