First off, we want to say that we appreciate realtors very much for the upstream job they do in selling our plans. Granted, they don't sell our plans directly, but they do sell the building that the contractor created from our plans. But there are some things that we'll never understand. Most likely this can just be chalked up to personality types, life direction, etc. Sort of like we will never understand the Chinese culture. If you are a realtor, we invite you to respond with intelligent answers in an attempt for open communication.
1. Why does all of your marketing material have your face on it? Why do we care what you look like? Some of you are not very attractive, even with glamor shots and PhotoshopTM. Maybe you say it's because your face is your image and it's how people remember you. We think you guys all look the same. Same with insurance agents and lawyers. But the contractors who build our plans don't advertise with their face. As building designers, we don't advertise our face (we know better!). Plumbers don't, electricians don't, and the guy who lays the carpet doesn't. So why do you? Is this the way it's always been done? We'll bet if you used something other than your face, you might get noticed as being unique. Just a thought. Maybe an icon of a house with some zoom lines around it that says "I make quick sales". That's what we really want anyway, not your face on a lawn sign.
2. I understand that not anyone can get a realtors license. You've got to have patience, a study guide, and $500 to take the test. So why on the test do they not mention anything about house styles? I swear, every other house listed in our local paper is a 'bungalow'. I know for a fact that there are not that many bungalows in the state. Is a bungalow sexy or something? Or is it just a cop-out because other housing styles aren't known? We've seen tudor, craftsman, prairie, ranch and victorian all listed as bungalow. Another one that crops up is 'old Portland style'. What!? Which style? This one really is a cop-out. It's used a lot on prairie cubes and bungalows where the word bungalow has been already overused. If I may suggest, could you research housing styles and figure out more than five?
3. Why did we receive junk mail and solicitations AFTER we bought our current abode? Did you think that we would be so impressed by a circular with your face on it that we would immediately want to buy another home? Like we could afford that? Instead, the timing of your mailer was so backwards that we looked at it, made fun of the timing, and then recycled it without another thought. No, I don't know who it was, you all look the same. It would be understandable if Istockhouseplans chose to leave catalogs on construction sites. Builders tend to build more than 1 house every 3-5 years.
4. Maybe the general public can't tell, but some of your fliers for houses are less than spectacular. The fliers themselves sometimes use gaudy colors or err on the other side of no bling at all. AT ALL. We do want to see more than a list of 'amenities' in 10 pt font and 4 1"x1" photos of the house. But we don't want to see what looks like a beginner's guide to every option in Print ShopTM. A simple left margin graphic, 3 colors, and appropriate font size are a good place to start. And make the price tag big enough that it can be seen through the 'take one' flier box, in the rain, from the car, at the curb. We are not pleased with having to open the door in a downpour to grab a flier (or 110 degree temps for those in SoCal). The mere act of touching a flier will not increase the chances of buying a house. Folks who are driving through a neighborhood they haven't been through before do not want to write down an address to look up when they get home. They'll forget. Or they will merely go the next house with a post and shingle and look at the flier through the glass. If they feel they can afford it, they'll risk the elements to grab a flier.
5. Photographs. This should be 'nuff said. First, include them. When a flier says 'Too new for photos', this is immediately understood as laziness. "But I just have to get signs and an RMLS listing up today!" Good, go get some photos first. Years ago we saw a website of a realtor who was making fun of other realtors for their photos. If you can be seen in the bathroom mirror as you run by to take a photo, it's worth a retake. If the neighbor's trashy car is visible through living room windows, it's worth a retake. Second, please stage your photos. This does not need to be spendy. Clutter in the house MUST GO. Make your client clean up, get a storage space, or explain to them their house will take 6 months to sell. Being able to spot a box of 'toys' in a master bedroom photo will make us ask for new carpet. Just in case. No, steam cleaning won't be enough, thank you. And lighting is a must. Invest in some shop lights on a stand and use them for INDIRECT lighting. Perhaps you could consider a fish eye lens. Nothing dramatic, but have you ever tried to photograph a small bedroom or bathroom? It's almost impossible to see the whole thing. A subtle fish-eye style lens with 120+ degree views could help. A lot.
