09-01-2010, 08:19 AM
May as well make the cupola a second floor, then you'd be able to look out of it. Dormer windows might help, it all depends on the style of the house.
On the post & pier foundation, I've seen some houses have wooden grates with screens installed in closet floors with louvered closet doors. That lets the cooler under house air go up through the closet (keeps down mildew) and then out and up to cool off the house. Having vents up near the ceiling helps let the heat out, too. Ventilate the attic space, have a white roof and the three foot roof eaves are as much for keeping sun off the sides of the house as they are for keeping the rain off.
Transitional areas going between inside and outside - such as lanais, patios, garden areas are really good to expand the living area of the house and to cool off the air before it gets inside the house. Another thought on lanais which not everyone considers is that the tax office likes to calculate value according to square footage and mostly they go by interior square footage. Having lanai areas around the house to use as living spaces will cut down on your annual tax dollars spent, too. Lately I've seen some nice covered lanais made with clear roofing. It has the effect of an open garden room except it never rains.
There is a book written by Sarah Susanka called "The Not So Big House" which would be an excellent read for you at this time while you are beginning to plan your house. Now is also a good time to plan a house which will be a joy to live in. My current client (I draw house plans) has asked for an "exhilarating" house. Finding words such as that to talk to your designer and builder with can help them help you choose the right house for you. If you have the right designer, then things such as ventilation and views will be taken care of, but it's always good to be on top of those sorts of things, too.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
On the post & pier foundation, I've seen some houses have wooden grates with screens installed in closet floors with louvered closet doors. That lets the cooler under house air go up through the closet (keeps down mildew) and then out and up to cool off the house. Having vents up near the ceiling helps let the heat out, too. Ventilate the attic space, have a white roof and the three foot roof eaves are as much for keeping sun off the sides of the house as they are for keeping the rain off.
Transitional areas going between inside and outside - such as lanais, patios, garden areas are really good to expand the living area of the house and to cool off the air before it gets inside the house. Another thought on lanais which not everyone considers is that the tax office likes to calculate value according to square footage and mostly they go by interior square footage. Having lanai areas around the house to use as living spaces will cut down on your annual tax dollars spent, too. Lately I've seen some nice covered lanais made with clear roofing. It has the effect of an open garden room except it never rains.
There is a book written by Sarah Susanka called "The Not So Big House" which would be an excellent read for you at this time while you are beginning to plan your house. Now is also a good time to plan a house which will be a joy to live in. My current client (I draw house plans) has asked for an "exhilarating" house. Finding words such as that to talk to your designer and builder with can help them help you choose the right house for you. If you have the right designer, then things such as ventilation and views will be taken care of, but it's always good to be on top of those sorts of things, too.
Kurt Wilson
Kurt Wilson