October 3-9 is 2010’s Fire Prevention Week. The House Plan Shop is doing our part to raise awareness about fire safety. Below is a list of facts about home fires and smoke alarms as reported by the National Fire Prevention Association.

·         Cooking is the leading cause of house fires and injuries.

·         Working smoke alarms cut the risk of death in a reported fire by 50%.

·         Approximately 75% of all homes in the United States have at least one working smoke alarm.

·         Nearly 3000 people die in the US every year in home fires.

·         Smoking is the #1 cause of fire deaths.

·         Heating is the second leading cause of house fires.

·         Between 2003-2006, nearly 66% of home fire deaths resulted from home fires in homes that did not have a smoke alarm or did not have a working smoke alarm.

·         Electrical malfunctions and failures are factors in nearly 50,000 reported fires every year.

·         According to a 2008 survey, only 12% of participants knew smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

·         In 2008, someone was injured in a reported home fire every 40 minutes.

·         In 2008, approximately eight people died in home fires every day.

·         In 2008, a fire department responded to a home fire every 82 seconds.

Keeping these stunning facts in mind, it is time to practice fire prevention at home. Watch for our upcoming blog about fire prevention and fire safety at home. We don’t want you, your family or your home to become another statistic on this list.

This article brought to you by The HousePlanShop, LLC, the home of the best selling house plans from the best designers!

Tags: fire prevention, fire prevention week, fire safety, home fires, Home Safety, house fires, smoke alarms, smoke detectors

From the siding and brick façade paired with front facing gables to the charming dormers and column lined, wrap-around porch, this ranch house plan displays a masterful blend of country, traditional appeal. Ideal for those stepping up from a starter home, this one-story floor plan showcases a bedroom together design with three bedrooms neatly clustered together at the back of the home for privacy. This thoughtful layout ensures everyone will get a good night’s sleep with the parents sleeping nearby the children’s rooms. The master bedroom showcases a fanciful tray ceiling, large walk-in closet and pampering salon bath outfitted with a soothing garden tub. Sunny windows fill the family bedrooms with natural light, and a convenient hall bath accommodates the children’s needs. The main living areas team up to promote easy and relaxed living. Open and spacious, the living room accommodates everyday happenings and large gatherings for special occasions. The kitchen reveals an efficient, step-saver design with practical features like ample counter space, a pantry and a breakfast bar pleasing amateur and gourmet chef’s alike. If outdoor cooking and dining is what you prefer, take a look at the rear patio, a great place for grilling, summertime barbecues or dining alfresco with the kids. Laundry chores and unloading groceries are a snap with the kitchen strategically positioned near the 2-car garage and laundry room. If you are looking for relaxed and stylish family living all on one level, this one-story ranch home plan is sure to get your attention.

Browse more ranch home plans at The House Plan Shop.

This article brought to you by The HousePlanShop, LLC, the home of the best selling house plans from the best designers!

Tags: one-story home designs, one-story house plans, ranch home floor plans, ranch home plans, Ranch House Plans

Want a way to add value to your home and actually enjoy it? Consider building custom designed deck with help from deck builders Austin TX. A deck is a very versatile addition to any house.

It can be used for grilling and outdoor dining, entertaining friends, stargazing, observing nature and just plain relaxing! Furthermore, a deck can be covered providing shade or it can be open for those who love the sun. According to joiner Paul Shultz you may wish to hire an experienced professional such as a builder, contractor, carpenter or remodeler to do the deck installation and build a custom deck railing for you, or you might decide to tackle the project on your own. Either way, building a deck can be rewarding. The driveway extension can be emptied to act as a patio, mulling area for guests or can be a large table, seating area and while it is not in use, these patio covers could be useful.  The shed is in the back corner of the lot, blocking the view to the back of the neighbor’s garage.  To add some interest a wide path curves around a tree back to the shed.

