Smarter Designs
 FROM THE DESIGNER’S PERSPECTIVE
Space to Expand
The concept behind this plan was to design a compact, narrow home that could be expanded on the inside to meet homeowners’ needs for more living space.  By providing the option of a finished basement below and a bonus room above, we created the potential for this home to live much larger than it looks. This design’s pleasant character is felt at the front of the home, where a generous, eight-foot-deep porch shelters the entry. Inside, there is an immediate impression of comfortable open space, with a view of the free-flowing connection between the living room, dining room and kitchen (see illustration). A nine-foot-high ceiling enhances the sense of airiness throughout the main floor. In smaller homes, achieving privacy and noise reduction is often a challenge, but we were able to attain both in the master suite, where walk-in closets provide a sound barrier from bedroom #2, and a private porch is accessed through French doors. The master bath is pleasantly accommodating, with a double vanity and whirlpool tub. Because of its narrow profile, this home would be well suited to a detached garage at the rear.
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Backyard Project Plans
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06022
"How to Build" Garage Plan |
90030
Salt Box Shed |
06024
12' Wide Outdoor Cabin with Loft |
We offer a wide selection of today's best-selling do-it-yourself project plans. All plans come with complete materials list and step-by-step instructions designed for the do-it-yourself customer.
SEE ALL OF OUR PROJECT PLANS
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Design Styles
COUNTRY
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Country home plans aren’t so much a house style as they are a “look.” Historically speaking, regional variations of country homes were built in the late 1800s to the early 1900s, many taking on Victorian or Colonial characteristics. Unlike these architectural styles, country houses were simple structures often with symmetrical lines, a central door, and evenly spaced windows. Many featured front porches that were sometimes decorated with Victorian house style spindle work and brackets or Colonial house style shutters and dormers. This collection of Country house plans draws inspiration from the nostalgia of the country home style, yet with architectural floor plans for today. |
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CONTEMPORARY
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Many different forms of contemporary house plans exist but all commonly feature a lack of ornamentation, open floor plans, and asymmetrical shapes. Some sleek contemporary home plans take after Art Moderne house styles with their flat roofs and curved geometric shape. Other home designs showcase natural materials and feature tall oversized windows that emphasize a connection with nature. This assortment of floor plans features contemporary home design looks from an array of influences. |
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Smarter Homebuilding Technologies
LOW AND NO-VOC PAINTS
Eating healthy is hard... but painting healthy is easy!
 After painting, the volatile organic compound (VOC) level in your home can be 1,000 times the healthy normal level. VOCs are unhealthy gasses that evaporate out of paint and other materials. When painting, you can tell VOCs are present from that 'fresh paint smell' that warns you to leave the room or risk headaches, nausea, asthmatic reactions or other lung problems.
No pain, no gain, right?
Wrong! Low- or no-VOC paints are available to combat this health hazard. They are healthier for you and your family, they are just as beautiful and durable, and they cost about the same as premium paint ($20 to $50 a gallon).
What's a Low-VOC Paint?
Low-VOC paint is made with far fewer toxic chemicals that can become airborne and inhaled than high-VOC paint. VOC levels are most often given in grams per liter (g/l). Interior paint is considered low-VOC if its VOC content is less than 100 g/l (for flat sheen) or 150 g/l (non-flat sheen). In contrast, non low-VOC paints can have 250 g/l for flat and 380 g/l of VOCs for non-flat. That's a lot of extra chemicals to inhale.
Paint is either water-based (latex, vinyl, or acrylic) or oil-based (alkyd). A general rule of thumb is that water-based paints are much lower in VOCs than oil-based paints. Go with water-based if at all possible.
What's a No-VOC Paint?
It's a paint that emits zero, yes zero, volatile organic chemicals. Nice!
How to Get It
You can get them at most stores that sell paint. But most personnel at hardware or big box stores won't know what low-voc or no-voc paints are, so you'll have to actually look at the cans yourself. (You know you love the hunt.) The easiest way is to look for the Green Seal mark. Green Seal certifies paints that meet a number of performance requirements, including VOC levels of less than 50 g/l for flat and 150 g/l for non-flat.
However, many paints meet Green Seal's VOC requirements that don't get certified, so you can also look for the amount of VOCs. Oftentimes, the VOC count is hidden on the back of the can, and without any explanation, such as:
No more than
100 g/l
Sometimes, the VOC content is not listed on the can at all. If this is the case, it's probably pretty high, so you shouldn't buy the paint. If you're just dying of curiosity, the store is supposed to keep specs of the paint, so ask a clerk to see them.
If you don't feel like looking at the back of a can's size 6 font fine print, you can find healthy paints at your local green store. The major "big box" home improvement stores are usually well-stocked with low-VOC paints, too. Or if you're the online shopping type, and you're not trying to precisely match the paint color to your throw pillows, it's easy to find low- and no-VOC paints online. You can buy a gallon in cyberspace for roughly $30.
Other Low- and No-VOC Products
Low- and no-VOC stains and clear finishes for floors, cabinets and trim are also commonly available.
Low VOC Does Not Mean Non-toxic
For those of you looking to go one step greener natural, non-toxic paints are for you. Natural paints are made from natural ingredients, such as milk or clay, and are, uh, non-toxic. Yum.
Courtesy of Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology (PATH)
www.pathnet.org/homeowners |
