home design recommendations
rsdavis
Any recommendations for home design software or a better ng to post in?
thanks
bob
Michael Bulatovich
news:3C9F421...@bobsbits.net...
Of course I'm biased, but have you considered an architect?
--
Michael Bulatovich,
Architect
www.michaelbulatovich.com
rsdavis
figure out what we want its going to be hard to tell somebody else what
we want. Therefore some kind of visualization is nice.
bob
TomD
still sold, but some years ago it was a pretty neat package, and I think it
sold for under $100. It was very easy to use and produced reasonably good
3D views.
rsdavis <b...@bobsbits.net> wrote in message
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Michael Bulatovich
you are a hands-on do-it-yourself type you will probably not want
professional help, but a jumbled wish-list, a budget, and a survey is
usually the starting point for a pro. The resolution of these things is what
they do *for* the client.
In my experience, good buildings rarely start from untrained owners with
their own sketches, whether drawn on a computer or not. Note that I didn't
say "can't", but "rarely".
"rsdavis" <b...@bobsbits.net> wrote in message
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Tim
lets you layout your walls / windows / furniture and view them in 3D. It
gives a 'real-world' view of what your ideas. Not everyone can visualize
floor plans in their head, so for non-technical people, I think these
programs are a must!
I would agree. Be prepared! If you don't have some sketches and even some
3D views, then you'll be going around in circles trying to convince someone
that despite how 'perty' thier house design looks, it's not for me! I would
think that an architect would love to see some 3D views of your ideas. It
would make determining your 'style' a lot easier, unless they didn't care
about your style :).
It's your house and your money. Why shouldn't you get what you want?
And hell yes I diagnose myself before going to the doctor! How else can I
explain what is wrong? My doctor ALWAYS asks me what I think is wrong. How
could they make a proper diagnosis without knowing what the patient thinks
is wrong? Don't diagnose yourself before you go!!! I don't put my personal
well being 'blindly' into the hands of anyone. Everyone makes mistakes.
Always be prepared!
My .02 cents worth (actual cash value may be significantly less)
P.S> I would definately recommend having an architect or experienced
designer complete your drawings once you have decided on a plan. They will
have a lot of valuable input! As well as know what is feasible and what is
'outrageous'. I just get irritated when Architects tell people thier
infamous, of course distorted, line: 'You idiot. You can't lay out a
house. You didn't get a degree in applying abstract art to buildings'.
IMO, anyone can layout a house. Crappy architects can layout houses too.
Good architects can 'refine' and 'improve' upon someone else's layout and
turn it into a working project! They also aren't offended by you having an
opinion of your own!
"rsdavis" <b...@bobsbits.net> wrote in message
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Caveman
<snip>
>I just get irritated when Architects tell people thier
> infamous, of course distorted, line: 'You idiot. You can't lay out a
> house. You didn't get a degree in applying abstract art to buildings'.
> IMO, anyone can layout a house. Crappy architects can layout houses too.
> Good architects can 'refine' and 'improve' upon someone else's layout and
> turn it into a working project! They also aren't offended by you having
an
> opinion of your own!
I just get irritated when Surgeons tell people thier
infamous, of course distorted, line: 'You idiot. You can't make a hearth
transplant. You didn't get a degree in applying abstract art of medicine'.
IMO, anyone can make a hearth transplantation. Crappy surgeons can make
transplants too. Good surgeons can 'refine' and 'improve' upon someone
else's
thoughts of making a self-made hearth transplant and keep them alive!
They also aren't offended by you having an opinion of your own, but they
laugh at it!
Laymans should only do what laymans can.
Tim
laying out the walls in a house is someone abstract (I never started the
'doctor' comparison ... just finished it). Worst case scenario for a poor
floor layout would be a decrease in the value of the home, lost efficiency,
etc ... all a cost to the owner. Building and development permits will
cover structural integrity. How many houses are there in the world that
weren't designed by an architect?
Bottom line is that I just don't see the harm in having someone layout their
own floor plan before approaching an architect. Get a f ' en grip. What is
your fear ... coming up with an inferior plan?
All my point being is that 'SINCE' an architect is obviously unwilling to
work on a floor plan someone else devised by themselves, then quit groping
because they don't want to go to an architect at all .... Why would they?
