Old Dogs
While we wait impatiently for permits, the excavation and grading has slowed. This is due to the garage move and a couple other significant changes. I've had two requests to meet Skip (builder) and Ralph (architect) at the site. This gets me excited each time, because it means they've been at the site and thinking and talking together about the house--and sometimes I think I'm the only one who can't stop thinking about it.
At the first meeting, one of their suggestions was moving the garage--which I initially balked at (not the suggestion itself, just the suggestion of a major change)--but it was a brilliant move and now I'm so thankful they thought of it. Their second idea that day was moving the whole project ten feet east. It would affect the grading--creating a more gradual slope to the west of the house and driveway. That sounded desirable and easy enough to do. Another worthwhile change in the plans.
Today's meeting was a cage-rattler for me. I'm pretty dug-in on the plans as they are, and especially on keeping the elevation of the new house at the level of the previous house. That (smaller) house was at a high point, and from there, the land sloped gently away in all directions. I've told anyone who's asked, that the appeal of the property was that it's on a crest, higher than the surrounding properties. As I stood in front of the tear-down house, it was the view of Mt. Hood over the house and trees in front of me, and the feeling of wide open space around me that "felt right." And even though I've been told the cost is significant for every foot the elevation is raised, I've reiterated, that maintaining that "feeling" was too important--I wasn't willing to give up what had made me fall in love with the setting in the first place.
Well... today there were two men, with years of experience looking at building sites and knowing how to take advantage of the views, years of experience creating homes with beautiful outlooks, and years more experience than I will ever have with all this! And both had saving my money in mind. They strongly suggested lowering the entire footprint (house, driveway and cottage) about two feet. This would save thousands of dollars in filler, and the difference in vantage point from the new house--in their consensus--would be negligible, if not improved. It sounded reasonable and like money well-saved.
So I sacrificed symmetry in moving the garages, and I've smashed a couple sides of the box I was stuck in. This old dog can learn new tricks--or something like that!
At the first meeting, one of their suggestions was moving the garage--which I initially balked at (not the suggestion itself, just the suggestion of a major change)--but it was a brilliant move and now I'm so thankful they thought of it. Their second idea that day was moving the whole project ten feet east. It would affect the grading--creating a more gradual slope to the west of the house and driveway. That sounded desirable and easy enough to do. Another worthwhile change in the plans.
Today's meeting was a cage-rattler for me. I'm pretty dug-in on the plans as they are, and especially on keeping the elevation of the new house at the level of the previous house. That (smaller) house was at a high point, and from there, the land sloped gently away in all directions. I've told anyone who's asked, that the appeal of the property was that it's on a crest, higher than the surrounding properties. As I stood in front of the tear-down house, it was the view of Mt. Hood over the house and trees in front of me, and the feeling of wide open space around me that "felt right." And even though I've been told the cost is significant for every foot the elevation is raised, I've reiterated, that maintaining that "feeling" was too important--I wasn't willing to give up what had made me fall in love with the setting in the first place.
Well... today there were two men, with years of experience looking at building sites and knowing how to take advantage of the views, years of experience creating homes with beautiful outlooks, and years more experience than I will ever have with all this! And both had saving my money in mind. They strongly suggested lowering the entire footprint (house, driveway and cottage) about two feet. This would save thousands of dollars in filler, and the difference in vantage point from the new house--in their consensus--would be negligible, if not improved. It sounded reasonable and like money well-saved.
So I sacrificed symmetry in moving the garages, and I've smashed a couple sides of the box I was stuck in. This old dog can learn new tricks--or something like that!
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