In our last blog, Custom Home Design – Part 4, we asked a number of questions about the proposed kitchen and owner’s suite. Throughout the upcoming Preliminary Design task, we often revisit these rooms as necessary since the client’s ideas often evolve once we begin discovering. But for now, we’ll move on to other rooms, options and details.

How many guest bedrooms and bathrooms? Sounds easy enough, but wait a minute…who will be living in or using those bedrooms and what size is required? Should there be a guest bath for every bedroom or can two share? Are showers or tubs preferred? Walk-in closets if family members reside here? Will there be a den? If so, would a full bath adjacent be desirable so that the den can double as a guest bedroom? (I prefer that full bath over a powder bath any day.)

*Custom Home Theater – Photo by Chuck Mills Design*

If a client wants a two-story home, a staircase will of course be required. The staircase can either be a design feature, or tucked away from view. How many bedrooms and baths are upstairs? 99% of our owner’s suites are on the main level but how about a 2nd master suite upstairs? If so, how about an elevator or space for future elevator that can serve as additional storage until an elevator is required? An upstairs bonus space that can serve as either a family room, a kid’s play room or a theater is often on the wish list. Will an upper floor outdoor covered balcony be expected and best accessed from what rooms?

We’ll also discuss other important details like hallways & door sizes as well as turn radius space in the owner’s bath, laundry and any other rooms in the house where wheelchair accessibility may be required. Is there a preference for exterior sliding glass doors or more traditional French doors? We won’t forget to talk about comfortable ceiling heights and interesting ceiling profiles and treatments. How about dormers for a naturally lit bright public space?

How about transom or feature windows? The look and shape of all of these items are also considered as part of the exterior architectural styling.

Architectural exterior style terms can serve to confuse but we clear that up quickly with a library of photography and examples. Meeting in our conference room, we always include a “show and tell” to gauge what architectural styles interest our customers. In Southwest Florida and Naples in particular, past popular styles like Mediterranean, Tuscan & West Indies architectural styles have given way to Key West meets Rosemary Beach.

Lately, we’ve had a number of custom clients drawn to a more contemporary version of the Old-Florida style. New Old-Florida anyone? No wonder the terminology gets confusing! Of course the light and bright traditional Old-Florida home like what we design for our Boca Grande customer is ever popular and no wonder why! The homes have a timeless beauty. See 926 Richland on our website.

Years of experience designing homes for discerning clients has resulted in a portfolio populated with a variety of beautiful and interesting architectural styles. Please visit Wright Jenkins Home Design.

Thanks for your interest in our Custom Home Blog Series. Please stay tuned for our Net-Zero Energy Blog Series, we’ll discuss our strategy to get our Energy Smart Homes to Net-Zero.

Custom Home Design – Inside/Outside - Part 5