Small Beach House in Mexico Breaking Ground

We’ve recently broken ground on a small beach house in Mexico.  The home is organic in nature and designed for outdoor living, as well as situated to bring in the ocean breezes.  Located above the Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, this hillside beach house is about 30 miles (48 km) SE of Zihuatanejo and the beach resort town of Ixtapa in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

North View from the Beach House

Views are wide ranging out to the Pacific Ocean and up and down the coast.  More information, including schematic plans and elevations of the home, can be found on our Mexico Beach House blog post.

The builder is Israel Magna Rodriquez of In-Progsa.  Construction materials for a beach house are quite different from a mountain style home.  The typical cedar siding over wood frame construction in the mountains would quickly rot in a high humid location.  The best materials to use in high humidity climates such as coastal Mexico and Nicaragua are less perishable ones like concrete and native hardwoods.  This home will be concrete with some hardwood trim and finish work.

John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture, Mountain and waterfront architects in Sandpoint, Idaho

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Choosing a Contractor by Competitive Bidding

An important service that we perform as Architects is guiding our clients through the bidding or negotiation process. While it’s not the only way of selecting contractors, some of our clients prefer having a few qualified builders submit bids as a way of competing against each other to win contracts. Bidding can be a good method to select a contractor as long as the process is carried out in a way that is fair to everyone and with the understanding that price alone is not the only basis for selection.  During your initial meetings with an Architect, it is important to determine what approach you want to use to select a contractor.

For bidding to work as a valid selection process, several factors need to be considered:

1.      Bidding documents need to complete, detailed, and contain all the information required to develop an accurate price for the work to be performed. If the drawings and specifications do not contain enough information for the contractor to accurately price the work, they will almost certainly add to their bid to cover themselves from having to eat the costs of vague or poorly documented work items. Incomplete information in bid documents forces the contractor to make assumptions and leads to inaccurate bids, which almost always costs the homeowner more.  A common mistake people make is to try cutting project costs by negotiating a reduced fee from the Architect in exchange for a less developed design package, or in choosing an inexperienced designer or draftsman to prepare the plans. It is a worthwhile investment to spend a little more up front for quality drawings and specifications, with the payoff realized in lower overall project costs and reduced headaches. Creating quality bid documents is one of the many ways an Architect can add value to your home.

An architect's plans should be complete and detailed.

2.      Bidders should all be in the same “league”. Before choosing potential contractors and asking them to bid a project, it is a good idea to research the candidates and talk to their references. They should have a proven track record of successful completion of projects that are similar in scope to the one they are being asked to bid. A construction company with a few employees that uses a pickup truck for an office is going to have a lot less overhead than a bigger company that has an office with support staff, provides benefits for their workers, and is well insured. Figure out the level of service you want from a contractor, and choose your bidders accordingly.

3.      Limit the number of bidders to three at the most.  Any more than that and you will be spending time and money responding to lots of questions. It takes a lot of time for a contractor and his subcontractors to develop an accurate bid, and it’s time they often don’t get paid for. If there are too many competitors, some may opt out or not spend enough time creating their bids, and the results will be skewed.

4.      While contractors are preparing their bids, make sure any information that is communicated gets to all the bidding parties. It’s common to have a contractor call and ask for clarification, substitutions, or for information that is not in the documents. For bidding to be fair to all, written addenda or clarifications need to be sent to everyone and become a part of the bid documents. This can be time consuming, so clients should be willing to compensate Architects for the time it takes to make sure bidding is done properly. Well prepared drawings and specifications can help minimize time spent responding to inquiries during bidding.

A reputable contractor will build a quality home at a fair price.

