A good architect and decent gardening supplies for your dream homeAlthough it is fair to say that the vast majority of homeowners bought their properties once they were already built, or at the very least designed and approved by the local planning authorities, a few individuals decided to take the more complicated approach of having one made to their own specifications. A good architect is a prerequisite if this option appeals to you and it is important not to neglect the land around your new home when planning how it will look. Whether you decide to hire a landscape gardener or do most of the work yourself, it can be great fun to start from scratch and create a tranquil space where you can relax in the summer as well as hold wild parties when the mood takes you. If you enjoy eating and cooking outside on a regular basis then a good quality BBQ could be worth investing in, as well as some solid outdoor furniture. Your architect will not be much help to you when choosing trees for your new home but he or she may advise you to avoid some species, so is worth consulting. A good quality stainless steel gas barbecue can be chosen without much fear that it will cause any structural damage to your property but if you plan on handing your house down to future generations then it may be best to avoid planting oak trees, and other varieties that grow very big, too close to the exterior walls. The extensive root systems that big trees need in order to survive can interfere with foundations and may cause problems for your grandchildren if you are not careful. Existing specimens may need to be examined by a surveyor who, together with your architect, can decide if they will pose any problems or not. Unless your plans for the land around your property include moving tonnes of earth then it is probably safe to proceed without worrying too much about any adverse effects that they may have. Online stores stock a wide range of accessories for the garden these days so you can do most of your shopping without even leaving your house, if you prefer. You may save a significant amount of money by shopping online, if you are buying lots of gardening supplies. The type of home that is most suitable for you will depend on a number of factors, not the least of which is how many people there are in your family. Whether or not you enjoy entertaining on a regular basis will dictate the most appropriate size for your new property to some extent as well. There is no point in paying a large sum of money for a house with a dining room the size of a football pitch if you never have anybody over for dinner, for example. The design of your garden will be more heavily influenced by personal preference than practicality, although if you have young children then it is probably not a good idea to plan on having lots of tall, willowy flowers close to the house. A cacti patch would also be a bad idea, for obvious reasons. Inquisitive kids that may wish to experiment with a gas-powered grill if it were a permanent feature of your home could make it a more sensible option for you to stick with portable charcoal barbecues until they are a little older and wiser. However old your children are, including them in the decision-making process when it comes to planning your new home and garden is a good idea. For a start, they will more likely to be enthusiastic about upping sticks and moving to a new area if they feel that their opinions really matter and have been taken into account. On a more practical level, if they are consulted about what sort of features to include in the new garden and the type of shrubs and flowers that will look best then they are less likely to complain if the results are not quite what they expected. Designing a new house sounds like hard work and it is. However, planning and creating an attractive space outside can be equally hard and most people find that it turns into an ongoing project that takes them many years to finish. This should not put you off if you are determined to own the property of your dreams as watching young trees mature and seeing the fruits of your labour, literally, is an experience not to be missed. More Tips
|