Inspired by the Conservation Showhome designed for aging-in-place, the Acorn is a bright, low-energy home bursting with sun and convenience.  Beginning at the east-facing front door, and continuing throughout, windows are carefully placed to admit the right amount of light and heat.  The “L” shaped front of the home creates a type of courtyard and gives flexibility to place the home on land with a driveway approaching from the north or east.

Inspired by the Conservation Showhome designed for aging-in-place, the Acorn is a bright, low-energy home bursting with sun and convenience.  Beginning at the east-facing front door, and continuing throughout, windows are carefully placed to admit the right amount of light and heat.  The “L” shaped front of the home creates a type of courtyard and gives flexibility to place the home on land with a driveway approaching from the north or east.

First Floor

The open staircase designed for wood stairs that is part of the entry greatly opens up the space-saving foyer.  Immediately the eye travels beyond it to the bright, south wall of windows in front of the dining, great room and kitchen. The master bedroom takes advantage of the sunny south side as well as morning sun through the east-facing window box.

That leaves the cooler north side for the more utilitarian spaces such as baths, laundry, stairs and mechanical spaces.  Centrally located bedroom 2 can also be a study that opens up to the main living area. For bedroom use, bath 2 can be accessed privately. The kitchen is ideally placed close to the laundry/mudroom and garage whose workshop area can be used for canning. The laundry that has a sink in a counter that works equally well for cleaning vegetables straight from the garden. The opposite long wall has plenty of space for boots, coats and cubbies as needed.

The master bedroom and bath, as well as the kitchen and laundry allow for aging in place with larger than average spaces.

Daylight Basement

The daylight basement shown with window wells for a flat lot (full walkout is also possible) has 3 extra bedrooms for a five bedroom home! The split bathroom can be used by more than one. A large recreation area with a study nook makes the lower perfect for children even if they only return home seasonally with their own family. The northwest room tucked into the corner near the bottom of the stairs is perfect for a root cellar or safe room.  .

Attached Garage

The two car garage with workshop has the garage doors near the front door to minimize distance to the kitchen when unloading from outside. Being close to the kitchen, the workshop can easily become a hobby room or canning space since the side door can go directly out to a garden.

Construction Info

With its simple shaped stud walls and truss roof, the Acorn will be an economical to build home.  The truss framed roof with raised heels allows for extra thick, economical insulation while the truss-framed floors accommodate duct work and utilities so that an 8’ basement is more acceptable and cost-effective.  The first floor main living area has 9’ ceilings and the central great room is designed to be slightly vaulted. The masonry wood stove provides much of the thermal mass and a thinner tile system in the south-facing rooms provides the remainder. The exterior is designed for horizontal cement board siding, stone veneer foundation and a metal roof which makes for a low-maintenance home that is resistant to exterior fires. 

Modification Ideas

Since these ideas may affect energy performance and structural integrity, they should be undertaken with professional assistance. 

- For a one story home, replace the stairs with a large pantry or a small study or craft nook.

Construction Prints, etc.

For this plan, the following are included with orders for Construction Prints and CAD Files:

Custom Energy Specs (describe how to adapt the home to each location by reviewing the insulation values, windows, thermal mass, overhang lengths, and sometimes framing to accommodate necessary insulation