Here’s a fabulous little plan (376 square feet) that I saw in a magazine years ago – Does this small bunk house (or boathouse) have oodles of charm or what? The design is simple and perfect. It looks like it has stood the test of time and has remained well cared for. Perfect if you don’t need a large space.
Continue reading “House Plan: Boathouse or Bunkhouse!”
There is a beautiful cottage that we have rented several times in Port Clyde, Maine. It’s called the “Periwinkle” cottage and it’s situated right on the ocean. I would call it rustic (no heat), but there is a fabulous fireplace and the view is earth shattering! Truly!
Today’s house plan… is the periwinkle. We always thought it would be so cool if we could build a house similar to the Periwinkle, but a little less rustic, and a little less space. Maybe 1 guest room upstairs, a 3/4 bath and a storage room/room for treadmill… something that would still give it this overall appearance from the outside. There were a few areas inside that weren’t useful spaces… those I would love to redesign to make useful. This plan is amazing. Fred and I are no architects (trust me, ha), but we kind of drew out the plan on our last visit, here it is…
The ocean is located on the side of the house with the living, dining and bedrooms… big windows, wide doors all make sure you don’t miss the gorgeous view!
You come in the house between the mud room and bathroom on the other side of the house. The mud room used to have a washer and dryer, and could be used for that again. I would also add a wash tub that could accommodate a dog bath easily. From that room you can walk into either the kitchen or the living area.
This is the door you come in… door to the right is a bathroom. Then there is built in storage for pretty much everything which is handy… if you go to the left you head towards the kitchen…
There is a large wasted space that has an old furnace in this area, I would use it maybe as a pantry and eating area off the kitchen…
I would keep wonderful large windows in the kitchen, have drawers instead of cupboards and possibly try to do away with some of the upper cabinets (replace with windows?). I wonder, wonder, wonder if you could lose that wall on the left and have it open to the existing dining room, meaning… OCEAN. VIEW.!!!
You then walk down a short hallway to the dining room. Beautiful expansive windows on two sides. I would probably make this into a reading room, with my desk, some great chairs, lamps. There are built in’s along the wall to the right. I would be willing to part with that if I could have the wall gone and open to the kitchen… Could be quite nice!
Cabinets below, shelves above, useful for displaying and storing. This view of the dining room is taken from the living room…
Great fireplace in this house… totally makes this living room, well that and the windows that look out upon the ocean…
Big, wide door so fabulous! When you open it you get such a fabulous breeze! Large windows throughout. One large center pane that is stationary and then two smaller windows on either side that open.
Great floor plan, I’m telling ya!
Bad shot… when we checked in they had not made this bed… and I didn’t take a photo after we made it, ugh. Note the 9′ wall behind the bed. This is one of the most unique features. You are in bed facing the huge window with the ocean view. That little doorway on the right side of the bed… goes to a closet/storage area if you were to walk straight ahead. If you turned after you passed the wall, you would see hooks on your left and built in dressers on your right. Brilliant!
Two closets with great storage…
If you were to follow the short hallway on the other side of the bed, it led to the master bathroom, but if you turned right after the wall behind the bed, you would see this:
It was so nice. We could put our suitcases on top of the ‘dressers’ and hang stuff on hooks on opposing wall. Such useful space!
This is my mom in one of the upstairs bedrooms… Such great light comes through those windows! AND they have such character!
This is the ocean side view… that sometimes looked like this…
F L A S H B A C K
O n e Y e a r A g o: Featured Artist… Randy Sexton!
T w o Y e a r s A g o: Artist… Colin Page!
T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: A walk to remember!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I know I should probably have more variety from different architects. Problem is I’m stuck on Allison Ramsey Architects! I think their plans are fabulous, detailed, classy and have more of what I’m looking for. I have literally spent hours scouring other sites trying to find something that would be suitable. Ugh… so many that look the same, kind of cookie cutter type and I zip through them… Once in a great while I will find a plan I like, but then it’s hard to share because it can be difficult to get permission to use their photos and house plans, and some really make you jump through hoops. I did that a few times. However, since this is a non-paying job, (ha ha), I need to move on and work with those who will work with me. Allison Ramsey is a great outfit. If I were hiring an architect today, they would be my hands down, number one choice. They are accessible. They answer questions and… THEY. ARE. GOOD. So here goes another great plan from ARA!
