Charter Group is famous for their Great Room / Kitchen floorplans.

It Just Feels Right

Have you ever walked through someone’s home and gotten the sense that everything just feels right, yet you’re uncertain why it feels that way? It’s true, some homeowners just know how to buy furniture, place window dressings and position each and every accessory in the perfect spot. But the fact remains that if the living, working, bath and sleeping areas within a home do not interact properly, no amount of expensive decor will give a home the friendly, functional feel that will create the harmonious environment so important for you and your family.

Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics, seems a bit mystical to me, but there is one aspect that makes sense. According to this age-old philosophy, the placement of everything from the front door to the toilet plays a part in our overall well being. In other words, the layout and flow of the house affects the positive energy within it, and as we try to raise happy and healthy families, a well thought-out floor plan is a great way to begin.

The Kitchen, The Hub of the Home

For many of today’s families, the kitchen is the hub of the home—a work area, social area and primary space of family interaction. Open planning enables a kitchen to fulfill all those roles, but it requires careful design to include sufficient storage, work areas and clearances for functional purposes.

I personally like homes in which my family can hang out within view of the kitchen, especially when someone is making a meal. We have found that our kids like to be around us more when we are cooking, partially because it’s fun for them to watch us work on their behalf, but mostly because they are always hungry and the food in the oven smells so good.

More importantly, we’ve found that when we’re busy doing something, like cooking or baking, our kids become more communicative. It’s as if the pressure is off to “tell us about their day” and they can just be themselves. Anyone who has tweenies or teenagers knows how important this is. A home layout that facilitates communication is your best friend when it comes to raising healthy and happy children and is key to a good marriage, as well.

Quiet Time is a Must

A family-friendly, functional and adaptable floor plan will give you and your family room to breathe, room to work, room to play and the potential to expand. Adaptable spaces reduce waste and can save time and trouble. A floor plan with enclosed, single-purpose rooms is far less adaptable to changing household needs, sizes and functions than is an open-space plan.

But let’s not forget about privacy and the need to have a place to go to think, read a good book or get away from the daily hubbub. What are the best places to do homework, pay bills, use a computer, watch TV, etc.? A flexible space where family members can spend quiet time or perform tasks that require some concentration must also be available, and this space should not be located too close to the core family living area. Consider sound privacy in space arrangements. Try to arrange closets as sound buffers, or add sound-reduction insulation between quiet and noisy rooms.

At Some Point, You’ll Need More Storage Than You Need Right Now

And storage! There can never be enough storage space! Planning for adequate storage in each room reduces clutter and makes rooms seem larger. Evaluate both your current and future needs and provide for both. Include counter and cabinet space at the family entrance for recharging electronics, mail, shoes, coats, sports gear, backpacks, purses, etc. Include outdoor storage and security plans for outdoor items during a storm and for security.

The Grid is Everything

Traffic flow, or the patterns of movement throughout the house, is critical as well. Will traffic paths interfere with activities or furniture? Is it more convenient for you to tend laundry near the bedrooms or the kitchen? In a two-story home, consider having at least one bedroom and the master bedroom on the same level. This makes the home more adaptable to changing needs and creates less of a burden when care-giving is needed (for a young child, aging parent, injured family member, etc.)

Also, when shopping for a new home, make sure the bathrooms are not afterthoughts, and are placed within discreet distance of any gathering areas in the house. Don’t make do. Make sure your new home has a place for each individual, and a place for everyone! Even the dog!

My next blog will be about built-ins, including cabinetry, shelving, pet areas, bath vanities, and home entertainment centers. Learn how to make sure your family will LOVE being home.

Tell us what you think makes for a harmonious floor plan, leave a comment below.

All the Best,
Steve Rodgers
Charter Group

Meridian Ridge Home

1. It’s NEW!
   • No one else has ever lived in it before, so everything is clean and brand new. Be the first to soak in your luxurious tub or cook in your new stainless steel oven.
   • No need to worry about expensive repairs or replacements of out-of-date, damaged or worn materials.
2. Contemporary Floor Plans
   • Designs evolve. Old, obsolete homes may not address the way people live today. New homes have floor plans designed to facilitate interaction with family and friends.
   • Take advantage of state-of-the-art kitchens, bathrooms with double vanities, ample storage space, and large family rooms open to the kitchen, features which often are lacking in used housing.
3. Customize Your Home
   • Build your home to order. You help design your own living environment, just the way you want it.
   • Personalize your home by selecting your own colors, finishes, cabinetry, flooring and features
4. Quality Built By Someone You Can Trust
   • You can check out a builder’s reputation before choosing to work with him/her.
   • Develop a personal relationship with the professional responsible for building your home. Become part of the team that will create your future residence.
5. Safer And Healthier
   • Wiring systems are up-to-date. Hazardous materials, such as asbestos, formaldehyde and lead, have been eliminated from new home building products.
   • New homes must conform with the newest and safest building codes and regulations.
6. Energy Efficient & Technologically Current
   • Energy efficient windows.
   • Better insulation technologies.
   • Better control of air infiltration, resulting in healthier indoor air quality.
   • Modern heating & cooling system.
   • Latest appliances and features.
   • Take full advantage of the latest communication, security, home office and entertainment technologies. New homes accommodate electrical needs that didn’t exist just a few, short years ago.
7. Less Expensive To Maintain
   • Home comes with warranties you don’t receive when buying a used home, including direct manufacturers’ warranties on new appliances, products and systems.
   • No old parts or appliances to fix.
   • Monthly operating costs are less due to improved technologies. This can mean big savings on utility bills.
   • New building products are more durable and require less maintenance.
   • Frequently, the money saved on a used home is quickly offset by lower maintenance and efficiency costs.
8. Neighborhood Bonds
   • Make friends quickly. Everyone in your new neighborhood just moved in, so it’s easy to establish new and lasting friendships.
9. Pride
   • Pride in the ownership of your new home, one you helped design and which expresses your lifestyle and taste.
10. Financial Advantages
    • Build home equity.
    • Roll the cost of upgrades into your mortgage and pay over time. When renovating a used home, you need to pay cash, or take out a home improvement loan at a higher interest rate.
    • Newer homes usually have a higher resale value.

2010 Builders Show was packed with visitors from all over.

The Charter Group management team returned from the 2010 International Builders’ Show a little over a month ago, having weathered four days in a cold and rain-drenched Las Vegas. And we thought we were going to the desert!

We were joined by approximately 55,000 industry professionals and were treated to an awesome trade show which featured the latest products, designs, and technologies displayed by hundreds of companies from around the country and the world. Trends included high-tech kitchens (with touchscreen systems that offer cooking tips, measurement conversions, and more), a widening array of colors in many products and, of course, a large number of ever-more-efficient products and systems.

Builders and remodelers also attended educational presentations on design trends, energy retrofitting, marketing, low-income housing tax credits and more than 175 other topics. And the general mood appeared to be one of cautious optimism. Numerous suppliers were reporting recent increases in orders, and according to the most recent National Association of Homebuilders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index, nationwide housing affordability, bolstered by low interest rates and low house prices, was near its highest level since the series was first compiled 18 years ago. Additionally, the number of unsold homes on the market continues to shrink. New home inventory is at its lowest level in more than 14 years. While sales activity remains a concern, lower levels of inventory will help the new home market stabilize sooner.

In the coming weeks, our blog will focus on some of these new products and trends. What changes do you see in the marketplace? What new products interest you? There are many, many exciting new ideas, technologies and materials available out there. Which of these excites you?