12x12
I was a bit surprised by how livable a space you can construct in
a 12x12x12'box. You do have to make really efficient use
of your overhead. This design assumes a fixed ladder (on the bed
side) and a rolling ladder on the kitchen side.
16x16
This design has a center pillar, which isn't strictly necessary.
Getting rid of it and using heavier floor joists for the 2nd floor
makes it much less awkward. It uses a gambrel roof mostly because
the extra space on the upper floor (if you use straight walls)
doesn't really buy you much ectra function, and because the thing
would be awfully damn ugly, otherwise.
20x20
Two bedrooms, which in my estimation makes this the first thing
that can really be plausibly called a "house". In order to make
the two bedrooms, I had to reduce the walking space between the
beds and walls to as little as 30" in spaces. This is workable,
but cramped. I usually like to be at 36" or more.
The 20x22 foot variation of this, (lengthening the house by 2')
produces a design that makes me much happier.
24x24
Now we've got enough breadth to actually use the attic
space effectively. We're also into the range where
zoning ordinances about height above grade can start to be
a problem. I'd actually be tempted to leave the
attic space open, and stick with three somewhat cramped
bedrooms on the second floor. Note the unevenly spaced
posts holding up the center-beam. The kitchen is now an
actual separate room.
28x28
the masterbedroom now has its own bathroom,
and the upstairs hall is big enough for loitering,
and to keep people from banging elbows.
32x32
Two smaller rooms in opposite corners as
offices/parlor/den, with the kitchen-dining
and family/playroom diagonally the other way.
There are enough bedrooms now so that some
of them could be combined into larger spaces,
and/or commandeered for other purposes.
36x36
We're now ranging into the ridiculously large category,
with over 4000 sqft of usable space. Most of the
"bedrooms" are arranged in pairs so that they can be
used a suites, and this is the first time I designed in
a basement. THe roof design isn't quite a cross-gable,
it's just got two very large dormers. The main roof
could be gambrel or gable, depending on esthetics and
any local height restrictions. (Gambrel roofs are
great for dealing with the discovery that your house is
a few feet too tall.) This is also the first time
There's been enough space to put in a for-real
chimney stack.
I may (or may not) go back and clean up the sketches, or put links to bigger diagrams. If anyone feels like swiping these diagrams as the basis for designs of their own, feel free, but be aware that I am neither trained nor liscenced as an architect, engineer, or design professional of any kind.