inspiration for a house

At one point, about 20 years ago, I briefly entertained the idea of being an architect.  I had just finished college with a degree in Social Work and ended up with a job buying books for the University library.  Not exactly using my degree.  So why not change my focus entirely.  Architecture seemed like a logical jump to me.  I even took some courses – one of the benefits of working for a university.  I learned about architectural history.  I learned some basic in drafting.  I decided I wanted to design bathrooms.  I may have been delusional but I was focused.  I never followed that dream

So at about hour 12 of my road trip I began dreaming of designing my perfect house.  I am not sure if the average home owner does this but as I wait to buy my first house I often do this.  This time I found an odd inspiration for my house.  My parents have a 2 stall barn where they have 1 horse.  When the horse dies they have thought of turning it into a guest house.  They have a 4 bedroom, plus 1 study house.  But they have 4 kids, 2 grandkids, and some of their kids actually date.  My step mom has turned the guest bedroom into her study and my brother’s bedroom into the guest room.  Holidays get crowded when we all show up – and this Christmas we are all showing up.

So in my head, for about 2 hours of the trip, I turned that barn into my dream house.  One stall turned into the kitchen, with a farmhouse sink.  French doors leading out to a deck where there is the door that the horse uses to get outside.  A wall of pantries.  The half wall stays and a breakfast bar is installed.  On the other side of the breakfast bar (where they currently store hay) is a simple living room.  The loft is blown out above the living room and kitchen to have vaulted ceilings.  Stairs are installed to a second floor bedroom for Ladybug.  The second horse stall is turned into the master bedroom with French doors to the deck, built in closets and a window bench between the closets.  The tack room is turned into a utility closet.  And the chicken coop (they use to have chickens) is turned into the bathroom.  Ironically it took me quite a long time to design the bathroom.

Now I really want to find a simple free drafting online tool so I can get this down on paper.  I was so into it. 

I was so excited about it that almost 2 hours passed before I looked down and realized the gas light was on.  With no knowledge of how long it was on it meant I had no knowledge about how many miles I could go before we would have a big problem.  We were on a major highway…in the middle of nowhere…going through the mountains.  As luck would have it, there was a sign saying that there was gas at the next exit, so I took it.  At the top of the exit I was instructed to take a left.  So I did.  At the end of that road I was instructed to take a right.  So I did.  At the end of that road I was instructed to take a left.  And I began to think that there should only be advertisements for highway services if it can been seen from the highway. 

Eventually I came to a small old gas station.  I swear the pumps were older than me, not really joking.  I don’t think I have ever used a gas pump that was not digital.  No ability to pay with a credit card.  I went inside and asked if I needed to pay or pump first.  Pay.  Really?  What a trusting town.  Each pump has a different type of gas so I made sure to pull up to the right pump.  Then I go inside to pay.  Where there are 3 men and a teenage boy just standing around gossiping. 

This doesn’t happen in my town.

Mean Mama