Progress: Framing and Some Design Edits

The front door saga from the previous post continues, but after much thought we are just telling them to fix it.  Just one of those mistakes that unfortunately needs to be fixed on our dime.  So, waiting to hear how they expect to do that and get rid of a 6ft chunk of our concrete wall.  Good times!

The downstairs framing is now complete (2nd story ICFs to begin now) except for the fireplace wall in the great room.  This is the most important wall in the entire house from a design/impact perspective.   Normally I make decisions at lightning speed, but this particular wall has me being very thoughtful and I want to wait until everything is in (stairs, framing) before depicting its use.  I'm actually having a friend from a local design college consult on it for me when it's time, just so that all options can be explored.  I'm not sure if I want it as a "standard" built-in shelf/TV wall, or a more modern/edgy version, or just an open non-wall altogether.  Right now we have a cool "interior window with sliding wood panel" there but I want to explore other options too.

As the above picture indicates, I've also shrunk the stairs to as narrow as codes will allow, and to my delight the layout allowed for us to eliminate the bottom landing step as well as the support post in front of the cooktop in the kitchen, which will make it seem even more open and unobstructed. 

Here's a view from that non-existing fireplace wall into the kitchen.   The great room picture window is to the left and the kitchen sink window to the right:

Thank You, Author Sarah Susanka 

As noted below, I'm debating making that one big pantry, or at least moving the wall a little bit as seen below.  Another thing that surprised me was that I moved the wet bar.   On paper, even though I wasn't happy where the wet bar was, it seemed ridiculous to move it into the "hallway" opening.  See:

the red "X" indicates the old wet bar.  Originally the architect disliked the wet bar in the green area because of symmetry concerns, and I didn't disagree.  After walking in the actual space though, now it makes perfect sense:  it's across from the dining room so that makes sense, it opens up to the kitchen and that makes sense, and it's twice as big to allow for more amenities.  Since this "pocket" of hallway is a waste-of-space due to the angle of the house, I'm also adding some architectural interest to make all the rooms cohesive by adding a push-through niche of the wet bar countertop.  This idea comes courtesy of the zillion Sarah Susanka "The Not So Big House" books that I read before the construction process began...

the view from the kitchen side - note the counter top opening just barely peeking through the wall: 

 

and what it would look like from the hall entry side: 

The wet bar shift also now allows for those double french pocket doors in the library to be larger and moved over more, which I like because it opens it up to the kitchen even more, and also we are hoping to add upper cabinets at the wet bar, yet still allow for an interior transom in there for more natural lighting.

Minor changes, but overall a surprisingly nice flow. 

And one more - there was yet another pocket of wasted space that always bothered me in the downstairs guest bedroom, but the architect felt strongly about it for the same reason - symmetry.   I've made the edits after seeing it though.   Some symmetry will still remain, but now I'm doing a half-wall to the right of the tub, and then a decorative niche of some sort (for artwork/whatever) on the facing wall of the linen closet as you enter.  This greatly opens up the room and makes it feel bigger, and I'm fine with it: 

What To Do? New Front Door Elevations

Based on the previous post on the foundation/front door mistake, my architect sent me a file with some new elevations.  I actually don't care for any of them...   I realize that the original front door gave the very flat house that one element of dimension that it needs, with much layering.  This is what the house was originally supposed to look like, with the door recessed in:

from the side angle (it's a boomerang-shaped house) you can see the depth of the door more: 

Option 1: (no) 

Option 2:  (no) 

Option 3:  (no) 

Option 4:  (no) 

Option 5:  (no) 

Option 6:  (maybe?  still very "country-ish" to me but works more than the others?)

Hmmm.

Yikes: A Big Error at The Front Door, Of All Places

While at the construction site today, my builder said he wanted to talk with me and “Am I sitting down?"  Whereupon he informed me that the architect’s foundation page on the plans did not match the rest of the house (!).   He was extremely stressed because  A) she screwed up and B) he screwed up by not double-checking that it matched the other pages.   So, the short version is that where my front door was supposed to be inset underneath the stairs, it’s now flush with the exterior shell wall.   With poured concrete walls, this is quite a big deal.    Below, the red line depicts where the front door opening is now, while the brown “x” shows where the ICF walls and foundation were supposed to go.   Yikes! 

