Letting the world help us design and build our "Dream Home."

My Army career is winding down after 23+ years and we've decided to live in Texas. Now it's time to build the house of our dreams...but we've never done this. So we want (need) the best and freshest ideas to build the home we'll live and raise our family in. WELCOME and thanks for your help.

The ideas and features we want to implement:

  1. The basics:
    • 3,000 min SF as per neighborhood requirements
    • 3 BR (1 MBR and two BR for the girls)
    • 1  master bath (nice, functional, but not overboard)
    • BRs for the girls, with shared common area for them and their friends (loft?)
    • 2-3 car garage
  2. Renewable Energy 
    • Solar PV
    • Solar heating for water
    • Solar heating for in-floor heating
    • Passive solar / zero-energy ideas 
  3. Specific rooms that the Arey Family needs (wants...)
    • Craft room for Jen (she loves to make cards, scrapbooks...she deserves it after 20 years of moving)
    • home gym 
    • single large living / family room (no formal living room necessary)
    • home office, sufficiently "away" from the main living area
    • 3 bedroom is fine by us...craft room can be flex for visitors 
    • Master BR sized for sleeping - don't need a "spa-like" retreat
    • An extraordinary outdoor living area 
    • a kitchen that opens to the "everyday" eating area -we don't think we need a formal DR (think of "The Not So Big House"
    • Garage that can be my own...I'm with three girls!  And I like to fix my own truck, motorcycle, etc.
  4. ...still working as I get your ideas and suggestions.
  5. NEW: We don't need a fireplace and now realize its inefficiency in a Passiv Haus.
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