Paul Turvill
___
"Caveman" <cav...@the.cave> wrote in message
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TomD
Paul Turvill <nos...@turvill.com> wrote in message
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Michael Bulatovich
"Paul Turvill" <nos...@turvill.com> wrote in message
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Michael Bulatovich
matter. Let me share an anecdote.
Years ago a new client came to me with a partly completed set of drawings
for a substantial renovation and additions to a house he just bought for a
pile of money in a 'desirable' neighbourhood. The guy was quite sharp, and
someone familiar with making things as furniture-making was a hobby of his
before he made it big in software.
For the most part the drawings were quite competent with the exception of a
crucial and pivotal flaw around the stair. I did a design were the stair was
entirely removed and replaced in another spot, and we fought and fought and
fought. He insisted that the stair go where he wanted it, and I tried to
show him how many other problems were generated by this insistence.
Eventually I either convinced him to let me do it my way or I just wore him
down, I don't know which. After the whole thing was over, to credit his
character, he came to me and uttered the sweetest words known to my ears:
"You were right. The house flows, and is full of light.....yadayadayada."
The family is now one of my biggest marketing weapons.
I've learned a couple of things in the twenty years I have devoted to
architecture, one of them is that everybody with a professional stamp is not
to be trusted with your money. But I think you frame the potential downside
of a poorly thought-out floor plan rather narrowly. Not once did you mention
an intangible like 'beauty' or 'elegance'. For some these things are just
words, and for others ideals.
--
Michael Bulatovich,
Architect
www.michaelbulatovich.com
"Tim" <thitchcock@deleteme_canada.com> wrote in message
news:8O3o8.5765$DZ4.3...@news-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
Paul Turvill
count the number of "plans" I've had brought to me where the stairs were in
a different location on the second floor than on the first; where 16 risers
"had" to fit a 2'x6' space; or where the headroom over about the 5th riser
from the bottom was maybe 4 or 5'.
___
"Michael Bulatovich" <bulat...@ica.net> wrote in message
news:PXko8.6728$je5....@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
Tim
many) in my time done by architects that were absolutely beautiful ...
architecturally speaking. I think that anyone planning a home should
definately consult an architect .. as I previously stated. My wife has
worked for architects (draftsman ... oops ... woman!) for 10 years. I don't
think it is a good idea to design your home by yourself, especially if it is
a 'large', 'expensive' or 'unique' home (Not that there is a point where you
need an architect / designer and a point where you don't .. really you
always do). I just think, and I stand corrected, that developing a plan
that suits your style then having an architect do as you've said, pick out
the weak points, recommend improvements, etc .. will more likely get you
what you like. I would THINK that by telling someone that coming up with
your own ideas before seeing an architect is of no value is basically the
same as saying 'go see a guy who does plans out of his basement, he'll fix
you up'. People want the house to be all about their ideas. Why wouldn't
they? Then once they have their plans to show you, then it's easier for
them to understand why their stairs are in a bad spot, or how opening a room
up will make it flow more effectively (or whatever ....). Of course
exluding your example ... but overall, didn't that person get what they
wanted and you provided it for him? That's where I'd see the value of the
architect in a lot of small residential projects, whereas generally
speaking (based on the work my wife's boss has gotten), architects tend to
get shut out of residential except for higher end homes, because of an
unwillingness to allow the owner to do a lot of the leg work and consult the
architect as a resource rather than the boss of the job. All my opinions.
P.S> I have worked for a few architects as well and was gravely
disappointed that I never got to do any 1500 sq ft bungalos. I only got to
work on 7500 sq ft mansions :) and large commercial projects. So I left
architectural and went into machine design ..?~? Less controversial :-).
But I still frequently get asked to do floor plans for people, but my wife's
boss doesn't!
"Michael Bulatovich" <bulat...@ica.net> wrote in message
news:PXko8.6728$je5....@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
Michael
<<snip>>
> I would THINK that by telling someone that coming up with
> your own ideas before seeing an architect is of no value is basically the
> same as saying 'go see a guy who does plans out of his basement, he'll fix
> you up'.
<<snip>>
Speaking as a 'guy who does plans out of his basement' I take offense! Just
because I left a dream job with the best custom home builder in my state to
spend more time with my daughters (2 y.o. and 4 months old) doesn't mean
that the projects I do are in anyway lacking. Over the last 3 years I've
done ~150 projects (everything from simple decks to high-end custom homes to
commercial projects) and I've never had a complaint. In fact, I've never
done any advertising, all my work has come from past client referrals.
