What style would you build?
I have been in the building industry for the last 20 years+ and mainly my expertise is cabinetry, carpentry, and furniture, but I have done most other phases of construction and I am quite competent at them if not, I have a good idea when something is done right or wrong. I just can’t do the physical stuff because of 5 major surgeries. I will be doing the cabinetry, even if it kills me!
We are almost ready to start on a lake front home in S/W Washington State. We are a mile from the ocean and a mile from the bay. The view looking toward the lake is West/Southwest, so we will get the afternoon sun and beautiful sunsets. I have been told the sun sets at 10:00 at night in the summer. A lot of the lakefront homes are of the Chalet style where the “A Frame”portion is mostly windows and is vaulted to the roof line in the main living area. This gives you the maximum lake view. And, of course, it rains ALOT. Winters are in the 40-50’s’s during the day and it doesn’t freeze that much or really even snow because we are right near the ocean and on a lake. The temp is about 10 degrees warmer than Seattle in the winter. The Summers are in the 80’s. The lot is 67 1/2′ wide by 180′ deep. This brings me to my question, How would you build it? What style, meaning how many floors-1 or 2, etc? We are looking at a 2 story with a wrap around porch on the front(Road side), one side, and the rear(lakeside). The master bedroom is downstairs and 2-3 bdrms up stairs. Do any of you have a a large porch overhang with a lakeview and regret not having a more open view of the lake? Would you still prefer to a single story home? There are a lot of older people in this area and do you thing that market value would be better to build only one story?. A two story with a vaulted ceiling in the Main family room would allow us to eventually joist in the about area so to enable us to add a additional bedroom/ gameroom( I must have my pool table, If I can). We don’t want to add the additional floor space until later when we are sure we can there is enough money to afford it. ( I.E. the rest of the home and property is done) Doing the addition later is really no big deal, Every thing will be run for the later improvement during the original construction The main floor will be 9′ ceilings. If we go 2 story, do you think a spiral stair case is practical, or should I go this a conventional stair system.( I have never done a stair case and can’t wait to build one! Radius work has been my specialty for many years) There is one bath upstairs, one downstairs in the master and no powder, which I realize this is a little inconvenient, but square footage cost is a major issue since it will be built out of pocket and no financing. Two different builders have quoted to build by the square foot, and they don’t really care if it is 1 or 2 stories, the price is the same and they are within a few dollars of themselves. From what I have told you, where do you guys think I am going wrong? Any better suggestions, and what would you do different? All suggestions/input will be taken seriously. Many thanks in advance
Replies
hey - I'll bump this back to the top for ya - - and suggest you think about using paragraphs to make your post easier to read -
get a copy (worth buying) of 'A Pattern Language' - Christopher Alexander - and use it to help you develop a plan - - just my suggestion, but don't let the veiw overwhelm the plan - a comfortable house with 'Zen veiw' and and a comfortable common room that makes the most of the veiw - - follow your bliss -
Yeah, I know all about paragraphs from high school, about 22 years ago... Just when I'm on a roll, I tend to put it all together in one thought. Isn't one thought one paragraph? When in a hurry, do like others do on this site make one paragraph. I needed to get out of the house a visit my mom for lunch an hour away and I was 30 min. behind schedule and would not be returning until late, Calif time. Want to get this posted before all of you Easterners go to bed and before everyone goes to work Monday morning.
This is really important to me(See, new paragraph :-) I need to get the last input before I leave again up North with our final decision for the contractor. One we are set to roll, There will be NO more changes. And I mean NO more. What ever the regret is or will be I/we will live with it, or until we can afford to change it, which will probably be never. I'd rather buy a new boat than do a remodel. Plus, the kids (17,12,10) will be gone soon, unless there comes a grandkid in the near future. In that case my Ecuadorian wife will do the "Loraina Bobbit" on someone. (Did you know who Loraina Bobbit is and what she is known for?)
Hope you'all enjoy the new week. -Brian
Several thoughts that seem to stick in my mind, that I feel you should consider, Some rooms don't need a view. Square should be cheapest shape. Two floors use less foundation and roofing than one stories. Stairs are harder as we age. Footprint limitations. If you were going to resell, do you want to be just another A-frame, or the only _____ available in your area. Sometimes unique can work in your favor. Capture the view, but make sure that your house is what you want, you can always go outside to look. Just thoughts, feel free to ignore all if you want. I am building a sort of J shaped rambler that is really screwed up for efficient use of floor space, but it works great for us! And that is what counts.
Dan PS we talking Ocean Shores???
" Isn't one thought one paragraph? When in a hurry, do like others do on this site make one paragraph."
Usually when see long stream of "consciences" or "unconsciences" symbols like that I most often just skip the message. One thing is that I have a real problem of just losing my plance.
But since this is something that I am particular interested in and while I really like my house there have been a couple of points that have really bugged me and it has take a long time to figure out exactly what it was.
Nowever, I did not really read all of what you wrote and just skimmed it and might have missed some important bits.
" I need to get the last input before I leave again up North with our final decision for the contractor."
Like this. I thought that you where in the design phase.
I agree with David. Specially about the paragraphs. White space makes all of the difference as does time trim in a home.
And I agree about getting a Pattern Language. Also the new Taunton book Patterns of Home.
Now a lot of it sound artsies fartsie and it is it. But there will be a lot of good thoughts in there also.
For example they often talk about small alcove and lowered ceiling for more intimate space. I wish that I had added some in my house.
But on the other hand they talk about having lowered ceiling in bedrooms, but mine has a shed roof/ceiling with a clearstory wall. And the clearstory window get the east sun and I just lover the affect.
Also Sarah Susanka's books.
