Turning a family vision into cottage home plans can get complicated — but not if you apply these tips

So, you have 100 per cent decided to build your dream cottage or home, and you’re about to have your vision designed. Here are a few considerations that will ensure the design process goes smoothly.

Gather a Family Wishlist

Obviously, your family wants to be involved in the design process, and why not? You want a home or cottage that is going to be personalized to the people inhabiting it now, and well into the future. Cottage weekends don’t end just because children grow up and have their own children.

Before you discuss your vision with a designer, sit down with your family and share the elements and personalized touches that you all want. Having a clear vision that everyone has contributed to and agreed upon early on will save time, and eliminate unnecessary delays and last-minute changes.

It’s important not to rush these conversations because you may exclude important elements. Like Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.”

When you get to the point where you are ready to move forward with the plan design, select a spokesperson who can communicate your family’s needs. If there are too many voices, important items can get lost and/or forgotten. 

Think Long-term Vs. Short-term

When having the discussions with your family, remember to take into consideration things that could come into play in the future, not just the functionality for the here and now. Spend the money now, and you’ll save a lot more than trying to assimilate changes five to 10 years from now. Elements to consider:

Will mobility be an issue for you or a family member in the future?

How does the layout accommodate grandchildren or pets?

Will an expanding family require additional sleeping accommodations?

Will the cottage be used seasonal or year-round?

Will the cottage be exclusively for family use, or will it be rented out as well?

Find Ways to Compromise

The decision-making process for every cottage home design plan can be tough, especially if an unrealistic vision, due to available space or budget, is presented by family members. Here are two tips for how compromises can be made to ensure that everyone gets what they need.

First, it is important that before you sit down to discuss your family wish list, you talk about the budget you have established. Knowing monetary limitations usually deters over-the-top, fantastical notions. 

Second, agree on the values that will help guide your decisions. These values could include:

— The aesthetic aspects that best represent your family’s lifestyle. Will your plans be influenced by a central style or theme, or will they be a patchwork of your family’s individual personalities?

— The realistic functionality of the property. Are you or your family envisioning a cottage that the property permits?

Take these three considerations into account before setting out to have your plans drafted, and you’ll end up with design plans that reflect a united vision.

Discover 8 Ways Cedar Winds Builds the Better Way—ensuring the entire cottage build experience, from design to build, is empowering and crisis-free