Now we understand that home designers giving sales advice to realtors is similar to realtors telling us how to design houses. So be it. Consider this to be some helpful advice and tips from our years of experience in the housing industry. Feel free to leave comments. If you'd like to discuss more, email us. Without your face.
Showing posts with label soapbox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soapbox. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Historic Fail
If you've seen Istockhouseplans' portfolio lately, you may have noticed a pattern. We're pretty crazy about historic styles. Large wood, texture, built-ins, house bling, etc. all play a part in the way we design. But our design only covers part of the scenario. We can design all we want, but the final product is left to the builder. We can spec out materials and such but the fact is that the permitting jurisdiction only cares about structural and code issues. As well they should. Historic review boards will care about such matters. In fact, we were recently privileged to sit in on and testify in front of a historic review board for a private commission we are working on.
While the historic review board was amenable to both historic-ish styles and the builder's pocketbook, we were a little disappointed that they didn't even discuss certain issues. Some of these we think are crucial to distinguish between a true classic and a blatant reproduction. While we mentioned some key issues a few years ago, we think that there are three that should always occur on a reproduction or historic remodel:
Windows. Look at an old house. Where are the windows located? They are generally inside the wall. Now look at most new homes and answer the same question? The windows on the outside of the wall. A little 2-3" nudge makes a huge difference. So how do you install a new flange window inside the wall? One way is to frame your openings 3" larger each direction and then install a 2x4 subframe inside the 2x6 frame. The window then gets mounted to the subframe and floats inside the wall a few inches. Cut down on all the extra wood by integrating the 2x4 subframe as part of the structural load path. Another option is to purchase tip-in style retrofit windows. Cost may be a factor in this case.
Siding. Have you ever wondered why a substandard recladding of an old home looks so disappointing? Think texture and relief. First, old homes did not have one type of siding. Two are minimum. Even if both styles are lap and the difference is 4" vs. 8" reveal, it can make a house pop. The biggest problem in our opinion is the relief of fiber cement lap siding. How thick is the bottom edge of yesteryear's lap siding? Darn near 1/2". Now look at the specs of Hardi-plank. How thick? 5/16", barely more than 1/4". the stuff might as well be flat. That tiny little edge looks puny, like trying to do 5/4x6" bargeboards. Hey Mr. Hardie! Have you ever considered putting a lip on the edge of that stuff to give it a stronger look? If we ever get to build, we will not use that stuff. Who cares if it lasts 100 years. That's 100 years of puny looking disappointment. "What will you use then, tough guy?" What indeed. Glad you asked. Wood. Wood lap siding with a 1/2"+ edge to it that makes the house look like it has been around forever. Prime 6 sides and paint the visible sides. Lots of work, yes, but the result is amazing and the durability just as good as Hardi.
Roofing. It used to be (back when I was a boy!) that the roof color was complementary to the color scheme of the house. Light grays, browns, even red, blue and green asphalt shingles gave interest to the color scheme below. Now it seems that most new homes are similar to the Model T. "Your roof can be any color you want, so long as it's black. Because I bought 3000 squares and I have to get rid of it..." Why are new roofs black anyway? Is it because there's some aesthetic about a sharp contrast to one of the 3 shades of camel that new homes are colored? We think it looks like a thick heavy black cap that smashes the house down and makes it look foreboding. It also invites heat to be absorbed into the attic. If you're building new historic or renovating, please don't use black.
If anybody out there can answer our concerns, we would love to hear. Add a comment to this blog and set us straight.
While the historic review board was amenable to both historic-ish styles and the builder's pocketbook, we were a little disappointed that they didn't even discuss certain issues. Some of these we think are crucial to distinguish between a true classic and a blatant reproduction. While we mentioned some key issues a few years ago, we think that there are three that should always occur on a reproduction or historic remodel:
Windows. Look at an old house. Where are the windows located? They are generally inside the wall. Now look at most new homes and answer the same question? The windows on the outside of the wall. A little 2-3" nudge makes a huge difference. So how do you install a new flange window inside the wall? One way is to frame your openings 3" larger each direction and then install a 2x4 subframe inside the 2x6 frame. The window then gets mounted to the subframe and floats inside the wall a few inches. Cut down on all the extra wood by integrating the 2x4 subframe as part of the structural load path. Another option is to purchase tip-in style retrofit windows. Cost may be a factor in this case.
