Sketches on Shelter and Sense

For most of us, a home is more than a structure — it’s a long-term companion. It holds our work, sleep, silence, and noise. And when you’re building it yourself or choosing one to buy, every detail becomes personal. I’ve been on job sites where a misaligned window turns into years of discomfort, and in quiet mountain homes where a wise roof pitch meant comfort through every season. Here’s what I’ve learned — and what I think is worth your time to reflect on — before you make one of the biggest choices of your life.

Where It Sits: The Land Shapes the Home

The foundation of any good home isn’t concrete — it’s context. I’ve seen folks fall in love with blueprints, only to battle the land for decades. Hills, wind corridors, water runoff, sunlight paths — they don’t care what’s on your Pinterest board.

A good spot welcomes your home rather than resisting it. If you’re building, walk the site at sunrise and sundown. Notice shadows, wind behavior, soil condition, and sounds. That late-evening sun glare? It’s real. That slope that looks gentle now? Wait until the first rain.

No amount of design fixes a home built in defiance of the land.

If you’re buying, ask how water flows on heavy rain days. Are there retaining walls, French drains, or signs of erosion? Does the land have good drainage or is it swampy after storms? These things aren’t glamorous, but they shape whether your home stays dry and solid or becomes a slow-burn headache.

The Skeleton Matters: Structure and Materials

Whether you’re buying or building, always dig into the bones. What’s the frame made of? How old is it? What kind of insulation is tucked in the walls — or missing altogether?

In building, I always encourage folks to consider not just what’s cheap, but what’s accessible and durable in your climate. Where I live, we battle humidity and big seasonal swings. That means rot-resistant woods, breathable wall assemblies, and materials that can expand and contract without cracking or warping.

If buying, don’t be shy about crawling under the house or poking around the attic. Look for mold, rusted metal ties, sagging beams, patched-over water stains.

If you’re relying on finishes to fix the house, you’re fixing the wrong part.

Ask questions like: How old is the roofing material? Has the foundation settled? Is there vapor barrier in the crawlspace or insulation in the attic?

Heat, Light, Air: The Invisible Essentials

You won’t see them in the real estate brochure, but airflow, natural light, and passive heating are what make a house feel good year-round. I’ve lived in cabins where a well-placed window replaced air conditioning, and in townhouses where poor ventilation made summers unbearable.

Orientation matters. South-facing windows (in the northern hemisphere) bring light and warmth in winter. Roof overhangs can block summer sun. Cross-breezes — from smart window placement — reduce the need for mechanical cooling.

When building, these things can be planned in. When buying, observe: Which rooms feel stuffy? Where does the light fall in the afternoon? Are there trees that shade the house naturally?

You can’t install comfort after the fact — you either design for it, or you miss it forever.

Also, ask what kind of heating and cooling system is in place. Is it efficient? Is it easy to maintain or repair locally? These things aren’t sexy, but they’re expensive to retrofit.

Human Scale: Size, Layout, and How You Actually Live

I’ve built huge houses for small families, and tiny houses for people who love to cook, host, and tinker. What I’ve seen is this: square footage rarely equals happiness. But how a home flows — that’s everything.

Walk through the space (real or on plan) and imagine your daily rhythm. Is there light where you drink coffee? Is the bathroom placed in a way that offers privacy, or does it open into the kitchen? Is there storage for muddy boots before they hit the living room?

Kitchens are often overdesigned. But in practice, most people use the same two counters over and over. Focus on flow. Can two people cook together without dancing awkwardly around each other?

If you’re building, mock things up with tape on the floor. Walk it. Live it, in your imagination. And if you’re buying, visit more than once, at different times of day. Try to feel where your life would stretch, and where it might feel cramped.

A good home doesn’t just shelter — it supports the way you move, rest, and gather.

The Wildcards: Water, Waste, and What Could Go Wrong

Let’s talk about what people don’t talk about. If your house is off-grid or rural, how’s the water supply? Is there a well? What’s the pressure and flow rate? Has the water been tested?

Sewage is even more overlooked. If you’re not on a city line, you’re on septic — and a poorly placed, undersized, or failing system can be a costly surprise. Ask how old it is, when it was last inspected, and how often it needs pumping.

Check local zoning and future development plans. That gorgeous field next door might become a shopping center in two years. Is the area known for flooding? Landslides? What’s the fire history?

You’re not just buying a home — you’re inheriting its problems, too.

So, get nosy. Ask neighbors. Look at permits. Check maps. Pay attention to how nature behaves in that place, and how human systems handle it.

A Few Quiet Thoughts

A house is a big decision. But it doesn’t have to be a blind one. Whether you’re buying or building, let yourself slow down. Listen to the land, learn from the layout, feel how light and air move through space. In the long run, it’s not about perfection — it’s about belonging. And that comes when your house fits your life, and not the other way around.