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Everything and the Kitchen Sink

23 May 2013, 4:52 pm

Let’s talk about fixtures within your home design. Of course you know you will have a kitchen sink, just like you know that a bathtub is a necessity, but have you thought about what other fixtures can be included? Here are some innovative ideas clients are considering for their future home.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is often argued as the most important area of the entire home. Being a place for not only cooking meals, but also social gathering, you want it to be as efficiently planned as possible. If your kitchen design has a center island, consider including a second work sink with a disposal for washing, cutting, and general food preparation. Leaving room for a spout above the stove is another option many homeowners love because it allows them to fill up pots for boiling water without having to carry the water-laden pots between the sink and the range.

Bathrooms 

Where once traditional countertop sinks were the most commonly chosen fixture, now there are vessel sinks, vitreous china sinks, pedestal sinks, and more to choose from. Looking at additional fixtures that can be included, perhaps you want to do as the Europeans do and incorporate a bidet. Including a sauna, steam room, or shower with multiple shower heads are other popular features that can also be considered.

Specialty Rooms

If your home will have a bar area in the basement or near a space of social gathering, including a sink and maybe even a compact dishwasher can eliminate the hassle of transporting dirty dishes between the kitchen and the bar. Perhaps your home will be located on the beach or mountainside and you are including a mudroom to lessen the intrusion of sand, dirt, or snow on the rest of your interior spaces—a wash basin or pet shower would be useful additions.

The Extras

What other areas could you consider? Don’t limit your creativity to just the main spaces within the home, think about the extras. For instance, outdoor showers can be of great use for homes designed on a waterfront location. Drinking fountains are also a unique thing to consider for cooling off on an outdoor patio, while hot water taps make a cup of tea or hot cocoa readily available on a cold winter evening in the mountains.

Now that you know, don’t forget to look for opportunities to add faucets, sinks, and other fixtures to your design to make your completed home more useful!

Filed under Construction, Design & Floor Plans, Home Finishes. Tagged , , , , ,
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Custom Timber Frame on June Lake

16 May 2013, 3:13 pm
Lakes

Gull Lake View

Carl and Celyna had wanted to build their retirement home in the resort area of June Lake, California for many years. Purchasing a steep lot overlooking June Mountain and Gull Lake—June Lake is a mile down the valley, the couple set out looking for a log and timber home company who could create the retirement home of their dreams on a challenging piece of property.

After years of thorough searching, the couple chose PrecisionCraft Log and Timber Homes upon seeing past project they had done both in real life around California, and on their website. These projects were all completed on terrain similar to their central California location, so they knew that PrecisionCraft had the skills and experience to work with their property.

Front Rendering

The couple got right to work on their design with Tim Brock, a designer from M.T.N Architects, an architectural firm PrecisionCraft works exclusively with.

“Their lot sits on a steep slope with limited space, so in order to include the spaces and rooms Carl and Celyna wanted in their home, I had to create a unique elevation for the floor plan to fit the contours of the lot.” said Tim.

The entire home’s view side utilizes covered deck space on the basement and main level to compensate for the steep, limiting lot. It even includes a lowered deck with a fire pit for fireside enjoyment on a summer night.

Rear Rendering

The basement level of the home includes a family room and additional bedrooms are accessible for the couple’s children and guests. Moving up to the home’s main floor, a spacious kitchen and great room flow into one another in the center, while a wing to the right is dedicated to the master suite. A secluded, formal dining space is located on the left. The third and final floor reveals a large loft, providing an area for quiet conversation with guests and family.

After years of searching for the right company and months of design meetings, Carl and Celyna are now ready to move forward and begin the process of bringing their dream home to life. The construction of their dynamic hybrid log and timber home is set to begin in the spring of 2014.

Filed under Customer Quote of the Month, Design & Floor Plans. Tagged , , , , , , ,
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Distinguishing Family and Great Rooms

9 May 2013, 3:58 pm

Great rooms and family rooms are two of the most important spaces in a home for gathering, and yet their individual purpose can be confused and the terms often become interchangeable. In this article, we will explain how many homeowners distinguish between these two spaces and how each space can be used within the home.

Great Room

Formal Great Room

Difference between a Great Room and Family Room

A great room is a communal space dedicated to gathering that provides a more formal setting for guests and visitors. Many great rooms are often distinguished by the inclusion of a window wall that frames a breathtaking view. On the other hand, a family room is generally a less formal setting where the family members can be more relaxed. Often times, it is even considered a multi-purpose room where a variety of activities can be conducted.

What Does Each Space Include? 

A main distinction between the great room and family room spaces is how they are furnished. A great room, for example, might include nice, formal furniture and main decorative features would be located here. Whereas, a family room, being a less formal location, can include a variety of furnishings, from a pool table, to an office desk, to an entertainment center.

Family Room

Informal Family Room

Where is Each Space Located?

In wood homes specifically, the great room will usually be found adjacent to the other main living spaces like the kitchen and dining room. It is the space where your main views are appreciated, so it is often in a central location on the main floor of the home. In contrast, because a family room has a more relaxed setting, they can be located just about anywhere in the home, from the basement, to the loft, or even the main floor.

 

For more examples of great rooms and family rooms, view our photo gallery.

Filed under Design & Floor Plans, Interior Design.
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Shop Talk: What We’re Working On

2 May 2013, 12:58 pm

Milled ManufacturingTowards the end of last year, we showed you where all of the action happens here at PrecisionCraft—our manufacturing facilities. In that introduction Boyd, our Operations Manager, imparted his knowledge on the manufacturing process for timbers and milled logs and how that process differs from the crafting of hand peeled logs. We also gave you an insider look at what we were working on in both of our facilities at the time. This week we will give you an update on all of the new, exciting projects going on in the shop right now!

Milled Log Projects

Inside the shop, our CNC machines are running full time to produce a milled log post and beam skeleton for Gerrit and Kathryn’s customized version of the Cedar Falls design concept. When their logs have been cut to exact specifications, they will be sanded and prepped for installation on the couple’s 105 acre lot in Chromo, Colorado.

Handcrafted Log Projects

The raw, natural beauty of handcrafted logs coupled with the unique process of peeling each one by hand, makes this particular building style a popular one for rustic mountain homes. Such was the case for Ryan, whose custom hybrid handcrafted post and beam skeleton has just been completed in the yard. From here, his logs will be disassembled and sent to his site in Oregon to become a part of the 10,000 square foot home he has been dreaming of for over 20 years.

Handcrafted ManufacturingOnce the yard has been cleared of Ryan’s project, the crafting of Rob and Meladi’s hybrid log wall and post and beam skeleton will begin. Along with the hand peeled logs, the handcrafters will also be prepping 15 magnificent, flared western red cedar posts that will accent both the exterior and interior of the home.

Outdoor Living Projects

In addition to the various log homes that are being manufactured in our facilities, we are also producing two Bungalow outdoor living spaces that will become a part of a Napa Valley client’s vineyard.

 

For more information on our manufacturing process, read our past blog entitled, “Manufacturing Your Dream Home” or watch our milled log and handcrafted videos.

Filed under Construction, Manufacturing. Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
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