The Dream Horse was born when a horse-loving couple decided to create their dream home. Doors and windows have been carefully placed to take advantage of the winter sun, balanced daylight and other views. The east-facing front porch and breakfast nook capture sunrises while the private master patio and bath capture the sunsets.  Creating a central courtyard allows for more south glass than would normally be possible in larger one-story plans that can have dark inner spaces if they are not sun-inspired.  The north wing of the home can be closed off for privacy or energy-savings.

First Floor

The central foyer with stone walls has ample space for welcoming several visitors at once.  To the right is the large corridor that opens to the courtyard and leads to the garage and bedroom wing with entertainment/exercise room.  To the left of the foyer is the primary living side of the home. First the kitchen with the sunny breakfast area beyond, then the bright living and dining area with the stone covered fireplace and bookcase wall.  Around the corner is the study with French doors open to the great room on one side and the patio courtyard on the other. These areas can all view a TV placed on the bookcase wall. 

The master bedroom on the private end of the house has an expansive south view from inside and west view from the patio with the optional hot tub that it not too far from the master bath. Close proximity to the laundry reduces the need to haul clothes through the house and the outside door provides quick access to the courtyard for sunbathing or drying of clothes.

Attached Garage and Optional Carport

A large garage with 10’ wide doors can house large farm vehicles and plenty of surrounding workshop area to work on equipment. An optional carport shades the cars and provides a covered space for large cookouts without visually overpowering the house with a large garage. Its location provides easy access to the mudroom and basement as well as the front door. 

Construction Info

Open, flat land with high winds dictated a low profile and the high water table from a nearby river prevented a full basement. The concrete slab on the entire south side of the home provides ample thermal mass to store the winter sun’s heat and help keep the home cool in summer.  North and center crawlspaces make accessing plumbing easier.  The small basement could serve as a storm shelter or root cellar. Ten foot high walls support the flat, clear span trusses that help balance the large, open spaces. The south windows can then be raised to minimize the need for tempered glass low to the floor.  Dropped ceiling areas for ductwork can help define spaces and add ceiling character.

Modification Ideas

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