Design your own home, you know better than anyone what you want in your house. I recommend using a simple program called
Home Plan Pro or
3d Home Architect
,
Try or Buy HomePlan Pro Here- only $39! I really like it and am sure you will find it easy to use, there is a free 30 day download to try it out.
3d Home Architect
has the ability to automatically generate a 3d image of your house and
you can then make a walk through. I have taken many peoples 3d home
files and turned them into custom home plan permit sets. Send us your
computer files from 3d home architect and we will turn your creation
into a set of
custom home plan blueprints that you can get a permit with as well as an
accurate quote from builders.
Be sure you know the width and length of your lot before you
start. Then take away all setbacks, usually five to ten feet for side
setbacks, 25' feet for the front setback, and 15' feet for the
rear setback.
You will have to check with your local
building authority to find out for sure. The area left over after
taking away all the setbacks is the area you can build in. You might
have other considerations that dictate how much house you can put on
the ground floor, it is called the Floor Area Ratio ( FAR).
One
way to start getting an idea of your spaces and their relationships
with each other is to cut out pieces of cardboard to scale in the size
of the rooms you want. Use a scale that is easy to manage, like 1/4"
inch equals one foot. Put the pieces together and think of the way they
affect the front elevation and the way people move through the house,
privacy considerations, and inter relationships with the other rooms.