One important thing to consider before deciding if you want to award a contract by competitive bidding is what the priorities are for your project. Bidding can be a way to get a project built for the lowest cost, but sometimes construction quality can suffer in this type of relationship. If creating a high quality home is your top priority, it may be better to select a reputable contractor early in the process, foster a good relationship with them, and then develop a project budget that everyone can agree on before signing a contract.  A good contractor knows who the best subcontractors and suppliers are, and unless one really stands above the rest, can secure the best quality at the best value by providing at least two bids from most of them.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, Architect AIA, NCARB

There are many builders in the Northwest who build quality heavy timber construction. If you are interested in creating a mountain style home, we would enjoy the opportunity to work with you on the design, and can recommend some excellent Contractors.  Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of timber mountain style homes and cabins.  While it is not the only type of architecture we design, most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Arts and Crafts Style Architecture

If you take a walk through the older neighborhoods of any American town, you are likely to see examples of homes whose designs were inspired by Arts and Crafts style architects. The Arts and Crafts architectural movement was a philosophy of design that influenced not only architects, but furniture makers, artisans and domestic handicrafts as well. Begun as a response to the mechanization and mass production of the Industrial revolution, followers of the Arts and Crafts movement promoted the value of natural materials, skilled craftsmanship, economy of form and honest expression without applied ornamentation.

A covered porch at the Gamble House, designed by Greene and Greene Architects.

The Arts and Crafts movement began in Britain in the mid to late 1800′s, and came to America just before the turn of the century. One of the first Americans to adopt the principles was Gustav Stickley, the well known furniture designer. Considered the founder of the Craftsman style (a descendant of the Arts & Crafts Style), Stickley was highly influential in spreading the philosophy of Arts and Crafts through his periodical “The American Craftsman”.  He emphasized simple, clean lines, exposed artful joinery, the virtues of handcrafting, and unadorned natural materials.

Chair designed by Gustav Stickley

Besides creating elegant furniture, Stickley partnered with the architect Harvey Ellis to create popular Bungalow style home designs that were published in catalogs and became widely known as craftsman style bungalows. Some of the hallmarks of the craftsman bungalow were:

• Low to medium slope roofs with deep overhangs, usually hipped or gabled
• Exposed rafters and rafter tails on the exterior
• Covered front porches with large square or tapered columns on stone or brick bases
• Prominent stone or brick chimneys
• Timber brackets supporting roof overhangs
• One or one and a half stories, with attic living space and dormers
• Open plan
• Wood beam ceilings and dark wood wainscot and mouldings
• Built-in cabinets, shelves, seating, and sometimes furniture

In the early part of the 20^th century, complete bungalow home kits could be bought from catalogs, including Sears and Roebuck. Many US cities and towns have older neighborhoods full of these “modern” homes.

In the Pasadena area of Southern California, two brothers, architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, took the bungalow and the Arts and Crafts philosophy to extremes in their stick style homes. Every detail of these homes was meticulously designed and crafted, featuring beautiful exposed timber connections, lots of native wood, and indigenous stone on the exterior.  Greene & Greene’s work has become iconic as the ultimate expression of Arts & Crafts ideals in home design, where the home is a complete work of art with every detail and furnishing designed by the architect.

The architects Greene and Greene were known for their detailed Arts and Crafts style homes.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School style homes are also based on principles of the Arts & Crafts movement. One of America’s most famous architects, Wright developed a unique style that drew from many of the ideas of the Arts & Crafts movement, including open plans, emphasis on natural materials and connection to the environment, forms inspired by nature, and lots of wood built-ins. Wright’s organic style was an inspiration to many American architects, and many of his homes are still considered fine examples of Arts and Crafts philosophy in practice.

Interior of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater

A contemporary of Wrights architect Bernard Maybeck, designed many homes in the Arts and Crafts tradition, most of them in the hills above Berkeley, California.  Maybeck had an eclectic style and whimsical nature, often mixing modern design with classical details. He was adamant about letting the building materials and quality craftsmanship be the ornamentation, and typically used carefully detailed redwood as both interior and exterior cladding. Some elements of the shingle style are evident in his designs.

A Bernard Maybeck Arts & Crafts Style Home

Because of its enduring appeal and continued popularity, many architects still design using principles and forms that emerged during the Arts and Crafts movement.   The Craftsman style and Prairie style were two of these Arts & Crafts siblings.  Others included later versions of the Shingle style, Adirondack and Swiss Chalet styles (which all also had various influences on the Mountain architectural style), and to a lesser extent the Eclectic styles of the Tudor and French Eclectic (and it’s cousins the Cotswald Cottage and the less rigid Storybook style).

