Design Confidently, Live Comfortably
  My design decisions were based on two things: my practical experience as an architect and my personal wish list. Both were tempered by my budget. I knew if I kept the design straightforward and easy to build it would be cheaper. I thought about the houses I'd lived in over the years and what I could do to make this house feel like home. I gave careful consideration to every wall, window, trim, finish, and detail. In the end, the simple shape of my small house combined with my choices of materials (see Cost-saving design ideas) enabled me to complete my home for about a third of the cost of more elaborate homes in my area. Here are my thoughts on building an affordable house with architectural integrity and how they translated into the house I love and live in today. Keep the box plain and simple I chose a flat lot because sloping properties can add to the site work and require a more complex foundation. I didn't agonize over the style of the house because there was only one choice, given my budget: a Cape Cod. This house is a rectangle, allowing for a relatively inexpensive foundation pour and a second floor situated within the roof structure. Headroom can be an issue in capes, so I added a shed-style dormer, which was economical to build.  Beauty on a budget Erica Broberg designed a simple building, took a few clever shortcuts, and splurged on things that mattered. PHOTO: ERICA BROBERG The exterior of the house is straightforward and symmetrical. Wood rather than vinyl or aluminum-clad windows were used to lower costs and allow me to change the color eventually. I ordered them primed, then painted them green before they were installed. Think curb appeal I knew it made sense to spend money on the side of the house that people would see, so I added more detail, including flower boxes, to the front. The less visible sides are plainer, with limited detail. One feature I had always dreamed about was a romantic covered porch with a swing on it. A porch adds curb appeal because it's evocative of summer and leisurely evenings. So I designed the house with a porch to one side, found an oak swing at auction, refinished it, and realized that dream.
Make a good first impression As my plans took shape, I decided to loosen things up by creating a two-story entry hall and painting the walls a brilliant red. Everyone who walks in immediately looks up and says they like the intense color. NEXT: Let Your Personality Shine BACK: Introduction |
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PHOTOS: ELLEN SILVERMAN |
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