House construction equipment, extras - what goes in!

I see the shutters differently. At least I would build in a way that allows for electric shutters to be retrofitted. NOW most people are still healthy. But building a house pays off all the more the longer you can live in it. Therefore, I would build in a way that makes it easier to retrofit accessibility features. Accessibility does not only mean without thresholds and steps (if there is a staircase, the possibility to retrofit lifts). It also means enough free movement space at the doors, in the bathroom, and, among other things, electric shutters. Eventually, everyone’s shoulders give out and you can’t even lift your arms high enough to operate something like that, or you lack the strength because the shoulders and hands are simply damaged. Furthermore, a walk-in shower on the ground floor and such things I would already plan for, as this cannot be retrofitted later, since the screed must be recessed at that spot to have enough slope.

All this sounds ridiculous to most people when they are 30, 40, maybe still 50. But those who are older or have already been seriously injured (happened to me) suddenly see all the obstacles and hardships and appreciate their absence.

These are my ideas for extras that do not cost much more in new construction and increase the resale value, but become expensive if you have to retrofit them.

These are very good arguments that we have already implemented in the layout!

So I think going to every window to raise and lower the shutters is "saving in the wrong place."

I think something like that has to be automatic nowadays... for me everything goes up and down when it gets light/dark... so you don't have to run around the house every evening/morning... it does it all by itself...

Useful/visually appealing things in the house:

- Außenjalousien
- Larger interior doors
- expandable electrical system
- enough sockets
- roof shapes/dormers
- bus systems
- waste disposers
- wooden stairs
- network sockets in every room
- level-access showers
- large bathtubs
- etc.

Well, I think going to every window to raise and lower the shutters is "penny wise, pound foolish."

I think that nowadays it should be automatic... for me everything goes up and down when it gets light/dark... so you don’t have to run around the house every evening/morning... it does it all by itself...

For me other things happen "completely automatically."

Why do you close the shutters, mycraft? I mean, I’m asking, what purpose do the shutters serve for you? Privacy? Burglary protection? Locking yourself in? Light protection?

so what we found practical or our luxury

- we have partitioned off a small room upstairs, 4-5 sqm in size. There we will accommodate the washing machine and dryer. We believe all laundry occurs upstairs. Otherwise, you carry it down to wash it and then carry it back up after washing. This way, everything is on one floor. We found that practical.

- gas line in the kitchen. We plan a gas cooktop, for which we need gas in/on the island

- central vacuum: We plan a central vacuum with an automatic hose retraction in the wall

- camera surveillance: Provide corresponding sockets and empty conduits in the attic to be able to lead the cables later into the utility room because

- server cabinet in the utility room: As a previous speaker mentioned, we also plan a server cabinet in the utility room with patch panel and all the PIPAPO

- I would provide a network outlet next to every TV connection, as nowadays hardly any TV is "non-smart" anymore

- electric shutters, we have provided a central switch so we don't have to walk from window to window to lower all shutters

- high-voltage connection at the carport

- storage room under the concrete staircase (especially in houses without a basement, you should take every storage opportunity)

- in our Stadville we did not plan lighting under the kitchen cabinets, but facade lights that shine both downwards and upwards. For that, plan enough wall outlets on the facade, we have 10

- ceiling spots in the concrete ceiling: Provide Halox profiles when casting the precast ceiling. We planned 30 ceiling spots on the ground floor.

- raised ceiling height: Especially in larger rooms like the living and dining area, this works very well if the ceiling is raised by at least the height of one brick. Otherwise, the ceiling feels "oppressive"

- instead of a tiled walk-in shower, I would recommend the Conoflat series from Kaldewei. With tiles, the grout gets pretty "grimy" after some time. We install the Conoflat trays

- built-in shower head, we find it chic

- wall-recessed sliding doors between living-dining area and kitchen. Since we often cook quite heavily, an open kitchen was not an option for us, but we didn’t want to completely separate this area either.

- outdoor sockets, preferably switchable from inside

These are my very personal tips, without obligation and with no claim to be the best solution

For me, other things happen "completely automatically"

Why do you close the roller shutters, mycraft? I mean, what purpose do roller shutters serve for you?
Privacy? Burglary protection? Locking yourself in? Light protection?

for me, even more things are automatic, not just roller shutters.. otherwise, they serve as you already wrote:

Privacy protection
Burglary protection
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