The Drawing Board

Two-Bedroom House Plans Gain Popularity as Homeowners Look to Downsize

Rick McAlexander

The demand for new home designs that feature a one-story open floor plan with just two bedrooms is on the rise today thanks to the massive wave of baby boomers who are willing to sacrifice size for something that requires less maintenance yet is still luxurious.

According to a recent housing survey by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, more than half of U.S. households today are headed by someone over the age of 50 and by 2030, the population of baby boomers ages 65 and older will skyrocket to 73 million. Consequently, as baby boomers enter their golden...

Full Article

Modern Farmhouse Pt II: What Makes the Modern Farmhouse a Timeless Classic

Rick McAlexander

The term “farmhouse” evokes a sense of nostalgia—of simpler times when families gathered around the hearth to relax after a long, hard day working the land. Often considered the backbone of American residential architecture, the farmhouse represents a timeless setting for a comfortable, peaceful way of life. Grounded in simplicity, purity and practicality, farmhouse design features have evolved over time but still adhere to the principle of form following function. Today’s modern farmhouse designs are more popular than ever, characterized by sleek exterior lines, pitched roofs of varying...

Full Article

Defining the Elements and Design of a Modern Farmhouse

Rick McAlexander

Few architectural designs have stood the test of time throughout American history than perhaps the farmhouse. For hundreds of years, the farmhouse has served as a beacon for a simpler way of life, built sturdy and practical to withstand the elements and provide for working farm families. Over the years, the farmhouse style has evolved in some respects while still retaining several classic design elements. Today’s “ modern farmhouse ” style combines a little nostalgia...

Full Article

House Plans that Feature Dedicated Spaces and Amenities for Man’s Best Friend

Rick McAlexander

Often celebrated as man’s best friend, dogs touch nearly every aspect of the daily lives of their owners, from the moment they wake up to feed and walk their beloved pets to the last scratch between the ears as they say goodnight. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that when dog owners decide to build a new home, their furry four-legged companions factor prominently in the design of the house.

According to Statista.com, there are more than 89 million dogs living as pets in U.S. homes today and most of them are considered an important member of their human family. Rick...

Full Article

Turning Inside Spaces Out with Trends in Outdoor Living

Rick McAlexander

As the days get longer and temperatures grow warmer in anticipation of summer, our migration to the outdoors begins—the time when we focus our efforts, energy and money on turning our living spaces inside out.

“One of the biggest trends in home design in the past several years has been the addition of well-defined and often elaborate outdoor living spaces that seamlessly blend with the indoors and add significant value to the property,” said Rick McAlexander, CEO of The House Plan Company, a leading residential design plan company...

Full Article

Professional Design Tips to Lighten and Brighten Your Home

Rick McAlexander

Now that spring has sprung and the days are longer, it’s the perfect time to bring more natural light and warmth into the home whether through new construction or renovation.

“Daylighting” is the practice of positioning windows, skylights, doors and other openings in a building design in such a way as to maximize the natural light from outside. Designers and architects use several tricks for daylighting a home to make it open, warm and welcoming, as well as energy efficient.

“There are a number of ways to let more natural light into your home,” said Rick McAlexander, CEO of...

Full Article

Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities of Cost Per Square Foot Pricing in Building a New Home

Rick McAlexander

The eternal question for any homeowner planning to build a new home is, “How much will it cost?” But asking builders how much a new home will cost, and more specifically, how much it will cost per square foot, will likely elicit a wide range of responses from low to high and somewhere in between. Cost per square foot analysis may seem like an elusive math problem, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

“Cost per square foot analysis is difficult for homeowners to get their arms around because it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison and there always seems to be many different answers....

Full Article