House design recomendations

[architecturestudent]

I am currently designing a house up north. It is on the lake and and it for a family of 2 kids and a husband and wife. They want to be able to see the lake from the house kitchen and living room. I want this house to stand out a bit for it's unique design. They want roughly around 3000 sf.

Any recomendations for design.
I have just recently graduated from college and am kind of new to this trade.[/img]

[lekizz]

Based on that question, I would have thought you didn't graduate in architecture, despite your name

You're the person who's seen the site, spoken to the clients, knows their likes and dislikes, knows your own preferences, knows the budget... well, let's just hope so.

Maybe you could narrow down your options/come up with some initial ideas (and photos or drawings) and then come back for a critique.

[Checkpoint43]

You mentioned a family of 4: husband, wife, and 2 kids.
But you didn't say they were clients.
Usually clients ask for a design based on their preferences.
All you said was that (they) wanted to see the lake from the kitchen and living room.
I'm thinking "they" refers to the members of your own family.
But you're a recently craduated student, so I'm thinking the family is fictional.

You went on to say "I want this house to stand out a bit for its unique design."
This message screams Spec Home.
You should admit you are trying to play the "build it and sell it quick" game.

Big mistake. Especially when you are just starting out.
Take a job in an architectural firm. Get some experience.
Design some homes that your customers ask for.

Trying to launch your career by flipping property is like trying to water ski behind a row boat.

[Compass]

Get an architect. That is what they (we) are for. You should be able to negotiate reasonable fees that will fit your needs. It will be one of the best investments in your project.

[scottr303]

Designing your first home can be daunting. Being fresh out of school with no experience (assumption) makes it even more difficult. There are soooo many things you need to know and consider.

zoining
topography
site orientation
views
budget
building codes
client needs
client wants
client personality
proper room sizes
market preferences (resale)

That is just a partial list and does not include smaller and technical things like:

how wide are the halls
attic stair location
hose bibb locations
electrical layout
basement construction
do you have a detail sheet
energy code

If you could get a designer or architect to look over your shoulder it would help. If it is of any help below is a link to an article I wrote about working with an architect for home design. Remember you are designing for the client and not yourself.

http://www.cr-ar.com/pdf/artical.pdf

I bet if you post your design as it progresses you will get PLENTY of input and feedback.

Not to put a damper on things but consider your knowledge and abilities before starting.

Good Luck

[nanrehvasconez]

If you are an architectural student, you will not have the experience necessary to design a home, so, gane some ideas by studing existing lakefront plans offered in architectural magazines, such as Sunset, House Beautiful, and/or in house plan catalogs.

If you are cleaver, you will create a new plan by selecting and coordinating features from your inspirational sources.

[svenglezz-ASMEIL]

Hello,

I have a house up North in cad format if you need. (I enclosed a picture of the house built).

Some parts up North per say' still do not require a stamp, but it is always a good idea to hire someone local to as someone mentioned to look over your shoulder.

Plus the owner of the house can have direct involment of there house design, and can even provide the calculations, drawings etc. to get permit, be prepared to do some reading .
Remember you are paying for a Permit to the City/Town and some help more then others when reviewing etc. and can also be helpfull in pointing you in the right direction when you need help.

Just send me an email at svenglezz at' yahoo.com more then happy to help you out.
Sven

[Madimel]

With all due respect, that's a McMansion.

[svenglezz-ASMEIL]

McMansion?

If you got a point to make...try to make it. Rather then a one liner.

Standard home in my books and the owners are very happy with it.
Without the Mansion costs

Sven

[djswan]

It's a McMansion.

Our family house up north is a double wide modular Cascade model #747 built in 1971 and currently undergoing lipstick on a pig remodeling, although the pig gets butchered during the process. The river looks nice out front.

Here's four words that fit well together. north, lake, family, timberframe.

[csintexas]

[djswan]

.......so, I see you agree too. I feel another topic regarding the much maligned, and yet undefined, McMansion.

What makes a McMansion?

[csintexas]

Yeah, I guess we don't have an exact definition.

Perhaps many here may define it as poorly done design. My own take is excess.

I don't think we could correctly accuse McDonald's of doing bad work. They create a product that billions of people want to buy. If anything I suppose we could call it generic. It is certainly fast but I don't think fast in itself has a negative connotation.

We can say that a Big Mac is not particularly healthy -especially when consumed in great quantities.

It doesn't seem to be a particularly excessive house compared to much we see today but it also does not appear to be minimal. So I suppose this assessment would be based on a persons attitude towards the environment.

[djswan]

I spoke to soon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMansion

I don't find any "good" in these things.

[csintexas]

I love wiki, I should have know it would be there. (Almost everything is in there.)

I like to include pretty much all large houses also. They are all McMansions to me.