Conveniences in a house build.

[im4cyclones]

A couple more thoughts...

1. Pour the driveway the width of the garage. Most contractors will just do the width of the door opening. Our first build had that and we couldn’t park two cars side by side outside if we can company, etc. Huge pain. We went wider this time and the cost increase was negligible but convenience was much improved.

2. If you aren’t sure about having a center dining light, they can still run the wiring there so you can add it later. Come to think of it, many layouts have a dining area that is a walkthrough between kitchen and family room. When the install lights, they will center in the room, not where the table will go. You need to think of where you will put your dining table so you can arrange lights based on that. Otherwise a center light may not be over the actual table.

 

[SayMyName]

I've seen it mentioned here a few times already, but I was under the impression that local codes pretty much forbid a floor drain in garages anymore, even if not connected to anything like storm or waste sewer. Too much potential for illegal dumping of liquids and other unwanted runoff.

Lot of other solid ideas already in here. I would second running as much wiring (of all types) that you can think of, while the walls are open. Maybe even conduit / junction boxes for future unknowns? I always seem to end up wanting another outlet / ethernet jack / coax cable connection exactly in the spot where none exists or can easily be added.

 

[DarkStar]

re #16 - If you get a fixed shower head and set it for the person who is over 6', the altitudinally challenged folks end up with a very diffuse spray by the time it reaches them. No bueno...
We went with an adjustable shower fixture when we redid our bathroom. Shower head has adjustable sprays, is on a snake, and is seated on a "rail" so you can adjust the height of the shower head up or down. I'm 5'1", spouse is around 5'10" now, and sons who visit are 6' to 6'1". Everyone can have the spray exactly where they want it.

Just go with something like this...

New Wonderful Photos: I Want A Rain Shower | Dream bathrooms, Bathroom shower design, Dream shower

Jun 28, 2013 - New Wonderful Photos: I Want A Rain Shower...

pin.it

Which brings up another suggestion. Search pintrest for ideas.

 

[clonebb]

When I do my new garage in the spring, it will have a nice "garage" sink with a big cleaning station, and a urinal.

Seems excessive since you could just pee in the sink.

 

[FallOf81]

So many terrific ideas in this thread that I can't add anything on the practical side. We moved 2 years ago and fell in love with a house some experienced people built a dozen years prior. Their 3rd build. When the owner showed me the garage under the garage, I was sold. Great to put all the crap you don't want in your main garage. I don't think it added a great deal of cost to the house but talk about value.

 

[TitanClone]

Another 1 if you have dogs that are mainly outdoors. A family member has a tunnel from his outdoor kennel that allows his hunting dogs access to a portion of the basement and garage so they can have a warm area to sleep in the winter.

 

[mramseyISU]

Don’t know how cold it is where you live since you said no basement but I moved into a house with in floor heat in the garage. It’s amazing.
I also second whoever said the sink in the garage.

 

[MisterO]

A couple nice additions that I’ve used on some of my builds that are fairly reasonable price wise:

1.Circulating hot water pump. This gives you instant hot water which is awesome on a cold winter morning.
2. Ice machine in your kitchen island. Awesome for those humid summers.
3. Foam insulation and insulate the garage too. This will cost a little more in the short-run but will pay for itself after a few years.
4. Granite/quartz countertops on all counter surfaces. You’ll be glad you did.
5. Consider adding wood beams- especially if you have areas where you have a vaulted ceiling such as the living room. Your trim guy can do these. It’ll take your rooms to the next level.

Good luck!
Are you subbing it out yourself or are you hiring a builder?

 

[jcisuclones]

We put our microwave in our island and I hate it. It is so low that I have to kneel to see the buttons. But the wife wanted a hood over the range. In our next house, we are looking at options. If any of you have design ideas, let me know.

We are also looking at two dishwashers with cabinet fronts. We run the dishwasher but don’t always have the time to unload it so dishes pile up in the sink. Two dishwashers so one is empty. Yes, it is an extravagance and, yes, first world problems. But it will be awesome.

