New House Plan Videos

New House Plan Videos

by on September 22, 2011 in green house plans, House Plans

New HD Green House Plan Videos from The House Designers

The House Designers recently added four new house plan videos to their House Designers YouTube Channel. Each house plan was recently featured in the ENERGY STAR House Plan Competition. This competition recognizes the most innovative new green house plans. These new videos were all created in High Definition featuring crisp, clear color renderings and floor plans so consumers and builders can visualize what these beautiful new homes will look like when they are built.

This two story green house plan features a a large bonus living space over the garage, which is joined to the main house by a covered breezeway. The foyer opens a flexible space on the left (great for a home office or cozy den), to the right is the dining room area which opens to the large great room complete with fireplace and high vaulted ceilings. The second floor features 2 bedrooms and a loft that share a bath. The kitchen is a cook’s delight complete with a large island, plenty of cabinets and work surfaces. The large breakfast nook has access to the covered patio, which is great for outdoor dining. The master bathroom is complete with a spa bath featuring a corner tub, walk-in shower, his and her vanities with make-up area, a private toilet chamber and a large walk-in closet. There is a large optional bonus space over the garage that can easily be converted into an apartment.


 

 

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Ask A Designer: Building a Green Home | green house plans

by on September 13, 2011 in green house plans, House Plans

The designers and architects at The House Designers would like to encourage consumers and builders to submit their questions about building a green home since they are the leaders in designing authentic green house plans.

This week’s question:

Q: Will I be sacrificing performance and style using WaterSense® bath products?

A: Homeowners typically use over 70 gallons of water a day per person. Much of that usage stems from bathroom activities. High-design, high-efficiency plumbing products for toilets, faucets and showerheads are now available and can reduce water consumption by 20 percent. For example, water flows from a standard showerhead at 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), so a 10-minute shower (with the water running continuously) nets 25 gallons. This is why using a WaterSense® approved showerhead is so important to water conservation in your home. WaterSense® products must have a flow rate of 2.0 gpm or less, while also meeting performance requirements for flow rate across a range of pressures, spray force, and spray coverage. When it comes to high efficiency toilets, these models must consumer no more than 1.28 gallons per flush. All faucets must have a GPM of 1.5 or lower. All products must obtain third-party verification in order to qualify for the WaterSense® label.

We encourage you to visit our collection of ENERGY STAR/Green House Plans as well as catch up on the latest green building products and trends in our Product Ideas section, including articles like “Stylish and Water Efficient Bath Products,” “Designing and Eco-Friendly Kitchen,” “What Makes a Home Green.”

Don’t miss a single new article, by subscribing to The House Designers free weekly e-newsletter called Home Ideas.

green house plans

This contemporary green house plan features radiant heat installed under the tile and stone floors, for an even distribution of heat and energy savings. The wood floors in this open, eco-friendly kitchen are made from Morning Star bamboo flooring by Lumber Liquidators.

 

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Getting Your Home Organized for Back-to-School | the house designers

by on September 5, 2011 in Floor Plans, House Plans

It’s not too late to get your home organized for back-to-school with these great tips from The House Designers.

With the new school year upon us, it’s the perfect time to get your home organized for all the papers, supplies and projects that will be making their way into your home. You can make the transition back-to-school a lot easier by incorporating some of these simple, cost-efficient organizational tips from The House Designers, America’s leading designers and architects of ready-made house plans.

If your mornings are already chaotic, you should try to create a practical schedule where you get as much done as you can the night before, like making lunches, getting clothes ready and packing backpacks.

the house designers

Pottery Barn Design Studio® features a free room planner where you can select from a wide range of furnishings for every room in your home, including your bedroom and home office. Shown is the American Classic Home Office.

You’ll want to create a dedicated area for homework. Take into consideration the age of your children and your home’s floor plan. Is their enough space in the children’s bedroom for a desk? Do you have a home office/den or a built-in desk in your kitchen/living area? Remember if you create a cool and inviting place for your children to do their homework, they may actually look forward to getting it done.

There are no avoiding lots of paperwork coming home every week, so you need to have a good filing system in place to help manage your daily schedule and events.

