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What to include in a custom home?

7 years ago

We're in the process of building a custom home in Texas and the plans are all but done. The house is right at 5,000 sf, 4 bedrooms (all upstairs), a craft room, study, dining, game room, 2 car garage. I'm looking for "must have" items to incorporate. This is what we have thus far:

Exterior: Soffit exterior lighting and plugs for Christmas lights, turf in the backyard (grass in the front), pool with outdoor kitchen, a pool bath, speakers
Climate controlled garage with work/tool station
Kitchen: Sponge drawer, maybe 2 dishwashers (thoughts), instant hot water circulating system, RO system for drinking/ice machine, bottom cabinet drawers,
Bath: drawer plugs
House Guts: Foam insulation, 2x6 framing, artisan siding, thoughts on tankless water heaters or HVAC considerations?
Technology: Pre Wired alarm and camera...what other low voltage considerations should be made? This one really stresses me out!
Tips on outlet placement?

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everdebz

7 years ago

Idk about you, but I'd like to hide the trash!

Formal white kitchen with blue island - Mullet Cabinet · More Info

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Comments (13)

Lisa G
7 years ago
I would add a utility sink in the garage with hot/cold water, hose bib near the location you'll want to wash your cars, and spend time deciding on the best HVAC system for your huge house -- I'd think you'd want at least 2 zones (upstairs/downstairs). If we could have afforded it at the time we built, I would have insulated every single interior wall and in between floors and solid doors are a must (we went from a home with solid doors to our new home with hollow doors and they suck).
everdebz
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Not current for me, but I'm saving ideas like you are.
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everdebz
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
PRO / sagemodern: "An HRV is designed to bring in fresh air and exhaust stale air. The benefit of an HRV is that when it brings in cool fresh air in the winter it uses the heat from the air being exhausted to warm the fresh air coming in. It is an efficient way to heat air. The air grates in this picture were custom made. A local steel fabricator laser cut the ventilation holes."
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everdebz
7 years ago
Maybe you meant this, but I like night lighting! seen from the street, and from indoors both!!!

Otherwise, it's so dark when you're in the country and nothing outside is lit up....
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everdebz
7 years ago
I want to learn more about inside insulation for noise control....so is it regular insulation [placed within interior walls]?
User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
The best investment is in a good architect for a good home design. There are way to many bad designs being built. Especially in TX for some reason.

Kitchen Sink Design where every material and builder cliche possible is thrown at the home is far too common. If it has more than 4-5 gables and 2 cladding materials, you too may be a victim of aKitchen Sink Home Designer. Who very rarely is an actual architect
calidesign
7 years ago
A mudroom is very useful, with a bench, cubbies and hooks for backpacks, shoes, etc. Also, do some research before you decide on artificial turf - it is full of chemicals, will breakdown in heat, retains bacteria, and will need to be replaced at some point. There are so many better natural alternatives.
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Harmonic Series
7 years ago
As far as the low voltage (stressful) considerations go, the plans should be marked with all wiring needed now and in the future. I would recommend speaker wire to most rooms, fiber to multiple locations, and cat6a or cat7 to all rooms and TV locations. If you upload or send me the plans, I may be of more help if it is still needed. If you are interested in automated lighting, you may want to consider low voltage keypads, or centralizing all lighting loads to one location and using Lutron RadioRa2 (I recommend the former). There are many considerations depending on budget but having the cabling in the right places in the future will never cause regret. Hope this helps.
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Harmonic Series
7 years ago
I have also experienced low hot water pressure while sharing one tankless water heater with another bathroom. The best setup I have seen consisted on one tankless water heater and one pump dedicated to each bathroom in the house.
jhope
7 years ago
Have you thought about a 3 car garage? To me, a house of this size, I would expect more room in the garage unless you also have something detached for storage and extra vehicles.

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