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The French influenceThere are unique homes in different parts of America. Along the northeastern coast, where British settlers brought their building traditions, there are New England Colonial homes, with steep roofs, side gables and plain exteriors. The saltbox home came from this area. In Florida and California, there's the Spanish influence: Thick walls with stucco and low pitched rooftops. The German, Swiss, Dutch and French brought their traditions too. These European influences were soon adapted to meet the needs of the new country's climate and landscape, and to take advantage of building techniques learned from Native Americans. Thus, uniquely American home designs were created. -
Builders are still borrowing ideas from early American architecture for the houses we build today, and even using the old materials and techniques for environmental friendliness. But as our lifestyles change, floor plans change to accommodate them. And as new technology and new materials are available, the way we build homes is reshaped. Home design trends for now include:
E-houses--Earth-friendly homes built with simple biodegradable materials;
Modular homes built with glass and steel;
Healthy homes constructed without relying on plastics, laminates and fume-producing glues;
Adaptive homes built in older structures, preserving historic architecture in abandoned churches and even factories;
Flexible home plans with big multipurpose rooms and spaces;
Homes with abundant storage and accessibility even for those with physical challenges;
Indoor-outdoor homes with yards and gardens, decks and patios that flow from the house, sometimes even outdoor kitchens. -
Download 3D Home Architect at MyInteriorDecorator.comNot building, but remodeling? No doubt you have a dream or two, whether it's a new kitchen, a big spacious closet or a deck. If you plan ahead, you'll have a better chance of seeing your dreams come true. So sketch out those dreams, even before you call an architect. Get help online visualizing your project with easy home design software (see Resources below). Remember, if you're planning to sell in a few years, a big new addition may not be worth the cost. In fact, it could price your house beyond the others in your neighborhood. Some projects might even devalue your property--like vinyl siding on a Victorian house.
How about just adding a fresh new look to your house? Nothing like great new colors to make a house go from blah to beautiful. While you're updating, how about getting rid of that aluminum siding from the 1970s and adding some stucco? It's all in the details, like window and door moldings, or new windows. You could even enlarge some windows and fill others in. Add shutters, build on a porch or a deck, raise the roof and add dormers (while you're at it, you can raise some ceilings inside too.) And don't forget the landscaping. Replacing old shrubs, moving a walkway, adding an ornamental tree can do wonders. -
The "basic house" living room at HomePortfolio.comIdeas about overall house design types can be found at HomePortfolio.com (see Resources below). For example, learn how a team of architects built a basic house in a "Midwestern block design" (4 rooms upstairs and 4 downstairs). You can see how opening the living spaces allows the kitchen, dining and living rooms to become one larger living space, although each space can be defined by changes in flooring and ceiling heights.The simple design keeps the costs down, so the owner could invest in details, like the pale maple wood throughout the house that adds the illusion of more space. The picture shows how to make a simple sheetrock fireplace into a bold focal point. - When it comes to building or remodeling, keep in mind that everything always takes longer than it's supposed to and always costs more than you estimated. So allow for delays and overages. Don't put yourself in a precarious financial position by underestimating. When economic times are troubled, real estate may be underpriced, allowing you to achieve great savings. But it's no time to get in over your head. If you have to scale down, cut back or wait until you can do it right, it will be less stressful and less dangerous.
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Lowe's Katrina Cottage line, home plans for $700One good effect of Hurricane Katrina is an entirely new trend in home design: Lowe's new line of Katrina Cottages (see Resources below). The concept was to build small, permanent homes as dignified alternatives to the FEMA trailer. The Katrina Cottages offer affordable housing for displaced residents and emergency workers, and is being considered in resorts, camps, vacation communities, the military and others nationwide as well. Lowe's offers Katrina Cottage series blueprints at $700 and a minimum of $15,000 worth of materials from Lowe's. Then buyers receive a $700 gift card for additional materials to offset blueprint cost. These little houses have made an attractive and invaluable addition to the American home design scene.
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