For many the idea of your dream home is not buying a bigger home，but a home that you have built by yourself. A house that is unique and fit for your tastes and your lifestyle. It sounds great but where do you begin to design your dream home? Here is a quick guide that can help you make your dreams come true. The first step is to get an idea of what type of home you want. You can get inspiration from others. Drive around to neighbourhoods that have the styles of homes you like and take pictures. You can also cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers, or print out pictures you find on the Internet. The next step will be to make two lists of items for yourself. The first list will be those items or features that you feel your new home must have，such as granite counter tops or a hot water heater. The second list will be those items or features that are on your wish list like a fireplace or slate floors. At this point you will probably have a good idea of what your dream home will look like, so you will need to seek some professional help. You will need to hire an architect to put your ideas down on paper.You may need to interview a few different architects to find one that you are comfortable with. Make sure whomever you choose for final drawings has a full understanding of local building codes and zoning by­laws. In any ease your final plan will need to be approved by the city and a building permit must be obtained before any construction can begin. It is time to look for a contractor(承包人). Whichever way you can do it in, be sure you are comfortable with your contractor and you have got references from his past clients. Remember the more homework you do in the beginning, the more enjoyable the process will be.