It’s time to get into the fun stuff! Designing your dream log home can be the most exciting part of the process, short of moving in, of course.
If you don’t already have a very clear picture of what you want your home to look like, here is a list of a few questions to ponder that will get you started.
Things to Think About
How do you imagine yourself feeling when you walk into your home? Is there something inside the home that makes you feel this way?
Do you wish to have a main feature in the home such as a rustic staircase or stone fireplace?
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
What is important to you in a kitchen? / Laundry room?
Do you have any special storage preferences?
Is a basement important to you?
Will your house be multi level? If so, what kind of stairs do you like?
Would you like any lifestyle rooms such as workout room, craft room, or office?
Do you need extra room for food storage?
Is entertaining important to you? If so, what do you envision in the home for this to be to your liking?
Do you envision any of the interior walls as log or is it all drywall? Maybe a mixture?
Do you like the idea of timber or log trusses?
Do you want an outdoor entertainment area?
Approximately how many square feet do you prefer in a home?
I have my vision, now what…
Some clients choose to hire an architect to design and draft their log home in which case the design process would be dictated by that individual. In our post Finding the Right Team, we discussed the pros and cons of working with an architect.
There are options for folks that choose not to work with an architect. One option is working with Caribou Creek’s in-house drafting team -taking advantage of our 75 years of combined experience. We can work with you to design the layout of your dream house and produce buildable blueprints. Often we are asked how our process works.
Each design flow is unique to the needs of the client, but each process involves not only drafting the plans, but also includes a consultation with our production team to verify the feasibility of the design. Here is a quick look at the design flow we use with our projects and what you could expect when working with our team.
What to expect when working with Caribou Creek Design Team
During the initial design consultation we would discuss budget, log style preference, and target square footage. We would discuss our design agreement, which includes a basic architectural plan set, BIMx 3D model, and shop drawings all of which are yours to keep whether or not you hire Caribou Creek as the log supplier for your project.
After the client agrees to the terms of the design agreement we will go deeper into the project exploring floor plan ideas, building site information, and having the client complete our questionnaire.
We will then work on the first round of plans with a follow up meeting to discuss any changes or revisions. We also offer a “value engineering” opportunity to discuss ideas that may help reduce overall project costs.
A final design set is offered which includes PDF versions of shop drawings and plans as well as a BIMx file for you to take a virtual tour of your dream home. “Building Information Management” software takes 3D design to the next level by allowing the client to explore the home at their leisure, using modern video gaming technology and a “first-person” user experience. Another benefit to using this state-of-the- art technology is the high level of accuracy and detail it offers which greatly reduce the potential for inconsistencies within the plan set, thus preventing potentially costly mistakes. Upon the homeowners approval of the design and plan set the process is complete. Additional revisions are offered but may be at a further expense depending on their complexity.
Remember, our drafting team is not licensed architects. The final plans may need to be wet stamped by an engineer depending on building requirements in your township. We work closely with engineers to help our clients get the approvals they need.
If you are looking for a more hands on approach to designing your dream home, consider purchasing “The Ultimate Log Home Dream Planning Guide” for an in depth guide to help you make decisions each step of the way.
If you are ready to explore the possibility of using Caribou Creek’s design team contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Once the design and plan set is finalized construction may begin!
