You can also put cabinets on adjustable vertical brackets but you’ll want to design for yourself rather than for resale or your kids!

• Consider drawers for your lower cabinets that are fully extensible with large hand pulls that are easy to grasp. You’ll be able to reach your pots and pans without bending.
  
  
• If you use a microwave and toaster oven, you can build a shelf just for them at a height that is right for you whether sitting or standing.
  
  
• A stand alone pantry cabinet with fully extensive shelves allows you to pull out the shelf and get what you need without reaching into the back of the shelf. The shelves should be adjustable height. Stand or sit in front of the cabinet to determine what are the best heights for you and have the contractor adjust them.
  
  

Keep in mind that you need to know where your appliances will be located so you can plan your cabinets around them. My cabinet vendor visited the site a couple of times to make sure that all the appliance and cabinet measurements worked together.

Even with all the planning we still ran into issues with getting a shelf for the microwave and toaster shelf. We were able to get a matching molding that is typically used to cover unfinished cabinet areas. We also had to do some last minute work-arounds. If you find that measurements are off an inch or two, you should be able to fix that with your contractor. However, once the framing, electrical, venting and water are in place, it’s a major expense to change it so you are better off with more planning and detailed drawings/specifications to avoid large issues.

There are architects that just modify existing house plans (cheaper) and there are architects who can design a custom house based on your lifestyle.

It took me 3 architects to find the right one. These were some clues that I didn’t have the right architect:

• The architect didn’t write down my feedback on the design – so it never got added to the plans.
• I noticed that each time I met with the architect, a different junior architect was working on my plans.
• In the architect’s office, there were hundreds of plans heaped on tables haphazardly – he had trouble finding a specific plan.
• The architect put a large accessible bathroom lengthwise across the front of the house, ruling out any possibility of having picture windows to look out.

My third architect not only drew up my plans but I hired him to continue with the project until it was completed. His office drew up the AIA agreement between the contractor and myself. Prior to each monthly payment, he personally came out to inspect the quality and how much had been built during the month.

The agreement is the AIA Abbreviated Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Contractor for Construction Projects of Limited Scope, where the Basis of Payment is a Stipulated Sum. You will need to check with your lawyer to make sure this will cover either an addition or a house in your state.

Although there is more paperwork involved using the AIA agreement, it can also provide you with more protection than the builders contract typically written in builder’s jargon and to their advantage.  The AIA agreement requires monthly inspections (best if the architect or a building professional does this), the builder fills out what % of the roof, % of the electrical, etc. is done. The architect checks and OKs the % completed. The % completed is then tied into what the builder gets paid that month. This increases their accountability which is good for the owner. It does increase the paperwork for a contractor but building a house is a big investment and you want to know what you are getting for your money each month.

It took about 7 months to complete the final plans and the 32 pages of specifications – how the house will be built and what materials will be used. I was able to get these documents in PDF format so it was easier to look at each individual plan (basement, first floor, roof, electrical etc) and the scope/specifications

• Div 1 General Conditions
• Div 2 Site Work & Demolition
• Div 3 Concrete
• Div 5 Metals
• Div 6 Carpentry
• Div 7 Thermal & Moisture Protection
• Div 8 Doors & Windows
• Div 9 Finishes
• Div 15 HVAC, Div 15 Plumbing – yes there are 2 Div 15s
• Div 16 Electrical
• List of  toilet, bath, with manufacturer and pricing

The AIA agreement and the architect’s specifications helped save the project a number of times. If you hire an architect who documents the specs, everyone refers to the same documents and there is no question about the quality of the materials used.

Finding contractors to bid on your project with specifications is not easy. They don’t like spending the time figuring out the pricing of the materials and labor.  However, signing a contract without specifications has implications for the owner. While you may have allergies and discussed hardwood floors, unless this is in writing, you could get plywood floors with carpeting. Maybe you thought you were going to get energy efficient windows only to find out later you have some inexpensive alternative.  Anything that is not specified is up for grabs.

While I was building, two other friends were also building. We all really liked our contractors at the beginning of the projects but I was the only one that used an architect with detailed specifications. One addition had a great living area plus a garage but ended up with no easy way to access the second floor – a staircase should have been added to the design. During my project, I ending up having to reread the specifications over and over to understand them – they helped me advocate for what I was supposed to get in the addition. When I saw that solid pocket doors were installed separating two areas of the house instead of glass french doors that I paid for, the architect and I could go right to the specifications in the contract and make the contractor replace them. This happens all the time on a project and if you don’t have it in writing then you don’t have a leg to stand on.

Hiring my own architect was the best decision I made even when family members were telling me not to waste my money. It was worth every penny! Keep in mind a mediocre architect can lead you down the wrong path. If they do not write specifications for materials then you really do not know what the house will cost and you may have to go back to the drawing board to make the project smaller.

One more tip, if your architect has worked with people of differing kinds of abilities or if they have a relative that requires some modifications, this may help them better understand your needs.

Check back as I hope to offer a checklist for building universal design houses in the future.