Take a look at this eye-catching small house plan. It’s thoughtful and flexible design makes it suitable for young families with small children, retired couples or even singles. The exterior of this ranch house features traditional styling and enjoys a welcoming front porch. Inside, the living room is open and spacious accommodating daily activities and special get-togethers. The vaulted ceiling, plant shelf and crackling fireplace add a touch of elegance. You’ll appreciate the convenient pass-thru kitchen and its careful positioning next to the casual dining space making meal service a snap! Grill masters will love access to the rear deck making it easy to prepare favorite meats outdoors on the grill. Your master bedroom boasts a stylish vaulted ceiling, large closet and private bath. Depending on your phase of life you may opt for two secondary bedrooms for the kids or just one secondary bedroom and a cozy den. The choice is yours. A hall bath accommodates the needs of the children and guests. Practical and functional, this traditional empty nester home plan packs quite a punch for its small size. Furthermore, it is easy on the budget with its affordable design.

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Tags: floor plans, home plans, house plans, small home plans, Small House Plans

There is no doubt home building trends have changed throughout the years and continue to evolve. Today’s home building trends are influenced by environmental factors, homeowner preferences, the availability of land and other factors. Some of today’s building trends keep the comfort and lifestyle of the homebuyers in mind as well as call each of us to be more environmentally responsible. Check out these home building trends:

1. Gathering spaces are open to one another allowing for easy interaction among family members and guests. For those with an eye on the golden years, open floor plans allow for easy mobility should you one day find yourself using a walker or wheelchair.
2. Kitchens are becoming larger in size as most families consider the kitchen to be the hub of activity throughout the day.
3. Master bedrooms and bathrooms have become larger and more spacious serving as a quiet retreat at the end of the day while offering homeowners a place to relax, refresh and pamper themselves.
4. Plenty or organizational spaces are a must. Floor plans are including built-in shelving, display niches, abundant closet space, plenty kitchen cabinets, built-in desks, drop zones/lockers near the garage entry and convenient linen closets.
5. Garages have grown in many cases to accommodate over-sized vehicles like trucks and SUVs while others use the extra space to provide a workbench or storage cabinets. Some garages are becoming environmentally-friendly offering a space for a charging station for electric vehicles or leaving room for a charging station in the future.
6. Use of sustainable and environmentally-friendly building materials is becoming more common.
7. Energy-saving and eco-friendly features such as low-flow toilets and energy efficient windows are gaining popularity and add vault to the home.
8. Multi-generational living is trending upward and homeowners are finding a need to include a guest or in-law suite in the home or a mother-in-law cottage or garage apartment located behind or adjacent to the home. This allows aging relatives to continue to live in a home or somewhat independently with assistance nearby if necessary.
9. Designers and builders are making an effort to take advantage of natural lighting by carefully positioning the home on the lot and the windows in the home to draw natural light inside, thus saving on lighting and energy bills.
10. Home builders are making an effort to use less toxic materials and incorporate recycled materials when possible.
11. Many builders are incorporating security systems from security company in pittsburgh, including alarms and motion lighting around the perimeter of the home.
12. Home designers are carefully arranging floor plans to have a narrow footprint especially in densely populated areas where land is precious.
13. Floor plans often include large porches with awnings, screened porches, decks, patios, etc., for outdoor living and entertaining.
14. Designers are including flexible spaces in their floor plans. For example, a full bath might be included in a den or office so the space can easily convert to a guest room with weekend visitors arrive. For those who only have occasional visitors, there is no need to have a designated guest room that is only used a couple times a year. In other cases, the flex space is meant to change and flex as your lifestyle changes. What might serve as a nursery when the kids are young can convert to a home office or hobby room as you move through the various phases of life.

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

Tags: Building Trends, home building, home building trends