The beauty of natural materials, quality craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and honest expression are still valued today, as is the connection many people feel with these iconic building styles. As new materials emerge and styles evolve, the look of buildings will inevitably change. However, the influence the Arts and Crafts movement had on American domestic architecture will continue to be evident in the design of our homes for many years to come.

Tom Russell, LEED AP, and John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture designs Arts and Crafts inspired mountain homes and cabins throughout the United States. Visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  If you are interested in an Arts & Crafts style home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

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Stone Cladding Options

Stone has been used throughout history on buildings of many styles as a cladding material.  Until relatively recent times it was used for structural applications in foundations and wall construction. In modern construction, stone is used primarily as a cladding option to cover less attractive structural substrates. Stacked stone isn’t a good structural material.  It can support a lot of weight, but because it is difficult to reinforce with steel, it is notoriously bad at surviving earthquake events, and thus doesn’t meet the strict requirements that architects must meet in modern building codes.

Stone accents on a Grand Canyon ranger station help give the building a bold appearance.

Architects use stone on building exteriors to create a sense of permanence and solidity. Drawing from the historical precedent of stacked stone building foundations, stone veneer is often used around the base of a building to visually anchor it to the land. Stone is also commonly used on fireplaces, chimneys, column bases, planters, landscape elements and even as an interior wall finish.

Stone cladding (also called stone veneer) is available in many forms. Many historic and modern style buildings use cut stone slabs as a wall finish material. Similar to the slabs used for making counter-tops, this type of stone cladding is used to create a refined look with clean, straight lines. In the nature themed mountain style homes we design at Hendricks Architecture, stone veneer is used in a more rustic application. Stacked stone masonry fireplaces, foundations, column bases, and landscape features add an organic aesthetic and help buildings blend in with their surroundings.

Stacked stone foundation

The types of stacked stone masonry commonly used on mountain homes are available in three basic forms, all of which have advantages and disadvantages. Here is an overview of the three options:

Thick stone veneer is the traditional and time tested stacked stone application, and uses real stones that are cut or broken to be 4″ – 6″ thick. Applied over concrete, masonry, or wood substrates, thick stone veneer is the most realistic looking, but is also the most expensive. Because it is heavy, thick stone is costly to transport, handle, install and support. Substantial structure is required to support stone installations and keep them from moving or failing over time, and this accounts for a good portion of the cost. Thick stone masonry allows individual stones to be offset horizontally, creating a more natural look that adds rustic appeal. It is also the best material to use if a true dry stack look is desired.

Thick stone veneer on a bus stop.

Thin stone veneer also utilizes real stone, but minimizes the weight by cutting the individual stones to a thickness of ¾” to 1 ½”. A quality installation of thin stone veneer will resemble a thick stone installation (it’s the same basic material), but this type of stone doesn’t allow for the horizontal relief that can be achieved with thick stone, and thus shadows and perceived textures are not the same. Thin stone looks more refined and less organic. This type of stone has the highest material cost, but ends up being approximately 15% less expensive installed cost than thick veneer because of savings in structural costs, transportation, handling and installation labor.

Thin stone veneer piers on a home under construction.

Thin stone comes with specially made pieces that are “L” shaped to make corners appear as if full thickness veneer was used. We recommend using thin stone veneer on less visible applications and in locations where the cost to create the structure required for thick veneer is significant. Rooftop chimneys are a good place to use thin veneer, whereas a masonry fireplace that is right at eye level and already has the structure to support stone might be a better place for thicker stone.  Another option is to mix in 30% full  stone with 70% thin stone to achieve a more natural, textured application.

Full stone mixed in with thin stone to achieve more texture.

