There is nothing more exciting than custom building your own home. There are so many positives when it comes to designing and building your own home. However, there are many things to consider and plan for prior to building.

Important Details To Consider When Building Your Own Home

The biggest advantage of building your own home is the ability to customize it to meet all your individual needs. Creating the house of your dreams takes a lot of time and planning. Important details to consider when designing your home are:

• Location
• Choosing the builder
• Size of the lot
• Square footage required
• Type of heating and cooling system
• Type of foundation
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of washrooms
• Size and layout of the kitchen
• Deciding to go with or without a formal dining room
• Materials used on the interior of the home
• Materials used on the exterior of the home
• Whether or not you require a mudroom
• Attached or detached garage
• The size of the garage

And so much more.

Must Haves For a New Build

As most people’s needs vary, the must-haves from one person to another will most likely be different. However, there is some common must-haves that many would consider important. These can include but are not limited to:

• Main floor laundry room or laundry room near bedrooms/laundry chute
• Mudrooms
• Undercounter outlets
• Outdoor outlets and media connections
• Bathroom drawers with outlets
• Deep kitchen drawers for small appliances and pots and pans
• Smart thermostat
• Hard-wired smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors
• Security systems
• Central Vac
• Central Air
• Trash and Recycling Chutes
• Kitchen Island
• Heated floors
• Energy-Efficient Features
• Ample lighting

Designing Your Kitchen With The Best Must-Haves

Typically the kitchen in any home is the focal point and the room that is used the most. Many people not only use their kitchens to prepare food and meals, but they quite often utilize their kitchen to entertain guests. So designing your kitchen to meet all your needs is very important. The list of must-haves for kitchens is virtually endless, but here is some must-haves that you may want to consider especially if you are designing a large kitchen.

Electrical Outlets – You can never have too many kitchen electrical outlets, always ensure they are placed where you will need them the most. The most convenient and practical place to install electrical outlets in the kitchen is under the cabinets, this will avoid taking away the beautiful look of your backsplash.

Flooring – Choose flooring material that can withstand high traffic and moisture, a neutral floor colour will allow you to change kitchen colours without having to change the flooring. Some flooring options include:

• Porcelain Tile
• Bamboo
• Linoleum
• Cork
• Laminate
• Hardwood
• Limestone
• Slate

Cabinetry – Cabinetry is one of the most important decisions in a kitchen. To ensure you have ample storage for all your kitchen needs, carefully design the cabinetry to meet all your needs. Designing your kitchen with deep drawers for small appliances and pots and pans helps keep your kitchen looking neat and less cluttered. Customized spice cupboards are always a nice addition to the kitchen as well.

Countertops – Countertops are one of the larger investments in a kitchen. Choosing a countertop that will last many years will save you money in the long run. Also choosing a neutral colour and design will allow you to change the look of your kitchen without costing a fortune in the future. There are many choices in material for countertops which include:

• Quartz
• Granite
• Marble
• Wood
• Corian
• Laminate
• Concrete
• Butcherblock
• Recycled Glass
• Tile
• Solid Surface
• Lava
• Eco-friendly
• Resin
• Porcelain
• Reclaimed Wood
• Stainless Steel

Kitchen Island – Kitchen islands have become very popular and multi-functional. Kitchen islands can include storage, sinks, built-in stove tops, built-in dishwashers, built-in electrical outlets, and media outlets, also additional seating can be added with breakfast bars. Some large kitchens may even include 2 kitchen islands.

Lighting – Kitchen lighting is also very important. It is always a good idea to include several windows in your kitchen design to allow for natural lighting and venting when necessary.

Customized Coffee Bar – a customized coffee bar is a great addition to a modern kitchen.

Bathroom Must-Haves

Along with kitchens, bathrooms in a home are also important and should be designed to meet the needs of everyone in the home. You can design your home to include as many bathrooms as you like. Areas in the home that bathrooms are typically located are:

• Master bedroom ensuite
• 2nd storey full bathroom (If applicable)
• Main floor full bathroom (If the home is only one level)
• Power room inside the entryway to the home, typically a 2-piece.
• Additional bedroom ensuites
• Also very common are bathrooms located in the basement

Important features in a bathroom are:

• Countertops
• Flooring – can include heated floors
• Type of bathtubs
• Type of sinks and cabinetry
• Type of faucets
• Type of toilets
• Mirrors
• Ventilation
• Shelving
• Storage

Bedroom Must-Haves

The Master Bedroom

The master bedroom is typically the largest bedroom in the home. Great must-haves for the master bedroom may include:

• Large walk-in closets
• Ensuite bathroom
• Storage
• Sitting area
• Workspace
• Windows
• A balcony or courtyard
• Hidden storage for television
• Built-ins
• Soft lighting

Family Room Must-Haves

Another frequently used room in most homes is the family/living room. This room should be comfortable and laid out to optimize the most effective use of space. Some family/living room must-haves can include:

• Customized architecture
• Fireplace
• Built-in shelving
• Coffered or vaulted ceilings
• French Doors
• Hardwood Flooring

Custom Garage

For many people, a garage can be utilized for storage, housing vehicles, and even for additional living space. A garage can be customized to suit all or any of the above.

Other Great Must-Haves for a Custom Built Home

The list of must-haves for a custom-built home is literally endless. The list can include:

• Custom Doors and Windows
• Chair rail
• Crown molding
• Baseboard moulding
• Wainscotting
• Picture Frame molding
• Customized outdoor living space
• Customized finished basement
• Inground pool
• Sauna
• Customized door and cabinetry hardware
• Energy-Efficient Heating and cooling system
• Energy Efficient and/or build in appliances
• Customized laundry room

The final decision of what the must-haves are for the new home build really comes down to the wants and needs of the new homeowner.