Four Calling Birds

Christmas is almost here!  There are Christmas songs being sung, gifts being bought, and our families to think about.  At this time of year, when I think of the word "calling" I think of the words from the song The Twelve Days of Christmas:  Four calling birds.

What is a calling bird?  A quick internet search tells me there are a lot of other people who have this same question.  However, instead of focusing on what bird was originally in the song and when the lyrics were changed, I'd rather think about birds calling to each other.  

There are days when, after I've gotten my daughter on the bus and I'm walking back home, in the stillness of the morning I listen to the birds tweeting and chirping.  It's when I hear certain chirps from two different birds right after each other that I recognize a conversation is taking place.  It's a beautiful thing to hear.

So, as we gather to celebrate Christmas this year, my challenge to those reading this post is to follow the example of the calling birds and take time to listen to each other.  Listen to what is being said and then engage in a conversation together.

Plantation Cottage Interior

Sometimes we get requests from people who want to know what our cottages look like on the inside.  We received these pictures of the Plantation Cottage exterior and interior a couple years ago.

 

The Plantation Cottage has a large, covered, wrap around porch with detailed railing. This house has extensive windows throughout to let the outdoors in, a basement garage and four bedrooms.  

 

 This picture exposes the "drive-in" garage area in the basement of the Plantation Cottage. You can see how the front porch wraps around the house to provide shelter from the elements and relief from the summer sun. The detailed porch railings give this home southern charm.

 

 The Foyer of the Plantation Cottage is open to the second floor and has an L-shaped stair. It provides a large welcoming space to greet your guests.

 

The open living room and dining room of the Plantation Cottage provide plenty of space for your family to spread out for their various activities.  A built in wall cabinet provides additional storage.

 

 The open floor plan of the Plantation Cottage gives you views to the front and back of the home and provides a great space for a family to live and grow.

 

 The Plantation Cottage kitchen is open to the living room and dining room.

 

 The open kitchen of the Plantation Cottage has a large island and lots of cabinet space. The island provides a great place for a snack or a space to lay out your buffet. 

 

 The stairs in the foyer are open to the living room of the Plantation Cottage and connect you to what's going on upstairs and down. The living room's built-in wall cabinet provides storage for this large spacious room.

 

 The upstairs den of the Plantation Cottage provides a family space at the top of the stairs. It is a perfect place for your family to relax and spend time together.

 

The back of the Plantation Cottage includes a spacious covered porch off of the dining room. It is perfect for entertaining.

If this looks like your ideal home, this house plan can be purchased on our website at www.southerncottages.com.  Once there, you can also look at the floor plans, see some of the room sizes, and find out the cost of the plans.

A Copper Dream

Patina is one of the words I learned in architecture school.  It’s a compact and fancy word to describe something we’re all familiar with:  the oxidation of a material that results in a change of its color.  The most common material that patinas that's used as an architectural element is copper. 

Copper is one of those amazing materials I’ve dreamt of using on a building, but have not yet had the opportunity to use.  When it first goes on it’s a pretty metallic peachy color, which looks good on its own.  Then, over time, it slowly changes to the beautiful blue-green.  The variegated color that results gives so much character to a building.

Here are some structures that have a beautiful patina:

Statue of Liberty

Copper Dome

Clock

Medac Building

A modern-day example: The Medac Building (above) is one of my favorite buildings in Wilmington, NC.  The variation in color of the copper panels creates movement along the facade.  It's a nice surprise in the sea of mundane buildings.

-S.L.

Thanksgiving Traditions

picture from sweetieskidz.com

Thanksgiving usually means spending time with family and participating in family traditions.  These are some of the Thanksgiving traditions that our office members have enjoyed over the years.

Tom used to go small game hunting with his family when he was younger.  Some of the animals they'd hunt were squirrels, rabbits, and doves.  Watching the Thanksgiving parade on tv was another thing he'd look forward to every year.  These days, Tom's family gets a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, and his extended family is so large that they usually get together to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas at the same time.

Steven also used to participate in small game hunting and watching the parade on tv.  When he was little, his family would get together at his grandma's house every year where he would goof off with his cousins.  After he started his own family, he took his own kids to his grandma's house where they spent time with his extended family.  These days, Steven cooks the turkey every year with his perfected recipe (cook the turkey in an oven bag to keep it moist and juicy).

