Final Plans: Exterior & Floorplans are in!

Today we received the final plans* via e-mail. After a few tweaks to the interior, combining our two favorite floorplans with a side staircase inside instead of central one, and adding some details to the exterior, the plans look awesome!

Last week, we were having second thoughts about the exterior plans. We were afraid it was looking a little boxy and new-buildy (this is now an official term) with the upper floor coming out over the front porch. Riley voiced our concern, and Oliver sent us by another new build with a similar feature. Thankfully, we were pleased by what we saw! I am now very confident that this floorplan and exterior will be exactly what we need and will fit our lifestyle very well!

I can't believe I am writing this, but for the first time in my life, I'm really excited to talk about the B word...By this Friday, we should have a Budget in hand from Oliver and can begin to choose finishes. We are (or at least I am) excited to start nit-picking and making decisions!

Today we decided to go with a simple 4" lap horizontal siding, popular in 1900-1930's Craftsman style architecture, on the whole house. Initially, I wanted two different types of siding on the top and bottom, but instead we might do some tonal painting. Oliver made a good point that there are already a lot of nice details going on and the two different sidings would make it too busy. I've seen a few houses around with two different shades of paint above & below the second story skirt to emphasize the split between the top & main floors and it looks really nice! 

One material pick down, only about a million to go :)

I've been doing a lot of driving around to check out other houses I like around Portland and collecting inspiration from books, magazines, and, of course, the internet. I think I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do in each room. I'm sure Riley has been doing the same and that all of our design concepts will mesh perfectly...ha :) I really hope he & Oliver are ready for me to go into full design mode! I might be dangerous. I'm already having dreams of paint colors...

As long as we can stay on schedule, we will be able to break ground at the start of October! 

One request to all blog followers: Please send happy sunshine thoughts to the Oregon skies until we're all framed and roofed. Much appreciative thanks!

*I'm going to try to post the floorplans and exterior images soon...not sure how posting that sort of design property online works...Maybe we just need to slap a copywrite on it?