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Home design has always centered around the family unit. In this way, the legacy of domestic architecture can almost be read as a social history as much as it is an industrial one. Over the decades and centuries family structures have evolved as the world has changed. Some of the classic American house plan designs reflect this changing social reality. The Craftsman, for example, was a very popular home in the early industrial stages of American suburban life and the layout reflects the changing roles for mothers working inside the home. No longer were homes owned solely by the wealthy, and the lady of the house often did not have servants to manage the previously extensive housework. The kitchen and pantry areas were restructured to be navigated by a single person, and the big open windows overlooking yard spaces also denote the multitasking that was required of these new arrangements.

House plan design almost always centers on the movements of a family through the house. As we see design evolve, it is almost always the result of changes in life movements. For the last many years the priority has been on flexible space as family structures change and roles of parents evolve. Home offices and in-law accommodations are on the rise as families adapt to new challenges and find creative solutions to their needs.

This is one of the best parts of my job: designing homes that successfully meet the needs of today’s families, and to recognize the hard work that goes into making that house plan into a home. In honor of Mother’s Day, I’d like to say thank you to all the moms out there: whether you’re a mommy or a nana; whether your family is biology-based or blended; if you have more than two generations under one roof; if you work both inside and outside the home…. thank you for filling these many structures with love and support for all the growth we all continue to do.

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Families are a dynamic organization. Whether your family is growing in number or becoming smaller; whether your kids are getting older or your parents are looking to age in place; toddlers tuning into teenagers, in-laws and parents aging, family pets, job changes…. nearly any change in life can alter the demands we place on our home spaces. As the years go by we are often in a position to rethink and retool the way we move through our house, adapting to the changing needs of a life affected by many elements.

When looking for a house plan to suit the needs of a family, many people are prioritizing flexible spaces as a way to ensure that the house they choose will continue to be functional for many years. And it’s not just extra bedrooms we’re talking about here, although that is one of the easiest ways to evolve your needs: a guest room easily converts into a nursery; the home office adapts into a craft/work space with ample storage. In addition to convertible rooms, these days there are often flexible spaces built right into the house plan. This gives the buyer the ability to imagine how that space could best be utilized by their unique family.

The country-style house plan is growing in popularity- in large part because of its ability to offer such flexibility. These house plan styles stand with one foot in each of two worlds: a modern interior with loads of flexible space housed behind a classic country-style façade. This style is often denoted by its ability to prioritize functionality over traditional needs, as seen by the lacking of a formal dining room in favor of a large eating space right off the kitchen much better suited to today’s modern, multitasking family. And yet the great room echoes the traditional dramatic space perfect for celebrating holidays and get-togethers. These rooms often boast vaulted ceilings and classically functional features like built-in book shelves flanking an impressive mantle.

No matter which phase of life your family is currently in, it is important to find a house plan that can suit everyone’s needs as they grow and change. This is, in fact, why most people would choose to build their dream house over buying something already standing: who better to predict the future needs of your dynamic family but you?

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Building your own dream house can be a daunting task. There are many details to see to and countless decisions to make and the whole thing can become overwhelming quickly without a good plan to guide you through the process. And when it comes to staying within your budget here are a few tips to keep your plan on track:

  1. Choose your builder carefully. This may be the most important decision you make after you purchase your house plan. This relationship will be very important through the building process and a good builder will be able to advise you on many elements of the project.
  2. Work with your architect to ensure efficient building proportions. Plywood and drywall come in sheets 4 ’ x 8’, and structural lumber often comes in 2’ increments. Consider this and other standard material measurements when fine-tuning the design of your house plan. Odd shapes and lengths have the potential to create a considerable amount of scrap- and thus wasted- materials.
  3. Utilize any discounts you can. Be savvy when it comes to purchasing supplies. See if you can use your builder’s discount. Look into remnants and left over supplies for things like flooring and countertops; a previous construction project might have created loads of left-over materials that could be perfect for your space and design.
  4. Keep the roof pitch to a maximum of the standard 8/12. The more dramatic the pitch of the roof, the higher the labor cost a construction team will be able to charge. Or, if a steeper roof is desirable, consider using more than one pitch to minimize the amount of time and materials used on these more decorative elements.
  5. Design your home for low maintenance. Consider that skimping on some materials now will cost you more in the future. Things like windows, doors, roofing materials, and foundations are places where it is advisable to choose quality over low-cost. The process of repairing or replacing these elements in the future can be prohibitively expensive; better to build your structure with quality from the start.
  6. Use fancy materials where it counts. A stonework façade is a stunning improvement to the curb appeal of any home, but can be quite costly to create. Consider that perhaps the back and sides of the house are not in quite as much need for the dressy stonework as the front. Utilize high-quality materials where they will be appreciated.

