House Plan Blog

The Schuyler house plan takes full adavantage of having a rear view. This shingle-style Ranch home design blends right in whether built in the city or the country.

Shake-textured siding accents most of the front, and Craftsman-style windows invite admiring glances. A classic iron railing rims the front porch.

Plenty of natural light flows into the vaulted foyer through sidelights and a wide transom. Double doors on the left access a vaulted den or home office.  A narrower opening on the right links to secondary bedrooms and a bathroom.

At the far end of the foyer, a coat closet is opposite the opening into the spacious, vaulted living room. Windows fills most of the rear wall, and area is naturally bright. A gas fireplace nestles into the far corner at the window's edge. Two openings lead off the living room to the kitchen. The larger of the two opens into a dining area.

In the kitchen there's plenty of counter and cupboard space, built-in appliances, and a large walk-in pantry. Laundry appliances are nearby, in a passthrough room that connects to the three-car garage.

Luxuries in the owners' suite include: a large walk-in closet, deep soaking tub, and dual vanity. The toilet and shower can be partitioned off for privacy and steam containment.

Duplexes have gotten a bad rap. They show up in neighborhoods with the same look, same floor plans and no room for imagination. They are often thought of as utilitarian dwellings that allow developers to squeeze more homes onto a lot. Duplexes, in other words, are practical and simple.

But it’s time to think differently and look at multi-family housing with new eyes.

Duplexes are going upscale, blending the best of single-family living with the convenience and affordability of simpler living. Large modern kitchens, vaulted ceilings and elegant gathering spaces blend with minimal shared walls and private entrances in these two duplex floor plans from Associated Designs Inc. based in Eugene, Ore.

“Duplexes can be more than just practical living,” said Rick McAlexander, CEO of Associated Designs. “With amped-up square footage and upscale features and finishes, multi-family living is pretty much the best of both worlds. It’s the next level of sought-after living spaces.”

Vaulted Gathering Space

When you see this floor plan, you can put all your predetermined notions of multi-family living to bed. The Vancouver (60-031) is an attractive Craftsman-style duplex designed for construction on land with a slight upslope to the rear. The result is a split-level layout that puts the garage at ground level, a large vaulted gathering space and owners’ suite a half-flight up, and secondary bedrooms another half-flight up.

While the two interior floor plans are mirror images of each other, that’s where the similarity ends because this is not your typical duplex. Minute changes in the layout, the finishes and the interior make each unit special.

A gabled entry porch welcomes you into a vaulted living room connected to the dining room for a truly awesome gathering space lit with natural light from large Craftsman windows. Entertaining will be no hardship in this ample great room! A handy mini bathroom is just off the entryway and a utility room with extra storage space is just off the owners’ suite. The G-shaped large kitchen opens up into the dining room with a cozy breakfast eating bar.

“From the kitchen, you can keep tabs on activities in the spacious vaulted great room or day dream as you look outside to a comfy porch,” said McAlexander. “This might be one of my favorite duplex designs if only because of it’s unique layout.”

The owners’ suite is a true masterpiece, complete with vaulted ceilings and a walk-in closet. A dual vanity, linen closet and large shower highlight the master bathroom. The second level has two large bedrooms with a full bathroom in between. And at 1,871 square feet including a one-car garage for each unit, it’s multi-family living with an unusually beautiful flair.

Simply Different

The Vernon (60-019) is also not your typical, mirror-image duplex. Privacy is the key in these two 1,600-square-foot units. The unit’s entrances even face in different directions, so for all intents and purposes, each home is a very separate dwelling with only one shared wall. The second floor doesn’t share a wall at all.

“Not everything has to be the same,” said McAlexander. “In fact, with this duplex home design, both the inside and out are just a little different. They may have the same high-class materials, but the layout and the finishing touches are uniquely their own.”

For instance, the large kitchen in Unit A showcases an ample central work island and a deep storage closet to the right of the hidden laundry room. The kitchen in Unit B, on the other hand, opens to the dining room and has an ample peninsula-top that doubles as a buffet for festive gatherings. Modern appliances and fixtures coupled with ample room make the kitchen its own gathering space.

But this duplex also has room for entertaining. The dining and living rooms in each unit flow together to make one large great room filled with ample natural light. In Unit B, the dining room opens to the partially covered patio via sliding doors, while in Unit A, a door from both the dining room and the garage open onto a private patio.

