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[Sweetbay magnolia]

I'd consider views, and what I would be doing and where, when I look out the windows.  So windows and doors are high on my list.  Also convenience of access (I would love a regular door on the side of my garage, for in and out access without opening the garage doors).

Handicap accessibility for sure.  Even people on the young side of things may need adaptive assistance.  An elevator (crazy, I know) can help you get things upstairs.

Another shout out to the Toto toilet!  I even know which ones we have - they're the "Promenade" in bone (I laughed when I heard this color choice) and the comfort height is not quite ADA compliant but they are easy to use.

Good luck.  We always love good house stories, so keep us posted!

[Eileen in Virginia]

I haven't read all of the comments, so forgive me if someone's already mentioned this. If we buy another house, it will be a rambler, but may have a basement. DH and I agree that we'd have someone build a dumb waiter from the basement to one of the extra bedrooms. We're usually okay going up and down the stairs, but it gets tricky when we're carrying something like laundry baskets, extra groceries, seasonal clothing exchange, etc. This could also apply to an attic.

I second another poster's suggestion to get a permanent staircase to the attic. They're wider and more stable than the pull-down ones. 

Good luck!

[m0rgan]

I just had to redo my kitchen because of a leak while we were away.  All my bottom cabinets were ruined.  I replaced them with drawers.  I was asked if I wanted 2 large drawers or 3 smaller drawers.  I picked 3 smaller drawers and some things don't fit the way I would like.  If I had it to do over I would get 2 deeper drawers on one side of the kitchen (which was suggested by my cabinet guy) and 3 drawers on the rest of the kitchen.

Also when building the house 20 years ago, my builder suggested we put a closet under the steps,  It is so very usable for luggage, storing Christmas items, bins of just stuff.  So if you are having steps in your new house just have them put a door so you can store more stuff.

[gardenman]

Some things to keep in mind. The squarer the shape of the house is, the less it will cost to build and maintain it. Let's say you're looking to build a 1600 sq ft house. A pure square would have four forty-foot-long exterior walls for a total exterior wall, foundation length of 160 feet (4X40=160). If you were to make that house a 20'X80' house, the length of the exterior walls is now 200 feet. (2X20+2X80=200). Exterior walls are expensive. They have to be insulated, have vapor barriers, they gain heat in the summer and lose heat in the winter. They cost more to finish and trim. The less exterior wall surface you have, the lower your building costs and long-term costs are. Why pay for 40' of extra exterior wall if you don't have to? 

If you're dealing with an architect or home designer, they'll want to bump out wall sections here and there and everywhere. Those little bump-outs are easy to draw but cost a lot to build. Try to keep the walls straight. No bump-outs, nothing fancy. Those two simple steps, keep the house as square as possible, and no bump-outs can dramatically reduce the cost of a new home.

Now lot size, shape, and local codes may force you to build an oddly shaped home. Since you already have the lot you may be limited. But, given a choice, build as square a home as possible and you'll save a lot of money.

[sarahpanda]

@gardenman ..Thanks for the tips...makes good sense to me !

[Katcat1]

@sarahpanda   You may want to go to a kitchen and bath store to get ideas for cabinets, countertops and backsplashes.  Are you building from blueprints?  Make sure you have plenty of storage space.  You always need plenty of storage.  Good luck.

[depglass]

I have slide out shelves in the bottom cabinets.  I'm thinking they are just as good as drawers.  The glass in my shower is frosted so you don't spend time every day cleaning glass.  Nothing seems to show.  We have a pressure flush toilet, guaranteed to work every time.  Laundry room is on first floor, yes remember that aging in place thing.

[Tinkrbl44]

Don't know how old you are, but if you want to stay in it long term make it a one story home.  Older people cannot always navigate stairs, and you won't want to turn a first floor room into a bedroom or sleeping area later in life.  

[ECBG]

I love my 10 ft x 10 ft pantry.  It is on the other side of the kitchen.

Two and a half walls have shelves where I put packaged food and bottles.  One wall has all of the plastic food storage collection and baking and roasting items, with large frying pans.

The other main wall has a desk with a computer and a wonderfully padded chair.

[JohnnyWasnt]

Hi @sarahpanda 

I'm so excited for you!  When we re-did our place, I relied completely on the website Houzz for design ideas and inspiration - so many pictures.  

I found an architecht there, I love his designs.  His name is Geoff Chick (out of Florida) and I see that you can purchase his house plans at houseplans dot com slash exclusive slash geoff-chick 

I think his designs are just charming and they come in all sizes.

Best of luck to you!