Go through a few designs that appeal to you. Either online or in the car. When you see a house you like make a note of it and maybe a shortlist. There may well only a few designs that you like. Once you have that, look for the drawings which you can probably see online at the local authority. The plans will show you the dimensions and layout. The actual design will be the copyright of the architect so you cannot take it and use it. From that you can decide if it is OK or not. Most architect designed homes are a disgrace and you just wonder what sort of a place they live in. However, you may see an elevation you like on one and another on a different design. So do some mix and match with your own additions. We all know what houses we like to look at.
Once you are there with your general appearance, spend a lot of time weighing up just what rooms you want and how they all work together. If you want a computer room, design it as one. If you want a workshop design it in to the whole. Don’t think about adapting afterwards as you do when you buy an existing house. Spend a lot of time getting the inside right. If you are thinking of just one floor bear in mind that it isn’t double the cost for two floors. In fact spend a lot of time getting everything right. Once you have the inside, look at how the outside will work. Spend time on window design. Most architects, builders and double-glazing companies simply haven’t a clue on window design. Bad windows can ruin a decent house design. You only need to walk up and down some roads to see that. Don’t always go for windows that are all on the same level. If you see a design with all of the windows on the same level to an elevation look at moving one or more up or down, or to one side so they all aren’t consistent. Look at older houses, pre-war and even older. Many houses built over a hundred years ago by a builder who knew his job will often be better looking than something churned out by an architect with a degree today. It’s no coincidence that cars all look the same now, it’s because the car companies are using the same software. Don’t look at any houses that have been extended. They are rarely an improvement on the original and in reality invariably ruin the original design.
Understand that over the last 40 years the building trade has de-skilled. There has not been the transfer of knowledge and experience from older tradesmen that there used to be. Most of them today only know how to do one or two different things and they just do it over and over. They may do it well but their range is limited. In general the tradesmen aren’t innovative and cannot imagine. They cannot look at something and know what would be the best solution because they only know two or three alternatives. What I am saying is do not rely on the advice of a tradesman to help you with your design. As an example : I designed my back garden as I wanted it. I then asked for gardeners and “experts” to give me a price. Invariably they ignored my design and described how they would do it. They then came up with their own standard fit-all garden because they knew the cost of each section and all they had to do was to multiply their charge to suit larger or smaller areas. To do mine would need to work it all out from scratch, which they either couldn’t or wouldn’t. In the end I found someone who would do as a wanted.
When you have done all of that work. Go over it again and again, and again. Make sure everything is included and as you want it. This is because once you start work you have to avoid any extras whatsoever. Once you are given a price and agree the building costs any change however small will result in a huge extra charge. Even if you realise during building that to make a change would be a great improvement, forget it. You should have thought of it before. This is not complicated work, don't be kidded that it is. You can do it but bear in mind the guys doing the work will not be up to being able to understand Access. Doubtful if they could even understand If/Else/Endif, spell, or do mental arithmetic. They do however understand how to charge for extras. The builder relies on extras to pay for his omissions and mistakes during building. Get everything costed out, even the smallest items. Maybe get a quantity surveyor in, if you cannot be sure about working all of the costs out correctly? When you have all of it costed go over it until you are totally sure everything is covered. Then think about if there is any of the work that you can do for yourself? That will save a huge amount of money. And don't forget.....NO EXTRAS!
This is something that will and should consume nearly every waking moment until you get it right. Lastly prepare for aggravation and exasperation because it is all on the way to you in spades and totally unavoidable
