Today, we continue our looking at the different categories of house plans that attract a certain groups of people.  When you look for a house plan online there are hundreds of styles to choose from and it can get hard trying to decide what you want.  You may be thinking, “all I want is a house where I can come home and relax, why do I have to pick from so many options?” The Plan Collection has taken care of that and has provided a couple extra house plan options so you can more easily find a house plan that works for you. Yesterday we talked about transitional house plans.  Today we are going to talk about the art of Feng Shui and the application of it in house design.

Feng shui has had lots of criticism over the years and there are a lot of false ideas about Feng Shui.  Feng Shui is all about trying to have positivity in life.  There are many levels of Feng Shui practice in today’s world.  Many people just want a little Feng Shui in their homes to help them relax.  Others are more firm believes in the theology of Feng Shui.  It doesn’t matter at what level of Feng Shui practice you are.  All Feng Shui house plans give you a place to relax and enjoy more of the earth and its elements.

You can practice as much feng shui as you want in a home.  A Feng Shui design is a smaller design with lots of open space.  One of the keys to Feng Shui is being able to have space to move around and with some quick reevaluations of the floor plan any home becomes more Feng Shui.  With the open air feeling you naturally feel more at ease.  The house provides a place for you to get away from the stress of everyday life and relax.  There are certain elements that can add a lot to the Feng Shui feel of a home.  For example, house plan M-2228 has open floor plans and glass walls that give lots of air flow throughout the house.  The plan also has open wall space so you can decorate with all the Feng Shui items you need.

A Feng Shui floor plan is open and allows air flow

There are dozens of Feng Shui house plans that you can choose from at The Plan Collection.  Take some time and find the one that works best for you.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

We are going to look at a style of home that is overlooked a lot of the time.  There are plans out there that let you house a family member that needs a little extra assistance but what happens when you get older?  Eventually, all of us will get older and the kids will all grow up and move out.  What do you do when you wake up one morning and realized you are left with a big house and no one but you and your spouse to live in it?  This is when it’s time to start looking at Transitional House Plans.

Transitional house plans aren’t a real house plan design style per se.  Transitional homes are house plans that have been designed for those transitioning years after the family leaves.  They are generally a smaller design with easy access to all the main living spaces.  Many of the times, these plans come in a single story floor plan so you don’t have to fight going up and down stairs all day.  The transitional house plan has lots of features to make life a little easier for you, now that you don’t always have to be thinking about a handful of people.  The houses are stylish designs without being too big.  They could be just what you need to make your years of transition easier.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

Building a home can be a big decision.  There are a lot of things that go into building your own home.  The best part is that you get to decide pretty much everything.  You can make the home exactly how you want.  One of the first decisions you make when picking a set of house plans to construct with is the style of home you want.  Let me suggest looking at Arts and Crafts house plans.

Arts and Crafts house designs look great from every angle.  The design of an Arts and Crafts house is very decorative.  The exterior of the house has many subtle detailing that all combine to make one beautiful, fluid look.  Some of the common features are a mix of exterior finishes and artsy woodwork around the tops of the gable roof lines.  The exterior is actually one of the main factors that goes into making a home have the true Arts and Crafts look.

The interior of an Arts and Crafts home is a very practical design.  It has all the basic living necessities and adds a little flair to it.  Exposed beams and other rustic decor are very common in Arts and Crafts houses.  Another feature that you find in a lot of Arts and Crafts houses is a large masonry fireplace to provide both beauty and a great heating device. Everything is put together to give an easy to inhabit floor plan with beauty.

Arts and Crafts house plans can be anything you want them to be.  Constructing an Arts and Crafts house adds lots of pleasure to your life.  It is a house design that will hold up for years and never go out of style.  Arts and Crafts houses have been constructed for years and continue with the same look, even in today’s modern design craze.  This is definitely one of the architecture styles that will not drift away after a couple years.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

Last week I was looking at a bunch of ICF house plans.  I had seen a bunch of plans and I was starting to really like the look of houses that utilize that wall construction.  Well, this weekend I was going for a drive through the farmland of Northwest Utah when I noticed how many log homes we have around here.  I have spent my whole life driving around that area and had never noticed them before.  I guess you just don’t pay attention to stuff like that until it becomes the way you make a living.

