Log Home Living – June 2019

16 |^ Best Log & Timber Floor Plans 2019

3

Flow and Usage. One of the

ways to maximize space in a small

home is by thinking about how the

space will be used and how it can

be combined for the most effi cient

design possible. Areas that can pull

double duty are essential to allow for

comfortable rooms without increasing

the overall size of your cabin.

Derek likes to take a puzzle-piece

approach to designing — namely fi gur-

ing out the fi xed elements (e.g., 12-by-12-

foot master suite, 10-by-10-foot second-

ary bedroom, walk-in closets, etc.) and

confi guring them in a way that makes

sense for his clients’ design needs. This

also helps them visualize the fl ow of the

home and how they can conjoin ele-

ments to prevent wasted access points.

“It’s kind of a fun process because

they do click together. You have a lot of

these ‘ah-ha’ moments,” he explains.

“It’s more diffi cult to make all the puzzle

pieces work in a small home because

there’s just fewer opportunities. You

have less space to work with and smaller

puzzle pieces. So there really are only

so many ways that they can connect

together where they’re going to work ef-

fi ciently. But it’s fun to work through that

design phase process with my clients,

having kind of an interactive design

meeting and being able to experience

those things with them.”

For example, if you’re trying to

build a master bedroom with a walk-in

closet, consider sharing some of the

access points with the master bath so

you’re not doubling up on the circula-

tion. “When you get into the small-home

category, the circulation areas are where

you can save some of that space,”

Derek states. “Because, if you eliminate

a 3-by-3-foot circulation area that was

simply giving you access to your walk-in

closet, you can eliminate 10 square feet

and that makes a huge difference in a

1,200-square-foot house.”

4

Stair Awareness. Many people

debate about whether or not to

build a single-level or a two-story

small home. Some of it is budget-

ary — it’s generally less expensive

to build up than out — but stairs can be

considerable square footage wasters.

“The staircase itself is taking up 50

design for the ages

tip

IF YOU’RE A YOUNG FAMILY...

Planning a home at this stage of life can be an exciting and re-

warding project. Keep in mind that designing a house to accom-

modate children brings different elements into play. Practicality

— both in terms of safety and budget — are paramount. Here

are a few key essentials to keep in mind:

Q Create compact, effi cient plans.

Q Consider a hybrid (a home that mixes building materials

and construction techniques) to save money without

compromising appearance or quality.

Q Incorporate open spaces and keep

the kitchen and family room together

so you can watch the little ones while

you prepare meals.

Q Factor in safety, like staircase positioning

and other potential dangers, especially

with kids under fi ve.

Q Plan ahead for future additions so your

home can expand as your family does.