The Drafting Edge

A good house sits low on its land and doesn't stand too high protruding up like a castle. It is mindful of its neighbors and surroundings. It is designed to fit the land and satisfy the homeowner's wishes. 

The orientation (position) of the house on the land will influence which rooms receive direct sunlight at different times of day, therefore this will affect the temperature of each room. This will also influence the heating and cooling costs.

It is oriented so that certain spaces and functions take advantage of the views as well as the sun, shade and breezes. A good house melds with the existing environment and becomes a beautiful part of the exterior vistas and spaces producing harmony in its natural surroundings. 

It has an inviting entry way so that everyone knows where to enter the house. 

It has good scale, functionality, personality and proportions. A good house reflects the people who live there. It has symmetry with a bit of surprise and interests. Materials are chosen that reflect timeless shapes and use them symmetrically. Color is used on the timeless forms to add just a twist of surprise. 

Small and large spaces need to flow together seamlessly. It has good traffic flow as you move through the house from room to room, space to space. There are areas of openness, closeness, and other areas that may have a sense of mystery and require you to move more into the home to discover the hidden treasures. 

It connects larger spaces to smaller ones with thicken walls of shelves or display areas, posts with beam openings, archways and stairways. Open spaces combined with closed spaces.  

It is balance with areas of light and darkness, simplicity and complexity. Windows on two sides are preferred. There is a contrast of high and low, private and public, in and out spaces. It must have adequate storage, a place for food, linens, cleaning supplies, clothes and a vacuum or brooms.

The interior of the home is linked to the outside by front and rear yards. Yards are defined by fences, low walls, paths, plantings and building facades. It has landscaping that enhances the outdoor spaces.

A good house doesn't need a separate space for every activity. It can serve multiple activities. It may have a flex room or dual purpose room that could be used for a home office, play room, media, music, crafts or any combination. 

A good house with open sight lines makes a modest-sized home feel larger. The spaces are well lit and encourage us to walk towards an area with natural or artificial light such as the end of a long hallway. It may also have pockets of shaded areas for privacy. A good house will not skimp when buying windows to save money, since natural daylight plays a huge role in how a space feels and functions.

The ceiling heights change rather than being all one level throughout. Perhaps the floor level goes down to create that different floor to ceiling height or the ceiling goes down at window seats to create some coziness and ceiling variation.

In large open rooms, the space is broken up by bringing the lighting down (such as over the dining table). It may have different materials such as 

ship-lap, wallpaper or it may have different type of lights to help define different areas.

Details are echoed throughout the house. It has repeating elements and the use of natural materials. The same materials, stone, flagstone, light fixtures or sidings are repeated inside and out. It has a mix of new building materials and antique design/materials. 

It invests in quality materials that don't necessarily mean new. It may have reused, reclaimed and salvaged materials to help bring some character to the home. 

It is unique and meets the needs of its occupants. 

A good trick for homes with 8' flat ceilings is to paint the ceilings one or two shades lighter than the walls and extend the ceiling color down the wall 3-4". It will fool the mind into thinking the space is larger than it appears. Consider adding a continuous head band of trim at the door or window height (7' above the floor) and paint a contrasting color below the trim with ceiling paint color extended down the wall the the trim height. A room without the trim and paint trick will look much plainer. 

Going with 9 foot ceilings and tall windows rather that wider makes a modest-sized house feel spacious. 

If you use white paint throughout, then consider warming it up by adding wood trim and wood doors or black framed windows for a more contemporary look. Balance the cool with warmer items. 

A line of trees does not divide, it connects and defines areas.

Match the new extension with the old. 

Recycle materials where possible. 

Design around your existing power points and drainage. 

Keep existing cupboards. Just update doors and worktops.