The key to a successful home building project is to stay organized and keep your visions in mind as you move forward. Taking things one step at a time and utilizing all of your resources can keep you well within your budget and minimize unexpected set-backs.

 

 

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When it comes to life in your dream home, your family’s experience reaches beyond the walls of your house. Thinking about the sustainability of your landscaping and outside areas is one way to expand your living space—and save money in the process.

No matter which region of the country you live in, building systems that harvest naturally occurring resources is one of the best ways to save money each month—without sacrificing a beautiful yard.

Collecting rainwater for landscaping use is one of the oldest and simplest ways to keep your utilities bill down and maintain a stunning yard. There are some things to keep in mind as you are building to ensure that these systems can easily be implemented but, beyond that, this may be the simplest way to stretch your resources for maximum benefit.

To collect rain water you will first of all need a good collection barrel. Look around before you buy one: there are many opportunities to get these at a discount or for free from industrial companies with no further use for them.  A good gutter system is also important. You will need to have some version of a gutter filter system in place to keep the rain water separate from leaves, moss, and other debris so your water is clean and filtered.

Most people will simply run a piece of gutter material down from a drain point on the roof into a rain barrel to collect the water as it falls. Having a barrel with a spigot towards the bottom will make harvesting this collected water easy, as you can simply affix a garden hose to the opening at the base and use the collected water to hydrate your garden or lawn.

Maintaining an outside space that is both beautiful and functional for your family’s activities does not need to be expensive or taxing. By utilizing some of our naturally occurring resources you can maintain even the most complex landscaping and save money at the same time.

Here at Monster House Plans, we offer a wide selection of house plans. We know you will find one you’ll be excited about.

Check out these links for further information and how-to’s:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/build-a-rainwater-collection-system-zb0z1307zsal.aspx

http://www.clean-water-for-laymen.com/collecting-rain-water.html

 

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Back when architects were designing house plans by hand at large tilted drafting tables, a 3-D model was a luxury items usually relegated to large industrial or commercial projects. The benefit of those models, however, was paramount: having a replication of your dream project as it stands in actual space is a vital part of the process.

With countless improvements in technology, those architectural models are now available without the balsa wood and gluing processes of previous years. And this accessibility makes for a better home in the long run: from designer to builder to purchaser, having a model to work from allows everyone involved to be on the same page.

After nearly 40 years of designing homes, I am thrilled to be empowered to harness this technology. I have found that the improved clarity and transparency makes all the difference to families working on building their dream homes. This tool is of paramount importance when it comes to bridging the gap between designer and builder, and makes custom alterations a simple process.

At MonsterHousePlans.com, we offer thousands of house plans. And once you’ve searched through them and narrowed down your favorites, this 3-D Intelligent Design option allows your dream floor plan to come to life. This is an invaluable tool when it comes time to begin work with your builder: the 3-D model allows us to include the architect’s specific designs and characteristics, while giving the builder real-space awareness of how all these pieces come together. And as terms of customizing your floor plan, this is the tool that allows you to see the impact of individual choices as it translated to the house as a whole.

This industry has changed so much over the years. And while relics like the electric eraser have gone by the wayside, I am so thankful that modeling has followed us into these new methods of designing homes. There is nothing like taking an idea from your mind onto the page, and then again translating it into 3-D. It remains one of my most favorite examples of how the technological age has benefited the architectural industry: bringing real life examples of your dream home into the tangible process of everyone who buys a house plan.

