New Lake Home Kind of Fancy!

Over at Ron Brenner Architects we are working on a new home design to be constructed on a Northern Minnesota Lake Lot.  The design is kind of fancy but adheres to our design principles; start with solid forms and good proportions then apply an appropriate amount of detail and ornament.  Here are a few preview images.

Front Entry Image.  A graceful entry porch is flanked by the dominant front facing gable.  Influence of the three garage doors is minimized by a deep sweeping overhang with timber brackets.

Lake Side Image.  An abundance of glass and a variety of porches take advantage of it's lake side setting.

Lake Side Image.  The front gable runs through to the rear elevation to provide balance and hierarchy to the composition.

 

New House Plan with Main Floor Master is Simply Elegant

We have just added a new home design to our product line.  Our Forest Lake Cottage  features a main floor master suite and a lofted living space. 

Birds Eye View illustrating the "modern cottage" theme.  The cedar shingle clad front facing gable contrasts against the white clapboard main house body.  A generous roof covered front porch provides entry to the home.

Front Elevation.  Crisp and clean.  Modern yet homey.  Simple yet Elegant!

The First Floor Plan features a vaulted Living Room and a Main Floor Master Suite.

The Upper Level Plan features a hall open to the living room below, 2 additional bedrooms and an above garage bonus space.

Home Plans from Big to Modest

My blog updates have been infrequent over the past few months.  The good news is we have been busy working on quite a few very nice new home design projects.  Here is a quick glance at some of our recent works - from large to more modest.  

Northern Minnesota Lake Home.  The 6,000 square foot home plan features an exterior of slate roofing with copper accents, cedar shingle and stone wall cladding.

Modern Country Estate.  This 5,000 square foot home features a graceful curved roof line and abundant windows.

Rustic Sensibility.  The 4,000 square foot rambler offers a main floor master bedroom suite and light filled, vaulted spaces.

Arts and Crafts Charm.  Twin Gables and Crafstman details characterize this 3,500 square foot 3 bedroom house plan.

Classic Cape Cod.  Simple yet elegant  - that pretty much sums it up for this 3,200 square foot Saint Croix River home.

Modern Farmhouse.  Traditional farmhouse forms are mixed with modern window patterns and details in this 3,000 square foot Midwestern home design.

New Home Design is no Blando

Here are a few images of an exciting new design that Ron Brenner Architects is working on for a client in Orono, Minnesota.  The five design options are all based on the same modern open floor plan - each one tweaked as necessary to create its own identity.

Take a look and let us know which option you would choose.

Option A - An old world cottage featuring cedar shingle siding, timber columns and beams with stone accents.

Option B - A stone entry flanked by stair tower and arched details distinguish the design.

Option C - This design option is dominated by a dramatic sweeping roof line carved out with modern glazing patterns.

Option D - A somewhat more traditional take on Option C - featuring a centered eyebrow entry with dormers above.

Option E - A stone entry tower with buttresses stands proud within a more subdued composition.

The client has chosen Option C as their preference.  They like the abundance of glass and the contemporary window patterns within the old world roof lines.

This design is to be constructed by Hendel Homes of Wayzata, Minnesota.

New Simple Elegant Cottage

Ron Brenner Architects has recently completed design work on this new home to be constructed in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.  Check out the you tube video below (click on the YouTube icon for a larger image).

 The design features a main floor master suite and a vaulted living space within it's open and inviting floor plan.  Two additional bedrooms and a bonus space are accommodated on the second floor.  Pretty Nifty!

Modern Farmhouse by Ron Brenner Architects

Ron Brenner Architects has completed design work on this new modern farmhouse to be constructed in Minnesota.  The design features an open floor plan with a main floor master suite and four additional bedrooms on the upper floor.  An above garage bonus room provides for informal family gathering and activity space.  Hendel Homes of Wayzata, Minnesota has been selected to construct the home.

Birds Eye View.  A double gable roof form dominates the design with a wrap around front porch highlighting the front entry.  The main floor master bedroom suite quietly sits off to the left side.

Birds eye view 2.  A diagonal pathway connects the guest parking circle to the front entry porch.

View from drive approach.

View from front.

Radical Plan Concept Unveiled - Open Yet Connected

We are currently designing a home for a client in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.  The "radical" new floor plan is based upon our Willowbrook Country House Plan; which we modified by relocating the front entry directly between the public and private zones of the house.  We also placed a smartly sized two sided fireplace between the Living and Dining areas.  This provides for more intimate space while maintaining visual connections and a predominantly open floor plan.  Check out the interior house plan video below. 

click the YouTube icon and change to 1080p for best quality

Ok - perhaps the concept is not radical; however there is a technique to achieving successful "open yet connected" spaces.  Design elements considered included size and location of fireplace, bulkhead and beam locations, built ins and display elements, material connections, window positions, furniture arrangements, etc.