I have a friend who's parents have a (massive) cabin outside of Estes Park, and they have two small dishwashers instead of just one big one in their kitchen. It seemed excessive when I saw it on the first day I stayed there, but as the week went by the more I realized how convenient it was. Didn't have to wait for an entire regular sized dishwasher to get full before it could be ran.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

This man's house is gonna be $900,000 with all these features

 

[cyphoon]

• Range hood that vents to the outside.
• Gas range
• 2x6 frame construction
• Radiant floor heat
• under cabinet lighting in the kitchen
• Whole house surge protection
• Mud room
• Uber garage space
• Have the builder run a fat piece of empty conduit from the basement to the attic. Who knows what wired tech will hit in the future
• Make sure every plumbing "circuit" has quality shutoff valves
• Kick ass utility sink with a gooseneck faucet
• Put a couple outlets in the attic. They come in handy if you ever need to get up there.
• If you have a retaining wall built anywhere, use quality stone from an experienced builder. These are not much fun to redo.
• wine fridge, wine rack, and f*ck it, a tornado shelter that doubles as a wine cellar
• Obtain complete and final blue prints for your house

 

[BCClone]

One house I saw had a glasses in sun room with a hot rub, sauna, small exercise space. Basically a little love shack to get your kink on with easy clean up. Looked cool.

 

[NWICY]

Built in speaker system throughout the house so someone taking a shower can turn to whatever station they like while someone in the kitchen has it on something else. As someone mentioned plan for TVs with outlets and if planning to have a projector plan a hidden area for it with cables wired through the walls to a closet or utility room. Washer/Dryer room on the floor with the most bedrooms. Deck that walkout from the kitchen so the grill is close. Heated cement floors in the basement, especially if it's a walkout. Lightly tented windows where there will be a lot of son exposure. Heater for the garage if planning to spend alot of time out there on cold months(this is an easy add on after the fact tho). Make sure the stairs aren't made with an even slightly slippery material, I have to walk up the stairs a friemds house like I'm 90 years old. If the basement is big enough a bar with a TV or 2 behind it, great for gatherings when multiple games are worth watching.

No, I don't have any of this yet. Pretty stolen ideas from older relative have built new houses over the past decade.

Oh and outlets with USB ports in strategic areas (bar, kitchen counters, floor below furniture)

Do you know what type of flooring is at your friend's house that is so slick on the stairs?

 

[cowgirl836]

I will say we have under and over cabinet lighting and rarely use.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Do you know what type of flooring is at your friend's house that is so slick on the stairs?

I've been in a few houses where stained/glossed hardwood is just slick as **** when you're in socks. Had a cousin break their collarbone falling down the stairs at my uncles house that way. The next gathering at that house he installed carpet runners down the middle of the stairs

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I will say we have under and over cabinet lighting and rarely use.

My apartment has under lighting and I've found the only time I like to use it is when I want the kitchen dark but not pitch black. So I turn off all the lights except the led strip of under lights. Changes the ambiance a bit and gives just enough light to know what you're doing but not blind you. It's usually what I have at night when I go to bed

 

[cowgirl836]

My apartment has under lighting and I've found the only time I like to use it is when I want the kitchen dark but not pitch black. So I turn off all the lights except the led strip of under lights. Changes the ambiance a bit and gives just enough light to know what you're doing but not blind you. It's usually what I have at night when I go to bed

Yeah we probably just don't have use for it with how we use that area. We could use a dimmer for living room though. That's more what gets used late at night and is too bright

 

[MLawrence]

This man's house is gonna be $900,000 with all these features

Dat resale value doe

 

[baller21]

Yeah we probably just don't have use for it with how we use that area. We could use a dimmer for living room though. That's more what gets used late at night and is too bright

If you have a smart home system you can add a smart bulb to any light fixture that will dim. We have one in our kitchen that’s open to the living room and an echo show. Just have to tell alexa to dim by whatever percent you want it at. We love it and plan on adding more.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

If your forever home think about extra wide hallways and doors to accomodate a wheelchair.