I have been doing some research this week and log homes are actually a good idea to look at in home construction.  I always figured log homes were designed so you could have a hunting lodge or a nice place to stay while at your favorite ski resort.  After doing a little studying on log homes I found out that log homes have been being constructed for centuries all over the world.  These homes were some of the best houses that were constructed in eastern Europe, where the climate can get quite harsh.

I know that these house plans have received a connotation of being overpriced getaways hidden in the trees but they definitely didn’t have the reputation in the early days.  Log houses were first design as a practical way to help the family survive very harsh conditions.  Eastern Europe abounded in timber and the people knew they could make houses easily out of all the free wood.  Over time they learned how to stack the logs and plug up any gaps with mud and other natural materials so they had an air tight home that kept the cold out.  They perfected the art in Europe and 18th and 19th century immigrants brought it over to America.

Log homes have been embedded in American history since the beginning.  There are so many legends of the early greats and their log homes.  This whole home styling has taken on a romantic mystic.  You can’t help but all in love with one of these beautifully crafted homes.  It makes me happy to know that there are still many log home designs that are used as full time living arrangements.  I wouldn’t enjoy anything more than being able to go home to a log home everyday.  There is just a certain feel to a log home that you can’t get anywhere else.  If your dream home happens to be a log cabin, as well, check out all these log home plans you could have: http://www.theplancollection.com/log-cabin-house-plans

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) framed houses have become a lot more popular lately.  It is a great option for your home.  ICFs are insulated forms that are filled with cement and then connected piece by piece until you have a complete home.  ICF homes have many benefits for you to consider.  The energy efficient is a lot higher than usual wood framing.  The insulated forms keep the outside out of the picture and you can control your interior temperature easier.  Going along with this, you get a home that is a lot quieter.  The design of the forms muffles outside noise and lets you enjoy your peace and quiet inside.  One of the most important features of an ICF home is the protection you receive.  If you look at the materials that are being used you can only guess how strong and durable your home would be.  The forms keep all the pests and mold out and they have proven that they can withstand some of mother nature’s biggest storms.  I love the idea of ICF homes because they are virtually indestructible and they still look great.  You aren’t losing anything going with ICFs instead of the usual wood frames.

House plan AA6075-0355 showcases how much you can do with an ICF house plan.  This floor plan is one of my dream plans.  It is a huge house that has everything you could imagine.  All of the rooms are extra spacious and give you a luxurious look has you feeling like a celebrity everyday.  The great design has a room for every occasion.  On the ground level there are many gathering areas with a big garage on the front and a long covered porch on the back.  The second floor has lots of balcony space which I always like to see and four huge bedrooms.  The master suite has a really big bathroom and the closet space in this home is unheard of.  The master bedroom and one other bedroom also feature their own covered balcony.  This plan is more of an example of what you can do with ICF construction.  I know I would never be able to use all that space but it is nice to dream.

The Sierra house plan is something anyone could afford.  It is a quaint southwestern design that has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  This plan, unlike AA6075-0355, has only the bare necessities.  Some of its selling points are a large vaulted ceiling in the living area, a long patio in the rear and a garage with lots of space.  This home is much more simplified but it still has enough to draw your attention.

House plan PS-2755 is made for the family.  It is probably one of the most practical ICF house plans that I’ve seen.  This house plan has two main living areas and a lanai in the back.  There are many options for family parties and hanging out with the friends.  The master suite is off by itself and has a door opening it to the back lanai.  The rest of the bedrooms are lined up along the left wall.  Two of the bedrooms have a shared bathroom and the last bedroom has its own bathroom.  With a three car garage, you can fit the family minivan and your other play toys.  I believe this plan would take advantage of all the benefits that come from ICF wall framing.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

I know that Georgian style homes aren’t the most popular house plans right now.  Most people are looking for something that is a little more hip.  Truth be told, Georgian house plans can be turned into a great living space that will have you satisfied.  Georgian homes do have a little different exterior but the floor plan of a Georgian home is quite practical for a family.

