New Member, Victoria Cottage question

[meridithjill]

Hello All!
My husband & I are just beginning to look into building a small home and the Victoria Cottage caught my eye. We are expecting our first and may add one more in the future. I think sharing a room for a child is just fine. I wondered about the liveability aspect of this home for a family of 4.

[considerations]

I love the price: $1152.00 I want one! 

[John Raabe]

Those are nice looking houses... with not a bathroom to be found! I guess the outhouse was out back and Saturday's we setup the galvanized tub in the kitchen with baths being taken in order of age. This is where the phrase, "don't throw the baby out with the bath water" came from.

Worked for our grandparents and great-grandparents.

[MountainDon]

Back a long time ago on the farm, the galvie tub was setup in the mudroom, except for winter when baths were even less frequent than in the summer. No such as running off for a quick shower like now.

[John Raabe]

I did a Google book search on Sears houses and came up with this: http://books.google.com/books?id=aCYvGBcLB04C&pg=PA32&dq=sears+book+of+modern+homes+and+building+plans#PPP1,M1

[MikeT]

Here is a link to the VC that I am building.  If I were planning on a house for a four person family and wanting to maximize the space, I would look at making the second level a full level (as opposed to the loft option that I am doing).

I find that this house feels bigger if one avoids the supersized things that occupy many homes: big couches, big stoves, etc.  The wood stove we are using is a smallish Jotul.  24" range in the kitchen.  Also using a spiral staircase saves space.

This is a deceptively big space, but it depends on your definitions of size.....

mt

[Sassy]

I did a Google book search on Sears houses and came up with this: http://books.google.com/books?id=aCYvGBcLB04C&pg=PA32&dq=sears+book+of+modern+homes+and+building+plans#PPP1,M1

Thanks for the link, John!  I've seen a lot of those houses around...  in fact one is just like my grandparents had in Nebraska.  Houses had a lot of character back then... now, a house like that - on the lines that PEG has been working on (although that house is probably a lot bigger) costs big $$$$; all those custom touches that used to be normal are extras. 

[MikeT]

I guess I forgot to put in the link to my VC project.  I have a full daylight basement, but that is mostly dictated by the slope.  I can see easily being more than content with the basic design and possibly the full second floor....

http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=6563.0

mt