Layout and Design of My

Layout and Design of My Ideal House

Location and Exterior Layout

My ideal house would be located in a relatively warm climate, preferably in a region with relatively dry air rather than humid air. On the other hand, I have always appreciated the seasonal weather changes; therefore, Northern California might be suitable because summers are hot but dry and there is sufficient seasonal variation during the rest of the year without the chill of other parts of the country.

An exterior in-ground pool would be nice directly behind the house and overlooking the back yard. Access to the pool and back yard from the house would be a sliding glass door in the kitchen area. Ideally, I would plant high enough shrubs around the entire perimeter of the back yard and pool areas to afford privacy and I would surround the pool with a complete screen enclosure of the type popular in Central Florida to provide protection from flying insects. In my experience, these types of screens also provide moderate but not complete sun protection which would allow me to enjoy the sun and even get a tan with less risk of overexposure without having to apply sun block protection constantly.

Interior Layout and Design

I have a habit of eating standing up and I also tend to watch television from the kitchen; therefore, a large, well-equipped central island is more important to me than a traditional informal kitchen breakfast area. Likewise, I would install a small television and a computer terminal in the kitchen area somewhere close to the central island. The family room would be adjacent to the back yard and pool area separated by a large sliding glass door. Instead of traditional curtains, I would install photoelectric glass capable of being turned darker and completely opaque or lighter and completely transparent at the touch of a switch. The formal living room would be in the front of the house with a stairway area separating it from the kitchen and family room.

I would decorate the main floor in a manner that is somewhat modern but I would stay away from anything trendy that could become outdated. In general, color and textural coordination is more important to me than adhering to any of the specific interior design styles per se. To the extent I chose to express any specific thematic decor, I would include a modern high-tech treatment featuring metallic treatments and accents throughout the home. The upstairs bedrooms would match the overall tone of the main floor. Because I like to walk around barefoot, I would carpet the entire home except for the kitchen floor. Strictly for practical considerations such as wear and tear or accidental spills, I might not carpet the family room but use a large color-coordinated area rug that could be easily replaced instead.

Functional Considerations