Ground Floor House Design Tags

The layout for Green Living Plan 497-46 shows a wet bar between the kitchen and the dining room, which is a very practical solution. The perfect spot for a bar may be in a corner of the great room that would be tough to furnish. On the occasions when you...

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...

Once tenants move in, they pay minimal rent and utilities (e.g. $300 a month rent for a 300-square-foot home and an estimated electric bill of less than $35 per month). After three years, tenants are offered a contract to rent to own their homes within four years. This lengthy process...

Americans believed that technological advances helped win the Second World War and launch was was to become known as the Space Age. Innovative designs such as the all electric home were supposed to make housework a thing of the past. Realizing the dream of space travel was on the horizon...

Many home plans today dispense with a formal dining room in favor of a designated dining space within the great room, as shown here, also in Plan 497-46. That actually makes it easier to seat 10 or 12 people. You can add leaves to the table without running into walls....

Leftover lots in existing neighborhoods are often compact but can be good investments for building a new home on spec if you find a plan that suits the particular constraints of the site. Some designs to get you thinking might include 2 bedroom 2 bath Craftsman Plan 479-10, at the...

Open floor plans allows for more natural light: Since many interior walls are reduced to half walls or are removed totally, natural light from windows can reach further in to the house. For those of you trying to renovate your home to achieve more natural light into interior spaces,...

Number of Bathrooms - The average number bathrooms in new houses has steadily increased over the years. The average home in the US has 2 1/2 baths and the average appears to be heading towards 3. Kitchen Style - I could write an entire article on this topic, however, the...

Are you ready to start building a new home and are not sure where to start in choosing a floor plan? There are countless resources for purchasing house plans that will fit your budget, lifestyle and style of architecture. From house plan magazines to online home manufacturer websites, the resources...

The informal lifestyle of California became popular as early as the late 1940s and magazines began to promote casual living as the ideal. Influences such as courtyards, patios and other Spanish colonial architectural details were embraced and played upon. What was known as the front porch or veranda, was moved...