And let’s not forget all the A+ homework, projects and artwork that you will want to save. File boxes, portfolios and binders are great ways to store and save school keepsakes.

the house designers

If you’re looking to redesign or remodel an existing room so you can have a dedicated area to do homework, you’ll want to check out Floorplanner. You can create accurate, interactive floor plans within minutes with this FREE online tool. Used in conjunction with The House Designers house plans you can easily decorate your dream home.

If you have extra space in your kitchen or mudroom you should try and hang a bulletin board so you can keep track of daily to-do-items as well as upcoming events.

Speaking of mudrooms, make sure that you create organized storage areas for your child’s fall sports and activities. Check out the article Getting Organized: Storage Solutions & Ideas.

Enjoy The House Designers Editor’s Choice Great Office & Homework Spaces from their latest issue of Home Ideas.

 

 

 

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Fypon Offers New Real-Time Architect Website

by on July 13, 2011 in home building, House Plans

Architects and designers can now add exact specification details on synthetic millwork products to their blueprints for their latest home building projects by using Fypon’s® new architect website.

The website includes a Design Tools section with a Fypon® CAD program that features a searchable DWG library, detailed CSI specifications and access to the extensive Fypon® e-catalog of products so you can easily modify existing house plans with accurate product detailing.

“This on-line tool was designed to make it easy for architects to link Fypon® products to their projects,” says Janet Albright, marketing communications manager for Therma-Tru Corp.®, which offers the Fypon® product line. “The input we received from architects was invaluable to us creating a website that was in tune to how architects do their jobs. The ‘real time’ updates we developed with the input of architects are critical. These ‘real time’ updates provide architects with immediate access to all elements on-line with the ability to print each page if needed for a project.

“We recognize that architects are seeking out products that meet the needs of their ever-changing work environment where design and building codes continually change. The ‘real time’ aspect of this site assures architects of having the most updated product information at their fingertips with just a few clicks of the mouse. From photo galleries, to the detailed CAD drawings available on line, to the exact specifications of each product in the Fypon® e-catalog, architects can easily find the solution to their interior and exterior decorative product needs within this dedicated section of the Fypon® website.”

Fypon offers more than 1,900 synthetic pieces in the categories of Window & Door Trim, Mouldings, E-Vent™ Systems, Decorative Millwork, Louvers/Gable Vents, Balustrades & Columns, PVC Column Wraps, QuickRail® Systems and PVC Trim. Detailed product descriptions and measurements of each product are available in the on-line e-catalog.

 

 

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Designing Your Vacation Home | vacation homes

by on June 25, 2011 in Home Plans, House Plans

If you own a vacation home, you may find it challenging to figure out how the most affordable way to design and decorate it, while still making it appealing to renters. Since you’ll probably be using your home to vacation, you’ll need to find a way to balance your personal style and comfort with durable and affordable appliances and furnishings that can withstand the wear and tear of lots of traffic, especially if your home is a ski or beach destination.

Remember that renters have high expectations that a rental home will be as nice, if not nicer than their own home and filled with lots of amenities. Choose furniture that is easy to clean and durable. A great idea is to add slipcovers to your sofa and chairs, since they can easily be cleaned. One area where you shouldn’t cut corners is with the bedroom, since there is nothing worse than sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress.

Most vacation homes feature an outdoor living space so maximize this area if you can by adding a grilling area and comfortable furniture. If you’re looking to build a vacation home, look for house plans that feature open living spaces, mudrooms and functional kitchen designs.

For some great decorating ideas for your vacation home you’ll want to check out these two new articles from The House Designers – Decorating Your Vacation Home and Designing Your Rental Home.

 

 

 

 

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New England Inspired Homes | new england homes

by on June 3, 2011 in House Plans

If you’ve ever taken a vacation to the New England coastline stretching from the famed Newport, Rhode Island and Cape Cod, Massachusetts or through the cozy fisherman towns of New Hampshire and Maine you’ve probably stopped many times to admire the unique architecture and landscape of these beloved homes. If you’re not a beach person, then perhaps you have visited these quaint, historically rich states for a fall foliage trip on the Mohawk Trail or winter ski trip to the White Mountains.

new england homes

New England architecture has changed over the centuries but it continues to inspire architects and designers around the world to capture the charm and essence of these warm and efficient home designs, which range from Colonial to Cape Cod to Victorian to farmhouses.

