Small House Sunday

This house was a challenge. It was designed with the other template homes originally for The Waters in Alabama. This design address one of my biggest pet peeves; that many home plans take up the entire lot and leave next to no private outside space. It's what I call the 'Cat In The Bed Syndrome'. There's plenty of room on the lot to fit everything needed to hit the 'sweet spot', but many designs just sit on the lot like a cat in the bed, right in the middle leaving no room for anything else.

So what I did here was make sure the front porch allowed the house to be placed right up to the build-to line. This maximizes the amount of porch area without pushing the main house back which would waste precious building area. It seems simple, but I was surprised how often this happened in the real world. The next step was to keep the house from getting too long because that would eat up all the back yard space, or yield an awkwardly shaped space that is mostly unusable. As a dog lover and grill master I want enough space in the back yard to run around with the pooch and send up some smoke signals with the Weber. I don't need a lot of space, but a postage stamp sized bit of green simply isn't enough.

With those parameters set I then went after the sweet spot in the market. Every house had to have three bedrooms, two baths, powder room, large kitchen, and the holy grail; a five fixture master bath. As a template home I put in some conversation starters in the plan. You quickly learn that the architect is always wrong when it comes to certain things, like washer dryer location. If you put them upstairs it's wrong because the work at home family doesn't want to climb the stairs all day long to do the laundry. If you put them downstairs it's wrong because now all the laundry generated upstairs has to be dragged downstairs. I had the upstairs laundry before and can say without question I prefer it downstairs, but in this plan I've made space for either location. There is my preferred under-counter washer and dryer in the kitchen which affords extra counter space and there is also a closet upstairs which can fit a full sized stacked washer and dryer. 

In this version of the plan I have a double porch. The porch access is at the top of the stairs so everybody can enjoy the space. I also left enough room for a mini-bar up there. The upper porch is a great place for sundowners and I'd hate to have to head downstairs for a refill. Also upstairs there is room in the central hall for a computer desk which can help stave off fights between siblings and frees up space in the kids rooms for other things, like beds. If I were a kid these days I'd want one of those loft beds with a desk below, but that's just me.

I have a couple different kitchen layouts for this plan, but I've shown the one I would build for myself. Lots of counter space, vegetable sink on the island, built-in double door refrigerator near the vegetable sink that has a clear circulation path to the living room. I don't want rowdy sports fans to disrupt the action in the kitchen when grabbing another beverage from the fridge during commercial breaks. There's a walk-through pantry between the kitchen and the dining room that provides extra storage and a place to display the china and keep the flatware.

I've shown a back porch off the living room which I would have screened. Certain times during the year the front porch will be the place to be, other times it might be cooler on the back porch. Having a screened area back there provides a private space for the family free of mosquitos and other pests. This can be as big or as small as needed, but I've drawn it here as a place for mom and dad to stay in the shade and keep an eye on things while the kids and dogs play in the back yard.

Perhaps the hardest part of this design was creating a plan with this much livability while providing a attractive and thrifty façade. Take a look at the window arrangements and alignments. It all works and there are no fake shutters or extra windows to buy to make it work. There are still opportunities to save money, as well as the option of adding more windows if desired. The intent, however, is to provide a design that meets all the demands of a modern family in a smaller envelope without adding expense needlessly. Hopefully the money saved can be put to better use. Maybe some better quality finishes, or some additional detail on the exterior. 

I hope you like it.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Kenneth Hitchens

Small House Sunday

This house was a challenge. It was designed with the other template homes originally for The Waters in Alabama. This design address one of my biggest pet peeves; that many home plans take up the entire lot and leave next to no private outside space. It's what I call the 'Cat In The Bed Syndrome'. There's plenty of room on the lot to fit everything needed to hit the 'sweet spot', but many designs just sit on the lot like a cat in the bed, right in the middle leaving no room for anything else.

