Lake Meadow
Project Description
This main level 2,350 square foot eclectic craftsman style home is designed for an empty nester with moderate square footage for potential downsizing from a larger home. The craftsman style home features a grand entrance with a centerline view to the dramatic vaulted ceiling and a huge series of arched windows and sliding glass doors in the Great Room.
The exterior is a cross gabled craftsman style home with various architectural features. The front exterior features a raised covered porch with tapered columns, stone bases and wrap around railing. An arched wood ceiling feature under the covered porch complements the entry door. The moderate pitched front facing gables with wide unenclosed eave overhangs and wood shingle siding on the upper portion of the gables stand out as an identifying feature of this eclectic craftsman home. The gable triangle knee braces and shutters are all handcrafted.
With a side entry Garage a window box detail was added with a tapered base supported by wrap around stone. The window box features three high placed linear windows to match the three high linear windows at the highest gable. Double hanging windows are featured on all sides of the home.
An enjoining spacious Kitchen and Island is designed with an open view to the Great Room. Centered with the Kitchen Island is a dramatic fireplace in the Great Room that captures the height of the fireplace stone, making the Great Room, Kitchen and Entry all open for a comfort traffic flow. Off the Kitchen sits a pass through counter bar for informal dining that opens to a quaint Hearth Room that can be used for private dining or a cozy sitting room.
Between the Entry way and the Great Room is a common pathway that leads to the Owners Suite and the All Purpose Room. The Owners Suite is a spaciously designed room plenty in size to accommodate a full bedroom furniture set and plenty of wall space for dressers or entertainment systems. A private door allows access to the outdoor Covered Patio. The Patio creates a private or entertainment friendly gathering for an outdoor experience that is accessible from the Great Room, the Hearth Room and the Owners Suite. Planning for build on the right property, the views will be astounding.
The Owners Suite is equipped with a huge 5-Piece Bath area. A unique feature from this floor plan is the Walk-In Closet that also enters a Laundry Room area, close to the Bedrooms. The 2nd Bedroom on the main level can be used as an All-Purpose Room that features a Study, Office or Guest Bedroom and a ¾ Bath.
The Lower Level introduces two more bedrooms, a gaming area, full sized wet bar, recreation sitting area and a fireplace. This plan is designed for a 3 Car Garage and a 300 square foot additional space that can be used for storage and or workshop.
This design is based on three key items. To market to the empty nester designing the floor plan to be open with easy traffic flow, to design using a polular eclectic craftsman style, and to maintain moderate square footage to make the home affordable with downsizing opportunities.
This home is published with the Rocky Mountain Plan Company (RMPC) and was recently submitted to Portfolio Home Plans for approval. This home has been built twice in the last 4 years. Pictures of one of the built homes is included in this submittal.
For the 2020 year, the voting members of American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) voted to make Bernie Kern CPBD, the President of AIBD. Because of his extensive skills and experience, Bernie was a good choice for AIBD President. This is because Bernie has owned and operated BBKern DESIGNS for over 25 years. And as a Certified Professional Building Designer, Bernie is a specialist in building design, serving clients in the Colorado Rocky Mountains area as well as for others around the USA.
Washington, DC – During its Annual Meeting in Philadelphia this past weekend, the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) awarded its prestigious Designer of the Year title to Colorado Springs building designer, Bernie A. Kern. Bernie, as he’s known locally, received this recognition for his work within the organization as well as the industry outreach his work has produced for the organization.
In 2012, Bernie assembled a group of building designers and formed the High-Performance Homes Team (HPHT) with a mission to provide resources and education on building energy efficient, comfortable, and environmentally safe homes. The purpose led Bernie to a stage at the International Builder Show (IBS) in both 2017 and 2018 where he and the HPHT designed a Tiny House Lab for the show’s High-Performance Building Zone. “The building had to be a Tiny House with various wall and roof framing configurations considered to be high-performing and energy efficient,” Bernie said of the specifications given to him by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), owners of the IBS. Recently, the NAHB approached the team again to design a Radon Test Model.
As the principal owner of BBKern DESIGNS, Bernie Kern has developed code approved working drawings for new custom and model residential homes, multi-residential, additions, remodels, and light commercial projects for nearly 30 years. He assists clients in all stages of building design, including planning, design fees, budget, education, specifications, special services, and consultation.
10-AMN_9421 – AIBD Executive Director, Steve Mickley (Right) presents Bernie Kern with the Designer of the Year Award. Photo by JPG Photo & Video
Awarded Best Of Houzz 2018
– of Colorado Springs has won “Best Of Houzz 2018” on





