BRIGHT-MINDED HOME

John Sanches teamed up with his brother- in-law, Dave Johnson of Skaala Architecture, to build a One K House, a contemporary 20- by 50-foot single-level, shed-roof structure. The interior spaces include a combined kitchen/dining/living area, two bedrooms, one bath, and a home office area, while an attached entry wing adds a laundry room, bath, and mudroom. The total size is just under 1,200 square feet, and it cost about $150K to build.

Q. How DID YOU KEEP COSTS DOWN? A: We (along with help from friends and family) did all the construction over a two-year time period. This includes electrical, plumbing, and finish work. We hired contractors to drill the well and do site prep including septic, pouring the slab, and engineering the steel structure. Material costs included the structural insulated panels (SIPs) for both walls and roof, Pella Proline windows, a 100K-Btu gas heater, and the radiant concrete-slab floor.
Q: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D DO DIFFERENTLY NOW?
A: I would try and manage building time better and hire out more help for drywall.
Q:WHAT FEATURES DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?
A: Thanks to the thick insulation (R-45) it can be blowing a gale outside but remains very quiet and snug inside. The added result is minimal thermal bridging and very low infiltration values so the house is able to take advantage of passive solar gain through the south-facing windows, which feature views of Toddy Pond and the mountains of Acadia.
Q: DO YOU FEEL THERE’S ENOUGH SPACE?
A: For a family of three, our home suits our needs and has enough storage space, though one day it would be nice to have a garage. It’s designed so that additions can be adjoined easily when we need more room.