Stacey had a large family growing up and did not live near extended family, so they had to come up with their own traditions.  All the kids were given Thanksgiving names for the day.  The girls were named Patience, Prudence, Charity, Faith, and Hope.  Her brother was usually known as John, except the year he proclaimed that he wanted to be known as Squanto!  (This may or may not have been due to one of the hats he'd made at school and brought home.)  Everyone was given part of the meal to prepare, also, including the one year they had "fuit" salad made by her then 2 year old sister.  These days, Stacey's family has been known to play soccer in the park on Thanksgiving morning, and at dinner everyone takes turns telling their favorite part of the meal,

This Thanksgiving take some time to reflect on your family traditions and the memories they bring.

Happy Thanksgiving!

House Trend: More Playful Homes

The playful Hip Cottage with Basement.

According to a RealtorMag.com article by Barbara Ballinger, more playful homes are what people want.  Why?  "Americans work harder now than ever, with many delaying retirement or starting second careers, so they want their homes to be a refuge and a place to unwind."

Adding that playful aspect to a house is something we know how to do.

Basement bonus room with kitchenette.

We design small homes for those looking to downsize, yet retain that playful space to relax. After deciding on a footprint for the necessary rooms, like the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and baths, we look for ways to increase the enjoyment of your home life.  Adding a basement bonus room to a small house provides a place to unwind after the pressures of the day.  A theater room, billiards table, ping pong table or just a cushy couch and tv provide a place to loosen up and relax.  By adding a kitchenette to the room you've increased the opportunities.   
Example:  The Hip Cottage with Basement Foundation.

Porches Cottage with Roof Deck

We design homes that take advantage of the space under your house as well as above it.  If you're able to, building a basement under your house provides a place for a recreation or bonus room, as mentioned above.  Another way to add playfulness to your home is to build a roof deck above it.  A roof deck provides a place to watch the sunset or entertain guests at a dinner party with a spectacular view.  It's a spot to grill, a location to soak up the sun, or a place just sit and unwind.
Example:  The Lookout Cottage with Basement Foundation and the Porches Cottage with Roof Deck.

Backyard putting green by Carolina Custom Putting Greens.

Some of the ways you can get a more playful home is dependent on the lot you buy.  Look for one where you can have fun things like a backyard pool, your own putting green, a fire pit, install that pizza oven you've always wanted, or landscape the beautiful gardens you've seen in magazines.


If you're interested in designing or remodeling your home to add more playfulness to it, let us help you create a design at www.mcleodarchitect.com.  Or view our architect designed house plans, including the cottages mentioned above, at www.southerncottages.com.

Designing Your Bathroom: Layout

A Gorgeous Bathroom

Bathrooms have come a long way over the last 100+ years.  The very informative article A Brief History of the Bathroom chronicles the long story of how people have been taking care of their bodies since ancient times.  This brings us to today, where we not only have indoor plumbing (thankfully), but bathrooms have become large and glamorous.

The three main components of a bathroom are a sink, a bath tub/shower, and a toilet.  Then, if you have the space, additional fixtures can be added for the opulence that additional fixtures are: separate tubs and showers, double sinks, and sometimes even bidets.

If you're remodeling, the most cost effective thing to do is to keep the same fixture layout.  Replacing all the fixtures (and finishes) will give you a new bathroom.

If you're designing from scratch, then the options are wide open.  The shape of the room will have a big impact on what fixtures will fit and where.  The trick is to find the layout that fits the space the best.

If you're having trouble figuring out a layout for your dream bathroom, Kohler has 101 Bathroom Floor Plan Options to help you get some ideas.  All of them are customizable because there are a million different ways to lay out a bathroom.  Here are a couple samples of Kohler's bathroom layouts.

Bathroom Plan 1 - Standard Layout

Bathroom Plan 1 is the most standard bathroom plan there is.  It's a compact 40 sf and has everything you need to take care of your body.

Bathroom Plan 39 - Jack & Jill Layout

Bathroom Plan 39 is what's called a Jack & Jill bathroom.  It is two bathrooms in one, where two separate sink rooms share a tub and a toilet. 

Bathroom Plan 44 - L Shaped with a Corner Tub

Sometimes an L-shaped bathroom fits best in a house plan.  With 200 sf, Bathroom Plan 44 is a good example of how to fit additional fixtures into a non-standard shape.  Two sinks, a corner tub, separate shower, and a toilet compartment round out the fixtures in this bathroom.

