Anyone want to review my house design?

Let the games begin!

That's the first 30 seconds... I'm not sure it's worth doing more without resolve some of the bigger issues first...

Sorry, but your design is really poor. You haven't drawn any furniture, so I think you have no idea how big, or small, these spaces are. Many of them are way off the mark, and the whole thing is terribly organized. Sorry if that comes off as too harsh.

If you're going to use an architect, I suggest that you throw this out, uninstall the software you used, and forget about it. Tell him/her what you want, and let him figure out how to design it. Then keep an open, yet critical, mind when you see his/her design.

It's fun to imagine things, but I think you haven't appreciated how complicated a good building is. If your architect is any good at all, he/she will astound you with all the things they considered and resolved. You can have much better than this.

I agree with most of the responses except the last. Do, get an architect to design your home. You will be much happier. Make sure that when you select an architect that they are predominately residential. Do some research on residences that they have previously designed to see if you like there concepts. There are a lot of things to be considered almost 90% for which you didn't provide in your sketches. The good thing about having an architect you can tell him what you want and let him/her provide the design then you have a chance to tell him you like or dislike portions of the design which then can be changed to fit your preference. And yes, you will have to pay for the architects' fees but it will be worth it.

____________________________________________________________ Charles I. Dinsmore, PE SE RA, M.ASCE ~ snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com

I'd only change two things - the inside and the outside. Oh, three things - fire the designer as they're not competent.

You're spinning your wheels. From the design archives it's obvious you've fallen into the neophyte designer trap - creating something and getting married to the idea and then not changing what desperately needs to be changed.

The near future - when the designer is hired - will hopefully come sooner rather than later.

Honestly, it's a nightmare. There are spatial problems (inadequate space for some areas and vice versa for others) and missing elements all over the place even given the fact that you want to have a simple rectangle house. Don't get married to your own design ideas that put you at odds with a designer who is only trying to be on your side and tell you that such and such won't work. I fact this problem too many times.

Your eraser (or delete button) is your best friend. A saying all architects should learn early. EDS

I never erase. I crumple. (I draw in ink.)

IF you're saying that it's a good thing to let go sometimes, I hardily agree for both client & architect.

I particularly like the south elevation, with *seven* different window styles and sizes.

Oops, north elevation.

In school we used to say, "Sometimes you have to throw out your babies."

Oh, with the dirty water? lol

The worst of the worst in my experience is a 20 y/o woman & 25 y/o man building a 4,300 square foot house. They now live in an apartment, one works a good job at Dow and the other getting an accounting degree. They don't need a broom closet. Oh, they'll just put the vacuum in one of their W.I. closets and the mop & broom (whatever) will go in the linen closet in the Utility Room. I asked what about if you get a carpet cleaner. Oh, we'll never get one of those. I don't need a broom closet. They also MADE me put in THREE side doors on the right elevation, two of which are about 4 feet apart. I hate working for retards. I try to a point to convince them of some things but, at some point, you HAVE to let the igmos have their way. I also have to explain to people all too often that when I give advice, it's based on 2 years drafting college, 5 year architect degree and 18 years experience and that it's NOT about who "wins" or being in control. It's about pragmatic, common sense that some people don't have most of the time. What can you do but take the $ and run. I'm on THEIR side but if they're not open to logic and reason, then you're screwed and have to do ridiculous details. I have had to learn how to let go plenty, let me tell ya.

Sometimes a Code that allows only a 7" riser is an argument saver. "The Code says so!!!!"

Yeah, but if you have to reach for that one, you're already up to your armpits in trouble.

In my experience, the stair (location and type), when placed in the allowable envelope, generates a house plan. Clients who insist on a particular stair type, without knowing he consequences on a particular lot, are standing in their own light.

When I used to do spec housing, the first thing I'd do to generate a different model on the same lot was change the stair, and then follow the logic to the conclusion.