2011 December | Mountain Home Architects, Timber Frame Architect, Custom Homes

Archive for December, 2011

Aligning Home Design Wish Lists and Costs

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Hey, why do you have to align anything? Can’t people just have in their residential designs what they want? Sure! If what their contractor charges them to build it doesn’t matter to them …

If, on the other hand, you do care what your proposed house design will cost to build, then you may find this article interesting. Many designers just do what they are asked to do and give their documents to the owners, then run for cover. Why? Because anyone knowledgeable with construction has some idea of what is more expensive than something else. When clients come to Rand Soellner Architect with their file folders full of cutouts from design magazines (featuring houses costing $500+ per square foot), Soellner normally considers what the client wants, then asks them: “And how much do you expect to pay your contractor to build your house?”

That’s when things start to get interesting. Many clients may say things like: $200,000 or whatever, for a house of 3,000+ HSF (Heated Square Feet). This = less than $100/HSF. Costs like that are difficult to achieve, especially with high-end features torn from design magazines. Soellner is quick to point out that he will gladly design clients’ houses however they desire; he just wants them to have some appreciation for the economic implications of what they are asking for in their houses and what the builder will charge to build it. Most people have unrealistically low expectations of what their high-end wishes will actually cost to build.

Many people have in mind complex plans with curves and angles and tall commercial glass window walls, high-end flooring, tall widow-walk towers above their roofs, and big-big-big square footages with 3 and 4 car garages. All that for just a few bucks a square foot! Wouldn’t that be great, if that was actually possible? The reality is: you get what you pay for. Maybe in these down economic times, you get a little more. But builders cannot lose money. They already did that in the Great Bust. They lost money in the spec houses they had sitting on the market that they had to sell for 50 cents on the dollar, just to dump them. And that was for a built house on which they hoped to earn a profit.

What some clients imagine is that pre-built houses that have sold at distressed prices is what they can now have their new, custom built house constructed for. No, you cannot. Why? Because you are asking a builder to create something new for you. He is under no pressure to do this. You are asking and he is considering. Sure he will give you a good deal; he wants the work. But can he build your high-end featured house with all your wished-for goodies for half of what is will cost him? No. And he will not.

So, understanding all of this, Rand Soellner Architect strives to ALIGN HOME WISH LISTS WITH COSTS right at the beginning of his projects. The choice is the clients, and Soellner’s objective is to create the design his clients want for as close to the construction cost they would like to pay their builder as possible. Soellner is not responsible for what your builder decides to charge you. That cost is largely based on the features you have asked him to include, along with the size you have requested. Soellner lets you make the choice. He is there to inform you when what you have requested clearly exceeds the cost desired.

So what’s to be done? Well, for one, Soellner tries to simplify his clients’ desires for complicated geometry. Contractors charge extra for each additional corner and more for curves and angles. If you want them, fine, just realize that you will pay extra for them. Soellner also advises his clients on how certain spaces can have multiple uses, avoiding over-building space that really isn’t necessary. This savings in “footprint” can have huge paybacks when you have more than one level.

Often, Soellner will ask his clients if they would like to see some examples of how to accomplish their desired space program with some of his existing designs. They invariably agree. Then, Soellner overlays the existing design with tracing paper and sketches the client’s new desired organization, understanding that this is simplifying the client’s wish list into something that will likely be built for much less construction cost.

If you are concerned about how to align your home design wish list with your cost, you may want to schedule an appointment with Rand Soellner Architect: Contact Us . 1-828-269-9046.

tags: custom, house design wish lists and costs, atlanta, orlando, sanfranciso, chicago

Tags: design wish lists and costs
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Features People Want in Their House Designs

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

You may think that people want features that are exotic or expensive or complicated in their house designs. Some people do. However, most people want simpler, more practical things. Like durability, low maintenance, energy efficiency, good looks, efficient use of space, logical arrangement of rooms, logic and practicality.

