The Drawing Board

Today’s Kitchens Expand to Serve More Purposes as the Social Center of the Home

Rick McAlexander

In the words of celebrity chef and TV personality Rachael Ray, “Good food and a warm kitchen is what makes a house a home.” Today’s kitchens serve so many purposes in the daily life of a family from a cozy place to gather over a home-cooked meal to a makeshift craft room for kids’ art projects to an office for paying bills and doing homework. While American kitchen designs have evolved over the decades, one thing has remained constant: Kitchens have endured as the social hub in every home.

“Kitchens are the hub of all things social in homes today. As a result, we continue...

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2019 Kitchen & Bath Trends Feature Coffee Bars, Wet Rooms and Smart Technology

Rick McAlexander

As two of the most used spaces in any home, today’s kitchens and bath designs are loaded with innovative features, smart technology and a lot of attention to detail. Designers whose home plans are featured by The House Plan Company, a residential plan marketing company based in Oregon, note the following trends this year in kitchen and bath designs:

Larger kitchen islands for casual dining and entertaining in place of breakfast nooks. Upper kitchen cabinets being replaced by more windows and open shelving. Built-in coffee bars in...
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Small Home Design Trend Riding Wave of Empty Nesters

Rick McAlexander

As the rising tide of baby boomers begins to enter retirement and searches for a simpler way of life, the trend towards small home designs continues to gain momentum with a “less is more” mantra. House plan designers today are finding more creative ways to maximize square footage and enable homeowners to live large in a smaller space.

“The main reason why smaller home designs are so popular today is due to the increasing number of empty nesters who want the freedom of independent living but in much simpler spaces,” said Steve Vatter, owner of Legacy Home Plans in Tennessee. “When...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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