Design in progress: Ultimate Bachelor Pad

[pajeepguy]

I have been playing around and designing what I call "The Ultimate Bachelor Pad" or rather "My Ultimate Bachelor Pad."

This is a "design in progress." I am *not* an architect and have only been fooling around with sketchup for less than a month now. So view this more as a "proof of concept" rather than a "final production" design. I know the stairs are laid out poorly and some of the room dimensions could use a little tweaking. Oh, and the bathroom(s) are terrible.

Overall footprint of the main structure is just over 30x60. That does not include the overhang of the porch or the sunroom. So on the ground level add an additional 14x30 for the outdoor storage/parking area under the deck. Ideally it would be set back into a slope so the rear of the 2nd floor would open up to ground level.


Exterior view:

Garage level has 12' ceilings
Two double doors are 16'x10'
Single door is 8'x8'


Garage level:

Orange areas are "parking" - two double spots with one single spot
Blue area is for the lift
Yellow area is "work shop" space
Maroon areas along the wall are storage space (either shelving or counter/cabinet spare)
White area is a shop-level bathroom/shower/locker-room area
Air/power/hot water utilities would be under the central stair well


Apartment level:

Laid out as a Master Suite style apartment with walk in closet and master bath
Small room serves are guest room and home office
Kitchen and dining/living-room area are kept open
Sunroom/enclosed porch off back for lounging/entertaining


Attic Level:
[Sorry, no pic, not really worth it at this point]
Attic level has 7' ceilings so it can be either left open for storage or closed off into a pair of bedrooms, or some combination there of.

+++

Again, this is a work of progress so keep the flaming to yourself if you don't like it. If you have constructive criticism and/or suggestions I am open to hear them.

Keep in mind I am in my 30's with no kids, no wife (or ex-wife), or even a g/f to deal with. When I say "Bachelor Pad" it's just going to be me, my dog, and my Jeeps.

 

[pajeepguy]

As for what will go in it, I am a total Jeep nut. Before going back to school last fall I was up to five Jeeps. Once I finished this program my plan is to start reconstituting my "fleet."

At it's peak, the fleet consisted of:

1. 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.0L i6) - Daily Driver
2. 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.2L v8) - Wheeler
3. 1977 Jeep CJ-5
4. 1968 Jeep Kiaser M715
5. Jeep Competition Rock Crawler

Right now the only things I have left are the '97 Grand and the '77 CJ5. I also picked up a '98 Ford Ranger as a daily driver while I work on getting the transmission in the Grand Cherokee replaced (again). So once this thing gets built (still a few years out) I can start collecting Jeeps again.

 

[rsanter]

untimate batchalor pad?
where is the stage and stripper pole

bob

 

[pajeepguy]

At just over 1800 sq feet I am sure I can find room for one... or two.

 

[ddawg16]

Welcome to GJ....from a fellow jeeper (you can see min in my sig...click the link)

I like the layout except for the roof....it looks kind of like a barn.....

I would go with a more traditional roof line...keep the gable roofs....and make the inside a vaulted ceiling....maybe add powered skylights....you can open those in the summer for cooling to keep the energy costs down.

 

[pajeepguy]

Welcome to GJ....from a fellow jeeper (you can see min in my sig...click the link)

Nice. Hopefully soon I can get my CJ back together and out on the road.

I like the layout except for the roof....it looks kind of like a barn.....

I would go with a more traditional roof line...keep the gable roofs....and make the inside a vaulted ceiling....maybe add powered skylights....you can open those in the summer for cooling to keep the energy costs down.

Truth be told I live in the middle barn country, so that's kind of the look I was going for. I know it's not for everyone, but you can't go a 1/4 mile in this area without passing a farm. Along those lines though, I have thought about revising the design to match more of a PA Bank Barn style like this:

 

[FJ 432]

I'd live there. Kind of hard on my knees with all of those stairs! Did you consider making the one set of double doors (where the lift is) even with the porch? that way you could have a bigger workshop in back.

You enjoying Sketch up?

 

[ddawg16]

Truth be told I live in the middle barn country, so that's kind of the look I was going for. I know it's not for everyone, but you can't go a 1/4 mile in this area without passing a farm. Along those lines though, I have thought about revising the design to match more of a PA Bank Barn style like this:

That is actually a smart thing to do....While it doesn't mean you have to look like everyone else....maintaining 'some' synergy with the area will typically improve relations and make your place more marketable should you ever decide to sell.

 

[pajeepguy]

I'd live there. Kind of hard on my knees with all of those stairs! Did you consider making the one set of double doors (where the lift is) even with the porch? that way you could have a bigger workshop in back.

