Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Seawell Ave Shotgun - Energy Star Qualified!






The Seawell Shotgun house is finished! It got finished just as a tornado was blowing overhead! I was in the house working when the storm blew over - fortunately it held together and no damage to the house. The 'hood looked like a war zone, but it's all better now. I used a British door like on my house, it looks great!









The Living room has a 16' high cathedral ceiling with original exposed beams and new whitewashed tongue-in-groove pine. With large windows and a skylight, it seems so much larger than the
exterior indicates.

























The efficient kitchen has granite counters and recycled glass mosiac backsplash which look great with the stainless steel appliances!












The bathroom is larger than you would expect to find in a 700 square foot home! Very comfortable and filled with light from the skylight.












The bedroom area was originally the kitchen and bathroom, so the flooring was not salvagable. We put eco-friendly bamboo in. The door to the exterior from the bedroom goes out to the deck and backyard.






In the winter, or if we can get rid of the Kudzu, there is a view of the Raleigh skyline from the deck!



























Friday, February 11, 2011

What's Next? Another house! 313 Seawell

We just started the 8th house in the Oakwood Cottages project. This one is our "bonus" house - it wasn't planned as part of the redevelopment, but recently became available. It sits just across the street from the solar house, 316 Seawell, and it is a shotgun house.


This time I have designed a home that will remain the current size of the house, 704 square feet. This will be a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom home. The house has been totally gutted, and will be renovated using as many green construction practices as we can use. It will also be insulated with Icynene Spray Foam so it's sure to be energy efficient to live in - and cozy!
The house was originally built with a pier foundation, so we are adding new footers and a curtain wall foundation. The footers were dug out earlier this week, and since the weather is cooperating with some warm temperatures, we poured concrete today.

The plans for this house call for a beautiful cathedral ceiling in the great room, with exposed ceiling joists. The kitchen will be galley style, and open to the LR. The bedroom will be large - with a large closet. I am hoping we will be able to save all the original heart-pine flooring.
The house will be built to be wheel chair accessible.



Keep checking back to watch the progress! Hopefully this one will be finished by April!