The oldest New England style home is the Colonial, which typically features a symmetrical floor plan with a simple, rectangular shape in 2 to 2 1/2 stories. The second story floor plan is equal in size to the first floor and generally reserved for the bedrooms, though more contemporary designs tend to place the master suite on the first floor. The exterior features include a centered doorway flanked with rows of equally sized windows, a gable roof, classical styling such as columns, cornices, shutters and a brick or clapboard exterior.

Equally popular are Cape Cod homes, which were originally designed to withstand the harsh weather of the Northeast. Key features include window shutters, which are as much functional as decorative, wood siding or shake shingles, a steep roofline and gables. They are almost always one and a half stories with the bedrooms on the second floor. The interior features bright colors to complement a beach theme.

During the Industrial Revolution New Englanders became enchanted by the charm and elegance of Victorian architecture because of its unique design featuring ornamental elements like turrets, intricate gables and trim and wrap-around porches.

And of course one style that can’t be mistaken is the farmhouse with its large porch and windows to take in the views of one’s sprawling landscape.

Whether you’re looking to build a new home or looking for inspiration to remodel your existing home or simply enjoy architecture, you’ll have fun browsing through our collection of New England-inspired house plans, you’ll enjoy our collection of farmhouses, Colonials, Cape Cod, Victorian and Yankee Magazine House Plans.

 

 

 

 

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The Home of 2020 | modern homes

by on May 18, 2011 in House Plans

In an era of technological innovation, we’re seeing more and more infiltration of high tech gadgets into the home. These new technologies promise to make our home lives easier, more comfortable, safer, more energy efficient, and even more fun. The following infographic explores some of the potential technological possibilities we may see in our homes over the next decade.

Brought to you by The House Designers, offering a wide selection of quality house plans

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Celebrate National BBQ Month

by on May 11, 2011 in House Plans

Celebrate National Barbecue Month by checking out a sample of our newest and most popular house plans featuring great outdoor living spaces in this week’s Dream Designs newsletter.

Throw a cook-out or just enjoy family dinner in one of our outdoor kitchen designs featuring all the latest in outdoor cooking appliances, like hybrid cooking grills, refrigerators, small sinks and even the first outdoor dishwasher by Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. Add cabinetry, countertops, lighting, dining furniture and flooring and you have the perfect outdoor living room.

Many of these designs feature a pool area, lanai, porch and patio, wraparound deck and sunrooms so you enjoy quality time with family and friends. You can find useful tips and information on how to create a great grilling area by visiting the Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association (HPBA), they also have some cool ways to celebrate National Barbecue Month.

This new traditional house plan features all the latest amenities, including a gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry and large cooking island. Enjoy outdoor cooking and dining on the lanai featuring a built-in cooking station and just a few steps away is a pool and patio with a large outdoor fireplace that can be used for warmth and cooking.

Enjoy our collection of homes with outdoor living spaces and if you’re looking for some great grilling recipes check out our friends at Kalamazoo, they have some creative dishes to impress your guests.

 

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Build Your Dream Home with Mom in Mind | dream house plans

by on May 8, 2011 in Home Plans, House Plans, Open Floor Plans

First off, everyone at The House Designers would like to wish all the mothers in the world who have helped make a house a home and provided us with countless childhood memories a very Happy Mother’s Day!

If you are thinking about building your dream home now is the perfect time to consider a house plan that features an in-law suite, guest bedroom or optional living spaces so that mom and of course dad can have a comfortable and warm place to stay. This is especially practical if you have elderly parents who may need to come live with you some day. After all they spent their lives devoted to taking of care of us.

We offer an extensive collection of homes designed with extra living spaces no matter what size, style or budget you are looking for.

Here are some of our favorite homes with added living spaces that make it easy to keep the whole family under one roof, while offering plenty of privacy and practical living spaces.

