Like all of Ms. Coleman's designs, Atrium 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 large atrium allows sunlight to fill the center of the house, and it aids in natural cooling as well. The entire living area of the house, along with the master bedroom, has lots of windows that provide natural light as well as views. The master suite on the main floor has an extra large walk–in closet, and the master bath has room for a tub and a double shower, along with two separate sinks. The kitchen is open to the living spaces and the views, and it includes a breakfast bar as well as a very large pantry.

The dining area provides access to both a wrap around deck and to a screened porch. Next to it is a vaulted great room, and a sunroom with a wrap around view. The large room off the foyer would work equally well as a guestroom, a den, or as a home office. The two–car attached garage has attic space above it that extends over the half bath, the mudroom, and the pantry. The laundry is situated away from all living spaces so family members and guests won't hear it while in operation.

Second Floor
The loft above has a study area that overlooks the hearth below and the atrium above. The front dormer is a cozy nook for meditating or reading. The quaint bedroom and bath make this loft a child's dream.

Garage
If your lot is narrow, the garage doors could be moved to face to the front.

Passive Solar Info
To maximize its passive solar design, this house should face northwest (but north would work almost as well). Or, if the house needs to be built in mirror–reverse to suit your lot and view, the front should face northeast (or north). 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 plans for this house call for 2x6 stud exterior walls. However, they can easily be changed to 2x4 stud walls by your builder or a design professional, or to SIPs walls by a dealer in your area. If you plan to change the walls, it is highly recommended 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 Ideas
Flip the laundry and half bath to put the laundry near the kitchen and mudroom. The half bath could then have a tub or shower added to function as a full bath for the front bedroom.

Similiar Versions Available
There are seven similar versions of this plan – Adirondack Atrium, Adirondack Atrium 2, Atrium 2, Atrium Breeze 3, Cottage Atrium, Garden Atrium, and Mountain Atrium – available on this site. For easy access to these other versions, click on the Architects button on the left side of any page in our website, and scroll down until you see Ms. Coleman's name and photo. Red links to each of her plans appear below her bio, in alphabetical order.

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.