We looked at hundreds of designs in books and online and found nothing that was close enough to what we wanted.  We were looking for something that we would want to live in as we watched our children and, hopefully, eventually our grandchildren grow up.

Finally, we decided to hire a designer to take the ideas we had and put them together in a plan that was perfect for us.  It would be expensive, but we figured it would be money well spent in the long run.

After making up a list (6 pages…) of things that we needed, wanted, and hoped for, we asked for quotes from a few designers and architects and then interviewed the ones we thought we could work with.  In the end, we decided to hire Michael from Riversong Designs and we have been very happy with the results.

I made a rough flow diagram of how I wanted our house to accommodate our activities.

It is important to me that the function and flow of the spaces in the house are efficient, flexible, and practical.  A large and accessible mud room was a requirement as well a bathroom that was close enough to the door not to have to worry about trekking across the house with muddy boots for a quick break indoors.  We wanted the kitchen to be the heart of our home and to have at least one bedroom on the main floor to accommodate anyone with limited mobility.  I also hoped to have an office/homework room as well as an entry that our guests could walk in without having to kick boots and mitts and backpacks aside…