Thought had crossed my mind, but I think the layout in it's current form is plenty large enough. In reality when I am working on something anything *not* being worked on can/would be rolled outside. Being in the education field a majority of my 'free time' is during the summer months, so in the winter I'd be in "storage" mode with little to no work being done and in the summer is when i'd be in "shop" mode which means things can be left outside.

You enjoying Sketch up?

It's kind of quirky, but it's fun to play around with. Been learning a lot through trial-and-error.

That is actually a smart thing to do....While it doesn't mean you have to look like everyone else....maintaining 'some' synergy with the area will typically improve relations and make your place more marketable should you ever decide to sell.

Yeah, I am going to explore the 'bank barn' style ques a little more. That would really fit here in the central PA area more than this design.

 

[pajeepguy]

Okay, kinda crude, but here is a rough adjustment to more of a "PA Bank Barn" style upper level with the enclosed porch moved around from the rear to the front:

This would fit in more with the local barn styles. Toss on a metal roof and some wood siding and it would be good to go. Hell, could even pain on an old-timey Mail Pouch Tobacco ad on the side

Many of the local barns have rock end walls with wood siding down the middle. Others have the ground level being rock, and the upper level(s) being wood. No real consistency, so either way would work.

I will work on proportions some more and add in a few windows. Interior would need some major tweaks.

 

[JC23]

I thought this overall concept looked familiar and I lucked out finding the one on here that many similarities.

Have you seen this one? http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5844 ?

Great Idea, BTW. Rock on!

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've always been fascinated with the idea of a house and workshop built like a gothic arch barn, like this:

Maybe include a silo, with a spiral staircase inside leading up to some sort of observation porch.

Anyway, this site may be useful for inspiration: http://ejackson.net/ It has a huge amount of various styles of barn plans and blueprints that were developed by different agricultural extension offices around the country.

 

[whackywaxer]

Yo Stuart in MN..........I'm a fan of this stye as well.......

 

[HOTFR8]

Recently had a look at something similar here for sale. Sadly I can not put a link here as it appears to have sold. Was a Quaker Barn style built in Colorbond, Garage and one Bedroom also laundry downstairs with bathroom and Main bedroom and kitchen living area upstairs. Was not very big as you could only put a small car in the garage area.

I went looking for ideas as I want to build something similar.

 

[HOTFR8]

Found it >

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-chewton-107271389

Even found the floor plans.

 

[jam0o0]

things i noticed:

1. have a way for guests to use the restroom.

2. don't put in an 8' wide garage door. any large trailer is 8'-6" wide. wile you could put it in one of the double spaces, i don't see the benefit from limiting yourself.

3. if you leave that much deck uncovered you are gunna spend a lot of your time in the winter shoveling or blowing snow. if you really like the uncovered porches i guess you could just walk though the snow in the winter and build the porches strong enough to hold any snow load that could accumulate.

4. i'd put an island in your kitchen. after having one and loosing it i will never go without one again.

5. post a picture of you comp jeep

i really like the barn idea. and having the living space on the second floor means you get great views. put a lot of big windows to enjoy the location.

 

[cashishift]

no extended height ceiling to accommodate a lift?

 

[pajeepguy]

things i noticed:

1. have a way for guests to use the restroom.

There is a 1/2 bath off the kitchen. It's not filled in on the floor plan. One thing I ****** at is laying out bathrooms.

2. don't put in an 8' wide garage door. any large trailer is 8'-6" wide. wile you could put it in one of the double spaces, i don't see the benefit from limiting yourself.

Hadn't thought of that, but if/when i get a trailer it would be stashed under the porch. If I ever needed to work on the trailer I would use the double door. That 8' bay is dedicated for the daily-driver but I also wanted it big enough to get a full-size pick up in.

3. if you leave that much deck uncovered you are gunna spend a lot of your time in the winter shoveling or blowing snow. if you really like the uncovered porches i guess you could just walk though the snow in the winter and build the porches strong enough to hold any snow load that could accumulate.

They would be load-rated enough for the snow. As for cleaning them off, there is an inside staircase from the garage level to the apartment level. I should be okay.

4. i'd put an island in your kitchen. after having one and loosing it i will never go without one again.

I had thought of that. Like bathrooms, kitchens are another weakness of mine. Have to toy around with that a little.

5. post a picture of you comp jeep

Sadly I don't have it any more. Sold off the chassis when I decided to go back to school. But here is a pic of it from the prior owner:

The next one will be a lot cooler

i really like the barn idea. and having the living space on the second floor means you get great views. put a lot of big windows to enjoy the location.

