Window Placement - Aesthetics and Costs
transnationalq
8 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
transnationalq
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Design dilemas, window placement and overall house size
Comments (3)It is possible to have windows on the garage side if the the garage roof is low enough to allow for sensible window placement. When the side elevations are sketched out, it will be obvious whether it will work or not. As for dimensions, and working in multiples of 4', I have found that it doesn't make all that much difference in the overall scheme of things. The worst case would be to a bit over a multiple of 4. I always go a bit under to allow for building errors. If you went exactly 32', and they screwed up and it came out 32' 2", you'd have a problem. Also, tongue & groove floor decking, such as Advantech is 47-1/2", not 48. I didn't know that when I built my barn to 28' wide, and had to waste a whole row of sheets, as a 3" strip won't work on a structural floor diaphragm. The safest thing to do would be to go about 31' 6", which would allow for minimum waste, but a margin of safety. All that being said, once you get inside, all of that careful dimensioning is for naught, as the interior dimensions won't be nice neat multiples of 4. You can drive yourself nuts trying to save a few hundred dollars worth of materials. Our house is 33' 4" X 43' 4", because I worked in standard units for ICF. I didn't generate all that much waste, and found uses for much of it. If someone else is doing the building, they'll just keep filling the dumpster. Labor is a lot more expensive than materials. Designing a house with a simple shape and moderate roof pitch will go a lot further towards saving money....See MoreGoing Kitchen Functional and Aesthetic???
Comments (27)Hi artemis, your layout is looking good with the deep counters (I am a little envious that you can fit those in all around), and I like the suggestions for a larger prep sink and moving the cooktop over as far as you can given the window constraints. I remember that you were going to deepen the counter behind the sink for splashes right? Perhaps your software limits the type of sink you could put in, but I strongly suggest that you get a large single bowl sink or low divide sink with a single offset drain. You could either get a stages type sink with the integral drainboard, or have runnels cut into your countertop for drainage of large items. It will be good to have a large sink to hide dirty dishes and pots since your main sink is so visible from the dining area. I have the stages sink (with countertop runnels also) and use both a perforated holder perched across the sink and a minimalist dish drainer either on the runnels or on the integral shelf for drying things. When company comes, it is easy to put the dish drainer under the perforated holder and there is nothing on the countertop or the integral shelf. The offset drain would allow you to put a trash bin underneath half of the sink. I posted about my Stages sink experience here, and at the end of the thread include a link to a thread with a cheaper alternatives with similar functionality, including a silgranite sink. http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2817856/scrappy25-renovation-part-3-the-kitchen-cockpit-stages-45-sink?n=14 I am sure that others will have much better ideas for finishes than I do. I am a function over form type person....See MoreWindow placement on the front of a farm house
Comments (35)Beth- I have been through a similar experience to what is going on here with a simple question ([mine[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/looking-for-feedback-on-ikea-kitchen-plan-for-new-construction-dsvw-vd~5253147) was on the kitchen forum) turning into a thread where suddenly you are inundated with critiques on a plan you loved. Our plan was very, very similar to yours. At first my husband and I just wanted to dig in our heels and go forward. After all, it wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough, right? After a few days we started trying to make some additional changes in order to address the issues mentioned here. Inadequate light, too much space devoted to walkways, etc. We had already had our plans engineered, and we really did not want to start over. I even started a [thread[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/i-didnt-realize-farmhouses-were-such-a-big-trend-dsvw-vd~5269101) in this forum as a sort of last ditch effort to convince myself that it would be ok. I did not post the floor plan this time because I was too afraid of what the feedback might be! I received a lot of helpful advice regarding farmhouses in that thread, by the way, so you should definitely check it out. These forums can be brutal, but you can also learn a ton by using the search tool and coming up with a list of books that are recommended here to help you as you undertake this enormous commitment. Some of them (A Pattern Language, The Not So Big House) I had read a few years ago, but went ahead ahead and re-read (or skimmed). Ultimately I came to the conclusion that I just could not go forward with the plan we had. It didn’t fit the lot. We could “do better,” as is said so often here. Is it painful to think about starting from scratch, especially