(Heidi, from our Customer Service Team, agreed to share her “fantasy house plan” with us and we thought our blog readers would be interested too. See details on this plan by clicking on any of the images below.)

The house plan that I love and actually printed off and posted at my desk, right above my phone, is Plan L-774-VSB. The moment I found this design I knew it was for me. One of my goals is to build this house for me and my family. The design is a Queen Anne-style Victorian with 4 bedrooms, 3 and 1/2 baths, and 2 stories.

What are my favorite features? 

First of all, the front porch! It seems to just go on and on! There’s a cozy rear porch too (pictured above). I can imagine myself sitting on one of the porches, enjoying the fresh air while visiting with neighbors, watching my daughter play in the yard, working on a project, or just thinking.

The turrets add so much style to the exterior of the house and I love the rounded rooms they create on the interior, in the study on the main floor (shown above) and the alcove and bath on the upper floor.

There are enough bathrooms and they are situated to allow for privacy when family visits or if a parent needs to move in with us down the road. And check out the garden tub in the master bath (above)!

The rooms, like the family room above, are spacious enough to accommodate large furniture pieces.

The kitchen (above) is open and airy.

The foyer is so warm and welcoming (above).

I cannot say enough good things about this house. It’s just a big, classic Victorian on the outside with all the interior amenities that today’s families want. Seeing it built on the shores of a beautiful Minnesota lake would be the icing on the cake!

(To see more floor plans and specifications for this plan, CLICK HERE.  Select “Customer Testimonial” to see photos and read about how one family customized this home to make it their own.)

This ultra-contemporary hillside plan has some amazing details that add style to its appearance and comfort to its livability. Extensive fenestration on the exterior takes advantage of ambient light on the inside.

The upper level has a delightful entry foyer with stone columns, a bench and a niche. To the right is the open stairway to the lower level with a wall of windows on one side and a glass floor on the other. A wet bar connects the vaulted dining room to the professional-style kitchen (note the walk-in pantry). A vaulted nook with sliding doors to a patio is adjoining.

Step down into the vaulted great room, which also opens to the patio (note the outdoor grill and fireplace). A large, skylit laundry is close by. On the lower level you’ll find a game room with built-in entertainment center, three family bedrooms, another laundry area and a snack-bar area.

The lower-level patio area is reached from Bedroom 2 or the game room. Don’t miss the double garage with space for a shop.

(Photography by Bob Greenspan) CLICK ON ANY PHOTO to see the details for Plan AM-1410!

The outside is brought inside in this ultra-contemporary plan. Extensive fenestration on the exterior takes advantage of the ambient light on the inside. Natural elements such as wood and stacked stone allow this home to blend beautifully with its surroundings.

(Above) This outdoor living space has it all. An elegant stone wall houses all you’ll ever need for your next barbecue. Guests can gather around the fireplace while you prepare the meal on the stainless steel built-in grill, complete with a prep sink and mini fridge!

(Above) Nature continues both inside and outside this fabulous home. Here, guests can dine in contemporary elegance surrounded by rich wood and stacked stone accents while gazing out the large windows to the lovely gardens.

(Above) The focal point in this room is quite obvious. Natural beauty is found in the impressive stacked stone wall that not only serves as an artistic element, but also houses many practical items such as built in cabinets and a fireplace. Natural light illuminates the space and further enhances the ambiance.

(Above) This ultra contemporary kitchen is sleek in design but spares no amenities. A large breakfast bar also houses a sink, dishwasher, and cook top. Large cabinets placed in front of an enormous window create a sculptural effect while housing all of your dishes.

(Above) Earthy colors, a wood vanity, and sleek fixtures in this guest bathroom reiterate the natural contemporary style of the home.

(Above) Varying ceiling angles combined with a large wall that serves as a headboard and shelf conveys the ultimate modern elegance in this luxurious master bedroom. Sliding doors open onto a private viewing deck.

(Above) The serenity of nature flows into the master spa through large windows that flow with the angle of the ceiling. Sleek fixtures further communicate the modern style of the home.

