Direct from the Designers
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Outdoor Home Features Projected to Increase in Popularity | outdoor living spaces
01 week ago
by admin
in House Plans
Consumers see outdoor features as an investment; trends identified for 2013 include outdoor kitchens, entertainment spaces, fire pits, pools and dining areas. Direct from the Designers offers outdoor living spaces to meet this growing demand.
Demand for unique outdoor home features, such as kitchens, living rooms, pools, patios and pavilions is on the rise, according to data collected by several different professional organizations in the landscaping industry.
In a survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, industry professionals were asked to rank the projected popularity of several different outdoor features.
Top trends identified for 2013 include:
- Outdoor kitchens / entertainment spaces: Topping the list in projected popularity for 2013, outdoor kitchens and gathering areas are becoming a must-have home feature for their versatility and convenience. Specific kitchen features such as gas grills, sinks, refrigerators and fire pits were noted as up-and-coming trends.
- Dining areas: Achieving a 96% popularity rating among industry professionals, demand for outdoor dining spaces is gaining steam, with a focus on features such as installed seating and all-weather furniture.
- Water features: Popular with families—and a must-have for hot climates—built-in pools and unique water features (e.g. decorative waterfalls) also ranked high on the list in projected popularity.
A separate survey of more than 2,200 homeowners conducted by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) predicted increased spending on outdoor kitchens, patios and unique water features in the coming year.
According to PLANET CEO Sabeena Hickman (CAE, CMP), consumers are investing in features “that ultimately improve the resale value of the home.”
Tammy Crosby, Chief Operating Officer of online stock house plan provider Direct From the Designers, agrees.
“We see that outdoor living features are currently very popular with both builders and buyers,” commented Crosby. “They see these features as an enjoyable, cost-effective way to extend total living space and improve the home’s resale value.”
Crosby continued, “Because adding under-air square footage to a home can be an expensive endeavor, outdoor spaces such as living rooms, patios and kitchens can be a great alternative for homes of all sizes.”
Specializing in award-winning house plans from the country’s top architects and designers, Direct From the Designers is responding to the increased demand by offering prospective home buyers a virtually endless array of choices when it comes to unique outdoor spaces. With plans available for homes of all sizes, buyers are discovering that the designs, ranging from simple to high-end, are a great way to add to a home’s value, comfort and space.
The Outdoor Living Plan Collection from Direct From the Designers features hundreds of house plans for every budget, including:
HHF-2297: This top-selling house plan offers several different outdoor features for the whole family. The Barbecue Porch will impress aspiring chefs, while family members will love gathering on the covered lanai. Both rooms are connected by a pass-through fireplace, making this outdoor space a perfect place to spend time, no matter what the season.
HHF-4176: Although this home has slightly less than 2,000 square feet under air, its outdoor features extend the living space well into the backyard. A covered porch just off the family room offers an expanded space for hosting parties or serving large gatherings, while the sun deck serves as an open-air retreat. The unique greenhouse feature provides a transition between inside and out.
HHF-4282: There’s no shortage of outdoor space in this house plan, which features front and rear covered porches, a backyard pergola and an outdoor dining area. You can also take in the view, soak up the sun or relax on the second-story open balconies.
Home buyers and builders can easily browse and sort Direct From the Designers’ expansive collection of house plans on their website, including more than 1,000 options that feature outdoor living spaces, athttp://www.dfdhouseplans.com.
“We expect this trend to continue,” said Crosby. “Which is why we’re constantly adding interesting, affordable house plans with beautiful and unique outdoor spaces.”
Direct from the Designers Unveils the Ultimate Kitchen Wish List | house plans
1 month ago
In 2013, homeowners are craving creative, yet functional transitional-style kitchens that include spacious cabinetry and countertops, walk-in pantries and casual dining spaces.
Times are changing, especially when it comes to home design. Gone are the days of the traditional, isolated kitchen, cut off from the rest of the house and crowded with appliances and cooking supplies.