Master bedroom with multiple closets and en suite bath that has custom vanity built in and walk in shower. Ample 2nd bedroom also with en suite bath. Roof deck has a spacious full head house that makes an ideal tree top office, with walk out to the over sized roof deck with city views, water and power. Central A/C, in unit laundry, plethora of closet space, and a strong self managed association. Maintaining a place like this can be hard if you get a lot of rain in the area, you might actually get water damage from this. If you ever need to fix up your deck then you can contact this deck repair service.

Working with a professional will ensure custom touches that you might not be able to create, build or accomplish on your own, while building the deck yourself can be rewarding and offer the satisfaction of completing the job. If you do decide to build the deck on your own, consider purchasing a woodworking or deck plan. They are available online in a variety of sizes ranging from a basic platform with railing to more detailed deck designs that might include built-in wooded benches for seating, plant shelves, a built-in barbecue area or even a hot tub from Hot Tubs For You, it would be a great feature. No matter which route you take, you’ll be pleased with the new deck you can enjoy year-round and feel confident that you have just added value to your home.

This article brought to you by The HousePlanShop, LLC, the home of the best selling house plans from the best designers!

Tags: add value to your home, building a deck, decks, home addition, Outdoor Living, outdoor living spaces

Modern-day log home floor plans have come a long way since their primitive log cabin cousins once dotted the American frontier. Today, many homeowners dream of having their very own log home. For some, the rustic styling and architecture are appealing. For others, log homes are more environmentally friendly than those made of manufactured materials. Still, others have their own unique reasons for wanting to build a log house. If you are considering building a log home, take some time to review these thoughts covering a broad range of topics from energy efficiency to décor. Then, browse The House Plan Shop’s extensive collection of floor plans ranging from log cabin floor plans to robust dream log homes. 

·         Today’s log homes are generally comfortable and spacious, sometimes elegant. Those of the 1800s reflected the hardships of life on the North American frontier.

·         Log homes are built with natural materials including logs and stone that allow the home to blend seamlessly with nature and the surrounding landscape.

·         Log house plans encourage the enjoyment of nature and often incorporate decks, screened porches, and large windows for taking in the sights and sounds of nature. Make sure to explore different options and talk to experts for property negotiation Melbourne located housings where you can enjoy the real nature.

·         They are typically built on wooded lots in properties with natural views.

·         Log homes are often built to enjoy surrounding natural beauty, so skip the window treatments and let nature spill inside. If you absolutely must have window coverings, consider built-in blinds and simple cornices that will not detract from or block stunning views.

·         Consider energy costs before purchasing a floor plan. Choosing a log home plan with fewer intricate or special design features, such as two-story ceilings, will reduce energy costs pointing to using hardwood flooring as the best for price and also giving an amazing look to your indoors.

·         Log home designs with a simple roofline and few corners and angles will reduce material and construction costs.

·         Log home floor plans with smaller square footages and efficiently divided rooms are more economical to build, especially if you are planning wood floors for them.

·         Log homes require regular maintenance to protect the logs and ensure structural integrity.

·         Natural décor and furnishings enhance the rustic living experience of a log home such as wood furnishings and log furniture, antler chandeliers, stone fireplaces, wood flooring by Perc Tiling and woven rugs.

·         Accent your furniture with various textures such as a leather pillow, a cedar chest or wool throw blanket.

·         Natural decorating themes are common in log homes such as wildlife, pinecones and water.

·         These homes offer all the modern day amenities of traditional houses from walk-in closets and gourmet kitchens to private master baths.

·         Log home plans offer a distinguished look far from the cookie-cutter homes predominant in most neighborhoods.

·         Log house are mighty, sturdy and enduring – timeless when compared to today’s trendy building and decorating fads.

·         If you’re not quite sure if a log home is for you, consider staying in a vacation rental for a couple of nights such as a long weekend to experience what it is like to live in a log house.

Taking time to consider various aspects of log house plans and log home living will help you decide of what size and style log home will be right for you.

This article brought to you by The HousePlanShop, LLC, the home of the best selling house plans from the best designers!

Tags: Home Decorating, log home floor plans, log home plans, Log House Plans