First off, I would imagine that most people aren’t familiar with the typical characteristics of Georgian architecture.  Georgian architect gets its roots from 18th century Great Britain.  This style of architecture is very simplistic.  Almost every Georgian home design has a symmetrical front and a panel front door with a columned porch.  The windows on a Georgian house are almost always paned windows and there are general 5 windows per story on the front of the home.  To top off a Georgian design there is usually a shallow gable roof.  This is what we have come to know as typical Georgian exteriors.

A lot of times people stop there, at the exterior of the home, and never even look on the inside.  Georgian homes are very practical homes.  The Georgian styling was formed long before we had today’s current high tech decorating.  Everything about Georgian design is more about having elegant handmade ornamentation.

The floor plans are also designed with everyday trafficking in mind.  LS-97822-RE had a great example of what a Georgian floor plan looks like.  The layout of this plan is much like a home that I was in recently.  I liked the layout of the home because of its openness and the feeling of freedom that you had.  Many times I get claustrophobic when I am in a house that is crammed into a little space and doesn’t have any openings and low ceilings.  LS-97822-RE has a long space between the kitchen and the family room and they have 9 foot ceilings throughout the whole house.  The family room has 4 big windows and the dinette area has a sliding door.  These features greatly enhance the flow of air and light into the home, getting rid of that stuffy feeling that happens in smaller homes.

This particular plan also does a great job of using all the upstairs space.  There are 4 decent sized bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  A special feature of the plan is a balcony that extends from the master suite.  Georgian architecture is also known for having balconies over the front entry.  They add a little style without being too extravagant.  The architects that original started the Georgian style did a very good job of designing accent pieces that look nice but don’t require too much extra effort.  This mindset has continued throughout the years.

Georgian house plans are wisely designed and for some reason don’t receive as much recognition as they deserve.  You should take some time to take another look at Georgian homes.  You might be surprised at what you see.  It always helps to come into something with an open mind.  Georgian homes aren’t what you’re accustomed to seeing but they are nice looking designs.  They will serve your family well.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

We have dedicated many articles to green building methods.  A construction method that falls under green building is adobe construction.  This is actually a quite interesting method.  People have been using it for ages and many of the original structures are still standing.  I found information about whole cities being built over 2500 years ago that are still seen in almost complete entirety.  I was amazed at how well these buildings were designed even before today’s technology was in play.

Iranian city built of adobe over 2500 years ago

Adobe construction is really quite ingenious.  The early builders mixed the elements they had available to make a house.  Little did they know how effective their construction would be.  Now, we have to remember adobe construction is mostly done in dry and arid areas where you don’t have to worry about substantial rainfall, earthquakes and other natural disasters.  Their constructions were made in the right place at the right time.

The benefits of adobe houses, even in today’s world, are quite impressive when you think about it.  Let’s just look at it from the perspective of someone living in the Southwestern United States.  You live in a desert where the temperature can range up to 30 degrees between the day and the night.  You experience hot days and cold nights.  Living costs have risen quite considerably and it isn’t cheap to build a home anymore.  There is a long list of problems that we can come up with.  My point being, adobe construction can help you out in a lot of ways.

If we look at the way adobe bricks are constructed we see the first benefits that you’ll get.  Bricks are custom made and can have any material that you would like.  They usually have organic materials and some sort of mud on the outside.  These bricks are cheap to make and if you find a skilled brick maker they can be strong construction material.  These bricks also have special thermal properties.  Adobe can keep your home cool during the day and warm at night.  The heat from the sun takes several hours to soak through the wall and into the living space.  Heat is trapped once it enters the wall throughout the day and is slowly dispersed through the air  during the night.  You have an instant heat control in your home.

Adobe bricks are made of materials that do not easily decompose, if at all.  If you build an adobe home in an area that doesn’t have rain or natural disasters you are almost guaranteed a home that will last forever.  Adobe structures have been proven to last up against the harsh environment of desert regions.  It will hold up to normal wear and tear.

Another feature of adobe constructed houses is the flexible look you can have.  An adobe home can come in almost any color you can think of.  You don’t have to stick to the customary brick or siding look.  You can have a picturesque natural tone or do an extravagant blue or purple.  You can paint adobe any way you want it.

