SqC Home

I guess I'm not as crazy as I thought:  "The courtyard house is usually built as a square. The open middle can be a pretty courtyard made with many plants, flowers, trees and shrubs.  It should be designed in a way that invites you to enjoy the outdoor space."  Taken from http://www.doityourself.com/stry/tips-for-designing-courtyard-house-plans, after I wrote this and then read the article, with many uncanny similarities to my choice of words and imagery.

I dreamed up a house design last night.  And I do so wish I had pictures to share with you, but I don't have any architectural software.  You will just have to use the imaginative side of yourself.  Just think of a perfect square with the middle cut out.  A square donut, perhaps.  Definitely think modern, but not ultra-modern.  Perhaps a mix of modern and contemporary with a mix of elegant and slightly shabby chic, just not too shabby.

So there's four wings.  The first wing is where the front entrance would be.  Perhaps a little stoop.  This wing is just a wide hallway connecting two of the wings.  On the inside of the wall that is the "outside wall," is a long line of cabinets, a low built-in shelf with enclosed cabinets.  Imagine modern cabinetry.  Practically anything that is needed often, but is better hidden away can be kept in these cabinets.  On top, vases, pottery and other pieces of art could be placed.  The remaining wall that is facing the completely-enclosed courtyard is made of glass.

This initial hallway wing connects to the kitchen, great room and dining area, which is one open wing.  The inside of the wall that is on the courtyard is the kitchen.  There would be cabinets, a range, a kitchen sink and a refrigerator here.  There's a window above the sink overlooking the enclosed courtyard.  There's an island/bar here with glass-door cabinets beneath a beautiful slab of white granite streaked with black.  The island/bar cabinets have small glass panes with wood separating and holding the panes, much like traditional windows found in old historic homes.  There's comfy bar stools on the opposite side of the island/bar.

Also in this wing is the great room.  Other than the one kitchen window over the courtyard, all of the other three walls are made of glass.  Right in front of the kitchen, on the other side of the island/bar, is the great room with a couch that sits in the middle of the room.  Its back is to the island/bar.  And it's a nice long couch too.  Sitting there, one can look out through the glass over a wide deck that is accessible through French doors.  A low-lying and lengthy open bookshelf that holds a flat screen on top and books, DVDs, knick-knacks and art pieces below is along this longest glass wall.  Perhaps a couple of comfortable chairs on each side of the couch.  Fairly basic.

There's space to walk between the bar stools and the couch to reach the final part of this wing, the dining room.  In the far corner of this nearly glass-enclosed room is a dining table and chairs which is also made of glass.  Now there is a wall behind it because the large airy bathroom is located there.  On this wall is a built-in china cabinet.  Right in line with the island/bar is the bathroom door.  At this point, the second and third wing would be blending, as only the corners would be considered two wings simultaneously.  A huge tub is a must and a rock-and-pebble shower.  It'd be nice to have a large farmer's sink in the bathroom.  Of course, a toilet and a bidet.

Right next to the bathroom, as you leave this wing and enter into the bulk of the third wing, is the walk-in closet.  Gorgeous built-in rich wood cabinets and shelves to hold the perfect wardrobe.  The closet is similar to the bathroom in that it is also enclosed.  Leave the closet and you're in this wing that is made up entirely of a bedroom and a sitting area complete with a stone fireplace.  On the wall that holds the closet are two sitting chairs with a low table.  There's a nice long window here.  This wall is floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.  A nice library and a comfortable place to sit and read.

On the wall that would be to the outside of the house, is the fireplace, just a few feet down from the "library" window.  The fireplace is pretty near the foot of the bed, or you could think of it as the bed sits opposite the sitting area.  The headboard of the high bed is up against the narrow end wall because the final wing is the garage, so it is not open to the other wings.  Above the bed on two sides up near the ceiling running from the fireplace around to where the garage starts are medium-length narrow windows spaced evenly to bring in light, but afford great privacy.  The wall that faces the courtyard is again, all glass.  There's also French doors here to be able to enter the courtyard.  This is the only entrance to the courtyard.

The courtyard is a garden and a hot tub.  It would be nice if it were large enough for a pool, but that's not possible with the other dimensions of the house being pretty reasonable.  It's a house obviously intended for one person, two at most.

The final wing being the garage is accessed through the open garage door by car.  The garage wing is parallel to the kitchen/great room/dining area wing.  Just imagine that when you pull the car in, the nose of the car would be right near the bed if the walls weren't there.  There's a door from the inside of the garage that is at one end of the first wing, the long wide hallway.

There you have it.  It's what I call SqC denoting simply, Square Home with a Courtyard.