From Sand Castles to Dream Houses : A Planner for Building or Remodeling Your Home

by Koones, Sheri

• ISBN13: 9780924659874
• ISBN10: 0924659874
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-08-01
• Publisher: Hanley Wood Inc

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(2)
Top-10 List	3	(216)
Preliminary Considerations	5	(12)
Selecting a Location	5	(5)
Getting Started Creating Your Home	10	(7)
Beginning the Process	11	(3)
Selecting a Good Team	14	(3)
Budget Considerations	17	(12)
Your Participation in the Project	17	(3)
Building Expenses-Estimated and Actual	20	(6)
Hidden Costs	26	(3)
Architects	29	(22)
What Architects Do	29	(1)
How to Locate an Architect	30	(1)
How to Select an Architect	31	(15)
Initial Meetings with Several Architects	34	(1)
Optional Areas of Design for Architects	35	(2)
What Architects Would Like You to Know	37	(1)
Procedures for Working with Architects	37	(6)
The Schedule	43	(1)
The Contract	44	(2)
How Architects Charge for Their Services	46	(1)
Architect/Builder Teams	46	(1)
Alternatives to Employing an Architect	47	(4)
General Contractors	51	(20)
What General Contractors Do	52	(1)
Finding a General Contractor	52	(3)
Criteria for Hiring a General Contractor	55	(3)
What General Contractors Would Like You to Know	58	(1)
Altering the Plans	58	(1)
The Payment Schedule	58	(1)
How Long Construction Will Take	59	(1)
Financial Arrangements with General Contractors	59	(3)
Fixed-Fee Contracts	60	(1)
Modified Fixed-Fee Contracts	60	(2)
Cost-Plus Contracts	62	(1)
Conditions You Should Include in the Contract	62	(2)
Procedures for Working with the General Contractor	64	(5)
Record Keeping	69	(2)
Interior Designers	71	(12)
What Interior Designers Do	72	(1)
How to Find an Interior Designer	72	(2)
When to Bring an Interior Designer in on Your Project	74	(1)
Selecting an Interior Designer	74	(4)
Preparing to Work with an Interior Designer	78	(1)
Information an Interior Designer Should Have	79	(1)
How Interior Designers Charge for Their Services	79	(4)
The Contract	80	(1)
Periodic Statements	81	(2)
Landscape Professionals	83	(8)
Types of Landscape Professionals	83	(3)
When to Hire a Landscape Professional	86	(2)
Criteria for Selecting a Landscape Professional	87	(1)
Things to Consider When Planning the Landscape	88	(1)
Conditions You Should Include in the Contract	89	(2)
Kitchen Essentials	91	(36)
Preliminary Considerations	92	(2)
The Kitchen Specialist	94	(1)
Initial Planning	95	(6)
Creating Preliminary Kitchen Drawings	96	(1)
Possible Kitchen Layouts	97	(3)
Basic Specifications	100	(1)
Kitchen Components	101	(26)
Cabinets	101	(12)
Countertops	113	(3)
Sinks	116	(2)
Appliances	118	(3)
Ventilation Systems	121	(1)
Lighting	122	(1)
Electrical Lines	123	(1)
Flooring	123	(1)
Window Treatments	124	(1)
Furniture	125	(1)
Wall Applications	125	(1)
Pot racks	126	(1)
Additional Design Ideas	126	(1)
Bathroom Essentials	127	(26)
Preliminary Considerations	127	(2)
Planning the Design	129	(1)
Choosing Room Elements	130	(7)
Walls	130	(1)
Flooring	130	(1)
Lighting	130	(2)
Windows	132	(1)
Storage	133	(2)
Vanities and Cabinetry	135	(1)
Mirrors	135	(1)
Ventilation	136	(1)
Fixtures	137	(9)
Toilets or Water Closets	137	(1)
Bidets	138	(1)
Urinals	138	(1)
Sinks or Lavatories	138	(2)
Showers	140	(2)
Bathtubs	142	(2)
Fittings	144	(2)
Accessories	146	(7)
Necessary Items	146	(2)
Luxury Items	148	(5)
Selecting Systems for Your Home	153	(66)
Finding System Suppliers	154	(2)
Preparing the House for Systems	156	(1)
To Integrate System or Not to Integrate Systems	157	(1)
Water-conditioning Systems	158	(8)
Security Systems	166	(6)
Additional Security Measures All Homes Should Have	169	(1)
Methods of Transmitting Signal from the House to the Central Station	170	(1)
Things to Consider when Selecting a Security Systems	170	(2)
Lighting Systems	172	(5)
Line Carrier Systems	172	(1)
Low-Voltage Systems	173	(2)
Line Carrier/Low-Voltage Combination Systems	175	(1)
Radio-Frequency Systems	175	(1)
Special Features Available on Low-Voltage and Radio-Frequency Systems	176	(1)
Things to Consider when Selecting a Lighting Systems	176	(1)
Audiovisual Systems	177	(8)
Selecting an Audiovisual Company	178	(1)
The Parts of an Audiovisual Systems	178	(5)
Home Theaters	183	(1)
Installation and Programming of Audiovisual Systems	184	(1)
Telephone Systems	185	(2)
Reasons to Put in a Telephone Systems	185	(1)
Components of a Telephone Systems	185	(1)
Things to Consider When Selecting a Telephone Systems	186	(1)
Central vacuum Systems	187	(8)
How to Select a Systems	188	(1)
Components of a Central Vacuum Systems	188	(2)
Features	190	(1)
Cleaning Attachments	191	(1)
Optional Accessories	191	(1)
Methods of Separating the Dirt	192	(1)
Installation	193	(2)
Appendixes
A - List of Terms	195	(9)
B - Magazines	204	(10)
C - Books	214	(2)
D - Web Sites	216	(3)
Index	219