It's a beautiful home. I love so many of the spaces, they look so inviting and comfortable. My questions are, are you comfortable having DD sleep on the lower level? I would also make sure that if you are comfortable with this setup that she is as well. My oldest is 10, and sleeping on our lower level is a punishment for not being quiet so her sister could sleep. She is afraid to be "down there" without us. (We don't make her stay there all night, I promise. That sounds a bit more harsh than we are:-)) It's just a conversation you could have with your DD. I know it sounds great and cool to be downstairs, but she might get creeped out a bit.

Another observation is the master, if I'm reading this right there are two closets and a hallway. I would possibly rearrange a bit and turn the closet with the window into a little sitting room or reading room.

Is there a pantry across from the powder room? I can't tell what that area is designated as. You will want a pantry somewhere.

The last thing I noticed is that in the drawing it isn't as apparent as the photo, but the garage is a bit "snout nosed" and maybe more obtrusive than it should be. Is there a possible way (depending on your lot) that you could angle it away from the house a bit.

Good luck! I think it looks like a great house if it suits your needs. Hope your lot is as beautiful as the pictures :-)

Amy

Wow! I agree that is one gorgeous home if you have the hill-side to put it on and it sounds like you do.

I certainly don't see any issues with the way the rooms flow though I'd probably choose to do something a bit different for the texture on the interior wall of the staircase going down to the lower level. The brick they show in the picture gives it a sort "going down into the dungeon" feeling that your DD might find a bit off-putting even if it doesn't bother you.

I don't think I agree with the suggestion to angle the garage because that would throw the front perspective of house out of balance. I'm curious tho that the plans don't show a staircase to reach the bonus room over the garage which clearly exists given the garage's high ceiling and that window. I can't say I'm a fan of garages sticking way out in front of a house but given the configuration of the house, there really isn't any other option. I suppose if you don't really need three parking bays for automobiles, you could shrink it down to just two bays. Certainly there is plenty of other storage space for lawn and garden equipment or a work-shop... which is what many people wind up using the third garage bay for.

Other than that, its a really gorgeous house.

Oh, one other comment:

If amyks question about having your fourteen year-old daughter's room on the lower level raises concerns for you (or for your daughter), one solution might be to turn the study into a bedroom for her by closing off the opening to the foyer and putting in a door across from the door to the master bedroom. I can't imagine that a single Dad could possibly need two big closets and the master bedroom already has a sitting area. It looks to me like that second long closet could easily be made into a small bathroom plus a closet for her -- especially if you gave up the little linen closet and a few inches of the double-sink vanity in the master bathroom so as to allow a little extra room for the WC in her bathroom.

Of course, if you turn the study into a bedroom for DD, it'll be smaller than the room downstairs and won't have the same great view so even if DD prefers being upstairs with you now, she might decide when she gets a bit older that she would rather move downstairs. In that case tho, it shouldn't be too difficult to turn the upper room back into a study.

Of course, if you should ever remarry, new wife will no doubt want and need a closet so that could create a bit of a problem if DD doesn't want to give up the study and move downstairs.

I love this plan. I like the suggestion of tilting the garage out on an angle. If you view the Hollowcrest, it is almost the same plan, but shows the study as an additional study with bathroom.

I think the back of this home is just gorgeous. I've always loved it. Definitely a perfect place to relax and enjoy the view!

I too am not crazy about kids bedrooms being on the bottom floor. Maybe I'm paranoid, but for so many reasons, I would not do it.

The other thing that I noticed is that there is no outside entry into the mudroom/laundry room. I personally know that my boys, (which is DH too!), need an entry to that area because they are sometimes too lazy to walk all the way around the front to the garage, (one of my pet peeves when they are all muddy and wet!). You could plan on having a mudroom area in the basement area, too. You could also put an entry door to the back of the garage, esp. if you tilt it.