Adobe certainly isn’t indestructible but it can hold its own when it’s in the desert or a dry area.  You should check it out if you’re thinking about constructing a home in the desert.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

The modern look is very in right now.  People are doing all they can to have that “modern look” in their home.  Companies have been working overtime to bring the next best modern design.  Every time I pick up a furniture catalog I see lots of crisp shapes with geometric designs.  I must say, modern design does catch your attention.  House plan designers know this fact and they are releasing lots of modern house plans.

I am always open to new ideas and wanted to see if there are any modern plans that have some functionality and not just have all looks.  Plan 1978 is a great example of a modern home that could work for a married couple or a small family.  All the rooms are well sized and very open.  The main level hardly has any separating walls at all.  With all the glass exterior walls you get the feel that the house is even bigger.  The master suite is huge! It takes up almost half of the second floor.  It has a rooftop garden that is as big as the bedroom.  And it has a fireplace built into the brick wall.

This house has the usual flash of a modern home but it can also be used for everyday living.  You could enjoy having a luxurious home and know that you didn’t spend your money on something that has no use.  This plan even has a storage space in the back for your lawnmower and other lawn implements.  I guess the modern look can be both appealing and reasonable.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

Lately, we have seen a rise in the popularity of prairie style houses.  People are constructing them all over the place.  I have seen multiple episodes of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition with a prairie style home being built.  Everyone has caught this midwest madness.  It’s not that hard to see why, either.  Prairie house plans are very attractive designs.  Every since the beginning, architects have been combining eye-catching design with functionality that saves money and the environment.

When architects started designing what is nowadays called prairie houses, they were looking to make a house that didn’t have European influence.  They knew that they could build a home that could stand by itself without needing help from eastern architect.  They started by making plans for a structure that would sit low on the horizon, something that would be attractive but wouldn’t take away from the picturesque Midwestern landscape.  Through a lot of trial and error, they came up with the beautiful styling that we know as prairie homes.  Prairie house plans can fit into any surrounding because of their unique exterior design.  You will see prairie houses in big cities and little towns.  I have noticed that a simple change of exterior coloring can make a prairie home fit into your neighborhood.

A prairie house plan consists of a lot of low pitched hip roofs that extend far out and have large overhangs.  They are almost always a one story house that has a lot of squares on the exterior.  The Plan Collection just recently received a wonderful, new prairie design from that could be built on a slope.  M-2640 shows how much flexibility a prairie house really has.  You can make a prairie design look good on any type of landscape.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.

With the economy still on a rebound, the house building industry has been pretty slow.  Not too many people want to risk building a home and end up with a huge loan and no way to pay it off.  Building your own home is one of the biggest thrills but it does have a lot of stress sometimes.  I have heard lots of people say it’s a lot easier to spend the “founding years” of adult life in an apartment. Once you’re set, then you can think about building a home.  This might just be what the construction industry needs.

If more people that are better off financially constructed multi-units and rented them out all the people starting off could have an affordable place to stay, the owners would be making a few extra bucks and contractors could keep their businesses going. It’s a win-win-win situation.  Everyone gets what they want and we slowly work our way out of this financial bind.

Now, I know you’re saying to yourself, “that sounds good and all, but nothing is ever that simple.”  I must agree, most thinks are easier said than done.  There are still a few loopholes in this theory. If you do your homework and know what you’re doing before you dive in headfirst, you can succeed.  The Plan Collection has lots of affordable multi-units that could fit in any lot. You would just have to locate the spot and find out what style would fit best in that area.

Multi-unit construction could be a step towards better economy

While I was looking through The Plan Collection site, I saw lots of duplexes that would fit in almost any lot.  They came in all different styles and you could personalize them exactly how you want.  I even saw a couple stacked complexes.  They had 3 or 4 apartments with one stacked on top of the other.  You really can have any design in your apartment complex.

We all want to see the economy bounce back and they only way it will is if we work together.  This could be just a baby step in the long journey back to financial stability.

HousePlans.Info: The latest trends, observations and opinions on all things related to house plans, home design and home building.