Completing a "Wish List" is an important step of the design process. Getting your thoughts down on paper may help you prioritize the items that are most important to your project.  To help you get started...

First off, try to think about the project in general terms, and write the general feel you want from the home, and the property.  Write a little about the privacy to maintain, or not, the relationship to the street, and the best views to the ocean.  Write about how the family is to use the house, will you be entertaining a lot, are there lots of kids around, and how the house will be used as the kids grow up.

Please write a little about the prevailing winds on the site, where the sun rises, sets, and the best direct sun exposure.  Also where you need privacy from neighbors, a street, or telephone pole and the like.

How important is direct sunlight into the home, or do you prefer covered porches and terraces to layer the home, and create outdoor rooms.  Do you like shutters, what type of windows, window boxes?

How connected should the house be to the outdoors- what type of decks, terraces, covered areas and for what activities on all levels?  Eating, Sitting, tanning- where would a future pool be located, and what would be the shape and dimensions?  What about second floor decks, sleeping porches, and widow’s walks?  Does the site require a screen porch?  Is there a built-in grill, outdoor kitchen, or fireplace?

How many cars should fit in the driveway?  Do you want a half round drive in front?  Are there fences / fenced in yard?  How deep should the garage be- what is to be stored there besides cars?

Interior

Please write out a description for each room you would like, with detail per room, as if you are walking through the house.  For example, Formal Foyer off covered entry or wrap porch, with gracious stairs, large coat closet, interesting ceiling detail with medallion and hanging fixture, 10’ high ceilings, with large entry into Living area or Great Room. Specify where there are built-ins, or furniture which must fit in a particular room, with the dimensions of the piece.

Are there Back Stairs?  Are there to be shared decks off bedrooms?  Is there a coffee bar in the Master?

Are there shared Baths on the Second Floor, or is each bedroom with it’s own Bath- detail these baths- number of sinks, shower  size with bench vs soaking tub.  Linen closets, where is Laundry room- size?

Are the bedroom closets walk-in or poles behind doors?

In the Kitchen and Baths, detail any size appliance or fixture you have in mind.  For example, in the Master Bath, double sinks, walk-in shower with separate soaking tub, access outside to outdoor shower.

In the Kitchen one or two sinks, how many dishwashers, is there a pantry, what details on island, what room is it open to, or not.  Is there access outside to outdoor dining?  Views? Please specify appliances.  Do you like an island or two, prep or with appliances in them, and how much island seating?

Do you have preferences to the heating system, air conditioning, and where? Ceiling fans and where?

Any images from magazines or books are great.  Build an Idea Book on Houzz.com and send it to us.  And sketches are always terrific!