Another texture option is to place other masonry materials, such as bricks, into the mix.  This is an “Old World” application and is seen on many European structures, including in Tuscany, where stone and other materials were recycled from older buildings (even Roman ruins) or whatever was available.  Brick has also been mixed with stone, in a more refined way, in some homes of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Cultured stone is a manufactured product made of formed lightweight concrete that is stained or colored to look like stone. Depending on the brand, cultured stone can be in the form of individual stones or panels that are shaped to key together. Cultured stone is the lightest weight option, owing to the highly porous material from which it is made. Structural requirements to support it are minimal, but because it is so porous cultured stone absorbs and wicks water. It needs to be installed properly and placed over suitable substrates or it can lead to moisture problems and premature failure.

Cultured stone is the least expensive option, but is also the least convincing. Some brands look better than others, but no cultured stone I have seen looks or feels like real stone. Additionally, after several years cultured stone will begin to fade when exposed to sunlight.  Almost all manufacturers of cultured stone recommend that it not be installed below grade, and this can lead to installations that are awkward and unconvincing. Many applications of cultured stone leave the material hanging above the ground (and 6″ to 8″ above soil), giving the building the appearance of floating.

One of the problems with cultured stone - a cultured stone wall "floating" above a patio.

When any type of stone is used on foundations, window bays, or any application where the support structure is not an obvious part of the design (such as an arch or beam), it should engage with the ground. To be a valid architectural element, stone should appear to support the building instead of the building supporting the stone.

Natural stone is a beautiful material that can enhance the look and durability of most styles of architecture. As architects of mountain homes, we believe stone, and native stone in particular, is an important material to help a building harmonize with the landscape and appear to “grow from the land”.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture specializes in the design of mountain style homes and cabins, often with a rugged, rustic appearance including the use of stone and timbers.  Most of the homes we’ve completed are in mountain resort areas throughout the West.  Visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  If you are interested in a mountain home, or you have any other inquiries, please contact us.

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Fun Architecture: The Storybook Style in Disneyland

After visiting Hollywoodland and the Hansel and Gretel cottage, the last stop on our spur of the moment Southern California Storybook style tour was a family trip to Disneyland.  We actually made the trip to see family and friends, but I owed a Disneyland day to my wife and kids after architect dad dragged them to the other places.  Besides, Disneyland has some fun Storybook style architecture of it’s own, and arguably the most whimsical and imaginative.  This particular style is sometimes referred to as the Disneyesque style.

I have to admit, it was nice to see the rustic landing dock building on Tom Sawyer’s Island in Frontierland, which reflects a little of the mountain style I design.  I can only imagine what it would be like to integrate the mountain style with the Toontown style.

Rustic Architecture in Disneyland - Tom Sawyer's Island

When I was in grade school I was fascinated with the architecture of Disneyland.  I loved that the Pirates of the Caribbean had fun, yet authentic exterior architecture on the interior.  Plus the fact that every “themed land” at Disneyland had it’s own architecture, and in these were villages with their own separate architectural styles.

This Bavarian Village in Fantasyland houses Peter Pan's Flight.

When I graduated from Texas Tech in 1990 I had job offers, but I still sent resumes to Frank Gehry, as well as Disney’s Imagineering department.  Architecture without limits seemed like the way to go.  We were in a mini-recession, and Gehry’s receptionist told me they had a stack of resumes two feet high.   Disney sent me a postcard with Mickey Mouse on it saying they weren’t hiring.

Lopsided Architecture in Fantasyland - Pinocchio's Daring Journey

I eventually took a path into the mountain architecture style, where there are a few limits.  Snow loads, for example, are something you don’t need to worry about in Disneyland.

The architects and engineers in the Imagineering department have done a great job throughout the years. They truly have no limits, designing whimsical approaches to historic architecture, or creating exaggerated storybook images.  The former in places like New Orleans Square and Fantasyland, and the latter in Mickey’s Toontown.

Mickey's House in Toontown

Mickey’s ToonTown is a newer “themed land” in Disneyland, opening in 1993.  The colorful, wacky, skewed, completely off plumb architecture in ToonTown captures the imaginations of children and many adults as well.  Ironically enough, this area, partly themed after Roger Rabbit’s hometown, was originally considered to be named Hollywoodland, an historic storybook themed neighborhood in Los Angeles.

