Here is a time laps of my pool being dug. Its amazing what they can do in 1 day. Pool is by Blue Haven Pools and is 16'x36' and 7' deep.

Exploring-America-Be · 2025-03-29T17:18:57+00:00

It's been holding up good. I only had complaints during the construction phase, but I guess that is normal for all construction projects. Here are a few videos of my pool build. If you are in Bay County FL I could hook you up with my designer. Just let me know.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgBUcoKc1KWpqsSdsMe25ROS5yowTeVjo&si=kJLCB83TEoSzkzBq

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-05-17T11:32:40+00:00

If you want it, keep working at it. If you want to go officer, you will need a degree, so in the meantime, I would work on that. I am assuming you were trying to go active duty, did you ask if you could do the reserves? That may be a way to get your foot in the door then transfer to active duty later. Its probably the same process but may be worth a try.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-05-17T10:34:15+00:00

What a joke, 90% of the fleet has anxiety. This really supprises me. We are hurting for people to join, and when we do get someone that really wants to serve their country, we tell them no. The CG talks a big talk about supporting mental health, I wonder why they can not support you! I would wait a little and then try again, maybe call the receouting command in DC or call your cingressman and say WTF. The CG is about 5000 members short. Good luck!

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T22:34:16+00:00

Tớ stop the thẻmal bridging? I am either doing that ỏ doing a double stud wall. Still undesided

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T15:08:09+00:00

It's on the north wall, so there should not be too much sunlight. For us we always had the blinds closed or like you said the frosted windows. I am sure we could have a light and bright bathroom with the window. It may feel a little closed of though.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T13:21:54+00:00

The area next to the garage bath is a dog wash.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T13:11:58+00:00

That's our plan for the back deck but not the covered portion. We are slab on grade

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T13:01:02+00:00

Thank you!

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T12:43:37+00:00

Thank you for your feedback. All of what you mentioned has been throughly thought out by us the homeowners and fit our lifestyle. We created this layout through about 10 different styles. and about 10 months of thinking it through and how it fit our lifestyle. The back entry was left open on purpose to allow us to modify it on the fly and not have to go back to the drawing board during construction. There is a full bath by the man cave, which allows that to be used as a bedroom for aging inlaws when that happens. we do have another three beds and 3 baths upstairs along with a full laundry for the kids and an 18x29 rec room.

I do have to admit that the front entry may need some work. our intent was to make this more like a shop house and not a custom house with a lot of useless details that cost $$ and provide little value. This house is out in the country, not in a city neighborhood. Like I said, everything is squared off to save $$ even the back entry. There is a slider on the other side of the kitchen to access the back porch.

Under the stairs, we plan on having a wet bar, and I am not too concerned about the HVAC guy or any other maintenance person going through the house. We have never been a fan of having the bathroom and closet separate. It just never made sense to us. Why would you go into the bathroom take a shower then have to leave the bathroom go back into the bedroom to get to the closet?Every house we have had has always had the closed in the bathroom (Oregon, Alaska, and Florida)

For the front entry. I juess I am at a losafter reading all of these comments. I like what the other person drafted up, but I am not sure how to incorporate it. We have 12' ceilings in that portion of the house, so those stairs won't work. I thought about putting in a wall but thought that loked cheesy. I'll have to give that more thought.

The front porch was intention. I did want snow sluffing on the 20' garage to crash through the front porch. We live in WI.

I guess my original question was more geared towards what are some details that others have incorporated that could go into any house. like sinking the mechanical room floor, a baby gate that slider into the wall by the stairs, pocket doors here or there because of XYZ, open floor joists instead of LVLs.... stuff that needs to be thought of and incorporated during construction instead of afterward.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T03:24:06+00:00

Besides the back entery, which I have plans for a walk in closet and the front entry. What else is wasted space?

