Planning to build or renovate soon? First of all, take a deep breath. The task ahead of you isn’t simple, but it can be interesting. Sometimes the planning process can feel overwhelming and frustrating, accompanied by plenty of stress and tension. Let’s try to make things a little easier…
Let’s Take a Moment to Look at the Present
You’re currently living in a house, or an apartment, or at your parents’ place — it doesn’t really matter where, as long as you have something to say about the space. From now on — yes, right now, long before you’ve even thought about which architect to meet — start carrying around a notebook and pen and begin writing.
- What you love about the home you’re currently living in
- What you would never allow in your future home
- What you think your partner couldn’t live without
About Experiences in Other Places
In addition to the notebook, keep a measuring tape, a camera, and plenty of motivation in your bag, and keep your eyes open at all times.
Did you visit friends and get really excited about their brick-covered plasterboard bookshelf? Photograph it, measure it, write it down.
Did you use a public restroom at a restaurant and feel cramped? Measure the width, the length, how deep the door opens…
Browse through design and architecture books and magazines, tear out pages you liked, save any material that touched your heart and might suit your dream home.
Now Think About Your Daily Routine
Pay attention to your needs from morning to the next morning. Here are some examples:
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Count how many steps it takes to reach the sink for your morning face wash — Is it convenient? Where is it located now, and would you want it somewhere else?
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How does your kitchen function today? Are the stovetop burners for your morning omelet placed conveniently in relation to the rest of the counter? How many people can sit around the dining table now, and how many would you like to seat at your ideal table?
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Reach up to the tallest cabinet in the kitchen — Can you reach it? Measure its height, check whether the height works for you or if you’d prefer something different.
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When you come home from work and want to put down your bag — Is there a designated spot for it? What about hanging up your coat? What would you like to have?
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Let’s step into the bathroom — Measure the space with your arms stretched out to the sides — Is it comfortable for you right now? Is there room to get dressed, to get ready? Would you want more space? Less?
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Just before you lay your head on the pillow, check what activities you just did — Did you read a book? Write in a journal? Catch up on social media? What would you like to have next to your bed and how much space does it need? What would you like to see above your head, on the bedroom walls?
Sounds Like a Big Mess?
After you’ve gathered a t-o-n of material, it’s time to organize it. Now sit down together, filter through it, and better define your desires, aspirations, and dreams, which are now broken down into more organized details.
Take all of this and go to an architect, planner, or designer who will help you organize the dream into an actual home, with walls, windows, and everything else.
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how everything we wanted actually fits within four walls, or more precisely, on a two-dimensional blueprint. And here comes a simple solution — building the planned home in 3D. A realistic image of the home’s spaces provides another tangible measure for understanding the space.
Want to take the experience even further? You can read about VR virtual reality visualizations here.
So go ahead, set off on this journey with excitement, and good luck!
Questions? Insights? Feel free to reach out to us.
