Floating Dinning Room Idea Feedback
We have tried this new design idea in our new company show home and are looking for feedback. We have designed this home with a floating dinning room suspended by rock pillars from the basement. Please take a look at all the other parts of the house and let us know including the master bathroom Stone Arched Grotto and the fitness room spa. Thanks, Jim at Baywood Estate Homes.
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Frankly, this house looks strange to me. It seems to have an odd marriage of plenty of windows while the interior spaces seem windowless. The room with the big stone fireplace barely has a few skylights and the family room has the stairs blocking almost all the views.
This is an issue with some of the McMansions I saw when looking for a house to buy: they were full of "features" like a floating dining room, but the over all layout made for awkward rooms.
I don't like the heaviness of the columns.
Stairs between where the cook cooks and where the cook serves are fraught with the risks of tripping, spilling, and endless swearing.
It reminds me of an airport, or something, all that space and columns with no anchor, somehow - not sure why.
I do like the space, though - it's a bit Kate-and-Leo Titanic-esque! I'd be tempted to stick a really comfortable big sofa up there, if anything, so I can sleep on it - bet it gets toasty warm, hot air rising and all that.
In a high end design, materials are luxurious, expensive, imported, rare, refined, exotic, and natural -think of marble, rosewood, and precious metals that have been used for centuries in the world's greatest buildings.
On the other hand, we have the multitude of stone for this home. I think it looks too rustic for a high end home, a bit man-made, and more suited for a cabin-style retail site. If it is real, it appears unnatural because it is too "neat." Overall, your house looks like a Big Box Commercial Winery, as if it is the neutral, hinting-at-luxury background for the real purpose of selling merchandise.
There are too many enclosing beige walls, big boxy fireplaces, and not enough expansive outdoor views for me.
That is one Designer's opinion.
I looked at the additional pictures of the home on your profile. One criticism I have is on the front exterior elevation...the front chimney I believe looks too short against the tall roof line. I would prefer to see the chimney extend above the roofline.
Cheers
Mary
I think the house is most appropriate for the Calgary area, with the deep pockets, the firm Alberta approach to life, and the stunning backdrop of the Rockies to the west. Lucky lucky lucky.
I admire your diplomacy and tact .
I commend you for your creativity, vision, and attention to detail.
Your kitchens are stunning!
understanding the video is not like a live visit, here goes:
it's dark and heavy. it' masculine and commercial. it looks like the clubhouses of
so many country club developments. attractive, expensive but not a home.
too much brown everywhere. the steel stair rails, so many pillars , so much stone, so much sheetrock.
the floating dining room is a miss. who would want to carry a platter of food or a tray of cocktails up 3 steps. the space has an uneasy feel about it as if you're at once on display and yet suspended in isolation.
did i count 2 large sphere chandeliers? 1 in the dining rm and 1 in the rm below? having 2 would seem to diminish the WOW factor of a great pc.
owners suite:
more brown and heaviness. the stone spa tub enclosure with the stone arch grotto seems dungeon like.
vessels sinks are best left to guest powder rooms. in the video, it looks like a person looking in the mirror over the 2nd sink would see the water closet behind him. i hope that's not the case.
on a happier note, the entire kitchen area was very pretty and much brighter with so much natural light. the balcony is a very nice size for entertaining while enjoying beautiful views.
The dining room looks like a hotel lobby, and even having said that, I personally don't enjoy public dining when I feel like I am part of an exhibition, much less in a home.
The stairs appear industrial, the stone pillars are brutally intrusive. My purpose is not to offend,
It seems a bit like someone was trying to be innovative and unique, without a defining concept.
The glass and steel (?) railings are actually agitating next to the stone. They do not work well together.WHO is your target customer ?
The dining room photo of the table and chairs and fireplace is a pleasing look, if it wasn't suspended and surrounded by the glass wall and commercial staircase.
