Best House Floor Plans

Influenced by English architecture, the Victorian Home floor plan features a distinctive domicile. Turrets punctuate the crown of the home, authenticating a regal yet welcoming façade. A covered porch stretches from each extent of the  home’s exterior frontage. The garage boards two-vehicles.

The size of the Victorian house floor plan ranges in square footage from 1800 to 3500. In cases where the Victorian house plan includes a full attic, the top floor accommodates the family with teenagers, a full attic serves as a separate living space from the rest of the home (with a kitchen, bathroom, and living space).

Bay windows punctuate each room, revealing a different perspective of the exterior landscape.

On the main floor, gathering rooms transition into one another. Sometimes, rooms are separated by glass French doors.

On the main floor, a foyer dressed in a wood carved coat-stand, is conveniently located next to a built in mirror, shrouded underneath a lengthy stair case.

Directly off the kitchen, a breakfast nook assures a cozy sanctuary to read the paper, enjoy a meal whilst remaining out of the kitchen’s hubbub of traffic flow.

A vaulted ceiling is the showcase for an antique chandelier. In the living room, modern materials presented in bold pattern colors maintain a sense of the Victorian house floor plan’s attention to detail and tradition. Crown moldings delineate the wall space and area between far-reaching ceilings. At House Plans and More.com sort through a wide variety of Victorian house plans.

Other features of the Victorian house floor plan include:

• Laundry Room/Utility
• Breakfast Nook
• Outdoor Kitchen
• Vaulted/Volume Ceiling
• Crawl Space
• Basement
• Bar
• Fireplace
• Family Room
• Balcony – Indoor
• Island

The Victorian floor plan requires a wide lot. For additional details, please click on  Victorian house plans to read more.

Going green has a language of all its own.  The concept of being “eco-friendly” or “going green” means that it is conducive for the planet, saves energy or offers other well being benefits. Best House Floor Plans compiled a list of the most commonly used eco-friendly (green) jargon.  

Carbon Footprint – An environmental measure of carbon dioxide produced from the emission of greenhouse gases. From using fuel, electricity, charging a battery, every person has carbon footprint, which ultimately impacts the planet greenhouse effect.

Compact fluorescent light (CFL) are considered energy efficient alternative to incandescent light bulbs. Since CFLs save energy overtime and the longer they are in use, these light bulbs are touted as being “green.” 

ENERGY STAR –  Certain household appliances are manufactured for energy efficiency meet a number of standards predetermined by the United State’s federally funded ENERGY STAR program.

Geothermal Energy, considered to be one of the most energy efficient means of heating the home, geothermal energy is derived from the earth.

Greenhouse gases are vapors, which entrap heat in the hemisphere, raising the planet’s temperature via the greenhouse effect. If the earth did not endure the greenhouse effect, it would be too cold for human and animal habitation. However, excessive heat is unsuitable for any life to live.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) design system for assessing commercial or residential building certification process, which meets various “green building” standards. Although LEED certifications vary by type, many consist of sustainable sites, innovation, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, materials and resources. (All LEED certification categories have to meet a set of prerequisite requirements).

Renewable resources are energy derived from the earth’s natural resources: solar, wind and geothermal energy. All forms are considered to be less harmful for the environment than oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear power.

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)

Organic substances have the capacity to release toxic elements via vapor, solid or liquid form.
USDA Organic is a white and green stamp, indicating that produce was cultivated and processed in accordance with the organic agricultural guidelines mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Click “going green terms” to review other definitions and resources.

Space is premium in the kitchen. Today’s house floor plans don’t include the expansive walk-in pantry, characteristic of the Victorian house plan. With adequate cabinetry, drawers and cupboards above and below, every element of the kitchen finds order. A place to accommodate the pans, spices, food, utensils and entertainment ware, requires an intelligent administration of kitchen design and space. Organizing without promoting clutter and accentuating the kitchen’s aesthetic features are the keys to maximizing kitchen storage and space.

How to deter the propensity to collect clutter in the kitchen? 

Organization in the kitchen hinges on the furnishings. The full fledge renovation is unnecessary with the appropriate kitchen fixtures. Proper placement reduces the inclination to collect clutter, affording sufficient storage space.

Kitchen design tip:  Consider where the best place is to store kitchen appliances. Items that are not used often, (i.e. the fondue pot, wok,  can double as an element of the kitchen’s design scheme or can be stowed away in an accessible cabinet, open shelving or in a deep rolling drawer, underneath the kitchen island.

How to promote organization to maximize kitchen storage?

One of the cheapest techniques for updating outdated cabinetry, motivating organization and maintaining a mental inventory of supplies are the door-less cabinets. With the removal of kitchen cabinet doors, built-in shelves bare all. That means tableware; canned goods and such represent an aesthetic function. Moreover, it serves as an easy method of monitoring the food supply.

Kitchen design tip:  Be sure to organize similar objects with each other. For example, canned goods should be aligned with the label facing outward, revealing the contents. Magnetic spice jars keep the counter and cabinets clear of clutter.

