I have been working over for the last week on a new custom cabin that is going to be built in Saskatchewan Canada.

Chris had signed up for the newsletter and had downloaded the free cabin plans and wanted to make some changes to the plans. Here are some of the things he wanted to do. I wanted to post this so you can see that it is a two way process to design a cabin or home and that it takes working back and forth with the designer to get the whole process completed

Here is the first email outlining the scope of the project. WE also phone back and forth several times.

It’s Chris from Saskatoon – we spoke earlier this week and I was to provide you with some requirements so you could modify the cabin plan that you could provide a quote on modifying the cabin plan you frequently use.  As discussed, timing is our main issue, as we require plans no later than March 31.  You indicated that you thought that would be lots of time and your prices sounded quite reasonable.

There are a few things I would like to incorporate into your plan:

1)     Hybrid log design, with center / side of rafter consisting of logs, and one (or more as you see fit) vertical log in the kitchen area as the support beam for the upper loft’s sitting room

2)     Overhang at the back of the cabin of 4-6 feet;

3)     Passageway from loft to upper office;

4)     Bedrooms can be small;

I don’t know whether or not it matters from your end, but we will be using a screw pile foundation.  I will follow-up with you to discuss later in the day so I can provide you with any information or clarification you may need in advance to provide a quote.  Given our conversation, we are confident that we will be using you, but do wonder about how we go about getting blueprints.  We can discuss further when I return to the office. Thanks

Chris then emailed the sketches and we started drawing the plans. One interesting thing about the plans is a little office nook that is on the third story that is accessed by a ladder.

After the initial drawings here are the next changes.

I have attached some updated comments.  We would like to give up bedroom space (and even closets if necessary) to make more living room in the great room.  We have an immediate family of 8 (and too many inlaws!) so we would like to extend the main room to allow for at least 16′ for where the living room area is. 

So, basically, I think the sitting area in the loft can stay fairly close to where it is, but the stairs can be moved back.   We would like pocket doors on the main floor bedroom, main floor entry to the mudroom, but not on the bathroom.  For upstairs, we would like pocket doors for both bedrooms but not for the bathroom.

On the upper office room.  I would like to have the option of putting a small deck off of that office on the back side of the house, if that is possible.

See what you can do. thanks again.

Here are the follow up comments

John – I absolutely love it.  good work.  When Charlene gets home I will share it with her and get the boss’s thoughts

I expect there may be a couple of modest changes but it looks great.  Are there any special considerations/notations for Canadian Building Codes?  Also, your plans come with materials lists?  

thanks again, will touch base in the morning!

Here are the final changes on the Cabin Plans

Please see attached…pretty straight forward.

 1. 24 x 24 deck on back, with stairs at side and back;

2. equidistant spaces between windows on front wall;

3. Upper room optional;

4. Upper room’s deck optional;

5. No second level deck at all, windows in place of deck doors;

6. Rear overhang optional

7. Centre pole inside – can this support loft sitting area only and not go all the way to the roof, if so, make pole to roof optional (with standard plan showing pole up to bottom of loft sitting room only)

 Could you put the following on the front page — instead of “UBC, IRC”, please insert text to read as follows:

 ”BUILD AS PER NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF CANADA, THE UNIFORM BUILDING ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS ACT AND REGULATIONS, AND CURRENT CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF LEASK”

 What is attached are the final edits.  If you have any questions, please email me and I can call you at a time which you advise is convenient.

Here are the final sample drawings for the Cabin.