House Design Plans & Unusual House Plans From

Sea Breeze has a simple exterior form, but it is full of surprises inside, and has lots of outdoor spaces for those who like to be close to nature. Like all of Ms. Coleman's designs, Sea Breeze was originally designed for a client who wanted an energy–efficient, passive solar home. You can build this house facing in whatever direction suits your needs, but if you're interested in building it as a passive solar home, please read the section below titled Passive Solar Info for specific information on orientation.

First Floor
The front porch runs the length of the house, widening to a 12' depth on either end. The foyer opens to a parlor/study that can function as a formal dining room, and to an optional spiral staircase that would lead to the loft, should you choose to build it. Double doors bring you to the kitchen and the dining area, which are separated by a breakfast bar. The kitchen is located in the very center of the home, and the atrium above it brings in lots of natural light. A large walk–in pantry is nearby, and next to it is a half bath for guests. The great room has a fireplace in one corner, and both it and the dining area have vaulted ceilings that rise to 16'.

Along with the long front porch, there's also a covered porch and a screened porch in the rear of the house, and a 2–story solarium on the side, making this a great home for those who love to be outdoors and next to nature.

The elegant master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, and it includes a fireplace as well as a very large walk–in closet and a dressing area. The master bath features both a tub and a large shower, separate sinks (one with a vanity), and a private toilet. Double doors in the bedroom lead to the covered porch and screened porch beyond it.

Two additional bedrooms (one of which could be a study or home office) are located at the front of the house, and they share a full bath. Bedroom 2 also has a large walk–in closet. The laundry room is located on this floor as well.

Second Floor Loft Option
The loft features a library area and a bath of its own, and it overlooks the main area of the house.

Daylight Basement
The basement has two additional bedrooms that share a full bath, a family room, and a solarium (which would be full of sunlight from above).

Garage
The plans include a two–car garage, with a large workshop at one end that is large enough for a third vehicle. It is designed to match the main house, and can either be detached, or attached to the left side of the house (as you face it). This would require the laundry room windows to be removed.

Passive Solar Info
To maximize its passive solar design, the front of the house should face west. The solarium is the passive solar heater for the room, whether you build the basement or not. The brick walls and the flooring, covered with tile, brick pavers, or stone, add sufficient thermal mass to store the solar gain. The 35 pages of specifications that come with these plans (see Please Note below) will give your builder precise details on all the passive solar issues pertinent to the construction of this house.

Construction Info
The great room, dining room, parlor (or "away" room,) and master bedroom all have vaulted ceilings. Other rooms on the main floor (and the basement) have 8' ceilings. In hot months, the entire house can take advantage of natural cooling by opening the awning windows at the top of the atrium in the center of the home.

The plans for this house call for 2x6 stud exterior walls. However, they can easily be changed to 2x4 stud walls by your builder, or to SIPs walls by a dealer in your area. If you plan to change the walls, we recommend that you purchase the plans in CAD format.

Foundation Info
This house was originally designed to have a basement foundation. However, if you prefer a crawlspace or a slab foundation, these are fairly simple and inexpensive changes that your builder can often make for you. If the basement design is not displayed in the Floor Plans, it's because it is unfinished.

Modification Idea
For a simple home, eliminate the loft (but keep the atrium), and the basement. Without the basement, the sunroom would then be on the first floor.

Please Note
Ms. Coleman's plans include 35 - 8.5"x11" pages of specifications to help your builder construct this house as it was designed. These technical specifications are organized to follow the CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) format, and apply to the various aspects of the home. They also include detailed information on numerous passive solar and energy–efficient aspects of home construction.