vent... re: the house

[pattyT]

ok
so WHY do people INSIST on pushing thier desires on us as MUST HAVES...

Our friend is a Comcast employess and spent 20 minutes today talling me we REALLY have to have cable jacks on every wall (when there is only one wall that it makes any sense to have it on) and to plan for surround sound - at least wire for it
I will DIS any day before I hang in front of the tv... and if I ever feel the need it would go in the basement anyways!!

and we are trying to design a kitchen...

no I really do NOT need double ovens -
and ANYTHING will be an upgrade compared to what I live with now....

oh and the master bath - shoer - no tub thing - not even goig there right now...

 

[MidgeD79]

"Thanks for the ideas, I'll talk about it with my family." Good intentions can drive a person crazy.

 

[DawnCt1]

I just have to comment on the double oven however, A double oven is something that I would never have thought of but our house had it when we moved in. I absolutely wouldn't be without one now. It sure comes in handy during holidays and it surprises me how many times I use both. Now the really big advantage?? The one you aren't using as often makes a really great bread box!

 

[Nancy]

I was thinking that the second oven would be great storage spcae for those items you don't use all the time.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I sort of wish someone would have helped me a little bit when we designed this house. Besides the obvious things we needed (handicapped access things) we did what we thought we needed and wanted. Well, we didnt have boxes put in the ceilings so we could have celing fans installed later...now it costs MORE $$$$. We didnt have the cable on the far wall in the TV room but now that is the only wall we can put the tv with the new cabinet. We added extra windows in the living room becasue I always thought it would be nice to have a wall full of huge windows......it is cold in the winter and hot in the summer even though they are expensive windows. We dont have any wide drawers in the kitchen to put silverware in...it is in two skinny drawers that are next to each other in the kitchen. We also dont have a drawer for tin foil etc. I blame the kitchen designer for these as he should have helped us ....other people who also built here had a different designer and he did a great job explaining things to them. I never thought of the width of the drawers.......maybe it was our fault. I also hate the wood trim around our counter tops...it fades and peels over the dishwasher. I wish someone would have spoken up and given their opinions . Good luck I know it is not fun building but you will get through it! Good luck with the tub /shower thing..hee hee Go with the tub in case you ever need to wash the dog or hand launder something Oh ya that is another thing we forgot...a laundry tub in the laundry room . We just have a regular sink......not deep enough to clean out buskets, brushes etc......oh well......

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Pre-wiring for fancy electronics later on can make sense. The idea of my hubby running another stupid wire just drives me bananas!!!! And you never know how fancy stuff can get in the next 10-20 years.

If we build a home ever--we are pre-wiring even for stuff that hasn't yet been invented.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that with cable jacks in every wall, you'll be able to plug into Comcast's high-speed internet from every wall, and thereby be able to visit The DIS that much more readily.

I use wireless instead, but it's slower.

 

[Galahad]

If we build a home ever--we are pre-wiring even for stuff that hasn't yet been invented.

Then how will you know what kind of wiring it needs......

We're going the opposite direction. Any new invention that needs wires isn't worth the trouble. Wires are as evil as wall paper and land lines.

 

[pattyT]

ok
No double ovens dh wants ONE appliance for that purpose - aka slide in range - electric only. and I am fine with that - picked one that has a warming drawer on the bottom (not picking up a turkey off the floor)
BUT this was not worth an argument as we have an in-law attached - so all I have to do its cut through the garage and I have another entire kitchen!!

DH was actually a cabinet installer before he became a general contractor so he really has a LOT to do with the kitchen design - and my eyes are from looking at design ideas, and making my 'must have list'

I figure if we need 'surround sound' somewhere ever we have an entire bonus room above the garage and an entire basement (actually 2 if you include the in-laws)

Got the Utility sink in the laundry.

justification for NO tub in the master suite -
we have a full bath between the kids berooms if we 'need' it
and Dh compromised that eventually we will put a jacuzzi out on the deck for the entire family to use!