Bathroom Plan 59 - Large Shower

Bathroom Plan 59 includes a large, luxurious shower to provide a place for the multiple shower head experience.  The rest of the bathroom fixtures are pretty great, also, and include a corner tub, large vanity and toilet.

Bathroom Plan 74 - The Freestanding Feature Tub

At 318 sf, Bathroom Plan 74 is a large and glamorous retreat.  The freestanding tub in the middle of the room is the focal point of this spectacular bathroom.  There's also plenty of space for separate vanities, toilet compartment, and multiple storage cabinets.

Here are a few examples of our Cottages which successfully use four of these layouts:

Plan 1 Standard Layout: Most of our Cottages use this layout.

Plan 39 Jack & Jill:  Lookout Cottage.

Plan 44 L-Shape: Grand Gazebo Cottage.

Plan 59 Large Shower: Porches Cottage 2,395 sf.

Once you have a layout selected you can move toward personalizing your bathroom with materials and finishing touches.

Customer Question: I Need More Information About Your Plans

We recently received a letter asking for more information about our Southern Cottages House Plans.

Island Cottage with Piling Foundation

All of our Southern Cottages House Plans have been designed by a licensed architect.  They are detailed, professional, architectural drawings.  Our construction plan packages are complete and ready to ship.  The house plans we sell include foundation plans, floor plans, building sections, wall details, interior elevations, structural design, and mechanical and electrical layouts. That's everything your contractor needs to build your house the right way.  They will save you many thousands of dollars over custom designed plans and save innumerable hours of time, money, and mistakes by your contractor if he were left on his own.

With our plans, you will be able to get accurate contractor bid prices since all construction items are specified and detailed.  We rarely have questions from a client's contractor and we welcome any questions that might arise.  Plus, we have been complimented on our construction plan quality.  We are confident you will be very happy if you decided to purchase one of our plans and with the outcome of your new home.

For additional information, please read “About the Plans” and “Terms of Sale” on our website.  If you have additional questions feel free to call our office.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com. View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Customer Questions: Fortified Home Standards

We recently received a letter asking if our Southern Cottages House Plans are designed to "Fortified" standards.  In order to answer this question we first need to understand what "Fortified" standards are.

 

Fortified Home is a program of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.  According to the Fortified Home website, the Fortified program is explained in this way:

FORTIFIED Home™ is a set of engineering and building standards designed to help strengthen new and existing homes through system-specific building upgrades to minimum building code requirements that will reduce damage from specific natural hazards.

FORTIFIED Home™ is a third-party certification program specifying design and construction standards to increase a home’s resilience and deliver superior performance during tropical storms and hurricanes.  The FORTIFIED Home™ program has three levels of designation – Bronze, Silver and Gold – that build upon each other. 

In other words, Fortified Home is a certification program designed to strengthen your home in preparation for certain natural disasters (hurricanes, tropical storms, hailstorms, high winds and wind-driven rain associated with thunderstorms), which thereby helps you to get discounts on your home insurance.  This is done by a certified evaluator coming to your home or a home that's being built to review the construction, making recommendations and then you or your contractor implementing them.  Your house then gets a designation which you give to your insurance provider.

I have not been involved in this program, nor am I aware if any of our customers have gone through this certification process. 

What I can tell you from a quick look is that the Fortified Home standards appear to include things that are in building codes and are therefore included in our plans.  For example, the “continuous load path” – tying your roof to the walls, which are tied to the floor, which is tied to the foundation – is included in our house plans because it is a building code requirement. 

I took a more in-depth look at one Fortified Home requirement that I think will help give a better explanation of what the Fortified Home standards appear to do.  The “sealed roof deck” Fortified Home standard specifies how the roof underlayment is installed to seal the roof deck against moisture.  Part of this standard explains how to layer and overlap the underlayment, which appears to match what is in the building code.  However, this next part is what makes a difference between meeting the minimum requirements of the building code and meeting the minimum requirements of the Fortified Home standard.  This explanation involves a lot of ASTM numbers, but bear with me.  (ASTM is the American Society for Testing and Materials, which sets international technical standards for a wide range of materials and products).  I will color code the different ASTM numbers to help make the comparisons easier to see.  Pay attention to the “Type” numbers. 