So what I did here was make sure the front porch allowed the house to be placed right up to the build-to line. This maximizes the amount of porch area without pushing the main house back which would waste precious building area. It seems simple, but I was surprised how often this happened in the real world. The next step was to keep the house from getting too long because that would eat up all the back yard space, or yield an awkwardly shaped space that is mostly unusable. As a dog lover and grill master I want enough space in the back yard to run around with the pooch and send up some smoke signals with the Weber. I don't need a lot of space, but a postage stamp sized bit of green simply isn't enough.

With those parameters set I then went after the sweet spot in the market. Every house had to have three bedrooms, two baths, powder room, large kitchen, and the holy grail; a five fixture master bath. As a template home I put in some conversation starters in the plan. You quickly learn that the architect is always wrong when it comes to certain things, like washer dryer location. If you put them upstairs it's wrong because the work at home family doesn't want to climb the stairs all day long to do the laundry. If you put them downstairs it's wrong because now all the laundry generated upstairs has to be dragged downstairs. I had the upstairs laundry before and can say without question I prefer it downstairs, but in this plan I've made space for either location. There is my preferred under-counter washer and dryer in the kitchen which affords extra counter space and there is also a closet upstairs which can fit a full sized stacked washer and dryer. 

In this version of the plan I have a double porch. The porch access is at the top of the stairs so everybody can enjoy the space. I also left enough room for a mini-bar up there. The upper porch is a great place for sundowners and I'd hate to have to head downstairs for a refill. Also upstairs there is room in the central hall for a computer desk which can help stave off fights between siblings and frees up space in the kids rooms for other things, like beds. If I were a kid these days I'd want one of those loft beds with a desk below, but that's just me.

I have a couple different kitchen layouts for this plan, but I've shown the one I would build for myself. Lots of counter space, vegetable sink on the island, built-in double door refrigerator near the vegetable sink that has a clear circulation path to the living room. I don't want rowdy sports fans to disrupt the action in the kitchen when grabbing another beverage from the fridge during commercial breaks. There's a walk-through pantry between the kitchen and the dining room that provides extra storage and a place to display the china and keep the flatware.

I've shown a back porch off the living room which I would have screened. Certain times during the year the front porch will be the place to be, other times it might be cooler on the back porch. Having a screened area back there provides a private space for the family free of mosquitos and other pests. This can be as big or as small as needed, but I've drawn it here as a place for mom and dad to stay in the shade and keep an eye on things while the kids and dogs play in the back yard.

Perhaps the hardest part of this design was creating a plan with this much livability while providing a attractive and thrifty façade. Take a look at the window arrangements and alignments. It all works and there are no fake shutters or extra windows to buy to make it work. There are still opportunities to save money, as well as the option of adding more windows if desired. The intent, however, is to provide a design that meets all the demands of a modern family in a smaller envelope without adding expense needlessly. Hopefully the money saved can be put to better use. Maybe some better quality finishes, or some additional detail on the exterior. 

I hope you like it.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Kenneth Hitchens

Tiny House Tuesday

This is another house I designed a couple years back. A couple Classical Vernacular versions of this were built at The Waters in Alabama. These two elevations are the French Colonial and Victorian Vernacular versions of the same plan. These plans were part of the original template homes that were meant to fit the various lot conditions typical of a Traditional Neighborhood Development. What we were trying to do was create a main building that could actually act as a main building. What I mean is that the home could be built without the back building and still work as a complete home. All the template homes were designed with a back building and out building that allowed for growth over time. In doing so they weren't breaking new ground, only following the guidance inherent in the Smart Code.

This particular house incorporates some of the Build Small, Live Large concepts I used in the Montgomery Living Idea House. The bay window on the second level provides a sitting area for the master bedroom, and there is room at the top of the stairs for a shared computer desk. How these spaces are used is ultimately up to the homeowner, but within a small footprint you have a house with a large island kitchen with window seat, generous living area, two bedrooms, special area for a home office, and separate sitting room off the master.
My intent would be to cozy a dining room table behind the couch and expand the table on those very rare occasions I need more than four chairs. That's just my preference. For those that prefer a more formal dining experience there are many options. You can expand the envelope by enclosing part of the front porch, you can build the knuckle that extends into the back yard, or you can simply rework the kitchen to be more compact and not have to build any more square footage. Part of the reason there is so much counter space is because in the version I dreamed up for myself I have an under-counter washer and dryer in the kitchen. I had that when I lived in Glasgow and loved it, saw them in Australia, too. These under counter units, nearly two decades later, are now available here in the US and - get this - provide efficient cleaning and a place to fold laundry. What a coup.

