The Architecture Happy Hou‪r‬ hpd architecture + interiors

Life at home has certainly changed in 2020. Working from home and managing kids in the same space has created new challenges. Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you changed the way you purchase groceries and bring take-out food into your home? In Episode 91 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about the many areas of home design that will undoubtedly be changed by all that we have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.



In this episode



How will design change in these areas?



Front entry porch: providing a protected area for receiving deliveries

Entry to home for family: including a disinfection station in mudrooms or near entryway.

Kitchens: will you be stocking up more and needing extra storage space?

Kids spaces: fun and safe places for kids, especially when mom and dad may be working from home and needing to have online Zoom meetings.

Grown-up spaces: space to explore and organize new hobbies

Home office: consider light source, home sounds and how much space you need as well as comfortable seating

Bedrooms: having a plan in case a family member gets sick.



 

A good start to any home design project includes defining your goals which means figuring out your needs, your wants, and how to pay for it. In Episode 90 and the 2nd installment of the Home Design Series on The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about what happens at the beginning of each home design project. Much time is spent helping their clients define their needs, wants, and budget.

In this episode:

Goals – why are we doing this?



Your stage in life, desired lifestyle, and occupants will determine the types of rooms and size of space you need.

Is your motivation driven by pleasure or pain?

How will you enjoy the room after the remodel? What annoyance are you trying to eliminate?

If you are designing around a large family with children you may want casual, open spaces with plenty of rooms that can close and hide messes.

A focus on accessibility and aging-in-place may be important if grandparents will be living with you.

Formal entertaining, art collections, and fine furnishings require a different approach to the design and architecture.

What does your home say about you and what should it look like?



Architectural style will influence on how rooms get laid out

Contemporary vs. Colonial

Open floor plan vs. more formal and separate rooms







The difference between NEEDS and WANTS



Make your wish list – divide it into two columns – NEEDS and WANTS.

A Need is a requirement to meet your goals.

A Want is an extra thing that would be really nice to have, but is not absolutely necessary.

Architectural features can be considered a need or a want depending on the lifestyle you want to live:



High vaulted ceilings, wood beams

Arched openings

Large porch, pool cabana, she shed, man cave

Extra trim and details in wood work - beadboard wainscoting, crown moulding





Think about the amenities you need or want in your home design:



Plumbing - double vanities in your Master, His and Hers toilets, steam shower, Insta-hot water dispenser in the kitchen

Appliances - gourmet Kitchen with extra freezer, 4’ wide commercial gas range, glass front refrigerator, double dishwashers, double laundry upstairs/downstairs

Storage - large walk-in closets, stockpile room/pantry, specialty storage for silver, jewelry, shoes, hats, collections, holidays

Technology - smart house controlled on your phone, video security, surround sound, powerful WiFi, extra outlets at specific heights (sewing/workshop) or for Christmas lights (eaves), built-in reading lights by your bed, universal remotes

Room for hobbies, interests - wine cellar, dog bathing room, sewing or art studio, movie theater room, golf swing simulator







How to pay for it: developing a home design budget



Start a spreadsheet and list all the rooms and features that will be in the new house or involved in your remodel.

Cost per square foot room comparisons - In Dallas, Texas these spaces can range from $300 (and up) per square foot for the expensive rooms like Kitchens and Master Bathrooms, and as low as $75 per square foot for the more simple spaces like a Garage. Your average pricing will vary depending on where you live.



$$$$ - Kitchens, Bathrooms

$$$ - Family/Living Rooms Rooms, Master Bedrooms, Laundry/Mudrooms (lots of cabinetry), custom Closets

$$ - Bedrooms, Breakfast Rooms, Offices, Playrooms

$ - Garages, Covered porches (be careful of expensive doors, lighting, or finishes)





If you are not familiar with construction costs in your community, you might need to contact a few general contractors to ask what's...

What to Think About Before You Design Your Own Home

You're thinking of starting a new home design project, but you're not quite sure where to start. Are you wondering, "How long does it take to build a house?" or curious about "How much does it cost to build a house?"? In Episode 89 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall roll out the first episode in their new Home Design Series, talking about the 7 Essentials for Starting Your Home Renovation or New Home Design Project. Join Laura and Holly as they talk about the 7 things you absolutely need and the questions you need to ask when you're starting a new home design project.

In this Episode:

The 7 Essentials for Starting Your Home Renovation or New Home Design Project

WHAT would be included in your ideal home?

Click on image to get your pdf download



What's on your wish list?

What will your dream home look like?

What types of rooms do you need?

What kind of home style you prefer? Traditional, modern, farmhouse?



WHERE is the location for your ideal home?



Where are you wanting to do this renovation?

What do you need to know about local zoning regulations?

Does your home owner's association have restrictions or design guidelines?



WHEN is the best time to remodel your house?



How long does it take to build a house?

What is a typical design and construction timeline?

Do you have life or family events we need to work around?



WHY do you want to do this home design project?



What is the goal of the project?

How can your home support your lifestyle?

Is this a short term investment or your forever home?



WHO will be living in the home?



Who is involved in building a house?

Who will live in the house?

Will you be doing much entertaining?

Do you have kids or grandkids that need a playroom or space to run around?

Do any of the residents have mobility issues; do you need to plan for aging-in-place?

Who are the decision makers?



HOW will your dream home become a reality?



How will this project be managed?

How much does it cost to build a house?

Do you have a home building budget?

