What is a Home?

Humans have created homes for themselves in the most varied ways imaginable on the

planet. This innate desire for a place to call our own extends beyond mere shelter; it

encompasses comfort, warmth, and security.

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Living in Various Places

Before someone builds their own home, they typically experience a variety of living situations. This helps clarify personal preferences and priorities. So if you are currently in a situation that is less than ideal, think of it as part of the learning curve for your dream home. For instance, if you buy a house to renovate, it’s a good idea to live in the house to better understand it, and often initial ideas change as a result.

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Where Do I Start?

Begin with a wish list! If your new home doesn’t reflect your true desires, what’s the point? While it may sound unrealistic to dream of extravagant features, it’s essential to explore what you genuinely want—beyond resale value or family expectations. This is where having an interrogator is useful - who knows the right questions to ask. And this is one of the roles of an architect. Being able to ask questions that get to the heart of what a client wants their home to feel like is a real skill. And it doesn’t have to be an architect -invite a friend to cross-examine you, as if they were trying to extract information from a spy!

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What Questions Should I Ask?

More important than the descriptions of room types, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, is how you want to feel in your home. This might feel woo-woo, but keep peeling away the layers of the onion. When you dig down into why you want a bright home, you may find that it’s because you always work beside a window wherever you are, that having light makes you feel more energised, in a better mood, better able to focus, being nicer to the people you deal with... Do this for everyone who will live in the house. Children might want a warm floor to play on. Grandparents would appreciate being comfortable while playing with their grandchildren. The family cat needs a flap to come and go as she pleases!

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Takeaway

See this stage of asking ‘Why?’ as a crucial step in getting to your dream home. Spend time on it, and enjoy letting your imagination run riot. A good designer will help you bring these ideas to life.

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