I am currently in the process of getting fianncing arranged and speaking with contractors regarding an addition to my home. I want to add a mudroom/laundry and 2 car garage. I am a pretty accomplished DIYer but this is a bit over my head. So the plan is to have someone build the shell which I will then go back and finish as my time and $$ allow. Here’s the rub. My house is a split level with the kitchen and living room on the main floor (see pic attched). It looks just like every other split level in america buils during the 1980’s. The main level is 24′ deep and about 26′ wide as seen in the picture. If I go an add another 8′ wide mudroom and 28′ wide garage to the main level, the house is going to be overwhelmingly long and look funny in my estimation. I am looking for ways to break up the lines so the addition won’t look so awkward.
I am thinking of recessing the front wall of the laundry 4′ from the front so that it won’t be a continuous plane across the front of the house. I also though about adding a front porch with a roof across the front to separate the garage from the main floor and break up the LONG expanse.
Has anyone ever seen anything done creative yet simple to give this style of home a little more interest? We want to keep it simple as an extravagant addition would look silly on the simple lines of this house.
TIA for any thoughts, ideas, advice, etc. By the way- this is central MD.
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Not sure which you are considering the "main" section. Are you planning on adding on the the left or right side of the picture?
If you are adding to the left of where the triple window is, you might be able to add a false dormer (either a gable that echoes the gable on the right side of the house) or a shed centered over that triple window. This would visually raise that part of the house, and your new addition would step down from there. Hope this makes sense.
I'm sure you'll get more ideas from the pros.
To clarify for everyone's sake, we will add to the left side. Addition won't have brick front either, so I am trying to break that line also.
in that case, I'd need a floorplan to come up with a practical idea
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Design it yourself using Google's free 3D modeling software called Sketchup. Find it by starting at Google's main page.
Learning how to use it is fun and fast, and it will be well worth the effort.
Here is a model I snipped from their 3D Warehouse, a site where users share their work.
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Here is a garage I will build for someone starting next month.
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Here is a model from another contributor.
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It's not supposed to be free if you are using to present design ideas to clients.
My clients get 2D plans, elevations, and details, all done with my Cadkey 97 software. The Cadkey package can produce nice hidden-line renderings with perspective, as well.
The free Google package cannot produce scaled printing, nor views for printing without perspective, so is of little use for me in producing working drawings.
It is super, however, for doodling up design studies, which is what I use it for.
I thought about your plan Piff- problem is, right side is reserved for existing septic drainfield and two replacements fields.
Actually, Sketchup can produce elevations and plan views. I discovered this by accident. Cool feature.
You are absolutely right! Go to "camera," turn off "perspective," then select views "standard." Scroll through "top," "front," "left," etc. Cool!
Gene - Just curious, on that garage, did have t0 draw each framing member individually, or is there a feature that allows them to be replicated?
Create one stud, group it, select it, do MOVE/COPY, key in 16 in the direction you want to go, key in 6, or 10, or however studs you want to place out along the layout, and ENTER, and there's your framing.
During the "build," it is easiest to simply have created, a 2x6 by say, 12-inch length, over in your "lumber pile" of the one piece, then select it, copy it, edit it to the length you want, and place it however needed. The select-move/copy thing is then done to place them all in a layout like stud framing.
I do that . . . my "lumber pile" being just a 12-inch length of every size of framing needed . . . 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, LVL's, etc.
Framing in Sketchup is just like framing for real, except that it is virtual. Plates first, etc.
don't think of it as two separate rooms. Place the utility room in the garage space and make it large enough to accomadate.
My first impression is to place a wing on the right for this that is similar to the left wing, then the facade is in balance equally both ways. This would require that you approch the garage doors from the right side - is there room enough for access there?
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Commonly the two story portion is bedrooms & such. The single story is great room, kitchen.
By balancing on the right would cause the grocery carrier to go down a half flight and back up the same to get to the reefer or pantry. However, it would put the laundry closer to the source of dirty clothes.
Frankly, there's 100 million of these layouts out there. The OP only needs to drive around his neighborhood for some decent ideas.
Thanks Gene- I will try it out.
I love projects like this! It's all about the integration.
Firstly, I would make the double garage have a gable facing forward - garage doors ideally on the end (eave) side, but maybe that's not practical. Really big (overscaled) garage windows with sheers, and an interesting gable window(s) above in the attic or bonus room - if you overscale all the fenestration and trim relative to the old house, the addition will look smaller. Turning the garage also might make its short side face the street.
Bring the front of the new garage wall out to the plane of the 2nd story, or perhaps a couple feet further. Laundry goes in the back of the garage, adding to its depth but not width. Also make the garage slab as low as possible, grade allowing, to give most headroom in the bonus room. If you don't have tall vehicles, you can do an 8' tall garage, but 9' is better.
I feel that houses like this need some vertical elements to balance the horizontal line.
Also, a gabled portico, or at least a rooflet, over the front door, taking care not to make a snow-catcher valley to the right side.
Attach more pix and some dimensions! -
Forrest
I like McDesign's idea as well. You will need about 22 ' to the left of the structure for a turn around area. Make sure the roof pitch mathes the existing. If a second floor is in the budget you can match the ridge height of the right side of the house and have a bonus room.
A year or two ago there was an article in the local paper about updating houses. And they had some picture of ones down locally.
Also had some reference to a book of designs. At the time I could not find it, but googling I found some places in Mn and also the east coast that showed some made over house.
At least one was a split level and the before and after pics where dramatic.
But I don't have the slightest idea of what I used to find them.