Enjoy.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Kenneth Hitchens

Tiny House Tuesday

This is another house I designed a couple years back. A couple Classical Vernacular versions of this were built at The Waters in Alabama. These two elevations are the French Colonial and Victorian Vernacular versions of the same plan. These plans were part of the original template homes that were meant to fit the various lot conditions typical of a Traditional Neighborhood Development. What we were trying to do was create a main building that could actually act as a main building. What I mean is that the home could be built without the back building and still work as a complete home. All the template homes were designed with a back building and out building that allowed for growth over time. In doing so they weren't breaking new ground, only following the guidance inherent in the Smart Code.

This particular house incorporates some of the Build Small, Live Large concepts I used in the Montgomery Living Idea House. The bay window on the second level provides a sitting area for the master bedroom, and there is room at the top of the stairs for a shared computer desk. How these spaces are used is ultimately up to the homeowner, but within a small footprint you have a house with a large island kitchen with window seat, generous living area, two bedrooms, special area for a home office, and separate sitting room off the master.
My intent would be to cozy a dining room table behind the couch and expand the table on those very rare occasions I need more than four chairs. That's just my preference. For those that prefer a more formal dining experience there are many options. You can expand the envelope by enclosing part of the front porch, you can build the knuckle that extends into the back yard, or you can simply rework the kitchen to be more compact and not have to build any more square footage. Part of the reason there is so much counter space is because in the version I dreamed up for myself I have an under-counter washer and dryer in the kitchen. I had that when I lived in Glasgow and loved it, saw them in Australia, too. These under counter units, nearly two decades later, are now available here in the US and - get this - provide efficient cleaning and a place to fold laundry. What a coup.

Enjoy.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Kenneth Hitchens

EX, DX, LX : The Tyranny of the Headboard

See the full gallery on Posterous

Over the years I have developed an increasing distaste for built-in closets. I much prefer an elegant piece of furniture which can be moved to allow for many different furnishing options in the space. I came to this conclusion after living in a modest house in Montgomery, Alabama. I had just moved to Alabama from St. Louis and was changing gears going from a downtown loft to a single family house.

The closets in the house were small, but the rooms were large. This was a three bedroom house of only 1,200 square feet, but it seemed much larger. There was no family room, no den, no five fixture bathrooms, no powder room, and no walk in closets. The living room wasn't designed for a TV to occupy an entire wall and there were no built-in cabinets. Windows were plentiful and the natural light they provided was much appreciated. Through the magic of curtains and blinds I was able to modulate the amount of light and ensure privacy when desired.

One peculiarity was that there was no bed wall in any of the bedrooms. The trade-off for all that natural light and ventilation was that my headboard would obscure one of the windows. Certainly this was an oversight in the design. Yet, there I was, faced with a choice. Which window would I have to put my bed against. I picked a window, and lo, nothing happened. I was still able to use the blinds, enjoyed cross ventilation, loved the natural light, and life went on.

The small closets and omission of unused and unwanted rooms yielded extra space to the living areas. There are so many clever and attractive storage solutions on the market today that I'd rather have the extra space and the flexibility it allows.

Once I was liberated from the tyranny of the headboard and ubiquity of closets I started noticing their contribution to bloating home design and ratcheting up costs. I visited a friend in Toronto and noticed his bed was against a window. When I asked about it he said it was fine as long as they closed the curtains at night during the winter. I visited another friend who was suffering from the same issue, the only difference was they had a proper bed wall. When I pointed out the error of their bedroom arrangement they kindly suggested that the house wasn't designed properly and they preferred to wake up in the morning facing the sun. Fair enough. It was comforting to know I wasn't the only transgressor.

