Ideas on design

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Donna Peak on August 19, 2008 at 10:57pm

Hi Glenn. As the editor of Log Home Design, I get to see A LOT of floor plans and I must say, I'm quite impressed with what you've put together yourself. It's very logical and seems to have good flow. Since you asked for suggestions, here are mine: It strikes me that your foyer is incredibly long. That a lot of space to dedicate to a pass-through area. Do you have a plan for this extra space? If not, you may want think about how to use it to your advantage. On the flip side, you seem to be a bit cramped around the garage entry. More than likely, this is how you will enter your home 99% of the time, often with packages, groceries, what have you. You might want to consider adding some space here, even adding a drop zone, where you can toss keys, bags and other stuff that weighs you down as you come through the door. But fantastic job overall.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glenn V on August 20, 2008 at 9:15am

Thank you for your reply and suggestions. The mud room has a bench and a table in it for shoe removal and a drop zone , but you are right in the fact that 99% of entry will be there which I hadn't thought much about.The table is kind of behind the door. which was more there for laundry purposes and the bench is across it. Would make more sense to switch them so the table would be more accessable coming in. I could deepen the back wall to add more room. My major idea to get a basic plan laid out and keep things as small as possible but to still be comfortable. Then I could always add a foot or two there to extend a room. The foyer is a big area which I could live without but my spouse wanted an entry area. The hardest part was incorperating the study in the plan which would be really open without it. We wanted an office / quilting area on the main floor, that wasn't too large that could be used for an extra bedroom if needed. I could narrow the foyer down some and make the study bigger. I know its more length than anything and am not sure with this layout how it could be shortened. I also didn't want the tunnel feeling of when you came in the front door. I thought a couple small tables against the wall and a bench or maybe a water wall would bring it in some. I wanted the closets in the walls instead of sticking out in the foyer to give it a clean look straight thru the entry. We also thought about an open area above the entry thru the loft would add some charractor. Thanks again. I am going to try a couple different designs with moving the study around. This was my first try.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rob Romine on August 20, 2008 at 9:50am

Glenn--I love your design, and hope that you enjoy every aspect of designing, building, and living in your log home. Few people are aware that maintenance is a very big aspect of design. While in your planning phase, make sure you consider the following:

1) 2' or greated overhangs will keep most rain and snow off your gable ends, and offer good UV protection.
2) Use porches where you will have maximum sun exposure. This will cut down on damaging UV rays, and possibly reduce your reapplication of a stain.
3) Use gutters to keep water off your logs and away from your foundation.
4) Use a moisture barrier under your home. If you are building on a crawl space a simple plastic barrier can help reduce moisture wicking up into your home. A thin concrete padding under the home is even better.
5) Plan on the future growth of your landscaping. The little shrubs you plant today, will quickly grow up against the house and potentially trap moisture.

I hope you are seeing a theme in these tips. Reduce moisture and block as much UV as possible, to keep you home looking nice for years to come.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shelley Martinez on August 20, 2008 at 12:17pm

You have some nice sized rooms there and I like your design. What will you be putting in the foyer area? Will you have a basement?
My opinion - I think each design is personal to your lifestyle.
Our home is approx. 1,300 SF+ and we added the walkout basement for extra economical space - including an egress window so we can finish a guest bedroom there in the future. A few things off the top of my head:
*Watch out for "dead" space
*Opening up your floor plan is a great way to create a feeling of more space
*If this will be your permanent / retirement home - think about having the 4 foot hallways (to accomodate a wheelchair) and ADA compliant restrooms for when you're older
*If your a big sportsman - where will you store all your toys? Garage?
*How often you entertain and how many guests you expect to stay over (I found my 12x11 guest room to be sufficient for a queen bed, vertical dresser and a pocket closet - it's still roomy.)

