THE FOUR MISTAKES HOMEOWNERS MAKE COLLECTING IMAGES

 

Collecting images for inspiration is the first thing homeowners do when considering building a new custom home. The images available to you these days are amazing. I drool over the beautiful and sharp photos on Houzz, and Pin many amazing homes just because I don’t want to forget some lovely detail.

If you are starting a custom home project; you have likely started collecting images already. There is no wrong way to do this. Bring anything that peaks your interests. Really, anything.

These four things are what I tell my clients to avoid. The list is intended to prompt opportunities to convey what is in your head, so I can get it into mine.

1. INCLUDING ONLY IMAGES OF THINGS YOU LOVE.

While this is not a bad way to go about this, it does not give me as much information as if you were to include things that you also hate. Showing me you love this master bedroom because of this, this, and this tells me alot. Showing me another picture of a similar bedroom that you hate because of the ceiling treatment and the busyness of the door placement, tells me much more.

2. ACCUMULATING PAGES OF PHOTOS WITHOUT NOTING WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

When you are flipping through photos and something catches your eye it is easy to just clip the photo. Take a few extra moments and note what you like about the photo. It is hard for me to know that the kitchen photo you included, had nothing to do with the cabinets (which you actually hate) but that you love the light fixtures and the flooring is interesting.

3. ONLY INCLUDING PHOTOS FROM ONE RESOURCE.

Most of my clients use houzz.com. Many others use Pinterest. Those are absolutely fine and are incredible resources to clip, note and share photos. Please use these! However, keep your eyes open. Perhaps a hotel you are staying in has a cool hotel bar and you want to remember the stools?  Snap a photo. You are glancing through a fashion magazine and the color of a sweater would be amazing in the powder bath?  Snap a quick photo with your phone. Not everything has to be a house photo. All inspiration doesn’t have to come from the half an hour you have slotted to search for images on the internet.

4. DESIGNING YOUR HOUSE THROUGH PHOTOS.

Put it out of your mind that you are going to piece together a full house from photos. (That's my job.) Don’t eliminate a gorgeous stair photo because your stair will not be the centerpiece of your foyer. The way I gather information is not that concrete. It is more information gathering. Many things can inform and inspire in a genre; it does not have to be literal.

Remember - your goal here is communication. ANYTHING that will communicate your ideas to me is useful. Have fun with it - this is the beginning of the best part.

View my Houzz profile here https://www.houzz.com/pro/scottarch/springhouse-architects-llc

As Founder and Principal Architect of Springhouse Architects, Sheri’s mission is to lead Clients through the building process with the Clients in control and Springhouse as their guide, advocate and ally.  With over twenty years experience in Residential Architecture, Sheri brings knowledge and confidence to your custom home project.