" front(Road side)"
"the rear(lakeside)"
Repeat after me. The Front is on the lake side. The rear is on the road side. Come I can'e hear you. Repeat after me, the front side is the lake side. The rear side is the road side.
Now I life on a small lake and that is basically how most of the house around here are designed. In my case ALL you see from the road is the garage and an elevated walkway that leads into the top of the house.
Now I am on a hillside so that makes a lot of difference in the desing. Also I have strange shapped lot with encroachment on the road side so I don't have a lot space on that side and it limited the design.
" Do any of you have a a large porch overhang with a lakeview and regret not having a more open view of the lake? "
I am sure what you mean. My kitchen/dining/living area are on the lower with a patio. On the 2 nd floor is the bedrooms and offic and a deck. However, because of the treeds. But more important I don't have go outside from the 2nd level.
Because the deck needs to be replace and the doors out to it have have leak problems for the last 20 years I am going to replace the deck with a porch roof for the first level patio and replace the doors with windows.
Now while I did provide a lot of access to the outside I did not so it correctly to have a "free flow" between the two. I need some transition between the two. So off the side of the house which is the main path between the outdoor siting area and the kitchen and also the main entrance for guest is just a large bare pation on the south side and is other wise not used. I plan on puting in a sunroom/screen room (and also extend the 2nd floor to increase the size of my office). The books referenced above discuss this issue
Another thing is that windows in the living room cut off the view becasue of the downward slope.
So I plan on doing so rearagnement and replace the windows and a door with a large 8-9 ft patio door.
Which side is facing the lake?? The rear??? Unless seeing the view while doing the dishes is important, turn the thing around. The front should face the lake. (and as the earlier poster stated, the side that faces the lake IS the front).
I'm assuming that the house is up a bit from the lake...
Then...the windows on the front in the great room should go almost from the floor (most important) to the ceiling. This preserves as much view as possible from as far into the house as possible.
This is based solely on spending a lot of time in a lake cottage as a kid.
Another day, another tool.
well, since you asked....
as I review the plans, it appears to me that your house has a split personality -
the kitchen is the most used room in our home
but if I understand the orientation correctly it is positioned opposite the lake side, and the deck that you wonder about covering (do it) will not have the view - -
if you want the dramatic indoor view, you need to orient the gable toward the view and have the tall ceiling in that area - from 15' back in a 9' ceilinged room it doesn't matter if the porch is covered or not, you don't have the sky veiw -
here's three picts of a relative's lake house and how they utilized the asset - (very well in my opinion) - first is from the back (road side) toward the front (lake side) - kitchen on the left, covered deck and outside cooking/eating - -
second from the table outside (also looking west-southwest)
third is the 10PM sunset from the lower/major entertaining level
Edited 4/28/2003 10:54:04 PM ET by David Doud
I must admit that I am confused as to which is going where, but then that is normal for me. Without seeing the site, and all the views of the plan at once, I am not really much help. There are two ways to maximize the view, make the house long on the side that looks toward the view, or turn the gable that direction and use BBIIIGGGG windows to let it in. I think that you are heading in the gable direction so turn it accordingly. If you are leaving soon, will you be back in time to be on hand for construction, or do you have COMPLETE confidence in the builder? Danger Danger
You might want to consider a roof on just part of the deck, so when sun does come out it can be enjoyed, but roof enough to use when raining. Might also want to put the woodstove back in, for when the power goes out, and it does so enough to make it an idea to think about. I am about 2500 miles SW of there now, but have spent some time across the bay at Westport, so know the area. Think about wind driven rain when picking materials, and keep the water out. Have fun, and relax. Its just a house.
Dan
It looks like the deck side of your house coincides with the 'rear rendering', is that correct? If that's the lake side, then you might reconsider the floor plan a little. Unless you spend a whole lot of time sitting in the tub gazing out the window? If it were me, I'd slide the bathroom to the other side of the house (dollars permitting) extend the deck a little farther, and put doors there to allow access from the MBR to the deck. And because I'm a slob I'd move the closet to the other end of the bedroom so guests coming in through the mud room (having been engaged in some fun lake activity and not wanting to track mud into your dining room) will not have a view of my closet. If you stick the bathroom in the opposite corner and rethink the stairs a little, you can still use that bathroom as the bath for guests. I'd turn that island in the kitchen so people sitting at it can look out the window, and I'd enlarge the window because it looks like that borrowed view is all you get in the great room. As for views from the deck, just cover one end and leave the rest open - then you get your choice depending on the weather.
Have I spent enough of your money?
The "front rendering" is the side that faces the lake. I will look into moving the bath around like you have said. The thought of the open bathroom to the closet and bedroom doesn't bother us but, I think you are right. It would bother others. I'm not sure I want the bath at the end, towards the lake. The decorative door on the front rendering and the windows on the side near the dining room will be replaced with some type of larges windows as to open up to the outside. I think you are right about the Island, one of the things I have been working on. I am also considering not putting in the side covered porch, but I think it will be one of the last minute decisions. The fireplace was removed and a wood stove will be put in the family room, probably in the corner where the 2 decks meet. The Windows will be as tall as possible, which is another issue that we need to deal with- energy efficiency.
The open, vaulted areas upstairs will eventually be closed in so as to give us the game room that we have wanted. I'd rather do it now, but running out of money is always a concern. It's not that big of a deal to joist out the upstairs later. I just need to make sure everything is stubbed out so we can tie into the existing. This goes for all of the mechanicals.
I will be at the construction sit the whole time. I just need to be down in SoCal until the kids are out of school. I have a 1300sq' shop going in first. That's where all the interior carpentry and cabinetry will be done. Got to have a place for the tools. The shop is the priority, of course. Once the kids are out of school, will will live on the property until the home is done. I will be taking the trailer up there when I meet with the contractor on the next trip.
Any other suggestions from anybody?