According to the findings of a recent survey conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, more and more consumers are trading traditional for transitional when it comes to kitchen floor plans.
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This classic country house plan features a functional kitchen floor plan with cabinetry by KraftMaid and Whirlpool appliances.
Direct from the Designers House Plans, one of the internet‘s leading providers of high-quality stock home plans and home designs, is answering the call for functional and intelligently-designed kitchens that address the changing wishes of consumers. The company offers hundreds of homes with practical and palatial kitchen floor plans, conceptualized by some of the country‘s leading architects and designers, which make excellent use of some of the most popular transitional-style kitchen features:
• Smooth flow: Rather than cutting it off from other living areas, the transitional-style kitchen layout focuses on the room as a functional part of the house, flowing seamlessly into the dining and living rooms.
• A gathering place: Transitional-style kitchens offer community-oriented features such as breakfast nooks and kitchen islands, which turn this once closed-off room into a casual, comfortable place to eat, relax and spend time with family or friends.
• Wide-open spaces: Perhaps the most important features of the traditional-style kitchen, spacious countertops, accommodating cabinets and generous walk-in pantries provide a welcome relief from kitchen clutter.
“People are looking to do more than just cook in their kitchens,” said Tammy Crosby, Chief Operating Officer of Direct from the Designers. “Our house plans feature beautiful kitchens that function as dining and living areas, while still leaving plenty of cabinet and counter space for preparing and storing food. These floor plans also offer unique, customizable designs that can be molded into a true dream kitchen, no matter what your needs are.”
Direct from the Designers offers an array of house plans with stunningly spacious and functional kitchens, including:
One of the most popular features of this best-selling house plan is the open kitchen floor plan.
Vita Encantata House Plan: The most common kitchen complaint is too little space, especially in cabinets and on countertops. This house plan features an expansive walk-in pantry to store your family‘s favorite foods, as well as keep utensils, containers and other items out of sight. The kitchen‘s island feature offers extra counter space and a popular spot for family members to eat and converse, transforming your kitchen into the perfect meeting spot for meals and parties.
Taylor House Plan: Combining an impressive amount of coveted counter and cabinet space, this kitchen plan is a dream come true. A unique archway between suspended cabinets provides a pass-through to keep the kitchen open to the living area, while the spacious island provides plenty of room for cooking and serving. This plan also features a cozy breakfast nook with scenic bay windows, offering a tranquil escape and eating space all in one.
Harrisburg House Plan: A truly open and inviting space, this kitchen features expansive ceilings, an elevated, eat-in countertop and a plethora of room for preparing meals and storing foods, utensils and supplies. The warm lighting from under-cabinet and above-cabinet sources gives off a welcome glow to make both family members and guests feel right at home.
“For those who are building a home, deciding on the perfect, functional kitchen can seem like a daunting task; which is why we‘ve hand-picked an array of high-quality house plans with fabulous kitchen floor plans featuring products from Whirlpool®, KraftMaid® and Delta®. We also offer wide range of resources, advice and tools to help you make the right decision,” Crosby said.
On the Direct from the Designers website, consumers can browse the Fabulous Kitchens collection, which contains hundreds of homes with unique and functional kitchen layouts. The company also offers customization services to ensure your dream kitchen can become a reality.
Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) March 31, 2013
Inspiring Green House Plans & Home Products | direct from the designers
1 year ago
by admin
in House Plans
Direct from the Designers House Plans, Home Plans, Floor Plans offers one of the largest collections of online green house plans, including an the only collection of ENERGY STAR® approved house plans to assist homeowners and builders in building innovative, flexible and sustainable homes.
