Plan Number 56576

The key elements of functionality, flexibility and value are all addressed in this design.  The first floor offers an open concept living space with subtle definition of the kitchen, family and dining areas by the use of columns and ceiling height variations.  Views of the courtyard and optional pool area are available form each room on the first level.  One of the most functional spaces in the home is theResourceCenter.  With a place for a computer, file drawers, desk space and plenty of storage, this area provides plenty of room to manage all the household activities.  Both the formal front entry and the “family entry” from the garage and courtyard each open into a central Gallery.  With the “drop zone” and stair access to the second floor, this centrally located Gallery provides excellent traffic flow along with an attractive and yet functional area for the homeowner and guests to enter the home.

The optional Casita offers a space that is not only multi-functional, but also an area that can evolve with the homeowner’s lifestyle.  While it’s the ideal location for an elderly parent, it also becomes the perfect home office, suite for an older child living at home, or a private guest quarters.  It could even function as a pool cabana/game area.

The second floor with two bedrooms and a loft is essentially an attic area above the garage resulting in economical construction costs. It becomes an ideal place for children or grandchildren.

Plan Number 56504

The design of smaller kitchens involves the challenge of creating an open layout while maintaining adequate counter work space and ample upper cabinet storage.  One of the key elements involves a plan that directs the traffic flow around the kitchen and not through it.  In addition to the kitchen being the focal point of every home, it also often doubles as the “command center.”  With this 1400 sq. ft. design, the daily routines of paying bills and organizing activities takes place in the adjacent “Resource Center” with dedicated space for a desk, computer and file drawers.  The conveniently located “drop zone” provides special cubbies for mail, keys, cell phones and all of the other items that are typically “dropped” on the kitchen counter creating clutter and taking up valuable space. Adding to the efficiency is a space-saving “pantry wall” with a combination of open and closed shelves.

Traffic flow throughout a home always proves important in the placement of furniture and the overall feeling of spaciousness.  This consideration becomes even more critical with the location and layout of the kitchen.

Plan Number 56531

While this 2400 sq. ft. design utilizes an open concept for the kitchen/dining/family areas, note that the kitchen is actually recessed into an alcove. Thickened walls and headers create cased openings that define each of these areas while maintaining the open feeling.  Directing traffic “by” the kitchen but not “through” the area provides a secluded cooking and working space while still allowing guests to feel as though they?re in the kitchen.  The island provides additional room for food preparation along with an informal dining table.

Although the windows in the dining and family areas allow views towards the side and rear yard, it?s the triple windows over the sink that fill the kitchen with natural light.  Conveniently located adjacent to the kitchen is the laundry area and a pantry.

In many homes, the kitchen also doubles as the place to sort mail, pay bills and store cookbooks and recipes.  However, this design has incorporated a “Resource Center” where these daily tasks can be organized.  With windows overlooking the backyard, this space becomes an ideal spot to organize the household while watching the children play.  It?s easily accessible and yet secluded from the open view of guests.

Credit: Larry W. Garnett, FAIBD

Plan Number 56541 Pool Pavilion

The design of any outdoor space is every bit as important as a home’s interior layout.  Just as walls, ceilings, and flooring define indoor spaces, outdoor living areas also require similar definitions.  The use of various surface textures such as decking, pavers, crushed granite, and concrete can begin to define the outdoor functions.  Structures, whether covered or open create “zones” for recreation, cooking, and visiting.

As our clients are faced with increasing transportation costs, functional and appealing outdoor entertaining areas are moving higher up the request list.  The ability to spend weekends and vacations in your own personal “mini resort” adds value to new homes and offers endless possibilities for upgrading existing homes.

Our design team has responded this month with outdoor living concepts that include pool houses, outdoor kitchens and even small vegetable gardens. Each of these designs offers intriguing ways to extend living space into the outdoors.