Some people may not think that sounds very exciting, but sometimes you just need Dependability from your house. Sometimes good old fashioned peace and quiet and reliability is what you want. Many people take for granted that architect will make their house design look good. And that is true. You should expect that. No architect worth his salt should talk too much about that, because it is expected.

What is meant by RELIABILITY in a residential design? That it works. That it will be there after high winds blow or after modest ground tremors, or heavy rains. That the electrical system provides dependable, constant power. That things stay put and wear minimally. That the home’s joints stay tight and keep out the wind, rain and cold. That the insulation functions properly, keeping your house comfortable during all seasons. That your roof keeps the inside of your house dry. That your sealants and other coatings and materials keep wind borne water from entering your house. That your windows and doors frame outstanding views, have minimal infiltration and are positioned to resist uncontrolled sunlight, heat and cold and water. That your foundation and other aspects of your structural system stay put on solid ground. That the very earth around your house conducts rainwater down and away from the structure. That your sewage system conducts all your waste safely away from your house and deal with it so that you don’t have to think about it. That your well or water source is clean, flowing, unfrozen and tastes wonderful.

Okay, now how about ENERGY EFFICIENCY? What exactly does that mean? Some pie in the sky “Green” thingamajig? No. Special sealant and/or insulation first, that seals the majority of the cracks and crevices from the inside out, which is how Rand Soellner Architect specifies it. Second, special rigid insulation sheeting around the inside of your floor joist bands, preventing condensation that is sure to occur here if you don’t (per Building Sciences Corp.) Third, mass insulation that fills the wall spaces, floors, ceiling/attics that gives you the most “R” value for the least dollar. In other words, a lot of bang for your buck. Fourth, interior vapor barrier that is “smart” that lets moisture through (from inside to outside in summer, and reverses this in winter). In other words, a tightly construction house that properly controls and treats the air in your house so that it sips energy rather than guzzles it.

And LOW MAINTENANCE? What does that mean? It means using materials that last a long time, hopefully forever (as far as your lifetime is concerned), and coatings that last a long time, and hopefully have integral color and finishes as much as possible. Fasteners also enter into this equation, for instance, Soellner specifies galvanized ring shank nails for just about everything. If you have never tried to remove a ring shank nail, try it. You will pull the head off the nail before you will be able to budge the shaft. It is like a screw. The added cost? Pennies. The effect on your maintenance? Things stay put because nails on Soellner projects do Not back out. And those are just for starters.

GOOD LOOKS: take a look at Soellner’s website, and books and magazines featuring his house designs. Even on Amazon.com, along with some of the leading architects on the planet. He is one of the top architects in the world under the category of Rustic Elegance.

LOGIC, PRACTICALITY, EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE: Soellner’s designs typically have little to no hallways or corridors. Every square inch is effectively utilized. Open Space Planning is prominently featured in public areas. What is supposed to be close to other spaces are. For instance, garages are located near to kitchens. dining and living areas look out the back at your views. Closets, foyers, stairs and other non-view spaces are located along the front of the houses, buffering the view spaces. Master suites are located in split plan arrangements, away from guest rooms for privacy and peace and quiet.

For more, please see Rand Soellner’s website: www.HomeArchitects.com

tags: custom residential architecture, atlanta, chicago, las vegas, reno, orlando, new york, aspen, tellride, rocky mountains, blue ridge

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They Come to Us to Get What They Want

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

On the homepage of Rand Soellner Architect’s website you will see the sentence:
“Clients come to us because they can’t find the residential design they want anywhere else.”

This is not an idle phrase; it is the truth. For instance, quite often Soellner will pick up his phone and hear a new client say: “I’ve been looking on the Internet for months (sometimes years), and I can’t find what I want…Until I came to your website. I’m very interested in the look of your house designs and in particular in how the ________ design of yours functions.” These people are referring to Soellner’s numerous project examples on his website: HomeArchitects.com

Soellner has been at this a long time, since he was 15 years old, starting by taking a drafting course at John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana, where not only did he draft, he designed, creating several residential projects from his sophomore year through his senior year, that caught the attention of his teachers, who put them on display in the corridor showcases, and encouraged him to graduate and attend a major accredited architectural university, which he did. Since then, Soellner has become a licensed architect in multiple states, has received multiple awards from prestigious sources such as the American Institute of Architects, a major power utility company, a State Government, a major city, and been featured in books and magazines worldwide. See House With a View (available from Amazon.com) in which he is one of several famous architects from around the World who designed outstanding residential projects in scenic locations.