Siding. Have you ever wondered why a substandard recladding of an old home looks so disappointing? Think texture and relief. First, old homes did not have one type of siding. Two are minimum. Even if both styles are lap and the difference is 4" vs. 8" reveal, it can make a house pop. The biggest problem in our opinion is the relief of fiber cement lap siding. How thick is the bottom edge of yesteryear's lap siding? Darn near 1/2". Now look at the specs of Hardi-plank. How thick? 5/16", barely more than 1/4". the stuff might as well be flat. That tiny little edge looks puny, like trying to do 5/4x6" bargeboards. Hey Mr. Hardie! Have you ever considered putting a lip on the edge of that stuff to give it a stronger look? If we ever get to build, we will not use that stuff. Who cares if it lasts 100 years. That's 100 years of puny looking disappointment. "What will you use then, tough guy?" What indeed. Glad you asked. Wood. Wood lap siding with a 1/2"+ edge to it that makes the house look like it has been around forever. Prime 6 sides and paint the visible sides. Lots of work, yes, but the result is amazing and the durability just as good as Hardi.
Roofing. It used to be (back when I was a boy!) that the roof color was complementary to the color scheme of the house. Light grays, browns, even red, blue and green asphalt shingles gave interest to the color scheme below. Now it seems that most new homes are similar to the Model T. "Your roof can be any color you want, so long as it's black. Because I bought 3000 squares and I have to get rid of it..." Why are new roofs black anyway? Is it because there's some aesthetic about a sharp contrast to one of the 3 shades of camel that new homes are colored? We think it looks like a thick heavy black cap that smashes the house down and makes it look foreboding. It also invites heat to be absorbed into the attic. If you're building new historic or renovating, please don't use black.
If anybody out there can answer our concerns, we would love to hear. Add a comment to this blog and set us straight.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
May We Suggest?
From time to time Istockhouseplans receives questions about our plans. Some feel that we are too light with our information, not including enough detail. If this sounds like you it's quite possible that you have worked with an architect in the past. Architects are quite notorious about detail. As we noted earlier, we are not those architects. A colleague said something very true the other day. The quote mostly follows, "My plans are more of a suggestion. It's up to the builder to take care of the details." While this may sound arrogant or lazy, we see real value in this statement.
We have tried filling detail into plans only to have it ignored. A good example is stairs. If you are site-building stairs, there are at least three ways to build the carcass, at least three ways to attach the treads and risers, and at least three ways to attach a finish material. Right there are 27 ways to build stairs. We see no need to include every possible detail. You as a builder are going to build stairs the way you have always built stairs. If the situation messes up your usual way of doing things, you'll figure out a way on your own based on your own experience.
The same goes for detailing exterior trim. This is why our houses look fairly plain. All of our homes are drawn with typical 6" lap siding except for the occasional board and batten or shingle pattern. Don't like it? Change it, we don't care. If you want to throw T1-11 all over it, feel free (but for heaven's sake, don't tell us, send pictures or advertise it as our plan!) Don't like the kitchen layout? Fine with us, talk to an NKBA professional. Porch too small/big/unattractive? Have a beer, peruse a magazine, and design your dream porch suitable to your region. It's all in your hands.
Or put it this way: Our house plans are like a cooking recipe. Add more meat, change the veggies, and spice it up a notch. Throw in your own special ingredient, change the heat, or create a redux to simplify the whole thing. (FYI, cooking is a side hobby in the office kitchen).
We feel it is our job to create some space layout, flow, and basic structural capacity. But the rest we leave to you. If we feel something is important to a particular look, we might detail it out. Send us an email and we can give some more suggestions.
We have tried filling detail into plans only to have it ignored. A good example is stairs. If you are site-building stairs, there are at least three ways to build the carcass, at least three ways to attach the treads and risers, and at least three ways to attach a finish material. Right there are 27 ways to build stairs. We see no need to include every possible detail. You as a builder are going to build stairs the way you have always built stairs. If the situation messes up your usual way of doing things, you'll figure out a way on your own based on your own experience.