Plan Number 56541

This courtyard home encourages an enjoyment of the outdoor spaces by creating a series of connections between the inside and outside living areas.  From the Gallery entryway, there is an immediate view towards the covered porches and pool area.  Expansive windows offer unobstructed views as you proceed through the house.  The angled walls throughout the home form an axis that aligns with the pool pavilion.  While this outdoor structure defines the far edge of the courtyard, it also offers additional covered living and dining space.  With a kitchen and fireplace, this area is perfect for entertaining.  The half bath and storage area prove to be essential components for a pool house.

While in the courtyard and pool area, a view back towards the main house reveals the large glass panels and multiple French doors that seem to erase the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. From inside the home, these same doors and windows extend the visual dimensions of the rooms and allow a combination of light and shadows that change as the day progresses.  Essentially, the courtyard provides and enormous amount of natural light into the home, while offering a sense of privacy to the outdoor living space.

Credit: Larry W. Garnett, FAIBD

Plan Number 30504

This two-bedroom cottage could provide the perfect solution for first time buyers, baby boomers, and many others!

The core design offers a two-bedroom open floor plan with plenty of windows for natural light and cross ventilation. However, if the need arises for more space, the options are exciting.  First, a central staircase leads to a second floor that easily transforms from attic storage to either an additional two bedrooms or a game room/media center. The quaint two-bedroom cottage now becomes a four bed-room home, while retaining its ar-chitectural integrity.

If the upstairs optional area still doesn’t provide enough space, two more bedrooms can easily be added to the side of the home.  The al-ready spacious hall bath easily ac-commodates these new rooms.

Plan Number 30504

The detached garage could be built along with the home, or, depending on the finances, constructed later.  The “carport” easily transforms into a spacious outdoor living area.  Combined with the optional kitchen and toilet room in the ga-rage, the entire space offers an effi-cient alternative to a separate and costly “outdoor kitchen.”

Garages that double as outdoor living spaces can have a dramatic impact on a neighborhood of homes with garages located at a rear alley.  Imagine the added activity along what is often just a narrow passageway for cars!  Weekend cookouts could easily transform the alley into a “people place” and a safe area for the children to play.

Plan Number 30502

It’s not unusual to see lots in both infill areas and newly planned developments ranging from 30 to 55 feet in width. Creating functional floor plans, elevations with curb appeal, and overall site planning can be extremely challenging. Nevertheless, carefully conceived narrow-lot projects offer the desirable combination of privacy, low maintenance, and innovative architectural design that appeals to a variety of market segments.

Our design team offers a variety of narrow-lot solutions that address such critical elements as garage placement and the value of side yards.

Designed to fit on lots ranging from 42 to 55 feet wide, this home offers several design elements that take advantage of a narrow site. The expansive wraparound porch establishes a strong connection with the front sidewalk and neighborhood, while the arbor gates open to a more secluded side yard with just the right amount of low-maintenance outdoor space for entertaining.

Interior Rendering

Although the garage could be placed to the side of thehouse on a wider lot, the narrow lot with alley access as shownallows for an efficient and cozy site layout. The optional living quarters above becomes one of the most important and flexible elements of the design. Ideal as a guest suite or home office, this area might also become an income-producing rental in neighborhoods with progressive restrictions.

The open floor plan of the main house acknowledges the kitchen as the focal point of the home. Expansive windows offer views from the dining and kitchen area to the private side yard. Large windows in the living room provide plenty of natural lightand cross-ventilation, while 10-foot ceilings throughout thehome add to the openness.

Traffic flow, often one of the most challenging elements of narrow-lot designs, is successfully addressed here. Notice how the logical “paths” allow passage from one area of the home to another without having to walk diagonally through any room. This results in rooms that are not only easier to furnish, but also require less square footage.

Plan Number 30503

From an actual day-today living experience, it’s often the details such asstorage and functionality that make any home enjoyable. Linen cabinets in each bathroom, a built-in pantry in the kitchen, and a window and counter space in the laundry room are all greatly appreciated. Perhaps the most functional area, however, is the “drop zone.” Here, you’ll find dedicated storage for the mail, keys, cellphones, and all of the other items that are typically tossed on the kitchen counter.