Each unit has two bedrooms and a spacious owners’ suite on the second floor, but again that’s where the similarity ends. The owners’ suite in Unit B has its own vanity area and a large walk-in closet but the rest of the bathroom is shared. In Unit A, the owners’ suite has its own bathroom entirely with a linen closet and a large wall closet.

Sometimes you need to think outside the box to really see the possibilities. With these two unique duplex home designs, multi-family housing has gone to the next level of upscale living.

Have your eyes been opened yet?

As seen on Newswire

The Jacobson is a Mediterranean-style single-level plan with two distinct wings that wrap around a central courtyard that features large swimming pool at center. A watchful eye can be kept on the pool, whether its the master suite, foyer, dining room, kitchen or living room.

Stucco columns and raised stucco trim accent the gently arched openings of the lofty entry and two front windows, each filled with an expanse of glass. Inside the vaulted foyer, an  natural light flows down through two arched transoms. More washes in through double atrium doors that provide a view of and access to the pool.

Family gathering spaces and a utility room are on the left; sleeping quarters are to the right. The room closest to the entry could be used as a home office, den, library, or whatever is needed.

Dining room, kitchen and living room flow together, in a large room where ceiling variations help define the spaces. Kitchen features include built-in appliances, a walk-in pantry, garden window, and a large work island rimmed by a raised eating bar.

Laundry appliances and a powder room are around the corner, off a hallway that links the kitchen to a two-car side entry garage. The large utility room features a  built-in desk on one side and a long counter next to the storage closet.

The owners' suite boasts a deep walk-in closet, a skylit bathroom with a shower, double vanity, and a private toilet. 

This Cape Cod home's wrap around covered porch, understated entrance and charming stone accents makes the New Haven house plan a great vacation retreat or year round residence. The main level is full of windows and fills with natural light and allows one to appeciate any stunning lake, mountain, river or city view your lot may have. On the right side is one of the suites with a walk-in closet and full bathroom. The second floor has a bedroom loft that is open to the great room below and has a walk-in closet and full bathroom. The unfinished walk-out basement is ready to create whatever else would make this home the perfect retreat be it a recreation room, hobby space or an extra bedroom.

The handsome Mapleton has a Craftsman cottage look. This home could be placed within a grove of tall oak trees, or easily blend into a suburban neighborhood.

An old-fashioned covered porch wraps around three sides of the home. You will appreciate this feature, whether the sky is filled with sunshine, clouds, rain or snow. Add gates front and back to create a secure area for toddlers and small pets.

Two large, interconnected rooms are in the front, linked by French double doors. The room closest to the street could be used as a home office, guest room, or parlor. The room has a closet and direct bathroom access, complete with shower.

A woodstove sits near the entrance to the gathering room. Walk around it to the right, and you pass along a short hallway to the kitchen. Laundry appliances hide behind folding doors on the left.

Around the woodstove to the left is the stairway to the second floor, and past that a skylit and vaulted living room, open to the kitchen and bayed dining area. A conversation bar rims the boundary side of a work island with a built-in cook top.

The Mapleton's kitchen has a raised eating bar as well. Working at the kitchen sink, you look across it into the window-bright dining bay. Counters and cupboards are in good supply, and the step-in pantry adds more storage.

Three bedrooms and two bathrooms are upstairs. The owners' suite features include a walk-in closet and a skylit bathroom with a spa tub, dual vanity, shower and a private toilet.

Historically, kitchens haven’t always been luxurious, open places with breakfast bars and double islands. And they certainly weren’t rooms where people wanted to gather. They were dark and simple, often utilitarian in style – an afterthought to the home plan. They were filled with noises, messes and smells. But the modern kitchen is an indispensable component to contemporary life. Instead of welcoming guests into the living room, the kitchen is the place we chat with friends over a couple drinks or conduct business or play games with family.

“The kitchen of today serves as the hub for nearly every aspect of family life,” said Rick McAlexander, CEO of Associated Designs Inc., based in Eugene, Ore. “Homeowners want large kitchen plans with plenty of space for baking, cooking and hosting. It’s what makes them so fun to design really.”

In many cases, the kitchen is an extension of the great room. It’s filled with light, color and all the amenities. From walk-in pantries, expansive breakfast bars and unique layouts, these three home designs put kitchens in the spotlight.

