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Building a Home Design Dilemma

Looking for a lake house design plan

2 years ago

Hello,

I recently purchased a piece of land and I am looking to build a lake house for my family. I have been looking at different websites that sell house design plans but I haven't found just what I am looking for yet. The land it self if fairly wide and flat. Wondering if anyone had any good resources or ideas.

Just a general idea of what I am looking for in a home:

4+bedrooms, 2 or 3 story home with primary living space on the 2nd or 3rd floor, large balcony on that floor, large windows facing the water (important).

Thanks in advance for your help,

Graham

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Comments (9)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
Contact a local architect to design a home with you that meets your needs and fits the site. A lake deserves good architecture, not someone else's dream plopped on the land. This is your opportunity to do something great, don't screw up.
bpath
2 years ago
There are architects here who have designed homes on a lake for people, addressing their site, the lake, and the owners' needs and desires, and things the owners never would have thought of, to create the home that the family will enjoy for years. You might reach out to Mark, ArchitectRunnerGuy, etc.
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I am wondering about the heating and cooling of a house with cathedral ceilings and a loft. Our electric bills in this condo have been between 400 and 500 this winter. When we are on a fixed income in a few years that will really matter. And all those walls of glass. Max Fulbright is in GA. You might want to ask them if they have any information about these plans being built in your area. If you can find any that were built in your area, you can ask about utility costs.
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All good points- the stairs are an issue that I have struggled with. I have always wanted the kitchen to look out the opposite direction of the lake- it is a beautiful treed dirt road and I love the view as much as the lake. I also wanted to take advantage of the morning sun light on that side of the house. We have had the property for over 10 years and it is difficult to match the dream with reality :) I agree about access to the pantry - you can't see it on the drawing but I was planning a small door in the hallway to access often used items. I am not sure a pantry is even necessary so I am considering making it a bigger laundry room. Since we only have the front door the laundry room will be the mud room and natural landing zone. bpathome- the septic placement makes me crazy! It was there when we bought the property. I am not sure how to use that closet- I have left it there for now with the thought I may get rid of it. I do want to put a closet within the laundry room.
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What do you mean you plan on building it yourself? Secondly, I would guess that plan is not by a real architect. If it is, the architect needs to go back to school since it looks like every other plan factory plan plopped onto the site. Thirdly, that house looks smaller than the ones you are looking to build. What makes you think you'll be able to build for 1/2 the price? Fourth, like Sophie said, Florida has extra conditions that need to be met. That drives the cost up and can't be fudged, unless you're willing to watch your house go bye-bye during the first major storm. If anything, a house in FL needs to be over engineered! I do believe you can build a less expensive house on the lot but not the ones you've been looking at. A simple L shape or a simple rectangle, maybe about 1800 square feet might be doable for your budget. But not the things you are looking at. Every one of them even if they were worth putting on the site, would be close to or over a million as Sophie suggests.
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Did you set a deadline with her? Maybe tell her you want this done in X days can she do it etc... Better than starting over imo. Good luck!
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cpartist
2 years ago
Agree with bpath and Mark. You won't find what you're looking for in a poorly designed internet plan.
bpath
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
An internet plan may or may not be poorly designed, but it won’t be designed for your lake, and your sun orientation and views, and your other needs.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
You can get some ideas on google search with your SqF, numbers of beds, baths, great views, your style...etc

https://www.familyhomeplans.com/home-house-plans-with-great-view
arcy_gw
2 years ago
I would find a contractor who is willing to work in your area and see what he has in his back of tricks. Contractors have plans they have done before and architect could then tweak it to fit your lot.
SBDRH
2 years ago
We purchased (and modified) a plan from Max Fulbright to build on our lake front lot. www.maxhouseplans.com
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
IMO by the time you modify a stock plan to fit your lot and the itmes you change you would be better off getting an architect . I sure would not ask a contractor for a house plan. BTW most architects are not going tweak someone elses plans
SBDRH
2 years ago
In my direct experience, the cost of an online plan plus the fees to make modifications was SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the cost of using an architect. Our total outlay for the plans was just under $3000.

Here's my thread on our build journey if it's of any interest to you, Graham Adams

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5803931/thoughts-on-this-plan-for-lakefront-build

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