Daily Real Estate News  |  September 10, 2007  |   In Design, Don't Underestimate Importance of Flow
If the home won't sell, the owners may be dealing with a problem in design flow.

Lee Golanoski, an architect and director of design for Toll Brothers Inc., one of the country’s largest luxury home builders, says flow is a crucial element for anyone building, remodeling, or buying a home. To ensure a great flow, follow his tips:

• Separate public from private. A good floor plan divides public spaces (dining room, living room, entry and office) from private spaces (kitchen, family room, bedrooms.) People want to feel they can bring someone into their living room without having them see a messy kitchen or an unmade bed.

• Keep resale in mind. Don't design a space so unique no one else wants it. That means no sunken hot tubs in the living room.

• Consider the path through the house. What you have to go through to get somewhere else matters. One common flow flaw is having the stairway to the basement start in the utility room. People who turn the basement into a rec room don’t want to walk through the laundry to get there.

• Figure in furniture. Draw furniture into the floor plan to locate windowsill heights, fireplace, closets, and how the doors will swing. This kind of planning protects you from having a bedroom with no place for a bed.

• Know what must go where. Today, kitchens must open onto breakfast nooks and family rooms. Living rooms and dining rooms should adjoin. Although a small powder room off the mudroom is OK, don't put a bathroom directly off the kitchen. That's funky.

Source: The News & Observer, Marni Jameson (09/01/2007)

Get more design news and tips in REALTORŪ Magazine Online's Architecture Guide.