Low budget was the primary concern for this studio house. The trick was to
get all the features into this compact space, with dramatic vaulted ceiling
plus sky lights in the living room, with studio room for art projects on the
top floor with access to a roof deck. The small foot print is particularly
suitable for steep lots, and the entrance roof can be extended into a covered
walkway leading to a detached car port or garage.
Main
features:
The
studio house is compact and inexpensive to build yet provides dramatic spaces
with great views. The original design was built more than twenty years ago
with cedar siding but still looks contemporary (see photos) - the simple design
shape is timeless. The house looks best with minimal furnishings, and additional
storage space can be provided in a detached garage, or in a crawl space under
the bedrooms if built on a steep lot.
Walk
through description:
From
the entrance hall visitors mount the stairs to the left - up onto a landing
with windows on three sides - then up to the second floor where the living
room ceiling is vaulted with two sky lights in the sloped section. If one
continues up the second flight of stairs to the third floor, one looks over
a rail down into the living room, or straight ahead through one of the sky
lights. Standing at this rail one can turn right into a small bathroom, or
left into the studio room which has a sliding glass door leading onto the
roof deck. The closet in the studio room fits under the sloped roof.
Back
on the second floor there is a pocket sliding door into the kitchen - which
is open most of the time and only closed when visitors arrive and one doesn't
want them looking into the kitchen immediately. The kitchen has an eating
bar on the counter into the dining room, and a door from the dining area opens
onto the cantilevered dining room deck.
Between
the living and dining rooms is a gas fire place with blower fan, on top of
which is space for a TV and above that a stereo system. The TV and fire place
are visible from the living, dining and kitchen spaces. There is also a small
study on this floor (8ft x 10ft) suitable as an office or computer room.
On
the first floor are two bedrooms, one of which is ensuite. A small wheel mounted
between the two bathroom doors ensures that when one door opens the other
is closed, providing privacy. There is both a soaker tub and shower stall
in the bathroom. Bedroom #1 has a walk-in closet. An under counter washer
and dryer are concealed behind a roll-up door - which when open makes the
space outside the bedrooms into a utility area - with a small linen closet
to one side. The hot water tank is located in the storage space under the
first flight of stairs.
Why
is this house affordable?
Simple
construction and small footprint make this house inexpensive to build. The
1st floor is a mere 768 sq.ft., which is repeated on the 2nd floor, and the
3rd floor measures only 378 sq.ft., giving a total of 1914 sq.ft. There's
a beam between the dining and living areas, and a girder truss supports the
sloped roof and roof deck.
Any
question? Don't hesitate to email Plum Design and ask. Suggestions will be
welcomed too.
