Coastal Beach House Tags

Cass Community Social Services had certain criteria in mind for their tiny homes. We looked for comfortable, livable homes and wanted variety in our plans, Fowler says. Distinctive character was important as well. “We were drawn to one-story homes with ample porches or decks and wanted at least one ‘standout...

Budget Considerations. One good way to find out what you can afford is to simply get three estimates from contractors. Discuss what you want with the contractor and if the estimate is high, ask them how you can reduce the costs. The estimate should be separated into cost of materials...

Watching children in an open floor plan can be safe: Open floor plans that are open from the kitchen into the living spaces are great for monitoring children while they play, and you make dinner. This reduces the amount of time away from your important tasks, but for safety...

Do certain functions of your home need special accessibility? Whether you have a live-in family member that needs extra space to maneuver or children who need extra wide hallways to run around, consider this factor when choosing a floor plan. Older homes tend to have narrower hallways, doorways and...

Board-and-Batten Siding. The board-and-batten look, originally associated with farmhouses, is showing up on the exterior of homes of all stripes -- as you can see in some of Houseplans.com most popular new designs, like Plan 430-156, above. It’s also being used for decoration inside homes. Batten strips add texture to...

In the southern states clay adobe houses are the norm. In the north and other areas brick, wood, and stone are options. The climate will influence this choice as well. In areas where there is cold weather brick and cement are used because they absorb and retain heat. In the...

Tiny Home with a View, This striking design, plan 479-12, takes splendid advantage of a scenic lot. Walls of windows let light stream inside to illuminate the open living spaces. On the main level, the kitchen invites everyone to hang out at the island, where there's seating for four (and...

Do you entertain often or rarely? Many home floor plans are centered on entertaining and welcoming guests the minute they step through the front door. A wide foyer opening into an open floor plan living and dining room and meandering to the outdoors would be perfect for guests visiting. Although,...

Scope of Work. This is where a good plan is essential. If you are planning a major remodel, you will want some basic plans drawn up, preferably by a professional. You don't want to find out later that the wall you envisioned removing for a more open space is a...