The Forever Home: How to Work With an Architect to Design the Home of Your Dreams

by Kevin Harris

The Forever Home provides the foundation to
confidently explore what you want, plan your
dream home, and find the right professionals to
make it a reality.
Renowned architect Kevin Harris will guide you
through his proven, step-by-step process to design
and build a house that fits you so well it becomes
your forever home. No matter where you travel,
your forever home is the place you feel complete.
Inside these pages, you’ll learn how to:
• Determine when it makes
sense to hire an architect
• Evaluate and assemble the design team
and construction team that’s right for you
• Understand the residential
construction process
• Use the Hierarchy of Design to make
the most important decisions first
• Recognize the pitfalls and avoid
many common, but ill advised
cost-saving schemes
The Forever Home will pave the way for you to
design and build not only the home of your current
dreams, but the home that will be perfect for your
children, grandchildren, aging parents, and even
you later in life.

Genres: Architecture

179 pages, Hardcover

First published July 13, 2015

About the author

Kevin is a nationally-recognized expert and international speaker on single-family residential and renovation design. He has received more than a dozen design awards and has been published in over 50 books and publications including The New York Times, Smart Money, Southern Living, and Business Week. Kevin holds degrees from LSU's School of Architecture, and Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

Reviews

[Elena J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Forever Home: How To Work With An Architect To Design The Home Of Your Dreams by Kevin Harris is an essential guide for anyone ready to turn their vision of a dream home into reality. Drawing from decades of architectural expertise, Harris demystifies the design and construction process with clarity and care, ensuring readers not only understand the steps but feel confident in making decisions that will shape their lives for generations.

What makes this book stand out is its practical yet deeply personal approach. Harris emphasizes the idea of a "forever home" a place that evolves with you, accommodating children, grandchildren, aging parents, and your own future needs. From hiring the right professionals and avoiding common pitfalls to using his Hierarchy of Design method, Harris offers a structured, step-by-step framework that blends professional insight with practical wisdom.

The Forever Home is more than just a design manual it’s a roadmap to creating a home that reflects not only who you are today but also who you’ll become. It’s a timeless resource for homeowners, families, and dreamers who want a house that feels like home for a lifetime.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book.