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Design Dilemma Smaller Homes

960sqft log cabin w/pre existing obstacles

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

i recently purchased a small log cabin and trying to best tilize the space. i plan on converting the loft into 2beds/1 bath. this is the current layout.

pre existing obstacles:

there is no crawlspace under the floor. it is solid concrete.
the plumbing is ran through concrete in the bathroom and fed through the wall to the kitchen
3 windows that are 8ft wide
8in thick exterior log walls

upstairs rough idea

i've looked at floor plans for months and managed to work up the attached floor plan. but i'd love some input!

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Comments (10)

tangerinedoor
5 years ago
Could you show some photos to give context? Outside and inside?

Is the shower big enough? If the plan is to scale the shower looks smaller than the toilet. Or maybe that's not the shower?
PRO
JAN MOYER
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Not that plan. A nine foot deep bedroom is too small. For anything but a nursery. The master bedroom is unworkable as well. A concrete slab floor need not always dictate plumbing . Get some professional help on the site via at least a very good contractor.
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chiflipper
5 years ago
Are you on a septic? If so you may not be able to add a bath, contact your County Tax Assessor. First things first.
Clara Sizemore
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
tangerinedoor: the measurements aren't exact. i just did a quick room placement on homestyler. i'll work on getting measurements. here are pics.

side door

front door

plumbing through kitchen wall

front

right side

JAN MOYER: i'll work on measurement and redo the housestyler. :D

chiflipper: i am on septic.

thank you for all the replies! i have contacted 3 contractors in my area with plans to turn this into an a-frame who are working on plans on how to remove the existing roof and rebuild accordingly. atm i put in a rough kitchen and bath till i could figure out placement due to the location of the existing windows and doors. this is my first time doing something like this. i was hoping to upgrade what i've done with professionals.

i have a nicer mirror now....lol
Clara Sizemore
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
current layout with correct measurements

the earlier screenshots are of me brainstorming layouts with stairs in mind and dodging those windows. plan# 47-106 was a layout for a smaller cabin that i liked (measurements not applied to my house) to maybe use for the new upstairs that i sent to the contractors. i planned on leaving the downstairs as the master bedroom.

lots of cabins have an open to below plan for the living room/kitchen, but i'd like to utilize the entire upstairs.

otherwise i'm open to all ideas! i feel the current bedroom space as it is needs to be broken up somehow. i know the kitchen needs to be better planned.
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Debbi Washburn
5 years ago
My first reaction is that the bathroom is pretty large and the bedroom seems tight... Where is the bedroom closet? or is that the storage closet?

Cute place!!! Good luck!!
Clara Sizemore
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Debbi Washburn there isn't a closet at the moment. (i could REALLY use one) My necessities are in 2 linen cabinets. where you see the bed, a strange L-shaped room, that was put in place before I bought it. it sort of feels like a studio?

i left the walls as they were when i moved in and just put in the basics where the hook ups were till i could make some concrete plans. i agree that the bathroom is too large.

ideas i considered for that L shaped space were
1. huge walk in closet with bench by the window?
2. split the place in half making a walk in closet and utility room?
3. split into 2 bedrooms by making the bathroom smaller? but should i make the bathroom smaller to increase the kitchen (there's a preexisting window that i don't know how to incorporate into the kitchen) or increase the odd space in the bedroom?
i've thought about starting with entirely new placement for the existing walls. but the windows get in the way of many of the ideas i had.

thanks!
tangerinedoor
5 years ago
As I understand it, the master bedroom will be downstairs with the auxiliary bedrooms upstairs. I don't think a 9 or 10' bedroom is at all problematic. You'd just have to figure out where the beds go, and you might not be able to have queen size.

Unless those are low eaves, I think I would put all the storage on all on one side, so you can walk in easily and not block all of the windows. I would put all the storage on the side with the smaller windows.

Unless, that is, those storage areas represent built-in cupboards, so no windows are blocked. You could even put beds on top of built-in storage, with pull-out drawers below the mattress....especially nice for a kids' room. The windows would not be blocked in this scenario.

Alternatively, you could turn the ell into a bed nook.
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Debbi Washburn
5 years ago
I also took a look at the loft. I think the staircase location is cramping the one bedroom a bit... I am assuming all the storage is due to the slope of the roof. I would try to move the staircase over to give a bit more room to the one bedroom and relocate the closet for that bedroom so you can have a full bath up there ( or at least with shower ). Do you know what the ceiling heights are going to be like? That master is a little tight but certainly workable - just layout furniture on your plans before doing any work!

For your main level, where exactly does the plumbing come up through the floor? If you are adding a laundry, you might not have an option but to do some jackhammering in the floor to move drain lines around.

Did you consider doing the master downstairs?

Also do not forget the valuable storage space under the staircase!

If you size it right that "L" could be the closet - hanging will take up 24" and you should ave a minumum of 30" to walk in so that would work although I would get rid of the door into the laundry. I really think you could maybe put the laundry into a closet and change the baths around
apple_pie_order
5 years ago
Quite a place and a beautiful setting. Will this be your full time residence? Does your area require that the place be brought up to current code if you start changing things?

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