My own personal opinion is to have more of an understanding of design as SECONDARY to function, and to get some professional advice about a plan that actual customers would want. You can still have a wow factor while working within the confines of good design ( knowing how and when to incorporate elements such as stone, metal and glass ). Large and equal amounts of too many applications are chaotic . I would personally rather see less of " look what nobody else has !" and more design integrity.
It appears you have some quality with regard to the actual materials used ; they just don't work well together.
Keep the quality and go forward.
( I have only viewed the photos of suspended dining room )
Its a show house. Show houses are supposed to be beyond our dreams, fantasy like. At least for me this house is a DREAM.
Good job!
I wouldn't use it as a dining room, but it looks small and not very cozy (thanks to all the glass) for a den.
I'd recommend figuring out how to get your living room to have the view.
Stick with the masculine rustic vibe. A big moose mount over the fireplace. My perfect bachelor pad.
I have looked at the Hawk's landing website. I do love with their vision for the community, choices of materials, style of architecture, and other than the golfing, the site.
My design philosophy is to enhance the best qualities of the elements, and creatively turn problems or limitations into assets.
I think the best features of this site are the trees, large lot sizes, amazing hillside views, and commonly-themed architectural styles that embrace nature. Their outlined restrictions of "ostentatious or inappropriate" materials or designs best reflect the style of the community. Da Vinci said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" and Socrates said,"... nothing in excess." In the restraint, beauty is created.
And I get it that people are paying top dollar for this design philosophy to be expressed in their homes.
However, in your admirable pursuit of being creative - you have broken the sensible rules outlayed, used some materials to excess, and sometimes failed to enhance the glorious outdoor vistas.
By making use of the lofty space as a dining area or anything else, you created a scary eagle's nest with the living space below it becoming a dark dungeon. You have used glass railings throughout the interior - which your community restricts (with good reason) for outdoor use. I believe the reason for this stipulation is because it is a modern element that doesn't fit with the Arts & Crafts, Craftsman, Tudor, and French Country architectural guidelines.
If your design ideas truly embrace the natural site, and the architectural styles chosen, there is no reason that the only way to stretch the bounds is to go completely contemporary or modern. You can use modern sensibilities of clean lines, natural materials, and simplicity. Modern sleekness, plastic, chrome, and pop art colours seem out of place in the mountains, and more suited to an urban abode.
Keep on being creative and pursuing excellence in your design process. But understand the rules, and the reasons for restraint - respect them as a door to creative possibilities.
I would never choose a house that had steps from kitchen to dining room. I've made and served too many meals in my day to even consider it. Obviously, others feel the same. It's almost frightening to think of the work of carrying food and plates up and down those steps. I'll happily climb stairs all day long, but not carrying trays of food. Older people will especially shun it. It's also completely unlivable for anyone with physical challenges.
Except that modern in the country is a definite possibility, but form follows function, always.
"Open your Eyes" by Alexandra Stoddard has an excellent guide to proportion which shows how the golden rule of proportion should be the basis of all design. I would study books like this and try to evaluate your designs through the lens she suggests.
As I said earlier, the multitude of angles inside this home makes me feel very uncomfortable just looking at it. There is no where for the eye to rest.
Just tell him what you don't like, but don't go into thinking your ideas are superior.
Perhaps 'note the correct spelling' is in another post, but the one I am looking at doesn't mention that. People don't like to see their spelling and grammar corrected, but in general, it is a good thing for a professional to know if s/he has made a mistake.
My point above, was not to assume your reactions to what you see on the screen actually reflect what was going on with the poster and to give everyone extra space on a blog because we are working without the cues we would have in meat space.
Now, if I commend Jim am I going to be labelled haughty? I'd like to thank him for listening to all of us.
What's my investment? I'd like to see us all building and designing spaces that are ecologically sound and will stand the test of time aesthetically. Then we are contributing beauty and a high quality of life for all of us.