Decades later, he now enjoys scenarios like last weekend. A prominent professional, based in downtown Chicago, made an appointment and came to visit Rand Soellner at his home office. The professional, let’s call him “Bob,” said that he had already been through two previous architects in past months and years, who either didn’t understand what he wanted or didn’t have the design skills to accomplish his requested house size and still have the imagery he wanted for his unique acreage in the woods on a cliff in the backcountry of a northern state.

Bob wanted a “Fairytale Cottage” of about 2,000 HSF (Heated Square Feet) on the main level, and had an ambitious list of requirements. The most recent previous design firm had created a design of about 3,500 HSF on the main level, which exceeded Bob’s requested size substantially. He really didn’t want that much house. So, he verified with Soellner that Rand could, would, and was interested in designing projects for anyone, regardless of the size and budget, or the location of the land. Having established that, Bob met with Rand. Soellner allocated an entire day (at no charge for the first meeting); picked Bob up from his hotel, and met with him in Soellner’s conference room for several hours during the morning, reviewing Bob’s program requirements, “flying” around Bob’s wonderful acreage on a large flatscreen monitor in virtual reality, exploring the view angles, and reviewing several of Rand’s previous designs.

Soellner had only offered to show several previous examples to illustrate what a 2,000 HSF house looked like in several configurations, some of them built. One of the schemes captured Bob’s imagination: “That’s it! This is great! This could work!” Bob really liked one of Rand’s projects, Rand’s Fairytale Stone Cottage, which had won a design competition for Soellner a while ago. That happened to be about 2,500 HSF on the main level. Rand let that issue rest for a while and offered to take Bob around to several of Rand’s built houses in the local community. Bob consented, so Rand drove them around to see 3 houses in the area: the Falcon Cliff Lodge, the Creekside Cottage, and the Eagle Mountain Aerie. Bob liked them all and enjoyed seeing what the actual, built projects felt like and looked like in person, and appreciated the interesting materials and details.

Soellner drove back to his home office, where Rand served lunch; an assortment of sandwiches, fruit, diet soft drinks, bottled spring water, fresh cookies and about the tastiest potato chips in the world. After that, Bob and Rand resumed their design review in the conference room. They “flew” around Bob’s acreage again, documenting Bob’s favorite view directions. Then Bob wanted to look at the compact, yet functional Fairytale Cottage design that he had found so interesting during the morning session. It incorporated Soellner’s Open Plan Home Design concepts, so it felt spacious. So, Rand and Bob studied that for a while. Bob said that he would like to have a Loft Level, so Rand sketched in a stairway, and a Loft Level above. Bob said that Rand could remove the 2nd Bedroom on the main level and press the loft into service in that capacity, which could also serve as his studio when guests where not there. Now, the main level would be around Bob’s requested 2,000 HSF size.

Soellner noted the walkout basement request from Bob’s program notes and found a way to have the stairway simply go down another level to access that space, which would carve a view right out of the cliffside, overlooking a bend in a major river in that location. Bob beamed, delighted with the results of their cooperative work session. Rand Soellner had accomplished, in just a few minutes, what the other design firms had not been able to do during the last several months and years: The Size. The Features. The Functional Plan. The Look.

“Clients come to us because they can’t find the residential design they want anywhere else.” All of the above is a completely true reporting of what happened and what continues to happen at Rand Soellner Architect: The HOME ARCHITECTS ^TM. Except, of course, the names have been changed to preserve the privacy of Soellner’s clients. If you are thinking that you want to consider the design of a custom house that meets your family’s objectives, tailored to your lifestyle, your dreams and your land, perhaps you might think it’s about time that you gave Rand Soellner a call, e-mail on online chat: Contact Us .

tags: Custom residential design, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, New York, Perth, Las Vegas, Toronto, Shenzhen, Moscow, Lake Tahoe

Tags: get what you want
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Codes and Residential Design

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Some people may believe that designing a house is simple, perhaps easy. It is not. The American Institute of Architects has long held that the design of a house is one of the most complex projects an architect can undertake. Why? Because there is more happening per square foot than any other type of project in a house.

