Best House Floor Plans

Choosing a design for your home building project is an adventure. There are so many different options in building a home. One of the things to choose is your windows. Windows might at first seem like a simple task to accomplish. I mean really, they are plates of glass surrounded by wood or metal. Right? Well this is where we get down to the nitty gritty. Watch out, you are in for a fun ride! In all seriousness though, windows are obviously functional and the add ambiance to a room. There are a few basic things to pay attention to when choosing your windows. I found some great articles online to help me with the task of window placement in a new home. You will find their names and links in the rundown below. 

Window placement has an effect on your home’s appearance, ambiance and comfort. The type of windows you choose for your house will show your taste and frame (no pun intended) the theme of your house. Your windows will also display what is on the outside of them along with what is in the inside. That is a good thing to remember. 

Notes to self:
Ÿ         I love bay windows, I think they are beautiful and let us view the beautiful nature around us. But at the same time they can be a fish bowl. All too often you see a bay window in a kitchen’s dining area. At night you can drive around a neighborhood and see lots of houses with people sitting at the dinner table eating. Do you like people seeing you eat? I don’t, so you might want to rethink putting that bay window around your dinning area. J Remember “Fish bowl” when placing any window in your home.Ÿ
         The debate on windows in a bathroom. Remember that a window is great for venting a bathroom and do the job so much better than most fans. Yet keep in mind privacy is needed. Use skylights, glass blocks or transom windows. These will all let the light in while giving you some privacy.
 Ÿ         Remember to place your windows wisely based on the sun. The sun will hit different windows at different times. Be careful not to overheat your house with windows facing the wrong way. If you want your favorite room to be filled with sunlight in the morning remember that the sun comes up in the east.
             Don’t forget to have fun! Windows frame not only the glass they encase, but the feel of your home. Play around with the different places you can place windows and all the different types. 

The rundown:

Most of my information is from this article from thisoldhouse.com:

Planning Window Placement 
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,702388,00.html

Great article on Window placement for light from home tips.com:
Window Placement for Optimal use of Daylight
http://www.hometips.com/cs-protected/guides/daylighting/window_placement.html  

Wonderful articles on window types and window treatments from houseplansandmore.com

Windows
http://www.houseplansandmore.com/resource_center/window_types.aspx
Window Treatments
http://www.houseplansandmore.com/resource_center/window_treatments.aspx

With the green home movement continuing to gain steam, earth homes are continuing to gain popularity. Earth homes are known for their natural materials. They are known for being comfortable, affordable, and energy efficient. They can help homeowners cut down on fuel costs and increase natural lighting.

 House Plans and More’s resource center features several articles on living green, green building, and building materials. Get the facts on going green before building your new home. A great design can help decrease costs and let the sun shine in.

 The Rundown

Check out the Down to Earth Homes article on at MotherEarthNews.com to get more facts.

GulfBreezeNews.com has a great article on designing your Earth Style home.

Its spring time and many homeowners are moving their activities outside. Outdoor rooms and entertainment areas have continued to increase in their popularity. Home additions such as sunrooms, decks, patios, gazebos, and other outdoor building projects are continuing to pop up all over neighborhoods. If you are looking for a new outdoor addition for entertaining company, leisure activities, or just lounging around outside, there are several sites with the project plans you need to build the addition you have been waiting for. Houseplansandmore.com is a leader in do-it-yourself outdoor project plans including deck plans, gazebo plans, outdoor furniture plans, and other great outdoor additions. Other sites that offer great do-it-yourself plan are newwoodworker.com, rockler.com, and abetterdesign.net.

The Rundown 

RISMedia.com recently features an article on outdoor home trends.

GardenWeb featured a nice tiered deck plan in February.

 Families.com featured an article on outdoor fireplaces.