The 2012 North Carolina Residential Building Code* says, “Unless otherwise noted, required underlayment shall conform to ASTM D226 Type I, ASTM D4869 Type I, or ASTM D6757.”   

The Fortified Home standard says “… ASTM D226 Type II or ASTM D4869 Type III or Type IV underlayment shall be installed…  ASTM D4869 Type I or Type II will NOT be accepted.” 

Upon first glance this appears to be in conflict with the Residential Building Code.  So here is the explanation:  ASTM D226 Type I and ASTM D4869 Type I are for #15 felt, which is the minimum standard needed to comply with the building code.  ASTM D226 Type II and ASTM D4869 Type III or Type IV are for #30 felt, which is thicker than #15 and will give more protection.  

After reviewing this information I have come to two conclusions.  One, it appears that at least some of the Fortified Home standards provide more than the minimum building code requirements.  Two, since a certified evaluator is coming to the house to see how things were installed, it appears that the Fortified Home program verifies if your contractor is building and installing certain things the way they should in order to meet with the program requirements.  

The Fortified Home program is split up into three standards:  Hurricane Standards, High Wind & Hail Standards, and High Wind Standards.  If you live in an area subject to these natural disasters, you’re willing to pay for the Fortified Home evaluator and fix things based on the recommendations so you can to save money on your home insurance, then the Fortified Home program is for you.

To wrap up and answer the customer question asked, our Southern Cottages House Plans have not been designed to meet Fortified Home standards.  But that doesn't mean they won't.  We have specified products that we have found to be of good quality through years of experience.  With our construction plans and specification manual it would be easy for your contractor to look over what has been designed and specified and “upgrade” something if needed.

Southern Cottages house plans were designed to meet coastal conditions and codes in the state of North Carolina at the time they were designed. Houses on piling foundations were designed to meet coastal and flood plain and high wind zone construction in the State of North Carolina at the time they were designed. Because codes and requirements can change and may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, we cannot warrant compliance with any specific code or regulation. Your plans may need to be modified to comply with local building conditions, energy codes, seismic and soil conditions, snow loads, zoning regulations and other ordinances or requirements. We recommend the use of the services of a local architect or residential design professional to verify compliance with local codes and requirements in your area. 

One final thought - if you would like an example of the strength that our plans are designed for, please read this blog post about one of our Island Cottage plans that survived hurricane Sandy - and weathered it well.  It includes a letter from the owner of that home. 

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com. 

* The current code at the time this was written.

Celebrating Memorial Day

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, the "unofficial" beginning of the summer.  Amid the beach trips, relaxing, and the fun of a holiday weekend, I like to celebrate the real meaning of the day.

According to wikipedia, "Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces."  One way I like to do this is to visit historically significant locations in my area.  Here is a list of places in the Wilmington, NC, area I have or would like to visit:

Fort Fisher Visitor Center

Fort Fisher
Kure Beach, NC
Fort Fisher was built during the Civil War as a way to protect the port of Wilmington from the Union forces.  After the fort fell to the Union, the supplies couldn't go out to the Confederate armies.  Without supplies it was impossible to keep going with momentum and, due to this and other reasons, three months later the war ended.

It also played a role in World War II.  According to the NC Historic Sites website, the Wilmington area "underwent a major expansion in the shipbuilding, chemical, and petroleum industries" during WWII.  After Camp Davis was built, anti-aircraft training began at Fort Fisher.  This led to further development at the fort, which you can read about on the NC Historic Sites website.

All of this contributes to the historical significance of Fort Fisher.  The Fort Fisher State Historic Park includes a visitors center, a civil war museum, earthen fortification walls (man-made mounds), a reconstructed and operational cannon, a confederate memorial, and more.  There is also the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area which includes hiking trails, fishing, boating, a beach, four wheeling, etc.



Moores Creek National Battlefield
Currie, NC
The Moores Creek National Battlefield is part of Revolutionary War history.  Some of the Loyalist were marching to meet up with Redcoats and head toward the North Carolina coast.  Some of the Patriots heard of their coming and positioned themselves at the Moores Creek Bridge with muskets and cannons.  As the Loyalists were headed to cross the bridge, the Patriots attacked and the Loyalists surrendered.  According to the Moores Creek National Battlefield website, "This battle marked...the first significant victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution."

