A couple of weeks ago we saw a house that had an HVAC vent that blended into the wood floor very effectively. Once you see things like this they become obvious. I don’t know that I would have thought to ask about such a thing before seeing it though.
This same house had another feature (not pictured) that intrigued me. The steps down to the basement were in the middle of a floor, rather than up against a wall as in most houses. So effectively there was just a hole in the floor with a railing around it, and the steps descended below. It struck me as different and cool. If we end up not having an upstairs on our house I would very much like to build the steps this way, which is how Nicole set it up on her initial draft. We may even be able to leave them mostly open if there’s also a flight to an upstairs. We’ll see.
Placement of floor vents becomes important when you think about furnishings not just for now but in the future. Somehow, to me, wall vents are easier to work around????
ReplyDeleteI know you have only been in Jeff's house maybe once (dog issues) but his house has a central stair well and everything goes around it. The steps to the basement have a door but the ones upstairs are open with a turn. On the main floor you go clockwise from the foyer to the great room, kitchen and formal dining area around the central core which includes the steps, half bath, pantry, etc. Sure you have seen the idea as you look at things but I always thought it was nice design.
Hey Dave,
ReplyDeleteHave you looked at any cape cod style houses? I live in a Cape Cod style house and absolutely love it. Not all capes have dormers, although mine does. Some people like dormers and some don't some are actually fake and don't have the attic finished. Most capes have central staircases in the center for the upstairs and basement is in the center as well. Stacked stair cases is common in capes with basements. My particular cape has closed stair cases with doors on both.
Cape cods usually have all hardwood floors. My house has the registers like you mentioned all wood and in front of the windows.
Since you live in a villa style house you might be interested in a cape. I have seen some floor plans with garages attached and great rooms with hip roofs attached at the rear, although my house has the garage seperate and no great room. Just an idea, if you like an open floor plan, lots of windows and central stair cases, capes are a pleasing design and are coming back.