Designing a home as an architect is both an exciting opportunity and a unique challenge. Unlike designing for a client, where the needs and preferences are defined externally, this process requires deep introspection—translating personal habits, lifestyle, and aspirations into a physical space. Every decision, from the overall layout to the smallest material detail, becomes an exploration of how our family foresees living, working, interact with our surroundings, and most importantly, with each other, building special memories. We want this to be our favorite place in the world!

This guide will serve as both a self-reflection and a living archive—a way to critically document and refine my own process while capturing the evolution of our future home. More than just a resource, it serves as a blueprint of intention, ensuring that every design choice aligns with the way we aspire to live, now and for years to come.

Phase 1.

Defining the Vision & Planning the Custom Home

This phase focuses on establishing the foundation of our dream home. It involves evaluating lifestyle needs, setting a budget, and selecting the right design style for our family. Through careful planning, we’ll set clear goals for our project that will guide decisions throughout the building process.

1. Understanding the family's lifestyle and long-term needs.

2. Defining the overall vision for the home.

3. Establishing a realistic budget to guide decisions regarding size, materials, and finishes.

4. Selecting the architectural style that will set the tone for the home’s design.

5. Setting goals that will serve as the foundation for the entire design process.

   

   
   

Phase 2.

Concept Development - Layout, Circulation & Functional Planning

In this phase, we’ll concentrate on optimizing the layout of our custom home to ensure it’s both functional and efficient. This includes designing the best flow between spaces, ensuring privacy and accessibility, and creating a home that adapts to our needs over time. It’s about making sure every square foot serves a purpose.

1. Designing spaces that ensure easy flow and connectivity.

2. Allocating spaces for privacy vs. communal activities based on the family’s lifestyle.

3. Maximizing comfort and convenience by thoughtfully planning room adjacencies.

4. Ensuring flexibility in the design, allowing spaces to evolve with future needs.

5. Planning circulation paths to ensure ease of movement throughout the home.

Phase 3.

Refining the Design

Refining the design involves enhancing key spaces like the kitchen and primary suite, focusing on both aesthetics and practicality. We’ll optimize storage solutions and select materials that tie the design together, ensuring both beauty and functionality.

1. Maximizing storage options through custom features like built-ins.

2. Finalizing the design of functional yet luxurious areas (e.g., kitchen and primary suite).

3. Integrating flexible spaces that can adapt to changing needs (e.g., home offices or guest rooms).

4. Refining the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces to enhance overall livability.

5. Selecting finishes and materials that bring the design vision to life.

   

Phase 4.

Selecting Materials, Finishes & Sustainable Features, Smart Home Considerations

Choosing the right materials and finishes is crucial for the long-term durability and energy efficiency of our custom home. This phase will guide us through the process of selecting sustainable, high-performance materials, as well as finishes that reflect our personal style, ensuring our home is both beautiful and eco-friendly.

1. Selecting durable, high-performance materials that align with the design vision.

2. Choosing energy-efficient materials to reduce the home’s environmental impact.

3. Integrating smart home technologies for convenience, security, and energy savings.

4. Ensuring the home’s exterior materials are suitable for the local climate and long-lasting.

5. Balancing beauty with sustainability in both interior and exterior selections.

   
   

Phase 5.

Generational Living & Aging-in-Place Design

This phase focuses on creating a home that accommodates multiple generations and allows for aging-in-place. We’ll integrate universal design features to ensure the home remains accessible and adaptable as our family’s needs evolve.

1. Designing spaces that are accessible to all, including wide doorways and step-free entryways.

2. Planning for independent living spaces, such as guest houses or accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

3. Ensuring that the home can evolve to meet the needs of the family as it changes over time.

4. Integrating universal design features like accessible bathrooms and kitchens.

5. Considering future-proofing design elements to accommodate aging or mobility challenges.

   

Phase 6.

Outdoor Amenities & Landscaping for New England

The final phase is about designing outdoor spaces that complement the home and work year-round in New England’s climate. We’ll focus on low-maintenance landscaping, durable materials, and creating functional outdoor living areas that connect seamlessly with the interior. This phase ensures our outdoor living spaces are just as inviting and well-designed as the interior.

1. Designing outdoor spaces that work year-round, taking New England’s climate into account.

2. Planning low-maintenance landscaping with hardy plants and durable hardscaping.

3. Incorporating outdoor features like fire pits, fireplaces, and seating areas for gathering.

4. Ensuring outdoor spaces blend seamlessly with the interior for a cohesive design.

5. Planning functional outdoor kitchens and patios for year-round use.

   

As we move forward in the design process, the work done in each of these phases serves as the foundation for everything that follows. The vision we've outlined, the thoughtful planning of the layout, the selection of materials, and consideration for the future all work together to create a home that isn’t just a structure but a reflection of our lives. This journey is as much about creating a space as it is about understanding how that space will support our family’s evolving needs. Next, we’ll dive into architectural programming, exploring how we can further translate this vision into a fully realized, functional design for our dream home.