We had our first design meeting!

If you remember, we are building a new home! You can read that introduction post here. Gah!! Sometimes, I still cannot believe that is happening. I am beyond excited! And to add to the excitement, we had our first design meeting with our architect, Clayton Vance, a couple of Thursdays ago. In order to prepare for that meeting I had to send over what he called our “primary programmatic elements”, our wish list and our Pinterest inspiration board. Today I’m gonna share those with you.

A couple of things before we get started…

1. I’m looking forward to sharing this whole process with you as we go through it. We have never built a home from the ground up since remodeling is what we do and what we know. I feel like I will be learning as I go through this and sometimes I will not know what I am doing. I’m not the expert in this, but I hope that sharing this journey will allow you to learn from me and be inspired too.
2. This is our dream home and it’s something that we have worked really hard for to make possible. It feels vulnerable in a lot of ways to tell you all the things we want in a home when it comes to our wish list, etc. It’s going to be a large home and there are going to be some things that seem over the top to some people. Just know that my intention sharing this home is not to brag. I hope that you can share in our excitement even if it’s not something you would do in your own home. Haha!

our must haves

We were asked by our architect for our primary programmatic elements and when I saw that email, I kind of freaked out. What in the actual heck does that mean? I literally had no idea and a Google search did not help me. I finally had to swallow my pride and ask him what it meant. Turns out, I guessed it correctly and it was the must have rooms that we we want included in our floor plan.

main rooms:

-Kitchen -Butler’s Pantry (space for pantry storage, entertainment item storage, refrigerator and freezer, prep, etc) -Breakfast nook/Everyday dining area -Family room -Formal Dining room

bedrooms, bathrooms & offices

-Primary bedroom + ensuite bathroom + 2 large walk in closets -3 kids’ bedrooms + ensuite bathrooms + walk in closets -1 guest bedroom + ensuite bathroom + closet -2 home offices -Half bathroom/powder room -Pool and/or indoor court bathroom

utility spaces

-Laundry room -Mudroom -Home gym -4 car + garage (double deep on one side)

other spaces:

-Covered Patio off the back of the house -Indoor court (half court basketball/pickle ball court) -Bar area/room with wine/liquor storage -Fireplaces in the family room, primary bedroom and courtyard (would love this to connect to the dining room also) -Game room (above garage) to include:     -family tv space     -sleepover room (space for multiple beds/built-in bunks)     -game/dining table area     -space for pool/ping pong table     -kitchenette     -golf simulator room Can you guess what my favorite space is that we included in this list? The Butler’s Pantry. Storage is a huge issue in our current home and maybe even our last 2 homes. We need plenty of pantry space, but we also need storage for entertaining items, an extra refrigerator and freezer and even prep. The most shocking thing to you and maybe even to me on this list is the indoor basketball court. That is for sure the craziest item on this list, but Elmon really wants that included and considering the ages of our kids and how often they use our half court sport court, it makes sense. Plus, with an indoor court it really won’t matter if it’s hot or raining out, it can always be used. And if it’s neutral enough inside, it can double as event space if needed. Win, win.

our wish list

– Natural light – SO much natural light in as many rooms as possible and hallways too -12 foot plus ceilings throughout if possible -Vaults and interesting ceiling details in at least the family room, primary bedroom and dining room -Plenty of storage (especially in the mudroom, butler’s pantry, laundry room, closets) -Functional spaces for living and entertaining as well -Access to the exterior from family room and primary bedroom at a minimum -Courtyard with fireplace that connects to the dining room for indoor/outdoor entertainment space It’s a smaller list, but our must have list is so much longer and not super negotiable. So by default this list is smaller. However, to be honest most of these are really musts for us anyway.

Inspiration photos

Our Pinterest board is where I am saving all of the photos that are inspiring me for our new home. You can find that board here.

But I’m sharing some of my favorites with you for a few spaces.

exterior

via Studio Green via Moment Design via Kate Marker Interiors

living room

via Studio McGee via Studio McGee via Sean Anderson Designs

kitchen & butler’s pantty

via Unique Kitchens & Baths via Studio McGee

primary bedroom & bathroom

via Eye For Pretty via Studio McGee via Kate Marker Interiors via Studio McGee

backyard

via Su Casa Design via Luxe Interiors Design

Here are a couple more photos that have caught my eye!

A few more photos…

via Studio McGee via Whittney Parkinson Design

At our meeting last week, we were able to see a rough draft of a floor plan and some exterior and interior renderings. Can’t wait to share more about that meeting with you all!