(Above) This home is not only beautiful to look at, its kid friendly too! A magnificent playroom decorated with a beautiful wall mural allows children to travel to the furthest reaches of their imagination!

See FLOOR PLANS and other details of Home Plan AM-1410 by clicking here.

To get right to the PHOTO GALLERY page, click here.

With energy prices hitting all-time highs, energy-saving home designs are a hot topic for today’s home plan buyers.

Plan E-2107 is an example of an energy-efficient home that packages energy efficient technology with an appealing design. The designer of this home bases his energy-efficient designs on two criteria:

1. The home must have a maximum heat loss/gain of no more than 16 btuh per sq. ft. per hour of the thermal envelope. In plain terms, this means that it must be about twice as efficient as a standard home.

2. The home must have optimum value, which means it must cost the least to save the most.

Although there are many key elements that go into making a home a super energy saver, some of the most important elements are 2×6 exterior walls and insulated exterior doors and windows.

Plan E-2107 is designed with 2×6 exterior wall framing.

Click here to see more of Plan E-2107.

This same design is also offered in an alternate version that uses Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) for the wall framing—see Plan E-2113 for the ICF variation.

To see more plans by this designer, click here.

House Plan AM-1411 will indulge anyone who’s ever fantasized about living in a rustic hillside retreat. With its lavish appointments and spacious living arrangements, the home has everything you need, whether you desire to settle in or entertain. But beware: your guests may not want to leave either!

Rear view of Plan AM-1411. (See the PHOTO GALLERY online for many more pictures of the fully decorated home!)

The artful use of stone and generous application of decorative brackets on the exterior draw together architectural elements such as the angled, oversize four-car garage and the substantial roofline. The sprawling exterior is refreshingly coherent. A prominent stoop with flared stone columns clearly marks the entrance as it carefully balances a pair of wing extensions. The stoop expands into a front porch and points the way to the front door.

Inside the foyer, one immediately surveys the openness of main living areas, which are topped with vaulted ceilings. The great room is the hub, anchored with a large stone fireplace at one end and a formal dining area at the other. Spectacular windows on each side of the fireplace display views of the backyard. Arching in a curve to one side of the great room, the kitchen completes the open layout and provides for logical traffic flow, which is critical when entertaining. The serious cook will appreciate accommodations for an oversize range, the walk-in pantry, as well as the baking and food prep zones. Whether entertaining or merely relaxing outdoors, the outdoor kitchen bestows a welcoming environment. Its appointments include a cooktop, sink, and corner fireplace.

Columns along one side of the foyer delineate the home’s public and private zones. A built-in media center and double doors separate the home office from the great room. The hearth, the bookshelves, and the built-ins in the office are beautiful and functional. Down the adjacent hall is the master suite. Soothing features in the bedroom include a corner fireplace and a bump-out window that views that backyard. The suite’s pair of walk-in closets is nothing short of extravagant. Both include built-ins and double doors. The larger of the two is a spacious dressing room that includes a built-in ironing board, a mirror, and two alcoves with built-in chests. Separate vanities, a spa tub, laundry facilities, and a walk-in shower round out the master bath.

Three additional bedrooms are on the lower level, privately clustered near a pair of baths. Bump-out windows in each room ensure plenty of light. One of the bedrooms has a private bath, making it ideal as a guest suite. Another treat is the home theater with built-in viewing screen, fireplace, and access to the backyard. With nearby wet bar and wine cellar, the spacious theater will be a great place to host sports parties.

Among the most appreciated aspects of this home may be the organized utility areas next to the garage. A dog shower and grooming station are convenient for taking care of canine family members. Its hard-surface floor and built-in drain make clean-up easy. A mudroom, featuring a powder bath, laundry facilities, and coat closet, makes a great place to freshen up before entering the home. Tools can be organized along the back wall of the garage work bench.

View into the Great Room.  (See the PHOTO GALLERY online for many more pictures of the fully decorated home!)