Design Process

 The design approval for our house was an interesting process. We had to be approved by the developer, and he didn't like the first option our builder submitted. We planned a month for this process and it took the entire month! The developer wasn't crazy about how much roof was seen from the front (it was a hesitation of mine too). 

I will be honest, I didn't realize exactly how much we could change. We decided on our builder because they had done a house like the one we are building, so it helped keep the cost down instead of going fully custom on the design and layout. They made some changes to make it different, which included centering the front porch instead of placing it to one side. We also enlarged the footprint of it some to meet the 1700 sq feet minimum to build on a standard lot in the development, and we also swung the garage to the side, versus being in the back as it was on the initial house (it sits on a new urban lot, where all garages sit behind the house with alley access). Also, the initial house only had half the upper 1/2 story finished, we ended up raising the trusses and finishing the full length of the house. 

The builder and developer would meet and come up with an idea and send it to us, we didn't like it and felt like we weren't being heard. So finally asked for us ALL to meet.

First Submission

Developer suggests 'faux' dormers! I did not like them at all! I felt it was going away from the look of a traditional Arts & Crafts style.

Next was this idea, which I really like the idea of switching the garage roof line...its actually what I wanted all along, but didn't think you could just do that! Developer still wasn't happy with this.

Next option our builder and developer came up with and the point where Shane and I had decided to take design into our own hands!

 Shane and I scheduled a time to meet with our builder and developer and then spent a Saturday morning searching the internet for pictures of craftsman bungalows and sketching on paper. We really had to figure out what 'we' wanted and envisioned for this house. I finally found 2 houses I really liked and drew a rough sketch, then Shane drew a better one (he is better at it then me!)

Sketch Shane drew and we took to our meeting.

Ended up the developer was unable to make the meeting, crazy I know! But we had our builder draw up 'our' idea, we approved it and it was sent to the developer and guess what? He LOVED it!

Our Arts & Crafts Bungalow!

We actually ended up flipping the house after the lot was surveyed, one end was 4ft higher than the other. So the garage now sits on the right.

So the best part to all of that process was it was NO additional cost for us to make these changes since the developer required them in order to approve the design! It was a huge blessing and I am sooo excited about this design. I think there is no comparison in the first picture to the last in the character of the house! Plus, that added space from the new dormer on the front of the house, added a 10X9 room (I insisted on the ability to be able to wash those windows! We will finish it and turn it into a unique 'play' space for the girls! God is good and full of fun surprises!