Building a Custom Home
Start at the very beginning – think about setting a budget, a timeframe, and finding the right piece of land. The first step to designing a custom-built farmhouse is the location. Everything starts with the property: its orientation, the availability of sun, the topography of the land, the natural features on the site. These are all clues for how to sculpt a great home from the landscape.
- Make a budget
- Determine your timeframe
- Find the property – this is important
After you have the perfect property, the Yankee Barn Homes process begins. We offer the opportunity to design a post and beam farmhouse to match your needs. You can create a space specific to the way you and your family live. All the features – from the doorknobs and countertops to the type of heating and arrangement of rooms – are up to you. To know what to do, you must consider how you wish to use the space. The questions and suggestions below should help you develop your design goals.
For Your Consideration
Determine the size your home should be and ask yourself these questions:
Are there any restrictions on the possible size of your home?
How many stories do you want your home to be?
What rooms do you need?
What aspects of your lifestyle do you want to be built into your home?
Consider the type of layout you want
What structural features do you want in each room?
Determine your design and style preferences
Are there any special features you want to be included? (Fireplaces, heated floors, etc.)
Develop Your Design Goals
The next step is to develop your design goals. This is a statement or list of what you want in your custom-built farmhouse. You should have this started before beginning design. Use the following sections to create your goals. Go over these ideas with your YBH designer, as they are professionally trained to know what is possible and how to incorporate your ideas into a functional design. Therefore, it is important to begin speaking with Yankee Barn Homes as early as possible.
When creating your design goals, keep the following in mind:
Dream big, then scale back. This is your chance to make something uniquely yours. At the start – go big on ideas. As things move forward you can adjust these ideas to the budget, zoning, timeframe, land and other realities.
Separate the “needs,” “wants,” “dreams,” and “don’t want.”
Note which rooms are most important to you. In other words, what would you prioritize if it came down to it?
Rank your desired features in order of importance. Prices can vary greatly on custom homes, and this will help you make difficult choices later.
Play the “what if” game. Prepare for the fact that some things may not go your way. Ask yourself: “What if XYZ happens?” What is your next choice /option?
Collect pictures of things you like (and don’t like). Websites like Pinterest and Houzz are great places to start. You can also collect clippings from magazines such as Home + Gardens and Architectural Digest. Or look no further than our website for some design inspiration!
Is there anything specific about your current home that simply doesn’t work for you?
Do you have any recreational activities to consider? This is a custom home – so you can design it for your lifestyle! If you are an avid bike rider, you will want space for bike storage. If you are a musician, perhaps a soundproofed studio space. If you are an artist, you could build a custom studio space. Or if you are a woodworker, you can create the perfect workshop. Whether you are a surfer, skier, or artist, you can make the space work for you.
Other Things to Consider When Building a Custom Home
Do you need space to display art?
Do you want book storage? Do you want wall space for bookcases, or built-ins?
Are you a musician? Consider a separate space for playing that can insulate sound.
Questions to ask yourself:
Do you want an open interior layout? Or separate spaces?
Do you want separate formal and informal areas of the home (i.e., public v. private)?