The Wacky Storybook Style of the Toontown Town Square

Cartoon Architecture - Goofy's Playhouse in Toontown

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture specializes in custom residential design on the planet Earth.  We’re located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Storybook Style: Hansel and Gretel Cottage

The Spadena House in Beverly Hills,  California is one of the most recognizable homes of Storybook style architecture.  Nicknamed “The Witch’s House”, this Hansel and Gretel cottage is the last thing you would expect to see in posh Beverly Hills.  As an architect, my main critique would be that it needs more natural light.  But then again, who’s going to argue with a witch and her privacy demands.

In 1926 the home appeared in Dixon’s magazine, and was described as “A New Home With an Aged ‘Old World’ Appearance”.  The article noted, “All lines in the designs are irregular, crooked and distorted, even the metal bars in the windows are not made straight.  All of which, together with color used in painting the house, gives an old weather-beaten appearance.”

The Storybook Style Spadena House is pure Hansel and Gretel.

The house was designed in 1921 by an art director, and was built in Culver City to provide offices and dressing rooms for the Willat movie studio.  The building doubled as a movie set and appeared in several silent films in the 1920s. The building soon became widely influential among maverick architects in search of new ideas.

Architect Charles Moore once described the home as the “quintessential Hansel and Gretel House”, and the home is believed to have greatly influenced the architecture of Disneyland, as well as Disney’s imagineering department.

The Spadena House is often referred to as "The Witch's House"

The building moved to Beverly Hills in 1934 and has since served as a private residence, beginning with the Spadena Family.  The Spadena House is the perfect example of an original Storybook house where it cartoonishly has no lines that are straight or plumb, and it was meant to appear rusticated.  The roof has a seawave pattern that appears to leak horrendously and will fall in at any time.  The front of the home is surrounded by a moat-like pond and gnarled, twisted trees.  I would bet at Halloween that many children (and adults) wouldn’t dare steal a peak into one of the dark windows framed by the saggy wooden window shutters.  But then again, how could you not?

John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture specializes in residential design, most specifically in the design of mountain style homes and cabins.  See Storybook Cabin Plan for an example of one of our Storybook Homes, and for more information on the Storybook style.  We’re located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Southern California Storybook Style Architecture: Hollywoodland

Recently my family and I took a whirlwind car trip to Arizona and Southern California to see family, friends and coincidentally, more Storybook style architecture.  Along the way we stopped in Hollywoodland, a unique development of storybook cottage homes in Hollywood. I had briefly mentioned the neighborhood and some of the Storybook style origins on a recent blog post titled Storybook Cabin Plan, and since we were in the area, I added Hollywoodland to our itinerary.

Entrance to Hollywoodland

As I had mentioned, the Storybook Style surged in popularity after Hollywoodland, a subdivision of cottage homes, was built in 1923.  The theatrically designed homes served as residences in Los Angeles for a number of movie stars and received nationwide media attention as America’s first themed residential community.  The Hollywood sign actually used to say Hollywoodland and was built to promote the neighborhood, which housed such notables as Bela Lugosi and Humphrey Bogart.  The developers bowed out in the 1940’s and now the stars build to suit their own tastes.  The neighborhood is now referenced as upper Beachwood Canyon.

Storybook House in Hollywoodland

Hollywoodland’s covenants required homes to be designed in one of several European revival styles.  Architects and builders made full use of this license, arriving at eclectic combinations that its developers might never have expected.  Below is a Hansel and Gretel cottage combining half timbering, stone accent walls, and a seawave patterned roof with rolled eaves and jerkinhead gables.

Hollywoodland Storybook Cottage

A closeup of this home below shows more accents of the European style.  In older times, homes were built of stone.  Sometime along the way, the stucco style grew popular, and homeowners covered up the beautiful stone with stucco.  This creative affect was applied to either side of the windows below.  Additionally,  shingle roofs were created in seawave patterns and shaped to represent the European straw bale roofs.  Eventually wood shingle roofs were prohibited because of fire danger, so composition style roofs became the norm, though they pale in comparison.

