Designing and Building Your Own Home Archives - Page 25 of 28

29 06, 2019

An epiphany

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:42+00:00

I received a great inquiry this morning from a member of this community who made a comment about how she had considered the merits of cob construction but now was leaning towards log construction. I thought I might share my response…

There are many alluring alternative methods of construction out there… including cob.

I’ve “experimented” with many of them. They all have their appeal, as well as their drawbacks. It seems that each form of construction has it’s hardcore advocates… individuals who become authorities of their chosen method, those who promote the positive features of that type of housing, but never mention the negative, and go on to dismiss all the other types.

After building homes for a decade, employing all manner of techniques I eventually came to an epiphany and that is that homes that were originally built locally, centuries ago, using minimal tools and locally sourced materials, were not only proven to endure but were also timeless in their visual appeal. I discovered that new homes built using these early designs and techniques, along with modern features and techniques, made tremendous homes, ones which were in strong demand, with promising resale values, and easy financing (if desired), and proven longevity.

In my area (and that of NC) those types of homes would be log cabins, timber frame, farmhouses, and stone. I also have found that by combining these styles of construction into one home that we can create a striking home that is warm and inviting.

I am currently on the “downhill side” of creating a free mini-course on 12 steps that anyone can take now, at nearly no cost, that will take them from the “dreaming about, but don’t know where to begin” stage to being well on the way towards living in that dream home. I’m also wrapping up the Handmade House Academy… eight hours of my sharing all that I’ve learned through decades of building handmade houses. You ought to think about signing up for that… this first offering of the course will be at a discount price with lots of added freebies. Make sure and sign up to the mailing list at handmadehouses.com for updates. Noah

Originally posted 2016-03-16 14:54:09.

An epiphanyNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:42+00:00

29 06, 2019

Three is better than one

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:41+00:00

This home is a great example of…

1) how a home can be designed and built to become more attractive as it ages… and …

2) how a combination of aesthetically pleasing materials (stone, log, lumber) is more appealing than any one of those options by itself.

Originally posted 2016-03-12 14:21:17.

Three is better than oneNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:41+00:00

29 06, 2019

Why not choose a proven design?

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:31+00:00

The classic farmhouse.
Two centuries later, still so fine.
All she is needs is some attention, and a loving family.
I guess the same holds true for all of us.

Originally posted 2016-03-01 14:55:28.

Why not choose a proven design?Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:31+00:00

29 06, 2019

Low rider

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:17+00:00

Such a nice little cottage.

She is “all-natural” and blends into the environment well.

She is also a great starter home, the perfect shape that can be added on to in the future when the need arises.

But there is one shortcoming to this home (hey, it’s what I do… look at houses… and learn from them… pro and con). The cabin is too short… her walls should have been taller. My best guess is that these walls appear to be seven feet tall. Notice how the roof encroaches upon the windows which are already too squatty themselves. And how the door was forced to be put on the end of the home and how the landing roof above that door overpowers the home.

I’m a big fan of a house design where some part of the home’s roof comes down low, where people can see and appreciate the quality of the roof that covers the entire home, maybe even so low in a place where they can touch it, but that is best served with a small addition off of the main structure.

Yes, by using eight or ten foot studs in the walls (which would have cost only a few dollars more) this home would have been more human-scaled and versatile (a porch could have been added on the front, and a loft area would have been created, if desired).

I would love to know the story behind the design of this home and how using seven foot studs came about (most unusual). I would venture to say that the landing roof on the end was not drawn onto the plans… If it had of been I think this situation would have been caught and corrected on paper. Ahhh yes, the importance of elevation drawings. I learned this lesson myself years ago in building one of my own houses… hey, I thought, if it’s built with natural materials it has to look good right?? lol

Originally posted 2016-02-26 14:58:13.

Low riderNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:17+00:00

29 06, 2019

It’s just a single chair

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:10+00:00

And yet this photo is art.

Why is that?

The same chair located in any room of a new home would lose all it’s charm.

So what is it about this room that transforms the world of routine into the realm of art?

Originally posted 2016-02-22 18:21:51.

It’s just a single chairNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:10+00:00

29 06, 2019

What is it about water?

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:08+00:00

Now this might be an extreme example… might… well, it is.

But, there is no doubt about it that water features add so much to the beauty of a home.

Originally posted 2016-02-22 14:37:03.

What is it about water?Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:08+00:00

29 06, 2019

So basic in design… and so timeless

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:05+00:00

The American Farmhouse.

Originally posted 2016-02-17 14:02:23.

So basic in design… and so timelessNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:07:05+00:00

29 06, 2019

Don’t make excuses, make plans

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:06:55+00:00

What’s the secret sauce?

Why is it that some people get their dream home while so few do?

I’ve built many handmade houses during my career and almost none of these clients came into a pile of money and then contemplated “maybe we should build our dream home?”.

Nope, it worked the other way around… these folks decided to go for it, they developed a clear vision of what they wanted, and then took it one step at a time.

Rather than making excuses, they made plans. They all discovered that the resources somehow fell into place as they moved forward.

Originally posted 2016-02-10 15:21:14.

Don’t make excuses, make plansNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:06:55+00:00

29 06, 2019

Porches vs Decks on a log cabin

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:06:52+00:00

Which do you think looks better on a log cabin… a deck, or a porch?

Please say “porch”.

If you respond “deck”… continue looking at these photos until it becomes obvious that a deck does not look appropriate on the front of an old log cabin.

Decks are modern inventions. I enjoy a deck as much as anyone else does, but there are appropriate considerations in building and designing one…. and on what kind of structures that they are attached to.

I have seen one or two decks work off of the end of a cabin… but for the most part if you want a flat exterior space outside of a log cabin… with no roof over your head.. think “patio”.

Originally posted 2016-02-10 14:14:50.

Porches vs Decks on a log cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:06:52+00:00

29 06, 2019

Why do we ignore the aesthetics of our roofs today?

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:06:50+00:00

Just for a moment, imagine how the character of this home would change if it had an asphalt shingle roof on it.

Now certainly this is not everyone’s dream roof… it’s on the very end of extreme handmade roof spectrum. It’s presented here as a great example though of the impact a roof can present to all who view the home. We’ve grown accustomed to the blandness of a manufactured roof and forgotten the visual appeal of a roof that is wrought from nature… whether wood, or metal, or stone.

Originally posted 2016-02-09 14:00:47.

Why do we ignore the aesthetics of our roofs today?Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:06:50+00:00