The same goes for detailing exterior trim. This is why our houses look fairly plain. All of our homes are drawn with typical 6" lap siding except for the occasional board and batten or shingle pattern. Don't like it? Change it, we don't care. If you want to throw T1-11 all over it, feel free (but for heaven's sake, don't tell us, send pictures or advertise it as our plan!) Don't like the kitchen layout? Fine with us, talk to an NKBA professional. Porch too small/big/unattractive? Have a beer, peruse a magazine, and design your dream porch suitable to your region. It's all in your hands.
Or put it this way: Our house plans are like a cooking recipe. Add more meat, change the veggies, and spice it up a notch. Throw in your own special ingredient, change the heat, or create a redux to simplify the whole thing. (FYI, cooking is a side hobby in the office kitchen).
We feel it is our job to create some space layout, flow, and basic structural capacity. But the rest we leave to you. If we feel something is important to a particular look, we might detail it out. Send us an email and we can give some more suggestions.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
What's the difference between an architect?
In Oregon there exists a secret society that has all but trademarked a common word and all it's iterations. The only way you can claim to be an architect, do architectural drawings, or practice architecture is to be a 4-year schooled and trained, passed the exam, and certified professional. The idea is to protect the public from folks who do the same thing but are not board certified architects.
I suppose this is rather smart as it would be akin to separating attorneys from legal professionals. However it seems the public is not so trained in the difference. To the general public, anyone who designs a house is an architect. Time and again we have been referred to as architects, asked if we do architectural work, or had our work referred to as architecture. While we are flattered, please be aware that we are not trained or certified as architects per se. However, the State of Oregon cannot keep other individuals from drawing houses and submitting them for permits. (Nevada, however, can and does).
So to be clear, we are not architects. What are we then? We have always referred to ourselves as design professionals. What's the difference? We have training and experience, but we are not certified by a board. We are limited to designing homes of a particular size, but this has been a threshold higher than we care to reach. The main difference is that we cost way less.
If you are looking for a custom designed 8,000sf house, please contract the services of an architect. If you are looking for a cute little stock plan for an 1800sf home, look no further than Istockhouseplans. We have a diverse portfolio of homes and would be happy to help you with your next project.
I suppose this is rather smart as it would be akin to separating attorneys from legal professionals. However it seems the public is not so trained in the difference. To the general public, anyone who designs a house is an architect. Time and again we have been referred to as architects, asked if we do architectural work, or had our work referred to as architecture. While we are flattered, please be aware that we are not trained or certified as architects per se. However, the State of Oregon cannot keep other individuals from drawing houses and submitting them for permits. (Nevada, however, can and does).
So to be clear, we are not architects. What are we then? We have always referred to ourselves as design professionals. What's the difference? We have training and experience, but we are not certified by a board. We are limited to designing homes of a particular size, but this has been a threshold higher than we care to reach. The main difference is that we cost way less.
If you are looking for a custom designed 8,000sf house, please contract the services of an architect. If you are looking for a cute little stock plan for an 1800sf home, look no further than Istockhouseplans. We have a diverse portfolio of homes and would be happy to help you with your next project.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Windows 2.0
Ever noticed a new house that tries to look old? Some look terribly fake. Some do a great job. But none of them quite grab the look. Driving around town, it's not hard to spot the infill lots that have brand new period houses on them. We can even tell the difference between a well preserved old house, a well remodeled old home, and a brand new "old" home. Why? What's the difference? The eyes always give it away. In this case, the windows. Windows are a big part of a home and they can have a big effect on the way the home looks.
What is the big difference between old and new home windows? Crappy white vinyl frames? Not necessarily as old windows are often painted white. Grids? Not all old windows had grids and newer windows have some passable grids. We tend to think it's depth. Ever look at an old window? It's part of the framing. Now look at a new window. It's tacked to the outside of the framing like a 'Post No Bills' sign. Am I right? Tell me I'm wrong.
The big difference is in the way window production has changed over the years. When the aluminum flange window arrived on the scene, it made window installation quicker and more forgiving. A non-square opening no longer had to be shimmed to accept an inset window. Now the window could be squared on top of the sheathing and interior trim would cover the other side of the error.
