The quaint, stucco- covered Sunshine 3 is a reversed variation of our high mass Sunshine 2 plan. The porch has a log truss which the owner's son will fill with stained glass. The larger front door will also boast custom stained glass. Wood trim around the windows will accent the stucco walls and add a craftsman touch to the home. With its small footprint, it is easy to see how compatible this home is with sustainable living and green building.

The quaint, stucco- covered Sunshine 3 is a reversed variation of our high mass Sunshine 2 plan. The porch has a log truss which the owner's son will fill with stained glass. The larger front door will also boast custom stained glass. Wood trim around the windows will accent the stucco walls and add a craftsman touch to the home. With its small footprint, it is easy to see how compatible this home is with sustainable living and green building.

First Floor

The front porch has been enlarged to allow for a larger front door which will allow more north light into the home. The focal point of the main living area is the large hearth with room for wood storage. The daylight cooling chimney has been moved nearby. It serves as a chimney for the woodstove flue, a cooling stack to exhaust hot summer air, and a source of daylight for the middle of the home. With the vaulted ceilings and abundance of south glass, the main living area will feel like a sunroom. The master bedroom is also full of windows. The spacious bath to the north and convenient laundry nearby are practical for a minimum of clothes moving. The family entry is a catch all for not only coats and boots, but mail and keys too. You don't have to track mud into the main house to access the half bath. The mail nook has a window for light and views but without the glare that comes with direct sun. The west screened porch allows for sunset viewing while the master bedroom receives the morning light. The space between this porch and the studio creates a cozy garden nook. The surrounding window flower boxes add character to this simple and economical house.

Garage and Studio Option

The optional one-vehicle garage also has a large studio area that is passive solar. In addition, the south end of the garage with its windows can also be a greenhouse for plants in winter. With this area detached from the main house it is safer for PV battery storage and other potentially harmful chemicals. There is a connecting walkway to the house.

Construction Info

The main walls of the home are concrete block, but ICF (insulated concrete forms) could be used too. The great room, kitchen, and dining area have vaulted scissors trusses with no walls up to the ceiling. The foundation is a combination slab on grade for mass and crawlspace for plumbing.

Modification Ideas

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

- Change the study to a small bedroom -- turn part of pantry into a closet and add a door to half bath.
- Change the roof to the tile roof for a Southwestern look

Read more about the drawings available for various Sun Plans.