Stilkrans video fly-through: softer corners, a Juliette balcony, & first costing
25 March 2026
I've been thinking a lot about what it means to create a place that is weighty. We want Stilkrans to be beautiful, made with quality and last a long time.
If something isn't weighty at conception, it won't be weighty at completion.
That's partly why this week felt so significant. We're 99% done with the design and getting ready for technical drawings. Once we submit them, it becomes a lot harder to change.
Since my previous update, we iterated a ton on it already and this video fly-through captures where we've landed (sound on for mood 🎧).
What changed since our previous iteration
Bedroom layout flows better
In our first iteration, the bedroom layout was a bit awkward. The shower and toilet position in particular. We've reworked it now entirely and the flow feels more natural. We've also replaced the window nook for a Juliette balcony. Love is in the air!
Stilkrans feels less masculine
One of the main tensions we had with the house was how the sharp corners and blocky rooflines made it feel a bit too masculine. We've now rounded the corners of some walls, added parapets and considered more creepers. The building feels softer and more balanced.
Deck with fewer stairs
We've sunk the swimming pool and removed a number of steps from the deck. We also made the pergola larger for some extra shading. These changes helped us make the front of the house feel more symmetrical.
Living room is more spacious
We scaled the study back drastically and made the living room bigger. We now also have an expansive window at the study nook to bring in more natural light. Not that we needed more, but seeing a gheco or bird outside while doing some desktop work is wholesome. :)
Entrance is less bland
The entrance previously felt a bit bland. The new study window helps break up the wall, and we added a feature wall with outdoor shower for when you come back from the beach.
Next up: Technical drawings & Interior design
We might still make a few tweaks, but we’re ready for technical drawings. Penny will prepare the permit documentation, and the structural engineer will use it to calculate exact material quantities.
We've now also appointed a local interior designer, Susan, from Nouveau Design. We should have our first mood boards in 2 weeks. Here's a peek into some of the new photos in our mood board. As you can see, we're thinking a lot about light at the moment: fractals, moody lamps and evening shadows.
Progress is exciting, but it also made one thing clearer: Stilkrans will cost more than we expected.
We're over budget 😣
We got our first bill of quantities from the quantity surveyor this week, and it gave us an early view of what Stilkrans will cost to build. I expected us to exceed our initial budget, but the gap is much more than I anticipated.
This, in particular, made the week quite difficult for me. I seriously questioned our direction, vision and ability to execute on it. Then I reminded myself: it takes just as much energy to build something mediocre as it does to build something beautiful.
I’ll share more once the structural engineer and Susan have completed their schedules. In the meantime, we’re exploring creative ways to bring costs down without compromising the quality or design intent of the house.
Stilkrans video fly-through: softer corners, a Juliette balcony, & first costing
25 March 2026
I've been thinking a lot about what it means to create a place that is weighty. We want Stilkrans to be beautiful, made with quality and last a long time.
If something isn't weighty at conception, it won't be weighty at completion.
That's partly why this week felt so significant. We're 99% done with the design and getting ready for technical drawings. Once we submit them, it becomes a lot harder to change.
Since my previous update, we iterated a ton on it already and this video fly-through captures where we've landed (sound on for mood 🎧).
What changed since our previous iteration
Bedroom layout flows better
In our first iteration, the bedroom layout was a bit awkward. The shower and toilet position in particular. We've reworked it now entirely and the flow feels more natural. We've also replaced the window nook for a Juliette balcony. Love is in the air!
Stilkrans feels less masculine
One of the main tensions we had with the house was how the sharp corners and blocky rooflines made it feel a bit too masculine. We've now rounded the corners of some walls, added parapets and considered more creepers. The building feels softer and more balanced.
Deck with fewer stairs
We've sunk the swimming pool and removed a number of steps from the deck. We also made the pergola larger for some extra shading. These changes helped us make the front of the house feel more symmetrical.
Living room is more spacious
We scaled the study back drastically and made the living room bigger. We now also have an expansive window at the study nook to bring in more natural light. Not that we needed more, but seeing a gheco or bird outside while doing some desktop work is wholesome. :)
Entrance is less bland
The entrance previously felt a bit bland. The new study window helps break up the wall, and we added a feature wall with outdoor shower for when you come back from the beach.
Next up: Technical drawings & Interior design
We might still make a few tweaks, but we’re ready for technical drawings. Penny will prepare the permit documentation, and the structural engineer will use it to calculate exact material quantities.
We've now also appointed a local interior designer, Susan, from Nouveau Design. We should have our first mood boards in 2 weeks. Here's a peek into some of the new photos in our mood board. As you can see, we're thinking a lot about light at the moment: fractals, moody lamps and evening shadows.
Progress is exciting, but it also made one thing clearer: Stilkrans will cost more than we expected.
We're over budget 😣
We got our first bill of quantities from the quantity surveyor this week, and it gave us an early view of what Stilkrans will cost to build. I expected us to exceed our initial budget, but the gap is much more than I anticipated.
This, in particular, made the week quite difficult for me. I seriously questioned our direction, vision and ability to execute on it. Then I reminded myself: it takes just as much energy to build something mediocre as it does to build something beautiful.
I’ll share more once the structural engineer and Susan have completed their schedules. In the meantime, we’re exploring creative ways to bring costs down without compromising the quality or design intent of the house.
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