Even though the look has been lost to mass production processes, it's not too hard to bring the look back. The first option is with new inset windows. Sometimes touted as replacement windows, these wood or wood clad panes set inside the framing the way their ancestors used to. There is a price to be paid for these windows though as they are not economically on par with their face flange cousins.
The second option is to use the cheaper face flange windows but spend another 5 minutes on each opening. First, frame your opening to 3" larger than required. Then use a smaller 2x framing member to sub frame your main opening. If you are framing 2x6 walls, line it with 2x4. If you are framing double 2x4 walls, use a piece that is wide enough to cover your interior stud, your gap, and then a little. A 10" double 2x4 wall would require a 2x8 sub frame. Your flange window then mounts to this sub frame and voila! Your windows have the appearance of being integral to the framing instead of slapped on top. A little 5/4 trim around the edges and it's a work of art.
Another benefit to this approach is that your water management just got a lot easier. As long as you have a sloped sill on the outside and a planned drainage path, you're good for the long haul. The water above the window opening gets kicked out by a piece of Z flashing at the head trim.
C'mon, my grandma could do this!
Istockhouseplans is committed to quality design and we hope you'll extend this to your building. Contact us with any questions during your build process and we'll be happy to give you free consultation.
What is the big difference between old and new home windows? Crappy white vinyl frames? Not necessarily as old windows are often painted white. Grids? Not all old windows had grids and newer windows have some passable grids. We tend to think it's depth. Ever look at an old window? It's part of the framing. Now look at a new window. It's tacked to the outside of the framing like a 'Post No Bills' sign. Am I right? Tell me I'm wrong.
The big difference is in the way window production has changed over the years. When the aluminum flange window arrived on the scene, it made window installation quicker and more forgiving. A non-square opening no longer had to be shimmed to accept an inset window. Now the window could be squared on top of the sheathing and interior trim would cover the other side of the error.
Even though the look has been lost to mass production processes, it's not too hard to bring the look back. The first option is with new inset windows. Sometimes touted as replacement windows, these wood or wood clad panes set inside the framing the way their ancestors used to. There is a price to be paid for these windows though as they are not economically on par with their face flange cousins.
The second option is to use the cheaper face flange windows but spend another 5 minutes on each opening. First, frame your opening to 3" larger than required. Then use a smaller 2x framing member to sub frame your main opening. If you are framing 2x6 walls, line it with 2x4. If you are framing double 2x4 walls, use a piece that is wide enough to cover your interior stud, your gap, and then a little. A 10" double 2x4 wall would require a 2x8 sub frame. Your flange window then mounts to this sub frame and voila! Your windows have the appearance of being integral to the framing instead of slapped on top. A little 5/4 trim around the edges and it's a work of art.
Another benefit to this approach is that your water management just got a lot easier. As long as you have a sloped sill on the outside and a planned drainage path, you're good for the long haul. The water above the window opening gets kicked out by a piece of Z flashing at the head trim.
C'mon, my grandma could do this!
Istockhouseplans is committed to quality design and we hope you'll extend this to your building. Contact us with any questions during your build process and we'll be happy to give you free consultation.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Small, Efficient and Beautiful
As if we needed to justify our reason for designing smaller homes, read Energy Source Builder #52 August 1997. Some of the tips included are:
Some builders might argue that smaller houses use more materials per square foot, and therefore cost more per square foot to build. Sure, they're right. But will those builders be paying the utility bills that are based on volume after the home is occupied? You can bet not! Quite appropriately the builders are only concerned with making as much money as possible and small homes do not allow as big a profit.
Some plan collection websites have a page dedicated to small houses. Istockhouseplans entire webpage is dedicated to smaller homes.
- Sharing spaces (do you really need an office AND media room AND guest bedroom?)
- Remove formal spaces (that vestigial living room is not much more than a furniture museum)
- Build furniture into rooms (probably should only be reserved for the Master Craftsman)
- Provide ample storage (you don't need more square footage to live in, just more to store your consumerism)
- Enhance trim and detail (turn that dinger into a zinger)
- Bring the outdoors in (covered decks and porches cost a fraction of the house)
- Calculate square footage of the home;
- Calculate square footage of anything sitting on your floor;
- Double the second number;
- Subtract it from the first number.
