The Canyon View was designed for our client who liked the look of the Sea View but viewed a canyon. It has similar design features in a more compact plan with the great room on the east. The large bay window area carried through all three floors from the basement greenhouse, dining, and master suite allows for magnificent sunset viewing in winter. The north entry provides a clear view through the large sunny great room. The concrete slab on that side captures and stores solar gain along with the elegant masonry wood stove that helps define the small guest entry.

The Canyon View was designed for our client who liked the look of the Sea View but viewed a canyon. It has similar design features in a more compact plan with the great room on the east. The large bay window area carried through all three floors from the basement greenhouse, dining, and master suite allows for magnificent sunset viewing in winter. The north entry provides a clear view through the large sunny great room. The concrete slab on that side captures and stores solar gain along with the elegant masonry wood stove that helps define the small guest entry.

First Floor

The kitchen is in the center of action. Its southern window box is perfect place for your own herb garden. The central staircase allows you to bring groceries in conveniently. The friend’s entry is close to the second floor stairs yet removed from the main living area for privacy; however there are a few peeks down into the great room as you come and go. The nearby desk and coat nooks are a convenient catch-all with the potential mess out of view from the main living areas. Around the corner, the large closet is close enough to the kitchen for recycling, yet near enough the bedrooms for linen. The nearby laundry can also be reached easily from the bedroom areas. The downstairs bedroom can be used as a study or guest room until needed in aging years.

Second Floor

The second floor is compact and the master tub can be used by everyone. Both bedrooms and the study/away room have sloped ceilings and walls that add character to the small spaces. Because the computer and TV screens face north there is no glare. The central bath and closets have used floor space most efficiently with many small nooks for storage.

Basement

The greenhouse on the corner is perfect for plants or a hot tub. The north window allows light into the shop area. The central mechanical gives plenty of room for yard tools and holiday decorations, and since it is tucked into the middle of the house, it is tempered from the outdoor conditions. The two-car garage tucked in front makes this house fit on narrow lots.

Construction Info

The great room and upstairs have stick-framed vaulted ceilings. The rest of the first floor has 9’ ceilings while the basement has 8’. The thermal mass is designed to be primarily in the concrete slab in the great room, but the tile floors elsewhere add some thermal mass too.

Modification Ideas

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

- Move the garage doors to the west side for side sloping lots
- Create a master suite downstairs by moving the laundry to the center storage and expanding into the current laundry area

Read more about the drawings available for various Sun Plans.

For this plan, the following are included:

Custom Energy Specs that describe any recommended adaptations for your climate – insulation values, glass type for the various windows, overhang lengths.