Why are we saying that this house is a perfect 4-season chalet?
To start, it offers an ideal combination of a warm outside and an interior specially designed for a land with a panoramic view.  Furthermore, it meets the expectations of most baby-boomers that are looking for a house/chalet with nice functional interior spaces including a master bedroom on first floor. Finally, let’s get inside to better appreciate this house.

To learn more, see details…

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Last month I received an email from a very ambitious soul in Sooke, BC asking if we had ever considered turning some of our shed designs into home plans. At first I thought she meant using the style as the basis for a home design or a Carriage House Plan, but after a number of emails and phone calls her mission was clear – tiny, tiny, tiny (tiny house plans)! Lois turned out to be a wonderful person and a really creative thinker. She wanted to embrace the idea of adding multiple dwellings on her Sooke property in accordance with new zoning which allowed for densification.

The idea of micro-living intrigued me so it was time for some research. 
After much digging on the web and calling different city halls around BC, I came to understand that Lois’ idea is more than just a concept – it is now a reality. Many regions are allowing additional dwellings to be added to properties as separate living units for grandparents, renters, and the increasingly common “boomerang children”. These dwellings are sized in accordance with local building by-laws and can be as small as 300 square feet which is, amazingly, in accordance with the National Building code of Canada. Formalizing densification also addresses the issue that there were illegal (and often unsafe) dwellings being added to properties.

Drummond House Plans - Tiny House Plan no. 2923

Still the question begs to be asked, “Why would someone want to build (or live in) a home the size of a shed?” From a user’s point of view, a tiny house would be perfect for someone needing independence, low maintenance, affordability, and safety. From a city planner’s perspective, it addresses affordable housing and densification mandates.  From a landlords perspective it’s a small space to independently house a family member or generate income to help out with mortgage payments. From city hall’s perspective it is additional tax revenue. When you look at it from all of these perspectives, tiny houses make sense.

Can a person comfortably live in a space so small? One need only ask people with live-aboard boats and RV’s that very question. With careful planning and paring down to necessities, both groups of people would say “absolutely”! Of course, it may be quite challenging for a young or growing family but “living small” is an ecological and social challenge that some are happy to embrace.

For the purpose of definition, Drummond House Plans classifies a tiny house as a dwelling which is under 1100 square feet. These houses are frequently fawned over as being darned cute and amazingly efficient. These homes also have the added benefit of having a smaller carbon footprint and are ideal for areas which embrace high-density housing. 

Thank you, Lois, for starting this conversation. We look forward to adding more designs to our available Drummond Tiny House Plans for people just like you.

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Northwest architecture is inspired by nature and necessity.

It is not hard to identify the nature inspiration when surrounded by towering trees, rugged landscape and amazing vistas. The Northwest response to stunning scenery is to create house designs that are in harmony with the environment. Houses are often nestled into a sloped site and the lines of Northwest house plans tend to echo the strong elements of their environment – strong vertical lines in harmony with majestic fir trees, horizontal lines to evoke the feelings of rock ledges, roof undulations to blend with the peaks on the horizon. A Northwest home design is usually clean in design, lacking excessive exterior details. When architectural accents are desired, they are usually achieved with the use of natural timber and rock to further blend the house with its surroundings. A generous use of windows creates a seamless transition between indoors and out and brings light into the interior.

Beautiful Drummond House Plans - Northwest Collection - Cottage Plan #2957

So what about the necessity side of design in the Northwest? The Northwest climate is well-known for the amazing amounts of precipitation so protection of residents and the very building itself is a must.  The Northwest design accommodates this by implementing medium to low sloping rooflines with generous overhangs. To take this a step further, you will notice that many Northwest designs include a covered grilling area for year-round trips to the BBQ. Additional outdoor living spaces are achieved by adding generous decks, often combining open and covered areas for year-round enjoyment.

Charming Northwest Home Design by Drummond House Plans - no. 3832

A Northwest house has wonderful flow and functional interiors with modern amenities. Modern minimalist interior design is quite common as it helps with the laid-back lifestyle so common on the Coast. These designs are not limited to the enjoyment of “Coasties”. Although originating in the northwest, these houses can be built as a primary home or vacation home in any region of the country that has a natural vista or stunning cityscape to be enjoyed.  

Very popular Drummond Design - Carriage Plan no. 3935

Drummond House Plans has a beautiful and extensive collection of Northwest house plans available for your family’s comfort. We also have a number of designs being worked on so you should visit the site regularly or sign up for new design notifications.