Red Bluff is a great plan with 1,590 square feet. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. You’ll find it in the CAROLINA INSPIRATIONS – BOOK 1 on their website!
I like how there are French doors leading to the (screened) porch off the living area! That way you can open the French doors up and be bug free. If I were to build this plan I would screen the deck area off the bedroom as well so that I could open those French doors, or opt to replace those doors with a window and leave the deck. Either way it would work beautifully!
Whew, another great plan found… thank you ARA!
To see actual images of homes that were built, click HERE. (I love that they do this!)
F L A S H B A C K
O n e Y e a r A g o: Featured Artist… Eric Weisenburger!
T w o Y e a r s A g o: Featured Artist… Sandra Baggette!
T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Great Charleston Bagel…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
All images via AllisonRamseyArchitects.com
The last house plan I featured was an overwhelming hit (the Holiday House/Port Royal Coastal Cottage) – I am looking at plans like crazy, but I keep going back to Allison Ramsey! THE RIVER HOUSE – This is a fabulous one bedroom house that has got the neatest features. I would pair this house with one of the Allison Ramsey outbuildings… part garage and part guest suite. These outbuildings are a post all in themselves, but I just thought I would mention it… Imagine this sweet plan on situated on a river. You have a wonderful porch, useful living space that is as gorgeous as it is functional, then you have the master bedroom/bath upstairs.
One magical element… the BUNK… when you look at the link with the photos you’ll see how utterly cool this is. What a magical place to hang out and read… whoa!
I would have a built in headboard that doesn’t go above the windows, maybe with a drawer or two underneath for storage. I would love to have the washing machine/dryer where the bathtub is (upstairs) and maybe fit a small bathroom with shower downstairs (maybe where the laundry is), just in case one day you aren’t able to go up the stairs, you can still take a shower! I love having a master down, but this plan could make me change my mind!
Click to see images of a real “River House” by Allison Ramsey Architects (these images help so much to envision what this space could look like!)
Hey… does this house look familiar? Yep, it’s the River House on the cover of Garden and Gun magazine (image via Garden and Gun Facebook page) – and let me tell you, this is one classy magazine… click here to subscribe!
Are you currently building a house? Have you run across some wonderful house plans (that actually include the plans)? Let me know about it!
F L A S H B A C K
O n e Y e a r A g o: Featured Artist… Aaron Schuerr!
T w o Y e a r s A g o: Artist to watch… Alison Hill!
T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: “Aha” Moment – Island Inn, Monhegan, Maine
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Images via ALLISONRAMSEYARCHITECT.COM
This is the Port Royal Coastal Cottage, a house plan from Southern Living. This is an exclusive design for Southern Living by Allison Ramsey Architects. They have the most amazing house plans I have ever seen, and this is no exception! They have a unique ability to make a new home look like something that could fit in an older well established neighborhood. Remember the detail that made homes in the “old days” so special? Well, Allison Ramsey Architects keeps that wonderful detail.
Continue reading “House Plan: Port Royal Coastal Cottage SL1414 – Southern Living!”
Allison Ramsey Architects always has fabulous house plans to choose from. They have homes of all shapes and sizes with all sorts of layouts, if you’re in the market to build a new house I would not hesitate contacting these people. They truly know what they’re doing. This is the INLET RETREAT plan (C0037). This house is 2210 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It has been built with all kinds of different looks on the outside. From the cottage look to a mountain cabin look, each is unique and inspiring!
This is a nice open plan with a master bedroom downstairs, as well as a guest bedroom/bathroom. I like the living room in the back of the house, it seems more private that way. Personally I would make the den an office/reading room. Matter-of-fact, since we don’t have guests that often, I think I might make the den the guest room and make the front bedroom and office/reading room. I would make it nice and cozy… Oh, yeah, that sounds delightful! I could work on my blog, then curl up with a good book as light streams in through the window… This is what you call gracious living…
The upstairs is the third bedroom/bathroom as well as loft space. I might even make this loft space and storage (stick the dreadmill, oh, I mean treadmill up there… where you can’t see it). Maybe build some nice storage space around the perimeter where there aren’t windows. Storage space is always a good thing!
See images of actual INLET RETREAT homes that were built, it really helps you get an idea of what it will look like, and see how differently the house can look depending upon your personal style!
