Use touch controls on appliances instead of knobs.Whether you are a parent or grandparent, there are many things to consider for your home to make life with children or grandchildren more enjoyable, safer, and better organized. You’ll also want to plan for display, storage, and electrical requirements for Christmas, and if you have an older person in your household or want to plan for your own advancing years, you can do many things to make your home senior-friendly. To keep your home quiet and serene, you’ll also want to consider ways to minimize noise.
In terms of home protection, you have many options, from security systems to safe rooms to fire escape plans. Plan carefully to meet your needs.
Finally, consider going “green” in your home design—using special guidelines to make an energy efficient home that minimizes harmful effects on the environment.
Infants and toddlers require lots of equipment. Designate a closet to store this equipment while the children are young, knowing that once they have outgrown it, the closet will have another use. Examples of equipment you might store are a swing, infant seat, walker, portable bathtub, tub chair, and so on. Closet shelves should be deep enough and tall enough for this equipment, so take measurements.
Outlets should be accessible for cameras and sound monitors, night-lights, sound machines, heated diaper wipes, and so on. A handheld sprayer is extremely helpful when bathing infants and toddlers.
Sliding shower doors on tubs makes bathing a baby more difficult. The rail cuts into your abdomen when you’re leaning over the side of the tub, and access to the tub is limited because half of the tub is blocked by the sliding doors. A shower curtain or glass door that swings open works better.
If you have toddlers, plan for gates on both interior and exterior stairways. Consider having a decorative gate made out of the same material, whether iron, wood, glass or other. Make sure it meets safety code specifications so your child’s head cannot get stuck between rails. Discuss with a craftsman how to remove the gate without aesthetic consequences once you no longer need it. A porch with steps to the yard also may need a gate. These gates are also useful for containing pets.
Bolt chests of drawers into the wall so that children cannot tip over the chests if they open them and climb into the drawers. Another possibility is built-in drawers and shelves in a closet. Make sure all built-ins, including entertainment centers, are bolted to the wall in case a toddler or child climbs on them. This will prevent the built-in from falling on top of the child.
A toy drawer comes in handy in the kitchen area.
Toddlers can easily reach up and open doors with lever handles. However, lever handles are easier to operate than knobs if you have an arthritic condition. A solution is to add a second lock. Discuss options with your hardware salesperson.
Toddlers can turn plumbing fixtures with lever handles on and off. If you have a tub with lever handles, your toddler will be able to turn on the tub water. A knob-type handle is the best alternative.
There are many steps you can take to make your home safer and more enjoyable for all children.
Books are an important part of child development. Placing appealing books within reach of toddlers and young children may encourage them to read; keep this in mind when you are planning built-in book shelves.
Put locks on medicine cabinets or store all medicines in a closet with a lock to keep your children safe.
Store all cleaning supplies in a closet or cabinet that can be locked.
If you have a two- or three-story home, do not use lever window locks that young children can open.
Plan a storage area that locks for guns or other weapons, liquor or wine, cleaning products, or other items that could cause harm to a child.
Request childproof locks on cabinet doors and drawers.
If particular rooms in your home will be off-limits to your children, plan for a door or doors to that room so the room can be closed off.
Lockers or cubbyholes in a mudroom or garage door entry room are a great tool to teach your children to be organized. Before going to bed, children can store their backpacks, coats, gloves, hats, signed parental forms, musical instruments, school sports equipment, sports, band, and cheerleader or other uniforms they need to take to school, and during the summer they can store their sports equipment, uniforms, camp items, and art class supplies. They can store their shoes in the locker or cubbyhole as well. In the morning, lunches can be placed in the locker.
If you plan to have a mini-refrigerator in your kitchen to store snacks or beverages for your children, do not locate it in the kitchen work triangle or you will have little feet underneath you when preparing meals.
When designing your kitchen, designate a lower cabinet or drawer for snacks for your children, well away from the kitchen work triangle.
Plan a successful study environment for children, whether in the child’s bedroom or another area. Allow adequate space for a computer and books. Many experts advise against computers in children’s bedrooms because of the lack of supervision. Some parents have a computer study room with multiple computer stations for several family members. Others like a desk in the kitchen area so they can watch and help the child study while they are preparing dinner. Provide adequate light.
Decide if you need climate-controlled storage areas for storing baby equipment and clothing you are not using. Discuss these needs with your architect.
Consider adjustable hanging rods in closets that can be adjusted as your child grows.
If storing riding toys, tricycles, and bicycles in the garage, designate an area away from the vehicles so they do not get scratched or dented.
If you live in a tornado-prone area, consider designating a closet to be structurally reinforced near your children’s bedrooms for them to gather for safety. Also see Safe Room (page 125).
Consider every type of security for all water areas, whether you have a pool, pond, hot tub, or waterfall. Ask about any additional safety measures, such as an alarm that will go off if a child falls into the pool.
When selecting door hardware, discuss options such as pinhole locks on interior doors in case a child gets locked into a room
Make a fire escape plan.
In addition to a regular tub faucet, consider a faucet halfway up the wall in the bathtub for young children to stand under when having their hair washed.
TIP: Some people prefer their light
switches lower than the standard
48 inches in height from the subfloor. If you have toddlers in your home, leave
the light switches at the standard height. If lowered, it can be an invitation for
toddlers to play with the switch,
turning the light on and off repeatedly.
You have finally moved into your dream home. You are exhausted from the moving experience. Finally, you can crawl into your bed. All is quiet as you think of how much you have accomplished and how proud you feel. All of a sudden you hear your children, who have decided to watch a movie in the media room. Your master bedroom wall is opposite the television wall in the media room—and the movie is keeping you awake. Or you can hear the motor in the mini-refrigerator in your morning kitchen or master bathroom kicking on and off all night. Or someone decides to get a late-night snack and you can hear the stairs squeak as they walk down them. Believe me, noise can carry!
As you design your home with the architect, pay attention to what is on the other side of all bedroom walls, especially the headboard wall. Take note of what is above or below all bedrooms. Discuss with your architect and builder what preventive measures can be taken to avoid noise problems. These may include acoustical wall products, sound membrane on the floor, fabric in the ceiling to prevent noise transfer, floor floaters, silent joists, soundboards, and fiberglass insulation. Check any of the boxes on the Things That Make Noise Checklist (page 264) that concern you. Note the soundproofing options on that form that you can discuss with your architect and builder.
Plan ahead for your home’s Christmas decorations. Not only will you save money, but you’ll be able to eliminate extension cords draped around the home and yard. Review the Exterior and Interior Christmas Lights and Decorations Checklist (page 262), and file it in Binder 4. Discuss any items you check with your architect, interior designer, and builder. If you own or plan to purchase decorations that need structural support, include those plans in your discussions.
Consider a light switch tucked away in the coat closet that operates the outlets that would be used for exterior Christmas lights, so you won’t have to go outside to turn the lights off and on. If you prefer to use a timer, discuss this with your builder and electrician.
A freestanding Santa Claus or other decoration that speaks or moves will need an outlet, which could be located inside or outside.
Ask your builder to incorporate aesthetically placed hardware to mount any wreaths, swags, or garlands that you plan to hang on a door, window, or other part of the home. Don’t forget to inform your builder if any of these need an outlet.
If you know where your Christmas tree will be placed, have the outlet you will use to plug in your tree lights on a switch, so you do not have to straddle presents to plug and unplug it.
Whether you are building your last home or have an elderly relative who will eventually live with you, it is imperative that you plan for a senior lifestyle when designing your home. Long-range planning can save you time, money, and a whole lot of hassles. Consider the following tips.
APPLIANCES
Use touch controls on appliances instead of knobs.
Install a platform under your dishwasher to raise it.
Purchase a pedestal stand with your washers and dryers or have a platform built to raise them.
BACKING
Install backing (lumber installed between wall studs to give additional support) in the shower walls for installation of grab bars.
Install backing on both sides of the staircase for installation of hand rails on both sides.
CLOSET
Plan for all closet storage to be reachable without a ladder.
DOORS
Specify flush thresholds at all doors to accommodate a wheelchair or persons who have trouble lifting their feet when walking.
Use gate release buttons.
Specify wider doorways to accommodate a wheelchai; they should be a minimum of 32 inches wide.
Use lever handles for doors instead of knobs.
ELECTRICAL
Lower light switches to 48 inches from the finished floor instead of 54 inches.
Use illuminated light switches.
Install courtesy lights for the steps on the stairway.
Make any outlet that will be used for a space heater dedicated so it will not trip the fuse box.
FLOOR LEVELS
Stick to a one-level house unless you will install an elevator.
Have at least one entrance to your home at ground level, with no steps to maneuver.
If needed, plan for a ramp for
wheelchair access to your home.
PLUMBING
Use lever handles or a motion trigger faucet, not knobs, to turn on faucets.
Use a one-lever control faucet that operates both hot water and cold water.
Specify comfort-height toilet seats that make getting up easier.
Specify a nonscalding showerhead.
Install a handheld sprayer for the shower that will allow someone to sit in the shower and bathe.
MISCELLANEOUS
Throughout the home, install nonslip surfaces, especially in the bathroom and shower.
Plan for handrails on both sides of the stairway; add backing in the wall for the second handrail.
Plan for adequate lighting throughout the home.
Use large lettering and adequate lighting for reading thermostats, security pads, integrated home automation monitors, stereo and television components, fuse box lettering on labels, and titles on books in the bookcase.
Specify lower counter heights.
Have all hallways a minimum 36 inches wide.
Separate HVAC zones if you tend to use only a few rooms in your home.
Plan for the addition of a ramp.
PROTECTING YOUR HOME AND FAMILY
The first step in safety and security is to make a list of what you want to protect. Do you have any rooms or closets that need extra protection, such as a silver closet, gun room, master closet, fur storage closet, or other? Do you need protection from hurricanes, tornados, or earthquakes?
Electric protections you may consider include a whole-house surge protector to protect your household equipment from power surges and a generator that will kick on when there is a power failure to keep your home functioning. You may also want a lightning grounding protection system to protect against lightning strikes.
Next, determine your budget. Home security systems come in many forms and a wide range of costs. You can buy a system with no monthly fee that sets off an alarm if someone opens a door or breaks in, or one with a monthly service fee that calls the police for you when someone enters without turning off your security system.
At the top of the range is a high-end system that includes custom sensors and detectors, with sophisticated systems that will monitor changes in humidity and temperature levels, monitor a pool and send an alarm if a child falls in, and monitor gases and send an alarm if poisonous gases are detected.
TIP: A basic security system is
better than no security system.
TYPES OF PROTECTION
Protection comes in many forms.
Alarms/sensors. You probably already have a carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm. Other useful alarms and sensors are a door opening sensor, driveway alarm, fence line sensor, fire alarm, glass break sensor, medical alarm, panic alarm, propane gas, radon, screen sensor, swimming pool alarm, and other water source sensors. You can also install a fixed temperature alarm to protect pipes from breaking if your heating system goes out, a hot tub alarm to alert you to prevent freezing, a wine cellar sensor for temperature and humidity changes, and a sprinkler system in case of a fire in your home.
Motion detectors. You can place motion detectors in areas where an intruder would have to travel to get around the home, such as hallways, staircases, around doors, and an office with a computer.
Cameras. A camera will let you see who is on the other side of the door and will let you know who has come by your home and when. For a vacation home, you can pull up the camera view on your computer and check weather conditions or the condition of your home. You can also have a camera take a snapshot of anyone who comes within the camera sensor range and have it e-mailed to you. This would allow you to see that your children have made it home from school, a housekeeper has shown up, and so on.
Lighting. You can choose from exterior motion sensor lights, exterior security lights, and interior fire alarm lights.
Safe room and fire-protected room. A safe room and fire-protected room buy time for the police to respond and for the fire department to arrive. If valuables are kept in a fire-protected room, it will extend the time before fire would reach inside the room. (See Safe Room, page 125.)
Options for entry. Decide on what type of system you want for entering and exiting your home.
Options include keys, fingerprint system, eye print system, code punch system, proximity card in wallet, key fob, and a swipe card mixed with a code. Though technology is advancing with fingerprinting and eye scanning, in some environments, there are glitches, and a scanning process is necessary for any new person added to the system.
Tip: For added security for your bedroom
door, install locks at the top, the bottom,
and in the middle of the door.
SEVEN COMMON SAFETY MISTAKES TO AVOID
1. Use a hardwired system when wiring your home instead of wireless security. The only reason to use wireless is if the house is already built. Wireless requires replacing batteries and requires more maintenance.
2. For added protection, add a commercial cellular security phone. If your phone lines are cut, the cellular phone will automatically call the security company.
3. Your alarm should have a siren that alerts the intruder as well as you that the alarm system has been triggered. The sound of the alarm going off usually causes an intruder to flee the premises.
4. Discuss with your architect and life safety consultant options for a fire escape. Make sure you are comfortable with these options, especially if children are in the home.
5. Never install the security box (which holds the security wiring) outside the secured area where it can be disarmed without an alarm going off.
6. A silent alarm should only be used in a specific situation by trained people. You want to avoid an intruder, not sneak up on one.
7. Poisonous gas protection is as important as home intruder protection. At the minimum, have carbon dioxide, natural gas, and propane gas detectors.
Tip: Duel technology motion
detectors sense both density
and heat. Previous systems were
infrared, which only sensed heat.
Designing a “green” home is not only positive for the environment, but positive to your pocketbook in the long term. Most people think this means conserving water and electric power and using environmentally friendly building materials. It does, but more is involved.
The best and most authoritative resource for a green home is the U.S. Green Building Council, which has developed The LEED for Homes Rating System for green buildings (www.usgbc.org/).
There are many factors involved in a green home.
Innovation and design. The architect, mechanical engineer, civil engineer, landscape designer, and others trained in green building meet periodically to review the process and goals of the project. The designers promote durability and high performance of building components and systems through design, material selection, and construction practices.
Location and linkages. Your house location should avoid environmentally sensitive sites and farmland, be built within half a mile of existing water and sewer lines, be close to public transit and community resources, and have access to public green spaces.
Sustainable sites. Your home site should have erosion controls and minimize disturbing the land; landscaping should involve no invasive plants, limit turf, and use drought-tolerant plants. Trees should be planted to shade the home. You should use environmentally friendly insect and pest control—and meet home density per acre standards.
Water efficiency. Rainwater should be collected for reuse, and the irrigation system should be designed by a licensed and certified professional. Your home should use high efficiency fixtures for toilets, showers, and faucets.
Energy and atmosphere. Your home should meet the standards of an Energy Star home. This means it will have improved hot water distribution and pipe insulation; the refrigerant will minimize ozone depletion and global warming contributions; insulation, air infiltration, and ducts will be tested and inspected; windows will meet or exceed Energy Star specifications, with at least three Energy Star light fixtures, along with energy-efficient fixtures and controls; all appliances will be from an approved list; and the house will have a renewable electric generation system.
Materials and resources. Overall waste for framing should be limited to 10 percent, using advanced framing techniques or structurally insulated panels. The home should use tropical woods from an environmentally preferred products list and manage wastes so that 25 to 100 percent less waste is sent to the landfill.
Indoor environmental quality. Your home should use combustion venting: space heating and DHW equipment with closed/power-exhaust and a high-performance fireplace. Other considerations may be a moisture control system, a dedicated outdoor air system with heat recovery, third party testing of outdoor air flow rate, bathroom exhaust fans with timers and automatic controls, and special filters in the air supply. Ducts should be sealed during construction; the house should have permanent walk-off mats or shoe storage, or a central vacuum system. It should be radon resistant, with no air handling or return ducts in the garage, tightly sealed surfaces between the garage and home, and an exhaust fan in the garage (or a detached garage or no garage).
Some municipalities require a homeowner to use a green point system. The home must meet a set number of points to obtain a use and occupancy certificate. More and more municipalities are including green standards in their building codes department; Aspen, Colorado, for instance, takes a very aggressive approach.
One green approach involves the selection of materials for your home. Green items include bamboo or cork flooring; a tankless water heater; a hot water recirculation pump; a geothermal heating and cooling system; solar panels to capture sunlight to convert to energy; environmentally friendly building materials including paint, caulk, sealers, stains, and formaldehyde-free plywood; green-designated plumbing fixtures, appliances, and fireplaces; and recycle bins.
You’ll want to start early in the process to plan a green home, including selecting an architect and designer who are experienced in building green. This can involve more work and planning, and in some cases more expense, but the rewards can be big.
File in
Binder 4: Design
Exterior and Interior Christmas Lights and Decorations Checklist
Homeowner _________________________________________________________ Date ________________________________
Exterior
Check those that apply and discuss them with your architect, interior designer, and builder.
1. Driveway and yard
Will you have any of the following?
Christmas lights on your driveway gate or sidewalk gate.
Christmas lights along your driveway
Christmas lights around your mailbox
Lights on a lamppost(s) in your yard
Freestanding Christmas trees in the yard that will need lights
Lights in any of the trees
Lights in bushes around your home
2. Front entry to house
Will you have any of the following?
Lights on any columns
Lights on any stair railings
Lights around the front door
Lights around lanterns
Lights in a trellis
3. Windows
Will you have any of the following?
Lighted garlands or swags around windows
Lighted wreaths hanging in each window
4. Porch or balcony lights
Will you have any of the following?
Lights on any balcony railings
Lights on porches
Christmas tree on your porch
Christmas tree on your balcony
5. Porte cochere
Will you have any of the following?
Lighted swags
Lighted wreaths
Lights on your porte cochere
Other ______________________________
6. Roof
Will you need any of the following?
An outlet in soffit, attic, or on the roof for roof decorations
An outlet near the chimney for chimney decorations
7. Backyard lighting
Will you need outlets in the backyard for any of the following?
Christmas trees
Freestanding Christmas decorations
Lights in any bushes
Lights on a boat house
Light on the back porch
Lights on any columns
8. Garage
Will you have any of the following?
Lighting on the garage door
Lighting or decorations on the garage roof
Lighting in the garage windows
9. Other
Will you have any of the following?
Architectural elements on the exterior of your home that will have Christmas lights attached
Spotlights in the yard to light up the front door or other areas of your home
Interior
Check those that apply and discuss them with your architect, interior designer, and builder.
1. Windows
Will you have any of the following?
A candle in each window
A lighted wreath on the interior windows
A lighted wreath on the exterior windows
2. Mantel
Will you have any of the following?
A lighted garland on the mantel
A lighted garland above any doorways
3. Stairway
Will you have the following?
A lighted garland on the stairway railing. (Outlet needs to be aesthetically placed.)
4. Christmas tree
Will you have any of the following?
A single Christmas tree
A group of several Christmas trees
Christmas trees in more than one room
5. Exposed beams
Will you have the following?
Christmas lights wrapped around your exposed beams.(An outlet can be placed into a carved out area of the beam. You will want a light switch for these outlets.)
6. Above cabinets
Will you have any of the following?
Christmas lights above your kitchen cabinets
Christmas lights above your bar cabinets
7. Bookcases
Will you have any of the following?
Christmas lights above your library bookcase
Any Christmas items on your bookcase that require a plug to operate
Any lighted swags or garlands on your bookcase
File in
Binder 4: Design
Things That Make Noise Checklist
Homeowner _________________________________________________________ Date ________________________________
Check the items you want to address with your architect and builder: discuss their location and options to reduce noise.
Appliances
Dishwasher drawers
Dishwashers
Exhaust fans/hoods
Freezers with ice makers
Ice makers
Washers and dryers
Bathroom
Exhaust fan
Faucets running
Hair dryers
Shower
Toilet flushing
Doorbell
Ringer
Exterior
Driveway in relation to bedrooms
HVAC compressor
Street in relation to house and bedrooms
Exercise room
Cardio-machines
Televisions and stereo
Floor and stair steps
Location of stair steps
Silent joists
Water heater furnace
Gas igniting
Garage door
Opening and closing
HVAC system
Exterior compressor
Interior system
Office equipment
Fax machine
Printer
Plumbing
Pipe insulation
Type pipe used
Security
Alarm siren
Alarm that beeps each time an exterior door is opened
Driveway alarm
Operation of the alarm security pad, whether turning the alarm on or off
Miscellaneous
Sump pump
Television and stereo speakers
Rooms That Make Noise
Bathrooms
Kitchen
Laundry room
Media room
Playroom
Water closets
Soundproof Options
Acoustical wall products
Ceiling fabric
Fiberglass batting for sound insulation
Floor membrane
Silent floor joists
Soundboard on specific walls
Window insulation
Other ___________________________________________