– Brian Piling, architect

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Every new home begins with an idea followed by a house plan. The plan may in fact be the most important aspect surrounding the completion of your dream home. Here, we will cover the differences between purchasing a stock house plan and hiring an architect to design your home.

Most people will develop a budget for their home building project that needs to be strictly managed throughout the entire process. This budget always has the potential to seem thinner and thinner as the project progresses if the planning process becomes lengthy. This can be the case especially when one hires an architect to design their home. This method certainly has its place and although appealing in theory, this route may be more expensive than finding a house plan from a vast collection that already incorporates the elements that you are looking for in a home. In fact, buying a stock house plan will save you near 80% of the final costs compared to hiring an architect. At Monster House Plans, we even offer a cost-to-build feature that provides a rough estimate of what your home will cost in your zip code area. This useful feature takes out many financial surprises during the construction of your dream home. For this reason, staying on budget is our number one advantage.

Advantages of buying a house plan:

  • Higher level of flexibility found with buying a stock house plan. They are readily available and easily accessible.
  • Budget friendly and flexible to alterations
  • No hidden costs found with making adjustments. You search through numerous plans with varying features to find the perfect plan; therefore, the likelihood of making changes may be slimmer
  • Customizable features found with some building plans publishers, such as our professional staff and on-hand architect at Monster House Plans.
  • Time saving! Purchasing a house plan shortens the amount of time it takes to acquire the plan itself.

Advantages to consulting an Architect:

  • Architects will consult with you in person and draft based on your descriptions.
  • They may add unique flair to certain elements of the house (Although these features usually increase the cost of building the home)
  • Can design with building materials in mind when possible

However, all the advantages of consulting with an Architect can be equalized depending on where you purchase the house plan. For example, Monster House Plans maintains relationships with licensed architects and designers that you can contact if you should have any questions.

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Although building a home is not a quick and easy process, the process of planning the home can be much simpler than imagined. Finding what works best for one’s specific needs is essential. There are now many different house plans available to anyone. The diversity in available house plans ensures that you will be able to find the right plan with all the desired elements.

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Dream homes come in all shapes and sizes and when it comes to one’s log cabin dream home, there are certainly many options to choose from. Log cabins derive their beauty from the materials themselves as well as by the home’s breathtaking surroundings. Log Cabin style homes invoke the rustic and natural beauty of the wilderness and mountain environments while simultaneously bringing a sense of simplicity to the homeowner’s life. Many individuals choose to build their log cabin dream home as a vacation or getaway destination for friends and family. However, they later find themselves drawn to the comfort that is evoked by this home style. Log cabins maintain their beauty and only get more alluring as time passes. For this reason, they tend to stay within a family for generations. Building a log cabin home has become increasing popular for families everywhere.

Log cabins have the ability to incorporate numerous appealing details in their design. They can include the most extravagant amenities or be minimalist for a cozy home feel. Here we offer you a glimpse into 7 amazing styles of floor plans for log cabins. We are almost certain one is sure to become your next dream home.

