Smarter Designs
 FROM THE DESIGNER’S PERSPECTIVE
Open, Active, Entertaining.
This plan was designed with the active family in mind. The living areas of the plan are basically open to each other – separated only by architectural elements, not solid walls. The living and dining rooms, for example, are defined from one another by columns and ceiling details. To accommodate those who work at home, bedroom #2 could also double as an office. In the master bedroom, take note of the window placement. To complement the main set of windows, we placed smaller windows just around the corner. This window arrangement makes all the difference in experiencing the room. I like to call it a room’s "peripheral vision." We carried this same design concept into the kitchen area (see illustration). Notice that every wall, adjacent to a main window, has a smaller complimentary window or door. Looking at the illustration, you can imagine how comfortable this room must feel. The three-sided fireplace adds to the unrestricted flow of the room. The lower level includes the children’s bedrooms and an openly configured recreation room and home theatre room.
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Backyard Project Plans
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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"ME" SPACE
A Place in Your Home to Call Your Own.
 When it comes to choosing home designs, many of us find ourselves doing little more than counting bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage, without considering an aspect of the home that might be most important of all – “me” space.
"Me" space, of course, is your personal get-away place within the home itself. It’s a place to unwind from the pace of a hectic day. A place to reflect, refresh and regain your balance in life. "Me" spaces can be found just about anywhere in or around the home.
Some of the most popular "me" spaces are...
• soaking tubs
• master suite sitting areas
• window seats
• sunrooms and 3-season rooms
• dens or home libraries
• covered porches, decks and patios
• workshops or hobby rooms
• exercise rooms
The list could go on and on, but in any case, remember yourself with a "me" space – wherever it might be – as you select your new home's design.
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Healthy Home Ideas
GREEN CLEANING
Household Cleaning Products that Won’t Endanger Your Family’s Health.
 Many commercial cleaning products are bad for your health and the environment, containing chemicals that are associated with: cancer; reproductive disorders; respiratory ailments including asthma; and eye or skin irritants.
Fortunately, many everyday household cleaning products can be used that don't endanger your health, the health of your children, or the environment... and they're cheap. Here are 'green cleaning' recipes for any occasion.
Green Cleaning Recipes.
All Purpose Cleaner:
Add 1/2 cup ammonia and 1/3 cup washing soda to a gallon of warm water. Use to clean floors, tiles, and painted walls.
Window and Mirror Cleaner:
Put 1/4 cup white vinegar in a spray bottle, and fill to the top with water. Spray on desired surface, and rub with a newspaper or a rag. Squeegee dry.
Toilet, Tub and Tile Cleaner:
Mix 1/2 cup borax and add enough lemon juice to make into a paste. Wet the sides of the surface and add the paste. Let stand for a few minutes, then scrub off and rinse.
Rug Stains:
Dampen stained area with water, and rub in borax. Vacuum when dry.
Oven cleaner:
Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply to surface and let stand for a few minutes. Scrub the surface with a scouring pad. Do not use this recipe in self-cleaning ovens.
Drain cleaner:
Three words - Use a plunger.
A hand plunger used every time the drain slows down will take care of almost any problem.
In you need a cleanser pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, and then 1/2 cup vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes. Then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. Repeat if necessary.
Mildew:
Make a paste from salt and vinegar and rub into affected area.
Furniture polish:
Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to 1 cup vegetable or olive oil. Apply with a soft rag.
General air freshener:
Simmer a pot of water with cloves, an orange peel and cinnamon.
Natural Pesticide:
To naturally keep ants and other insects away, add a few teaspoons of orange oil to your green cleaning products. To kill ants that are already around, just spray them with diluted orange oil.
Courtesy of PATH
www.pathnet.org/homeowners
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Smarter Building Materials
RECYCLED WOOD/PLASTIC COMPOSITE LUMBER
A Super-Durable Building Material.
 Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber is one of the prime uses for recycled plastic trash bags and waste wood fibers. The composite material is used to produce building products such as decking, door and window frames, and exterior moldings. Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber typically consists of a 50/50 mix of wood fibers from recovered saw dust and waste plastics that include high-density polyethylene, PVC, and others.
Manufacturers claim that products produced with recycled wood/plastic lumber are more durable than conventional preservative-treated lumber. The plastic encapsulates and binds the wood together to resist moisture penetration and degradation from fungal rot. As there is no need for painting or sealing, and given the material's durability, composite lumber products cost less to maintain than wood decks, railings, and fences. Also, these products contain no toxic chemicals such as those used in conventional treated lumber.
In general, recycled wood/plastic composites are cost-competitive with high-end decking materials such as finger jointed pine and redwood, but are significantly more expensive than standard treated products. Retail costs for 2 x 6-inch material are approximately $2.00 per linear foot.
Courtesy of PATH
www.pathnet.org/homeowners
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Smarter Homebuilding Technologies
PLUMBING MANIFOLDS
Smarter Control Centers for Hot and Cold Water.
 A new method for residential water distribution is gaining acceptance in the home building industry. Manifold plumbing systems are control centers for hot and cold water that feed flexible supply lines to individual fixtures. Plumbing manifold systems can be installed more quickly than rigid plumbing systems with fewer hidden fittings. Because of its relatively easy installation, this system can save on labor costs.
Plumbing manifolds are mounted in a convenient, accessible location, such as a basement wall or a service closet, to allow access for shut off to individual fixtures. Separated manifold chambers or separate manifolds can serve hot and cold water lines. The cold water manifold is fed from the main water supply line and the hot water manifold is fed from the water heater. Water pressure in manifolds is maintained by the incoming service line. The systems permit several fixtures to be used simultaneously without dramatic pressure or temperature drops.
Courtesy of PATH
www.pathnet.org/homeowners
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