05 — Interior Design & Finishes

Status: Scaffold only. Will populate as design decisions firm up alongside Tasks 2 and 3. Owner: Cowork (advisory finish-level guidance) → interior designer (real selections)


Headline finish features (locked-in)

FeatureNotes
Master suite saunaType (dry/infrared/traditional) and footprint TBD — affects MEP
Radiant floor heating throughoutDrives flooring material selection (limits / favors certain woods, tile, LVP)
High-ceiling great roomDrives lighting, acoustic, and HVAC return-air strategy
Open floor planDrives flooring continuity, kitchen visibility, range hood selection

Working finish-level strategy

The $1.05M construction budget on 4,000 sq ft can't sustain pure top-tier finish across the whole house. Plan to dial finish level by zone:

ZoneSuggested finish levelWhy
Great room, kitchen, master suite, master bath, primary entryTop tierVisible / used daily / resale-defining
Secondary bedrooms, secondary baths, officeSolid mid-tierFunction over flash, easy upgrade later
Laundry, mudroom, mechanical, garageBuilder-grade durableWorkhorse spaces
Basement (if finished)Phase 2 — finish after COOff the critical-path budget

Topics to populate as the project moves forward

  1. Flooring schedule — wood species / engineered vs. solid, tile zones, transitions over radiant.
  2. Kitchen — cabinetry tier, countertop material, range / hood selection, panel-ready appliances vs. stainless.
  3. Master bath — tile spec, shower glass, vanity, freestanding vs. drop-in tub.
  4. Sauna package — brand / model / wood (cedar vs. hemlock vs. basswood), heater type, ventilation.
  5. Lighting plan — recessed strategy, statement fixtures by room, smart-home integration.
  6. Plumbing fixture schedule.
  7. Door / trim / hardware package.
  8. Paint palette (interior + exterior).
  9. Countertop / backsplash package.
  10. Built-ins (great room, office, mudroom).

Decisions deferred until later

  • Smart-home / home-automation scope (Lutron, Control4, Savant, or DIY).
  • Solar / battery storage on roof.
  • EV charger count + amp service in garage.
  • Outdoor kitchen on rear elevation.

These show up later — they affect rough-in but not schematic design.