Customizing Popular Home Floorplans

If you’re like many potential timber home owners, you probably have a stockpile of ideas, wish lists and inspirations for your future home’s design. But just because you have specific wants and needs for your plan doesn’t mean you have to create a custom design from scratch. Today’s timber home companies and design firms have catalogs of stock plans they’ve created over time to accommodate different clients’ needs, so there’s likely one that’s right for you. Plus, if you can’t find a stock plan that includes everything you’ve dreamed of for your timber home, you can customize the design to include almost anything, as long as it works with your property and budget.

The Crested Butte

by PrecisionCraft & M.T.N. Architects /  3,055 square feet / 3 bedrooms, 4 baths

“The overall aesthetic of this plan is what makes it stand out,” says Celeste Raygosa, Design Manager for PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes/M.T.N. Architects in Meridian, Idaho. “The use of mixed materials (stone, siding, log and timbers), as well as the complex roof lines and varied heights create a dynamic impression that people are really drawn to.”
Why people love it: This home is packed with standout design features that make it feel like a one-of-a-kind design. “People love the stair turret, the angled dining room and the overall open floor plan, which is separated into smart living areas that flow seamlessly together. The dramatic overhead trusses that span from the great room to the exterior living space are another draw,” Raygosa says.

How people customize the plan: “One of the major design tweaks our clients request is to simplify some of the complexity to help reduce costs,” says Raygosa. “We typically respond by creating something closer to our Dakota plan (see rendering on page 45), which is a scaled-down, simplified version that still maintains the major design features of the stair turret and the dining room.”

According to Raygosa, clients also tweak the master bathroom because it’s a very personalized space. They may close off the bath, which is left open to the master bedroom in the original plan; alter the sizes of the his-and-hers walk-in closets; or include a luxurious soaking tub in addition to or in place of the shower that is included. The kitchen, dining and nook areas are also modified depending on how the clients will live and use the spaces.

The Mirror Lake

by Mill Creek Post & Beam Co. / 2,836 square feet / 3 bedrooms, 3 baths

Named after a lake in the Adirondacks, this “mountain rustic” plan is a favorite among timber home enthusiasts. “It’s a magical plan,” says Mark Wray, owner of Mill Creek Post & Beam Co. in Saluda, North Carolina. “From the stunning tower feature to the smart layout, people just fall in love with the plan. It’s a really great house.”
Why people love it: “It’s a toss-up between the stunning features, like the great room with its 12-foot-wide wall of glass, and the smart split-plan design,” says Wray. There’s a reason for splitting the plan into two separate wings flanking the foyer, he explains. “When you design a structure with a proper foyer, there will be a subconscious separation of public and private spaces. The foyer also provides a nice isolation from the living spaces and the bedroom spaces, creating a buffer for sound and activity.”

How people customize the plan: “We’ve built these homes on full basements to add an extra level and extra square footage. Some people won’t want the fireplace on the porch, so we’ll take that out to accommodate uninterrupted views. We’ve also added two- and three-car garages, bonus rooms and utility spaces — the options are endless,” says Wray. To accommodate these requests from clients, Mill Creek actually has developed three additional plans as customizations to the Mirror Lake design (see right).

“With the popularity of this plan, we quickly discovered that we could change the size and different areas of the home, but virtually wind up with the same design concept,” says Wray. “Plus, you can put the tower on or take it off any of these designs.” 

The Laurel

by South County Post & Beam  /  3,255 square feet  /  3 bedrooms, 4 baths

“In a world of cookie-cutter designs, this home really stands out,” says Josh Bouvier, principal at South County Post & Beam in West Kingston, Rhode Island. “It’s a unique house with nice interior space.”
Why people love it: The way the space flows together is what draws clients to this popular plan. “It has a spacious entertaining great room with an attached dining room that flows straight into the kitchen — a smart layout for creating open living spaces. It also has private living quarters upstairs (each with its own bathroom), and a separate first-floor master bedroom wing with a beautiful bathroom and walk-in closet,” says Bouvier.

How people customize the plan: “This plan has a lot of versatility built into it, so there are easy options for modifying the space,” explains Bouvier. For example, in the study (first floor) or the office (second floor), you could change the space to incorporate a fourth bedroom or even a playroom or hobby space. You also have the option of flipping the plan, says Bouvier, to accommodate where your house needs to fall on your particular property.