Enjoy time with the family with an extended outdoor living space and in-law suite.

The Seligman house plan is designed with a unique left wing that features the master suite and guest suite with a large front Palladian window. There are plenty of open living spaces, flexible rooms and a gorgeous outdoor living area with covered verandah, swimming pool and patio so you can enjoy years of great time together.

A private studio apartment above the garage features a living room and kitchenette.

How about a studio apartment for your mom above the garage? This gorgeous new Craftsman House Plan features a second floor plan above the garage with a private, spacious suite featuring a living space, kitchenette, full bath and ample size bedroom with walk-in closet. This plan is packed with amenities for its 2,339 square feet.

Enjoy the many amenities of this clever duplex house plan that doesn't look like a duplex at all.

Or how about a duplex house plan that doesn’t look like a duplex at all? Check out the Due Volte Casa House Plan.

You’ll have fun browsing through our collection of house plans.

 

 

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Product highlights from KBIS

by on May 2, 2011 in home designs, Kitchen Designs, Remodeling

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas may have ended, but it’s left consumers and builders with a big craving for new, innovative and GREEN kitchen and bath products.

KBIS is the equivalent to Fashion Week for kitchens and bathrooms, where companies present the new and most innovative products to impress architects, designers and consumers. This year the theme was heavy on functionality – products that aim to make your life easier by using the latest in technology.

Here are some highlights from the show:

There’s the NanaWall® Kitchen Transition, a custom window-door combo that has the ability to turn your kitchen into an indoor-outdoor living space.

Dacor’s® new Distinctive Series® focuses on affordable luxury in appliances. LG® also announced the new Studio Series® a line of energy efficient appliances, from microwaves to dishwashers

The new Hybrid line of outdoor grills from Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet® is just in time for the warm weather. You can grill with gas, charcoal or wood and it has designated areas for fish, beef, chicken and pork. Also on display was the first dishwasher designed for the outdoors.

It was all about pampering with the latest in bidets and spa shower systems from leaders like TOTO,® American Standard® and Kohler®.

If you’re in the market for a new countertop you’ll want to check out Cambria®. It’s the only American made quartz. It’s non-porous so it will never stain, it doesn’t require sealant (so it’s chemical free) and it comes with a lifetime warranty. And it is absolutely gorgeous!

It was very refreshing to find companies like Dacor® and Cambria® who manufacture their products in the United States. GE Appliances® is also making a commitment to bring their manufacturing back to the states.

Look for this week’s issue of Home Ideas for more top product picks from the editors of The House Designers. If you’re not receiving this free e-newsletter, simply click here to sign up.

 

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Celebrate Earth Day with Savings

by on April 22, 2011 in green house plans, House Plans

Earth Day is the perfect time to think about building a green home or updating your existing home with energy-efficient products so you can a create a more comfortable home that costs less to operate, lasts longer and provides a healthy living environment.

If you are planning on building a new home you should think green right from the start by selecting an ENERGY STAR® approved house plan. The construction drawings from this award-winning collection of green house plans make it easy to build a new home that takes advantage of everything from sustainable design to energy efficient building materials.

These new plans were part of an annual Green Home Plan Competition, designed to inspire consumers and builders to build healthy, affordable and energy efficient homes that incorporate green building techniques and eco-friendly products. The results are over 40 amazing, new, energy-efficient designs offered in a wide range of styles, sizes and amenities so you’re sure to find your dream green home.

These plans were recently recognized by Green Builder Magazine, which featured more than 25 of these award-winning designs in their latest issue. They were chosen because of their innovative designs and technical detailing featuring the latest in green materials and systems to provide total home comfort and efficiency. All these designs feature timeless architectural styles and practical/flexible layouts to ensure years of comfortable living without sacrificing amenities and aesthetics. These designs are also showcased in Her Dream Home magazine.

You can learn more about building a green home by visiting Green Building, a section dedicated to providing builders and consumers with the latest tips, trends and products about green building.

SAVE $50 OFF any online order from the NEW ENERGY STAR collection (available on house plans over $500) through April 24, 2011. Simply enter Earth in the promo code.

