Simple Single Story Passive Solar Home

This simple and inexpensive to construct one story home has 3'–wide doorways throughout for easy wheelchair access. The plans call for 8' ceilings on the main level, but they can vault to 12' down the centerline if you use scissors trusses (instead of standard trusses) to construct the roof. The house features great views to the rear, optional balconies or decks along the rear wall, and a 36'x8' covered porch along one side. It can be a passive solar house if it faces north.

The plans for the original house call for brick veneer siding, but you can of course use anything you wish on the outside. From the covered front porch you enter a foyer space with a coat nook on one side. The right side of the house is devoted to the living areas, which are all open to each other. The far wall along the living and dining areas is fill with windows providing abundant natural light and views. If you choose to build the optional balcony or deck shown in the floor plans, one of the windows can be replaced by a glass door. A pair of French doors off the dining area open to the side porch.

The kitchen is separated from the dining area by a peninsula counter with a raised edge for casual eating or serving. It has room for a central island (if proper space for wheelchair turning is not necessary), sinks beneath a pair of windows that – if operable – can allow things to be passed directly to and from the porch, and a deep walk–in pantry. A door off the kitchen opens to a laundry room with space for a freezer, a half bath, a storage closet, and a two–car garage with pull–down stairs accessing attic storage.

The other side of the house is devoted to the bedrooms, which are accessed by a short hallway. Bedroom 2 – which could be used as a study or home office – has a view to the front, while Bedroom 3 looks out to the rear, and both share a full bath. The master bedroom has four windows (or three with a glass door if you choose to build an optional balcony or deck) that look out to the rear, and another window facing the side. You pass a walk–in closet and pull–down stairs in the ceiling for attic access on the way to the bath, which features a whirlpool or soaking tub, a separate shower, and both a toilet and a bidet.

Stairs off the kitchen lead to an unfinished lower level, but if you don't need the stairs you could have a long storage closet instead.

Garage
The garage is semi–attached, and can be entered from 3 different directions. It is separated from the main house by a mudroom in the laundry area.

Construction Info
You have the option of using scissor trusses if you want to vault the ceiling on the main floor, which otherwise has an 8' ceiling.