I'm sure there will be a lot of other good tips from the log home members. And yes - your wife should get the walk in closet! :-)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glenn V on August 21, 2008 at 1:01am

Thank you Rob aand Shelley for your suggestions. I have planned on at least 2' overhang and the foundation up at least 8" ,gutters and a deck opposite the entry side with a screened in porch off of the dinning room and deck continuing from the dining room to the master bedroom which I haven't drawn yet. With our property I am able to have a walk out basement and was able to site the house longways east to west for thermal gain with the great room facing the woods,south. Instead of a 3 car garage I made the far stall larger for mowers and toys and a work bench. Since we deciced on this dream I have stacks of log home magazines which every page gets read. I am clipping pictures and articles out of ideas we like to go in a folder. My computer bookmarks are kind of a mess and are mostly all log home related. Its amazing how many sites there are and this one is one of the best. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas to get here ...

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on August 21, 2008 at 1:31am

Glenn:
The garage... blow out the walls and make it bigger. A guy needs his space! I built a 30' by 30' detached garage thinking that was huge. Now I wish I had made it at least a 30' x 40' or maybe a 40' x 50'... 'cmon, you gotta have enough space for a man's tools and toys! Other than that, the plan looks like a winner :-)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by loghomedesignguy on September 25, 2008 at 1:16pm

Glenn,

Great Design! I am excited to see the exterior as well as what you decide to do in the kitchen. One thougth I had was to see you mirror your extra bath such that the door is common with your master bedroom. I know you may feel that this will present issues with the bedroom door, but I feel if you make this change and then add a bookcase or similar to where the door currently is, your bathroom will feel more private from the living room. I think it will be more comfortable for guests when entertaining in the living area. Just my opinion though. Everyone else had great suggestions as well!

Have Fun Planning.......

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Norsworthy on September 25, 2008 at 2:27pm

You might want to consider squaring off the house, push the center forward which will minimize corners and cost. Also look at redoing the master bath as the tub/shower is on 2 log walls and presents a major moisture problem. Also consider eliminating the 2nd bath and making a 2nd entrance into master bath which will then open options on the study/entrance. If there are only you and your wife 95% of the time just the one bath on the main floor will be just fine and put the 2nd bath below it in the lower level on the walkout.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dee on September 25, 2008 at 4:04pm

Overall you have done a great job! Things that would bug me (maybe not you) are that you have a bath and bedroom opening directly into the living room. I don't want to see - or have guests see - into a bath or bedroom from the living room - it feels like my private space is out in the open.

Also the foyer and study are big spaces - do you really need this much for the foyer? If you eliminated the small bath - and had two doors to the main bath (one from the bedroom and one for guests to use without walking through the bedroom) - that would allow you to move the stairs to where that little bath is, maybe move the master entrance to under the stairs - or off the foyer, and with some reconfiguration of the closet/bath area would allow access to the bath from the study/or foyer and the master. How much closet space do you really need? Do you need two closets in the master? I would agree with your wife - the walk in would be plenty.

What is going into the loft? A second bedroom? Couldn't this be a bedroom and and study? - and a small bath? A second bedroom is empty space waiting for someone to come by and use it - so I would make it do double duty as the study - or a tv room or ????

And ITA - a square footprint will save you money. Maybe do a small covered porch as the entry - foyer and then you could use that space for the dining room or kitchen.

Many have given you some things to think about Shelley's advice is the best - this is for YOU and your use - and what suits you best. D.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glenn V on September 26, 2008 at 12:07am

Thanks to everyone for their inputs. I started on another one that I had made straight in the front to cut costs and made the outside dimensions even numbers to prevent waste.I did want two baths with the idea of a bath shower in the master and a seperate shower in the main bath but ran into the same problem with the tub on two log walls in the master bath. The loft I have plans of just a play room ,games , quiet reading area,extra sleeping area music room so I can crank the amp up and rock the house with bad guitar riffs and no bath to keep the loft larger and expenses down some. I made just one walkin closet 8x8 and put a sunroom on the end of the master bedroom.I moved the main bath door to the side away from the living room and the bedroom door is in the corner of the living room so will be less noticeable. I"m still playing with it so I didn't want to post it yet.I got it down to just a little over1600 sq ft without counting a loft but still have a 13x15 master bedroom and 19x18 living room 13x11 kitchen and 13x12 dining and sunroom 13x10 and still have a laundry pantry off the garage to the kitchen without that extra laundry room going to the garage to heat so it will be square.Thank you again for all your suggestions. I learn more with each one.

▶ Reply to This