Contact the architects at info@allisonramseyarchitect.com or 843.986.0559 to verify square footage, house dimensions and additional information or to purchase a set of plans. Their house plans show how their attention to detail time after time makes them a great architect to choose!
All images via AllisonRamseyArchitect.com
F L A S H B A C K
O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured artist… Louisa McElwain!
T W O Y E A R S A G O… Artist to watch… Karen Hollingsworth!
This is a fabulous cabin style house plan with a generous screened porch. I think it’s reminiscent of something you would see on Sullivan’s Island, back in the good old days… the cool, old cottage/cabin with character. This is the Porch Cabin house plan from Architectural House Plans and it is Plan ID Number DM-001, designed by Dale Mulfinger, FAIA SALA Architects, Inc. I can just imagine how much time we would spend on this porch. Every waking moment… I would love to plop this on a nice piece of land where we would be on the water and see gorgeous sunsets. Heaven on earth!
This plan is roughly 1,879 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, as well as a host of fabulous details… Keep in mind with these photos, this is one person’s home, but the possibilities are endless… I happen to like it just the way it is! This home was originally designed as a vacation home near a lake in Minnesota. Nice, huh? It is a favorite among a lot of people and has been built all over the United States. It would fit in beautifully in Charleston, SC…!
Mudroom, pantry, fireplaces… ahhh, the “things I love” about this plan are getting mighty lengthy. It’s a perfect size to use as a house or a vacation home. The fact that there is a place to take off your shoes and coat, especially in colder climates is wonderful. A pantry off the kitchen… LOVE IT! That would be a dream! Fireplaces upstairs and down make this one cozy house in the winter. Here are a few images of the interior of one house that was built…
Can you imagine how wonderful this porch would be? Grab a book and a hot tea, sit and look out over the yard, or the water or wherever you may be situated… Gorgeous!
I KNOW! Gorgeous, right? Just look at that fireplace! So cozy. This plan has got so many wonderful details. It really helps to see an interior image… some of us aren’t so great at visualization!
Fabulous kitchen, great light, wonderful in every way! Remember… pantry is around the corner! I might extend the kitchen into the dining room, maybe put a larger island, and have a smaller table or eat at the island… I like my counter space, but that’s me…
A garret is another name for a loft or attic… I certainly wouldn’t call this an attic… When I showed my husband this plan, he said, he would probably leave the top floor off, having two bedrooms would be great… until I showed him the next photo! Then we decided it would be our bedroom as long as we could walk up and down the stairs!
How cozy is this??!! Look at that fireplace… the built in bench seat with storage… what a wonderful room!
Check out the ArchitecturalHousePlans.com website! You’ll be amazed at the beautiful homes just waiting to be built!
All images via ArchitecturalHousePlans.com
F L A S H B A C K
O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist (and a big congratulations) to Marc Hanson!
T W O Y E A R S A G O… Paula Deen’s Healthier Macaroni and Cheese recipe!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
![New Vintage Lowcountry SL-1831 [Image: Southern Living House Plans]](https://artfoodhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/hp-new-vintage-lowcountry-by-southern-living-sl.jpg)
This is a nice open plan. I like the way that the kitchen looks into the great room, and I love the office near the kitchen (with a separate entrance!). When I’m cooking I run back and forth from the computer (with my recipe) to the kitchen and its handy that way!
I have to say I really would enjoy the nice screened porch off of the great room. Wow, what nice air flow in the nice weather months… open all those doors and let the fresh air in! It would be dreamy to have a fireplace on the screened porch… get all comfy in your chair with a good book, a roaring fire and a cup of hot chocolate… ahhhh, life is good!
The upstairs is nice, but for just the two of us, I would probably make the study a bathroom, and make the two bathrooms into storage… and then have one bedroom with the treadmill for bad weather workouts and the other bedroom for guests! Either that or pick a bathroom and work around it…
Nice plan, huh??
All images via Houseplans.SouthernLiving.com website – check out their site for more info!
F L A S H B A C K
O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Peter Fiore
T W O Y E A R S A G O… Meatless Monday: Giada’s Pasta Ponza!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I would like to start by saying that Allison Ramsey Architects are brilliant. Their website is over the top fabulous for those of you thinking of building a home one day. They provide so much information, photos, links… You MUST check out their site… amazing is all I can say! AllisonRamseyArchitects.com – I would also like to thank them for use of their images… This house was built in Beaufort, SC and images of the interior are on their site at AllisonRamseyArchitects.smugmug.com. Wow, does it help to see actual images of the inside of this house. Not everyone is good at picturing the floor plan in their mind.
