A 3D fly-by movie of the planned house

This is some video that Joe generated from Google Earth, with the house modeled using Google Sketchup.

You can also look at ten still images taken from Sketchup in this PDF document: 3D photos

New plan

We looked at two ideas to add on a master bedroom+bathroom.  One, to build a second story above the current bedroom, two to expand on the ground behind the garage.  The going up looked pretty cool, but it would probably cost more, and if we want to age in place, then we would eventually come to the point where we couldn't get up the stairs.  We also just liked the flow with option two.  Here's what it looks like.

The current house

Here are the as-built house plan and the as-built site plan. In case you forgot. :-)

Back on track

Well, it just didn't work out with Main Street Kitchens.  After many iterations and dead-ends, we got to the end of the conceptual design and got an estimate that was twice any number previously given!  I think they were just in over their heads, and wanted a way out without having to return the $3,000.  I thought they could handle a whole house remodel (they claimed they could) and would tell us if it was too much for them.  Unfortunately they never spoke up.  Maybe they thought they could do it, I don't know.  They're the nicest people though, and would probably be fine for a kitchen or bath remodel.

We didn't do much about the project for several months, and then started interviewing architects.  After about half a dozen, we found one we really like: Joseph Remick.  Previously Joe had worked for Michelle Kaufmann Designs (now out of business) on a friend's house, and they really liked him.

He also worked on this house: Tiburon Bay House.

Here's his web site: projectNORTH.

We're in the first phase, "discovery". This week Joe is measuring the house and drawing up the "as built" plans, which the city will need.

I can't wait to start kicking around ideas.  Here are some photos of things I like on Houzz.