Beach Home Designs Tags

Home floor plans have evolved over the years. In the 1950’s-60’s, the idea of compartmentalized rooms was a common theme. Starting at the entry door, individual rooms were centered off a main hallway and the activities of each room were isolated. By the time the 1980’s floor plans evolved, rooms...

Outdoor Fireplaces. Outdoor fireplaces have reached flashover – taking off throughout the country, even in warm environs. Why? They are an inexpensive way to create a frequently used amenity. We probably do more outside than inside fireplaces, says Binkley, who primarily works in Florida....

Entertaining guests from the kitchen has a downside: If you’re a chef, the idea of a few dirty dishes doesn’t concern you. For those of you that like to entertain without the sight of dirty dishes in the background, an open floor plan may not work for your needs....

Bringing Exterior Material Indoors. This technique – using exterior siding, roofing or trim inside a home – has long been core to custom homes. Now it’s increasingly employed in mainstream housing to create a unified design theme. Using cultured stone to wrap the fireplace, the same stone used for exterior...

Keep your design style similar throughout the space. Maintain Design Continuity. It may sound obvious, but maintaining an aesthetic flow throughout an open-concept living space is paramount. Fundamental design features such as flooring and recessed lighting should be consistent. Color palettes in different spaces should complement one another. Add layers...

Each area should have a statement element. Create a Feature in Each Area. Creating a standout design feature in each area will not only help to define each space but also make your room shine....

Open floor plans offer easier conversation but little privacy. Challenges of Open Floor Plans. As much as we rave about the space, light and flow that a large, open room gives us, there are certainly some challenges. Obviously, some privacy is lost when you tear down walls and join everything...

Advice, "If I were to make any major changes, I would get rid of the fireplace. It just ended up being a huge hassle with everything that goes into building a gas fireplace -- the gas lines, etc." Dean's key recommendation: "Never hire anyone on time and materials. Always do...

Style - I think the style of the home is the best place to start. The style of the home will connect with so many of the choices you make so its important to spend some quality time thinking about the style you'd like to live in. Are your preferences...

Metal Roofs. The metal roof, formerly relegated to rural reaches, is infiltrating suburban housing. Even corrugated and standing-seam metal roofs are receiving attention. See Plan 933-5. Though durable and inexpensive, metal roofs need to be insulated and soundproofed, unless you really love the sound of rain on the roof....