Jerold Axelrod, Architect

Jerold Axelrod established his own architectural firm specializing in residential design in 1972. Almost 35 years and 35,000 housing units later, his designs, which include town houses and apartments, as well as single-family residences, have won numerous awards and have been built throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.

Jerry holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute. He is a licensed architect in eight states and holds a certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He holds dual membership in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), and is also active in National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) activities. He is a Life Spike as well as a Life Director of his local Long Island Builders Institute. He is also a past President of the Council of Publishing Home Designers.

Axelrod's professional articles are widely published, and he has written three books, including the recent Time saver Standards-Plans for Adding on or Remodeling, published by McGraw Hill, which includes a disk full of design ideas for remodeling older homes. His home designs have appeared in virtually every publication devoted to home design.

Jerry refers to his design philosophy as the "three F's": functional, flawless, 'furnishable' floor plans that are exciting to live in and readily furnished, something overlooked all too often.

A successful home design considers the needs of the ultimate homeowner, including their likely furnishings. The ability to furnish can often conflict with exterior design as concerns window placement, especially in formal, traditional homes. Compromise is often necessary, but in a small home, Axelrod's credo dictates that the ability to furnish cannot be compromised, which creates a huge challenge to the architect. Smaller homes, Jerry believes, call for uncomplicated, well-organized designs, that efficiently utilize all the space provided. Such designs should visually stretch existing space, and, as such, his designs provide open, inter-connecting spaces that make rooms look and function larger than they really are. Hallways are minimal in such a home, thus further freeing square footage for living. Even his larger custom homes employ these design concepts, as well as providing dramatic volume with high ceilings plus stunning window designs, luxurious kitchens and baths and sumptuous master suite.

He does not create new designs in any one single style - a function of his region, where no one specific style governs; country, neo-Victorian, post-modern, European and even contemporary co-exist side by side amongst his custom and builder clientele. "Our designs provide great-looking, eclectic exteriors in virtually every style", Jerry says. "We do not dictate taste, but cater to our clients' varied preferences; we endeavor to take those preferences and create designs that are absolutely sound, uniquely attractive and highly marketable."

We welcome your comments and input, and will endeavor to personally answer your questions as they arise.

Plan Package Information

Each set of blueprints comprises four to eight pages of drawings and include:

A. Exterior Elevations: showing the front, rear, and side views with standard and alternate material choices; all elevations are usually 1/4" scale.

B. Foundation plans: separate foundation plans are usually provided for a basement/crawl space, and slab, unless otherwise noted. All are drawn at 1/4" scale and include first floor framing information for basement/crawl spaces, including beams, girders, columns and piers. Some plans include walk-out(daylight) basement options as well.

C. Floor plans: 1/4" scale for each floor, including all room dimensions, door and window sizes and locations, stairways, kitchens, baths, etc. Framing information for stick framed ceiling beams and/or second floor framing is included.

D. Cross sections: 1/4" scale cut-away views for each distinct area, showing all framing, ceiling details, heights, roof pitches, etc.

E. Roof plan: a separate roof plan is usually provided showing all pitches, rafter sizes, valley, hip and ridge locations, and areas of double roof framing.

F. Schematic electrical: shows suggested locations for outlets, switches and fixtures on either a separate drawing or directly on the floor plans.

G. Kitchen cabinets: schematic drawings of all kitchen cabinets.

In addition, each blueprint order includes the following extra helpful information:

H. Specifications: a separate 8 page outline specification of most materials, construction methods and techniques, in a format for customizing; for use in obtaining bids and as a contract document.

I. Standard details: 2 additional drawing pages filled with standard construction details.

J. Energy conservation details: 2 more drawing pages chock full of drawings and ideas on how to build to conserve energy.

K. Making changes: finally we include a separate 6 page primer on choosing a contractor and making changes, as virtually everyone makes some changes in building their home.

In addition we also offer the following optional drawings:

L. Concrete (ICF) Plans: In keeping up with newer technologies we offer a number of our house plans for construction with insulated concrete walls. If the plan you are interested in offers a choice of "Concrete (ICF)" as an availiable foundation choice, these plans have been modified to enable construction of the entire home with Insulated Conrete Forms (ICF). They could also be used to build the home with concrete block, in lieu of frame walls.

M. Walk-out Basement Plans: A number of our plans are available with optional walk-out basement foundations. Consult the pricing details for the specific plan you are interested in.

N. Structural Design Drawings for High Wind Areas including Flood-Proofing details meeting the IRC Code. This addendum of 3 additional drawings provides the details necessary to construct wood frame houses in wind zones of 90mph to 120mph. They include strapping details and nailing schedules as well as deck details for high wind zones. Details are also provided for satisfying the flood-proofing requirements for coastal as well as inland flood zones. If building in wind zones of 130mph or greater or in seismic zones local engineering will be required.

Notes: Due to significant regional variations, details on the heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing and electrical wiring are not included. These details and specifications are easily obtained from your builder, subcontractors, local suppliers, and utility companies. In addition a site plan may be required; this is readily furnished by your local surveyor. Finally, code and local variances may require some redesign of the foundation system, rafter sizes (or truss design), flood protection, seismic and wind requirements, etc. This information is also easily obtained from your builder, subcontractors, or local engineers.

Plan Search

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Latest blog posts by Jerold Axelrod, Architect:

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Like A Professional Contractor

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The Designers

Jerold Axelrod, Architect

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