My architect came up with this sketch

[GregM]

What do you think?
http://home.earthlink.net/~gremal/massing.JPG
This is the view showing the back yard and rear of the house with the master BR up on the second floor opening out onto a terrace. The structure on the right is a proposed addition to the kitchen. In fact the only part of this sketch that shows existing structure is the segment of wall with the small traditional window on the first floor, just right of center.

[stereoptic]

Beautiful - nice decks!

[Jeffrey]

Hi Greg,

Looks pretty! What's the room below the master BR? Do you desire as much light as that many large windows will generate? We thought so until we put a TV in a room like that.

Take care,
Jeffrey

[GregM]

The room below the master BR is another BR. The window facing the stairs seems kind of redundant. I plan to sublet it to help pay for the addition...

My stereo/HT area with the TV will actually be part of the master bedroom area, to the right of the large slot windows.

[Jeffrey]

The window facing the stairs seems kind of redundant.

Hi Greg,

Yeah, at first i didn't see any reason for that window at all until i saw the large slot window in the stairwell wall. Even then, i dunno.

Take care,
Jeffrey

[Jeffrey]

Hi Greg,

What's in the backyard? If ya gotta pool, spa, etc. that you'll be going to alot then the cost of the stairwell makes alot of sense.

Take care,
Jeffrey

[Damián]

My stereo/HT area with the TV will actually be part of the master bedroom area, to the right of the large slot windows.
Are those slot windows or bass ports? :D

[dkmonroe]

the...architect....sketch!!!!

the...architect....sketch!!!!

the...architect....sketch!!!!

*splash*

[GregM]

You'll have to ask my neighbors. ;)

Jeff, I am restricted by the city on my square footage, so I hope to use the area under the stairs for storage/toolshed. For that reason, and the fact that the inspectors like you to have an alternate stairway in the case of fire, my architect and I think it's a good idea to have this outdoor stairway. We just hope the city doesn't consider the area underneath counts as square footage if we enclose it.

[Jeffrey]

Jeff, I am restricted by the city on my square footage, so I hope to use the area under the stairs for storage/toolshed. For that reason, and the fact that the inspectors like you to have an alternate stairway in the case of fire, my architect and I think it's a good idea to have this outdoor stairway. We just hope the city doesn't consider the area underneath counts as square footage if we enclose it.

Hi Greg,

That's new to me. My hood has minimum square footage limitations but i don't believe i've ever lived in a town, city, neighborhood, etc. that had max's! What's the rationale???

Take care,
Jeffrey

[GregM]

It has to do with cars on the street...city doesn't like it. They won't let the total sq ft exceed 1800 (including the garage!) and won't let you build more than 3 BR unless you have a two-car garage at least 19 ft wide. There is simply no way to accomodate such a garage without ruining my plans for the house and/or back yard. So we are limited to 1800 sq ft and 3 BR.

[Jeffrey]

Hi Greg,

Wow.... learn something every day. How large is your city? Where do the Doctors and Lawyers live? :laugh:

Take care,
Jeffrey

[GregM]

My city borders Cupertino (home of Apple) and Los Altos (where all the doctors, lawyers and CEOs live).

This is the latest version. You can see it's started to simplify and come together but we still need to refine it a bit before submitting plans to the city.

http://home.earthlink.net/~gremal/shcm.JPG

[Dave]

FWIW Greg, I like b's roof design better. It seems to fit the picture better than the slope of a.

[Metralla]

Agreed. The window on the top floor mirrors the one on the ground floor. I'd explore a couple more options for the balcony railings

[Parkertown]

How exciting! Enjoy Greg, and stay on top of those contractors!

[GregM]

Thanks for your comments. Yes, it's exciting!

At first I had the same reaction about the "tower" where the rail terminates. I wanted it to relate more directly to the gable on the first floor. But I did like the asymmetry of the sloped approach. So what I proposed was to create a tower that was identical to the treatment on the first floor but cut in half where the rail terminates. In other words, both gables will be identical, but the one on the second floor will be larger and bisected so that it makes a "corner". My architect thought this was a good idea but it is complicating the roof treatment.

We are also trying to deal with the floorplan to give me a good listening room! Don't have much sq footage to work with, so it's a challenge.

[vintageonevinyl]

When is the housewarming party? I'll bring some music!!

[GregM]

We can try to have the party in this model my architect's assistant built...might be kind of tight, though.
http://home.earthlink.net/~gremal/img_3153.jpg

I think we'll be ready to formally submit plans to the city this week.