That's the plan. I like doing things a little different than the average person. I also recognize that since I am unattached to anyone having this kind of living and shop set up would be ideal.

no extended height ceiling to accommodate a lift?

The garage level has 12' ceilings. I honestly wasn't sure how much higher I would need to go to clear a lift. Still a work is progress so it is something I will consider.

 

[pajeepguy]

July 2011 Design update

As always, still a work in progress, but here is the latest incarnation:

Basically started over to address some issues with garage ceiling clearance (now 15'), wall thickness, some layout quirks, etc. Still not perfect, but this is still more conceptual than anything.

Also adjusted the overall "look" of the building to fit the PA Bank Barn style.

Ground View (left):

Ground View (right):

Arial View (front):

Arial View (rear):

Garage Level:

Apartment Level:

 

[fergus]

Dude that's awesome. Just don't marry a fussy woman...cause then you won't get to live there anymore.

 

[Square2.0]

Or marry a fussy woman and sell that place to me :>

 

[TMorrow]

I like the bank barn style that your going with. One change I would make is to bring the front of the shop out the same as the upstairs and do away with overhang. You would get 4 feet or so more shop for not much money.

Nice job.

 

[pajeepguy]

I like the bank barn style that your going with. One change I would make is to bring the front of the shop out the same as the upstairs and do away with overhang. You would get 4 feet or so more shop for not much money.

Nice job.

Well, the overhang of the upper level is part of the Bank Barn style. As much as another 4' of shop space would be nice, if I need more space that what is already there something is really wrong with me. Damn thing is already over 2,000 square feet (yes, just the garage is over 2k sq ft).

 

[vortex]

Found it >

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-chewton-107271389

http://images1.au.reastatic.net/800x600/floorplan/107271389/1/20110403113610.gif
Even found the floor plans.

Can't believe they didn't list the Dropbear enclosure as a selling point, I can see it clearly from the balcony shot. It has the Emu paddock listed, but nothing about the Dropbear enclosure.. All the steel required to keep them secure must be worth a pretty penny - that in itself must be worth something...

Kangaroo stables would have certainly helped with the value, though. That is one major thing it's missing...

 

[Jeff_R]

I know what you mean by a barn on every corner... same here (Located between York and Harrisburg). I really like the design you have laid out, especially the overhang, since that is a feature of many of the barns (it is to shade/protect the lower level where the animals are located - hay and straw would be kept on the upper level).

Something to consider... barns don't have many windows, so you might want to orient the "back" of the barn South if that is where they will be located. The other thing is heating/cooling, since with that much height, they can get very hot in the summer (I spent way too much time in barns this summer loading hay/straw).

Do you have a lot yet?

 

[pajeepguy]

I know what you mean by a barn on every corner... same here (Located between York and Harrisburg). I really like the design you have laid out, especially the overhang, since that is a feature of many of the barns (it is to shade/protect the lower level where the animals are located - hay and straw would be kept on the upper level).

Yeah, that's the idea. There are just so many around here (I am not far from you over the mountain in Cumberland/Franklin county area) that I would hope it would blend into the local scenery at first glance. Then at second glance people would be able to pick out the subtle and not-so-subtle differences.

Something to consider... barns don't have many windows, so you might want to orient the "back" of the barn South if that is where they will be located. The other thing is heating/cooling, since with that much height, they can get very hot in the summer (I spent way too much time in barns this summer loading hay/straw).

Since I would be building "new" I am not too worried. It may look like a barn, but it will be built like a house. Good HVAC, plenty of windows for light, etc. I had thought about just converting a barn, but it just makes more sense to start from the foundation and build up. Just too many issues (like you mention) with a true barn to worry about.

Do you have a lot yet?

I do not. I still have about three years left on my doctorate and then I will start looking more serious for a lot once I anchor down a (respectable) job somewhere. Hoping to stay in the South Central PA area, but we'll see.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Down the road (like if you'll ever need to sell) your gonna wish you had 3 bedrooms or in your case a master bedroom (where the workbench is ) a second bedroom/office and a third bedroom/guest room.

 

[southalabama]

Build it before you get married.......

Get married, you'll understand.

 

[pajeepguy]

Down the road (like if you'll ever need to sell) your gonna wish you had 3 bedrooms or in your case a master bedroom (where the workbench is ) a second bedroom/office and a third bedroom/guest room.

And if I had all that I am sure I would want a in-law suite, an in-home theater, a mini-bar, and a sushi block too. Can't have it all. Just gotta focus on what I need.

Build it before you get married.......

Get married, you'll understand.

