I think it is fun to imagine the flow of the rooms, how we would use the spaces, ask myself questions like; it is too big? too small?
Does it have enough wall space for the massive amount of art, objects,Tibetan prayer flags, textiles, and assorted crap I tend to hang on the walls? (what? You don't reject houses because they don't have enough wall space?)
Would the resulting house have character or would it be just another cookie-cutter house. As a devoted eclectic (according to some, borderline eccentric. okay maybe complete eccentric) a house we live in can't be ordinary. Oh, it can be on the outside, I guess, if it has to, but the inside? Yeah, it just ain't gonna happen.
The only time that JR and I ever built a house from the ground up we bought a set of plans only to not use them. There were parts of the plan I liked and parts that I didn't like. Also, the slope of our land had to be taken into consideration. And the fact that I wanted a full length cantilevered covered porch instead of a gabled one, 12 foot ceilings on the main floor, a walk-out basement, and a 6/12 pitch (6 inch drop for every 12 inches of roof face. In case you don't speak roof pitch. This is very steep. Most houses are 4/12. I wanted more attic space and I didn't want to worry about snow buildup.) on the roof didn't help matters. Our contractor finally said: "Michele, you are making so many changes to this plan that I can't really read it anymore. Why don't you just sketch what you want on some graph paper and we'll make it work." So that is what I did.
So I guess I should add architect to my resume. Okay maybe not my resume but at least my bucket list.
What are some of your requirements in a dwelling?
Love,
M
PS: I purloined the images from our digital library. We've got some cool architectural pamphlets displayed.
I too love "reading" house plans.
ReplyDeleteNatural light is a must.
I have 3 - a large kitchen, plenty of closet space and a master bedroom reasonably remote from the kids' rooms. Well, I have another, but my family would balk at not having any neighbors within a 300 mile radius or living on a desert island, so we make do with our house, which has the kitchen, closet space and remote master bedroom. I just wish I'd insisted on air-to-ground missles to target the juvenile delinquent across the street (and probably explains my desire for no neighbors).
ReplyDeleteI hear you, I like a bit of room between us and the neighbors. I found 40 acres to be the optimal amount of space.
DeleteWe here on Ireland had about ten years of building boom where money wasn't an object, so much of it was about. We were building homes for homes. All without one ounce of originality.
ReplyDeleteThat is what bugs the crap out of me. Boring houses.
DeleteI used to scope out the plans in the Sunday paper, loving to look at the lay out.
ReplyDeleteMy must haves are a garage, 4 bedrooms, and single level.
I got all three in my house. :-)
I love scoping out house plans and mentally tallying up which rooms I want in my next house. I do have requirements for where we'll be living (hopefully next year, provided we can find what I want and it be within our budget. Unless we win the lottery, then the budget ceiling could be considerably raised. Unless we only win a $5 ticket.)
ReplyDeleteI would like enough rooms so that some of them can be utilized as an office and craft room for me, a music room for the hubby, a play room for the kids where all their toys can live (and the door can be closed so I don't have to look at the mess or have it spill out into the rest of the living space), a big kitchen so I can have plenty of cupboards and counter-top space, pantry, and an island (so that it can be a barrier to the minions and hubby when I'm in there working magic), an outbuilding for my winemaking that will be complete with counters and storage and sinks and the ability to make it climate controlled, a big master bedroom so we can upgrade to a King because the Queen just isn't cutting it anymore - and of course the new bigger master bedroom needs to have its own master bath with a jacuzzi tub. Oh, and acreage - to have a barrier between annoying neighbors and a place to plant grape vines and fruit trees for the future brick-and-mortar small but quaint winery and gift shop I intend to build some day.
I guess I better start buying lottery tickets, eh?
I hate everything new house. But I'm bitter and angry and destined to die in the shitbox that I currently live.
ReplyDeleteTold you I was bitter.
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ReplyDeleteYou make me laugh! I don't worry so much about the roof,but I sure as heck need a basement and a garage (none of which I have here). All the more reason for me to move back to the Midwest, I say! Basically, I need lots and lots of storage room for my hoarding tendencies. lol
ReplyDeleteGreat house plans. I'm sure this will be a great project.
ReplyDeleteYeah I would also like my house built not from some designs made just like those of housing projects. Even if my house will be small, as long as the House Plans for it is unique.
ReplyDeleteI too like to look at house plans.
ReplyDelete