A Bright & Open Gathering Space

If entertaining is your thing, then the Barnhart (30-946) home design has a kitchen that’s meant to be enjoyed. Complete with a plenty of storage space and a walk-in pantry, this kitchen’s white cabinetry is accented by the dark countertops and stainless steel appliances for an eye-catching space.

But it’s the location of the kitchen that truly matters in this 3,815-square-foot home design. The kitchen opens up into the great room, but it also connects with the vaulted patio. A wall of windows then brightens the entire house with natural light. Both areas have wood-burning fireplaces that serve as inviting focal points, plus the kitchen has a curved edge eating bar that doubles as a buffet.

“Depending on the weather and time of year, people can congregate in the kitchen and vaulted great room, the vaulted patio, or all three,” said McAlexander. “It’s bright, cheerful and inviting… you’d be hard-pressed to not want to show off the kitchen.”

Linked Together

Expansive gathering spaces, inside and out, create a perfect environment for families to hang out and entertain in the Petaluma (31-011) home design. And the kitchen is no exception. The goal of this 4,680-square-foot, lodge-style home design is to make the kitchen part of the main space, like a spoke on a wheel.

“This kitchen is central to the home’s gathering space,” said McAlexander. “But it’s part of an interconnected series of beautiful rooms. When all is said and done, the main rooms connect to each other in a sort of circle.”

The vaulted great room and dining area, for example, are linked to the spacious kitchen, which is also linked to the vaulted media room. A large covered patio that extends halfway around one side of the house connects the great room to the dining room and back around again.

Meanwhile, the kitchen itself boasts a large island that can double as a buffet or breakfast bar – or just an extra cook space – with a walk-in pantry nearby.

Vaulted Luxury

Bold stone accents, graceful wood beams and smooth stucco blend seamlessly together along the front of the Delfino (31-062). Inspired by a Tuscan villa, the 3,919-square-foot home offers the latest in luxury living with plenty of space and attention to detail. Like the other two homes listed above, the Delfino boasts an open-style great room at the center of the house. But almost every room in the house has a vaulted ceiling, including the kitchen.

“Vaulted ceilings give rooms a light and airy feeling,” said McAlexander. “So in this house, you feel like there’s more freedom to move around, more space to mingle and relax. And all the natural light adds to the beauty.”

The vaulted foyer welcomes you into a vaulted great room, which flows into a vaulted dining area, which is open to the vaulted kitchen, which is linked to the vaulted piano room. It’s the perfect setup for those who love to entertain or host a piano recital. The kitchen’s large, curved island can be used as a buffet or bar for a fun, casual vibe in the midst of all the luxurious gathering spaces.

When you next invite your friends over or host a social event or have a family game night, where will you be gathering? We’re betting you’ll be in the kitchen, cozying up along the breakfast bar and nibbling on some crudités and hors d'oeuvres. Because the kitchen is no longer an afterthought; it’s bright, open and where the party begins. 

As seen on Newswire

The Addison's riverstone veneer, keystone arches, and three stories of living space (including the daylight basement) come together and create a truly sumptuous estate home.

Stepping through the lofty entry arch of this European-style home, you walk into a two-story foyer, naturally brightened by the high arched window over the door. An opening on the right leads to an elegant tray-ceilinged living room. The matching opening on the left flows into a stepped-ceiling dining room. A built-in buffet with a small sink is just across the hall.

Straight ahead, under an inner balcony, brings you to a large, bright family room with a two-story ceiling. Sliding glass doors open onto a spacious, fully covered rear deck. A fireplace and home entertainment center anchors one end of the family room, which flows into the nook and luxurious gourmet kitchen on the opposite side.

Counters wrap around most of the kitchen, and an eating bar rims one side of a central work island. A roomy pantry is just around the corner. Basement and second floor stairs feed off of the kitchen. Laundry appliances are closeby, as is direct garage access.

The luxurious owners' suite fills an entire wing. Amenities here include a walk-in closet, a large bathroom with curving lines, a spa tub, dual vanity, and a private toilet. Two more bedrooms, one of them a guest suite, are upstairs, along with a recreation room. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. Doors in both bedrooms also open out onto a large covered veranda, great for relaxing on a nice day or enjoying the night air.