14 |^ Best Log & Timber Floor Plans 2019
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Sizing Strategies. Many people
come to the design table with a
smaller square footage in mind, ei-
ther because of budget constraints
or because it’s what they have theirhearts set on. Achieving that benchmark
may seem like a matter of creating some
smaller spaces and clustering them
together, but it’s a bit more complex.
“I think a lot of people come in with
the intention of a small home, but then
they don’t want to sacrifi ce the third
bedroom, or the library or the offi ce,”
observes Derek Hurd, principal at Gravi-
tas, a custom-home design fi rm based in
Garden City, Idaho. Thinking about how
large (or small) these rooms will be plays
into your decision-making process, as
tight, cramped spaces likely are the exact
opposite of what you hope to achieve.2
Prioritization is Key. Home of-
fi ces are commonplace, but they’re
often located in areas that aren’t
on the front lines of your family’s
daily battles: bill paying, home-work, charging devices and so on. An
oversized kitchen island could suffi ce,
but then you’d have the clutter of papers
and computers, not to mention wires
snaking across your food prep area.
When designing your kitchen, con-
sider incorporating a command center,
either in one corner of the room or an
adjoining space, like a mudroom or
butler’s pantry. Then your paperwork
and electronic devices can be stored
out of the way while still being easily
accessible.