Current Ask The Designer - Jeff Spring

Featured Designer: Jeff Spring
Principal of DDI Architects and owner of www.Houseplanguys.com

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Before we start, can you tell our readers a little about yourself. For example, where do you live, what is your background, how long you have been a designer etc?

Jeff: I live in Redmond Washington just outside of Seattle. I am a licensed architect here in Washington and have been in private practice for 25 years. I don't currently belong to any associations but plan to get more involved as soon as time permits.

I think a lot of our readers go to a builder and buy one of their standard designs without realizing that as the buyer they have a lot of choice in the design. What are some of the reasons why someone should consider designing their own house or buying a plan as opposed to just going with what the builder has to offer?

Jeff: Simply put, they have the pick of over 7800 designs on our site, plus they have the ability to select certain features that they want in their home without sifting through the entire site. In addition to this, most of the designers on our site offer modification services, so a certain amount of customization is also available.

Are housing styles really tied closely to geography? Can you build a cape code home in California, or a Mediterranean style home in the North East, or do the designs really work best where they are popular?

Jeff: We find that most of the time, a buyer in a certain region is automatically attracted to styles that are popular in their area.

How has the housing market changed since you first started designing homes? Have you noticed any trends? Did the events of the past two years change what we are looking for in a new home?

Jeff: Housing trends have changed dramatically over the past 25 years. There has been a strong retreat back to a renaissance of older styles but with modern floor plans and amenities, such as the country farmhouse style or craftsman styles.

How do you go about designing a new plan? How much of the design process is based on the demands of the market, and how much of it is based on new ideas?

Jeff:In designing a new stock plan, I start with a target style and size. Then I basically fill in the blanks with features that I know are in demand. The design process constantly evolves as the plan is developed.

Is it true that 80% of the sales are from 20% of the designs?

Jeff: That is probably very close, however, just when I look at a plan as being fairly mediocre, it sells. What keeps us in business is that everybody wants something a little different. We spend a great deal of time discussing possible modifications to our designs.

What percentage of your plans are modified by the buyer? What type of modifications are the most common?

Jeff: That's hard to say since a lot of our sales are for modifiable drawings when the customer has changes made locally. The most common changes are simple stretches of plans to make certain rooms larger.

Where do you see housing design being in three, five, ten years from now? Any thing drastic on the horizon?

Jeff:I don't think we'll see anything drastic. Architectural design will continue to evolve at a steady rate.

With the high cost of energy in many parts of the country, is there any increase in demand in energy efficient homes? Do you think solar homes will make a comeback?

Jeff:Yes, we do. Most areas of the country are tightening up their energy codes. As for solar, it depends upon the area. In Seattle, for example, it is very difficult to justify the cost of a solar application when you don't see the sun during the seasons that you need heat.

What advice would you give a prospective home plan buyer on how to pick their dream house? What things are most often overlooked and where should they start?

Jeff: Start with your basic criteria. Size, type, etc. Then start refining from their. The most important aspect that they need to consider is the flow of the floor plan. In most cases, the exterior can take on whatever look they desire.

We have a section on our website where we list the designer's personal favorite design. Do you care to share your personal favorite design?

Jeff: I have spent the past 25 years, not allowing myself to prefer any certain style. This allows me more flexibility to design any style for any client.

Thank you Jeff for your insight and participation.

Next Issue: Kirya Duncan of Design Evolutions

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