Originally Posted By: Rad

If this is going to be a 10 to 15 year live in, I would suggest that you look at it as you would the primary structure and design it for maximum benefit of your location instead of as just a utility building. Too many things change in the course of our lives, so make the best of this endeavor. Sounds corny and cliche but focus on your goals when you purchased the property. Make this house fulfill the goals of the primary home you have planned for the future as much as possible.


BINGO! Now there's a mouthful.
There is a list of needs, desires, and best planning that I am working with. I want to do the best I can to address all of them as they all carry a similar amount of weight, but the "here and now" has been at the top from day one. If I was planning on the final home within, oh say 2 - 4 years, this entire process would be weighted differently. As much as everyone wants to tell me how they see the correct balance, it's not likely to match my vision. I enjoy hearing everyone's input. I take it as brainstorming. Like I said before, I extract and apply the things that help MY plan and file the rest of it within this thread for others that may follow. Some guys don't "put it out there" for public scrutiny for any number of reasons. I do it because I can take having my ideas kicked around. I also know that there is a historical reference benefit for other pondmeisters and dreamers like myself.
-
 Quote:
The design looks good as a barn but not so much as a house.
good; desire filled
 Quote:
Like ewest mentioned if it was my work shop I would actually try moving it to pond side so I could see the whole pond while i worked.
Thanks for kickin in Blair5002. I can't have all the rooms looking out to the pond in this simple design. Going back to Rad's bingo statement, the rooms that do get the view are the most important for the near future. If/when the real house gets built, all the living areas (in this garage/apt) will be prime for a shop...should I desire that at that point in my life. The key is flexibility. Address what is important to me here and now. Allow options as my life and desires can/will change. With 44 ac of timbered mother nature, I actually plan/hope that my main workshop will be outside.