How terrible to lose your home to a fire but thank heavens you all made it out safely. I shudder to think of trying to evacuate three little ones plus two dogs in the wee hours while the flames and smoke grow...

I don't use Flickr but found the link below that looks like it will be helpful in answering your question about posting images. Basically, to embed images in a post, you have to get the photos img (image) code and paste it into the body of your message. It is a code that starts with a "less than" symbol followed by "a href=" and then ends with a "greater then symbol." If you have the right code, when you click to preview your post, you'll see the image.

Typically I recommend embedding a medium to large image (not the largest). You want the image to fill the screen but not require readers to scroll to see it all. But, given the size of your floorplan, you'll probably have to embed the largest possible image or we won't be able to see enough details to be helpful.

The concept of a 10,000 square feet of space to design in absolutely boggles my mind! I'm used to thinking in terms of 1500 to 3000 square feet and, with that size, the design issues are always about squeezing all the desired features in without overcrowding the house.

With 10,000 square feet, the design issue will be much more about how to make the spaces feel "homey" and connected to each other. Creating natural gathering places will be vital if you don't want your family to wind up the type where every kid disappears into his/her bedroom with his/her own computer and toys and never really interacts with anyone else in the family. Think about what you want the "heart" of your home to be and then ask how you can design that "heart" so that a 6 or 10 or 14 or 18 year old would naturally gravitate to that "heart" rather than disappear into his/her own bedroom all the time.

Here is a link that might be useful: flickr images info

So sorry for your loss and wish you the best of luck with your rebuild.

We lost our home back in February. We are just now getting the foundation in.

I went back and forth with the designer for months. Then we had some rain, I was also waiting on contractor bids, etc and I am glad for this extra time to rethink my design. Everytime I think I am done, I think of something else I would like to change.

I thought I was good to go with the foundation and I hadnt made any changes to the floor plan for weeks, and thought I was all done even up to as recently as yesterday. However now in thinking about meeting with my kitchen lady, I am revisiting other spaces as well.

So the moral of my story, I dont have one. But for me, it was beneficial that we didn't start rebuilding as soon as I had hoped. I would have been happy, but with each change, I am happier.

This forum is awesome. At first I spent sleepless days and nights pouring over the forum. You will find gems of suggestions and information embedded everywhere.

I researched every aspect, every major component, every item, and I have yet to pay full price for anything. I am saving a ton of money, and most of that I can contribute to the things I learned here on the forum.

Again, best of luck.

I'm so glad everyone made it out safely. I wish you and your family all the best during this trying time.

I didn't really have time to review your plan in depth, but I can help with posting pics:

Setup:

1. Go to photobucket.com and open a free account.
2. Follow their instructions for uploading your pics to their site.
3. To enable sharing of the pics and posting on sites like GW, hover your mouse over the pic you want to add to the post, and a menu will pop up below the pic (it may say 'share this photo')
4. Click 'more>' (a new menu box opens with 3 tabs across the top)
5. Select 'Share Link Code' tab
6. Select the box next to 'HTML for websites and blogs'. Make sure it is the only box selected and click 'save'. (You can also choose to apply this setting to all pics in your album with a link in your album).

Now your pics are enabled for posting on sites like GW!

Posting pic in GW message:

1. Begin the written portion of your posting on GW.
2. When you are ready to add the pics you desire, open a new browser window and log into your photobucket account.
3. Right click on the pic(s) you want to add and select 'copy'.
4. Go back to your GW posting on your other browser window, place the cursor where you want to pic to appear, right click and select 'paste'.

Your pics will appear in the preview so you can ensure they appear properly before the final submission.(I know, this looks like a lot of potentially confusing steps, but trust me, once you copy the pics into your posts once or twice it's a piece of cake!)

Hope this helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: photobucket link

"The home was about 6,000 sqf of living space with an indoor pool and helicopter garage. Only the 1000 sqf helicopter garage is salvagable"

Sorry for your loss. Been there twice.

My only comment is that the fire separation requirements between your garage and house did what they were supposed to do.

Unfortunately, while Building Codes require the garage/house connection to be fire separated to keep garage fires from engulfing the main structure, the majority of all residential fires start in the house and keep the garage from burning down...and not vice versa.

That said, think: "fire sprinkler system" on your new build.

You'll be glad you did.

Wow. Great project.

I love bevangel's advice about the heart of the home. I'd guess that downstairs that would be the huge kitchen area. If it were me expecting greater numbers of children with time-in and attachment needs, I'd be sure there were several built-in multiple-cook areas--extra sink(s), extra baking center, alternative cooking surfaces and ovens, etc., maybe even just extra prep counters.

I see the spot for future elevator. I can't read dimensions on your plans, but the hallway going toward the master br and the other br down there seems too narrow for those needing mobility assistance. Since the resale use of such a home down the road may be quite different from single family, I would want that hall to be accessible. In fact, I would consider universal design for the entire house depending on the care level of the children you expect to be fostering/fost-adopting.

I understand, too, that you are set with the footprint as is. With privacy at a premium in your household, it's great that you can provide so many bathrooms. Within that footprint, though, I would worry about the long chain of BRs with you at the end. It must be at least 40 feet to the furthest BR. That's a lot of unsupervised space even with door alarms; even aside from that consideration, children often have trouble going and staying asleep, get sick in the night, etc. I am a light sleeper, and it would be hard for me to hear a child that far away. And it may be beginning to feel like a dorm. While it may not be traditional, I would be tempted to move your master more toward the middle.

This is an amazing and neat project. There are so many considerations. Do you expect the kids to study together in a study hall type of setup or in their rooms? Are you expecting sibling groups? Babies? Teens? Bringing in older children or filling in the bottom of the family as the kids grow to preserve "birth" order? How much will safety factor in? Will there continue to be pets? I see the dj booth, with that many young kids a play room upstairs would be handy I think and help keep BRs clear of toys and junk. Others will weigh in with comments on layout and flow, the laundry, entering spaces, etc. (you will need a REALLY large mud area, it is unbelievable how much more gear kids need on a daily basis as they grow up depending on the sports season).

I also agree with bevangel on creating sheltering spaces. The not-so-big-house books and other such books suggest a core use for a room and then relatd uses in perimeter areas--a window seat, book nook with chair, different ceiling heights, etc., ways to create intimate spaces within larger spaces.

These are just first thoughts. I love the garden idea. Again, not so good at reading the plan, but if it includes running water, that would be wonderful.

I think you might also get some more great ideas from a fostering forum. Please keep us updated on your plans and progress with both house and family!

i'm so sorry for your loss and so happy everyone made it out. i must apologize, but i can't really see your plan, even when enlarged. i don't know if the home will contain a mud room ...but you need one. a BIG one. with two sets of stackable washer/dryers. and benches and lockers; one for every member of the family with hooks and drawers and baskets and shelves. with a family that size i would also make sure it contains a bathroom with shower and two commodes. and a pet shower you can use to rinse off shoes/boots.

did i mention it should be very large??!

best of luck to you and your family. i hope all goes quickly and smoothly!