A House with Multiple Personalities

Yesterday I posted a new house plan that we have developed.  The "Pine Gables" design features a main floor master and one level living.  The images below illustrate how the image can be adapted to nearly any aesthetic.  I would love to hear your preferences - so please take a look and vote your favorite. 

OPTION 1 - WHITE CLAPBOARD SIDING WITH SILVER METAL ROOF.   SIMPLE YET ELEGANT.

OPTION 2 - GREEN METAL ROOF WITH WOOD TONED CLAPBOARD SIDING AND TRIM.  A LITTLE MORE "WOODSY".

OPTION 3 - CEDAR SHINGLE ROOF AND SIDING WITH OFF WHITE TRIM.  A MORE EASTERN SEABOARD BEACH HOUSE AESTHETIC.

OPTION 4 - STONE CLADDING WITH PAINTED BOARD AND BATTEN IN THE GABLES GIVE THIS THE FEELING OF A MOUNTAIN HOME.

OPTION 5 - CONTRASTING THE DARK CLAPBOARD SIDING AGAINST THE WHITE BOARD AND BATTEN  AND THE RED ROOF GIVES THIS A SOPHISTICATED LOOK.

OPTION 6 - LOG COLUMNS AND LOG SIDING BENEATH BOARD AND BATTEN GABLES.  THE GREEN METAL ROOF COMPLETES THIS CONTEMPORARY LOG CABIN.

The studies above illustrate a good point when you are looking for a new home design.  If you find a plan that you like don't discount it because the exterior does not catch your eye.  It might be possible to modify the design to reflect your own aesthetic desires.

Design Value - Rustic Cottage House Plan

It's been a while since my last posting. Been busy over the holidays. Also, I have been working on a couple of new interesting projects. I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at one of them. The project incorporated a modified design process in order to save time and money.

The design below is a rustic retreat to be constructed on lake property in Tennessee. The client found a plan that was originally designed by John Tee Architect. The plan did not meet all of their family's needs, but represented a pretty good starting point. So they purchased the plan and commissioned a major reworking of the design. I worked in Association with a plan customization company named Architectural Overflow to perform the re-design. The images below reflect our work.

lake side elevation

side elevation

If you are interested in finding the most possible value in Design then this might be a good approach to consider. Find a plan that works reasonably well, purchase the plan, then have a good residential Architect adapt the design to truly reflect your needs and your site. What this really does is gives you a good starting point in the design process and saves time and $$$ exploring concepts that might not work well for you.

Bark Siding

I just ran across this new product that is really very old - Bark Siding. It is made from bark that is harvested off of trees that are felled for other purposes. The bark is then flattened and kiln-dried and that's it. No preservative treatments or special coatings. You install the siding and leave it alone. See photos below.

The look is definitely on the rustic side, so it's probably not a great candidate for your urban infill projects. But it does look at home in a wooded setting, which might make it a good choice for your cabin plans.

The product is touted as being long lasting and sustainable, although I am always wary of manufacturer claims. You can check this out at the manufacturers website Bark House Siding

Anybody have any experience with bark siding? Please throw your two cents in.

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