I'm new to building a home. Looking for suggestions for a good home blueprint designer in the Bismarck/Mandan area. Wife and me have a idea of what we want, just need to get it on paper. Also, any suggestions of I would do this, don't do that, or tips would be appreciated!!! Any ideas or suggestions welcomed. Thanks again!
Wow, where to start.
Couple of ideas on layout. One single story home we owned was built in a "U" shape. The front entry, kitchen and eating area was on the bottom of the U. One wing of the U was the master bedroom area and the other wing was two secondary bedrooms and baths. If you can have a bath for each bedroom that would be the best but you need a hall bath for guests. Next would be a Jack and Jill bedroom/bath arrangement with a fourth bedroom and a hall bath.
Two story homes would have the master at the entry level and secondary bedrooms either up or down. We added a 1,550 sf second floor when we remodeled our home and put a separate furnace and A/C unit in for the second floor. We don't have the second floor too hot in order to keep the downstairs warm.
If you can plan your garage work area/cabinets I would put outlets at the same level as the kitchen so they will be between the upper and lower cabinets. Put outside outlets by the front door, on the patio, by the garage door and any other place where you might store something and need power to work on it. Put plenty of outside lights to light up space where you need it. I'd put a switched outlet under the eve of both the first and second floor roof to plug in Christmas Lights so you can switch them on and off rather than go out and plug and un-plug them. This carries over to the living room. Determine where your Christmas Tree will be and put in a switched outlet to plug the tree into. Then you don't have to plug and un-plug it every night. The rest of the year just leave the switched outlet on so you can vacuum when the missus tells you to!
Kitchen - the second most important room in the house. Granite countertops if you can afford them. They are impervious and will never need replacement until you need a change of scenery. Fluorescent lighting under the upper cabinets. They make good night lights and supply good lighting for work areas. When we remodeled our kitchen I had the electrician put a receptacle on every stud in the kitchen between the uppers and lowers. Had him wire them with 12/3 romex on 20 amp breakers with several circuits. I never have tripped breakers. Roll out lower cabinet shelves. Pantry with roll out shelves. Cast iron/porcelain sinks. Three quarter horsepower garbage disposer that can chew up baby back rib bones, chicken bones and crab shells. (She won't let me do that if she is around.) Instant hot water for soups and instant coffee/tea. Trash compactor - a blessing for us. With recycling I only have one garbage bag or less in a week. Wire pulls on cabinet doors and drawers to save the finish over the long haul. Gas cooktop with gas grill alongside and a 48 inch hood above.
Hardwood floors or tile in common areas. Where ever you put carpet, try to walk the area as well as you can to find any floor squeaks before the carpet installation and nail/screw them quiet.
All sliding closet doors mirrored, especially bedroom and entry coat closet. You need to look your best when you go out.
I have a wood stove insert in my brick fireplace and it heats the house well. If you are inclined to get firewood a free standing stove would be good. Plan a place to store firewood that is accessible. Get the most energy efficient windows that are reasonable for your area.
Prolaly think of some more things later that I can add. Things are way too different in Bismarck than in CA.
