IDEAS - Keyed into plans

​

1. South-facing entry garden: Claim some food-producing garden designed to look like an organized landscape close to your habit trails. Use the fence to keep deer around the house garden as a "fedge" - food-producing hedge. Remember to make the gate to the wall big enough for a UTV - utility task vehicle.

2. Working garden areas: The greenhouse is organized around a work area for wood splitting, bioreactor compost, and biochar production.

3. South-facing covered entry: The covered entry doubles as winter wood storage is stacked on either side of the front entry in Scandinavian style. In the summer, use the outdoor covered area to sit facing the garden in the shade.

4. No front door: Front doors require space around them and tend to trigger social posturing. In this case, the front door is the entrance to the screen porch.

5. Mud capture garage: Combine the mud function and garage to keep the mud in the garage and simplify the house plan.

6. A functional chameleon-covered outdoor space: Use the space as the house entry and circulation from the garage. To block winter wind, position columns to receive storm glass in the column bays. Provide heat on the porch; in this case, a wood stove organizes space for sitting and circulation. Provide large opening doors to the house to open the two spaces and make a combined larger living space when you want it.

7. If the ceilings could talk: Telling a story with the ceiling heights is a subtle way to let smaller spaces live bigger. In this case, the ceilings are the same height as lower porch ceilings when entering the house, and they make the dining area feel cozy while adding some interest by compressing people at the door and then letting the space expand over the seating areas.

8. Windows on two walls: Even though a ginormous window faces the big view, we still locate a window next to it on the corner. The light is more dynamic in the room throughout the day, and it feels good.

9. Edgy public spaces: Locate the public functions of the kitchen, lounge, and eating area in one space by combining functions along two adjacent walls. In this case, a banquet dining area sits next to the core stairs, and the kitchen cabinets are on one wall. The other two walls are left for windows, art, and a TV if you want such things. The open space is organized by the windows for the seating area and kitchen island.

10. Places to hide: Open public spaces should always have another space to store stuƯ. In this case, we located the laundry pantry and are using the space for circulation for day and night guests to access the bathroom and provide a circulation path around the stair core. Going in another direction is always good at a party, even in a small house.

11. Secure storage: In the pantry, we have basement access through what looks like a storage cabinet under the stairs. In this case, we have a slope under the living area, which allows a basement we can use for a root cellar, storm protection, the solar inverter/batteries, heat pump water heater, ventilation equipment, safe area, indoor grow area, and air handlers if we are not using wall mini splits. We also like the idea of a steel door outside the basement for secure access.

12. Smooth floor guest bath: Minimize the size of the guest bath by recessing the framing to provide a shower floor that slopes to the drain. A 1950 post-WWII style 5 x 8-foot bath can feel OK with no curb on the floor, and you have corner-opening casement windows to create the outdoor shower experience. Yes, you can use vinyl windows, so a shower has a view.

13. Stair as stage: This is a Pattern Language idea from Christopher Alexander. Residential stairs only need rails on one side, allowing people to sit on the stairs and lean against the wall. In this case, the stairs are a core element in the house plan.

14. Flexible guest bedroom space: We like guest bedrooms to have access to the public spaces when you go to bed, letting the living room double as a guest suite. I also like sliding doors that open to the garden. Think about cabinet-style closets that provide drawers, some hanging space, and a counter like a hotel so that you can be a good host.

15. Open space at the top of the stairs: We like to have some flexible open space at the top. Sometimes, it is another sitting area to expand the owner's space out of the bedroom. It can be a place for a piece of exercise equipment. In this case, it is a project area for crafts with space for material storage and tray storage to have multiple projects going on simultaneously.