Storybook Cottage Detail

Wolf’s Lair, a rambling mansion built by real estate developer Milton “Bud” Wolf, is a Norman Revival style castle in Hollywoodland dating from the mid 1920s.  Shown below is the gatekeeper’s residence, designed by architect John Lautner in the 1950s.

Wolf's Lair

Today, Hollywoodland has its own homeowner’s association, but is often referred to as upper Beachwood Canyon.  Shown below are some of the homes that have replaced many of the Hollywoodland cottages.

The Homes Today in the Upper Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood.

A word to the wise.  If you ever plan to drive through Hollywoodland, make sure you bring a small car, and aren’t squeamish about driving on narrow, winding roads.

For more information on the Storybook style, see Storybook Style Hansel and Gretel Cottage in Beverly Hills, Fun Architecture: The Storybook Style in Disneyland, and Storybook Cabin Plan.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture specializes in residential design, most specifically in the design of mountain style homes and cabins.  We’re located in Sandpoint, Idaho.

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Fireplace Options

In the Mountain West, where we do most of our work, the majority of homes have some type of fireplace. Some statistics suggest that more than 75% of home buyers in these areas want a home with a fireplace. We specialize in mountain architecture and I can’t remember a home that didn’t have a fireplace of some type.  Having once spent several days without heat during a mid winter storm induced power outage, I can be counted among this majority. Fireplaces (or heating stoves) provide a focal point and gathering place that can be as aesthetic as it is functional.

Lake Quinault Lodge Masonry Fireplace

Fireplaces and heating stoves come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. For those who want some type of fireplace in their home, there are a number of things to consider when making the choice of which is best for you. Factors such as desired function, type of application, space requirements, cost, and willingness to do the work required for burning wood should be considered.

If you are considering wood burning, check local regulations to make sure it is allowed. Some municipalities with air quality problems restrict or don’t allow wood burning, including many resort towns that are located in mountain valleys with winter temperature inversions.

Available options range from traditional open masonry fireplaces to modern high-efficiency airtight wood or gas stoves that are as artistic as they are functional. Following is a broad overview to present some of the choices.

The Lake McDonald Lodge masonry fireplace at Glacier National Park. The opening is about 6'-6" high.

Masonry Fireplaces – The most traditional (and most expensive), this is the choice for those seeking authenticity and a powerful presence. Masonry fireplaces have a high thermal mass, which works well to radiate heat when it is kept warm, but can have the opposite effect when it is cold. Open face fireplaces also lose most of the heat they produce up the chimney, and in some cases they draw warm air out of the room and send it up the chimney as well. A tight fitting damper  can help control heat loss when the fireplace is not in use.

Masonry fireplaces require the most space, and are often continuous from the foundation all the way to the top of the chimney.  A substantial foundation is required to support the weight of a masonry fireplace, so adding one to an existing home is often not practical.

One type of masonry fireplace, the Rumford style, is designed specifically for heating, and is the most energy efficient open face fireplace for space heating.

A Precast Masonry Rumford Style Fireplace with Custom Surround by Pacific Construction.

A fairly recent advance in masonry fireplace technology is the development of precast firebox and chimney components, which speeds up installation time and offers a UL listed system. Many of these are of the Rumford style.  If you aren’t going to burn wood, building a full masonry fireplace is probably not practical, though masonry fireplaces can and often are equipped with a gas supply for possible future conversion or for a gas log lighter.

Prefabricated Fireplaces – One alternative to the traditional masonry fireplace is to use a prefabricated firebox which can be used with a stone or brick veneer surround to resemble a true masonry fireplace. The construction required for these “insert fireplaces” is much less complicated (hence less expensive) than true masonry, and prefabricated units are more airtight and efficient. They can be equipped with fans that circulate air in a confined space around the firebox and blow it into the room (and in some cases throughout the house) to enhance heating. It is possible to in some cases to retrofit an existing fireplace with a new insert to upgrade its efficiency. Prefabricated fireboxes are available in both gas and wood burning versions, with some models able to do both.

Prefabricated Gas Fireplace with Custom Surround.