“The designers and architects of Direct from the Designers believe in creating innovative, energy-efficient green house plans that utilize all the latest green building techniques and products to make it easy and affordable for consumers and builders to build an authentic green home without sacrificing aesthetics,” said Christine Sears, Managing Director of Direct from the Designers. “We wanted to take it a step further by providing consumers with a comprehensive resource center called Green Living where they could read about the latest interior and exterior home building products, get inspiring home design ideas and tips and find the latest home product rebates and promotions.”
Articles like Building a Green Home, The Top 10 Commandments to Home Design and Gorgeous, Green Bathroom Products are key to assisting home builders in making informed decisions about green products and building techniques so they can determine how green they want their new home to be.
If you want to stay in touch with the newest green house plans from Direct from the Designers and read the latest articles added to Green Living, you’ll want to sign-up for Dream Green, a free weekly newsletter, showcasing the latest in green home building products and inspiring design ideas.
You’ll find cutting-edge designs like The Evergreen Cottage, which took first place in a recent ENERGY STAR/Green house plan competition, The Greenview House Plan, a contemporary two-story, perfect for narrow lots and the Award-winning Craftsman previewed each week in Dream Green.
The Evergreen Cottage House Plan from Direct from the Designers House Plans was selected because it offers tremendous flexibility in its design, while offering the latest in green technology and innovation.
Designers Direct House Plans Celebrates First Year Anniversary
1 year ago
by admin
in House Plans
Designers Direct House Plans celebrates its success as one of the leading online house plan providers for consumers and builders with a new, eco-friendly weekly newsletter called Dream Green. Dream Green is an informative weekly newsletter that offers practical advice and guidance, spotlights the latest green products and building technologies and provides in-depth articles on the latest trends and news related to building a green home.
Designers Direct House Plans continues to add new, innovative, energy-efficient designs to their existing collection of best-selling house plans, which are available in a wide range of architectural styles and sizes to make finding the perfect house plan an easy and enjoyable process.
Since it’s inception, they have added new innovative collections like ENERGY STAR® approved house plans, green house plans, fabulous kitchen designs, outdoor living spaces, a 3D collection and much more.
“In one short year, Designers Direct House Plan has become a top online house plan provider, where consumers and builders continue to come to find their dream house plans despite a global recession with the housing industry being the hardest hit,” said Christine Sears, Managing Director of Designers Direct House Plans. “I attribute our quick growth to having the best quality, energy-efficient house plans available online packaged in an engaging, progressive, easy to use website.”
Consumers can visit Designers Direct House Plans Green Living section, featuring the latest interior and exterior home building products and home design articles to build their new home. They’ll find everything from product slideshows, inspiring home product ideas and design tips, top green home products and money saving coupons.
Sign Up now so you do not miss a single issue of Dream Green, a FREE informative weekly newsletter to help guide and inspire consumers to build a green home. Every week you will also get a sneak peak at their newest, most stylish energy-efficient house plans.
Premiere Issue of Dream Green, a FREE e-newsletter from Designers Direct House Plans
Summer Issue of Her Dream Home | house plans
1 year ago
by admin
in House Plans
Designers Direct House Plans, America’s leading online house plan provider recently released its summer issue of Her Dream Home magazine entitled “Outdoor Living Spaces.” This bi-monthly magazine is one of the newest publications from the leading residential architects and designers, whose renowned collection of over 6,000 house plans only be found at Designers Direct House Plans.
Designers Direct House Plans is known not only for designing traditional architectural styles but unique and innovative homes like ENERGY STAR approved, affordable, fabulous kitchens and exclusive home designs.
“This issue celebrates homes that are designed to extend a home’s interior living spaces to the outdoors so you can spend time with family and friends in an inviting gathering space,” said Christine Cooney, Creative Editorial Director of Designers Direct House Plans, the Internets leading provider of residential house plans. “With the rising cost of fuel and travel expenses, many homeowners are deciding to stay closer to home. Creating a vacation-like oasis in your backyard can be much cheaper than taking a family vacation and it’s a space you can utilize for years to come.”
