- long term: summer residence (July through September) in retirement (in 10 to 15 years) to escape Austin heat, write, and enjoy nature. We will have cats.
- short term: We plan to stay one month each summer and visit during Thanksgiving (and perhaps Christmas) until we retire; share with friends and family. May use as a high-end daily/weekly summer rental.
- Oddly, completely cleared by former owners; however, it’s a clean slate!
- Corner lot facing outwards to the National Forest on the back two sides.
- Likes:
- Two sides (for a total of ~260 ft) back up to the National Forest; nothing but gorgeous trees!
- Size
- Concerns:
- limited frontage access (should be 35 ft, but only 10ish).
- looks into the back/side yards of the neighbors (and it ain't a pretty site)
- slope (stairs limiting access, driveway slope, drainage)
- neighbors on other two sides
- barking dogs
lot particulars
- Prevailing wind direction is southwest. In other words, the winds generally blow from the southwest toward the northeast.
- Geology
- ideal = 2-2.5
- Minimum needs to be 1-1.
- Could be 2-2 if guest bathroom can double-duty as a half-bath
- laundry
- some outdoor storage (by front door; in back bottom)
- has to engage the forest at the two back sides to take advantage of the best attribute of the lot
- introverted street/neighborside facade; open to the forest.
- high design; abstract street presence; no need to fit into neighborhood/vernacular/cabintecture (although abstract touchstones may be appreciated); minimal; sober materials; don’t want the place to be cliched “woody”; Sunspot white?
- highly open to the forest
- Because the lot has two sides facing the forest, the living space should be open to both sides
- "industrial" materials for aesthetics (and to save costs?): concrete, steel, glass, hardie
- open living area kitchen-dining-living but a clearly defined kitchen space (in other words, having a counter between the kitchen and the rest of the open living space).
- bright and airy
- low maintenance (inside and out)
- durable materials (inside and out)
- freeze resistant (property will be empty during most of the winter)
- secure (property may sit empty for six months out of the year)
- passive solar
- cat friendly (catio, ventilated cat box, perches to look outside)
- geezer friendly (grab bars, minimal steps, place to store Depends)
- general:
- light-to-white colors
- we like pocket doors (good for art/flexible use of spaces)
- places (and lighting) for art
- LeGrand fixtures
- no carpet
- landscape:
- plan to leave most of lot “natural”
- may plant strategically wrt neighbors and infrastructure
- underground (or non-arial) utilities
- hide propane tank (if there's a need for propane)
- dark skies compliant lighting
- rainwater harvesting
- place for hot tub?
- entry:
- coat closet
- “mudroom”
- kitchen-dining-living:
- open concept preferred
- kitchen:
- hide fridge from view a la Rocio Romero, extra depth for standard fridge
- pantry
- we cook a lot; need a functional kitchen
- living room:
- wall hung TV (way to hide TV/entertainment center?)
- fireplace?
- dining:
- no comments
- master bedroom:
- place for people to place and unpack luggage without messing up walls
- lots of windows, but aesthetic way to occlude windows.
- half bath:
- not absolutely required, but it would be nice to have a half bath for visitors
- master bath:
- master bath just be a shower (unless the budget will allow for stand-alone tub)
- tub/shower combo for guest room (unless a stand-alone tub can be swung for the master, then just a shower).
- guest bedroom
- Murphy bed
- double as office
- double as yoga/exercise room
- patio/decks:
- patios/decks (ideally one shaded, one not) large enough for a dinner table and outdoor seating
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note that all comments are reviewed before they are posted.