Smarter Designs
 FROM THE DESIGNER’S PERSPECTIVE
Compact Curb Appeal.
With this design, we wanted a house that was somewhat narrow in dimension, yet was still packed with curb appeal. We feel this house definitely reached that goal. Inside the home, we also wanted to emphasize the dramatic, while maintaining a compact floor plan. When you enter the foyer, your eye is drawn to the 2-story great room which feels larger than it actually is, due to an abundance of light and a sense of airiness. Upon entering the great room, your eye is drawn to the corner fireplace and the built-in bookshelves along the wall. As you continue to the back of the room and turn around, you encounter a nice surprise; an upper bedroom foyer area at the top of the staircase (see illustration). This element enhances our dramatic theme. Back on the first floor, in the master bedroom, we’ve included a window seat. Since the master bedroom is the parent’s refuge, a window seat provides a great place to enjoy a favorite book or just be still. The master bath offers additional comforts, with his/her walk-in-closets and vanities.
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Backyard Project Plans
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06007
Garage with
Bonus Room |
90008
Covered Screen Porch |
90043
Swing and Arched Arbor |
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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MAKING SMALLER HOMES LIVE LARGER
Solutions and Illusions to Enlarge Your Living Space.
 Smaller homes can feel significantly larger with a bit of attention to the following:
COLOR CHOICES
Select lighter, brighter, cooler colors to visually enlarge smaller rooms. Consult an expert to determine the best choices in tones, shades and sheens.
STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Think beyond closets and unfinished storage areas. Use your creative eye to find nooks and crannies throughout the home that will accommodate built-in cabinets, cubby holes and shelving.
OUTDOOR LIVING AREAS
Take advantage of the additional space offered by decks, patios, porches, 3-season rooms and sunrooms. Accessorize these areas to be as pleasing and functional as interior rooms.
PROPERLY SIZED FURNISHINGS
Be mindful of the visual impact of your furnishings. Bulky, overstuffed furniture – as opposed to sleeker, streamlined pieces – can tend to make rooms feel smaller.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
Eliminate dark spots with appropriate mood and task lighting. Make every effort to optimize the use of natural light throughout the home, as well as views to the outside.
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Healthy Home Ideas
BUILDING A RADON-FREE HOME
Protect Yourself and Your Family from this Silent Killer.
 Radon is an invisible, odorless, poisonous gas that comes from the soil. It results from the breakdown of uranium. Roughly 1 in every 15 homes has high radon levels, and 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer annually. In fact, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States behind smoking. The Surgeon General often reminds Americans to have their homes checked for radon.
The best way to protect a home from radon is to build the home with a mitigation system which will eliminate radon from the interior of your home from the beginning. This will cost around $500 for materials and labor (much less than the $1000 to $2500 it could cost to retrofit the house).
Note: The diagram is a composite view of several mitigation options. The typical mitigation system usually has only one pipe penetration through the basement floor; the pipe may also be installed on the outside of the house.
Courtesy of PATH
Find out more on avoiding the risks of radon at
www.pathnet.org/homeowners
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Smarter Building Materials
CONCRETE FLOOR FINISHES
Maintenance-Free Floors that are Healthy, Decorative and Durable.
 Concrete is one of the most durable and versatile floor surfaces available. Stained concrete surfaces are a hot design trend in restaurants and stores, and are seen increasingly in residential settings. Treatments can impart the look and luster of granite, marble, or other scarce natural materials at a fraction of the cost.
Unlike carpet or vinyl, concrete is not subject to damage from tears, stains, wear, or flooding. There are no fibers or crevices that can trap dirt or allergens. Concrete can easily be swept or washed and requires little other maintenance.
A wide range of effects is possible. Decorative concrete surfaces are usually installed by skilled applicators or artisans. Most will offer samples, or the opportunity to view previous jobs. Certain contractors may specialize in a particular process like exterior pattern stamping, while others might do only interior staining. Methods and procedures vary greatly with different products, for instance some chemical stains may only be applied to slabs that have been fully cured for sixty days, while others work best if applied within a few days of casting.
Courtesy of PATH
www.pathnet.org/homeowners
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Smarter Homebuilding Technologies
RADIANT BARRIERS
Block the Effects of Radiant Heat Gain in Homes by Reflecting Radiant Heat Rather Than Absorbing It.
 A roof exposed to the sun for a prolonged period will absorb a great deal of heat, sometimes reaching temperatures in excess of 170° Fahrenheit. Radiant barriers can help prevent overheated attics from warming the interior of a home. Conventional thermal insulation can slow down radiant heat transfer, but will not stop it.
All radiant barriers have at least one reflective (or low emissivity) surface, usually a sheet or coating of aluminum. Radiant barriers come in various forms, including: reflective foil, reflective paint coatings, and reflective chips and can be combined with thermal insulation for increased energy efficiency.
Radiant barriers are fairly simple to use, and installation in new or existing homes is relatively easy. The radiant barrier material is clean, lightweight, easy to handle, non-toxic, resistant to harsh environments, and durable. Once installed, it is virtually maintenance-free.
Some studies have shown that radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs by between 5 and 10 percent. The material cost of radiant barriers is between 15 and 75 cents per square foot. The cost is higher for products that combine insulation with reflective material.
Courtesy of PATH
www.pathnet.org/homeowners |