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Gorgeous Landscape Designs

by on April 18, 2011 in House Plans

When it comes to landscaping your home it is important that each element blends together to create a soothing, restful and beautiful addition to your property. Creating a basic landscape design is very similar to decorating the interior of your home. It can be just as much fun and inspiring if you have a solid plan.

The first thing you’ll want to do is take a good look around your property and jot down your landscaping needs. Consider what you want from your landscape design — simply aesthetics, outdoor living spaces like a pool/patio, children’s playground or vegetable garden. Once you decide on how you want to use your space you can begin to work on a design. Look for inspiration from home & garden magazines and websites and house plans that feature gorgeous landscape designs and photography.

The latest issue of Home Ideas features some great ideas and tips to help you create a relaxing, personalized and eye-catching outdoor design, as well as how to create a home garden.

Enjoy great curb appeal with this perfectly landscaped property, which also features a rear outdoor living space with kitchen.

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Green Builder Magazine Features America’s Greenest House Plans | green house plans

by on April 12, 2011 in ENERGY STAR, Green Building, green house plans, House Plans

The latest issue of Green Builder magazine features more than 25 new green house plans from the leading architects and designers at The House Designers. The house plans are designed with innovative materials and systems that promote healthy living. All these designs feature timeless architectural styles and practical/flexible layouts to ensure years of comfortable living.

Green Builder Magazine Features America’s Greenest House Plans from The House Designers.

Each house plan contains technical detailing so you can build an energy-efficient home. You’ll find these homes are designed with SIPs and ICFs, optimal framing and spray-foamed attics to provide total home comfort and efficiency.

Fantasy renderings were designed for each of the top “editor’s choice” plans so you can see what the home might look like when completed with eco-friendly furnishings.

Green Builder choose these plans from a collection of over 40 winners in a green house plan competition offered exclusively by The House Designers, which features the only collection of ENERGY STAR approved house plans.

Functionality and form come together delightfully in this extremely energy efficient traditional home. With exterior materials comprised of recyclable steel and fiber cement board, durability and longevity combine with timeless elegance upon the frame of a traditional forest or farmhouse plan.

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Get Your Home Ready for Summer

by on April 8, 2011 in Floor Plans, Home Plans, House Plans

With summer right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to think about getting your home ready for summer and figuring out how to keep your cooling costs down. Check out the article Prepare Your Home for Summer where you’ll learn efficient and affordable tips about cleaning your refrigerator coils, installing ceiling fans, cleaning and replacing window and door screens and much more.

5 Simple Ways to Cool Your Home helps you access your cooling needs by recommending small, stylish ways to effectively cool your home without using air conditioners like ceiling fans, and solar window treatments.  This is especially helpful during the early months of summer when it is so tempting to turn on the a/c.

Since most of us can’t wait to start cooking outdoors, our editor’s have selected some of the best grilling products for 2011, as well as their favorite house plans featuring well-designed outdoor living spaces featuring pools, patios, lanais, decks, kitchens and much more.

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Award-winning Green House Plans

by on April 1, 2011 in ENERGY STAR, green house plans, House Plans

Now is the perfect time to think about building a new home, so why not go “green” and build an energy-efficient and healthy home. The House Designers has just added over 40 new, innovative house plans, which are all ENERGY STAR approved and can’t be found anywhere else. All of the plans in this collection incorporate the latest in green building techniques and home building products.

This warm and charming Craftsman style house plan was “Voted Best in Total Home Comfort” because of its use of ENERGY STAR rated materials and Green Building practices. Its effective use of insulation, high-performance windows, tight construction and efficient heating and cooling equipment will ensure you and your family enjoy years of savings and total home comfort.

Innovative new Green house plan featuring the best in total home comfort.

This contemporary two-story  house plan took 2nd place in our recent Green House Plan Competition. It has a small footprint, which makes it perfect for urban areas and small lots. The main floor plan features an open living area, making it ideal for entertaining or interacting with family. A great flexible feature is the open carport, which can be used for an extending living space like a roof garden, outdoor living room or kitchen.

This contemporary house plan took second place in Green House Plan competition.

View the entire collection of new ENERGY STAR house plans.

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