Several weeks ago in episode 254 called Furniture Layout and Space Planning I gave some guidelines about furniture placement and how to best layout your rooms to achieve functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces that have good flow.  After listening back to that episode though, I realized, I didn’t talk much about bedrooms. So that’s what we’ll discuss in this episode— space planning and layout rules specifically for bedrooms.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

This week’s episode is a replay of the one that I did years ago. The information is still relevant, but the pricing that I mentioned in the episode has likely changed given the current economy and today’s consumer demand for construction materials and supply chain challenges. I’ll discuss the 6 most popular types of roofing materials on the market, including my favorite, metal roofs.

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SHOW NOTES at BYHYU.com

Given the heat wave that’s sweeping a lot of the country right now, I wanted to remind myself of some of the information from a previous episode called Keeping Your House Cool, Inside and Out.I thought it might also be helpful for you to revisit that mini-lesson too, to make sure you are considering some of those cooling solutions as you are planning your home design.

But before we get into the show, I’ll share a bit of my first-hand experience with some of the products you’ll hear about in the podcast.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Even if you’re not a tub person you should strongly consider adding a bathtub somewhere in your new home.  You may never intend to use the tub yourself, but it’s nice having a tub available for bath-loving guests, for bathing children and grandchildren, and for grooming pets.   

Many homeowners include a tub in their primary bathroom not only for practical, utilitarian reasons but also for aesthetics.  Freestanding tubs continue to be an extremely popular choice primarily because of aesthetics.  Freestanding tubs are thought of as sculptural showpieces and increase the perceived value of the home.  In this episode, you’ll get information that will help you choose the right freestanding tub for your new home. 

SHOW NOTES at BYHYU.com

Even if you haven’t started building your house yet, you should start thinking about your furniture layout.  Furniture placement is important because it will dictate how good a room looks, how well it functions, and how easily you can move in and through the space.   If your rooms have beautiful furniture pieces, but they’re arranged awkwardly, it will take away from the overall stylishness and functionality of your home.   

Developing a good furniture layout early on will help you come up with a more accurate electrical plan where you can specify where electrical outlets for lamps, TVs, and other electronics—  an electrical plan that makes the most sense as it relates to the furniture that will be in the room.  So let’s discuss some furniture placement/layout rules of thumb that you should consider way before you buy your furniture. 

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Soffits and Fascia are parts of the house that don’t often get a lot of thought or attention from homeowners planning to build their dream homes.  But they’re important not only as design elements for your home but also because they protect your house.   And choosing the right materials for your fascia and soffits can reduce the required maintenance for your home. This week we’ll briefly talk about soffit and fascia options so you can make the best choice for your home.  Let’s start by establishing exactly what and where soffits and fascia are.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

The High Point Market is the largest furniture trade show for design professionals in the world. Twice a year more than 75,000 designers, furniture buyers, retail store owners, and architects go to High Point, North Carolina to see what’s trending in furnishings. Unfortunately, the show is not open to the general public, but many designers report on what they see each year at High point. If you didn’t know, North Carolina is known as the furniture-making capital of the United States. It’s where most quality furniture manufactured in American is made.

In today’s episode, we’ll go over some of the most popular design trends spotted at the recent spring 2022 High Point Market. The information in this show comes from a couple of articles at Houzz.com.

Most of the designs features have been around for 2-3 years and are still trending. Others are emerging trends. As we go through the list, remember, you don’t have to incorporate all of these or frankly any of these features into our new house, but it’s always nice to stay on top of what’s currently in style.

Shownotes at BYHYU.com

From large things like garage doors to the small things like electronic chips that go into TVs and appliances, the materials that we need to build and furnish our homes are still hard to get.  More than two years after the start of the pandemic, supply chain issues continue to cause significant construction slowdowns and above-average pricing in homebuilding.

So when will supply chain issues end?  That’s the million-dollar question, and the truth is, no one really knows. But there are opinions out there and that’s what we’ll talk about in this episode. As you probably realize, the answer to “When will things get back to normal?” is relevant to anyone who’s building or remodeling a house.  Because as long as there are interruptions and delays in the supply chain, there will also be interruptions and delays in construction.  Your new build or remodeling project is likely to cost you more time and money than it would if the supply chain weren’t having so many challenges.    Let’s talk about exactly what the supply chain is and when experts are predicting a return to normalcy.

SHOW NOTES at BYHYU.com

Like we did last year, my husband and I took a day trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area to visit the 3 high-end show homes at Fort Worth’s annual Dream Street event. I enjoy going to show homes like these so I can see the features that are most popular with area designers.  Now, to be clear, these are multimillion-dollar homes and not all of the elements showcased will fit into every budget. But to me, it’s helpful to see what’s fresh and new, and what continues to be relevant in decor, appliances, and amenities, even if we don’t include the exact finishes and brands showcased. Homes like these can serve as inspiration for those of us who are building.

SHOW NOTES AT BYHYU.com

In addition to knowing about the different types of drywall that are best for different areas of your home, it’s good to think ahead of time the style and finishes you want for your walls so you’re not stumped when your builder or drywaller ask you if you want a Level 4 or level 5 drywall finish. Or whether you want any texture on your wall, straight square corners, or bullnose? In today’s episode, I’ll briefly cover whether smooth or textured walls are more popular for today’s new builds and if curved bullnose corners are still in style. We’ll also cover the basics of drywall finish levels so you can confidently tell your contractor what you prefer.

Show notes at BYHYU.com