What is the site like? Size? Orientation? Neighboring parcels? Size of lake? Slope? Height above lake? Vegetation? Roads? Utilities? Accessory buildings? Setbacks? Neighborhood architectural flavor? . . .

I'm confused - the entry and living room face the lake, but you access the garage from the same side? How does the house sit on the lot? Which way is North?

Do you have room for a detached garage? If you don't have to deal with winter snow and wind, you may not need any garage at all.

You have about 1300 s.f. on the main level plus garage plus bonus space and loft. How do you anticipate using the bonus space? Do you really need it? If you can't justify it, you should eliminate it. It won't be terribly expensive to build because there are no bathrooms. It won't be very useful either for the same reason.

We have Mtn/River hse, storage is essential for grown up toys-fishing, etc, cold weather items, Xmas decor, etc, tools, you get it - Convert garage to additional bedroom w/ bath. With big window towards lake or very fun play room with glass garage door and leave loft as additional bedroom. Make at least one of your bedrooms an en-suite. (Your baths are all too public). In loft area put in at least a half bath. Your vehicle can sleep under the stars.

You're trying to get 15-pounds in a 10-pound bag. The clear headroom on the second floor along the walkway/lounge is barely legal at 7-feet clear, depening on local code requirements. Your dining table and seating at the island seem large, while using a chaise lounge in the living room only allows 5 people to sit at the same time. On version 2, you can hardly open the front door without hitting the chaise lounge.

Do you think these plans really work for you and your family?

On Plan 2, switch laundry with pantry. It just makes more sense. There are a lot of doors, here, and I am not sure on the handings you have down for them. This needs to be simplified.

We are in the process of building our lake house. It was essential for us to have our laundry right near the door where we would be entering after coming from the lake. This way, wet sandy towels are being dragged through any part of the house. In version 1, I'd open that laundry area to the mudroom, not the kitchen. That way you can come into the mudroom through the garage and dump wet bathing suits & towels there without bringing them into the kitchen.

While we have closets, some of them will not be used for closets. My kids want the walk in closet in the bedroom turned into their hangout/tv area so we are doing that. Every room will have dressers so that's where our clothes will go. It's a casual place so no items will need to be hung really. We still have a decent amount of storage for a weekend home though.

If the floor to floor height is 9-0 or 9-2 you have an extra tread & riser.

@Mark Bischak, Architect Our property is in a critical dunes area, approx. 100 ft above Lake Michigan. There is an old road to the edge of the property that we will continue to the building site, (roughly 100 x 50) and then bring in utilities. We have spent many summers here at another family home, but want a small place of our own. Many of the nearby homes were built in the 50’s and are not winterized, though that is starting to change. Styles runs the gamut from 1000 sq.ft. cabins to million dollar homes.

@Summit Studio Architects We are trying to keep our costs down with a simple layout and stock dimensions, so adding a second floor loft area is pretty inexpensive for a lot of sq. ft. to house grandkids! As time and money permits we will add a bathroom and bunk room (we have included rough plumbing to the loft area.) I have two son-in-laws that are carpenters and hope to barter some work!

@AnnKH The only access to the property is lakeside (east) – really dislike the whole garage idea, but outvoted due to winter weather and kayaks! I am still hoping we might be able to turn the garage door to the side (south), less of an eyesore.

@apple_pie_order We plan to build out the loft as a bunkroom with a large bathroom. The Loft will easily accommodate 10+ weekend visitors – mind you, this will be my kids and grandkids bunking together! The Living/Dining area is still under revisions, but we can also use the bonus space over the garage as another seating area.

@Virgil Carter Fine Art

" You're trying to get 15-pounds in a 10-pound bag" – kind of like my favorite jeans! The loft can be expanded to 12 feet deep and with a 2/12 roof pitch it will just about be 8’ by the railing – it passes code as is and will be used by the grandkids (most are still short!) I know I need to increase the seating area - just have to figure out where to steal it from!
We are pretty locked into keeping this under 1400 sq.ft.

I made some changes. I think you can add a narrow electrical fireplace if you like. Not so many stools at the counter in a small home like this.

@ BeverlyFLADeziner Thank you for your suggestions!

Your place looks amazing. I live in a lake house full time. Something to consider is the way you use your home, especially the bathroom. I can tell you the number one best thing I ever did (aside from buying the house itself :) was putting a door to the outside in one of my bathrooms. It gets used constantly all summer and keeps the sand and grime some what contained in the bathroom. Before I did that we would walk all the way through the house to the bathroom...no matter how much you brush / off rinse off etc... you get lots of sand everywhere! The bathroom is the most worked room in the house! Now they can go in and jump in the shower at the end of the day and come out without 10 pounds of sand! Don't get me wrong I love the sandy days, but it is nice for everyone not to feel bad about traipsing through the house with wet or sandy feet just to use the toilet.

I would LOVE to have a toy garage that faces the lake, so much easier to get all the stuff put away and drying at the end of the day. A place to hang the 64 thousand wet things...

Here's a toy garage that faces the lake. Two of the wooden toys ride the carts down the tracks and onto the lake; then, after they are played with, they ride the carts up the tracks and into the toy garage for safe keeping until next time.

A screen porch is a good way to get extra area for much less money. If it's not in the budget now, a simple wood deck where you can put a big screened tent would do for a start. Enclosed with screens later.

I agree with the "trying to get 15-pounds in a 10-pound bag". It feels very cramped to me.