We put it in when we remodeled our kitchen about 10 years ago, we use it daily, saves energy and its on more than the main light.
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Conveniences in a house build.
- Thread starter keepngoal
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The under cabinets lights is about all my wife uses. Gives as much light as anything else we have.
This may seem dumb, but a light switch right beside your bed. First saw this in houses in Europe and had it put into my master bedroom.
100% do this. No more racing the monsters across the room to your bed.
Also good for reading, middle of the night children stuff.
We don't but we know we can add the dimmer piece easily, just haven't bothered to yet
You have never been a short woman with long, thick hair. That shower is the stuff of nightmares for me.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
In regards to the garage drains, put one under EACH vehicle stall, not just one in the middle of garage. Valuable especially during this time of year when crap melts off, it will drain under each vehicle instead of onto areas between vehicles where you walk.
This brings up another great situation.
If you are into woodwork or such. Have the shop under the garage. Sound proof wall to basement. Saw this in a house - it was awesome. Plan plenty of outlets and air lines if required.
If you're tall then I'd recommend making sure your bathroom vanities are tall. I don't know the standard but it's so much nicer.
Ceilings in the basement over standard height too.
Avoid any type of turn on your basement stairs.
Large closets in all bedrooms.
Avoid composite (the cheap crap) cabinets. Whatever the stuff is you can't refinish.
Don't put side light windows around your entry door. Ours are old and just let in cold air and if I replace I'll have to pay more to get another door (with side lights) to fit the opening. Plus they aren't secure and easy to break in.
Talk with your drywaller and make sure he knows what to do to keep the corner seams from failing.
Put in more than enough vents for the HVAC system.
Ceilings in the basement over standard height too.
Avoid any type of turn on your basement stairs.
Large closets in all bedrooms.
Avoid composite (the cheap crap) cabinets. Whatever the stuff is you can't refinish.
Don't put side light windows around your entry door. Ours are old and just let in cold air and if I replace I'll have to pay more to get another door (with side lights) to fit the opening. Plus they aren't secure and easy to break in.
Talk with your drywaller and make sure he knows what to do to keep the corner seams from failing.
Put in more than enough vents for the HVAC system.
we didn't build our house but I have done quite a bit to it and I did a bunch of a/v wiring when my parents built there house several years ago.
It's hard to have too many lights. We have several rooms with groups of lights on different switches. Would also pay attention to exterior lighting and permanent night lights in stairways, hallways and bathrooms.
same can be said for outlets. I have added outlets in our kitchen island, cabinets (both kitchen and office), pantry and have even put one in a floor. Outside outlets on each side of the house as well. I would put at least one 220 outlet in the garage. Where we put our Christmas tree has a switched outlet which is nice.
many have mentioned several water spigots on the outside and in garage, consider one that has hot water as well.
Extra a/v wires to a lot of rooms with a dedicated a/v closet. Big conduit from closet to attic as well.
been said many times but garage size makes a difference, not just footprint but height. 9' or 18' wide doors. We have 9' tall doors with 8' openers, can get the extra foot if you pull the latch. I would consider French drains.
I wouldn't have drywall anywhere near a shower or tub including above.
We have a large mudroom with enough space for fridge and freezer. It has 10' of counter space with a double utility sink and single utility sink built into the counter that can be covered up. You can attach a hose to the faucet. My wife pots plants there. Also have a large walk in coat closet.
a central vacuum, not for the vacuum itself but for the toe kick ports. I would have one of those in any room with hard floors and at least 2 in the kitchen.
insulation on interior walls is a good idea and also inbetween floors. Not using hollowcore doors helps as well. If I built a house I would go even further and decouple the walls on a few rooms.
I know of someone who had a cubby in their walk in closet for a kuerig.
It's hard to have too many lights. We have several rooms with groups of lights on different switches. Would also pay attention to exterior lighting and permanent night lights in stairways, hallways and bathrooms.
same can be said for outlets. I have added outlets in our kitchen island, cabinets (both kitchen and office), pantry and have even put one in a floor. Outside outlets on each side of the house as well. I would put at least one 220 outlet in the garage. Where we put our Christmas tree has a switched outlet which is nice.
many have mentioned several water spigots on the outside and in garage, consider one that has hot water as well.