The windows upstairs make this the most charming house ever! I love how they open out, just like the old cottages that you see that are in pristine condition. It isn’t easy to tell if this house is old or new. It has wonderful detail and charm, something missing in a lot of today’s house plans. The Bay Point Cottage is a clear winner! It boasts a heavenly porch, screened porch, Master bedroom downstairs, and an open plan in terms of the kitchen, great room and eating area. I’m not at all concerned about having a formal dining room. It’s not a priority to me… we would rarely use it. We can always repurpose a room when the need arises instead of being saddled with an unused dining room all year long (if it’s not your thing).
This floor plan is roughly 2300 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. It is in Allison Ramsey’s “Carolina Inspiration Book I” Page 35 (C0058).
Contact the architects at info@allisonramseyarchitect.com or 843.986.0559 to verify square footage, house dimensions and additional information or to purchase a set of plans. Their house plans show how their attention to detail time after time makes them a great architect to choose!
F L A S H B A C K
O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Robert Norieka!
T W O Y E A R S A G O… A Stay at the Island House Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI = HEAVEN!
This house plan is from a company I respect so much. GOLogic. It is our dream once Fred retires to build one of their homes. We’re always looking at the plans and trying to figure which one would work best for us. Why not save money (and the environment) all while living in a beautiful, efficient, well thought out house?
Just look at all the standard options, the construction, and the overview… this company truly has their act together! It’s a house you can feel good about building! See a plan that you’ve fallen in love with? Check out the Process of Buying a House link…
Here is the plan, via the GOLogic website. If you’re interested in building one of their plans, here’s the link… there is also a separate link if you use your own contractor and you want to purchase plans only. Personally, I want the people who have done it time and time again with great results to be the ones to build my home one day…
This is the GO Home by GOLogic… it was awarded the US Green Building Council’s residential project of the year award.
It’s so nice to have a mudroom, a place to store all the shoes, jackets, etc and keep them out of the way! A small powder room down stairs is perfectly tucked in the corner. I love the open kitchen/living/dining spaces… and the exterior of this house… whoa! Good looking! Did I mention the windows? Read about them… they’re gorgeous, but they’re also about as efficient as you can get!
This plan has all bedrooms on the upper level. There are variations of this plan, and one has the master bedroom downstairs. Since we’re planning for our next house to be the last house we build, we would probably opt for that plan. Check out the other plans available, they’re fabulous!
F L A S H B A C K
O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Roger Dale Brown!
T W O Y E A R S A G O… Meatless Monday recipe… Penne with Spinach, Feta and Olives!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I swear Coastal Living has some wonderful house plans on their website. This featured plan is called the BLUFFTON (SL-594) and it’s an exclusive design for Coastal LIving by Hall and Hull Architects, Inc. A beautiful plan that can be used in different ways, which is so nice these days! Proves that when you have a good plan you can fit a lot of living into a 1,435 square foot space!
Just look at all the wonderful porches! It’s nice to have French doors in the family room… let the cool air in (well, as soon as we can open windows!)… One thought, it might be a good idea to screen the back porch, that way the French doors could be opened without mosquitoes getting in the house, as well as sit on the porch without being “bugged”, hee.
It’s so nice when a house plan can be versatile, and this one is. There is a lovely dining room off of the kitchen, and while many people enjoy a formal dining ensemble, some of us just don’t use it. So personally, I would put my desk, a few wing backs (ours aren’t formal, they’re slipcovered in white duck cloth), maybe a neat old table that we could use if we had people over for dinner, but otherwise would put books and a lamp on it. I would maybe even tuck one of those cool (and compact!) wood stoves made by Rais (love this model!) in the family room for the cooler months. Heat and fire add such ambiance, and they take off the winter chill! Elegant, a bit modern and useful!
This plan is available for purchase through Coastal Living’s website. It’s a winner!
Catch you back here tomorrow! ALL IMAGES VIA COASTALLIVINGHOUSEPLANS.COM
F L A S H B A C K
O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Eric Zener!
T W O Y E A R S A G O… Live Long, Live Strong, Eat Seafood: The SLIPWAY RESTAURANT (formerly the Dip Net)!