laptop is wireless...
and Iwill have them set up a good router system in the ceiling of the basement or something - as well as I would like to have my printer wireless somehow

we are building this house to live in forever - so I think it needs to fit OUR needs! and seriously there is only ONE wall in the livingroom as it is a big great room open to the kitchen with windows on the front wall and the stairs (up and down) open on the other

I eventually compromised with him and told him he could put cable jacks on every wall in the 4 bedrooms if he wanted - lol

 

[golfgal]

I have to agree with putting in more wall jacks then you think you might need. It is less expensive now and less mess. If you never use them, oh well, but what if you DO want them later? I would pre wire for surround sound now, too. It is a lot easier to do that now then later as well. I would be ok with the shower only, but I'd make the shower bigger then standard size otherwise they are just too small for my liking. You could get the Genesis oven. It looks like a regular free standing oven/stove but it has a smaller oven on top and a larger oven on the bottom. The smaller one would be great for every day usage, perfect for 9x13 pans, etc. The larger one would hold turkeys and large pans.

One thing my Dad did in their kitchen was to elevate their dishwasher. I LOVE that. The racks sit as waist and chest height now and it is so much easier to load and unload. They gained two LARGE drawers under the dishwasher, too.

 

[aprilgail2]

I WISH we had jacks on other walls...we are stuck with our TV in one place, if we move it we have to drill holes in the floor and move the wiring downstairs to come up into the other side of the room...I wish it was as easy as just having another jack someplace for us!

 

[jonestavern]

I have to agree with putting in more wall jacks then you think you might need. It is less expensive now and less mess. If you never use them, oh well, but what if you DO want them later? I would pre wire for surround sound now, too. It is a lot easier to do that now then later as well. I would be ok with the shower only, but I'd make the shower bigger then standard size otherwise they are just too small for my liking. You could get the Genesis oven. It looks like a regular free standing oven/stove but it has a smaller oven on top and a larger oven on the bottom. The smaller one would be great for every day usage, perfect for 9x13 pans, etc. The larger one would hold turkeys and large pans.
One thing my Dad did in their kitchen was to elevate their dishwasher. I LOVE that. The racks sit as waist and chest height now and it is so much easier to load and unload. They gained two LARGE drawers under the dishwasher, too.

great info & wise-
also, do you ever plan to sell? just the fact that there is wiring in place, though you may choose not to use it, is a plus.
My BIL has been an electrical contractor, residential, commercial & industrial for many years & yes, they do--or he does, he is fantastically intelligent --read about what's coming down the pike. Beware, all contractors are not alike, just like all kitchen designers (D L & K's Mom )
when all is said & done get what you want & need & will use. Yep, get ideas & advice but don't let anyone make you feel awkward because their cooking needs are different.
my best advice: think about every little detail of how you cook--down to what utensils & dishes(storage & placement). I am designing my own kitchen & am an avid cook & have worked(eons ago) in commercial kitchens I also have the restriction of living in an historical home & not wishing to gut it.
It's a headache & am sure I will kick myself over some decisions, but as you said, anything would be better than what is (isn't?? no cabinets, no counters! ) there now!

Jean

 

[Chuck S]

Pre-wiring for fancy electronics later on can make sense. The idea of my hubby running another stupid wire just drives me bananas!!!! And you never know how fancy stuff can get in the next 10-20 years.

If we build a home ever--we are pre-wiring even for stuff that hasn't yet been invented.

Ditto...Our house (built in the 70s) had NO cable jacks, no pre-wired phone jacks and not nearly enough electrical outlets...and they were in the MIDDLE of the walls...hello, where is furniture supposed to go? Had I known then what I know now, I never would have bought this house.

Of course, the house I grew up in was built just after the turn of the century. We had a lot of wires running from the ceiling light fixtures, just like CoP.

 

[FroggyinArk]

patty, its your house.. put in what you want and ignore the oh you have to haves,, i always tell my customers when they start asking " what would you do" i like this layout here with these placements, but i cannot see or use this spacefrom my house,, so the final descicion has to be yours. just tell the cable guy that no matter where he puts the wire,, he cant watch tv from your house ..lol

 

[The Mystery Machine]

People are just saying stuff because we have built before and have the "if I build next time list..." Examples are...

