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By David Porter AIA - Consulting architect to the Garlinghouse Company since 1989 You have looked through lots of plans magazines or you have spent hours sitting at your computer looking at plans services' websites and there it is; bingo....a rendering or photograph of that dream house you have always wanted. ...
Search our Earth Sheltered House Plans collection Earth Sheltered homes are certainly nothing new. People have been using the earth to provide shelter since...well...remember the caveman? Today's Earth Berm or underground home is anything but a cave, but it is usually found nestled into the side of a hill or large berm of...
Search our Craftsman House Plans collection As one of the most popular home styles being built today, the Craftsman home design embodies the strong, solid character of homes spawned from the Arts & Crafts era of the early 20th century. Often referred to as "Bungalows," these warm, yet stalwart designs are...
Search our Country House Plans collection The popularity of the Country style home design has continued to grow since its resurgence as an architectural trend over 25 years ago. The style's popularity may be somewhat attributed to the increased population of Southern states over the past quarter century. A more potent...
By David Porter AIA - consulting architect to the Garlinghouse Company since 1989 Since I am a licensed architect, I would be remiss if my answer wasn't just, "of course, you need only an architect." But, nah, for your use in designing a house, that isn't necessarily so. I will first explain...
Search our Coastal Home Plans collection Nothing says "kick back and relax" like an elevated oceanfront view from a Coastal Home. The design element that is most characteristic of this style is the pier & pile foundation, which ensures that these homes stay put during hurricane season. Often referred to as Seaside Homes,...
Search our Cape Cod House Plans collection The scent of salty sea air. The sight of seagulls teetering on the wind. The sound of an unseen fog horn somewhere "out there." These are the things that most often come to mind when we think of Cape Cod style homes. Classic design elements that...
Search our Cabin Home Plans collection It's surprising how many people dream of one day having "a small cabin in the woods." For many, a Cabin would seem to be the ultimate setting for peaceful living, whether as a primary residence or vacation home. Although the Cabin's rustic nature is reminiscent of simpler times,...
Search our Bungalow Home Plans collection Bungalows are most often associated with "Craftsman" homes, but are certainly not limited to that particular architectural style. Bungalows generally have a compact, solid, horizontal look, often with low-slung roofs, front or side gables, and asymmetrical front porches. They are often thought of as being smaller in...
by Bruce Arant, Editorial Director for The Garlinghouse Company For those of you who don't already know - we're currently providing many of our home plan books for free. (All you pay for is shipping) This is definitely something that's worth your time to check out. As popular as online home plans are...