  1. Hybrid floor plans: This style encompasses the combination of log and timber elements within the building process. This design generally will require a more technically savvy plan that focuses on the engineering aspects of the home in order to successfully incorporate both log walls and timber framing. This is a creative and structurally sound style to consider when building your log house.
  2. Ranch house plans: Ranch style log home plans provide a sense of comfort and flexibility that is accompanied with the simplicity found in its traditional elements. This style allows you to incorporate tasteful elements like high ceilings while simultaneously having the option to have a simple, one story build. The ranch style usually incorporates a rectangular design or an L shape that is usually front-faced. This style also usually does not incorporate porches, but is an addition that can be made easily. This design is focused on utilizing all the interior livable space.
  3. Lodge-style log home plans: Lodge-style log cabin homes embody extravagance at its best. This floor plan style incorporates the alluring elements that are usually found in a luxury vacation lodge. The lodge style is ideal for beautifully crafted covered entries, large ceilings, and large windows for natural lighting.
  4. Traditional log home floor plans: This simple yet functional style basically speaks for itself. Traditional log home floor plans are minimalist, inviting, and appealing. This style focuses on the originality found in historical log cabin builds. This home plan is often where many begin their search when beginning to build a log cabin. The style is also completely flexible, should any additional elements be desired for the design. This style will both withstand the traditional and rustic log cabin feel with its interior and exterior aspects.
  5. Single story log cabin homes: Single story plans are perfect fit for large construction lots. This style allows for the interior space to be planned out as broadly as possible. A large lot is ideal for a single story plan, as it allows for fluidity in planning communal and private living space within the home.
  6. Multiple story log cabin homes: This plan allows one to be as creative as possible with interior space. Communal living space and private living space are more clearly delineated in multiple story cabin homes. This style also lends itself to unique building elements such as 1st and 2nd story decks which increase the appeal and value of the home.
  7. Prow style floor plans: This floor plan crafts both wood and glass to make for an eye-catching architectural statement that is both entertaining and beautiful as it incorporates the beauty found within the location. This style is ideal for homes that have panoramic views due to the glorious windowing that creates a wide-open feel inside while also creating a visually appealing exterior.

Log Cabin

No matter what your preference or style is, it isn’t hard to fall in love with one if not all of the many options and styles found in the intimate and welcoming style of the log cabin. From log cabin luxury home plans to simplistic cozy homes, we invite you to start your journey in creating a dream home that will last more than a life time.

Click here to learn about our wide variety of house plans. We’re confident you’ll find one you’ll love!

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Ever gone to a new housing development and gone “I really like that this house is exactly the same as the one next door.” Or “I can’t wait to see the other three options?” Nope? Neither have we. A house should be as individual as the person that owns it. While some may like the idea of being in a community where everyone’s house/yard/tree looks exactly the same, it isn’t for everyone. That’s why many people opt to buy house plans and build their own castle rather than go with a planned development or community.

Not having the same shade of aubergine as the house five doors down is nice. And being able to add in a workshop or in-law suite where you want it is great. Now imagine your house being a completely different style. Like colonial but live in Alaska? Live in Texas but not a rancher at heart? No problem. With Monster House Plans, you can access any of our over 23,000 house plans to find the one that fits your dreams and your budget.

Ordering a house plan from us is as simple as point and click. Hop on to our Monster Search; choose the plan type you want (single family, duplex, etc.); select your foundation type (basement, crawlspace, pier, etc.); optimal square footage; desired style (Georgian, Mediterranean, Victorian, and more); and whichever add-ons and features you want, and see what we have available. Love the sweeping grandeur of Gone with the Wind? Take a look at our selection of plans with grand entrances and plantation-style houses. Once you find the one you want, just head to the check out and once it is processed we will ship it directly to you within 1-2 business days.

But why buy a house plan when you could have a custom built house? On average, buying a house plan means saving approximately 80% of what it would cost to hire an architect, and while these houses are really cool, not everyone can afford an architect’s fee. As well, with our cost-to-build software, for a small fee, we can estimate for you what it will take to build the home of your dreams, which means fewer surprises for you down the road. Not to mention, our plans can be customized to meet the zoning requirements of the area you live in, so there is no worry about your house not being up to spec.

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 Buying a house plan is an affordable way to create the house you’ve always dreamed of and with the Internet and companies like us, it is easier than ever to find that style that speaks to you. Cookie cutter houses and carbon copy developments are not for everyone, and the best houses are those that truly feel like they are your home. Choosing to buy a house plan gives a person the freedom to choose how they want to live, with none of the restrictions of planned communities. So be unique, and see which style tickles your fancy. Log cabin in Sarasota, anyone?

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You look at brochures and scour different sites online and think, wouldn’t it be great to live in a log cabin? Yes, it would… maybe. Yet there are a number of issues to investigate seriously to see if this romantic idea will be worth the hassle. Issues such as should you buy a pre-built or purchase log home plans and build from scratch.

First, is it even feasible? Can you really live in a log cabin… unless you own real estate on a beach? The promotional brochure looks idyllic, and claims to be beautiful in any setting, but is a log home plan even functional? Is it really practical in a climate more than 10 degrees north of the equator? Aren’t you just asking to freeze to death?

