Vacation #1

I got the inspiration for this house design from other vacation home designs I saw on the Internet. Basically, I wanted a design where the bedrooms were in a building separate from the main house, and connected via a covered walkway. It just seemed natural that you would want to build this house on a sloping hillside. I know this house is shown "at the beach", but it would be just as at home out in the woods. Picture a small stream with a waterfall behind this house. At night the sounds of the water and the nighttime crickets would be more than soothing.

In thinking about the general design, I noticed that there are a lot of tall poles required, especially to support the large deck on the upper level. This would make this house less than inexpensive, but I consider the deck a requirement for a house of this sort. Take a look. You be the judge.

The front, from the side

the front

Some things worth noting:

• There's a skylight over the living room, visible above in the straight-on shot.
• There is no garage or other structure for housing cars. That's not to say that you wouldn't want one, I just considered an automobile house outside the scope of this design.
• The laundry room is in the lower level of the bedroom building. It's right outside the bathroom. There's also a small utility closet located there, for the HVAC and water heater. You probably wouldn't want to use this house in the winter, were it located in a cold area.
• There is a lot of deck area. The master suite has an upstairs study with two decks, one on either side.

This is the front view at night (see above).

This is the same side view as above, after dark.

This is standing in the doorway of the second floor main building, looking out on the "big deck" behind the house.

This is the same view as above, without sunlight.

The deck arrangement, at night.

This view shows the "big deck" and its tall supports. I haven't drawn in every brace that might be necessary, just showed some cross-bracing to suggest how the poles might need to be supported.

Looking from the edge of the "far deck" outside the master study, back toward the main house.

This is standing inside the door to the master study, looking toward the "big deck".

Standing on the "big deck", looking toward the main house.

From inside the family room, looking toward the "big deck".

This looks toward the "bedroom building" from the door at the main house.

Looking toward the "big deck".

Yes, there are stairs between the two decks. Don't fall! (It would really suck, you know.)

This is the living room, when standing inside the front door. You can almost see the skylight above the cathedral ceiling.

From the hallway that leads to the kitchen.

Yep, this is the kitchen. Simple, yet sufficient.

From the landing inside the door of the bedroom building, this looks up to the master study.

The big arched window in the master bedroom.

This looks up to the entrance landing from the master bedroom level of the bedroom building.

From the landing between the lower level and the master bedroom level, this shows both levels.

The laundry room and bathroom on the lower level of the bedroom building.

This is the sliding doors to the lower level deck.

The other bedroom's deck.

This is the master study.

The master study, again.