If you were creating a house from scratch, what would you make sure it had?

[clevername]

We're currently converting a building into a house and it suddenly occurred to me that I should really think about all those little things that could perhaps be thought about and incorporated that would make life easier. It's prob a bit late to ask this question (rooms are built, plasterers are nearly done!) and, frankly, budget is beyond TIGHT but there might very well be simple /easy things that we are missing...

For example, I was just outside in our current garden and was thinking how I defo need to have decent storage for outside toys / furniture in the new place because they are all disgusting from being exposed all winter.

Don't get me wrong - we have been sort of thinking about this kind of stuff (eg we've incorporated a big porch / boot room with loads of storage for shoes, coats, book bags etc) but I just wondered if anyone had any more ideas?

Cheers

A little cupboard built into the wall (think bathroom mirror size and height/level) with shelves that contains enough sockets and usb ports to charge all your electronics, somewhere central. You can plug stuff in and shut the door. I am constantly unplugging charging cables that crowd my kitchen bench (we have an open plan house) and it drives me crazy. It takes up valuable space and looks so cluttered.

Plugin recharger for electric cars.
Roof tiles that are photovoltaic.
Part of the roof that is flat for drone deliveries.
Living external walls.

Stuff that should be on most new houses but isn’t.

Kpo58 - interesting what you say about ensuites... We don't have any (we feel like you do and there really wasn't enough space unless we had literally no room for cupboards) but so many people think we're wrong about it!! Nice to know we've got company in our anti ensuite (in this house anyway) views! And yes, we've built cupboards in the nooks and crannies where possible.

Hoover storage! That's something I hadn't thought about...

A giant kitchen diner, with an enormous breakfast bar that divides the two, which had enough space for a couple of stools for sitting for breakfast, and an area at the end for homework so it doesn’t wind up cluttering the dining table, but means the kids can sit and do it while I’m cooking and on hand for help.

I need an office/painting room so I don’t have to keep packing away all my art stuff when I’m done.

Walk in pantry between kitchen and utility.

Utility room with Belfast sink, washer and dryer at hip height with a pull out shelf under to put the wash basket on so I don’t need to bend down.

Plenty of sockets, with 25% more sockets than I think we actually need!

Floor to ceiling bathroom cupboard (thus taking up minimal floor space), with enough room for towels, toiletries,and cleaning stuff.

Proper storage in the garage for the kids footballs, scooters, bikes and other assorted outdoor toys.

Ethernet points if anyone used a PC or laptop

I did see someone with a postbox in the wall instead of a letter box which I thought was cool

A drawer in the kitchen just for phone and tablet charging so that they are not all on show and can get broken in an accident.

We’ve designed our own house and due to start building very doing we have a big utility room, separate linen/laundry cupboard that you can walk into. Dressing room/walk in wardrobe in our room. Loads and loads of storage.

7Pip - it's no mansion, unfortunately! Good tips though, thanks.

AzraiL - awesome idea for a charging cupboard! I'll see if we can work that one in somehow. Thank you.

Al2O3 - it's not a new build (Chapel conversion) so we're stuck with a lot of things that are already existing but thanks for the tips!

Utility room
Sheila’s maid
Bidet
Outside drying green with metal poles and ropes and wooden stretchers
Non shared drive access
No difference in levels between rooms on a floor
Plenty of sockets
Outside taps
Gardener’s toilet
Easy clean roof gutters
Double sink in kitchen and utility

A linen cupboard. Flooring that is easy to clean (I bought a house with cream carpets and am stuck with them.

USB sockets

Pan drawer in kitchen

Large full height pull out cupboard in kitchen (I used to have one in my old house and I miss it)

French doors with blinds on the inside of glass (same as previous!)

Thanks everyone. I now feel pretty confident that we've thought about most of the things that will make life easier and included them where we can.
Apart from the fucking hoover.

I want everything raised from the floor if I ever move. Oven, dishwasher, washing machine. I’m fed up with bending down and emptying appliances. My friend has a dishwasher with drawers in that you just pull out and empty with no bending.

I'd want a downstairs utility room with an outside door to make it easy to get in and out to the washing line, probably combined with boot/storage room.

No ensuite bathrooms but a downstairs loo.

Plug sockets everywhere but not high up, I don't like high up TVs and the sockets would be ugly if not in use.

Bike storage and lots of garden storage.

Downstairs not too open plan, a kitchen big enough for a sofa as well as table and chairs but also a separate living room.

Kitchen - a decent externally vented extractor fan, not a recirculating type. Lots of natural light. Water softener. Decent hot water tap.

For me its an upstairs laundry room with laundry hamper, washer dryer and ironing board in one space. It makes such sense as wardrobes are upstairs, you get undressed upstairs. In fact the only reason you bring clothes down is to wash them and then have to take everything back upstairs to put it away.

In addition, a larder/preparation kitchen would be on my wish list. Keep all the kitchen equipment out of the way but its on hand when you need it so not having to put them away all the time. Just leave it on a counter and shut the door to the room.

I'd also have hard wired data cabling and USB sockets on all electrical sockets in every room.

I think the best solution for laundry would be a long thin room on the first floor with a large balcony. On the left hand side of the room will be a door where all laundry is taken and put in the relevant sorting system basket (whites, colours, delicates, wool, towels etc.). The middle section houses the washer, the tumbler and double doors outside to a rotary airer (you can kind of stand inside to hang stuff) and above the appliances is a pulley system. Opposite the double doors is an airing cupboard with shelving. You then walk through to the third section of the room, which has a door to the corridor, and is basically a huge walk in wardrobe for all family members. The room is sound proofed with windows so can be aired etc.

Failing that, loads of sockets?

Haven't rtft but someone I know has a hoover built into their house. The dust collects into a tank which they empty once a year. They have a long house that plugs into the wall which also powers it, the pipes are all built behind the walls, it's a genius idea!

I believe it's Electrolux, though could be wrong.

Loads of sockets
Decent size bedrooms
Toilet by the back door
Big utility room and storage
Plenty of kitchen cupboards

We thought we had big bedrooms but once you start filling them, you realise theyre not big enough.

@7Pip said it first

Surely if you put a postbox on your wall you will have confused people posting their mail into it

I want that hoover hose system!

If you're in the UK, underfloor heating instead of radiators. We installed them post-renovation. I was sceptical at first but incredibly even heat (rather than one side of room blazing the other freezing) and much lower bills.

We moved into a well-designed newbuild apartment and there are a few things it has that I'm not sure I could live without now. A walk-in closet in the bedroom, double sink and garbage disposal, our bedroom is en suite, a laundry closet for the washer/dryer, a specific closet for coats by the entrance, ceiling fans and air conditioning.

I would love to have usb ports on all the sockets. It would be great if it had a winter garden (fancy word for apartment conservatory). There could be a better solution for bin storage- I hate wheelie bins just sitting loose.

If money was no object (which I realise isn't the case for you) I would include:

A ground source heat pump
Solar panel roof
Grey water collection and reuse system.

Laundry chutes from each (where possible) bathroom to convey clothes to the utility room.

Convenient wheelie bin and recycling storage.

I'd try to include at least one door that is a swinging or sliding book case.

I'd make sure there was a wine cellar.

A giant copper tubular slide going from first floor to ground floor. A lift going from ground floor to first floor.

Stairs....so meh!