The House Plan Shop Blog

A surprising new trend is popping up in new homes across America. Simply stated, it seems there is almost no limit to the luxuries new homeowners are seeking in their master bath. For today’s home buyers, outstanding master baths are as important as full-featured kitchens and lavish master bedrooms. Well appointed master baths offer a relaxing retreat at the end of the day and their amenities appear at the top of most new home buyer’s wish lists.

In many cases, these luxurious baths take their inspiration from spas. Some of the features include:

·         His and Her vanities

·         Vessel sinks

·         Walk-in showers

·         Showers with multiple shower heads

·         Dual entrance showers

·         Whirlpool, Jacuzzi or garden tubs

·         Stand alone bathtubs separate from the shower

·         Elaborate flooring and tile designs

·         Heated flooring

·         Warming towel racks and towel warmers

·         Attached saunas

·         Fireplaces

·         Built in TVs

·         Elegant fixtures and lighting

·         His and Her dressing areas

·         Compartmented toilets

·         His and Her toilets

·         Granite vanity tops

As elaborate master baths continue to evolve, it is important to take note that large walk-in showers often rival soaking tubs and more often than not, His and Her walk-in closets are contained within the master bath.

By 2015, the National Association of Home Builders predicts amenity rich master baths will be consider must-haves in most new homes. Many residential designers are already preparing for the future by including several of these features in the house plans they are presently creating and drawing. Browse The House Plan Shop’s home plan collection to discover some of these innovative designs.

Tags: bath features, master bathrooms, master baths

Homebuyers with continuously changing needs want flexibility and options with their new homes. Flex rooms are the answer. One of the latest hot trends in new home construction, flex rooms offer just what the homeowner wants, flexibility.

The magic with a flex room is due to its versatility and multiple uses. Some larger flex rooms work well as a home office and easily convert to a guest room for weekend visitors. Others serve as a nursery for a young family and once the children have moved into their “big kid” rooms, it easily transforms into a den, formal dining room or exercise room. With smaller flex rooms, the space might work well as a storage area, but once you’ve added that garage with storage loft to your backyard, the storage space opens up for a computer/homework station instead. Or perhaps you need a place to store all of your supplies and equipment for favorite family hobbies like baseball bats and gloves or golf clubs. Sometime in the future, you might convert this space into the small sewing room you’ve always wanted and move the sporting equipment elsewhere.

The beauty of a flex room is that it can be anything you want it to be when you need it. It just takes a little imagination, creativity and planning. Keep in mind you can improve your space further by adding special features like built-in cabinets, shelving units, task lighting or extra electrical outlets which contribute to the usefulness and flexibility of the space.

If you are looking for a home plan with flexible space and options as your family grows and changes, select a home plan with a flex room. Don’t forget to check out home plans with a bonus room. They can be used in much the same way.

Tags: flex rooms, flexibility