We have lived in the Essex plan for over 20 years. A very similar plan. We raised the main floor to 9 feet and made the mud room more like the Appomattox. Our mudroom door opens to backyard. It would be easy to make that powder a full bath I’d think. Our kids are now gone so we have shut down the upstairs as planned.

Original main floor of the Essex,

Some of the changes we made,

Annette,

Thank you for your response. But other than those minor changes, you have liked living in the home? it was efficient to build and functional to live in?

We have loved it immensely. My husband did not even know what a Dutch Colonial was prior to me showing him this plan. Our inside joke now, and for the last 20 years, when watching home design shows is him saying, “that’s a nice house but it’s no Dutch Colonial”.

Everyone who visits our home absolutely loves it. It is not showy, but is functional and charming. We are also on acreage, with chickens, a vegetable garden, fruit orchard and a kennel. I am heartbroken to leave it, but the area has changed enough that it’s time, the house itself still functions perfectly. Even my children’s friends, who grew up hanging out here, have expressed their dismay that we are moving on. My daughter’s best friend said she was so sad as our house was always so welcoming and she loves the design. That seriously brought a tear to my eye.

We didn’t originally feel the need for a dining room, but about 10 years into living here we got into wine and made the dining room focus on such. You could make it something focused on horses or another hobby. It has become a social focus for us.

However there are a few tweaks that if I were building again today I would change. Nothing major to the structure but things that I have thought would have been easy to change at the outset. I will happily get into that with you if you are so interested.

I am interested. I really appreciate your willingness to open up about the good things and shortcomings of the designs from this firm.

This house plan is 3500 sq ft. By the time you finish the "future recreation room" you have 4000 sq ft.!

Im sure your home is lovely Annette.

Stumped...your property sounds beautiful. I am not usually one to judge plans on this forum but this plan is boxy and unappealing for the megaprice tag on it. No dining room for me in the new house we are building either. Been there done that.

Hire Martha or one of our other architects on this board for a reasonable price. You will do a hundred times better.

This is not a very well laid out plan. Corner fireplaces are horrible, absolutely do not put them in unless you want to come back here with furniture layout issues.

Why on earth would you want a dining room that doesn't even open up close to the kitchen or other living spaces? The master bathroom layout is just horrible. You're also going to get limited light in your living room because fo that screened in porch so expect your home to be dark.

This home just has no flow. Even if it's not open concept, a home should still make sense but this one doesn't. Imagine throwing a party in this home. Every room is blocked off from one another and in another area.

I'm not going to comment on the floor plan, but I am regarding the Dutch Colonial style. I live in NC and have been all over the Blue Ridge mountains, and I don't recall Dutch Colonial style being prevalent. That particular style is found more up north.

I'm not really sure about architectural terms or styles, but I'm pretty sure that what is abundantly found in the BR mountains is more Gothic revival and Colonial revival if you want a house that looks like it's been there for 100 years. Cottage style homes are also prevalent - if you like that style, I'd look at Poole's Calabash Cottage and its sibling plans.

If it were me, however, I'd look at optimizing views from all sides and talk to an architect.

Annette, I didn't mean to offend you!

OP said they wanted a house that looks like it was built in the 1700s and 1800s. I beg to differ that a gambrel style house was common in the Blue Ridge during that time frame. I agree that it would look fine on their 70 acres, but it's not going to fit the general architectural style of the Appalachians if that's the intent of the OP.

Amen to not everyone wanting "open concept." I think Poole's designs are wonderful--nice historical designs and detailing. He really knows classic American architecture.

Hi,

Thank you for all the comments.

Ilovered, my wife and I are different. The boxiness appeals to us.

Sina, I agree about the dining room and we would like to change that to a library and turn the screened porch into a dining area. I did not know that about angled fireplaces. Thank you for the information on that.

BethA,

I thought that the Appomattox exterior was based on colonial houses found in VA. I know for sure I have seen very similar exteriors in Wiliamsburg. We are in the Piedmont of VA with views of the Blue Ridge. So you may be right that it was not a plan found in the mountains, but was found close.

BethA, you did not offend me at all, but are sweet to be concerned!

In actuality, the style of homes most commonly seen in the Blue Ridge mtns in the early days of our country would be a log cabin I’m guessing. Some would then clad over the logs with more upscale siding of some sort, but the log cabin was still the foundation.

My bff in high school has family in the Blue Ridge mtns. They own the property that has been in their family for generations. Nothing big or fancy, but paid for! In the woods on the property was an old, yet still standing dog trot log cabin. It had always been there and was where her grandmother was born as I recall.

I’m just now making the connection that this may be one of the reasons I am moving to the Blue Ridge area and into our own log cabin in the immediate future.