The Prairie Dog was custom designed for our dog-loving client on a budget. She started out with changes to an existing house plan like many of our clients do, but realized custom design would allow her to have all the things she wanted in a home. Both the great room and master bedroom are on the back to take advantage of the evening sunsets. The house really has two inviting fronts. With an approach from the north east, you see both the east and north elevations so either could face a road.

The Prairie Dog was custom designed for our dog-loving client on a budget. She started out with changes to an existing house plan like many of our clients do, but realized custom design would allow her to have all the things she wanted in a home. Both the great room and master bedroom are on the back to take advantage of the evening sunsets. The house really has two inviting fronts. With an approach from the north east, you see both the east and north elevations so either could face a road.

First Floor

Our client needed to plan for a larger home, but did not want to finish all spaces initially. Like most of our homes, the main floor has the main living spaces and the ones on the south are vaulted and open. The bay window not only keeps the kitchen sunny, but has just enough room for a small breakfast table which will surely be used by single diners and friends while you are cooking. With arches between the kitchen and great room, and kitchen and dining, the cook will not feel left out and the guests won't see the mess. Bedroom two has easy access to serve as study or bedroom and its bath also serves the guests. The master bedroom is in the more private back part of the house yet has the convenience of the laundry room pass through.

Daylight Basement

The sunny basement is designed with flexibility. You can have at least 3 bedrooms and a bath or two can be combined to become an entertainment room. The root storage is tucked into the cool north side. The stairs are open and spacious. The patio doors on the west allow for easy outside access.

Garage Option

Like many of our plans, the attached garage is designed such that it can be eliminated or constructed later. Its location allows the family to enter the same nice entry as the guests.

Construction Info

The Prairie Dog is designed to be constructed with a trussed roof, 6" walls (structural insulated panels could be used), and an ICF (insulated concrete form) foundation. The first floor has 8' ceilings with the south rooms vaulted up to the center. The north rooms could be vaulted too, but our client and her budget liked the contrast of high and low ceilings. We have designed the thermal mass walls around the kitchen to temper the strong winter heat gain. They can be finished in tile, stone, or stucco.

Modification Ideas

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

- Add a full east porch, French doors to the study, and place the entry foyer into a nook of the large dining area for a traditional front porch
- Increase the ceiling heights or vault the entire first floor
- Build just the first floor and add the stair s.f. into other rooms - Build the garage later or not at all
- Move the garage door to another side

Read more about the drawings available for various Sun Plans.