Anyone built or seen built Frank Betz's Northfield Manor?
dbrad
9 years ago
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Greg Tanner
3 years agoGreg Tanner
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Frank Betz Clarksville vs Donnelly
Comments (9)There are things I really like about the Clarksville, but I think, with modifications, the Donnelly plan is superior to the Clarksville. Especially if you end up being a family of 5, I think you will regret having one less room on the main floor in the Clarksville. An architect or good designer should be able to make changes to the Donnelly to meet your needs. How wide is your lot? Can you add on to the width? Which way is south? If you can't afford to add square footage, this is still a good plan with a few minor modifications. In either case, FWIW I'd suggest the following changes be considered and discussed with whoever does your plan: --As a stay at home mom (or even if you both are working), you will want the (young) children where they can be seen--especially while working in the kitchen, unless they are sleeping. That means that either the Dining Room or Family Room or Breakfast Room would best be designed so that the kids toys, school papers, etc. can be in a room that has space for them to play and that can be closed off from the part of the house where you will entertain when you have company. This room also needs space for video games, computer, etc. We have had our daughter and grandchildren (ages 6, 8, & 11) living with us in our lower level walkout and 2nd floor since they were 1, 3, & 5. These last 3 months of nothing but snow and sub-freezing cold have necessitated having them inside most of the time that they are not in school, and the extra space to play, do projects, and split them up if they've had too much of each other has been wonderful. This has been true when we've had normal winters also! We have the toys, books, and computer in one room, and the TV in another, although the toys and books often get moved to the TV room when the video games or TV are off. When we have other people here (with or without kids), we generally split into 2 groups (sometimes both groups have kids & adults, sometimes only one does), and having 2 rooms with comfortable seating and places for games and activities works very well, since we can tune in to what's going on in the other group & move back and forth easily between the 2 rooms. Based on my experiences with a previous condo layout similar to the Donnelly, I'd enlarge and make the Breakfast Room the DR, and get rid of the desk & pantry. Then make the DR the Breakfast/Play area with a small table for projects/eating, and put double doors on it to the Foyer. In our new house, we made both the DR & Breakfast room almost the same size (one is 12 x 14 & the other is 13 x 13.5), so either can function as a family room, living room, study/den, or eating area. --I'd move the front center exterior wall out to line up with the DR wall, and add a porch across the front from the garage to the DR. Then shift the Garage ~2' to the right. That will give you enough room to turn the stairs so that they come into the Foyer, and room for a closet. --19.5' is not deep enough for the garage that will have snow, lawn, kids, garden, ski, etc. equipment stored in it. I'd add at least 2', which would give you enough room to enlarge the laundry, and rearrange the back hall area. I think I'd switch the Laundry with the Bath, since that will serve as your powder room, as well as having less dirt tracked into the house when your kids come in from outside or school. With 2-3 kids, it is SO much better if you can work in a nice sized mudroom for all of the dirt and their stuff, with the powder room also right there. The small closet in that location should read "Linen" or "Storage", not "Coats." --I'd make the Kitchen a double L, so that it's more convenient to enter from the Foyer and easier to work in. I'd put the pantry to the right, and the ovens to the left of the new door. Move the fridge a little to the left, and extend the counter/cabinets to its right to line up with the end of the serving bar, and put the MW to the right of the fridge. --Add windows to the right and left exterior walls in as many rooms as possible to let in natural light and make it feel more open. Hope this helps you work through your choices. Anne...See More"The Caulfield", Frank Betz floorplan
Comments (2)I think we're missing a link or attachment....See MoreFrank Betz Kensington creek
Comments (0)Has anyone built or purchased the Kensington creek model by frank Betz ? I've pretty much seen most of the pictures online and wanted to see if anyone was willing to share . Thank you....See MorePlease help....Does anyone recognize this 1st floor plan?
Comments (19)Yes most don't but if you're planning on building a custom home, shouldn't it meet most of your needs? Humans are very adaptable and we can adapt to just about any living situation. Doesn't mean if we're plunking down 6 or more figures of our hard earned money and are able to build a custom house (note I'm not talking semi-custom or tract home), should we just accept a generic plan that really doesn't meet all or most of our needs?...See MoreElizabeth Beverly
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