Tutorial 1 - Advantages of a Well Designed Home

1.0 The Benefits of Good Home Design

1.1 Example of a Well Designed New Home

1.2 Example of a Well Designed Extension 'In Keeping'

1.4 How to Add Value to your Existing Home

What is good home design and how do you recognise it? I have set out below my tests for good home design, which apply to a new home, an extension or alteration.

1. A good home design will make the most of its location (including orientation, site characteristics etc.)
2. A good design will use the right materials, construction and building detail.
3. Good design matures with age.
4. Good design should be fun to live in.
5. Does the design solution meet the requirements? (see Tutorial 2).

How good design can save money.

1. Good design can minimise maintenance costs and prompts a thought process encouraging you to carefully consider what you've got. This can often involve reorganising space or moving into a roof, avoiding the costs of extending or moving home.

How good design can improve the market value and saleability of your home (see Illustration 1.4 �How to Add Value to your Existing Home' ).

Factors in Home Design which will influence market value in order of priority, i.e. the most important in terms of value at the top, and the least important in terms of value at the bottom:

• Number of bedrooms
• Size of reception rooms
• Space and fittings in the kitchen
• Number of reception rooms
• Utility space
• External appearance (consider tile hung elevations for example).
• Internal décor although tastes may vary!
• House efficiency in terms of heat retention and effectiveness of fixtures and fittings
• Garden design
• Garaging
• Tennis court
• Swimming pool

Achieving good home design (new build, extensions or alterations).

• Understand what you want , how you want to live. Think about existing lifestyle and possible changes to it.
• Go for ideals , write down a wish list and prioritise this list.
• Get good professional help at an early design stage. A good home designer will work with you as a team and one of the most important things is to allow time for your requirements to be properly discussed.
• Look at different options - plan ahead . It is cheaper to look at different options at a �drawing board' stage before work starts on site!
• Establish a brief or a schedule of requirements . (see /Tutorial.asp?Page=2Tutorial 2).
• Work with a good local Estate Agent to check the effect on the value of your home, whether you are building a new home, altering an existing one or extending.
• There may be simple, and very cost effective, solutions to improve your home. For example, storage systems for your bedrooms and bathrooms; garages; ideas on colours to change the feel of a space. Don't keep putting off the need to make changes in order to ensure comfort.

Suggested Reader Tasks:

1. Go through the tests for good home design. Apply these to your existing home or to your new home project.
2. See if there is scope to add value to your existing home by making design changes. Talk to your local Estate Agent.
3. Think about �lifestyle'. How you want to live! Write these down on paper. Your dream home should satisfy these requirements!

Useful tips and references :

Go to www.homedesign-online.co.uk to purchase �How To' books ( How to Get Planning Permission ; How to Find a Building Plot and others) and your Home Design Kit. See also Design Solutions and the Home Design website directory.

Also visit www.homebuilding.co.uk and shop online. The Home Design Kit is also available from the H & R bookshop.