Architect Floor Plans and Architect House Plans

Important reading about floor plans, house plans and architects

There are a few great reasons to seek architect floor plans and house plans. The first is inspiration! You see images, evaluate blueprints, and start imagining your perfect use of space. Taking the time to collect ideas means you are meticulous and will likely succeed with the entire project. It's a great way to build your vision, whether it be for your dream home or for your business.

The second reason is to find plans that are almost perfect. Why recreate an entire plan when you are satisfed with selecting from a library of existing plans. It may be that the 80/20 rule applies to you: You are comfortable with using stock plans that have 80% of what you need already drawn. Just remember, to really get the results that are truly unique, you will need to make changes. Whether it be an extra closet or adding that new European spa whirlpool bath accessory, you will need someone you can depend on to make changes. The other 20% of changes are mostly based on making changes for your location. You may have a slightly smaller or larger lot. The local building envelopes might force certain house plans to be re calibrated. You may also want to take advantage of elevations and positioning to, for example, add a window or a walk out basement. Obviously, your floor plans need to match your house plans. But sometimes your list of features need to be adapted to the overall blueprint. Again, working with an architect that will design exactly what you want and that takes the time to listen to you is important.

Our recommendation is to shop around for floor plans and house plans, but never buy stock plans. At the end of the day, it may cost you more than using an architect. Want the best solution? Find plans, pictures and blueprints and add them to your ideas folder and clearly mark what you like and what you don't like on them. Then, find an architect that you know you can trust. The right architect will tell you if you need his help or if you can just buy a stock plan. He or she may also clearly explain how much it will cost to alter the plans to finish the last 20% of the design. But just remember... build a relationship with a good architect BEFORE you purchase stock plans.

Finally, remember that having a great design is just the start of the project. A good architect will also help you manage the project from start to finish and guaranteed, no project is without its stress and challenges.

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Here is a list of the top 10 stock plan services. But remember, the challenge of elevations, drainage and local building codes in the Okanagan require an experience architect that can deliver your project without major problems. Regardless, please visit these sites. It will give you a starting point for understanding what your needs are with regard to floor plans and house plans and even landscape plans.

Top 10 Architecture House Plans and Floor Plans

Top 5 Commercial floor plans:

Top 10 Bathroom Floor Plan Issues:

Review your bathroom floor plan with your architect to make sure all your plumbing will actually fit inside the walls. Nothing is worse than having to box out plumbing, either in the bathroom or the adjoining rooms. It can turn your priceless spa into a dump faster than your can flush.
Make sure you have plenty of store space. That means make sure you have enough storage for all your bathroom goodies. It also means that you should evaluate overall storage for the entire floor. Where will the cleaning supplies be stored? You want your bathroom to be an oasis, not a plackard.
Understand who will use the bathroom how. That means that your bathroom should fit the lifestyles of the people who will be using the area. Will an entire family be using certain bathrooms? Good luck!
Make sure to select the hardware that fits with the space. Do you really need a tub or are you really a luxury shower type? Can you really fit floating cabinets into your bathroom if there is no other storage? There is a certain amount of proportionality at play also. Do not buy certain pieces if they take too much space. Obviously, make sure the measurements are perfect - better yet, make it someone else's responsibility.
Make sure the space fits privacy concerns. For example, if guests will share a toilet with family, you may want to separate the toilet from the sink and bath areas.
Review your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation AirCon) plans to make sure your bathrooms will work as they were intended. Also, make sure your house plans are updated with quality fans. Cheap fans with loud buzzing noises can be annoying. It goes without saying that mold and related health issues come along with bad ventilation.
Remember that your bathroom has its own magic triangle. Use the toilet, wash your hands and open the door to get in and out. If any of these key stages of your bathroom occupancy are compromised, you will hate your bathroom. If you can get away with the design, make the bathroom as big as you can.
Plumbers that don't care about the quality of their craftsmanship are your worst bathroom floor plan nemesis. For example, nothing is worse than receiving all your new fancy shower jets and urinals only to find that you do not have the water pressure to make them work properly. How about hot water repeaters? Are you sure you don't need one for your shower?
Design your bathroom for how long you intend on living in your home. For example, bathroom design considerations are quite different for children or for an elderly couple.
Get professional help with installing any type of window or glass block feature in your bathroom. The steam, condensation, shower spray, and possible leaks create vulnarabilities where windows meet structural materials.

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Top 10 Kitchen Design Floor Plan Issues

Storage, storage, storage. Kitchens are the number one place requiring storage for everything from pots and pans to all the goodies after a visit to Costco.
Counter space that makes sense. I recently visited a home where the kitchen sink was built into a small island adjacent to no counter space whatsoever. What exactly did the designer think sinks were used for? The point is that you need mostly contiguous counter space that can be use for any number of kitchen related tasks.
Garbage and recycling storage and disposal require more space. As municipal recycling programs pick up and more and more people understand the value of composting, kitchens also require more storage space for waste. We recommend a mid sized bin with lever top and handle for compost under the sink next to a larger garbage bin. Finally a large area that can hold a week's worth of paper and plastic recycling can be added.
Plan a perfect magic triangle for your kitchen. Remember that this is fridge to sink to cook top. Remember that all doors to appliances need plenty of clearance and ideally there is two large counter spaces next to each appliance.
Plan for the microwave in an appropriate way. Think that microwaves are ugly and belong below counter level? Think again. What a pain to bend over everytime you are defrosting something. How about the dangers for children? We find that a microwave above the stove works well.
Plan where all doors, windows, drawers, cabinets and appliance doors will open. I will always remember my beautiful little 2 year old daughter swinging open the fridge door into the pantry door handle and leaving a big dent in the expensive fridge. How about opening a cabinet door and having light from the kitchen window blocked? Plan for everything to open with leisure.
Review your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation AirCon) plans to make sure your kitchen will work as intended. Also, make sure your house plans and electrical plans are updated with the right fans. You will need a certain power of fan for your kitchen identified by local codes.
Design your kitchen layout for gatherings. If you are human, you have been to a party and you know that all parties start and finish in the kitchen. No matter how small your space, it is recommended to have some space where guests can hover, chat, and enjoy a glass of wine.
It is better to have too much light than not enough light. This does not mean that you need expensive pot lights or designer lights every foot in a matrix. But make sure you have enough light that you will not cast shadows when performing a task. Obviously, mood lighting is a must in a kitchen. It will make your house feel like a home.
Choose flooring that fits the room. I have seen so many hardwood or laminate wood kitchen floors with water damage. It might look nice initially, but I would stay away from flooring that absorbs liquids. Heated tiles or newer recycled products are best for areas in the magic work triangle.

Top 10 Commercial Architecture Development Problems

Not securing enough financing - both stage completion, final project, and operational
Not developing a realistic budget
Not choosing the right type of land or the right location
Not understanding zoning, regulatory demands, and building codes
Not sourcing a good team of professionals to complete the project
Not developing a comprehensive site layout and master plan
Not designing enough of the right space
Not evaluating the structural systems and design
Not understanding the building specifications
Not having the right expectations about the building process

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