The solid character of the Arts and Crafts architectural style is confidently displayed in this beautiful 4,100 square foot design. Multiple gables are adorned with brackets, shingle siding and period trim details. Equally impressive, is the wrapping covered porch with sets of multiple columns standing guard. The entry opens to... Click to read more about this home’s interior.

The main level’s powder bath is discretely located for privacy. Plenty of workspace is provided by the kitchen’s center island and countertops. The breakfast area is a favorite spot for casual dining and bright morning sunshine. Click to see more images.

Transform PVC Pipe into a Beautiful Chair Rail
Faux Artist and Decorative Painter, Joanne Nash of Lynchburg, VA came up with the fun and creative idea for this unique faux bamboo chair rail.
By Adrienne van Dooren

"I would have used real bamboo, but the sizes were too irregular to match around the room." Says Joanne. She really wanted a bamboo look to enhance the overall "Tommy Bahama®" look and feel of the room.

Since necessity is the mother of invention, Joanne came up with the idea to create faux bamboo out of PVC pipe, paint and plaster. First her husband cut the PVC pipe in half and then cut the correct lengths and mitered joints. They then numbered the pieces on the underside in indelible marker... To read more Click Here.

To Move or Not to Move?
By Carol Smith

• Rent or buy? Sell or stay?
• Buy new or buy resale? Now or later?
• What IS the housing market going to do?
• Have prices bottomed out?
• What’s a better deal: new or resale?
• Which will hold its value?
• Are builders likely to make concessions and if so
how much?
• Fixed rate or adjustable? 15 year? 30 year?
• Higher price with shorter commute or lower price
and more time on the road?
• And what’s first, apply for a loan or find a house?

Amid these and dozens of other questions potential home buyers find their heads spinning. Daily reports by so-called experts evaluate and predict with the same accuracy the weather man enjoys. This is another area of life with forces are at work that often catch the best informed professionals by surprise.

If you find yourself baffled by what baffles the experts, do not despair. The circumstances are baffling. While we have seen (read and heard) some realistic descriptions of what got us into this situation, prognostications about the future are much less reliable... To read more Click Here.

Defining Reality for the Owner-Builder By David Porter

Editor’s Note: This month we’re launching a new column that will provide information for homeowners, owner-builders and professional homebuilders regarding the technical, code, and architectural aspects of home design and building. We have cornered the talents and experience of our very own consulting architect, David Porter AIA, to provide his insights on architectural news and information, and tips and tricks pertaining to the general themes presented in this Family Home Plans e-newsletter. If you have an architectural, construction process, code, or technical building topic that you would like for David to write about, we would like to hear from you. You can send that question to architechtips@garlinghouse.com. Now, without further adieu, here’s David’s first contribution to Archi-Tech Tips. So, you are contemplating building a house. You have the option of trying to build it on your own or to hire a professional, licensed, experienced builder. Hmmm, already just reading over the words, “professional, licensed, and experienced” might make you question why you want to take on such a gigantic responsibility as trying to build your own house when you are not any of those three words... To read more Click Here.

90019 Gardener’s Sheds		90025 Play House Plan		90023 Bay Window Addition for Two-Story Homes