Some years ago I had the opportunity to buy a beautiful lot on a small picturesque glacial lake in Northern Wisconsin. I had planned to immediately begin the design and construction of my dream getaway.
As is often the case, life got in the way - kids arrived, money got tight and plans just turned into dreams.
Back then it would have been a classic Adirondack styled lodge with bead board, rough-hewn beams,rustic fire place, vintage stove etc.(you get the picture ).
But now, some 15 years later, I have a different vision and a new sense of urgency and better resources to build on that still vacant parcel.My kids are old enough to enjoy a place to make future memories, yet not old enough to be absorbed in soccer,friends or any other distraction that would keep them from wanting to visit the place.
I have been browsing the web looking for what I would describe as "rustic modern" ideas for a smallish (1500 or so square feet) weekend home.
Most of the designs that I find pleasing seem to come from Europe.
If you have a book title, web-site, photos, or any other information to help me nail-down a style choice please post it here. If I wait any longer to commit to this, the opportunity may be lost due to my indecision.
Thanks!
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Sell your lakeside WI parcel, and buy this one in Minnesota; it's already got your ultimate rustic cottage -- and studio ! See aerial shot in one of the links.
http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=10085
Budget should just work.
I don't know what your parcel is worth, but if it's worth 250,000 and your current budget is 3.5 mill, your there as this property is 3.75 and everything is negotiable. Plus you would get to start using the property right now, you wouldn't have to tangle with a perhaps two year building project, permits, etc. To say nothing of the window of opportunity with the young ones is but fleeting. ANd it goes without saying that you would be preserving what appears to be a historical house, that already exists and therefore you would lessen your environmental impact by using the exisiting structure instead of all the materials and energy consumption in placing a new structure on virgin land. Better yet, donate the WI property to the Nature Conservancy, take the write off and negotiate the MN property down to your budget. That said, you may however have a tremendous connection to the WI property and my apologies for jamming my two cents in here.
Ummmm
My apologies - the $3.5 million was a tongue in cheek thing. The property is free and clear and my budget should be a bout $150 to $175k USD for construction. I am looking for high style/function on a rather "restrictive" budget. Here in the US I should be able to build something quite nice for that amount. I just can't settle on an architectural vernacular yet.
Okay "tongue in cheek" I understand
You might look at the Dwell Magazine site or contact them directly if you find no evidence of which I speak. I seem to recall a while back, maybe a year or so, that they ran a story on a portfolio of high style, high design "prefab" homes that could be erected at reasonable cost. In fact if memory serves I think there was a designer who had designed a house as a series of modules that could be fit together as need and or resources became available. Please don't quote me here, but I think that one could attach them end to end, and or stack them on top of one another presenting a myriad of possibilities. They had glass on one side so as to be oriented to a view, etc. I'm sure that you are also aware that keeping things simple will keep budget in alignment. Central core of utilities, like water and waste from one or two central locations. Kitchen adjacent to bath so shared plumbing and few interior walls to maximize sense of space. Hope this helps. You have actually articulated a project I have been contemplating myself.
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