Hi all,
When my husband and I FIRE in 5 years we would like to build a home suitable for the activities we enjoy and aging in place in the location we enjoy. We have a certain aesthetic we're after (modern farmhouse meets Scandinavian design), but have other important goals like building in ergonomic features that make it suitable for aging in place. I also envision using solar, geo-thermal, and other eco-friendly design concepts, and designing the yard so we can have kitchen gardens (raised beds) and low-impact landscaping. We live in the upper midwest.
We're DINKS, so don't want or need a large house (1400-1500 sq feet, with finished basement) and want a situation that's going to be manageable as we age (including use of lower maintenance materials). So good, efficient, open-concept is crucial to us. We have built two other custom homes, so are somewhat familiar with the process, but we've always used a local draftsperson to draw up the plans.
I've been fairly happy with the homes we've designed on our own, but can see how using a designer might have helped us better engineer the space and use newer technologies and building techniques. Sometimes I have found that even the best builder tries to impose their will, and there are definitely things in my current home I wish we would have been sticklers about. On other space issues (for instance, doorway widths) I don't think we were well advised by our builder. In general, I think my husband and I are good at visualizing space... but we're not handy. That's not going to change.
Now I'm weighing the cost-benefit of using an architect. I have no idea how much it costs, how ultimately it works when a builder gets involved, and what to expect. Are there any architects or designers who can weigh in on these basic questions?