Finally, the exterior design features a careful blend of materialsand details resulting in and a well-proportioned and traditionally inspired cottage. However, closer inspection reveals that the home is actually a very economical rectangle that utilizes simpleand straight forward roof forms.

massing, roof forms, and scale of each exterior design.

Plan Number 30501

These considerations – along with the appropriate selection of materials – ensure that, while the designs might not exactly replicate the look of nearby properties, they will be compatible.

The economics of most infill projects require high-density sites. Therefore, one of the most important features of any infill design is the creation of private, yet open outdoor space. This design features a private side yard and porch with views from the living/dining area, kitchen, master bedroom, and upstairs study/bedroom.The exterior materials utilize durable cement-fiber horizontal and vertical (batt and board) siding, along with metal roofing. The raised front porch and wrought-iron gate leading to the side porch offer views to the neighborhood, while maintaining a sense of privacy.

The first-floor master bedroom provides easy access from the rest of the house, while still maintaining a sense of seclusion. Ten-foot ceilings and 32-inch-wide doors enhance the open design of the first floor. A “drop zone” adjacent to kitchen becomes a functional place to organize daily tasks with dedicated spaces
for mail, keys, cell phones, and other items commonly placed on the kitchen counter.

Plan Number 30501

Large windows with transoms along the dining and kitchen areas allow for plenty of natural light and views to the side courtyard. Traffic patterns throughout the first floor provide for functional placement of furniture. The living room arrangement allows generous seating with ideal views of the fireplace and flat-screen TV above, along with great views toward the front yard.

Upstairs, a cozy library loft with built-in bookcases offers the perfect place to read and relax. The third bedroom can easily transform into a private study, game area, or media room. Double French doors open to a covered porch overlooking the side courtyard below. The staircase design features a landing that is separated from the expansive front windows by a railing and open space. This, along with the upper windows on the front and side, creates a distinctive and light-filled focal point of the home. Depending on the lot size and location, a detached garage can easily be placed to the side or rear of the home.

The front door and entry, for instance, require special attention, since this area normally provides the first and last impression of any home. The size allocated to a foyer continues to be the subject of debate within the design community. While grand entries with elaborate staircases and 20-foot ceilings continue to be built, some designers and architects consider a more subdued space with lower ceilings and a functional stair design to be what many people prefer. Entering a home with an enormous expanse of white walls can be rather overwhelming, as opposed to the warm welcome one might feel in a cozier space.

Consider borrowing an idea from Frank Lloyd Wright. Instead of designing massive entries, Wright often used lower ceilings as transitions to rooms with larger proportions and higher ceilings. Rather than being overwhelmed by the foyer, you have a sense of being drawn toward the next room. However, Wright stood about five feet five inches and stubbornly thought everyone should relate to spaces just as he did! Nevertheless, Wright’s theory seems valid in most cases. The overall success of individual rooms and their relationship to one another are the essence of any home. The experience of traveling through a home can be either uneventful or emotionally gratifying.

While this may sound a bit too philosophical, consider why you’re building your new home in the first place. Though housing must first be considered as shelter, we all know that our homes are much more than mere protection from the elements. Regardless of the size or cost of our homes, they become a reflection of our personalities. Part of this statement bears repeating: regardless of the size. You may have had the experience of walking into an enormous house that obviously was built with an unlimited budget but somehow, beyond its uniqueness and grandeur, simply doesn’t feel inviting. It is not a place where you would feel comfortable relaxing with a good book, watching television, or simply interacting with your family. On the other hand, recall some of the small and often inexpensive homes you’ve visited that exude a wonderful sense of warmth and invitation – homes that say, “Come on in, kick off your shoes, and relax!”

