There are often misunderstandings and misconceptions around what is involved in designing and having your home built. As a result, I thought it would be good to write some of these down as things I think you should be aware of.
These are the five things we wish everyone knew before undertaking a home design:
1. Be honest about how you live
People often take for granted their habits and how they live, and think of them as normal things others do. A lot of the time, this is not the case.
For example, in the early hours of the morning, I work from home, and as such I have an office that is east-facing. Having an east-facing office was particularly important to me as it means I see daylight first thing, as I begin work. Of course, this is a living situation that is unique to me.
The reason I raise this is, firstly, you do not want to end up with a home that does not suit your needs, of course. The second reason is that it’s really important to have these discussions about the placement of items around the home early in the design process, ideally RIBA Stages 0-1. It’s not that they can not be changed later in the design process, as they can, but it nevertheless becomes harder to do so.
FYI: Before You Spend £100,000 on Your Home… Read This First.
2. Design is iterative, so expect to go round more than once
It’s highly unlikely that after producing the first sketch, your architect will resolve all your design problems. A floor plan, or indeed an external sketch, gets a conversation and the design; however, the design process is iterative.
Under the RIBA Plan of Work, this happens at Stage 2, Concept Design; it is usually the funnest stage in the design process, as well as it is when you see the space come to life through the architect’s sketches.
3. Trust your architect to challenge the brief
One of the most common things we hear is clients saying how much space they think they need and want. "I want a two-storey house of 400 square metres." Once we get into the design, it often becomes clear the client doesn't need the amount of space they thought they needed; instead, they need a space that is better designed.
Brow House is a good example. It is only 250 m². The client came to us wanting a two-storey house. Once we started designing, we were able to show them that a single-storey home gave them everything they needed and a good deal more. A smaller footprint means less to build, heat and maintain, and more of the budget goes into the quality of the rooms you spend your days in.
The point is that whilst you will have your own opinions as to how the home should be designed, your architect will have lots of experience and should be able to direct you accordingly.
4. Start with a well-defined budget
Knowing your budget is one thing, and every client needs a clear figure before design starts. Knowing how to spend it well is another, and that is your architect's job. A good architect should show you where money makes a difference you'll notice every day, and where it doesn't.
Give your architect the whole figure, not just the build cost. Professional fees, surveys, Building Control charges, VAT and a contingency all come out of the same pot.
5. Nobody can give you a fixed timeline
We base our programmes on how similar projects have moved forward in the past. But a project timeline isn't down to your architect alone. It also depends on the contractor, the planning authority and Building Control, among other things.
Planning authorities have a statutory eight weeks to decide most householder and minor applications, and many take longer. A Building Regulations full plans application has five weeks, extendable to two months. Then there's the weather. Most of our homes are built in the UK, and winter in particular can delay when a project starts and finishes. When the ground is too wet, we can't pour the foundations.
If you have a fixed date to work to, such as the end of a tenancy or a school term, tell your architect at the first meeting so the programme can be built around it with some float. However, due to the multi-disciplinary nature of how homes are designed and ultimately made, a set deadline is not possible.
Find a team you trust
If you're starting a new home project, the most important decision is who you work with. You don't need to know everything about planning, construction or design. You need a team you can lean on and trust to guide you through it.
