Everyone has a different idea of what type of house they would like to live in. Ideas develop from childhood through teen-age until having a home of ones own is necessary. It is then that the memories of past dwellings are analyzed and computed - thus forming an idea of their perfect home. What will my perfect home need to be? This is an equation with many variables, where compromise and balance attain the best result. These are some of the ideas I have:

Space

I don't need extra bedrooms, or huge ones when their purpose is for sleeping. I like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and people will congregate there. Bathrooms see the least amount of visitation, so they are allotted the least amount of space. I believe it is more practical to occupy a house that fits than to live in an over-sized home - hoping to fill it some day. Build a house that has enough space, but know you can always add to that space if necessary. Interior space can be matched to fit exterior space. I try to keep the houses' footprint to a minimum. Our dwelling is not only the four walls surrounding us but the spot on earth where we have built them. So, why fill the beautiful piece of land we call our own with a building who's main purpose is shelter? Luckily, there are options for more space - we can build up or down, into the side of a mountain or simply re-evaluate the use of what space we already have.

Efficiency

A properly designed house will utilize what area is allowed to satisfy its occupants needs. The location of rooms, sizes of each, heating and cooling systems, plumbing and electrical systems and materials used to construct all add to a homes efficiency. I like to have bedrooms tucked away, with bathrooms separating them from living space. A more central bathroom is nicer when having guests, being more accessible in an unfamiliar place. If bathrooms and kitchen can share a common wall, plumbing can be drastically simplified - reducing building costs and creating efficiency at the same time. Heating and cooling of a house is much simpler with a modest living space. A minimal amount of rooms, situated closer together, require less energy to move hot or cold air throughout. I have found that having less electricity available ultimately results in less electricity being used. How many lights does each room really need? If outlets are installed in every 4 feet of wall, chances are that something will be plugged into them. Window types and placement can substitute lights and fans just as non-electric devices can replace many household appliances. Less wiring equals less energy consumption equals less money.

Well, there will be much more philosophy later....