How do I know if I'm going to overbuild for my neighborhood?



TEAM members to make the project a success?



Do I have a good realtor to advise me on home values and neighborhoods?

Should I be my own general contractor?

Do I need an architect or an interior designer to create floor plans?

What other consultants will I need for my home build project?



Download the Checklist Here!

Have questions you'd like us to answer? Contact us here!

Stay tuned for the next podcasts in the series and in the meantime, you might want to look at these related posts:

building a new home

10 questions to ask before designing your new home

 

Planning big purchases for your home this year? Knowing the best time to buy and planning ahead can save you big bucks on things for your home. In Episode 88 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall share the best times of the year to buy things for your home.

In this episode



A month by month guide on the best time of year to buy things for your home



Linens, bedding

Carpet, flooring

Home decor, furniture

Televisions, electronics

China, flatware

Cookware, kitchen accessories

Paint

Patio Furniture

Appliances

Holiday and seasonal items







Home Design Tips



Our favorite apps/websites that make shopping and saving faster and easier



Rakuten.com

Flipp.com

Wikibuy.com

Camelcamelcamel.com

Smile.amazon.com

Store apps price scan







What is the Best Time of Year to Buy...?

Large Appliances: September, October, and January

This is when manufacturers roll out new home appliance models, and retailers are eager to move last year's inventory. (Refrigerators are the exception. New models come out in the spring.)



Also, Thursdays are a good day because it’s before the weekend and the weekend rush when aisles are less crowded. The last days of the month are also good because stores are desperate to meet quotas and are more likely to dicker over prices.



air conditioners & gas grills: Fall & winter because few buyers think about warm-weather appliances when leaves and snow cover the ground.

dishwashers: December because they are much cheaper at the end of the year. 



Indoor Furniture: July

While January is also a great month to buy furniture (post-Christmas sales, new styles are released in February, etc.), July wins out over January because: Bringing your furniture home in snowy weather conditions is difficult. Overall furniture sales are down in the summer making the discounts go up.

Office Furniture: January, after tax season & July

Furniture styles are updated twice a year usually between February and August. This is a great time to take advantage of price cuts as stores make room for new inventory. Also look into any discounts on floor models.



office supplies: august



computers: july



July is typically a slow month for computer sales—before the back-to-school rush—so you can often find some great deals!

Outdoor Furniture: august to october

Stores begin clearing out their summer items in July & August to make room for their fall inventory. Generally, the further from summer, the higher the savings on patio furniture. In early August, sales are approximately 20 percent off.



gardening tools: february to april



Save up to 50 percent on shovels, hoes, rakes and other gardening tools during these months.



lawnmowers: april, may, august, september & october (per Consumer Reports).



One popular school of thought is that it’s best to buy a mower right after mowing season ends.



picnic & barbecue supplies: mid-may & june



In anticipation of the summer grilling and picnic season, retailers want to sell their stuff, so you’ll find deep discounts on these types of items.



swing sets: august



Since swing sets take up a lot of floor space and lose their popularity after kids go back to school, August is a popular month for sales.



above ground swimming pools: december to february



The off season is the best time to buy. Some retailers will offer incentives to “early planners’ who purchase their pools in December/January/February.

Carpets,

If your home could make New Year’s resolutions, what would they be? Does your home dream of exquisitely appointed closets or cozy, inviting rooms for family gatherings? In Episode 87 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and residential architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about ways you can help your home be more healthy, better organized, and budget-smart in the new year!



In this episode



Sorting, purging, and organizing

Donate to local charities, recycle, pay it forward

Areas of the house that need attention, replacing, cleaning, and maintenance









Air filters

Clothes dryer lint exhaust

Exhaust fans in bathrooms

Batteries in smoke detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors

Fire extinguishers

Lead paint

Popcorn ceiling texture and asbestos

Carpet cleaning

Mold/mildew in bathrooms

Weather stripping

Low-flow shower heads and toilets

LED light bulbs

Water filter in refrigerator









Home Design Tips









How to make your New Year Home To-Do List

Get organized to tackle projects each month







Links



AHH podcast episode 80: tidying up with marie kondo: expectations vs. reality



Kidde recall on fire extinguishers



Lead paint info from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)



Asbestos info from the EPA



 



Products and Resources



Links below contain Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we might receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.



Air filters for furnace



Carbon monoxide detectors



Steam cleaners for floors



Weather stripping



Low-flow shower heads



LED light bulbs 2700K color temperature







Sponsor



Are you interested in sponsoring The Architecture Happy Hour podcast? We want to connect with companies that are a good match with the interests of our listeners. Please call 214.751.2304 or contact us here to receive a media kit and learn more about sponsorship opportunities.



 

Front porch design is more important that you might think. A well-designed front porch delivers style, hospitality, and security to the front of your home. In Episode 86 of The Architecture Happy Hour podcast, co-hosts and architects, Laura Davis and Holly Hall talk about the many facets of front porch design and what steps you can take to turn your porch from outdated to updated.



In this episode



Front porch nostalgia - why Hollywood loves a good front porch

Porch functions - shelter, leisure, social, aesthetics, safety

Considerations when designing a new porch

New technology for porch design

Home Design Tips - Easy ways to update an outdated porch









Sponsor



Are you interested in sponsoring The Architecture Happy Hour podcast? We want to connect with companies that are a good match with the interests of our listeners. Please call 214.751.2304 or contact us here to receive a media kit and learn more about sponsorship opportunities.