Some builders might argue that smaller houses use more materials per square foot, and therefore cost more per square foot to build. Sure, they're right. But will those builders be paying the utility bills that are based on volume after the home is occupied? You can bet not! Quite appropriately the builders are only concerned with making as much money as possible and small homes do not allow as big a profit.
Some plan collection websites have a page dedicated to small houses. Istockhouseplans entire webpage is dedicated to smaller homes.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
All Quiet on the Design Front
Greetings in the name of istockhouseplans.com. It's been a quiet two weeks. So quiet in fact that we almost forgot we had a design upstart company. Actually, for as quiet as things have been here at istockhouseplans, they have been anything but on other fronts. Our dayjobs have been picking up a bit, the holiday season is here, and other generalities of life have made putting any time into plans almost impossible. We'd like to be able to offer you all of our plans with slab and basement by now, or have the original Creston ready, or any of other several projects that are on the drawing board. If you have been eyeing one of our plans but holding back because it didn't have the proper foundation, please shoot us an email and tell us what you're looking for. We're more than happy to oblige.
In other news, Buena Vista Homes of Lake Oswego, OR held their liquidation auction this last weekend. According to the news feed it was more like a circus than an auction. Many, though certainly not all, of the homes sold and some for a reasonable price. Kudos to Buena Vista for thinking outside of the box to keep themselves alive.
The question came to us recently: "Why don't you design more simple and basic homes? You might sell more of your designs." Apparently this came from a contractor's frame of mind. Just because our houses don't look like tract houses, doesn't mean they aren't economical to build. If you are asking why we don't design 1600 square foot dinger boxes with a garage, then maybe you should check out the Montavilla series. If the question needs to be further refined to why we are stuck designing classical re-creation homes, then we would like to talk about principles. Quite frankly, we will not prostitute our skills on something that we do not find to be beautiful. We will not crap out a plan just for the sake of turning a buck. We have some standards that we will not turn from, which is a good reason why we are debating about releasing the Creston series from the courtyard design contest. They don't look good to our eyes. What if we had won and they were built? We may have realized our mistake and been sorry we designed them as we did. In retrospect we would have made some changes but that's what happens when you find out about a contest halfway through. The point is that we will not spit out cheap homes in order to turn a profit. We would rather sell 2 plans a month of our unique and beautiful homes than a dozen crapshacks. And if you don't like what we design, we respect that and we don't expect you to buy from us. But if you realize that our plans are every bit if not more economical to build than many of the crapshacks, we think you might have a change of heart. Thank you for the question.
We will be all but shut down through this week and next for the Christmas holiday. Any orders you place will be attended to immediately but designing and emailing will be sporadic at best. We at istockhouseplans wish a you a Merry Christmas and hope that you will not be taken in by the hustle and bustle of the season. Slow down, realize what's important, and enjoy the people around you. We'll see you next year!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Street of Boredom
We hit the local Street of Dreams this year. Quite frankly, if it weren't for two houses in particular, the show would have been a waste of time. With a range of $2.2 to $3.2 million and 3600 to 6300 square feet, we expected more creativity.
Our top honors and kudos go to Accent Homes for their Salish Moon entry. This home broke all the rules. We were astonished that their entry wasn't framed by the customary den-to-the-left and displaced-dining-room-to-the-right. Most folks don't use the biggest spiral staircase available as their main stair. We've never seen a house in which the front door commands a view of at least five other sliding doors. And we've NEVER seen standing seam metal shed roofs on a Street of Dreams home. The attention to detail was refreshing. The banded exposed beams were just neat. Inside the house you felt like you were outside, and on the main deck you felt like you were inside. All the lines of normalcy were blurred. The only drawbacks: All the angles were reminiscent of a 60's acid trip, the decor was a bit alternative, and the office and cloak room felt cramped.
Also of note was KDC Construction's Providence House. The rooms were warm and cozy and the whole home felt more like a Swiss lodge than a luxury home. Nice work on scaling the rooms down and your use of rich wood colors. We couldn't figure out why you would paint the timber framed entry green though.
Taurus Homes, your Pinnacle house was charming. With the turret and round-top doors we felt like we were in a castle. The pool table with your huge logo was annoying though. Blazer, West One, and Lakeside Homes, your entries were so run of the mill that not even the pictures jogged our memories. Whoever came up with the 4' Mercedes hood ornament 'bling' decor should be shot. To the owners of Timber's Edge, thanks for opening up your home for the show. Having that lived in feel made it feel less pretentious.