30... single for over seven years now... no ex wives... no kids... no g/f... no plans on any of that **** either. Hence the same "Bachelor Pad" Just me, my dog, and my Jeeps

And yes, I know I am still "young" in the grand scheme of things... so everything is subject to change and all. Until something does change, this is the plan.

 

[GoFaster2]

Re: July 2011 Design update

As always, still a work in progress, but here is the latest incarnation:

Basically started over to address some issues with garage ceiling clearance (now 15'), wall thickness, some layout quirks, etc. Still not perfect, but this is still more conceptual than anything.

Also adjusted the overall "look" of the building to fit the PA Bank Barn style.

Ground View (left):

Ground View (right):

Arial View (front):

Arial View (rear):

Garage Level:

Apartment Level:

I like it but what is the green circle "thing"

 

[pajeepguy]

Re: July 2011 Design update

I like it but what is the green circle "thing"

Spiral staircase. An internal conventional staircase just ate up too much room.

 

[jlckmj]

For any one that wants a free barn, take a look at this thread from a while ago, the barn is still available.
Jim

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93213

 

[pajeepguy]

Just when you think you have 'enough' room, something doesn't fit:

Added a BendPak 14TL four-post lift to the single bay at the 'east' end of the garage.

I knew it would be 'tight' but I didn't think it would be THAT tight.

I can loose the shelving along that wall (or drop down to 18" wide shelves rather than 24" wide) and I can easily redesign the layout for the bathroom/lockerroom and kitchen area and move the door... but I think that's only going to be 1/2 my problem. I now think I've drastically under-estimated my parking spaces (in orange) and the footprint for the 2-post lift (sky-blue box). That would influence everything else in terms of the utility room, and workshop space.

Oh well... good thing this is still in the conceptual phase



Edit: Redid everything along the back wall. Not perfect, but so far I haven't had to move an exterior wall.

 

[csp]

Go to the 18" or even 16" wide shelves. The problem with 24" shelves is you always need something way in the back, behind a bunch of other ****.

 

[fattogatto]

Hadn't thought of that, but if/when i get a trailer it would be stashed under the porch. If I ever needed to work on the trailer I would use the double door. That 8' bay is dedicated for the daily-driver but I also wanted it big enough to get a full-size pick up in.

Listen to the man. Get a 9' door. There will be times you'll want to park the trailer in there with something on it, or get a dually in there with extended mirrors.

Thought had crossed my mind, but I think the layout in it's current form is plenty large enough.

First lesson - It's never plenty large enough.

 

[MadMark]

Great layout!!!

But I don't see the chute for unassisted keg delivery

This is a Bachelor Pad, Right.

 

[pajeepguy]

Listen to the man. Get a 9' door. There will be times you'll want to park the trailer in there with something on it, or get a dually in there with extended mirrors.

The most current version has three 10'x10' doors. You weren't the only one to make that suggestion.

First lesson - It's never plenty large enough.

I know... but I either box myself into something like this (which I would deem on the upper end of "reasonable") or I end up with a 50'x100' megalith.

 

[pajeepguy]

Played around with the upper level a li'l bit to go for a different styling. I really liked some of the design cues from "Rich's New New Garage."

The garage level is pretty much the same as the previous variant only with the addition of an extra door in the middle. 2-post lift is still on the left, 4-post on the right. Both of the end bays are 'over sized' to accommodate working on the lift(s). The central bays have some extra room too.

This variant is substantially deeper (about an extra 8' over the barn style) since it doesn't have the overhang.

I will continue to add details and textures to it and see if i like how the inside of the apartment level plays out. Does have potential as a nice alternative to the barn style.

 

[pajeepguy]

Latest version... and so far, what I think, is the best:

The biggest change in this version was moving the stairs from centered on the back wall over to the far right corner along the right wall. That REALLY changed things up in terms of garage-level layout as well as how the apartment-level layout looked.

There are still a few changes to explore. Mostly with the size of the garage doors. Currently the largest one (on the left) is 12' tall and 10' wide. The rest are 10' tall and 8' wide. 10'x8' is just a hair smaller than my friend's camper which stands 10'6" tall with the a/c unit on the roof and comes in at just over 8'6" wide if you factor in the awning that sticks out on the side. I just have to side if having a door to a bay to fit something like that inside the garage to work on it would be worth it, or just leave the doors "as-is" and use the area under the porch as a "work area" for over-sized items like a camper.

 

[RobSmith]

Nice but all the people I talk to with a garage under the living space agree that it's no good as all the noise and fumes end up in the living space....build a parking space under the house and the major workshop under the indoor pistol range or pool. ha ha ha