Building A Lighthouse Tags

They draw your eyes to the ceiling, says Binkley. Here’s a secret, though – not even a $10 million home is likely to have structural wood beams. And in mainstream housing, the beams may not even be real wood. Synthetic beams are less expensive to install and handle, says the...

Understand that floor plan modifications could be an option. While it would be nice to have the right floor plan appear before your eyes, remodeling and modifying a floor plan can be a viable option. Removing a spare closet to make more room in your kids’ bathroom area or opening...

Too many parties begin and end in the kitchen. One way to keep everyone from congregating there is to put food and drinks in other rooms. Bars, which are making a comeback in new home design, though they tend to be smaller today than they were 50 years ago, can...

Renting to Own. In one month’s time, CCSS received 122 applications to rent the first 25 tiny homes. At least half of the renters selected are formerly homeless people, and the rest are low-income seniors and college students, Fowler says. A couple of low-income Cass staff members were also accepted...

Understand what the pros and cons are of your floor plan. There isn’t a perfect floor plan. There will always be pros and cons and you will need to decide what are your priorities and what can you learn to live with or without. A large living room window...

Imagine your entertaining spaces fully occupied when deciding on a floor plan: For most homeowners dreaming of their ideal floor plan, they consider how nice it will be to have a few people over for drinks on the patio. The thought of entertaining the in-laws for a month each summer,...

Super-Open Layout, The rustic touches (including a decorative truss and stone-covered columns) on plan 23-2316 give a warm, rugged look. A super-open layout inside makes it easy to move from the island kitchen to the dining room and living area, where a fireplace contributes a bit of definition. Relax in...

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....