The hovering dining area is a new idea- the openness and height might be good for sometimes, but not so good for intimate dinners, and off limits to anyone with limitations. And - I have friends who would be in constant discomfort there because of being able to see down through the glass enclosures (you do not know how many people out there are terrified of heights and bridges!). Which does not mean that is isn't perfect for someone - but that they won't be inviting anyone with a fear of heights or any disability.
It does seem a bit commercial to me at the lower levels, but not in the bedrooms, which seem to have a feeling of privacy and calm ( and could use richer decors) Do not like the staircase dominating the area under the dining platform - that is a factor in making this look like a public lobby area, not somewhere to get cozy, despite the stone and fireplace. And if areas aren't welcoming , they won't be used.
Some of my plaints are private -as in you need help to run this place, even to have a dinner party. But I think there are a lot of folks who are like me, youthful 60's, which are beginning to screen design through eyes that scan for potentially insurmountable obstacles on the one hand, and those little graces which which make life easier.
Isn't that crazy? "
ah, DINING FOR DINNING
typo
I am sorry if my joke about spelling did not come across as I intended. Thank you for pointing out that it seemed haughty to you, and I assure you that was not my intention. I will continue to insert ha-ha whenever I make a joke, which is hard to do on the interweb (ha-ha it's internet, not interweb).
As to my other comments that you quoted: "In your admirable pursuit of being creative", "keep on being creative and pursuing excellence" you can only take my word for it that these words are praise for Jim. I do think Jim is pursuing "the best" possibilities for design and his business. That includes asking for honest feedback. He isn't asking for hand-holding (((hugs))) or nice compliments only pppppplease!!!, because how would he ever get better if that's all he heard?
Many people have taken time to express their opinions, in the interest of better design.
For some reason, this unique home pushes buttons. That is much better by far than anything boring or copied.
Peace?
And even though I love the kitchen, the stove enclosure with the high walls/lack of storage around it would drive a real cook like me completely crazy!
Oh my!
Hopefully, the residents of 11 Hawk's Landing do not speak English.
I do not think I have ever witnessed someone insult all the residents of a development in Canada.
After viewing the video, I would like to express a positive vision for this home.
1) If I purchased a home like this, although beautiful, it would not be my primary home. It would make a fabulous second or third home complete with butler/driver, maid and cook. I would love to have it available when I wanted it. During the times I didn't plan on being there, I would list it as a luxury rental on a world wide market. This type of use for the home works well with it's more commercial feel. Having the personal services available means that I could ignore the commercial feel of it and let others worry about taking care of me. It would also help to insure that it wasn't abused and that it was well cared for. Who of us doesn't enjoy being pampered at a luxury motel. Thus, (as always) the location would be of prime importance. Putting this in a development would not be my first choice. That's not where I would want to spend time away from home.
2) The aesthetics created by the positive and negative space and abundance of natural stone lend itself to a rugged environment. I can see this fitting in nicely on piece of property that sits on a stone cliff overlooking a gorgeous view of the mountains or ocean or maybe on an island. (Not in a place where you bring the kids to go swimming and track in sand or any other place where it might sustain abnormal environmental abuse nor in an area developed for economical family vacations).
In my opinion, some of the negative comments above reflect the idea that this is a primary residence. Viewed in a different context, I believe most people would have a positive review.
Thank you for asking for our thoughts. Best wishes.
It is my observation, after a bit of idle Sunday morning googling, that Jim here appears to walks the walk, while some of the other critics here...I'm sure you get the message.
residence, given its location, and I second your thoughts of it being used as an investment vacation rental property. It is a very "adult oriented " home and not meant for buyers in their late 50's or 60's for
the reasons stated in some of the previous posts. I totally get the reasoning behind the floating dining room and the ability to put more light into the basement level making it appear to be part of the overall house and not a subterranean dungeon. However, the execution seems to lack something and maybe one can take the above comments and use them to tweak the concept, so that it is more inviting to a wider audience of vacation home buyers.