Rand Soellner used to design laboratories, NASA projects, Air Force electronics facilities, water treatment plants and he agrees that residential design is the most complex type of project.

The 2012 International Residential Code is 904 pages long. How many people who think that designing a residence is a simple matter have studied that or even know that hefty set of legal requirements even exists? Licensed architects do know. Mere residential designers may not. The difference is: architects have a license. The State requires that they design their projects in accordance with the State adopted codes. So, real architect are required to comply with such weighty volumes.

There is also the International Energy Conservation Code. Each state either fully adopts or amends the IECC and the IRC. Architects designing project must comply with the full IECC and the IRC or as a minimum, the State modified version. Many states reduce the requirements of these codes; once in a big while, they might add to them.

These sorts of codes, governing the design of houses covers a vast array of subjects that affect the arrangement, size and operating and performance characteristics of future houses. Like what, for instance?

Well, let’s look at something small and relatively simple: windows. If you, a lay person were to set out trying to design a house, you might think: “Hey, this is my house, I will make my windows however I want and that will be that!” Not so fast… that is not necessarily true. For instance, how many people have studied the International Residential Code and know that windows on the upper levels of a house, where the floor levels are at least 6 feet above the ground must have their window sills at least 24″ above the floor level? This change occured during the last decade. So, if you are planning a house, you must keep your window sills at least 2 feet above the floor where those floors are about the height of a man above the ground. Okay, now we are ready to resume designing, right?

Once again, not so fast… You think that now that you have learned one thing. One thing out of thousands, that you are ready to size your windows? No. Not by a long shot. Here’s another requirement: did you know that in a residence, all bedrooms have to have what is called a “Secondary Means of Egress?” This means, that in addition to the door through which people normally enter the bedrooms, you must have another emergency way out of that room, leading directly to the outside of the house, in case of fire, smoke, or other emergency. Why is there such a requirement in the IRC? Because people have died in the past in catastrophic and horrific tragedies in which people have burned to death or died of smoke inhalation in their bedrooms when they were trapped in there, because they couldn’t get out small windows or no windows, or windows which did not lead to a safe outdoor area away from the house. The fire marshals of each state notice when such nasty events happen, then modify the building codes to hopefully prevent such horror from happening in the future. That is how codes end of being forced to change. How could anyone not agree: that it is a bad thing for people to be burned to death or inhale smoke until they die in their very homes? Of course.

Okay, so, what has this got to do with this one aspect that we are examining in this one micro-study of one set of decisions for a house: your windows in your bedrooms? Well, did you know that all windows serving as a secondary means of egress on the 1st floor or “ground floor” of a house must have a minimum of 5.0 square feet of net clear opening? And that all upper level windows serving as a secondary means of egress must have at least 5.7 net square feet of opening through which a person can escape?

All right. Do you now think you know what you need to plan just your bedroom windows? Nope. Here’s some more legal requirements that the architects of houses must know: per section R310.1.2 (2012 IRC), the minimum height of this emergency egress clear opening must be a minimum of 24″. And, per section R310.1.3 (2012 IRC), the width must be at least 20″. You may infer from this that if you make all your windows have a 24″ wide x 20″ tall egress opening you will meet the requirements, right? Wrong! If you multiply 20″ x 24″ you will only get 3.334 square feet! That does not add up to the required 5.0 or 5.7 NSF required! So, you have to think about several things here: the actual size of window required that will meet the Minimums, or be greater in width and height, but that also satisfies the Total required NSF size required by code.

