Dream House Webquest

CONGRATULATIONS! Your family has won Dream Home Contest.

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There are three tiers of prizes. You could:

Design a dream bedroom
Break through a wall and expand your bedroom into the next room.

Redesign your home
Select a room in your house that you think needs a makeover

Build a dream house
Take the plunge and design your family a new dream house

Whatever you decide your project can be done on paper, you can build a model or you can use the computer. This project can keep growing and it might not ever end. It was designed so you can apply math, writing, problem-solving and design to create something that is uniquely you. An Architect and Interior Designer make all kinds of decisions on how they will create or redesign a home. Throughout the project they need to measure and keep track of their hours and costs. They have to ask important questions like:

  • How will the space be used?
  • Who will use the space?
  • How will owner needs change over time?
  • How much money for the budget?
  • How fast does the job have to be done>

PLANNING

All design projects need to start with a plan. This is the time when you can dream big and put your ideas into writing and rough sketches. As part of this project you will create a web of the three areas you want to focus on and write a creating story about what your dream could look like. Sample plans are available as well as sample essays.

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BUILDING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

SQUARE FEET – AREA

Designers first have to know the square feet they will work with. This is done by finding out how many one foot by one foot squares will fit on the floor. You can find this by multiplying the length of a room by the height of a room or you can draw out a representation of the floor with a grid and count the number of squares. Once you know the square feet you can make many different decisions:

FLOORING

What will be covering the floor? Each material you chose will have a different cost and different feel. Choices include: wood, carpet, tile, linoleum, bamboo, vinyl. Whatever you decide you need to include the cost in your budget for each room in the house.

WALL COVERING

Will your walls be painted, wallpapered or have paneling? Each decision involves measuring the width and height of each wall to be able to determine the cost of the choice you make.

WINDOWS and DOORS

There are building codes that require two exits from every room so all rooms need at least one door and one window. What design do you want for your windows? Do you want them to swing open or lift open? Do you want them to have screens or grids. Every decision you make will affect the budget of your project.

KITCHENS

The kitchen project is the most complicated. This involves floors, walls, lighting as well as: applicaces, counters, cupboards, lighting, plumbing, electrical and cooking power. A kitchen project is only for very brave and confident designers.

BATHROOM

The bathroom is the second most complicated project. Many decisions have to be made about plumbing and the placement of the sink, toilet, tub/shower, cabinets and lighting.