Extra a/v wires to a lot of rooms with a dedicated a/v closet. Big conduit from closet to attic as well.
been said many times but garage size makes a difference, not just footprint but height. 9' or 18' wide doors. We have 9' tall doors with 8' openers, can get the extra foot if you pull the latch. I would consider French drains.
I wouldn't have drywall anywhere near a shower or tub including above.
We have a large mudroom with enough space for fridge and freezer. It has 10' of counter space with a double utility sink and single utility sink built into the counter that can be covered up. You can attach a hose to the faucet. My wife pots plants there. Also have a large walk in coat closet.
a central vacuum, not for the vacuum itself but for the toe kick ports. I would have one of those in any room with hard floors and at least 2 in the kitchen.
insulation on interior walls is a good idea and also inbetween floors. Not using hollowcore doors helps as well. If I built a house I would go even further and decouple the walls on a few rooms.
I know of someone who had a cubby in their walk in closet for a kuerig.
My parents put in a wall oven with the microwave above that. The oven is higher than when it's with the stove and the microwave is a little lower than when it's above the stove.
One thing to make it like other houses, gotta have one light switch that you have no clue what it does. We still have one that after 17.5 years, we are clueless about.
It's laminate or wood, not sure. I think it was just finished incorrectly.
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Okay this made me laugh, we are temparorily in a apartment/condo thing.
There is a light switch we didn't know what it was for, but after a day we learned it was for the dishwasher. w.t.f.?
- Jun 20, 2006
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These are fantastic tips, and I have started a list of things we know we will want from your suggestions. Thank you CF, truly the best.
What are some the tech conveniences (a/v to automation to appliances) that are good ideas? At our last house I installed control able light and fan switches for the bedroom from an app, and LOVED that.
What are some the tech conveniences (a/v to automation to appliances) that are good ideas? At our last house I installed control able light and fan switches for the bedroom from an app, and LOVED that.
If you are thinking about security cameras put a cat cable and power to each spot you want one placed.
A few:
- In the laundry room, make sure there is a hanging rack over the washer/dryer, and a table for folding - if you have a side-by-side, do it over the top of them and have it go back to the wall. It is so much easier to do it as it comes out of the dryer, and nothing falls down behind.
- We don't have enough outlets in our garage, especially close to the front of the garage so that Janny can take his smoker outside easily. I also wish we had better outlet placement on our front porch, behind the pillars.
- I guess outlets are really on my mind. Get Cat5 cabling everywhere, get some built-in USB ports in the outlets. As someone else already mentioned, stop some in drawers and such where you'll charge devices.
- I am not the cook, but I hate clutter. I cannot stress enough how nice a big, big pantry is - not only for storing food, but also the random cooking appliances your spouse buys and then doesn't use. A lot of them have crept into my hallway linen closet, which sort of defeats the point of a hallway linen closet.
- Let's talk linen closets. They are a delight. We have one inside our master bath, another one in the hallway outside our bedroom, one across the house by the kids' bathroom, and one in the basement by that bathroom. Having one for each bathroom +1 extra is awesome (when it's not filled with InstaPots). In that extra one, you can put community medicines (cold meds, ibuprofen, etc.), spare sheet sets, cleaning supplies that are for the whole household. It's invaluable.
- Get light sensor lights in your stairway. I wish we had them - my parents do, and they're great. No need to turn on the light and alert the house. I bet the teens would LOVE this.
- In the laundry room, make sure there is a hanging rack over the washer/dryer, and a table for folding - if you have a side-by-side, do it over the top of them and have it go back to the wall. It is so much easier to do it as it comes out of the dryer, and nothing falls down behind.
- We don't have enough outlets in our garage, especially close to the front of the garage so that Janny can take his smoker outside easily. I also wish we had better outlet placement on our front porch, behind the pillars.
- I guess outlets are really on my mind. Get Cat5 cabling everywhere, get some built-in USB ports in the outlets. As someone else already mentioned, stop some in drawers and such where you'll charge devices.
- I am not the cook, but I hate clutter. I cannot stress enough how nice a big, big pantry is - not only for storing food, but also the random cooking appliances your spouse buys and then doesn't use. A lot of them have crept into my hallway linen closet, which sort of defeats the point of a hallway linen closet.
- Let's talk linen closets. They are a delight. We have one inside our master bath, another one in the hallway outside our bedroom, one across the house by the kids' bathroom, and one in the basement by that bathroom. Having one for each bathroom +1 extra is awesome (when it's not filled with InstaPots). In that extra one, you can put community medicines (cold meds, ibuprofen, etc.), spare sheet sets, cleaning supplies that are for the whole household. It's invaluable.
