Eco Open Plan

Another dream house theme for me is being able to benefit from ecologically sound principles. Using the right building materials is important, taking advantage of renewable energies where it is feasible so many of my designs have large windows to support solar gain and natural space heating.

The ground builds up around the bottom to the left of the plan

This design goes even further though ... called Sous Terrain ... it is partially underground and has the addition of solar thermal panels and a grey water system.

Large Windows for Solar Gain

Solar thermal panels both at ground level and on an adjacent 'shed'
which houses the pumping systems for the solar thermal and the grey water.
Some of solar thermal output heats a swimming pond.
(absent house walls courtesy of design program flaw)

Where the house is sous terrain the windows are raised to
accommodate the changing ground level 

Through the archway the master suite is underground,
on a mezzanine level to accommodate a dressing room below.

The front entrance has a glazed screen to maintain ambient temperature

A selection of fantasies ...

Here is a design I made a while ago - not a big fancy fantasy as such ... but I cannot do clutter free - I just cannot keep it up! So this small space is very much fantasy in being just that!

This narrow and long modern living room is decorated in pale neutrals
and incorporates glass and mirrors for that 'barely there' so 'I am a bigger room' look

This is not a house but a Zen themed garden area:

I have always loved water encapuslated into a garden - this luxury formal pool is the centrepiece surrounded by shaded seating areas with the sound of running water from the cascade and the rustle of bamboo in the breeze

And this one is a luxurious master suite:

Soft colours, the luxury of a four poster bed and through the archways glamorous ensuite
and dressing room facilities - what more could a woman want to help her get a restful night?

Obviously I like quirky little spaces ...

I called this one "Noodle Soup" - it has that oriental flavour again with the bamboo, the lanterns, touches of lucky red, ducks.
It has circular decking and a view right through to the sea, rocks and distant mountains.

Staying with an outdoor theme there is this little weekend hideaway 

With a little moat and drawbridge to gain access and outdoor dining and relaxing areas
I would love to head out to this little cabin after a week at work ...

The magic of Christmas ... a childhood fantasy?

Santa is peeping through the window to see if the coast is clear for him to pop the presents under the  pretty twinkling Christmas Tree ... and the reindeer take a rest