DefinING your own sense of home

a note from bill

definING your own sense of home

 “Always remember that you are absolutely unique—just like everyone else.” This quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead seems like a truth we can all agree on. Design especially fosters the expression of that uniqueness; for many, it acts as an outlet for individualism. Certain architects—if they know what to look for—can harness originality to use as a helpful tool, like how I seek to understand the unique traits of each of my clients to create a design that accurately reflects how they live, in the best possible way.

I believe the majority of us do have a vision for our dream home, but those visions tend to remain ambiguous until the time comes to begin making it a reality. When the design process starts, I notice many of my clients woefully underestimating just how many design choices are required in a project and subsequently suffering from “analysis paralysis”. To those of us that have found ourselves in the throes of analysis paralysis, and to those that fear falling into it in the future, I say: don’t worry—this is where Define Your Own Sense of Home™ comes in. Wherever you are in the process—from nine percent to ninety-nine percent realized—I promise that the following steps will create clarity because they not only help you in discovering what you want but also why it matters to you.

We employ two main exercises to help you Define Your Own Sense of Home™: the Lifestyle Questionnaire and the Wish List. The Lifestyle Questionnaire surveys your day-to-day habits, stylistic preferences, and your project readiness; the goal is to organize your needs clearly, so you have a strong foundation in place and can start your project on the right foot. If the Lifestyle Questionnaire is the foundation, then our Wish List acts as the framework. Our Wish List is not just a bulleted list of what design features you like; it delves into the value you attach to each choice and why you value certain features more than others. For example, if you prefer to wake later than your spouse does, you might find yourself valuing a design that reconfigures your bathroom door further from the bed, so the bathroom's noise and light stop waking you up earlier.

​Now, I shouldn’t present the entirety of the Studio21 Architects’ Lifestyle Questionnaire, but I can still point you in the right direction! On the right, I have noted some of the broader, yet crucial, considerations one should think about when envisioning their dream home. Embrace your individuality by understanding it, and then you will be on your way to Exceptional Design Where You Wouldn't Change A Thing.

---

4 ways to define your own sense of home

1. reflect on your routines

​We use our homes virtually every day, and your dream home should fit seamlessly into your normal routines. Go through the steps of your average day to learn what design choices will improve your days. Do you prefer having dinner at the dining table or the kitchen island? How often do you entertain? How does entertaining look for the family?

2. list out your loves

By “loves”, I mean the things you love to do and bring you enjoyment. Take account of hobbies that you have; are there any design features that you don’t necessarily need but would be well-loved? I personally love cars and racing, so my definition of home includes a large garage that can accommodate all of my hobbies.

3. Rate what you hate

We all have them! Think about your home and your routine—what parts bother you? We want to change those bothersome aspects and knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do, whether it’s styles you find loathsome or features you don’t like.

4. specify your style

​Aesthetics play a huge role in the work to Define Your Own Sense of Home™. It's always helpful to create an idea book to organize your ideas. Sites like Houzz and Pinterest are a treasure trove of photos for exactly this purpose. As they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words"!

and remember...

Designing your custom home should be fun and exciting; my only caution is to allow enough time to do it right.

---

All the Best, 

---

written by: bill styczynski

Bill Styczynski is the president of Studio21 Architects, as well as an architect in his own right. Every month, Bill writes an article for the Studio Pages newsletter about design topics that he believes will be informative, helpful reads for all of our clients, established and potential.