Darlene Branim Reports on Changes to Blog Cabin 2008
Allow me to introduce Darlene Branim, CEO of Barna Log Homes. She has graciously taken the time to note all the suggestions made by bloggers that were woven into the San Jacinto floor plan:
NEW San Jacinto images below!
Hello Everyone! Here’s a list of the modifications so far:
- Bathtub inserted into one of the upstairs bathrooms. We were able to make this work with out changing the size of the dormer which allowed us to keep the home symmetrical on the road elevation and without losing any closet space. Although a little tight, we were able to get a full size bathtub/shower combo in the room with the water closet and a pedestal sink. It worked out very nicely.
- Since many people thought the out door living space off the master bedroom was going to be an outdoor kitchen instead of an owner’s private porch, we moved the porch to the lake side of the home coming off the great room and closer to the kitchen and dining room.
- We then changed the fireplace to a dual fireplace (indoor and outdoor) on the log wall thus allowing for a full view of the lake for the new outdoor living area.
- Because we needed to change access to the new outdoor living space, we made the fixed glass units on each side of the fireplace to operable swinger doors.
- Now that we no longer needed a side entrance from the master bedroom to the private porch, we moved the two windows to the side wall of the master bedroom and added a double door to the deck/porch side of the master bedroom for access and to match the dining room wing.
- Bloggers wanted to see more glass in the fireplace gable end of the home so we added fixed trapezoid on each side of the fireplace to allow more natural light and to open up a view of the lake from the loft upstairs.
- For a little variety, we added garden window at the kitchen sink.
- Most everyone wanted to see a larger pantry and laundry room, so we replaced the home office with the laundry room and made the old laundry closet into a nice size pantry.
- Although not requested by the bloggers, we added a small arch window to the rear foyer wing and changed the window size from a single to a double to match the master bath wing. This really made things look balanced from the road elevation.
The original design was to have a detached two car garage connecting to the home with a breezeway at the rear foyer wing; however, the lot size just would not accommodate the length of the overall structure, so we planned for the driveway to be moved to the other side of the home (Master Bedroom side) and we have changed the home from a crawl space foundation to a full size walk-out basement. Now the garage will be in the basement of the home underneath the master bedroom.
The stairs are stacked so we have access from the basement coming up into the great room just outside the dining/kitchen wall. We would have normally flipped the master bedroom and kitchen wings, however with this particular design and since we have load bearing points instead of load bearing walls, we could not flip these wings as the staircase would then be in the way in the basement preventing us from driving into the garage as we now must do.
I believe that we have a very nice open flowing floor plan focusing on the lake with great entertainment and outdoor living spaces, yet accommodating a very narrow lot and working with the natural lay of the land so we do not disturb or take away from the beauty of the lot and the adjoining lots.
This has been fun and educational and I look forward to continuing to work with the bloggers as we design and build this house together.
Darlene Branim, CEO
Barna Log Homes
Left Elevation
Road Side Elevation
Right Elevation
Lakeside Elevation
1st Floor
2nd Floor
Note: If you are opening the images in Explorer, allow your cursor to hover at the bottom, right-hand corner of the image – this should enable the “expand” option providing you with a larger image view.
Super! Thanks!!!
We appreciate that you consider the comments made here.
Like the garden window in the Kitchen — thanks.
Still hoping for radiant heat floors & tankless water heaters.
Any chance of steps from the back porch toward the lake?
Can some of the porches be screened please?
Dear Ms. Branim, Thank you for taking suggestions into consideration. I know a lot of people wanted the larger laundry room. Personally I hate doing laundry!! I was hoping for an office, but plenty of room to carry a laptop around if someone really needed one! I guess it would be good for voting on the next blog cabin!! Hopefully, whoever wins this lovely home will be so busy enjoying the lake and their family and friends they won’t miss an office!
I haven’t asked for any changes, but its is a pleasure to see that everyone is taken seriously. I have enjoyed all the posts to the blog. Many bloggers have very good ideas and really seem to know their stuff
Thanks again for listening!
Patty from Virginia
What an awesome idea!! I’ve enjoyed reaing the comments from everyone and like that you are listening. Can’t wait to see the finished project!!!
Is there any way to get revised floorplans with the changes described for those of us who are have difficulty visualizing things? I agree with adding steps off the porches in the rear of the house.
Watson: I had difficulty uploading the modified floor plans to accompany Darlene’s blog entry. Look for those on Monday.
Great changes. Now things seem to be moving and bloggers can see their suggestions aren’t falling on deaf ears (most of us knew that but some seemed no to).
My personal requests are: –
1. Some broad, shallow steps down to towards yard on the lake side from the back porch together with as few railings as possible. They really do get in the way of the view and are usually only for aesthetics. A handrail up from the grass to the deck is all that’s really necessary plus a ramp for disabled access and moving bulky items (my wife’s piano for example) onto the deck.
2. Tankless water heating (either LPG or electric – assuming there is no natural gas line to the house?).
3. ‘Grey’ water reclamation system.
4. Eco-flow toilets
5. As much LED lighting as possible.
6. Radiant heating in all bathrooms at the very least.
7. Housing and set-up for standby generator.
8. Porous drive covering to allow rainwater to pass through instead of running off.
9. Landscaping to include low water demand plants and some landscaping of part of the lakeside to encourage natural, indigenous water plant growth to attract insects, frogs and fireflies, all of which are indicators of a healthy environment.
There are more but this will do for today. Enjoy the weekend.
Sounds wonderful! Thanks for letting everyone know, and especially for listening to the bloggers.
I can’t wait to see photos.
Thanks, Ms. Branim! I for one am delighted that you took so many of our suggestions into the finished product. Clearly this year’s cabin is really going to blow last year’s away! Can’t wait to see how that basement works out. If you don’t get enough sponsors for some whiz-bang storage and workshop gadgets, please at least provide adequate electrical for the do-it-yourselfer to be able to add them later.
Yahoo!!!
Has any one noticed that when you are getting out of your luxurious master bath you will be looking straight at anyone coming your front walk and they at you. can the plans be flipped to put the master bath in the back of the house
wow im looking forward to seeing the revised floor plan, but sounds sooo cool . i was ok with the office/craft room but could be a laundry/ craft room.and im totally into the pantry! the garden window is a nice touch, i have one now and like it, will look great with the craftsman cabinets. i had voted on bamboo floors but after reading some of the blogs i went with the teak gosh its just beautiful!! like the double hung windows cause a 2 story home so much easier to clean. a screened porch might be nice. like the idea of the garage under the house tho. well everyone enjoy the weekend!!!
Yea! Thank you Darlene! The basement is a very much appreciated feature! I don’t mind losing the office to “ugh!” laundry. . . because that’s a great excuse to have an open office up on the loft! A “hidden office at home and the main office at the workplace works for me, and my husband prefers the kitchen table anyway.
Thanks for listening, and for the opportunity for us to put our 2 cents worth in!
Micki