caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,667 
Location: So Cal
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Post by caangel on Apr 26, 2016 2:34:42 GMT
Something I haven't seen mentioned yet... dimmer switches every where possible!
Walk in closets/lots of storage- the kids and I each have our own. DH has a long wall closet. We have 2 extra rooms and they each have 1 wall that is all closet.
Wide drawers- by chance we have wide drawers in both the kitchen and the master bathroom. I love it! So much better than lots of little drawers.
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fitzy
Full Member
Posts: 227
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:04 GMT
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Post by fitzy on Apr 26, 2016 2:44:54 GMT
Not really much to add. Lots of great input here.
Candles in the windows are popular for Xmas here in NC. All front facing windows in my house have an outlet below them that connects to one switch at the front of the house. Easy to turn them on or off all at once.
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Apr 26, 2016 2:50:05 GMT
There are 3 things that are a must have beyond the normal stuff.
1. an exhaust fan in the laundry room.
2. If you have walls that don't go all the way tot he ceiling or have plant shelves on top of walls put in an outlet up there with a light switch on the wall. then put rope lights or Christmas lights up there.
3. adjustable shelves in the pantry and a pantry large enough to storage large items and cases of cans.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,787
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Apr 26, 2016 3:02:21 GMT
Oh! If you have cats, put in a cabinet that you can put the litter box in. We took one of the doors off our cabinet in the laundry room and put the box in there. Below the box, we have a kick sweep thing for our central vac. Kick the door to the sweep open with your toes and sweep and litter on the floor into it then kick it closed. Love it!
You might also consider putting in a cat sized door to the laundry room so they can go in and out even if the door is closed.
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Post by stacy71 on Apr 26, 2016 4:08:03 GMT
We have built 3 times. Dig out under the garage, great tornado shelter all cement. Makes a great movie theater or extra storage. Extra lights everywhere. Go at night so you can see where you need more lights, laundry room on main floor and one upstairs by bedrooms, plug in on front porch, up on garage to plug Christmas lights, plug ins on top of manuals. There is much more, but all I can think of
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Post by stacy71 on Apr 26, 2016 4:09:18 GMT
Wider door ways and hallways
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Apr 26, 2016 12:52:06 GMT
Oh, I thought of something else! In our stairways, we have what I call theater lights. They use tiny like nightlight-type bulbs (we'd do LED if building now) and have slatted covers sort of like air return vent covers. they're probably about 4" tall and 6-8" long, probably 3 per run of steps, with a switch at both top and bottom. It's so nice to have something we can use at night without having it be BRIGHT, and also takes so little power we can leave it on all night if we have guests or something. DH thought I was nuts when I asked for them, but they're probably one of his favorite things now (he tends to be up & down a lot at night).
We have the kick pan thing for the central vac and love that as well.
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Post by whopea on Apr 26, 2016 13:18:59 GMT
Our drop zone / mud room is typically dark because there are no windows there. I would add an automatic light switch either on motion or the door.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,840
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 26, 2016 14:25:47 GMT
There are 3 things that are a must have beyond the normal stuff. 1. an exhaust fan in the laundry room. This venting/exhaust fan is part of building code here, for fire code as well. |
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,840
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 26, 2016 14:47:47 GMT
Become familiar with the building & fire codes for your area.
Saves time, possible mis understanding, and other issues if you know why you can or cannot have something added or eliminated.
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MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,561
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Post by MerryMom on Apr 26, 2016 15:06:39 GMT
Exterior electrical outlets and hose faucets on each side of the house. If you do Christmas lights, more than one outlet out front. If you have a sump pump, upgrade it to have the battery back-up.
Here are a few things that we did and I am so glad: - extra course block in basement and plumbing rough in for basement for future finished basement project. We also put in about a dozen outlets in the basement.
- wiring for all the extra smoke detectors and CO detectors (married to firefighter!!)
- exterior basement entrance with one of those prefab stairwells and door. Soooo easy to carry patio furniture in and out of the basement and also the exterior Christmas decorations. You don't have to tramp through the house.
- We added a lot more outlets throughout the house and basement.
- We added TV/Cable/internet/phone outlets/jacks in the major rooms in the house plus all bedrooms.
- We paid extra to have an access to our electricity panel so that in case we lost power, my husband can hook up our generator from the garage. This is an extra cost plus the electrician, but MUCH appreciated when we lost power once for about a week. When we lose power, we also lose water due to well pump. We can also run our furnace for short periods of time.
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Post by FLA SummerBaby on Apr 26, 2016 15:45:45 GMT
Though I don't anticipate ever building a house -- these are great ideas!!
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Post by terri on Apr 26, 2016 15:53:28 GMT
My favorite thing in our house is all the closets have lights that go on automatically when the door is opened. I also love my pot filler and think built-ins are worth the cost.
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