The front door and entry require special attention. Thick walls with an arched opening de?ne the foyer and adjacent gallery. A 12-foot vaulted ceiling in the family room seems even more impressive when you enter from the foyer with its lower 9-foot ceiling. Plan Number: 56543

The family area in this efficiently designed cottage is a comfortable place to watch television or enjoy conversation. Traffic flows past the seating arrangement instead of through the room, eliminating the need for large square footage. The compact size and built-in bookcases are key to the room’s wonderful sense of warmth and coziness. Plan Number: 56504

Designing for Comfort

Making your home an arrangement of comfortable, inviting spaces involves thinking carefully about how you and your family will use each of those spaces and designing them accordingly. Ceiling height, window type and placement, and unique focal points such as built-in bookcases or small alcoves all contribute to the feeling of a room.

Ceiling height has an enormous impact on any room. High ceilings create a sense of grandeur, while lower ceilings promote a sense of coziness. Many current house plans call for a raised ceiling in the family room. If you entertain often, with large numbers of guests congregating in the family room, a volume ceiling will certainly offer a feeling of spaciousness. However, the tradeoff might be a loss of warmth and coziness. If you want a feeling of spaciousness in a certain room, consider adding some exposed beams or trusses to help maintain a personal scale.

In general, the comfortable height of any room relates to the size of the room itself. A 16-foot ceiling may work fine in a room measuring 25 feet in width. However, a hall or bathroom with a 10-foot ceiling can feel like a canyon. A good guideline is that either the width or the depth of a room should be greater than its ceiling height.

Windows also play a large role in creating comfortable and inviting spaces. Careful placement of windows within a room can make the area seem much larger. For example, locating two windows at the corner of a bedroom extends the view diagonally across the room.

Focal points can add character to a room. High ceilings allow the use of transom windows, which offer additional natural light and can become a major design element in a room. Window seats also make charming focal points, as they create cozy alcoves for sitting and enjoying the natural light.

A family room with high ceilings (at least 10 feet) is a good place to use transom windows. Plan Number: 56534

When quizzed about the details they find appealing in older homes, many people invariably mention the nooks and crannies that are abundant in homes built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Such unique home features, such as window seats, small alcoves, and built-in bookcases, seem to add a great deal of charm to any room. These areas provide private spaces to read, study, or just get away. A small offset in a bedroom with a built-in desk and bookcase, for example, gives the homeowner a secluded place to work or pursue a hobby.

An alcove with arch-top windows provides a light-?lled area that’s perfect for reading. Plan Number: 56537

In recent years our attempts to create open floor plans have often eliminated such delightful areas. However, most designs can easily be reworked to include these spaces. As the design community strives to create more innovative floor plans, remember that it’s often the subtle details that make homes inviting and comfortable. Instead of trying so hard to create something new, perhaps we need to pay more attention to design elements that have worked for many years.

Size versus Function

Possibly the greatest misconception about home design is the assumption that simply enlarging a room will make the space more inviting and functional. Room size is far less important than such elements as window placement, finish materials, colors, ceiling height, and the overall shape of the room. On a practical level, room size should be dictated by the function of an area. For instance, a family room must be large enough to comfortably accommodate the required furniture. If the room dimensions are not adequate, the space will seem cramped. However, a family room that’s too large can swallow the furniture and leave you with an uninviting and, perhaps, overwhelming sensation.

Over the years I’ve tried to remain acutely aware of each client’s uniqueness. I recall working with one of my very first clients, who insisted on an elegant foyer with two circular staircases and an enormous living room that featured 20-foot ceilings. These areas appeared so overwhelming that your initial response was to simply say, “Wow!” Thus, I began to label such spaces as wow! rooms. I also designed for these clients a wonderful kitchen and family area with finely detailed trim and expansive windows overlooking their pool. They later told me that this room, just large enough for a sofa and two comfortable chairs, became the area where they spent most of their time. However, they promptly also related how much they enjoyed their magnificent living room, as they hosted frequent dinner parties and social gatherings. This became a valuable lesson for me as a designer: listen very carefully to how clients live and take the amount of time required to understand their personal tastes and needs.

Obviously, what one family considers inviting and functional may be overwhelming and wasteful to another. Carefully consider the lifestyle of your family. Spend as much time as possible contemplating your daily routines. Ask yourself not only which individual room features will make areas appealing to you, but also what details might enhance their functionality. For more information, see the book Home Plan Doctor.