A Better Way To Design A Vacation Home

[TOPIC: Designing a vacation home | Custom home design | Comfort & flexibility | Durable materials & maintenance | Architectural design process | Second-home lifestyles]

Introduction

Designing a vacation home is an exciting process. It’s also a tall order: a vacation home has to check so many boxes — and all within your budget.

The perfect retreat is:

• A getaway where you can escape the daily grind and enjoy the amenities of home.
  

• Roomy and relaxing and requires minimal maintenance.
  

• A smaller, more affordable space that also captures the beauty of its natural surroundings.
  
  

To have any hope of meeting these exacting requirements, hire an architect instead of trying to DIY it.

An architect can take your ideas and make them work by drawing on building science, expertise in architectural design, and experience in the field.
Working with an architect, you’ll end up with a better version of your vision.

Section 1 — A Collaborative Process

A good design will refine your ideas, combining a series of rational choices based on your budget and your priorities.

Key questions include:

• How many people will your vacation home sleep?
  

• What kind of storage do you need?
  

• How important is long-term accessibility to you?
  

• How about privacy?
  
  

Your decisions about these — and many other — issues will guide your architect, who will take your ideas and mold them into a beautiful, functional vacation home.

Section 2 — Solution-Making

A vacation home should have everything you need — in a smaller space.

An architect can help you clarify your priorities and develop solutions to the challenges that arise when trying to fit a lot of functionality into a more contained space.

A great design can:

• Make use of every possible space for storage
  

• Create a dining nook or dormer where you didn’t think one was possible
  

• Scale back certain aspects to create more space elsewhere
  
  

A great design will maximize space and functionality.

Section 3 — A Good Investment And A Great Retreat

A good architect can help you build a long-lasting vacation home that’s also a great investment.

They know how to help you put your money in the right places.
Certain design elements directly impact longevity:

• Rainscreen siding detailing helps paint last longer and prevents moisture from entering walls.
  

• Proper insulation and envelope detailing ensure comfort while minimizing energy use — both when occupied and vacant.
  
  

Material choices also affect durability:

• Durable materials like polished concrete floors or slate tile require minimal upkeep.
  

• Natural wood finishes can be reserved for interiors.
  

• Composite or metal materials on exteriors reduce maintenance demands.
  
  

This means you can spend your vacation enjoying your home rather than refinishing decks or siding.

Taken together, a well-designed and well-built vacation home — one that’s functional, comfortable, and designed to last — becomes an investment that serves you and your family for generations.

© Artisans Group Architecture + Planning — Sustainable Architecture, Passive House, and Passive Building Design Experts