Designing the Dream

For some purchasers, however, existing homes might not feel quite right. They want something more personal that better reflects their lifestyles. Enter the architect, who can weave space into more than just walls and a roof overhead. Think of an architect as a personal problem solver, an artist who can create a dream home tailored specifically to your needs.

Deciding to enlist the services of an architect, finding one, and working well through the long, drawn-out process (often extending a year or two) can be daunting. But the end result can prove well worth the time and effort.

While state law mandates the use of an architect under certain circumstances (homes larger than 5,000 square feet and additions or modifications to homes along the coastal construction line, for instance), an architect's services can benefit even the smallest project by minimizing builder and construction costs-and headaches. A n architect's involvement can be as encompassing or as limited as the homeowner desires, from simply drawing up home plans or consulting with a homeowner on existing blueprints to guiding the entire process from site selection to home design, construction and completion. Remember, an architect is the homeowner's representative in the building process. "An architect shows you the way," says Charles Gutenkunst, a Naples architect and president of the Southwest Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

A good architect is a listener, a communicator, a liaison between owner and builder, a guiding hand, the person who can translate dreams to paper and a finished product. In short, an architect is superman or superwoman, capable of leaping tall buildings-or at least designing a great home.

Finding an architect can be as simple as scanning the Yellow Pages or asking friends whose homes you admire. Word of mouth is often the best reference. Many new clients of Naples-based Fergis & Selck Architects come from builder and realtor referrals or after seeing the firm's work featured in magazines and coffee table books, says president Tom Selck.

If you're reluctant to knock on the door of the dream home you wistfully drive by each day, a visit to the local building department or a call to the AIA should uncover the architect behind that dream. The AIA is also a valuable resource for determining an architect's good standing within the industry. The Southwest Florida chapter can generally provide prospective clients with an architect's qualification statement, which can be used to verify credentials. Through a public records request, the state Division of Business and Professional Regulation can let a client know if a prospective architect has been reprimanded. Industry awards are indicative of how an architect is looked upon by peers.

The relationship between client and architect must be comfortable; there should be chemistry. Owners must be patient in their hunt, Gutenkunst says: "Architecture is a lot about relationships. Interview a couple of architects. It takes time to find a doctor you're really comfortable with, and the same is true with an architect."

Communication is important. Be clear-and realistic-about how much you want to spend up front. Be open to ideas. "You can't realize a vision if there's no open dialogue," says Jonathan Kukk, whose Naples firm, Jonathan Kukk Architecture and Design, specializes in high-end homes. "Your architect should be a good listener and understand your visions. It's important to find an architect who will listen, who's creative, and who's comfortable in having open communication."

While an architect's fee can account for as much as 12 percent of a home's cost, Gutenkunst says homeowners must keep that figure in perspective. An architect can invest hundreds-if not thousands-of hours in a project.

Once hired, an architect should sit down with clients and discuss lifestyle, needs, dreams and desires. Homeowners will often be asked to complete an extensive survey that delves into how they use their home, their expectations and their wish list. Fergis & Selck Architects' checklist is a 17-page get-acquainted questionnaire. "We ask every conceivable question about how a client wants to live," says Selck. "This helps us develop a narrative space plan, the thread we knit a house out of. I also ask for pictures that show me the feeling they want in each room."

Kukk said clients should have an idea of what they want-and don't want. Travel pictures and magazine clippings are helpful, illustrative tools. "Some people bring hand-drawn sketches or plans, even tiles," says Kukk. "One of the things we tell our clients is to not just collect pictures of what they like, but also pictures of things they don't like.

"The best advice I can give is to go into the process with the desires and vision you have for a home and hold onto those, but don't be afraid to have your mind opened. Make sure the people you're working with are listening and are hearing what you want. Sit down early and discuss a doable and accurate schedule for the whole process. Expect to be frustrated but be honest enough to ask questions early so everyone has a good understanding of what it takes to get this house done."

Early decisions should also include others involved in the process-builder, interior designers and landscape architects. Assembling the team early helps to identify and eliminate potential problems.

Be prepared to be in for the long haul and to make lots of decisions. "Architects are the worst for schedules," admits Gutenkunst. "Don't let your architect drive the schedule, and make quick decisions. The faster you work, the faster he works."

To help the process flow smoothly, Gutenkunst urges all homeowners to get involved in decision-making. "Often we deal with the wife through the entire life of a project," he says. "Husbands need to be more involved. One shouldn't take over the process."

The AIA offers these additional tips: Have an ample contingency fund to accommodate unforeseen expenditures; make timely decisions; insist on a work plan detailing scope, service and schedule of project; actively participate in the project-planning process and, if possible, attend all project meetings; plan regular meetings with the project team; and ask questions and address problems, no matter how small, as they arise.

For some owners, a residential designer may be a preferred option to hiring an architect. While residential designers don't have the licensing credentials or training that architects have, many are just as sought-after-and expensive-as the best architects. Dan Sater, president of Bonita Springs-based Sater Design Group, has created many of the model homes seen in Southwest Florida's gated communities, as well as custom-designed homes for corporate CEOs and country music star Alan Jackson.

Sater is a certificated building designer and a member of the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), a not-for-profit organization that ensures its member designers have National Council of Building Design certification and complete continuing education programs. While an architect must complete a five-year accreditation program and pass an exam, there is no specific criteria for a building designer to meet. Bobbi Morgan, AIBD executive director, says owners should check that their potential residential designer is an AIBD member. Also, most building designers are often limited by state law to residential design, says Morgan.

"Because all I do is houses, I have a better handle on residential design," says Sater. "Design is such an intrinsic value of a home. My job is to make sure I maximize the value of the property, the view, and the livability of the home."

Like architects, Sater uses a questionnaire to get clients thinking about their needs. It addresses everything from the style of architecture that owners prefer to their lifestyle and the number of people they want to fit comfortably into a leisure room or seat at the dining room table. He also encourages clients to walk through the home in their minds, envisioning how it will feel and flow. This helps determine such mundane-but important-things as light switch placement. "It helps me to get inside the client's head," says Sater. "Many of my clients live here part time and want their home to be focused on relaxation and family. They're less concerned about formal living and want spaces they can enjoy, like theaters and game rooms."

Whether you work with an architect or residential designer, prepare to abandon any preconceived notions you may have had about your ideal home. In the hands of an expert designer of space, this can morph into something that exceeds even your wildest dreams.