The more attention I gave this topic the more of a disconnect I found between how homes were designed and how people used the spaces in their homes. In larger homes this was a non-issue, there was always plenty of room and a large enough budget to expand the building envelope and add windows or false shutters to balance the design. When spaces and budgets get tight, on the other hand, this need for more can ruin the design. Further, it misses the point of the small house. The idea is to remove what is unnecessary and simplify as much as practical, just enough and no more. Sure, you can add a little here and there, but if you don't need it or want it you shouldn't have to pay for it.

I applied this ethos to my designs and found that it intersected nicely with the EX, DX, LX principles. Build what you need, but design in such a way that allows for growth in multiple directions. The great benefit of this is that you are not locked in and if your needs change the house can adapt and grow as necessary.

This awakening has forever changed how I approach the design of houses, especially my own house. It has also led me to designing my own furniture as I've become dissatisfied with what is currently available on the market. I've become reacquainted with the wisdom of Mackintosh in that regard. Not everything needs to be solved with architecture.

Posted via email from Kenneth Hitchens

EX, DX, LX : The Tyranny of the Headboard

See the full gallery on Posterous

Over the years I have developed an increasing distaste for built-in closets. I much prefer an elegant piece of furniture which can be moved to allow for many different furnishing options in the space. I came to this conclusion after living in a modest house in Montgomery, Alabama. I had just moved to Alabama from St. Louis and was changing gears going from a downtown loft to a single family house.

The closets in the house were small, but the rooms were large. This was a three bedroom house of only 1,200 square feet, but it seemed much larger. There was no family room, no den, no five fixture bathrooms, no powder room, and no walk in closets. The living room wasn't designed for a TV to occupy an entire wall and there were no built-in cabinets. Windows were plentiful and the natural light they provided was much appreciated. Through the magic of curtains and blinds I was able to modulate the amount of light and ensure privacy when desired.

One peculiarity was that there was no bed wall in any of the bedrooms. The trade-off for all that natural light and ventilation was that my headboard would obscure one of the windows. Certainly this was an oversight in the design. Yet, there I was, faced with a choice. Which window would I have to put my bed against. I picked a window, and lo, nothing happened. I was still able to use the blinds, enjoyed cross ventilation, loved the natural light, and life went on.

The small closets and omission of unused and unwanted rooms yielded extra space to the living areas. There are so many clever and attractive storage solutions on the market today that I'd rather have the extra space and the flexibility it allows.

Once I was liberated from the tyranny of the headboard and ubiquity of closets I started noticing their contribution to bloating home design and ratcheting up costs. I visited a friend in Toronto and noticed his bed was against a window. When I asked about it he said it was fine as long as they closed the curtains at night during the winter. I visited another friend who was suffering from the same issue, the only difference was they had a proper bed wall. When I pointed out the error of their bedroom arrangement they kindly suggested that the house wasn't designed properly and they preferred to wake up in the morning facing the sun. Fair enough. It was comforting to know I wasn't the only transgressor.

The more attention I gave this topic the more of a disconnect I found between how homes were designed and how people used the spaces in their homes. In larger homes this was a non-issue, there was always plenty of room and a large enough budget to expand the building envelope and add windows or false shutters to balance the design. When spaces and budgets get tight, on the other hand, this need for more can ruin the design. Further, it misses the point of the small house. The idea is to remove what is unnecessary and simplify as much as practical, just enough and no more. Sure, you can add a little here and there, but if you don't need it or want it you shouldn't have to pay for it.

I applied this ethos to my designs and found that it intersected nicely with the EX, DX, LX principles. Build what you need, but design in such a way that allows for growth in multiple directions. The great benefit of this is that you are not locked in and if your needs change the house can adapt and grow as necessary.

This awakening has forever changed how I approach the design of houses, especially my own house. It has also led me to designing my own furniture as I've become dissatisfied with what is currently available on the market. I've become reacquainted with the wisdom of Mackintosh in that regard. Not everything needs to be solved with architecture.

Posted via email from Kenneth Hitchens