Building a new home or extending your current home? This handy questionnaire will help determine your desires, lifestyles, and priorities for your living space. Your answers will reveal some of your needs and wishes for your new design.

Site

• Are there any views you wish to capture
• Are there any views to be avoided
• Do you want morning light in any rooms or outdoor areas
• Do you want sunset view from any particular rooms or outdoor areas
• Do you know of any easements or large trees on your site

Exterior / Raised Floor Systems

• Do you prefer one, two, three storey house, split level
• Do you home need to be raised
• Which floor materials would you prefer – compressed sheeting, air rated  concrete, etc
• Which finish would you prefer – planks, custom orb, rendered, etc
• Which window style do you prefer, do you require energy-efficient models
  

Floor Plan

• Do you want open floor plan or traditional divided floor plan
• Do you have children, or do you anticipate having any, how many
• Will you have frequent overnight guests, grown children
• Are there certain rooms that will be primarily used for entertaining

Living Room

• How do you want to use this room
• Should it have a view
• How many people do you wish to seat comfortably
• Do you want a fireplace
• Do you need storage or display space – freestanding cabinets or built-in

Family Room / Theatre

• How do you want to use this room
• Should it be placed with 2nd and 3rd bedrooms
• Do you require a sound system
• Should it have a view

Dining Area

• Do you entertain formally or informally
• How many people do you wish to seat
• To which other rooms should it be adjacent
• Should it be accessible to outdoor areas
• What kind of storage will you need

Kitchen

• Is it open to other rooms, if so, which ones
• Is the view important to you
• Do you cook frequently, does more than one person usually cook at the same time
• Is low maintenance important
• Do you want an eat-in kitchen
• Do you prefer particular style of cabinet
• Do you want a butler’s pantry
• Do you want a desk/homework area
• Do you want one or two sinks
• Do you want a under bench or wall oven
• Do you want electric or gas cooktop
• Do you want inbuilt microwave
• Do you have material in mind for bench top

Home Office

• Should this be a separate room
• What equipment do you anticipate here
• Could this double as a guest room

Master Bedroom and Ensuite

• Do you want a sitting area or adjoining room
• Is the view important to you
• Will you read here or watch TV
• Do you want any built-in furnishings
• Do you want access to the outdoor areas
• Do you want a separate dressing room or walk in robes
• Is the amount of natural light important to you
• Do you prefer pedestal or vanity style sink – one or two sinks
• What are your storage needs
• Do you want a shower (for one or two) and/or spa
• Do you want a private toilet area

Additional Bed/Bathrooms

• How many of each will you need
• Can a guestroom serve a dual purpose
• What kind of storage or robes are required

Interior Systems

• Do you want any built-in systems
• Fire alarm, fire suppression, security system.
• Do you want other built-in electronic systems
• Sound systems, intercom, phone system, lighting, computer network
• Do you want any particular heating/cooling systems
• Electric, gas, radiant floor heating
• Do you want a central vacuum