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In order to answer the increasing requests from the population, Drummond House Plans has decided to re-design three of its top-selling home designs, to incorporate an elevator.

In fact, it involves three very popular house plans: a Country style design, a charming European home and a luxury European mansion, already in existence here. Modifications have been made to these homes in order to integrate an elevator in each one of them.

There are many reasons why our customers are looking for houses with elevators. Among other things, we find baby-boomers or the elderly with reduced mobility but are otherwise completely self-sufficient, as well as families where one family member has reduced mobility.

Home Elevator by www.universalelevator.com

Last January, during our annual meeting of Drummond House Plan Agencies, we had the opportunity to have as a guest, the Savaria Concord company.

They specialize in finding accessibility solutions in North America. Amongst these solutions were stair chair lifts, platforms as well as elevators themselves. Able to modify plans from its collection, Drummond House Plans also specializes in the exclusive concept of plans for new homes according to your needs as well as renovation plans and home addition designs for your existing home, among others, integrating an elevator!

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Drummond House Plans, a house design firm specializing in residential architecture since 1973, recently created a collection of multigenerational house plans, for multi-generational, bi generational or extended families.

Are you thinking of inviting the grand-parents (baby-boomers!) to share a new house with your family, and want to make sure they have their own private areas?  Do you have young adult children moving back home to save money and want to offer them (and you!), private spaces?  Are you a blended family with many children in need of extra bedrooms and more than one kitchen and /or family rooms?

The Multigenerational Drummond house designs and floor plans are designed as one home containing two separate units.  The main unit is generally larger, offering three and even four bedrooms to accomodate a young family with children, while the other unit offers all the comforts of a full apartment with one bedroom, a kitchen, dining and living rooms, as well as a full bathroom and laundry facilities.  For security purposes, both units are usually accessible to one another from inside the home, but both have their own individual / independant access to and from the outside. 

I’d like to share with you three of my favorite multigenerational homes (or bi generational, what is your favorite word fo it?)  Each one caters to the various styles and sizes required by you.  These three beautiful homes all offer large units for the family including very well organized apartments for the grand-parents!  All within the same house!  Which ones are your favorites?  Have a look at all of Drummond’s multigenerational house plan collection and send me your feedbacks! 

Drummond Multigenerational Floor Plans no. 2821: Beautiful 2-storey Spanish / Florida Style, offering a one-bedroom apartment on one side (on the first level), and a large  3-bedroom home on the other side (for the family) with two private balconies on the second level!

www.DrummondHousePlans.com Multigenerational House Plan #2821

Drummond Multigenerational Affordable House Plans 2278:  Charming and Affordable Bungalow Style House Plan, offering on the same level (on the same floor!) a one-bedroom apartment, and a well designed 3-bedroom house. 

www.DrummondHousePlans.com Multigenerational House Design no. 2278

Drummond House Plans - Multigenerational Floor Plan no. 2278 (Main Level)

Multigenerational Designs Plan 3039: Spectacular (and yet affordable) Traditional House Plan Style, on two-levels, offering the grand-parents suite on the first level, and the large 4-bedroom unit on two-levels.

Drummond House Plans Multigenerational House Plan #3039

These multigenerational house designs are offered in many styles and sizes and can be order easily online or by phone: 1-800-567-5267.  All house plans in the Drummond House Plans collection, including any design from the multigenerational house plan collection,  can easily be modified to suit your needs by using the Drummond online house plan modification /customization service, to make sure they answer all your needs. 

I’d also like to recommend a great site I found, that has an article on “How to function in a multigenerational household“.  It is one thing to build a house and another to learn to all live together!

Drummond House Plans’ design team is planning on creating more multigenerational and multi-family house plans, so any comments or suggestions are welcome!

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Drummond House Plans’ philosophy is that beautiful vacation designs, cabin plans and top quality house plans can be created for small budget, and still be so charming! And, that’s exactly what you’ll find in our home design collection.  Drummond Plans created hundreds of great, affordable home designs available in many sizes and styles such as

www.DrummondHousePlans.com no.2939

Country style and Traditional, and very cool house plans for baby boomers and first-home buyers. Browse our top quality, budget-conscious and affordable house plans collection if you are searching for a primary affordable house and review our 4-Season Vacation House Plans on a Budget collection for if you are looking to build a secondary home.

Sparkling your imagination is one of the first steps before you begin building!

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