The biggest garage doors (height-wise). DH kicked himself over and over because we bought a boat and couldn't put it in the garage.

Brick elevation. Siding stinks!!!

Would not have an "open" area for the kids (upstairs loft/media room area). Need to shut the door...oy!

Electrical outlets in the roof eaves. A neighbor did this and was able to plug in all Christmas lights and you saw no cords.

Upgraded carpet, or nice tile.

More privacy.

See how easy it is to bug people building????LOLOLOLOL
It is like giving birth.

 

[diznygirl]

DH did convince me to go with the pre-wiring for the speakers - I hate having free-standing speakers in my living room, and guys all know that the speakers that are on the TV are just not good enough!

He also convinced me to put cable jacks, etc in each of the bedrooms even tho I don't want TV's in anybody's room - but he used the argument that you never know what the future will bring. Maybe someone will be bedridden and need a tv to watch - not that I want to think about that stuff, but it was easier to prewire during the building than to kick ourselves later.

No tub - who's got time? but I got a big shower.

It's your house - do what you want. But make things easier for yourself later.

 

[froglady]

DH was insistent that our new kitchen have a trash compactor, which I thought was a "waste." Boy was I wrong! I don't know how I survived without one. (Actually, I do. I had to bring the trash out every day. )

Everyone talked me into adding an eating counter between the kitchen and family room. I can count the times that anyone has eaten there on one hand. I also wish I had gone with stainless steel rather than corian for our sink. It's a pain to get really clean. I also disliked the cabinet installation, and quality of the cabinets. (Despite paying a fortune for them.)

Next kitchen redo will be granite and stainless, and I'll let the contractor handle everything.

 

[Regina]

When our house was framed, DH and I were the ones who put in the phone/cable jacks. We're glad we did it, and wish that we had put cable jacks in a few other spots.

The funny thing is, we focused on TV's. If we knew about the computers that we'd be getting and where we'd have our desks, we would have put in a few more jacks.

We've worked with what we have, but it definitely is smart to do this in the early stages of building rather than trying to put them in once the house is finished.

 

[Disney Doll]

When we did a pretty major renovation, we tried to think of all the things that we "might" need in the future, in terms of wiring and such, so that it could be installed while the walls were opened up, rather than having to cut into them later...we just felt it made good sense.

We, too, plan on living here forever, but forever is a long time and you never know.

We have wires running to our upstairs for cable and computers which are just "hanging out" in the crawlspace. They are there if we ever need to access them, but if we don't ever need them, they are in a spot where they don't bother anyone.

We have extra blocking behind the walls in the bathroom in case we ever need to install handicapped bars etc. in the shower. We are putting an extra large shower in the downstairs bathroom, which used to have a tub, rather than putting in a normal size shower which would then require further construction in the space. The shower we are installing will take up the same space as the tub did. If we ever did sell the house, and the next people wanted a tub in that bathroom, it's a lot easier for folks to visualize removing the shower base, and installing a tub than it would be for them to visualize removing the shower base, knocking down the wall that had to be built to accomodate the smaller shower etc.

I agree with you that some things are overkill...the builder who did our renovations wanted to install central vac...hello...I have a small Cape and an Oreck vacuum that weighs 8 lbs...I can carry it up the stairs!

But be mindful of some things which, while you may not need them, might be nice to install just in case.

 

[pattyT]

I am not a big fan of havin gto many 'plates' everywhere for cables - etc... don't want swiss cheese
I have no problem with the wiring but theres nowhere to hide it because of the open concept house plan!

the shower in the master will be a large walk in with funky nozzles and stuff - that all DH's doing - I will just use it - and asked to have two seperate knobs - one for all the funky stuff - and one for the main showerhead!

We JUST got back from spending 3 1/2 hours in the Custom cabinet shop!

AUGGGHHH

but I think the end result will be perfect and we delt directly with the owner who was AWESOME and would suggest things - and would even stear us away from certain things - beacause he had them - or tried it and he was wonderful!
there are still a million odds and ends but basics are laid out and I am sooo excited (just not to see the pricetag!)