Windows, fireplaces and cantilevered hearths....

The plans are coming along on the home-of-the-future.

If I could figure out how to make our scanner scan, 

I'd show you the plan.

But I can't, so I'll tell you.

The great room is going to be really great. 

Not quite this great...

The ceilings in the (really) great room will be 12 feet high.

We didn't do this for a WOW factor.

We did this for the breeze and sun factor.

I've learned all about the proper orientation of a house,

such as, the main axis of a house should run

from east to west to capture the sun's rays.

Cross ventilation is very important too.

The south side of the house will have 

operable clerestory windows.

They'll flood the house with sun in the winter 

and cross breezes in summer.

The north facing side will have picture windows 

with operable clerestorys above.

Get the picture?

.

The north facing wall of windows will frame  

the two giant oak trees in front of the house

    It will also provide daylight but not direct sun
    during the hot summer months.
    There's so much one has to learn when
    planning a home.

The white cinderblock fireplace will be on the east wall.

If you want to see a white cinderblock fireplace,

turn to page 41 of the spring 2012 Atomic Ranch Magazine.

It will have a cantilevered concrete hearth that runs the length of the wall.

   
    The floors will be polished concrete with radiant heat.
    Someday, they will be fueled with solar power.
    That will probably come later.
    Right now, I need to go slop more paint
    on the temporary-home-of-the-future.
    First things first.