- Get light sensor lights in your stairway. I wish we had them - my parents do, and they're great. No need to turn on the light and alert the house. I bet the teens would LOVE this.
Maybe some of these have been touched on but here are my thoughts based on experience with a purchased home and what my parents did when they built about 12 years ago.
When my parents built their house they put in a central vacuum system. Base unit is in a closet in the garage. The suction power those have is incredible. Something to consider. Not too expensive to install, especially in new construction. Do need to store the hose and accessories which can be bulky.
If I were to build a house, I would 100% not dig a basement. I have had nothing but problems with water seaping through the foundation with heavy rains. In my brothers new house the solder to the hose spigot failed and water leaked into his finished basement. For storm shelter have a closet or shower poured from concrete when they do your founation.
If you have the resources home theaters are fun. Can have a drop down screen installed to come out of the ceiling.
Heated floors are wonderful especially in the bathroom.
Simple roof too. The more transitions on a roof the more places water has to find a way in. Might not be an issue right away but down the road issues are more likely to arise. Also if you ever need to reshingle your home, the roofers will appreciate this.
Run a gas line to your porch if you have a gas grill. Its nice to not have to replace/refill small tanks.
I like the light switch by the bed idea but this also virtually eliminates the ability to rearrange your bedroom furniture if that is something you do.
My parents ran electrical wire under the floor in the living room. Haven't installed any outlets, but that option is there if they ever decide to. Now that furniture has USB ports in them and electric reclining, it would be nice to be able to plug these things in directly underneath them. Especially if its in the middle of a room.
When my parents built their house they put in a central vacuum system. Base unit is in a closet in the garage. The suction power those have is incredible. Something to consider. Not too expensive to install, especially in new construction. Do need to store the hose and accessories which can be bulky.
If I were to build a house, I would 100% not dig a basement. I have had nothing but problems with water seaping through the foundation with heavy rains. In my brothers new house the solder to the hose spigot failed and water leaked into his finished basement. For storm shelter have a closet or shower poured from concrete when they do your founation.
If you have the resources home theaters are fun. Can have a drop down screen installed to come out of the ceiling.
Heated floors are wonderful especially in the bathroom.
Simple roof too. The more transitions on a roof the more places water has to find a way in. Might not be an issue right away but down the road issues are more likely to arise. Also if you ever need to reshingle your home, the roofers will appreciate this.
Run a gas line to your porch if you have a gas grill. Its nice to not have to replace/refill small tanks.
I like the light switch by the bed idea but this also virtually eliminates the ability to rearrange your bedroom furniture if that is something you do.
My parents ran electrical wire under the floor in the living room. Haven't installed any outlets, but that option is there if they ever decide to. Now that furniture has USB ports in them and electric reclining, it would be nice to be able to plug these things in directly underneath them. Especially if its in the middle of a room.
"Smart" things that I have found most useful:
Wifi-connected garage door opener - can be used to let people in if you're not home and can send alerts if door is left open (we have a problem with the latter).
Motion sensor switch and dimmer for toilet closet in master bathroom - having to turn off a switch with dirty hands grossed me out so we put in a motion sensor which will turn off after a minute with no motion. It also has dimmer buttons so it's not blinding at night and several timer options for automatically turning the vent fan off.
Programmable front porch lights - several ways to tackle this one. Previous house had one switch for the light which we installed a smart switch for and programmed in the app. Current house has 4 lights on 3 switches so we recently bought smart bulbs and programmed through the app. The bulbs were definitely more of a pain to set up but wanting to have them all controlled together was better in the long run.
Wifi-connected garage door opener - can be used to let people in if you're not home and can send alerts if door is left open (we have a problem with the latter).
Motion sensor switch and dimmer for toilet closet in master bathroom - having to turn off a switch with dirty hands grossed me out so we put in a motion sensor which will turn off after a minute with no motion. It also has dimmer buttons so it's not blinding at night and several timer options for automatically turning the vent fan off.
Programmable front porch lights - several ways to tackle this one. Previous house had one switch for the light which we installed a smart switch for and programmed in the app. Current house has 4 lights on 3 switches so we recently bought smart bulbs and programmed through the app. The bulbs were definitely more of a pain to set up but wanting to have them all controlled together was better in the long run.