My family and I went to this battlefield for Memorial Day in 2013 and it was a great place to visit.  There were people dressed up from the 1700's, with tents displaying guns, clothing, etc. from that time period.  There were games set up for the kids, like hitting a hoop with a stick.  There's also a cannon that they fire on special occasions.  It's loud, but very cool to watch.  This national park has a visitors center, monuments, trail, the Moores Creek Bridge and a picnic area.
 
You can find out more information about the historical significance of Moores Creek at the Moores Creek Bridge page on the History Channel's website.

Battleship North Carolina
Wilmington, NC
I've previously written how visiting the battleship is one of my family's favorite things to do on Memorial day.  The Battleship North Carolina's historical significance is from World War II.  It went to Pearl Harbor where it was damaged.  The battleship's website has a lot of information, but not quite as much (I think) as the visitors center.  Visiting the battleship is informative, exciting, and a great way to spend Memorial Day.

The Battleship North Carolina has a special Memorial Day Observance starting at 4pm on Memorial Day.  Check out their website for more information.

Operation Bumblebee Observation Tower -
 Picture from Pinterest

Operation Bumblebee
Topsail Beach, NC
Operation Bumblee was a secret Navy program to develop surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles during the 1940's.  The location on Topsail Island became the permanent location for testing and launching of these missiles in 1947.  One of the famous remnants from Operation Bumblebee are the observation towers that still remain. The Topsail Historical Society runs a Missiles and More Museum, where you can see model and original missiles from the Operation, a full size Talos guided missile, and a film that chronicles the history of the program.

Visiting local historically significant locations is one of my favorite ways to spend Memorial Day.  What are some things you like to do to celebrate?

Is Your House Good for Thunderstorm Viewing?

In our area we're experiencing a round of thunderstorms, which are supposed to continue for another few days.  Reactions to thunderstorms can vary widely from fear to awe with any number of feelings in between.  If you're like me, then you love thunderstorms.  The rumble of the thunder combined with the amazing light show brings a sense of wonder and awe.  They can be a nice change of pace (so long as you're safe).

http://res.freestockphotos.biz/pictures/0/364-lightning-in-the-night-pv.jpg

Depending on your house layout, it can sometimes be difficult to watch the light show outside.  You might have furniture in front of your window, so it's awkward to try and sit in a position that allows you to watch.  Or you might have small windows inconveniently placed making it difficult to view the storm comfortably.  Another obstacle is when your view is blocked by a neighboring building.  That can bring disappointment and ruin your excitement.

Today I'm going to describe what I think makes a house good for viewing thunderstorms.  First, you need to have large windows.

www.andersencorporation.com

Large windows are a must if you want to have a good, unobstructed viewing area to watch the thunderstorm.  You can arrange your furniture in just about any configuration and still be able to watch the lighting streak across the sky while you sit comfortably.  Wouldn't you love to have the view out of the windows in the picture above?

Second, you need a house with multiple levels.

The Winds Cottage

Being able to go up a level higher than the buildings around you helps give a better vantage point.  If your house is the same height as your neighbors, when the lightning flashes below their house then your view is gone and disappointment sets in.  In the picture above, if the second floor isn't high enough then you're able to go up another to get the view you desire.

Third, you need a safe place to watch the thunderstorm.

The Island Cottage

Ideally, having an interior observation loft will give you the height you desire and a 360 degree view of the storm. That would be a pretty awesome view!  If you don't have an observation loft, then go back to the first item on my list:  find a large, unobstructed window to watch the storm from.

Now, it's important to stay safe during thunderstorms.  The National Weather Service has issued a lot of info for Lightning Safety that you should review.  They have multiple links to various safety info, one of which is Tips for Safety with information about outdoor safety, indoor safety, and safety tips of what to do if you are stuck outside during a thunderstorm. For instance, don't watch a thunderstorm from your porch.  It might seem like an ideal place, especially if it's on an upper level.  But, the National Weather Service specifically says this is not a good idea.  Take their advice and stay safe!

If you're interested in designing or remodeling your home to facilitate a better view to watch storms from, let us help you create a design at www.mcleodarchitect.com.  Or view our architect designed house plans, including the Winds Cottage and Island Cottage pictured above, at www.southerncottages.com.