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Now that you have a feel for the big picture, I’ll tell you more about how we are developing the new structure.  (For simplicity’s sake [and mine too!] let’s refer to the new home as Lillie’s Pad, the pool house as Pool House [J], and the existing house as Existing House.)  To achieve a home that is step-less, we began by basing Lillie’s Pad on a slab plan.  This combined with the slope of the land and the limits established by the setbacks was one of our first obstacles.  If you look at the photo of the back lot taken looking north, you will notice that there is a considerable elevation change from West to East.  We used a combination of ideas to approach this.  By sinking the West end of the house into the ground about four and half feet we lessen the grade difference and minimize the visual effect of Lillie’s Pad on the landscape.  We are also planning to extend a retaining wall along the western property line that will level out the area between the houses.  Because the wall will be over four feet, there will also be a protective fence along the top edge. 
 

Now that we have leveled out the construction area, we are ready to begin space planning Lillie’s Pad.  My favorite space planning method is what I call the “bubble method.”  I begin by listing all of the areas that we’d like to contain within the space.  Our list looked something like this:
 

Bedroom 1
Bedroom 2
Bathroom
Living Room with view
Separate Entry
Spacious Kitchen
Large Dining Room
Laundry/Sewing Area
Possible Guest Bath
Workout/office area that might double as guest room
 

The next step was to work out which areas should be adjacent to each other.  While I do this I draw bubbles of the approximate room size adjacent to the necessary spaces.  I usually end up with bubble sets.  For instance, I might have a bedroom and bathroom set of bubbles, and a living/entertaining set of bubbles.  I then begin my sketching.  I use grid paper for this stage to simplify the process.  By counting the squares I can quickly approximate the size and shapes of spaces.  Now is the time that I really use my space planning skills.  While laying out the spaces, I visualize myself moving through the spaces.  This helps me allow traffic paths throughout the house with taking them from within the spaces.  It is also important to keep in mind how each space will be used and by whom as well as how far apart the spaces are.  I usually do many different versions of this type of sketch so that I can consider many different options.  Finally, I will take one of those sketches, create it with rough walls, and layout some plumbing fixtures and furniture within the space.  The end result looks something like the document below.

While this is by no means the final draft, it is the spring board from which the future design will be developed.
I’d love to hear from you!  Please log in and leave me your comments, and until next time, keep designing your life!
 Lillies Pad – Initial Sketch.doc Looking North from existing house