Loft windows water side. Side windows are angled.
This post has nothing to do with building green. Rather, it provides an update for those who just want a progress report. I will also be asking for any opinions you might have about a possible design change.
Yesterday a BC Hydro special crew came from the mainland with their fancy “connection-finder” to locate the electrical hookup. I had called them in mid-December to book a connection, and was told it would be within ten business days. Now it is mid-January. I have mentioned how frustrated we are to have to rent the generator for such a long, expensive time, and the builders would love to be able to turn off the infernal noise, too. The crew failed to locate the supposed connection. To put a new one in might cost Hydro $20,000. And it will undoubtedly delay the hookup for another few weeks.
So, no electricity yet for the tools or a heater for the RV.
The other thing I discovered upon arrival is that the roof for the loft had to be raised a foot, to allow for enough headroom to come up the loft stairs. We had a similar miscalculation, or design deficiency on the basement stairwell, too.
I was able to see the view from the loft gable for the first time. The window is disappointingly high for a short person like me, but can’t be changed because of the main roofline. We’ll have to do some clever built-ins to take advantage of the view.
We had designed a 3×6 opening in the loft wall to overlook the living room, which measures 13’ x 18’ and is 17’ high at the centre. When we look at this space, now that the centre beam is positioned, it seems disproportionately high. The coziness factor is absent, although with the fireplace going, it will certainly be warm.
Ron, the builder, suggested we might want to put a whole new floor/room at that level. I wondered whether we could just put a mezzanine over one side of the living room, with an open railing on the living room side. This could provide an office space/reading nook, and design-wise would break up the height visually. The section of the living room under the mezzanine would have more coziness.
The picture shows the side of the loft above/living room below where this would go. Below is the floor plan and elevation. The entry to the mezzanine would be at number 7 on the elevation.
Please offer your opinion about how well this would work to improve the coziness factor, and whether the asymmetrical treatment would spoil the look/lines of the living room.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m finding it a little hard to visualize these changes, however I’m always a fan of an open floorplan and open areas between floors (like our old house). I think the more of the loft that is open to the living room the better.
Also, regarding hydro, are you required in the bylaw to have a connection to hydro? Have you priced out solar power? I would imagine $20000 could go a long way towards setting up solar power.
The pictures are great though, and the one side (low, to the west I think) really reminds me of our backyard in Northvan, with three levels all exposed on one side of the house.
Li
Hydro will have to foot the bill, since the connection isn’t where their maps say it is. Now they are waiting for a permit from Highways to trench the road, and that will take anywhere from 2 – 9 weeks! Exciting, wot?
Regarding solar power, check out my #24 post on heating. We’re not in sunny Chetwynd or Alberta.
Only you have provided feedback, but I think we will frame it in and see how it looks. We have to frame it in now, if we’re going to.
“We’re not in sunny Chetwynd or Alberta.”
It’s called the Sunshine Coast…
Also, although it’s a little late, I agree with liam’s points regarding the open loft. I want to be able to perch up there and git’em during a round of flashlight tag.
See posting # 2 Design Considerations, about the local lore surrounding the name “Sunshine Coast”.
I like the plan and I think the loft idea is nice; I’m guessing it’s been framed out by now anyway. It will break down the scale of the fireplace side of the living room and make the view the primary focal point. Are you insulating the basement walls?
Anne, I sure appreciate an expert opinion about the scale and focal point – I was unsure about that.
Yes, we’re insulating the basement walls.
Ah yes flashlight tag.
We can just send Tess out as a decoy.