the latest? not much.

I hear from Andy's dad that the latest news is that the Planning Dept. has submitted a request to the CA Dept. of Forestry (CDF) for them to approve or reject our road improvement plan. As you may remember from an earlier post (http://bluelakebungalow.blogspot.com/2007/01/recap_543.html), the road improvement is the main dispute in our lot split procedure.

Our plan is to trim back the trees and build an 80' turnout between our new driveway and Andy's parent's existing driveway. The county thinks we should put in 400' of new street with storm drains, sidewalks, etc. CDF is supposed to be the first responders in the event of a fire in our area. However, we know that the Blue Lake Fire Dept. actually would be. Whatever. My understanding of this submittal to CDF is that the county needs to find out if CDF thinks that they will be able to maneuver their trucks around the area given the turnout we have planned.

Andy's dad said that the CDF submittal is a timed thing. (THANK GOODNESS!) Meaning: if CDF does not respond negatively within the time period, it's the same as responding positively. Silence equals consent. In this particular case, I think I like it. Let's just hope the time period isn't 6 months.

still nothing...

Nothing to report, one way or the other.
Shit or get off the pot already, people.
You're wasting the taxpayers' money and our time.

our kitchen in Real Simple magazine

Well, not really, but the photo in this Home Depot ad found in Real Simple magazine is a lot like the vision I have for our kitchen-to-be.

Here are the major differences:
• We will NOT have that awful yellow tile!
• The appliances probably won't be stainless steel.
• The oven will be a range, not separate and definitely not next to the refrigerator. What a temperature regulation/energy wasting nightmare!
• There won't be a peninsula on the left side of the kitchen (like in the foreground of the photo).
• I think the cabinets will be darker, and have more craftsman-style doors.
• The island will be split-level, so that the range side is counter height, and the side with all the drawers (which we won't have) will be at bar height to serve as an informal dining space.
• The ceiling won't have exposed rafters, but it will have exposed wood, probably stained knotty pine.
• We will have pendant lights hanging over the island, but not those ugly ones, and we will add a hanging pot rack and skylights above.

So, other than those minor little details, our kitchen layout is essentially the same as the one in the picture.

Oh yeah, and ours won't have a giant work order hanging from the ceiling either.

argh!

We hear the folks in the Planning Dept. are arguing over the definition of "subdivision."

We don't expect a verdict anytime soon.

cross sections of the house

(Click on the image above to see a larger version. All plans, photos and images on this blog are the sole property of Andrew & Lynn Jones and Cleek Co. They are not to be used without the written consent of the aforementioned parties.)

So, the upper left and bottom sections don't show much other than the dormers going through the roof and into rooms with a vaulted ceiling. The upper right section shows exactly how the ceiling (sidetrack: isn't "ceiling" a weird word?! anyway...) is vaulted in the master and two rear bedrooms, but flat over the bathrooms. This will leave unfinished attic space for storage.

other elevations (exterior sides of the house)

(Click on the image above to see a larger version. All plans, photos and images on this blog are the sole property of Andrew & Lynn Jones and Cleek Co. They are not to be used without the written consent of the aforementioned parties.)

Now it's pretty easy to see the Craftsman bungalow touches on the house. The siding changes to shingles when the roof starts, and there are exposed rafters and end brackets. There are skylights in the kitchen and one small skylight in each of the two small bedrooms, since they are on the north side of the house and won't get as much natural light.

the floor plan and front of the house

(Click on the image above to see a larger version. All plans, photos and images on this blog are the sole property of Andrew & Lynn Jones and Cleek Co. They are not to be used without the written consent of the aforementioned parties.)

So, this is the final plan. We think it is absolutely perfect for us and the way we live. You might notice that the biggest change between the last plans and these is that we went from two stories in the garage and studio to just one. I think this will make everything a lot simpler. The dormers all serve as clerestory windows, letting light down into the rooms below. Light is SO important in Humboldt County!

If you don't quite get one part or another, drop a comment and we'll let you know what's going on. :)