This is the Brightbuilt Barn… it can be configured as a studio/office space, or as a 1 or 2 bedroom home. This plan ranges from 670-960 square feet. Small. Efficient. These homes consume 50% less energy, are easier to maintain and can be built in approximately four months. 960 square feet seems pretty small, but if the plan is efficient then it could work!
Note that there is a loft space above Bedroom 2, the bath and the kitchen (in the two bedroom plan). See the stairs situated between bedroom one and two? This loft space could be for storage or even an extra guest… who knows!
There are options available to make this home a net zero (pay no electricity) option… from the Brightbuilt website:
Energy efficiency features available
Super-insulated construction R-60 roof
R-40 walls
R-20 basement, R-10 slab
Photovoltaic solar panels
High-efficiency heat and air conditioning • Energy-efficient, triple-glazed windows
Airtight construction
Low-flow showerheads and faucets
Add to that the low VOC paint, high efficiency heat/AC, low flow fixtures… it just gets better and better.
This gives yet another option to the very well built homes that are net zero, or as close as possible. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Check out their website for the other (larger) plans!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
F L A S H B A C K
O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Joe Paquet!
T W O Y E A R S A G O… Plantar fasciitis? Any foot pain? THE FOOT STORE!
All images via Brightbuilthome.com
![Low Country Beach House [image]](https://artfoodhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/hp-lowcountry-beach-house-architecturaldesigns-com.jpg)
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As you can see by the sliding door system, this plan optimizes the use of windows to capture the view. That feature coupled with the wonderful deep porches makes this quite the perfect home… and if that isn’t enough, if this plan is a bit too large for your needs, they have created another plan that is a bit smaller and it’s fabulous! Plan W44116TD: Low Country Beach House (1,581 square feet) – personally, I would go for this one!
![[image]](https://artfoodhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/hp-lowcountrybeachhouse-up-ad.gif)
One good thing about this plan is it offers a space for everyone to spread out and have their own quiet time. A nice feature! From Architectural Designs:
Video Tour: Fly around this house plan in a 32 second You Tube video. What a novel concept!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
My post from a year ago… Featured Artist… Jane Chapin!
My post from two years ago… Quick and easy macaroni salad, perfect for a warm summer day!
All images via ArchitecturalDesigns.com
![Nipper's Escape by Flat Fish Island Designs [image]](https://artfoodhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/hp-nippersescape-flatfish.jpg)
So many great features. Especially if this house were built here in Charleston, SC. Just look at these wonderful porches! We could easily be outside on our porches the majority of the year (all but summer with the mosquitoes and heat/humidity). A little powder room right inside the front door, can’t beat that for convenience! I LOVE the kitchen, lots of counter space, and open to the living/dining room… and A PANTRY! Oh, how I would love a pantry! Fabulous design, done right here near Charleston! Check out their website… full of amazing house plans!
Here’s a blip about Nipper’s Escape from the Flatfish Island Design website:
For a couple or a small family, the Nipper’s Escape house plan has a cozy, casual, outdoors feel perfect for a weekend retreat.
The Nipper’s Escape home plan features classic cottage styling, including distinctive gables with shed dormers. A private master suite on the living level features three exposures and a private patio offering spectacular views
This house plan features wrap around porches that offer a relaxed setting and lovely views. The deep-set design of the covered porches provides excellent shade for the entire ground floor living area, making the Nipper’s Escape home plan an efficient, eco-friendly green design.
Nipper’s Escape is a simple house plan that allows for easy expansion or modification. For example, you can add three beds and two baths to the second floor to create a loft space if you wish.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
All images via flatfishislanddesigns.com
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The Beach Bungalow plan from Coastal Living… this is an exclusive design for Coastal Living by Dennis Wedlick. My husband, Fred, found this plan years ago while looking through Coastal Living magazine while we were renting a cottage in Port Clyde, Maine. It’s a great small plan… I can’t tell you how small because that part of the site isn’t populated… hmmmm? Isn’t this the perfect beachside plan for a quiet weekend getaway, or for some empty nesters?!
I saw this plan and the first thing I said… cute… but I don’t like spiral stairs… Fred’s idea was to remove the spiral staircase, enclose the porch to make a sunroom and have part of the stairs there as well as the area to the left of the fireplace. Another good thought… pocket doors for the bedroom, saves on space! What would you do??
Catch you back here tomorrow!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 