by Skylar Jensen, Staff Writer If you spend a large sum of money on a nice front door, you’re going to want it to last as long as possible, right?  Well, sometimes you can’t control what the natural elements might do to your door, but you can always take steps to protect it from such wear and tear.  Perhaps the best form of protection you can implement is a storm door. Storm doors may sound like a thing of the past, but today they are much different from the beaten-up screen door you m

SOLAR ENERGY by Skylar Jensen, Staff Writer If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably at least thought of what it would be like to go solar in your home.  Powering your home with just the energy of the sun could cut much of the cost from your utility bill, and it’s environment friendly.  But is it worth the hassle?  And how do you get started?  What’s the best way to set it all up?  Let’s explore the world of solar power to help you answer these questions! First of

Front Porch Living by Skylar Jensen, Staff Writer When building your new home, every aspect is important.  It is going to be home, after all!  We ladies specifically may send ourselves into a tailspin when it comes to the kitchen, the living room, the dining room, and maybe breakfast nooks, too.  Why is this?  Because all these have to do with where we gather.  We all want to host a nice gathering with friends and potentially show off our home, but if you think like us,

Customize it your way! Have you ever been searching for the perfect house plan, but couldn't find everything you're looking for. Maybe it was the kitchen layout that needs a minor adjustment. Maybe you found the perfect house plan, but the dining room needs to be a bit bigger for when you entertain. And one of our favorites... I love everything about this house plan, but the closet just isn't big enough. We've all be there! We all have ideas that would make our dream home perfect. GOOD NEWS! Tha

With fall right around the corner, we're all searching for that perfect cabin getaway in the woods somewhere. But what if you can't find that perfect spot? Why not build it? Not only could this serve as the perfect retreat when you need one, but it could also serve as a great investment opportunity! With so many looking to travel, but wanting to stay privately, cabins and small bungalows are the perfect getaway to rent on the weekends. We're diving into some of our favorite cabin house plans to

2021 Color Trends One of the most stressful parts of planning the interior of your home can be the paint colors. Should you do one paint color throughout the entire house? Should you add a splash of color here and there? We're here to help in the decision process, no only on your house plan, but your home planning all the way down to the interior colors. Let's dive into the color trends we've seen develop and become popular this year. Neutral Color Palettes Just like we've seen in recent y

Have you ever been in need of a new home, but not know the first step to take? Your first instinct might be to contact a realtor. If you're new to your area, it can be a little overwhelming to go at it alone. Sometimes the quickest solution is to purchase a home for sale on the market and make changes over time to make it your own. This can also sometimes seem easier than starting from scratch. What some don't realize is that it can be more costly to update an existing home verses building

Who doesn't love a little porch therapy?This time of year is made for enjoying the great outdoors, but after a long day of work, not all of us have time to go on a hike or bike ride. But what can you do with the short amount of time that you have at the end of the day? Soak in the porch therapy, that's what! Fresh area and home comfort pair nicely together when you have a place to enjoy it. From the largest porch balconies to the coziest front porches, we're sitting back and taking a glance at w

Safe Rooms & Surviving the Storm Have you ever heard these words and not known what to do: Tornado, Severe Weather, Storm Threats, High Winds, Shelter in Place? When up against a storm, it's an anxious time that can cripple even the strongest of people. Especially in the midwest and south, we see an abundance of storm damage during the spring and summer months. Open plains and high winds can sometimes leave even the best built homes in a pile of rubble. We all know that bathroom tubs and interio

Making the Most of your Bonus Room There are so many thoughts that go into planning a new home. How should I lay my kitchen out? What brick color to go with? Hardwood or Tile flooring? But one question that we often get wrong - Do I really need the bonus space included in my house? If COVID-19 and quarantine has taught us anything...the answer is YES! We all need a little more space to spread out in the house while staying home. But what to do with that space? Should you turn it i

The Best Kitchen Layout No matter what your design style may be, one thing is true across all house plans, the kitchen is one of the most frequented rooms. We're not sure if it's the company it brings or the snacks it hold, but one thing we are certain of is that the kitchen is one of the make or break areas of any house plans. Nothing stands out more in any house than the kitchen layout. In recent years, we've seen an ever-growing popularity in the open floor plan concept. This means that the d

Take Me Back To The Farmhouse With the ever growing popularity of the Farmhouse style, it's easy to look back over the past 10 years and see the extraordinary upgrade that Farmhouse Plans have experienced. Whatever your ideal plan style is, it's easy to fall in love with the modern farmhouse. From porch therapy to the simplistic stylings of the interior, Farmhouse Homes hold a value that every person can appreciate! Today's Farmhouse What use to be known as a style specifically for country li

The holidays are over, and we are back on our everyday task list! With Spring Cleaning just around the corner and winter coming to a close, now is a great time to think about how the rest of the year will shape up. Has the family grown? Are your living arrangements just so-so? Do you crave simpler times and clean, homey styles? Then the Farmhouse look is for you! Simple Farmhouse Style Farmhouses have been around long before HGTV uplifted the popular home interior design. The original Am

Somehow, while being deeply involved with house plans, custom homes, and major/minor modifications, my partner and I decided buying an old family home and managing our remodel was the right choice for our first forays into homeownership. I can say it is a far greater task (and stress and expense) than either of us were prepared for.  This home has been in his family since the 60s. Handcrafted to a very specific vision of what his great-grandparents needed to support a large family. Every li

In light of how…exciting 2020 has been, we all could use a break to focus on something more lighthearted, wholesome, and safely uncontroversial. After spending these last few months constantly assaulted by rotating news stories, medical tragedies, and celebrity gossip, all I really want is to find a bit of peace and solace. If not readily available, I aim to make our home a port in the storm! Even a thundercloud has a silver lining, right? When thinking of quiet civility, our European fri