Our houses may never make it to the Street of Dreams and that's fine with us. We would prefer to build on the Street of Everyday Living. Visit our website to see homes with unique features and fine detail that you can actually afford to live in.
Our top honors and kudos go to Accent Homes for their Salish Moon entry. This home broke all the rules. We were astonished that their entry wasn't framed by the customary den-to-the-left and displaced-dining-room-to-the-right. Most folks don't use the biggest spiral staircase available as their main stair. We've never seen a house in which the front door commands a view of at least five other sliding doors. And we've NEVER seen standing seam metal shed roofs on a Street of Dreams home. The attention to detail was refreshing. The banded exposed beams were just neat. Inside the house you felt like you were outside, and on the main deck you felt like you were inside. All the lines of normalcy were blurred. The only drawbacks: All the angles were reminiscent of a 60's acid trip, the decor was a bit alternative, and the office and cloak room felt cramped.
Also of note was KDC Construction's Providence House. The rooms were warm and cozy and the whole home felt more like a Swiss lodge than a luxury home. Nice work on scaling the rooms down and your use of rich wood colors. We couldn't figure out why you would paint the timber framed entry green though.
Taurus Homes, your Pinnacle house was charming. With the turret and round-top doors we felt like we were in a castle. The pool table with your huge logo was annoying though. Blazer, West One, and Lakeside Homes, your entries were so run of the mill that not even the pictures jogged our memories. Whoever came up with the 4' Mercedes hood ornament 'bling' decor should be shot. To the owners of Timber's Edge, thanks for opening up your home for the show. Having that lived in feel made it feel less pretentious.
Our houses may never make it to the Street of Dreams and that's fine with us. We would prefer to build on the Street of Everyday Living. Visit our website to see homes with unique features and fine detail that you can actually afford to live in.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Something old, something new.
I'll try to stay calm, but no guarantees. As I was browsing through the Sunday paper's real estate section, I couldn't help but cringe. All the new houses for sale were astonishing. And not just the number of them, but the price tag. And not just the price tag, but the amount of house and lack of lot. And not just that, but the LOOK! What happened to craftsmanship? What happened to a love for the job? Why is it all about building as little as possible and selling for as much as possible? I don't think I can take it anymore.
These 3000sf homes on 6000sf lots are selling for $400,000. Do you know what they're composed of? Inefficient building techniques that are overcompensated with by an oversized HVAC system that will fail in three years. On top of that, the houses are built so tight that they can't breathe which means condensation issues in the walls and ceilings which leads to mold, mildew, and dry-rot. Besides that, the houses are so close to the neighbors that you really don't care for all the windows on the side of the house, nor do you feel like you have any privacy in your backyard. On top of that, the entire subdivision is composed of three houseplans, each mirrored or with a different facade to show some variety.
What makes the facade different? Some stone or trim. But it's not just any stone. It's cultured stone. Know what that means? Fake. The stone is manufactured out of concrete or plaster at about 2 inches thick and then glued to the side of the house. And the trim is just an afterthought. Some of these houses attempt to look like throwbacks to an earlier era, but I just want to throw them back. It's like taking a Geo Metro and trying to put BMW badges and tinted windows on it.
Alright, maybe every subdivision isn't that bad. Some actually show variety in houseplans. A few attempt to blend into the landscape rather than tearing down all the trees. Kudos to the builders who work around 50' tall fir, oak, and pine trees. Kudos to the builders who build every home as they would their own. Kudos to the builders who build 7 different plans on 20 lots.
And kudos to the builder who buys from istockhouseplans. We don't want to say our plans are better but they are different. We strive for economy both in building and living. We don't like to max out a building lot. If you don't like our plans because they aren't big enough, luxurious enough, or trendy enough, then we don't mind. There are hundreds of other designers out there who would be happy to have your business. For us, satisfaction comes not on a bottom line, but in seeing our homes built knowing that we haven't compromised our principles.
