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All about porches and similar outdoor living structures Often as we are discussing a Florida house plan with a client located anywhere outside Florida they are confused by the word “lanai”. After we explain what a lanai is they will invariably say something like “Oh! You mean a porch.” Since we design custom homes for and sell stock house plans to clients all over the world, we thought it would be helpful to clarify porch nomenclature, which by the way, depends greatly on geographical location.    

If you’re in the early stages of planning the design of your dream home then you might be trying to decide whether a stock house plan or custom design is better for your situation. There are a few considerations that will go into your decision. First, consider your property, and whether it has any unique challenges to address or features to showcase.   Second, think about how the residents will live, what are “must have” features, and those that are negotiable? Lastly, there is the matter of budget, for the design work as well as for the construction of the home.

We’d love to see you at the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) at the end of the month.  It’s a two-day event jam packed with educational opportunities as well as the latest building products and services in the home building and remodeling industry. Want free tickets?  Sign up Here  

We are pleased that Houzz has chosen another one of our finished projects to include in a feature article.  The Coastal Coquina portfolio can be viewed here. From Houzz: Family rooms are for lounging, hanging out, conversation and, above all, comfort. These are the most popular family room photos added to Houzz from April through June this year, as measured by the number of people who’ve saved them to their ideabooks during that period. They show that comfort and style can go hand in hand quite beautifully. Take a look to get ideas for your own family room. Which ones would you like to try? Check out family room #5! [houzz=https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/88263850/list/trending-now-cozy-up-with-ideas-from-6-popular-new-family-rooms w=620]

Whether you’re planning to build on a coastal or lakefront lot, you have probably placed a high priority on taking full advantage of the fantastic views offered by your property. A waterfront house plan is one that has been designed to capture the best features of a lot on the water, and in some cases provide the additional structural integrity needed for a coastal home. Windows, Windows and More Windows Strategic placement of windows and glass doors as well as a thoughtful floor plan layout are the best ways that a waterfront house plan can maximize enjoyment of views. When choosing the home plan, you’ll want to consider the shape of your lot and the directions from which views are offered relative to window and door placement in the house. For...

Builder.com has released its Annual List of Top 50 New-Home Markets ranked nationally by number of closings.  Texas took 3 of the top 5 with: 1 – Dallas/Fort Worth, TX 2 – Houston/The Woodlands, Sugar Land, TX 5 – Austin/Round Rock, TX All major markets in Florida made the top 50 with: 7 – Orlando/Sanford, FL 11 – Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL 15 – Tampa/Saint Petersburg, FL 36 – Cape Coral/Fort Myers, FL 43 – Naples/Marco Island, FL Here’s a link to the full report, and the top builder marketshare in each metro: Top 50 New Homes Report  

With Father’s Day just around the corner, we went through our portfolio to pull together our favorite dad-friendly spaces that embody fun and relaxation.

You probably know that the external appearance of a home is inextricably linked to the value of the property. Value can be enhanced by the rich and varied look one can achieve by using sidings creatively. Not only that, but siding choice also plays an important role in protecting your home against dust mites, molds and bacteria. Today’s Siding Options Deciding which siding to choose is an important factor in achieving the look you want your home to have. Carefully chosen siding can help save energy and make a powerful statement about your home. So, selecting the right siding should be done with care, employing reputable installation professionals and choosing a material that is easy to maintain and replace when required. Whether it is a new home or a...

The roof style of your house plan’s elevation will play a large role in the aesthetic appeal of your home. It will tie together many of the exterior architectural elements of your home plan that define a particular style, but most importantly it will need to provide a robust and long lasting shelter for the home. The type of roof material you choose will depend on your budget, environmental factors and desired look. Here is a rundown of the most popular styles of roof and roofing materials used today: Shake Roofs One of the oldest styles of roof in America is the shake. The style can transport you to a bygone age, but also has its drawbacks. Shakes are different from shingles, which are machine-sawed. Shakes are torn into thin...

The foundation is the root for your home. Apart from anchoring the house and providing a flat surface on which to lay floors and raise load-bearing walls, foundations also work as resistance against moisture, insects, fungus, soil gases and the immense pressure the soil itself applies.