Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside

DESIGNING THE HOUSE5.Try to avoid:Aim to achieve: Consistently pitched roofs, with minimaleaves and verge, and chimneys flush togables Simply stepped elevation retaining balancedcomposition and breaking long run of wallplatedormers Well-proportioned arrangement of recessedopenings Vertical window emphasis with plastersurrounds and sills Simple porch and door detailing Subservient additions (sun room) with similardetailing Use of breakfront elevation, givingunbalanced arrangement of main elements Complex hipped roof patterns Use of UPVc boxed eaves and barges Elaborate projecting bay windows Artificial stonework and unnecessarydecoration Poorly divided windows with horizontalemphasis Sun room with hipped roof and ill-proportionedopeningsLarge Dormer HousesTry to avoid:Aim to achieve: Addition of protruding elements to mainelevation (e.g. octagonal turret and doublebay windows) Confused ridge lines and gables Use of UPVc boxed eaves and barges Poorly spaced and proportioned windows Over-emphasised door Unnecessary quoinage and lintel detailing Dominant garage with ’up and over’ door ofartificial material Uninterrupted ridge lines with consistentlypitched roofs Simple plan with extensions in proportion tothe main building Garage in secondary location and ofappropriate scale and materials Balanced door and window openings withsimple detailing Conservatory/Sun room of appropriate scaleand natural materialsLarge 2-storey HousesCounty Limerick: Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside49.