101 things Katie Hutchison Studio (KHS) has learned designing homes, Part five of ten

Brewster Long House: Welcome whimsy; express it in the details.See Part four of this series here.

41.  Design rooms that flow. (See House plans that flow.)

42.  Re-use and/or repurpose it. (See Common Sense Green.)

43.  Incorporate finish material, cabinetry, and/or trim which convey craftsmanship and the human spirit. (See Salem Antique: Kitchen Renovation.)

44.  Welcome whimsy; express it in the details. (See Brewster Long House, above.)

45.  Communicate clearly and frequently. Ask the same of your team.

46.  Allow other disciplines to inform your design.

47.  Consider a grey-water system.

48.  Bill homeowners bi-weekly.

49.  Specify adequate site drainage.

50.  Distill and celebrate complex order. (See Design snapshot: Shapely balustrade.)

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

101 things Katie Hutchison Studio (KHS) has learned designing homes, Part four of ten

Manchester Garage/Garden Room: Design rooms for multiple uses.See Part three of this series here.

31.  Modulate ceiling height and treatment. (See Primer: Third dimension.)

32.  Design rooms for multiple uses. (See Manchester Garage/Garden Room, above.)

33.  Build a team of knowledgeable specialists as consultants.

34.  Provide opportunities for prospect and refuge. (See Reading Review: House Thinking.)

35.  Where appropriate, arrange rooms “enfilade” (on axis toward a vista). (See House plans that flow.)

36.  Design big windows for small houses. (See Design snapshot: Small house, big windows.)

37.  The best projects are fun, and fun projects stem from fun homeowners.

38.  Use natural materials where possible.

39.  Frame thick walls to accommodate more/better insulation and to create deep interior window sills.

40.  Include a lookout so occupants can experience “peril” from the safety of their homes. (See Reading Review: House Thinking.)

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

101 things Katie Hutchison Studio (KHS) has learned designing homes, Part three of ten

Edgartown Dormer Renovation: Inhabit the roof with living spaces.See Part two of this series here.

21.  Maintain one person as the client contact for the duration of a project.

22.  A compound of smaller buildings is generally a better design solution than a single, larger building.

23.  Ground the building with first-floor porches, wings, and/or pergolas. (See Primer: Recipe for Architectural Charm.)

24.  Restore and re-use old, wood windows where possible. (See House Enthusiast posts about this here, here, and here.)

25.  Take advantage of a need for significant renovations to upgrade air sealing and insulation.

26.  Encourage homeowners to be decisive; don’t overwhelm them with options. (See The behavior economics of design.)

27.  Include KHS Construction Administration services for all project contracts that proceed beyond Schematic Design. (See Design Process.)

28.  Design legible massing. (See Primer: Recipe for Architectural Charm.)

29.  Frame a view; don’t over-expose it. (See Frame it to fathom it.)

30.  Inhabit the roof with living spaces. (See Edgartown Dormer Renovation, above, and dormer articles here, here, and here.)

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

101 things Katie Hutchison Studio (KHS) has learned designing homes, Part two of ten

Manchester Garage/Garden Room: Detach garages.See Part one of this series here.

11.  Design circulation through rooms, rather than halls, where possible. (See House plans that flow.)

12.  Use basements for storage and mechanical equipment, not living space (unless they're walk-out basements).

13.  Limit the number of steps from grade to the first floor. (See Entry-stoop design tips.)

14.  Listen to the story homeowners are telling with their wish list.

15.  At minimum, have a “Letter of Agreement” before beginning the design process.

16.  Detach garages. (See Manchester Garage/Garden Room, above.)

17.  Design in section and plan, simultaneously. (See Primer: Third Dimension.)

18.  Manage homeowners’ expectations.

19.  Create outdoor rooms via strategic placement of building wings, breezeways, and/or outbuildings. (See Primer: House Garden.)

20.  Design it smaller. (See Common Sense Green.)

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

101 things Katie Hutchison Studio (KHS) has learned designing homes, Part one of ten

Work with the natural site contours, not against them.Over the holidays, I gifted several books from the 101 Things I Learned series, which is created, edited and illustrated by Matthew Frederick. If you haven't heard of the series, it's worth a look. I find the books irresistible.

Inspired by Frederick's lead, I'm launching a new category with this post: 101 things KHS has learned. Here's the first of a ten-part series on what I've learned designing homes.

1.    Fully complete Pre-Design before beginning Schematic Design. (See Design Process.)

2.    Respect building/neighborhood context.

3.    When possible, work with the natural site contours, not against them. (See Common Sense Green, and West Tisbury House, above.)

4.    Protect the best part of the site from the scars of construction. (See Common Sense Green.)

5.    Balance lot coverage and open space.

6.    Orient buildings/additions to follow the sun. (See Common Sense Green.)

7.    Prepare KHS-generated existing condition drawings.

8.    Preserve historic character where possible.

9.    Clearly differentiate the main entrance from secondary entrances.

10.  Don’t be afraid to remove design blunders by others.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast