Smart design is best described as carefully designing your living space for comfort, convenience, and general ease of use while promoting an earth-friendly lifestyle. Moving furniture, bringing in the groceries or preparing a meal becomes easier for anyone in a home with smart design features. Open floor plans and minimizing hallways allows for better flow from room to room and space to space. Installing energy efficient windows, appliances and mechanicals results in less energy usage, and choosing renewable materials reduces the depletion of our earth's resources. Lever-style door handles make it easier to open doors. Roll-out cabinet shelves and raised dishwashers help keep you off your knees in the kitchen. Easily grasped cabinet hardware makes opening cabinet doors and drawers easier for anyone. By adding some of these smart design features to your new construction project you are creating a home that is easier to use, more comfortable and convenient to live in, while reducing your over-all impact on the planet.
Single level homes or homes with main floor master suites
Open floor plan minimizing hallways
When a hallway is necessary, passage should be ample and well-lit
Zero-step entries, including entry from garage
Hard surface flooring such as wood, bamboo, cork, and tile instead of carpet and vinyl
Lever style doorknobs instead of round
Open kitchens and baths with easy-reach appliances and pull-out shelves
Easily grasped hardware on cabinet doors & drawers
Multi-level countertops for convenient work surfaces
Countertop space beside sink, range, oven, refrigerator for setting items down
Raised dishwashers
Built-in recycling centers
'Energy Star' appliance choices
Rocker-style light switches
Raise outlets to 18" instead of 12" and lower switches to 42" instead of 48"
Under-cabinet lights for additional task lighting
Use ceiling fans for moving air inexpensively
Flexible bedroom/office space for guests and caregivers
Taller toilets and taller vanity cabinets in Master Bath
Faucets with lever style handles instead of round
On-demand water heater
Large windows with lower window sills, and skylights or sun tubes for additional lighting
Curbless shower with seat and hand-held shower head on slide bar to make height adjustable
Pressure balanced anti-scald valves at tubs and showers.
Handy 'drop zones' by entry doors, & bench for putting on/pulling off boots, etc.
Locate the utility room near the master bedroom
Heat recovery air exchanger with a HEPA filter to filter out smoke and allergens
Easy access to whole house emergency water shut-off valve, clearly labeled
Build out the upper cabinets above washer/dryer about 12" for easier access
Place a bar above the dryer for hanging clothes
Weather protection such as a porch roof or long overhangs provide sheltered space for people and packages while unlocking the door, waiting for a carpool, making deliveries, etc.
Outdoor spaces, including rear decks and patios, front porches, and several points of access
Sidelights or windows in doors allow residents to see who is at the door before opening it
Easy access tub and shower
Install blocking for future grab bar installation (take pictures of block locations)
Good general lighting throughout home, and consider using fluorescent light fixtures
Use compact fluorescent bulbs, motion sensors, daylight sensors, and dimmers to reduce energy use
Design and place windows for good cross ventilation
Low E windows with low U-values for energy efficiency
Choose window coverings that can help block heat gain or loss
Lots of built-in storage areas
Package shelf by entry doors
Additional insulation (higher R-values) for more comfort and lower utility bills
Energy efficient (at least 92%) furnaces and A/C
Front loading washers and dryers use less energy and water
Choose low maintenance materials inside and out
Place hose bibs 30" - 36" above foundation instead of 6"
Use of renewable materials and locally produced materials where practical
Choose engineered lumber and OSB instead of solid-sawn timbers and plywood
Select composite decking materials with high recycled content instead of wood
Consider using landscaping with low water requirements
Use only fireplaces with high performance/low emission ratings
If building in the urban/wildland interface, use 'fire-wise' construction methods
Plant trees and shrubs for shading, cooling, wind protection, noise reduction, and privacy
Place plants away from the home's foundation and with space to grow to maturity without affecting the home's structural integrity
Exhaust humidity with fans in the bathrooms, preferably installed with timers
Replace the furnace & A/C filters every 3-4 months
Big Sky Builders of Montana Inc. is a member of the Bitterroot Building Industry Association, the Montana Building Industry Association,and the National Association of Home Builders. We are registered with the State of Montana (#145950) and meet or exceed all state Worker's Comp. and insurance requirements.
