Will Johnson Building Company's Blog

Floor Plan Sketch

Ben Johnson — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:36:31 +0000

Here is a floorplan that I have been working on for a potential client in the Chapel Ridge Estates. The lot is fairly challenging and is going to require some significant retaining walls. I am trying to minimize the sizes of these walls, as they are expensive to build.

Main Floor Plan

Basement Floor Plan

View pdf of this floorplan: FloorPlanSketch

Kitchen Remodel

Ben Johnson — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:15:02 +0000

Lots of activity in the 4th quarter here. We have been in the process of doing several bathroom and kitchen renovations.

Here is a rendering that I did for one of our Kitchen Remodels:

We ended up doing several kitchen layout configurations before our client settled on the perfect one for them. It’s not unusual that we have to show several different options, but hey, that’s part of custom building and we love it.

The Canadian Lodge – Unique Cabin Style, Rustic Home

Ben Johnson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:39:52 +0000

I’ve been working with a previous client designing a “getaway” home. We have been calling it the Canadian Lodge. It’s a small 932sqft home, that functions as a second home and is going to be built somewhere in the mountains.

Download the pdf of this plan to view the floor plans here: The Canadian Lodge PDF

Screen Porch Addition Project Complete!

Ben Johnson — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:00:22 +0000

We just finished a screen porch addition on a home in Durham. This home had an existing deck that we added on to, and then screened-in a section of that new larger deck and built a roof over it. To top it off, Mike, our lead carpenter built a really stout bench in the rear of the deck. The homeowner loves it and now has a great way to enjoy the outdoors anytime of the season.

Want to see the plans for this addition? Here they are: Deck Addition Plans

New Home Plan Design

Ben Johnson — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:41:13 +0000

I have been working on a new plan design, amongst others, that will eventually be placed on our website for individuals to purchase for building. This is still in the works, but it is mostly complete.

The Mariner

Floor plans and the other elevations to follow. Let me know what you think about this: good, bad?

Home Design Update

Ben Johnson — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:08:26 +0000

Wjbc projects are starting to pickup, so I have not had as much time to work on future spec home designs. I did, however, put together a nice perspective rendering of “The Cedarock.” This is the same home plan that a couple of you helped me flesh out with great ideas for the exterior a couple of weeks ago. Let me know your thoughts:

The Cedarock

This design was featured in the Chapel Hill Newspaper last weekend in the real estate section. I will post about that article when I can get a digital copy of it.

From Concept To Completion

Ben Johnson — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:41:16 +0000

Most of our clients have unique ideas and wants for their custom homes. Part of the building and designing progress is pinning those down in a conceptual form. Once that is done, actually delivering them isn’t so hard. It’s all about figuring out what people are looking for.

Here are three examples from a recent home we built in Chapel Ridge (http://www.chapelridgeinfo.com/).

1) Master Bathroom

Master Bathroom Concept Rendering

Master Bathroom Finished

2) Interior Stairwell

Interior Stairwell Concept Rendering

Interior Stairwell Finished

3) Exterior Elevation

Exterior Elevation Concept Rendering

Exterior Elevation Finished

Design Progress

Ben Johnson — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:15:41 +0000

Here is a quick update of the home design I have been working on. I got some great feedback from you guys and have put a lot of it into the elevation here. Still needs a little more tinkering, but I think it’s on the right track.

Updated Exterior Home Design

I typically like to use 3 1/2″ Miratec Trim Board around the windows, doors, and frieze. To give an extra emphasis on this trim detail, I bumped a lot of it up to 5 1/2″, and in some cases, 7 1/4″. Am I crazy?

I Need Suggestions For This Design!

Ben Johnson — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:09:56 +0000

I have been slamming my head trying to get the elevation right for this new house plan that I have been working on. At first, I gave it a really classic prairie style elevation that worked well with the available roof lines and second floor structure. As I was working, I started thinking…”prairie style is nice, but it really doesn’t have a lot of mass appeal.” So I switched and have started to try and move the elevation towards a Shingle – Robert Stern, like appearance. I am liking where it is heading, but it still needs a lot of work to complete the transformation. Give me some suggestions! Does this look good? Bad? Am I crazy? Will the Flyers win the Stanley Cup?

New Home Exterior Elevation

Below is the 1st Floor plan that goes along with the above elevation. This floor plan is still in the works as well.

1st Floor Plan

Ceiling Fans – Euro Style Lighting & Bianca Directional

Ben Johnson — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:11:15 +0000

Browsing through House Beautiful Magazine, I came across 2 ceiling fans that I really enjoyed. They are both very funky and far from taditional, but still a lot of fun to look at.

Black Sheep Warplane Fan - eurostylefan.com

See it here: http://www.eurostylelighting.com/euj2055.htm

This fan really struck me as being an incredibly creative solution to an ordinary household item. So much so that I couldn’t help but start sketching. I took a break from the typical house sketch and had some fun:

Fighter Engine Sketch

Fan number 2 is from ylighting.com. It is called the Bianca Directional

Bianca Directional - Ylighting.com

I really enjoy the industrial style of this fan. Check it out here: http://www.ylighting.com/mfc-bd.html