1908 Oaklawn - Oh That Porch
We are happy to announce that our latest home, 1908 Oaklawn Avenue, has sold.
And just to brag, it received 2 offers plus a backup offer within the fist 24 hours of showing and sold just above the asking price.
If you want to see how it showed up on the real estate market, check out the Buy section.
What about that porch?
Before I start rambling though, first a bit of fun. See here three images side by side. The idea, the developed design, and the built project:
There is a lot of stuff in this house that wanted to be worked out. Not the least of which was how the heck to squeeze 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths into less than 2,000 square feet. And make that feel effortless. Spacious. How to make a portion of it rentable as a completely functioning suite if so desired. How to offer a deck and screened in terrace. Energy star rating and solar panel capabilities. A metal roof? And all that within a sale price of 210 - 240 $/sf. All offerings and a price that the market demanded. The list was long.
So what about that porch? Well it itself is chock-full of considerations.
First it had to handle the most difficult dilemma. The Southern sun.
How the heck do I get the Southern sun into the house when it comes from the direction I need the most privacy to? The southern sun offers the best warm cozy light for a home while also is the best manageable in regards to solar gain.
The street, not the smallest side road exactly, is straight to the left.
By tucking a band of porches into the building, by subtracting from the building volume with this ribbon of warmth, several goals were accomplished.
It created 5 foot overhangs to shield the interior from the high summer sun and invite the low winter sun.
It created elegant buffer zones from the interior to the exterior. Providing a sense of privacy, a protective area.
It offered a front porch.
It visually tied together the black one-story and white two-story building volumes.
This following image was taken during construction. You can see how the sausage is made. But more importantly check out those shadows. The time stamp on this image is July 26 at 1:17 pm. That’s about as close to the worst solar bombardment as you can get. Windows being shaded like this reduces the air conditioning system’s effort and your carbon foot print tremendously.
Talk about privacy.
In addition I placed the bedroom that also functions as an optional in-law suite, Airbnb, or home office in the front. It pushed the main living area back into the property and away from the street. Lastly I located the dining area, a more open and public spot to the front of the main space and the more private living area to the secluded rear.
While the southern sun does not directly reach the couch, the warm sun-filled front telecasts its’ qualities throughout the entire open first floor plan.
That’s not all.
That much established it got better and better. The band of porches now allowed:
To introduce two more exterior cladding materials: brick and wood. The first brought a much needed rugged earthy texture, the latter warmth.
To provide overhangs for all the exterior doors as rain protection when entering.
To light up the whole affair including the entrances elegantly with overhead lights and not to clutter up the walls with electrical fixtures.
And then throw in German engineering.
The best part was to take the opportunity and get creative on the structure. Eliminating any posts and railings meant I had to go to town and cantilever this thing in every which direction. (My favorite part from this sewing pattern is the pocket on the top of the drawings that allows an HVAC duct to run into the bathroom. It meant that the most important cantilever that holds up the second floor ended on yet another beam. (Sorry, but that’s how geeking-out looks like in my world.)
Best of all, these shenanigans allowed exclusively for floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor for an open, spacious, light filled interior.
All those windows and glass doors are within this recessed ribbon for a cool suave look, solar gain protection, weather protection, and just a pure sexy attitude.
Did I mentioned that those windows are imported from Germany? They both swing and tilt inwards. The tilt setting is to allow for a simple breeze.
With the overhangs you can open the windows even on a nice rainy spring day. If you want some, hit up the crew at Bauwerk.
And check out how all this messing-around tugs the kitchen into the wall, sticking out but a few inches. Hmm … just drop dead gorgeous. Simply unadulterated luxury and elegance.
You can see more and read up on this home in the Buy section, the Built Projects section, Charlotte Agenda, Short Walk Home, 5Points Realty Blog, Houzz, and Dwell.
~ Toby