And we haven’t even touched the “fun stuff,” like will the windows Look good? What will you be looking at when you walk around your house or sit near those windows? This means that when at architect arranges your Site Planning, he or she is also thinking about what aligns with the view directions from inside your house to those exterior features, sometimes miles away, like a distant mountain range!

What a lot to think about! And we haven’t even addresses such features of only these bedroom windows such as energy efficiency. Do you think that tinted windows or totally clear windows are the way to go for energy? No. Neither. There are special coatings these days that reduce summer heat gain and minimize winter heat loss. Not to mention, the number of layers of glass in a sash. Only a few decades ago, single pane glass was the norm. Not today. Anything less that double pane insulated glass will have a hard time meeting the energy codes that reduce the amount of electricity your house will consume as a direct result of the type and arrangement of glass in your residence.

And we haven’t even touched the other types of glass required in your house in other locations, like special safety glass near bathtubs and showers and stairways. There is so much to know! And the material of the window frames. That one decisions can impact the cost of your door and window package by tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention how much or how little maintenance you will have in the future.

We hope that just this one, very small example will begin to display how complex designing a house really is, and why licensed architects are the ones trained to do this. Health, Safety, Welfare are the main requirements of an architect’s design. He or she takes a sacred vow to uphold these concerns in everything they design for you. Most architects also make sure that their creations are beautiful, but don’t talk too much about that; they understand that most people take that as a given when they engage an architect.

Rand Soellner Architect www.HomeArchitects.com 1-828-269-9046

We have not even mentioned all the other vast array of items involved in your house that need to be designed, specified and arranged: roofing, siding, structural systems, plumbing, heating ventilating and air-conditioning, wall materials and finishes inside and outside, fireplaces, colors, textures, stairs, outside living spaces, furniture, appliances, garage, social gatherings and how they will function in the spaces provided, lighting and control switching, computer wiring, cabinetry and other built-ins, closet shelving, pantries, flooring (structural and finish), site slopes, access to the street, vehicular maneuvering on your site, guest parking, sewage system and location, potable water locations and access to your house, electrical and equipment rooms and the gear inside them, storage requirements, the views!, doors, handrails, insulation (thickness, R-value, location, ventilation), hobby rooms, spaces that you can use most of the time then allow guest to occupy occasionally, landscaping, exterior paved areas, views from and to your house, waterproofing your house above and below ground, flashing, sealants and much much more! And there are code regulations associated with all of them, above and beyond your functional and aesthetic desires. Your architect keeps it all working together harmoniously.

So, the next time you think that designing your house might be a simple matter, consider just the windows in one bedroom of your house and all the legal, energy, and aesthetic decisions and requirements that went into the decisions affecting their specification, size and arrangement. Now multiply that by about 10,000 and you might have something near the magnitude of the scope of decisions your residential architect makes on your behalf while designing your new house.

Do what you do best and earn a good living at it. And consider understanding that what an architect does required decades of training and experience to help you have a wonderful place in which to live. Enjoy!

tags: custom house design, atlanta, dallas, tacoma, chicago, wisconsin, burbank, orlando, des moines

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Almost Christmas: time for your new house

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Time to take the first step to getting a new house: contact your residential architect. Do it here: Contact House Architect

It is almost Christmas and one of the nicest things you could do for your family is to to give them a card that says: “You’re getting a new house! I hired the architect!” We can help you make this dream a reality.

One of Rand Soellner Architects most beloved designs is a concept fairy tale cottage he created and with which he won a design competition. There is something about it that brings out good cheer, happiness and a warm feeling of being home. This is just one of dozens of creations conceived by Soellner, who is one of the leading residential architects in the United States. He also has projects overseas.

Rand Soellner Architects Stone Cottage, one of dozens of his projects infused with warmth and charm, for client project sites worldwide.

If you’d like to share this post with others on Facebook, Twitter and others, please click on SEARCH/CHAT menu to the right, then click on Share This Page. There you will see scores of social media websites on which you can share this webpage, if you wish.

“Dude, you’re getting a house!” What a great holiday sentiment! Not many other things in your lifetime can be shared and conjure such a profound change for the better in a family.