Secondly, what’s the purpose of your log cabin? A permanent residence or a vacation home? A couples’ getaway place or an alternate family gathering location? The answer to this question will determine the square footage needs of your log home plan and the quantity and quality of features to include in your design. At some point, one needs to ask the question, “How much money do I want to spend building a log home?” A large gathering place for your family as you and your children grow older may mean you are essentially building a second home, not a simple log cabin getaway. There is almost no agreement on the cost of building a log home versus a conventional home, some indicating it is less expensive and other identifying higher costs.

Part of the reason for the cost debate is because one needs to understand what is and is not included in the package. Most log home builders provide a cost for a cabin’s shell as described in the log home plan. Yet cupboards, cabinets, closets, etc. are necessary for the home to be liveable and those are often additional to your basic price estimate. The type of roof, quantity and quality of extra features, windows and other accessories obviously affect the cost also.

Finally, when it comes to the cost of a log home, while you may intend this to be the family gathering place for the next 50-100 years, you will pass off the scene and the next generations may wish to sell the cabin. Since you don’t know what will be trendy years down the road, the more unique features included in your log home plan, the more problematic it may be for resale value. Just because you didn’t need a “front door” but chose an open deck at the front of the house in 2012, doesn’t mean that will be appealing 50 or 75 years down the road to buyers. If there are a few of those quirky features, you might leave your family with some great memories but some awkward resale explanations.

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Log home plans can be a beautiful idea! A log home can be a one-of-a-kind, durable, energy efficient and environmentally friendly home for generations to come. Yet wisdom urges a person to thoughtfully consider a number of issues before investing in this picturesque venture. At Monster House Plans, we offer beautiful log home plans to consider for you and your family’s future!

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Building a home is one of the most daunting tasks a family will ever go through. There are so many questions, so many unknowns and a tremendous amount of anxiety over what and how to build your dream. And always, the penultimate desire is to have the best possible home for the best possible cost. More and more, people are turning to the positive benefits afforded by the smaller home to address these concerns. Plans for smaller homes are becoming increasingly available and growing more popular all the time. The demand for small house plans is growing steadily and their popularity illustrates this shift in consumer preferences. It is becoming well-known that small house plans are the ideal place to start when embarking on the foray into building a home to suit your dreams.

With so many unknowns and variables, more and more people are choosing to go with smaller domiciles. The smaller house has a lot of merit when compared with some of the truly massive miniature castles on the market today. With growing concerns over energy consumption, ecological footprints and green living, the smaller home is often an answer to these concerns in and of itself. The idea that “bigger is better” is falling by the wayside in a cultural movement that calls for more responsible stewardship of our limited, and thus precious resources. The smaller house, like the smaller car, is by its very nature not only more affordable to you, but also less costly for our already overtaxed, overburdened environment. These are the kind of careful considerations designers and architects are now putting into their small house plans with you, the consumer, in mind.

Having considered how smaller homes offer an answer to many of the concerns and anxieties that arise when you first begin to contemplate building a home, let’s take a closer look into the benefits of small house plans. House plans are now widely offered through a variety of venues from hardware stores to online, searchable archives such as on offer through Monster House Plans. With 23 556 plans available on our site alone, you, the consumer have a great array of choices to suit your needs and ideas. In keeping with the philosophy of the smaller home, small house plans abound. These plans are carefully drawn up considering the best possible stylistic, architectural and construction options available through the work of leaders in the industry.

While searching through our small house plans you can rest assured you are looking through the best in what the housing design world has to offer. Efficiency is absolutely key. With the amount of knowledge and expertise that has been used in the development of house plans over the many years of their existence, these plans have grown steadily more refined. Redundancies have been cleared away. New techniques and technologies are considered. All in all, the value contained within the small house plans available rivals that of much more costly custom designs.

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When you are looking for the best possible smaller home for the best possible cost, small house plans are clearly worth your consideration. At Monster House Plans, we have a vast selection of small house plans for you to choose from.