since we have sold our home and moved into a smaller duplex already? Yes. Have I spent restless nights rearranging our house plans in my dreams (not to mention all day long in my head) trying to come up with a way to just make it work? Yes. But I feel like the thing that I would regret the most is going forward with a house plan that just wasn't right because I didn't want to spend the extra time and money upfront to get something that is "right." I am not saying that you have to come to the same conclusion, but I do hope you give some serious consideration to the comments on your thread, because they truly are trying to help you build a house that you will love for years to come. Often we "don't know what we don't know," and the posters here can bring issues to your attention that you may not have even considered. If you consider them and decide to go forward with your plans, at least you are going forward with your eyes open. Best wishes with your house!...See MoreWindow Sizing and Placement on New Build
Comments (15)You should be asking more questions than just windows. Such as why you'd put the pantry on an outside wall and on a corner. Corners are best for public rooms and bedrooms so those rooms can get windows on two walls. Also why you're placing the laundry room so far from the bedrooms considering bedrooms are where the majority of the laundry is generated. Also why do you have such a small enclosed kitchen? I'm not saying you need an open kitchen but this one is not even laid out well when you consider where the sink is in relation to the dining room. The sink and the fridge should be closer to the dining room and the cooktop should be the furthest away and out of anyone possibly walking by. If you plan to have a seating grouping around a tv in the living room, where will it go considering you have entrances on two sides of what is just a 5'-6' wall. And it means you'll be walking through the seating area to get to the master bedroom because NO ONE walks around. Everyone takes the shortest route. Why do you need an 18' long dining room? That's lots of wasted space for what? What is the wasted space next to the tub in the master? Where will the bed go in the master with all those doors? The mudroom will be tight for more than one person when you consider the bench/shelves are 18" deep. That only gives you 4.5' of walking space. Lastly the laundry room is 6' wide. Machines stick out a minimum of 30" and usually a few inches more. So that means you have a grand total of 4' to maneuver in the laundry room. If you have side loaders, that means if you open the doors you can't even maneuver around the machines in the room. Like I said, windows are the least of your problems right now. The best houses do not have fat roofs like your house. The best houses are designed in an L, I, U, T or H shape. The best houses have windows on at least two walls in all public rooms and all bedrooms. The best houses do not have utility rooms, pantries, etc taking up prime real estate on corners. The best houses are only 1-2 rooms deep and that does include porches, garages, etc. The best houses have a central "spine" so it's easy to figure out how to go from room to room....See Moretransnationalq
8 years agoawm03
8 years agotransnationalq
8 years agotransnationalq
8 years agoawm03
8 years agoblfenton
8 years agotransnationalq
8 years ago
Related Stories
HOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: Raw Aesthetics Rule in a Toronto Family Home
Exposed plywood and beams, rough concrete and unfinished walls give the interiors a unique look — and give the family more time together
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDHouzz Tour: Japanese Aesthetic in a Kiwi Home by the Sea
Perched above Tasman Bay, a horizontal home hugs the earth and opens up to views
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Aesthetics on a Budget in Turin, Italy
A converted attic combines thoughtful design with innovative materials
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESRoof Overhangs Project Lower Energy Costs
Make a dramatic style statement and lower home energy bills with a deep roof overhang on your house
Full StoryACCESSORIES8 Low-Cost Luxuries With a Big Payoff
Consider the small stuff — like switch plates and throw pillows — to give your home a touch of class
Full StoryCONTRACTOR TIPSLearn the Lingo of Construction Project Costs
Estimates, bids, ballparks. Know the options and how they’re calculated to get the most accurate project price possible
Full StoryWINDOW TREATMENTSEmbellishing Tricks for Cost-Effective Custom Curtains
Get curtains that look high end — even if you don't sew — with just a little trim here or a little banding there
Full StoryINSIDE HOUZZHouzz Survey: See the Latest Benchmarks on Remodeling Costs and More
The annual Houzz & Home survey reveals what you can expect to pay for a renovation project and how long it may take
Full StoryGREAT HOME PROJECTS25 Great Home Projects and What They Cost
Get the closet of your dreams, add a secret doorway and more. Learn the ins and outs of projects that will make your home better
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESThe Lower-Cost, Low-Tech Modern Home
See how to trim building costs and still get a home design rich in modern spaces and style
Full Story
awm03