Please peruse my 1.5 story house plan
mrspete
11 years ago
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mrspete
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
what are some advantages to a 1.5 story home vs 2 story
Comments (32)Chipsa, if one climbs stairs from one habitable level to another habitable level there are two (2)habitable floor levels. What we may have here is a real estate/consumer terminology vs. the building code/architectural terminology. In determining floors, it matters not if the second level is under the roof, has pony walls or full height walls. Horizontal or sloped ceilings have nothing to do with the number of floors. The historical Cape Cod simply was an economical approach to a 2-story house, with the second story in the attic, under the existing roof framing! Dormers may or may not have been added for light on the rake side of the roof. But it was clearly a 2-story house with habitable floors on two levels. History is full o examples of buildings with unusual floor definitions. The mansard roof, for example, was a device to add a floor in Parisian houses without having to pay taxes for another floor in the house (it was under the "roof", not a normal floor enclosed by walls as defined by the tax regulations). Today, no one questions that it was a habitable floor despite the fact that it was under the sloping "roof" and illuminated by dormer windows. To determine floors, just count the floors connected by stairs--it's that simple! If there are stairs connecting two habitable levels it's a 2-story building. Conncecting three habitable levels means a 3-story house. The definition of floors really has nothing to do with wall types, wall heights, types of ceilings or types of windows. The only way one would have 1.5 stories is if one floor is only a half level above the next. Sometimes these are called "split levels", but even these most generally have a portion with one habitable floor above another. All of that said, it's really not that important whether one prefers to call something 1.5 stories or 2 stories. It's just important to remember whether one is talking in marketing terms or in terms of the building code and design/construction. Whatever floats one's boat!...See More1.5 story straw bale floor plan
Comments (18)You are giving me some good ideas. Thanks! I like the way the doors are now for the bedroom/bathroom. Much better. I may take the suggestion and make the plan a bit wider for some breathing space. 3' more because straw bales are 3' long, 1.5' at each end. I don't know if it is really necessary but it only adds 81 sq ft. It will also make the kids rooms a skosch wider and makes the landing at the top of the stairs 1.5' deeper. I am still ruminating on the kitchen. I think I prefer the screen porch on the east to keep it a little cooler in the summer....See MoreWhat to do with my “rare 1.5 story McMansion”
Comments (18)I agree to maybe making the dormer blend in. but I wouldn't paint it to match the bricks. brown and reddish paint colors that are supposed to mimic other finishes just look muddy and fake (like when something is painted with opaque brown paint in attempt to look like natural stained wood - it never works). if you wanted the dormer to blend, paint the siding something darker. a shade of grey that's a little darker or lighter than your shingles. in these examples below, I also simplified the deck railings and door glass. personally I still don't love the window grids, but I just realized that removing them from the arches looks really weird. I wouldn't know what to recommend here. maybe if just one of the arches was removed entirely?...See Moreideas on 2b/2b home with upstairs 1.5 story
Comments (14)My husband and I are currently working with architects to design a home that is very similar to what you've described (1.5 stories, 2 bed, 2.5 bath - one tub, one shower). However, in order to accommodate our needs (a study on the first floor, a pantry, etc.) we ended up a little above your stated size preference (1700 square feet). We've been cautioned against building small for some of the reasons mentioned here, but honestly we would pay more for a smaller home. We'd prefer a small place with high-end details to a larger home. In the area where we live there are not older homes this size on the market, although we waited for about ~2 years seeing what would come available. Ultimately, we decided in our area, which has a high percentage of retirees and child-free couples, a smaller house could sell if/when we have to. But more importantly, we didn't want to compromise on living in a house we didn't like trying to anticipate market trends 15-20 years down the line....See Moremrspete
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11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoShades_of_idaho
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