Wood or Gas Stoves – These are free standing appliances that are typically much more efficient at heating than any type of built-in fireplace. They require less space, less fuel, and come in a wide variety of styles from very traditional to ultra modern. It is possible to use wood or gas stoves as a primary heat source if they are well located and properly sized, but a wood stove would require a backup system for extended absences and for individual control of private spaces. Gas stoves are usually thermostatically controlled and have blowers on them to increase heating effectiveness. Wood stoves are especially effective if they are close to a large thermal mass such as a masonry wall or concrete slab. Some stoves are clad with slabs of soapstone or a similar material that stores and radiates heat over long periods of time.

Avalon Wood Stove

The decision to burn wood or gas is a personal one, unless you live somewhere where the air quality regulators have already made this decision. Gas is more convenient, doesn’t require storage space, is available just about everywhere, and is cleaner.  The cost of gas versus wood depends on the prevailing prices in your area and the efficiency of the device you are using.

Nothing beats the ambiance of a real wood fire, but this pleasure isn’t without its costs. Wood requires storage space, it’s messy, contributes to air pollution, and it requires work on the user’s part. Even if you buy wood and have someone stack it, someone needs to move it to the fireplace, start the fire, and keep it burning. If you are equipped and willing to cut your own wood, the cost is minimal but the effort is significant. As the saying goes, firewood heats twice – once when you burn it and once when you produce it.

Tom Russell, LEED AP and John Hendricks, AIA Architect

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.  Visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.

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Storybook Cabin Plan

This storybook cabin looks more like storybook cottage meets hobbit house meets Swiss chalet.  Nevertheless, this quaint, whimsical cabin could fit in just as easily in a city such as Seattle or Portland as it would in the New Zealand countryside or the Cascade Mountains.

Storybook Cabin Front Elevation

This 850 square foot architect designed cabin is built for comfort and includes a comparatively large great room with open picturesque trusses and beams set amidst the curved roofs.  The home is loosely inspired by the playful Storybook Style from English and French medieval farmhouse design. This style has several style variations, including English Country Cottage, Cotswald Cottage, Hansel and Gretel, Fairy Tale House, Disneyesque, Hobbit House and Storybook House.  All were designed to create a cozy, homelike atmosphere.

A little more history, the Storybook Style is a whimsical variant of the Tudor Revival in the 1920′s and 1930′s.  The Tudor Revival was based on late medieval styles and the Arts and Crafts movement.  Many of the home buyers (as well as architects and builders) were veterans of World War I, and brought back memories of the English and French countryside.  In the meantime, Hollywood was creating movies set in historic time periods in faraway lands.  In pure Hollywood fashion, liberties were taken with the local styles by enhancing the charm and cuteness of these places.

The Storybook Style surged in popularity after a subdivision of cottage homes, called Hollywoodland, was built in 1923.  The theatrically designed homes served as residences in Los Angeles for a number of movie stars and received nationwide media attention as America’s first themed residential community.  The themed neighborhood included such places as The Humpty Dumpty Store.  The Hollywood sign actually used to say Hollywoodland and was built to promote the neighborhood, which housed such notables as Bela Lugosi and Humphrey Bogart.  The developers bowed out in the 1940′s and now the stars build to suit their own tastes.  The neighborhood is now referenced as Upper Beachwood Canyon.   For more information please see Southern California Storybook Style Architecture: Hollywoodland.

Storybook Cabin Plan

Whereas the historical homes were identified with false, distressed, ornamental half-timbering, this particular home includes fully exposed architectural and structural timbers on the interiors and exterior, which may or may not be distressed.  The original Storybook houses had modern interiors resembling the homes of the 20′s, whereas this home has rustic interiors (yet modern in function) to match the exterior.

The home includes a comfortable two person bedroom with a built-in desk.  An open loft sleeps two more in twin beds.  The quality designed home also includes built-in cabinets, bookshelves and a window seat, as well as wrought iron lighting and hardware.  A pantry/storage/laundry room is included, along with a storage attic (which could also be incorporated into a larger loft area) over the back rooms.  The home includes an energy efficient stone masonry fireplace while still retaining the Old World look and feel.