If we do end up building, a future neighbor of ours has just completed a version of the Blueridge, which turned out just gorgeous. Might be another plan you might like.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Hollowcrest

Thanks for the replies. This morning talked w/ DD about being down on the lower level. She didn't seem to think it would be a problem and she'd probably be 15 yrs. by the time we got to move into the house.

I like the idea though of having the study also possible being a bedroom w/ a bath off of it instead of the extra walkins in the master br. This will help just in case she's uneasy about being on the LL. Also liked the pantry in the kitchen idea that i had overlooked.
These changes seem to be addressed in the Hollowcrest floorplan that eventhecatisaboy has pointed out. So i will be looking into that floorplan now also.

You guys are so good at thinking of all these things when looking at a plan. I was so awe struck by the back of the house i overlooked many considerations. That why i appreciate the criticism and welcome more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Don Gardner Hollowcrest

I prefer the Hollowcrest's first floor, too. You wouldn't have to build that model's basement, with the three BRs and baths. It's always good to have a second BR and bath on the main floor, IMO.

I'm not crazy about teens having their own private 'homes', separate from the main house. The adolescent partially-completed brain can come up with the darndest things! I know our DS managed to sneak in and out and he didn't even have his own lower level 'den' with easy egress.LOL

This looks like a beautiful home -- maybe a tad large for just two people? (I should talk; DH and I built 2900 sq ft to retire in.)

BTW, our house has an angled garage that I think looks like a welcoming 'arm'. Garage is at a 120-degree angle to the front plane of the house.

chisue-- thanks for the reply. Yes i know this is house is far more than this simple guy & DD need to live in. My property is the last of an area that has been mostly developed with homes in the 4000+ sq. ft. range. Some day this property will be developed into a subdivision most likely. Don't know if I'll be the one doing this or someone else later on. This property is about 1/2 mile outside the city limits and is 3 mile from the hub of this town of 100,000. So i feel this house in probably the minimum i should built on the best lot of the 90 acres and not detract from the future potential of the property.
I do really appreciate your comments.
Thanks alot

OK, I understand. We looked and looked for a 'small house with big rooms, all on one floor'. Finally we built what we wanted, but the cost of our lot and the neighborhood where we built warrants a 5-6000 sq ft home. We built a single story house with walk up stairs to a full-height attic that can become additional BRs and baths for a future owner. (The kitchen, etc. are large enough for that size home.) We are enjoying our 2900 sq ft, and a future owner can have the 5000 sq ft with a little remodeling. Meanwhile, we are not taxed on the unfinished space.

I got thinking about our 'attic' while looking at all the unused 'attic' space on your house plans.

I was doing an internet search on this plan (Cedar Court)and came across this post. I hope the original poster doesn't mind if I ask a few questions.

You all seem to have good ideas. I really love the exterior of this plan but the interior doesn't quite work for me.

Do you think it would be possible to add a second floor, in a similar layout as the basement, keeping most the rooms to the back of the house as to not ruin the front elevation?

I would love to make the three car garage detached and move the kitchen forward to occupy the space where the powder room and kitchen is now. I would also want the kitchen to be 2 feet wider. I would make the breakfast room line up with the family room rather than angling off and move the laundry/mud room to the right of the kitchen (it's own little wing) accessible through a side porch from the garage.

Does any of this make sense? Would the house be much to WIDE?

Bren

Ezsmoke -- the Hollowcrest is really beautiful!

You have a design that might work well for passive solar, depending upon how you orient the porches and the use of the L-shape. We have a very similar first floor (on a two-story) except our plan is reversed with the garage on the left and we have a full front porch. The sun doesn't shine on our porch during the summer, but it does in the winter. It makes a big difference in the heating/cooling bills.

just a thought.

Cameron

Great house plan, but of course, our house is somewhat similar in the rear view. I agree with the posters about angling the garage; however, I have a personal preference to not have a garage jutting out into the front of a house. Many times, lot sizes are too small to do anything differently; however you have plenty of space to fiddle with the garage placement. Good luck, and I'm also in Missouri.

Teresa