While it’s not ideal and I’m disappointed that this even happened to begin with, they both couldn't have been any nicer about the mistake.  Apparently I'm supposed to be freaking out, but I'm not whatsoever, because I should be so lucky to even have a home, much less stress about a front door error.

WEIGHING THE OPTIONS: 

I'd love opinions...

1.  They could cut out a 6-foot section of my concrete wall (!), pull the subfloor up, manually dig a trench with a shovel and repour a section of the foundation and patch the error.   My question is, who pays for that?  And does it compromise the concrete wall, how is that done anyway?

2.   I'm wondering what it would be like if we left the door at the red line and then slightly inset it to the interior of the ICF wall for a full swing, and let it open into the cavity under the stairs, which would have to be stick built.   This would "save" the airtightness of the ICF walls but I wonder 1) if I open the door to guests from the inside, does it leave a tight tunnel?   and 2) does it look weird from the inside looking at a door that's inset into a tunnel?  My builder feels we can make the "tunnel" wider with a barrel effect and work this out.  

3.  My builder is also checking with the ICF people to see what effect it would have if we just kept the plan exactly the same, but just inset the door with a stick build instead, and then pump it up with spray foam insulation to hopefully achieve that airtight quality of the ICF walls it will connect with.

4.  I've asked the architect to please come up with some different elevation scenarios around the front door - who knows, maybe it'll be something I like even better now.  

Per item #2 above, I'm also wondering how this affects the symmetry of the staircase landing/window scenario in the foyer.  Not to mention that it dramatically will affect what the outside elevation is around the front door now. 

 

Hmmm.

Mediterranean Entry design by Atlanta Architect Summerour Architects

Progress: Floor joists going in, and Why Didn't I Think Of That?

The lumber for the interior framing has been delivered, and floor joists are coming up.  As luck would have it, they "forgot" to put a few supports in so now the mason needs to come back in order for them to install the floor system on the other side.  I'm glad the floor is going in, makes the space look much more "homey" as opposed to this huge cavernous space that is super-sized.  Now that I can see it from the perspective of the windows, I'm loving how low many of my windows are.

 

WINDOW MOMENT:  WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?

While watching Downton Abbey last night,  one of the windows in the background caught my eye.  These are the windows of the old Highclere castle where it is filmed...   instead of having the sill hit right at the bottom of the frame, it drops down about 10 inches and THEN there is a sill.  This would have looked great in my long bathroom window!  (Which is now concreted in).  Darn.  Maybe I'll try to incorporate it somewhere upstairs since there is still time.  See the window in the background: 

http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/s183/downton-abbey/recaps/a435011/downton-abbey-finale-recap-lets-see-what-the-future-brings.html

Progress: Next Up, and a " Hold Off " Decision

Up next:  The braces for the ICF walls come down tomorrow.  Then the foundation. (I'm still confused as to why they do the foundation AFTER there are 15 foot walls up, which seems like added difficulty, but my builder explained the ICF company didn't want to do this because of covering the pilings or something like that??...  )  Then, the interior stick-build framing of the first floor is scheduled for Monday, and the blocks for our front patio and garage should be done by week's end, too. 

THE BACK YARD DILEMMA 
Originally the blocks were also supposed to include our back patio and screened-porch, but we are holding off on that now because of the unexpected elevation as mentioned in the first "Mistakes" post.  Our builder explained this will be a little more costly because of another delivery fee, etc, but that's okay because it's so important to us.   The way our porch & patio is on the plan may not be applicable now given the excessive height, and while I'm sure there is a good solution to this with a subtle terraced approach to the yard, we aren't ready to commit to the existing design now.  We are guessing we can get about 2 feet of fill to decrease that elevation to about 4 feet from the exterior rear doors, which would be fine.  Here's a pic as a point of reference.  To the right where those workers are, is the big great room window (which would be almost feet-level when you are standing inside, as I set the windows as low as local Codes would allow) and to the right of that is the back patio door: 

Right now the foundation is dug out so everything is "lower" around the house.  We want to wait until the backfill is completely done in the rear before making any rash decisions on what will be a heavily-used porch and patio.   The last thing I want is a steep set of stairs down to the yard, so we want to be very thoughtful in the process once we manipulate the grade, and depending on the outcome will likely get a landscape designer involved as well.  The original backyard was supposed to be only a step or two down like so:

Now I'm not sure that makes sense;  it may make better sense to incorporate a smaller patio where the left "???" is, and instead, add a courtyard patio where the red circle is.  This area is naturally much lower to the ground,  and that garage wall provides a perfect backdrop for a courtyard effect anyway.

