Home builders/Architects - Home style question

A picture might help someone answer

 

Something like this?

www.aspenloghomes.com

 

Most likely cedar siding. I have designed some houses like what you are describing for the Park City, Utah area, and you can find a good selection of the look in a magazine called Luxury Living. If you give some pictures clipped from that magazine your local architect or builder can tailor the plans toward what you are looking for. We refer to this style as Mountain Rustic.
BT

 

Having been an architect for 34 years now, I'll second BT's comments, but with emphasis on the "architect" part. Unfortunately, 99.999% of all homes built in this country are constructed without an architect. Hiring a good architect can be the best money you can spend. Handing a photo or a stock set of plans to a builder is one way to go, but you should understand that the builder or contractor is going to give you a house that's designed first to make him a profit, and secondly to house your family. I have seen so many people invest large sums in homes that have a "look" that they like, but are otherwise very ill-concieved. Bad, inefficient floor plans abound. Building sites are rarely optimized. Views are often wasted. If the builder says he "has an architect", be careful. That usually means he "controls" the architect. The best approach is to interview several architects, looking at their past work and checking references. Find someone you feel comfortable with and he or she will come up with several design schemes that will not only have the "look" you're after, but will be functional and cost effective as well. You can then have the design competitively bid among several contractors. Do this and you have a chance of building something truly special, not just another "McMansion". Sorry for the rant, but this is near and dear to me.

 

Wolfgang, looked like a great day to take the 360 out for a spin

 

Wolfgang- take a look at this site- http://www.locatiarchitects.com/
This probably what you're looking for. We are planning to build a house in Montana and this is one of the architects we're considering.

All the best

 

Architects with Ferraris are coming out of the woodwork here.

 

As an amatuer architect buff, thank you for explaining that most homes are built without.. I've seen so many poor design choices throughout the years that I thought were made by bad architects, not the home builder.

It is very obvious when you walk into a place that's been well thought-out and properly executed, even if it's not opulent (kitchen layouts, east-west orientation, window placement are some of the easy ones). Unfortunately I think that 99.999% of the population wouldn't really notice.

-Chris

 

Wolfgang- we've been looking at this type of construction for almost a year; since we purchased land in Montana. There is a great amount of building going on right now out west in this style, it's something that I really like. We plan to pick an architect later this year and start construction sometime in 2006.

 

Goto this link and look through "projects". There are the numbers at the top of the pages. From small to large and mild to wild, tons of great ideas.
http://www.salaarc.com/frameset.html?logo.html&metzlerscroll.html&metzler_resume.html

 

Plenty of BAD architects out there too.

I just dealt with a set of plans for a 2-story. Took one look and handed them back "This is unacceptable, what is wrong with this house?"

him: ...

me: "There are NO BATHROOMS on the ground floor!"

Needless to say, we did not furthur utilize his services.


Conversely, a GOOD architect is worth his weight in gold.