Well, Joe and company did a fantastic job working their rears off getting us the design layout in one week! The above example is what the new drawings are shaping up to be. If you look at it, you will see there are now dimensions on EVERYTHING. Not only that but this has the exact dimensions of the property along with the basic materials we will be using. I must say that after living in the world of "theory" in the design up to this point, its really nice to see the space defined. HPZS and Co. provided us with these type of documents for all four floors, all four exterior elevations, and the one floor cross-section of the 1st floor.
SO. Now we get to the next phase of this process. Its not Phase II per say, but more of Phase 1.1. This is because while we are still working through the design of the home, and the placement of the electrical outlets, and finishes like tile, lights, hardware, molding as well as the exact specifications for the contractors, we now have to work on getting the financing for this grand design.
So now its on to creating a budget, which we are going to be working on for roughly the next two weeks, and then we will be submitting the budget and the plans to the bank. The general contractor is going to be taking the plans to each of his sub-contractor who will provide us with preliminary pricing for each facet of the building (masonry, plumbing, electrical etc). Once we have done this, the bank is going to work to approve the budget, and then to create an appraised value for the property. And at that point we will know if we are going to be able to build this thing this year.
I will update things as I get into the budgetary process, I am sure its going to be an invigorating experience!
2 comments:
David and Jen,
In reviewing the first floor again, it seems you may wish to consider replacing the wing walls in the dining room with columns or columns on plinths (personally, I like plinths). In this way you should be able to catch just a glimpse of the Sullivan arch from the entry, which would invite further exploration of the house.
The design and placement of the beam that the columns would carry -- and whether it is structural or only visual -- will determine the extent of the feeling of enclosure while in the dining room. Pushing the beam all the way to the ceiling would make it seem more enclosed; dropping the beam to allow transom openings (with or without glass) would make it seem more open. I do not recommend burying the beam within the ceiling.
The idea you choose to use here should be considered carefully because you probably will wish to change it farther down the hall. Both walls and columns enclose as well as separate, but with a different feeling. In the case of your first floor, you wish to separate the dining from the hallway, yet maintain the visual connection especially to the Sullivan arch.
Columns visually allow the space to expand, linking them better to contiguous areas such as, in the case of your dining room, to the hallway. Whatever you do here should be different than in the family/kitchen area because the connections are different.
The previous version of the plan indicated a single column carrying a beam from front to back. This visually will separate the two spaces, but because the island is in the most visible location of the house -- smack in the middle of the longest axis of the house -- one can assume that separation is the farthest thing from your mind. In fact, because of its location, you very well might wish to make a real design statement with the island.
This is wild, I know, but take a look at Bernini's baldachino in St. Peters and see whether you might like to address the island as a completely separate element: different cabinetry, lowered ceiling, enhanced lighting (even indirect lighting), and adding a second column. The two columns could be paired at the outside corners of the island.
(Please do not take the St. Peters example literally: no spirals are necessary.)
And you may wish to break the plane between the family room and kitchen by extending the island's top into the family room just a bit, perhaps as a curved element.
Going back to the plinth idea at the dining room, you could extend this into the entry as far forward as the study's open door. This would provide a horizontal surface and shallow shelf (shelves?) for car keys, mail, book bags and general stuff that collects near doors. Beyond the pragmatic elements, it also would lead the eye down the hall to the dining room columns and Sullivan arch beyond.
These are details. They are small ideas that are based upon the big ideas you and the architect have already laid down. I hope they might enhance what you have in mind. If they detract in any way, please don't give them a second thought.
Duncan
Here's a link to the baldachino:
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/8957/photo5.html
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