Please check out our line of models. We have just posted a 2-car garage series to add to our one car plans. We have 16 house plans available with ten more in the works. And in case you aren't yet convinced, our plans are cheaper than the competition. Just so you know.
These 3000sf homes on 6000sf lots are selling for $400,000. Do you know what they're composed of? Inefficient building techniques that are overcompensated with by an oversized HVAC system that will fail in three years. On top of that, the houses are built so tight that they can't breathe which means condensation issues in the walls and ceilings which leads to mold, mildew, and dry-rot. Besides that, the houses are so close to the neighbors that you really don't care for all the windows on the side of the house, nor do you feel like you have any privacy in your backyard. On top of that, the entire subdivision is composed of three houseplans, each mirrored or with a different facade to show some variety.
What makes the facade different? Some stone or trim. But it's not just any stone. It's cultured stone. Know what that means? Fake. The stone is manufactured out of concrete or plaster at about 2 inches thick and then glued to the side of the house. And the trim is just an afterthought. Some of these houses attempt to look like throwbacks to an earlier era, but I just want to throw them back. It's like taking a Geo Metro and trying to put BMW badges and tinted windows on it.
Alright, maybe every subdivision isn't that bad. Some actually show variety in houseplans. A few attempt to blend into the landscape rather than tearing down all the trees. Kudos to the builders who work around 50' tall fir, oak, and pine trees. Kudos to the builders who build every home as they would their own. Kudos to the builders who build 7 different plans on 20 lots.
And kudos to the builder who buys from istockhouseplans. We don't want to say our plans are better but they are different. We strive for economy both in building and living. We don't like to max out a building lot. If you don't like our plans because they aren't big enough, luxurious enough, or trendy enough, then we don't mind. There are hundreds of other designers out there who would be happy to have your business. For us, satisfaction comes not on a bottom line, but in seeing our homes built knowing that we haven't compromised our principles.
Please check out our line of models. We have just posted a 2-car garage series to add to our one car plans. We have 16 house plans available with ten more in the works. And in case you aren't yet convinced, our plans are cheaper than the competition. Just so you know.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
House envy, or, Does size really matter?
Your contractor tells you that size matters. After all, he drives around the biggest pickup truck available. Your wife tells you that she actually likes it smaller. Your friends are somewhere in between. Can you really live your life knowing that yours is in the bottom 25th percentile?
Why big is good:
Why small is good:
OK, so we're biased. We may not have the biggest one on the block, but we know how to use it. It's comfortable, it fits well, and we're used to it. Oh yeah, sometimes we'd like to be a few sizes bigger, and maybe someday we will, but for now we like what we have.
The average size has increased double from 1950 to 2000, while the number of folks using it has dropped 25%. More to go around? Maybe more greed? And all the while, they know how to use it less and less and so much is wasted. Sometimes parts or even the whole thing goes unused for quite a while. Then one day you'll hear, "What is THIS down here!?", or, "How did THAT get there?". Come on, get a grip. Do you really need to live life like this?
But there is help. First, own up to what you have. Second, learn how to use it properly. Third, maintain it in tip-top condition. Hopefully you will get to a place where you are happy with your lot in life and not try to strive after what others have. At the end of day, it's not about who gets to go home to what, but about how big a mess you have to clean up.
Why big is good:
- Show off
- Store a bunch of crap
- Less grass to mow
Why small is good:
- Cheaper to own
- Less maintanence
- Less crowding
OK, so we're biased. We may not have the biggest one on the block, but we know how to use it. It's comfortable, it fits well, and we're used to it. Oh yeah, sometimes we'd like to be a few sizes bigger, and maybe someday we will, but for now we like what we have.
The average size has increased double from 1950 to 2000, while the number of folks using it has dropped 25%. More to go around? Maybe more greed? And all the while, they know how to use it less and less and so much is wasted. Sometimes parts or even the whole thing goes unused for quite a while. Then one day you'll hear, "What is THIS down here!?", or, "How did THAT get there?". Come on, get a grip. Do you really need to live life like this?
But there is help. First, own up to what you have. Second, learn how to use it properly. Third, maintain it in tip-top condition. Hopefully you will get to a place where you are happy with your lot in life and not try to strive after what others have. At the end of day, it's not about who gets to go home to what, but about how big a mess you have to clean up.
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