The Drawing Board

The House Plan Company Chronicles Top Plans and Design Trends from the Last Two Decades

Rick McAlexander

Over the past two decades, tastes and preferences in home design have changed drastically in many respects and very little in others. The House Plan Company dug into the archives to find the top five most popular house plan designs since the late 90s and discovered it’s a diverse collection of styles to fit varying purposes. The only common denominators among all of them, they found, was the attention to detail and open living space in the design.

“Each of my designs delivers as much detail on the exterior of the home as they do in the interior,” explained Ken Pieper, owner of Ken...

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Four Essential Questions to Ask Your Home Designer Before They Begin

Rick McAlexander

You’ve recently decided to build your own custom home and can’t wait to get started with the home designer whom you’ve selected. Before you begin, however, there are four essential questions to ask your designer in order to better understand what you’re getting into and how you’ll work together to design the home of your dreams.

1. Ask About Past Projects

You may already have a specific architectural style in mind, but it’s important to find out if the designer has worked on similar projects in the past. Ask to see their portfolio of...

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House Plan Design Considerations for Aging in Place

Rick McAlexander

These days, homeowners looking to build their forever home are thinking about more than what they need to live comfortably in the moment. They’re prioritizing home design requirements well into the future after the kids are grown and they enter retirement, or they’re planning for the possibility of taking care of elderly parents. The House Plan Company shares insights about new trends in aging in place house plans and what homeowners need to consider when building a home for the future.

“Aging in place...

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Make It Personal: Benefits of Building a New Home

Rick McAlexander

One of the most intimidating yet exciting endeavors to undertake as a homeowner is building a new home from the ground up. Yet it doesn’t have to be such an overwhelming process when guided through the various steps and stages by a designer and general contractor, and the benefits far outweigh the concerns.

“The most common reason why someone opts to build a home rather than buy one is that they can’t find an existing home that meets their needs. Custom construction allows a homeowner to create a home that meets their specific needs and taste, while also planning for the future...

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House Plan Design Trends for 2020

Rick McAlexander

As the start of a new decade brings the promise of innovation in every aspect of our lives, home design trends are following suit with emerging trends that revolve around our need to be connected to technology, live sustainably and enjoy quality time with family friends in casual, open spaces. Three design companies from across the country, The House Plan Company, Design Basics and Tyree House Plans, share their insights on new and continuing house plan design trends for 2020.

Prepping Pantries

While pantries have been around a long time, they’re emerging as a new space for...

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Rear Foyers, Pocket Offices, Work-In Pantries and Dual Master Suites Headline Innovations in Today’s Home Designs

Rick McAlexander

Today’s home designs incorporate a little creativity and a lot of innovation, making the most of available space in a floor plan to meet the needs of active, busy homeowners. Three nationally renowned designers share several of the innovations they’ve brought to house plans for their clients, which also serve as strong indicators of home design trends in the future.

Dual Master Suites

Not one, but two master suites. The concept of a second master suite has emerged from a variety of homeowner needs and desires, including living quarters for elderly parents or a caretaker, a...

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What People are Looking for in Today's Kitchens

Ken Pieper

What are the new priorities for the latest kitchen designs? I have found that the answer to this question is really dependent upon the market segmentation and regional location. This really is not any different than before in the past but the requests are truly different from just a few years ago. I have always found that the kitchen is one of the first conversations that our clients want to have. The design and amount of space this area is currently requiring has been altered and as a designer I must rethink and respond in a positive manner.

There is of course the occasional...

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