What do you think?

Kitchen - Materials

Our old home had off-white cabinets with glazing, and was pretty much the "french country" style that was very popular for oh, a decade or more.  While I still think that is lovely, I'm taking an edgier step with our kitchen.  At the same time, I want to maintain style longevity and a seamless relationship with the surrounding "california-ish" architecture style.

My husband still likes the glazed-french-country-ish cabinets.
I'm tired of them. 

The good news is that we have agreed on one cabinet that appeals to us both:  the Starmark cabinet in "Villa Mushroom" that will hopefully not cost us a limb since it's the ONLY one we agree on.  Our compromise is that the finish is sleek and urban, but we'll go with a more traditional cabinet style that is hopefully inset, depending on cost.  Thankfully Starmark cabinets seem to get great reviews so that was a relief when I did my homework.

CABINETRY
Here's a picture of the FINISH (Villa Mushroom), it's a cross between an off-white and a linen color depending on lighting:

and here's a picture of the cabinet STYLE (this is actually Starmark's "Villa Pearl" if you are curious.  It can come across as very light  silver-white or grey, depending on lighting):

If it were up to me, I would do this cabinet style in a heartbeat, but thankfully it truly is an Italian-based fortune so I won't even attempt to ask:

and this is what the "Villa Pearl" cabinet finish looks like with my chosen solid hickory floor:

COUNTER 

I'm undecided on the actual countertop yet, but i have a feeling it will be an off-white quartz for a very fresh look, not sure.  

BACKSPLASH

As mentioned in my first Kitchen post, one thing I love about "Uncle Tom's Kitchen" is the stone wall, which happened by accident when they tore the garage down.  I know my kitchen couch wall span will be this stone.  I'm undecided if this will be my backsplash wall too, depending on how it flows with the existing great room wall.  

It will be the above, but with a cream-colored over-grouting technique like this:

LIGHTING - WHAT TO DO? 
Speaking of the above pic,  I plan on a similar concept with no above cabinet to the right of my fridge in that little angled space.  Perhaps with a drop-down pendant like the above, or an architectural element to add interest.  I know pendant lights are popular, but I just can't see them dropping down above my barstool area, can you?  I think it would become dated very quickly.   I'm thinking a dropped soffit with recessed lighting.    Then a cool hanging light above the kitchen table instead, probably also with a soffit to define that space.  What do you think?

Foyer (and the front door dilemma)

This will pretty much be the foyer.  I love it for it's unusual shape and arched door. 

Mediterranean Entry design by Atlanta Architect Summerour Architects

ICF: SPLAYED WINDOW DETAIL
One detail I don't want to be overlooked is the splayed cut for the upper window.  I'll be interested to see how it goes on an ICF wall - I guess they just do accurate cuts?  We'll see.  There are a few other splayed windows in our great room, too, that will need to be done in the same way. 

A VINTAGE FRONT DOOR...

TO USE OR NOT TO USE?I fell in love with a vintage door available at a local architectural salvage company.   I would love to use it as our front door after it gets some TLC, but when I was about to purchase it last week, I noticed the grooves went all the way to the top.  This could potentially mean a less-than-great seal, not to mention I'm already risking that the door may be imperfect, though it looks like it's in great condition from all angles that we measured.  I do love it: 

What do you think?   At the very least, I've contemplated using it as our back garage door instead, since that's a stick-build and having an airtight shell is not so much of a concern.  Not to mention it would make a beautiful statement from the back, but I'm just not sure how that would integrate with some of the more "clean lines" feel in the backyard.  Then again, it may add interest in an unexpected way.

FLOORING
Everyone says to do hardwood, but the foyer is definitely a place where I'll do a tile floor since I like more detail in small spaces, period. 

THE LIGHTING DISAGREEMENT
I am flipping over this chandelier for the foyer if the size worked.  Alas, my husband emphatically says n.o. and that it "looks like a fish". 
 

Source: interiordesign.net via abby on Pinterest

This is our compromise, which I found at a local store.  I still haven't committed to purchasing it yet since the lines are a little curvy for my taste, but I do like it more than anything else I've seen.

BANISTER 
I'm undecided on a banister. I should probably go with something that is simple black iron like the top picture.  But I do wonder about a wooden one, as well...