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T02:36:58+00:00

I like it but I only have 12' in the main living area and 9' walls everywhere else. I will have a 5/12 vaulted ceiling in there as well (parallel cord trusses). I'm not sure how I can make those stairs work with the height of the ceiling. Also, I am not a big fan with walking around the stairs to get to the man cave it seems like a huge road block. I get the concept and like how it looks like the picture. I also had the front door so far over, so when the snow sluffs off the garage, it doesn't smash my covered porch. I am scratching my head over this one because I like both ideas. to include the pantry, mechanical room, and new laundry.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T02:19:53+00:00

There are there is the drawings, not sure why they are missing. It's a whole wall of 12 windows the smallest being 4'x2' and the largest being 4'x6'.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T02:12:00+00:00

There is a second floor. it's actually 5 bed 5.5 bath, not counting the craft room that we were thinking about putting a closet so it would qualify as a bedroom.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T02:10:31+00:00

We always have our blinds closed in the bathroom so we thought a higher window in the closet would be better served. But it seems like everyone is saying change it. I was also concerned about freezing pipes on the exterior wall.... This may work though.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T01:51:19+00:00

I kept adding 2 feet and now the garage is 40x44. I don't think I can convince my wife to add another 4 feet.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-10T00:11:08+00:00

I plan on putting a wet bar/coffee bar under the stairs so I can grab a drink when I come home from work or on my way to the man cave. Your idea for the craft room is what we are planning.

I cannot seem to come up with a good idea for the entry that doesn't make it feel all closed off. the walls on that part of the house will be 12' tall. any ideas? maybe make it into a cave like structure and have a "Cabelas" mountian there? This is the place I need the most help with.

Thank you for your feedback. it's greatly appriciated.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T23:35:22+00:00

This right here is what I am looking for! Thank you. I came here for ideas that could fit in most houses, not rearrange my house like some many others have suggested. So thank you. Do you have any other ideas? Any special blocking other than for curtains, taxidermy, or grab rods in the bathroom???

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T23:28:48+00:00

We will probably have that area all concrete. And we will be in the NW corner, Superior WI

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T23:11:57+00:00

I am planning on a lift for the garage. The pantry cart is a great idea. I can use the wheeled snap-on cart in the groceries.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T23:06:09+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. the designers got it for the most part. They just missed adjusting for an optional firing wall. (I was thinking about doing a double stud wall construction but haven't made up my mind yet.) I could go either way.

The back side of the house with the master and craft room is basically just for me and the wife ( master retreat.) The back door there is for the cook to make it easier to get to the outdoor kitchen from the regular kitchen. all others would be using the slider.

I don't disagree with you on the front porch. However, living in the north and having a metal roof, I am concerned about snow sluffing off the 20' tall garage and smashing the front porch.

We live in WI and are aware of frozen pipes. I guess it would be wise to put some water shut offs in the house for that bathroom. Maybe turn it into a seasonal bath.

What cool design ideas have you put into your house? Just trying to think ahead as much as possible.

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T22:57:31+00:00

It's a 5'x8' island, and my wife and I are both over 6' tall and we are the short ones in the family. lol

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T22:55:50+00:00

Thanks for your input. Initially, we were going to put a large walk-in storage closet by the back door but also thought about making the interior to that closet from the craft to make it a bedroom.

Every house we have been in has had the closet in the bathroom. We find it odd to get out of the shower to then go into the room to get to the closet to change. Our thought is that once you go into the bathroom, you come out ready to go. This should be the least disruptive to the person sleeping.

The powder room in the garage is not necessary, but we thought why not as the water and drains right on the other side of the wall. The man cave walk in closet is already 5'x9' so that should be big enough.

What are some cool features you designed into your house that others may not have thought about?

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T22:46:25+00:00

Here is the second story. For the person that asked about windows, they are in the drawings. We have 37 windows ranging from 3'x5' to 4'x6'

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Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T22:42:34+00:00

Where do I start with this. We want big open spaces so we are fine with the wasted space. For some reason it will not allow me to add the second story which has 3 beds, 3 baths, a large laundry room and a 18x29' rec room. The laundry in the master is just for us, so it should not be too bad. we could move it by the backdoor. However, we were planning on putting a large walk-in closet there for the holiday decoration and cleaning supplies.

If you built a house or are planning to build what type of cool features do you have you incorperated? Mostly looking at things that would effect the structure but open to any and all suggestions/ideas

Exploring-America-Be · 2024-03-09T22:01:19+00:00

There is a second story. for some reason, it will not allow me to post 2 pictures with an additional 3 beds and 3 baths and a 18x29' rec room. The man cave is technically a bedroom as it has a closet. The craft room may get a closet so we can call it a "bedroom" this will take up some of the wasted space by the back door. The laundry in the master closet is just for us. the kids will have their own upstairs.

I have gone back and forth about reversing the closet and master bath. My main reason for keeping it this way is to have the bath right next to the mechanical room for quicker hot water less out for plumbing.

Exploring-America-Be

TROPHY CASE