Challenged with a lot that slopes to the back? Looking for a home plan with a great finished basement? Consider this two-story home (“The Allair”, Plan# AM-2381-B): The finished lower-level features a fourth bedroom and guest bath, along with a game room and exercise alcove. The game room and exercise alcove are flexible and could easily be used as a family room and play area. A large storage area, which opens to the backyard, is the ideal place to store tools, potting supplies, and outdoor furniture in the off season.

A Prairie-school inspired exterior blankets the façade, marrying bands of horizontal siding and ledgestone accents. The garage—with its tandem third-car space—accommodates a narrow lot.

From the foyer, one views the great room with its fireplace, media center and corner-window view to the rear. At the other end of the great room, double doors lead into an office with a built-in desk and sun-drenched corner windows. Beyond the great room, the kitchen and dining room unite at the rear of the home. An island defines the work space of the kitchen while windows flood the room with light.

Walk-in closets provide plenty of clothing and accessory storage in the upper level’s three bedrooms. With a laundry room just down the hall, tossing in a load of clothes is convenient. A bath with dual lavs and tub and toilet compartment service the kid’s bedrooms. The master suite has a door that leads to a private deck. A tiled, walk-in shower and large spa tub highlight the bath.

Front view of Plan 2381-B.  See floor plans, specifications and details here!

South Carolina customers, Jeff and Wendy, told us they are “in love” with their new home — built from home plan DW-2112.

(CLICK ON ANY PHOTO to get to the detail page and see floor plans, more photos, and other information about this home plan!)

Wendy & Jeff built this lovely farmhouse design in the South Carolina countryside and have been thoroughly enjoying it with their two dogs. They were first drawn to the home because of its wraparound porch, open floor plan and abundance of windows, light, high ceilings and French doors and say these are still their favorite features.

(Above) View into Great Room. (To see more photos from Jeff and Wendy, view their Customer Testimonial by clicking on the photo above!)

(Above) A view into the kitchen showing the island and breakfast nook. (To see more photos from Jeff and Wendy, view their Customer Testimonial by clicking on the photo above!)

“Each unique, custom detail stands out, and the unique architecture makes our house stand apart from the rest,” say the couple, who fell in love with their home when it was first built and relive that feeling each time they walk into it.

Asked if they would purchase a stock plan again, the answer was a definite “Yes!” Stock plans offered them hundreds of plan choices and the ability to see many of them that were already built in the Customer Testimonial presentations. Their future plans include finishing the room that they added above the garage.

(Many of our home plans include customer testimonials with details and photos. Click here to see all homes with testimonials. Then select “Customer Testimonial” from any plan’s detail page.)

(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.)

Beautiful windows seize the eye on the exterior of this Arts and Crafts-inspired home (aka “The Lofton”, Plan#AM-2383). Banks of triple windows and a strip of stationary windows above the front porch gleam with a crisp welcome and offer hints to the light-filled interior. The front porch, anchored by flared pillars atop ledgestone pedestals offers a transitional respite. Beyond the front door, the dining room, great room, and kitchen draw you in to the open living areas. Light spills into the dining room from windows on two walls, dissolving any hint of stuffiness.

Casual Sunday brunches and elegant holiday parties are equally at home in the kitchen, where a long island delineates work and eating areas and a large pantry provides plenty of storage. A bump-out window in the breakfast nook can include a built-in seat or simply provide extra floor space. From the nook, a set of French doors opens to the back porch, which includes an outdoor fireplace.

The master suite wing joins the living areas on the main level. The bedroom and an office flank a private hallway. Built-ins—a desk in the office and bookshelves in the bedroom—supply focal points in each room.

Three additional bedrooms, two baths, a storage area, and a bonus room are on the upper level. The bonus room has many options: it can become a hang-out space for the kids or an exercise room for the whole family.

Exterior Rendering of “The Lofton”, House Plan AM-2383. See plan details 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.

Looking for a home plan with a space for your piano? How about a home office or study? This exciting design has all that and more!

On the exterior, shingle siding and striking stone combine with columns and gables for an eye-catching facade. Inside, double doors set off a quiet study that could also serve as a den, play area or home office. Opposite the foyer, another versatile space can be designed to fit your needs—whether it’s a music room to house your piano, a hobby room or a computer space. At the center of the home, a spacious Great Room and a bright sunroom are connected with a see-through fireplace. Get closer to the outdoors on the screened porch, which adjoins a lovely windowed dining area. Exciting panoramic views are aplenty!

Upstairs are four bedrooms, including a large master suite with a lavish garden tub, separate shower, dual sinks and an oversized walk-in closet.

Plan LS-2903-HB has 3,074 sq. ft. Click here to see more.  

This irresistible 1,820 sq. ft. home plan features Craftsman styling reminiscent of the early 20^th century.  A covered porch invites you to enter the spacious dining and family room areas.  Raised ceilings, an arch-top window unit and a fireplace add drama to this space.  Accessible from the family room, a screened porch offers the perfect spot for sheltered socializing.  The roomy kitchen features a breakfast nook, pantry and access to the laundry room through a pocket door. 

Located near the kitchen, the master suite sets a dreamy tone with its tray ceiling and sitting area which accesses the screened porch.  Separate his and hers closets provide ample hanging space for clothing.  The spacious master bath has a separate shower and corner garden tub.  A powder room for guests is just outside the master suite.  On the opposite side of this floor plan, two generous bedrooms share a bathroom.  The real surprise of this design is located through a door off the breakfast room.  Steps lead up to two bonus rooms offering limitless possibilities for home office space, a craft room, guest room, playroom, etc.  Together they offer nearly 800 sq. ft. of additional living space.  This plan is one in a series of signature designs, the defining element being the foremost walls of the screened porch which form a “W”.

See more of Plan APS-1819.

Stucco and stone make a winning combination on this home’s facade. Inside, the dramatic two-story Great Room is perfect for entertaining with its fireplace, openness to the kitchen and rear views. The formal dining room at the front of the home serves as a quiet spot for special occasions or intimate conversation, while casual meals may be enjoyed in the bright dinette. The main-floor master suite is easily accessed yet private. Besides two additional bedrooms, the upper floor provides more entertaining options with its versatile loft and bonus room or game room. See more of plan LS-2902-HB.

Check out lovely two-story house plan LS-2902-HB!