Whether shelving is wood or stainless steel, choose between single shelving and freestanding shelf units. Wood shelves are feasible for luxe, traditional and contemporary kitchen design. In cases, where wood shelving is stained, choose a low VOC paint to give shelves an updated makeover. (Select matching shelf liners) Low maintenance, stainless steel cabinets work in the urbane – to industrial designed kitchen. 

How to organize cabinet space for efficient kitchen storage?

Nothing compares to a well-organized kitchen cabinets. To improve efficiency, traffic flow and alleviate breakage, map out which cabinets accommodate the tableware, canned foods and infrequently used appliances.

Kitchen design tips:  Consider the kitchen’s spaces overall landscape of food preparation, dining, and other traffic considerations.  Choose adjustable shelving. Remember to leave adequate room around plates, cups and other ceramics to alleviate breaking or chipping.

For more about maximizing kitchen storage and space, visit Home Plans and More.com.

What is the origin of the Bungalow home floor plan?

Bungalow home plans are the result of a rebellion, per se. Subsequent to the formality of the Victorian period, the Arts and Crafts Movement of 1860’s ushered in a casual, comfortable lifestyle.

What are the basic characteristics of the bungalow home floor plan?

The bungalow house plan is quite energy conservative. Comprised of intricate architectural details, the house plan epitomizes comfort, and charm. Lauded for its proportionately sized rooms, short on hallway space, the bungalow is touted for efficient space usage.

Which American city parallels the history of the bungalow floor plan?

In Chicago, the bungalow floor plan was in step with a burgeoning influx of immigrants. From 1900 through 1930, the Windy City’s population went from 1.6 to 3.3 million. Meanwhile to accommodate that rampant growth, the bungalow house plan supplanted the landscape of prairies and farmland from 1910 through 1930.

Is the bungalow floor plan passé architecturally?

Today, these house floor plans remain timeless in nature, assuring a decent market value. The interior emphasizes extraordinary concise rooms, where superfluous space is void of the floor plan. Bathrooms are often attached to the master bedroom. The kitchen, generally, affords ample space for food preparation, serving and gathering.

Designers recommend accentuating the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts style bungalow with today’s innovative sustainable materials. For instance, tiles, kitchen fixtures and counter-space manufactured from recycled goods are the elements that complement living green.

Which rooms are associated with the bungalow floor plan?

Although bungalows built in the 20^th century pale in comparison to today’s floor plans, here is a list of rooms and features:

• Breakfast Bar
• Breakfast Nook
• Covered Front Porch
• Crawl Space
• Eating Bar
• Extra – bonus room
• Fireplace
• Great Room
• Laundry Room/Utility
• Loft
• Main Level Master Bedroom
• Media Room/Home Theater
• Mud Room
• One-Story
• Open Floor Plans
• Split Bedrooms
• Two-Car
• Vaulted/Volume Ceiling

Which online resources highlight a review of bungalow house floor plans?

Bungalow house floor plans are in ample supply at House Plans and More.com. Floor plans are categorized according to architectural style, size and other features.

Source: Historic Chicago Bungalow Association – http://www.chicagobungalow.org/

Now that Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years are over, it’s time to put those holiday decorations away. Smart storage complements holiday organization. Bid adieu to the usual holiday decorations and paraphernalia: 

• Swarvoski crystal
• Family heirloom tree decorations
• Menorah
• Pinecones
• Stocking
• Nutcrackers other statue
• Synthetic wreaths, garland
• Other embellishments
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Are the encasements that have been housing those Christmas and other holiday decorations deteriorating, ragged and frayed? Are all holiday paraphernalia maintained in accessible location?

One oversized container fixes the disorganization of packing and unpacking holiday decorations.

Here’s how:

Plastic Containers. One-size fits all –storage space is overwhelmingly underrated. The oversized transparent storage containers, as seen at Target and Wal-Mart–houses just about all the decorations. (These storage bins range between $5-10).

Christmas Tree and Lights. Starting with the Christmas tree lights, spool the lights around a square piece of plastic or cardboard. Secure the electrical plug-ins with tape.

If you have a synthetic tree, tuck it away in a dry zippered bag. For instance, if you are unable to find a storage bag large enough to hold all the parts, a downhill ski bag works too.

Holiday decorations. Find partitioned trays, which stack, store fit inside of your storage bi or plastic container. The spaces are the ultimate holiday decoration accommodations. Take tissue paper and wrap each decoration. Group items where appropriate. Delicate items, such as the Swarvoski crystal should be swathed in bubble wrap. Ziplock ® bags or plastic baggies are a storage idea made simple for pinecones and other loose holiday decorations.

If there’s additional space in the plastic storage bin, fold and add the tree-dress and the seasonal tablecloth, place between a layer of decorations and lights.

In the interim, tidy up and re-arrange regular decorative embellishments for a new look in 2010.

Other Holiday decorations: Fall Fun: Nature’ Color Festival