Building a tiny house on wheels

Tiny House on wheels

Inspirational blog...

I think it's great to share ideas, that's how we all grow and learn. Here's a great little blog about someone building their own tiny house.  Looks like it'll probably be more like a 5th wheel Camper, a house built on a trailer.

http://imbuildingatinyhouse.blogspot.com


If you're interested in house plans or cabin plans, get in touch, I've been drawing on lots of great designs we can work together on.

sddrawings.com

Gifts to the Street, a very brief recognition and study in urban planning.

Gifts to the Street

A very brief recognition and study in urban planning… or, The problem I have with Huntsville's newest art installation.

It doesn't take a long jog or walk here in the South to recognize when a shady bench has been installed for pedestrians, especially in the summer time.  This photo taken this morning, shows just such an installation in the City of Huntsville, AL (taken on a cold Fall morning).  Why it's put there when it's cold, I'm not sure.  Still sounds like a good idea though, though for a moment,  let's consider the problem with putting our backs to the street.

Someone undoubtedly had the good idea to do some planters, a bench and playfully colored awnings.  Looks great right?  Now, what is harder to see in this photo is the downtown street JUST on the other side of this canvas awning.  There is absolutely zero chance I'll be able to relax on this bench, knowing cars are zipping just behind me a few feet away.  So here's to who ever had the good idea to make an art installation; great idea, poor planning.  We want to at least see the Ford that mows us down, and before I get lambasted for my critical thinking, please read on…

Pedestrians have every right to feel safe from these fast moving metal boxes on wheels.  We do not do so well when taking them on, "Mano e Mano".  So if we were to design in several very easy fixes into our streetscapes, we could easily become a much more walkable town, see general health and mental well being surge.  I do not hold a PHD, though it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize the benefits of healthy exercise such as walking to contribute to a community's good health and mental well being.

My proposal is to offer Pedestrians a more friendly bench, in the form of "Gifts to the street".  This is where the general edge your house or business stops being part of your property and falls more into the public realm.

In this picture, you can see a very old rock wall that denotes the edge of lawn, clearly defining the house's property and the public domain. The water service should give you an indication of the age of this streets cape   

What the above design gives pedestrians, is a place to sit that faces a sidewalk and the street.  There is a sidewalk with a grass border and street trees.  The street trees serve many functions.

1. Shade in the summer
2. Blocking wind in the winter, while allowing sun light through
3. A mental and physical barrier from the street

Further more, on street parking offers yet another layer of protection for pedestrians.  So taking cues from long ago, you can see a much more safer "Gift" to the street, than the art installation.  Though this rock wall looks weathered, you can dress this up as much as you would like.  Look around you neighborhood and see how pedestrian friendly it is designed.

sddrawings.com

Sneak Preview

A Sneak Preview

After burning the midnight oil...

2d Cadd still is the best method of producing a quick and accurate set of plans.  Here is a client's house with a wing set at an angle.  For more unique designs, check out our projects after the jump.

sddrawings.com

DIY, With a "Can Do" attitude

DIY inspiration

Now I just need my own lot and a forman...

http://littlehouseonthehill.weebly.com

Great little blog about someone building their own Cabin.  Great inspiration for the DIY types.
If you're interested in cabin plans, get in touch, I've been drawing on lots of great little plans we can work together on.

sddrawings.com

Casual Friday, Bathroom Follies

When the design and follow through just don't Jive 

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades...

Pictures speak a thousand words, sometimes they can be just as funny. Looking at the bright side of design and construction management, here are a few unknown images I've borrowed from the web. Note: if these are your images, let me know, I'll credit you.  

For Best Friends at Home:

For Best Friends at the office:

Client must have REALLY needed extra room on the other side of this closet

There are times when things are built and a contractor will build EXACTLY what a designer draws or a client requests.  More often times than not, it is a passive aggressive stance they are taking to prove a point.  I have no doubt that these situations were rectified, though the hilarity in each point can be appreciated.  Happy Friday, hope all you and yours have a great weekend of being able to appreciate the time you get to spend with one another.

sddrawings.com

Like the launch of a new boat... so goes a book review

RE: Selected readings to grow 

Well read and practiced, grows your mind and your business...

I have a lot of theories on building and design.  What I believe looks good, what has to be done so something can work and then there are topics I know I should research more.  Trade publications and books on construction and design fill those gaps.  Though there is more to running a business than just learning more about your trade.

Running a business sounds daunting.  For the most part it can be.  The biggest obstacle you will face is revenue, which is directly connected to how many people even know you are available and what you can do for them.  For Designers and Builders, we are constantly looking for the next niche to find great work.  Sure the grocery money is nice so you can fill the pantry, but getting your name, your brand out there can be one of the biggest questions marks on just how to do that economically.

Architect Steve Mouzon has authored a new book where he shares inside knowledge pertaining to the architecture and construction industries titled New Media for Designers and Builders.  In his book, he shares where we've been as a profession and insights into where we're heading; how to talk to clients as a layman and challenges any entrepreneur (not just to those in the design/build fields) 

He asks "What are we doing to cultivate a more authentic voice", which spoke to me as the entire basis on our new networking and advertising path we all find ourselves on.  He rightly justifies what not do as well as steers the reader in a beneficial direction towards getting their name/brand out there.  His book very well could be used across industries, so if you're in IT, business, marketing, etc... consider checking it out.

"So Great, what's so special about a book geared towards media for Designers and Builders?"

Well, While reading his book, I noticed I kept coming back to previous bookmarks to research ideas further.  He makes it very convenient to look into additional material by the way his book is designed compared to other media.  Just as in his Architecture practice, Steve is ahead of the curve on using technology to circumvent the printing press and is using smart devices to engage the reader.  Part of this format is in the use of

external links,  where at the other end of a click, you are greeted with a light hearted and often amusing story regarding the topic at hand.

The book sets a precedent for interactiveness other media just hasn't touched on yet with 

internal links, allowing you to explore ideas and topics easily.  You can even jump to an online discussion forum to ask and answer questions for each section in the book.

this is truly unique

sddrawings.com

2 houses, 3 doors down

Two Houses, 3 doors down,

It's pretty special to make a site visit to see two of my houses so close...

Bungalow #1 started Design months ago, we had a snag on setbacks, and have finally pulled a permit.  http://www.houzz.com/projects/292461/Bungalow-Design By clicking the link, you can see the design as well as the forms set up for the slab to be poured.

Bungalow #2 is well under way, with the footings and slab poured and curing.  Framing to come next. http://www.houzz.com/projects/330211/Bungalow--2  After the jump in the link, you can see the design of this house as well as construction photos.

I want to ask for you to check me out on Houzz and leave some feedback, so I'm just going to leave the links in this post and let you see the pictures of construction and design after the jump ;)

http://www.houzz.com/pro/michael-sherrod/sherrod-drawings

As always, you can contact me through my web site

sddrawings.com

I would like to give a special thanks to Renaissance Builders for their hard work and determination to get both of these projects off the ground.