Give your family the gift that keeps on giving: a new house for the holidays!

If you have questions about how to get started with your new house design, by all means, give Rand Soellner, AIA a call at: 1-828-269-9046, or e-mail at:
Rand@HomeArchitects.com

Think about that Gourmet Kitchen you’ve been wanting, that special Hobby Den in which to tie your fly fishing lures, or edit your computer videos, or sew your custom made creations. Imagine the big glass areas framing your spectacular views.

Do you own property that has been just sitting there? You’ve been paying taxes on it and perhaps Home Owners Association dues. Isn’t it about time you had your dream house designed and built on it? How much time is there left until your children are grown and starting out their own lives? Enjoy a great place on your special land while you can. Get started now; there’s no time left to waste.

tags: custom house design, america, canada, blue ridge, orlando, boulder, aspen, tacoma, chicago, wisconsin, illinois, new york, fairy tale cottage architect

Tags: Christmas house
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Christmas at Home and 2011 Holidays

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Welcome to the 2011 Christmas & Holiday season. With the recent surge of the Stock Market, and the conclusion of at least one major battlefront, hopefully we will all have more reasons for which to be thankful, ending this year on a positive note and moving forward into 2012.

Our nation and the World have been through much during these challenging times. The one thing that remains constant is everyone’s desire to have a safe haven: their home. A crackling warm fire in the fireplace, savory cooking in the kitchen, happiness and love with your family in the one place that is sacred: your house.

Having a house designed that allows you to enjoy the beautiful views to your land is just one of the reasons to engage an architect to design your dream residence. And it does not matter that perhaps this concept might be more compact than you might have imagined previously. Quality can still be built into anything, regardless of the size. Diamonds are worth more than lumps of clay.

Having the rooms of your house custom designed to be the dimensions that you need to properly function in those rooms is another reason to hire a professional to design your house. Builders build. Architects design. Asking a builder to create or modify a residential architectural design is like asking a carpenter to check out the discomfort you might be having in one of your teeth. Or like asking your architect to build the house. Different professions exist because the people in each of them are carefully educated, trained and experienced to perform those specialized tasks and to do them well. It has been said that you don’t really get good at any particular profession until you are over 50 years old. As complicated as things are these days, there is probably a lot of truth in that statement. That is why many people want to see a few gray hairs on the heads of the people they hire; to know that they have been at it long enough to be experts at it. And that sounds like a wise precaution.

Having that large Gourmet Kitchen with the big island and all the appliances you have always wanted is another benefit of having an architect design your house. The design professional will create your design Around the things that you want, rather than another approach. Always wanted Outdoor Living Space? Screened and covered? That can be arranged!

rand soellner architect kitchen design (C)Copyright 2005-2011 Rand Soellner

Have you grown weary of maintaining your aging, rotting house? Your new residence can be designed by an architect to have exterior siding, soffits and downspouts that won’t rot, won’t burn, that bugs can’t eat, and that only require minimal maintenance every 7 years or so. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

There are even new options that are coming on line, through companies like Rand Soellner Architect, that can provide you with PhotoVoltaic roof shingles, so that the roof shingles of your house provide up to 50% of your electrical needs! Talk about sustainability!

There are windows that your architect can specify and detail, that are downright economical and never need painting, can’t rot, have insulated Low-E glass and are Energy Star qualified.

You can have exterior and interior rockwork, multiple fireplaces in Living Rooms, Dining areas, Master Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Family Rooms and wherever you want them. You can have accent walls of wood siding inside, if you wish, wherever you want them. Wood ceilings and wood plank floors for much less than many people have invested in such things. If you engage a knowledgeable residential architect.

What many people do not know is that your house architect can design in many features that can cost less, yet provide additional safety and durability into your residence.

Click here to contact Rand Soellner Architect and start this wonderful process:
–>Contact Rand Soellner<–
1 . 828 . 269 . 9046
Home Architects

tags: custom, residential design, cashiers, destin, houston, el paso, boulder, telluride, hendersonville, highlands, glenville

Tags: Christmas homes
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