Now I know you proabably didn't intent your remark to be taken so literally,
but just wanted to make sure. Some of the best Architects/Designers work
out of their home. I chose to work out of my home, because my family is
more important to me then the impression my office makes (family is even
more important than money). Where someone works is not an indicator of the
quality of their work.
Michael
PS - I agree with someone coming up with ideas of what they do/don't like.
Rather than them try to learn some CAD software to draw up a layout, I'd
prefer they spent their time clipping photos of things they do/don't like
and making a list ('program') of their needs/wants/hopes. It's my job to
then take that info and mesh it into a home.
Tim
before as well, and for the same reason.
I do realise that architect implies a certified / registered architect,
whereas I use the term loosely as a designer of buildings. I once worked
for a structural engineer who was a registered architect by virtue of having
designed buildings in excess of 4 stories prior to the inception of the
requirement for an architects' stamp, and was thereby 'given' a stamp
because of his prior experience / education.
Tim ....
P.S> Don't take things literally. Take the time to read / listen and
understand. Have you ever read anything by shakespeare that could be taken
literally? The best works / ideas are often between the lines, somewhere
.....
"Michael" <NOnekki...@yahoo.comSPAM> wrote in message
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Michael Bulatovich
"Michael" <NOnekki...@yahoo.comSPAM> wrote in message
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> Rather than them try to learn some CAD software to draw up a layout, I'd
> prefer they spent their time clipping photos of things they do/don't like
> and making a list ('program') of their needs/wants/hopes. It's my job to
> then take that info and mesh it into a home.
Right-on.
--
MichaelB
www.michaelbulatovich.com
(from my basement office)
Michael Bulatovich
> People want the house to be all about their ideas. Why wouldn't
> they? Then once they have their plans to show you, then it's easier for
> them to understand why their stairs are in a bad spot, or how opening a
room
> up will make it flow more effectively (or whatever ....).
Or not. One of the things I learned in school was that you can't always get
every idea, no matter how cherished, into every design. We used to say
"Sometimes you have to throw out your babies" not just the bathwater. A very
hard lesson to learn-Istill find myself clinging to an idea long after it
should be obvious to me that it is causing me a lot of grief. You can't
expect clients who've just had their first or second architectural idea to
be prepared to throw it out easily.
>architects tend to
> get shut out of residential except for higher end homes, because of an
> unwillingness to allow the owner to do a lot of the leg work and consult
the
> architect as a resource rather than the boss of the job.
I think it's mainly that most feel they cannot afford the luxury.
> P.S> I have worked for a few architects as well and was gravely
> disappointed that I never got to do any 1500 sq ft bungalos. I only got
to
> work on 7500 sq ft mansions :)
I've had the same complaint. If you do get to work on modest stuff, it's
either for a publicly funded scheme with all the contortions that entails or
its for developers who cannot get beyond thinking of buildings as
commodities. Having said that there a couple of small projects on my site's
'current projects' pages.
--
MichaelB
www.michaelbulatovich.com
Caveman
> Point taken ... But comparing cutting someone open and removing organs to
> laying out the walls in a house is someone abstract (I never started the
> 'doctor' comparison ... just finished it). Worst case scenario for a poor
> floor layout would be a decrease in the value of the home, lost
efficiency,
> etc ... all a cost to the owner. Building and development permits will
> cover structural integrity. How many houses are there in the world that
> weren't designed by an architect?
In the 3rd world, mud, palm leaf and twig houses, very many. You would
not maybe get many of them home insured, though.
> Bottom line is that I just don't see the harm in having someone layout
their
> own floor plan before approaching an architect. Get a f ' en grip. What
is
> your fear ... coming up with an inferior plan?
Telling the truth usually hurts someones feelings. And you do have state and
community building regulations to obey, too.
> All my point being is that 'SINCE' an architect is obviously unwilling to
> work on a floor plan someone else devised by themselves, then quit groping
> because they don't want to go to an architect at all .... Why would they?
Most communities approve plans for building licence only made by qualified
professionals (also others but architects). But this is not only a floor
plan
question, but also a structural and well-being one. Avoiding professionals
is IMHO is an 'economical' decision to avoid costs, but by making the
crucial mistakes in the structures and ventilation you may bring about
ie.depressions, rot, moisture and termite damages, mould and fungi).