House Plan Blog

The Hamilton is a handsome, single-level ranch home plan. Sets of smooth, painted columns create a stately welcome, while raised brick trim rims an arched opening that highlights the entry's graceful, half-round transom. Colorful painted shutters accent multipaned windows, underscored by rows of turned brick.

This is an impressive entrance both inside and out. Light flows into the vaulted entry through the transom and sidelights. Coat closets line both sides. Standing between them, you're on the edge of a delightful, hexagonal great room that is the core of this home. Six wedge-shaped sections of ceiling enhance the sense of spaciousness by soaring to join at the central apex.

Glass fills most of the three rear walls, this room is naturally bright and offers a panoramic view. French doors at center swings out to access a covered patio. These doors are crowned by another half-round transom, similar to, but smaller than, the one over the front entry. The masonry fireplace nestled into an inner corner provides glow and warmth on winter days and nights.

A long, raised eating and conversation bar creates a boundary between the kitchen and great room. Other features include: a pantry and work island, plus plenty of counter and storage space. Utilities are close by.

The master suite is isolated from the secondary bedrooms. It features two large walk-in closets, along with an oversized shower. One of the secondary bedrooms is larger than the other, and also has a walk-in closet. These bedrooms share a bathroom, and the hallway here offers direct access to the two-car garage.

A great home design can mean different things for many homeowners because every homeowner has their own particular dream of what a home should be. Some envision a great room with vaulted ceilings. Others prefer extra space with room for a growing family. And still others appreciate the details – stone wainscoting accents, dropped wooden beams, or charming exterior window shutters. Bottom line, no one home design is better than another. What makes someone fall in love with a home is truly a personal choice.

“It’s probably what makes my job a bit tricky on occasion,” said Rick McAlexander, CEO of Associated Designs Inc. “We’ve got so many great home designs that it’s no surprise homeowners spend hours searching for that perfect home.”

But there are home designs that are memorable, epitomizing a unique style, modern features or a classic, subtle beauty that get us excited. As 2016 draws to a close, we’ve chosen five home designs of the year that stand out among the crowd for their uniqueness, amenities and usability. These are the homes we love.

The Timberline home design 31-055, a Pacific Northwest lodge with all the amenities, is a 4,400-square-foot wonder. It catches the eye simply with its sprawling grace. On the main floor, a mud hall features lots of storage and organizational cubbies to help keep family gear neat and tidy – a must during the rainy springs and icy winters of the Northwest. A butler’s pantry is another unique amenity of this home, with a microwave storage unit, shelving, a corner for a standing freezer and a prep center. The large kitchen is accessed by a pocket door in the pantry, but that feature is dwarfed by the flush 60-inch refrigerator, large stovetop and, yes, a beverage center with separate refrigerator and sink.

During holidays or when entertaining, the stepped ceiling dining room is just down the hall. And at the center of the home is a grand, vaulted great room decorated with a grid of dropped beams. The owners’ suite, just down the hall from the great room, features two walk-in closets and a private sitting area with private beverage bar. The second floor has even more storage space, two bedrooms, a large game room or bonus room and a family area. In other words, it’s grandeur in a Northwest-style lodge setting.

The Briarcliff 31-054 takes many of the great design trends of 2016 and blends them into a home of simple, country elegance. At 3,316 square feet, the home is two stories of space and comfort for a growing family. On the main floor, the great room takes the spotlight. A generous guest suite with private bath is ideal for long-term houseguests. Like the previous Pacific Northwest lodge home, this home features a mud hall that links the home to the garage and is packed with additional storage closets and a bench with hooks and cubbies for organizing family gear.

The family space – an owners’ suite and two bedrooms – is separate from the great room by virtue of being on the second floor. The owners’ suite is filled with all the amenities: a large walk-in closet, freestanding tub, dual vanities and walk-in shower. The large bonus room over the garage is great flex space that allows this home to grow with the families’ changing needs.

Every now and then, a home plan gets a delightful update and this next home is no exception. With clean lines and lots of natural light, the 2,150-square-foot Barrington home design 31-058 boasts a handsome exterior with simple lap siding and stone wainscot accents, making it a great choice for any subdivision or rural lot. Vaulted ceilings run through the center of the home in the front bedroom, foyer, den and living room. With an open, great-room style living in the rear of the home, this plan is great for growing families and homeowners with a penchant for entertaining. The den and bonus room are flexible rooms, meaning the rooms can be changed as needed.

“The owners’ suite in this home,” said McAlexander, “is the real winner here with an upgraded decorative tray ceiling in the sleeping area, a large walk-in closet, dual vanities and a free-standing soaking tub. It’s a beautiful space.”

The Larkview 31-057 is another great home design of 2016 reinvents the classic farmhouse-style plan, a common theme for much of the year. Alternating courses of lap siding create strong yet simple horizontal lines. Two stone-based pillars framing the front door are the only embellishments to the exterior, indicative of the farmhouse-style home. But the interior is a modern wonderland.

Gone are the small separated living spaces of the original farmhouse design. A large open entry draws you into the great room with the living, dining and kitchen areas all completely open to one another – allowing for freedom of movement and family connectivity. The separation that does exist is between the sleeping areas. The owners’ suite is on the main floor while the secondary bedrooms are located upstairs. Classy and simple with a modern twist, this home is truly special.

“Walking up to the last home on our list is like walking up to your vacation retreat,” said McAlexander.

An urban cottage, the McKenzie design 31-056 features charming shingled exterior and shuttered windows. Once inside the 1,798-square-foot home, the cozy entrance offers three paths. To the right is a den that could be used as a home office, guest room or any other flex space your family needs. The living area is straight ahead, while turning left leads you to a set of stairs to the second level. The choice is yours.

The open-style living area is in the back of the home with a fireplace centerpiece. But lest you think the space is being underutilized, a storage closet sits in front of the living room. The closet serves a dual purpose – its extra storage and a separation wall that creates a hallway leading to the owners’ suite. Above on the second floor, there are two additional bedrooms. The two bedrooms are not the same size however, and the larger of the two could easily be transformed into an art or craft studio.

2016 was a good year in home design, and while every home plan has something about which it can boast, these five designs have stolen our hearts… and made us excited for what great designs the New Year will bring. 

As seen on Newswire

Lofty gables, Palladian windows and brick detailing create curb appeal in the European Marcellus house plan. This design is a large bright home with a wide range of living areas and plenty of storage space.

Windows fill most of the rear. Formal rooms are at center, everyday living spaces are on the right, and the master suite and vaulted office is off to the left. A small more private covered patio is off the master suite.

In the foyer and family room, a two-story ceiling creates the sense of spaciousness. Standing at the second floor landing, you overlook activities in the rooms below. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, an unfinished bonus room and a large walk-in storage closet are upstairs. One bedroom is vaulted and has its own vanity. The other, which could be a guest room, has direct access to a two-section bathroom.

In the vaulted family room, a fireplace is right next to a built-in entertainment center. Another fireplace, lined by bookshelves, is in the living room. A built-in desk nestles into an alcove close to the basement stairs, and the small powder bathroom is close to everything.

Working in the kitchen, you need never feel isolated because the kitchen sink faces into the nook and family room. On the exterior wall, windows between counter and cupboard provide natural light. A large utility room and a walk-in pantry are close to both kitchen and garage.

Amenities in the master suite include a spa tub, twin basins, a his'n'hers walk-in closet, and a large walk-in shower with multiple showerheads.