The Storybook Cabin is our second “stock” cabin plan.  Prices include:

• Study Home Plans – Schematic 8-1/2″ x 11″ Schematic drawings showing Floor Plans and the Front Elevation, for $100
• Preliminary Drawings – Hardlined 24″ X 36″ drawings showing Floor Plans and the Front and Rear Elevations, for $300
• Construction Documents – A full set of 24″ X 36″ detailed drawings and specifications including Floor Plans, Foundation and Framing Plans, Exterior Elevations, Building Sections, Wall Sections, Details, Interior Elevations, Window/Door Schedules, Electrical Plans, Finish Plans, and all Products and Materials Specified per the original design, all for $950

This energy efficient cabin is designed for “rustic elegant” comfort.  Plans can be modified to be more unique per individual preferences.  Preliminary drawings and Construction Documents are drawn with cad software, and are designed per the latest International Residential Codes.  Plans may need to be modified for certain jurisdictions.

While we are beginning to delve into the stock plan arena, I  still recommend a custom home design for maximum living and cost efficiency for individual lifestyles.  For more information see Good Quality Architecture Adds Value to Your Home.  Please visit our portfolio for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  Sorry but we don’t sell plans of our client’s custom homes.

For more information on our plans please contact us by phone at 208.265.4001, by email, or by filling out your information on our contact page.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.  Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture’s Blog.

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Cabin Plan

While we specialize in high end custom mountain homes and cabins, we have always received calls inquiring about stock home or cabin plans.  After some thought, I decided to put together a few plans to satisfy this group.

Cabin Front Entry Elevation

This moderate sized cabin could be used as a rustic cabin retreat, a full time residence, a temporary home, a retirement home, or even as a guest house for in-laws, children or friends.  All of the typical residential features are included for everyday living.

Unlike traditional stock plans or book plans, this architect designed open floor plan comes with well thought out wood interiors, including exposed rustic posts, beams, purlins, rafters, detailed wood paneling, and built-in cabinetry.  Materials are designed for a comfortable rustic cabin, but are flexible per owner preferences.  The energy efficient home also includes large windows to capture the views as well as bring in abundant natural light.

The 1,222 square foot cabin has a smaller footprint, but includes spaces often found in large residences.  The plan consists of a Master Bedroom, a cozy Guest Room with built-ins, an open Entry/Great Room/Kitchen/Dining area, a Laundry Room, a detailed trussed entry porch and adjacent covered porches.

Cabin Floor Plan

Among other energy efficient products and materials in the home, the Great Room includes an efficient wood burning fireplace that exceeds the 75% efficiency standard and qualifies for the Federal Tax Credit program.

Accurate and detailed drawings and specifications speed up construction time and efficiency.  Our detailed plan sets are far superior to standard stock plans or book plans, and include:

• Specifications
• Dimensioned Floor Plans
• Structural Plans
• Exterior Elevations
• Building Sections
• Wall Sections and Details
• Interior Elevations
• Window and Door Schedules
• Electrical Plans
• Finish Plans

Plans are drawn with cad software and can be reversed.  Our plans include the option to customize them, rather than starting from scratch.  We will give you an approximate value before beginning work.

Plans are designed per the latest International Residential Codes.  As many areas have different requirements, the plans may need to be reviewed by a licensed professional in that jurisdiction.

While we have started to delve into the stock plan arena, I would still recommend having a custom home designed for maximum living and cost efficiency.  For more information see Good Quality Architecture Adds Value to Your Home.

Please visit Storybook Cabin Plan for our most recent stock plan, or our Projects for examples of some of our recently completed custom projects.  We do not sell plans of our client’s custom homes.

For more information on our plans please contact us by phone at 208.265.4001, by email, or by filling out your information on our contact page.

John Hendricks, Architect AIA

Hendricks Architecture, mountain architects located in Sandpoint, Idaho.  Subscribe to Hendricks Architecture Blog.

3 Comments 

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John Hendricks, AIA Architect • Architecture, Planning, Construction Management
418 Pine St, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 • T 208.265.4001 F 208-265-4009 • john@hendricksarch.com