You’ll find inspiring house plans with gorgeous and functional outdoor living spaces to help create an enjoyable outdoor living space in your new home or redesign an existing space. You’ll find everything from covered patios, barbeque porches, dining and living room vignettes, gourmet kitchens, custom pools and much more in a wide range of architectural styles.
Stepping Outside: Creating an Outdoor Living Area features innovative design ideas and tips including helpful suggestions for lighting, patio furniture, decks and more!
Since summer is all about outdoor cooking and barbeques you’ll find some of the newest outdoor cooking appliances that were featured at the April 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. This issue also includes 5 Sizzling Tips for Cooking Outdoors so you can learn how to create the perfect grilled dishes, including a recipe for Chicken Teriyaki Sticks from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Summer is also the perfect time to get your garage organized to make spending a day at the park or beach a stress-free packing event. This article is packed with affordable tips and products so you can organize items like bikes, sporting equipment, beach gear, toys and gardening supplies.
This issue also features a selection of new and exclusive house plans that only be found on Designers Direct House Plans.
Farmington Hills is the Blueprint | residential blueprints
2 years ago
by admin
in House Plans
Farmington Hills might just be the blue print that home designers all over the country have been waiting for. For years, there has been a swing across the country to go “green.” This means not just simply looking for ways to save the environment by using less of the non-renewable energy sources, but rather to save big money on the cost to power homes and businesses.
The community of Farmington Hills has taken the idea of energy efficient home plans to new heights and could be making a lasting impact that will be borrowed and used all over the world. The community doesn’t just feature one house, but the community as a whole has an energy efficient and environmentally-friendly community.
One of the things that they did to increase the efficiency of the energy, and that has not been lost on the rest of the world, is to put a garden on the roof to help power buildings. There are many companies, including the retail pharmacy giant Walgreens, that are doing the same in an effort to stave off their own costs and “go green.”
The community used LEED as their guide. LEED stands for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. This is nothing new to the rest of the country. Many businesses and residential homes are being guided by Energy Star house plans and other energy efficient guidelines.
The new city hall building in Farmington Hills is replacing the previously used natural gas with newer geothermal technology. It’s an advance that can’t be seen to the common person in city hall, but will certainly be seen on the expense sheet. Other cities are thinking of ways to improve their energy costs but are finding the cost to install to be rather high. Farmington Hills is making really green progress.
Get the American Dream with the Right Floor Plans from the Best Designers
2 years ago
by admin
in Floor Plans
In its simplest form, a house is a structure that has four sides, a front door, a backdoor, windows and a roof. While most houses retain most or all of these characteristics, variation does exist. The materials used to build houses often vary, while the houses’ colors are also frequently different. Some houses have three-car garages, while others do not even have one. Many have basements, but if you live in a coastal area, the likelihood of your having a basement is slim. Some houses are big; others are small. Some are even called manors or mansions, while others are known as shacks or shanties. Overall, a house is a structure that has basic characteristics, but one house can dramatically differ from another.
And, a house is not simply a physical structure. In many ways, the intangible ideals that surround the term “home” are just as relevant. They also vary from one homeowner to another. More often than not, a house’s appearance represents status, well-being and lifestyle. Ultimately, a house represents the attainment of the American Dream.
The American Dream is different for everyone. Some people aspire to have large two story homes to show their financial success. Others simply want a humble one story house where they can spend a cozy life with their loved ones. Whatever they expect from their house, however, prospective homeowners must find a place that has the right floor plans to match their expectations.
Whether they want two story homes or ranch-style houses, homeowners should locate a professional, licensed designer who can create the best floor plans for their building projects. If they don’t bother to do that, they run the unfortunate risk of ending up with a house that they will not like. As a result, they might even come to hate something that was supposed to be their own version of the American Dream.
Go With the House Designers for Your Unique House Plans
2 years ago
by admin
in House Plans
If you are like the millions of homebuyers currently looking for a new house, you might already know that finding that perfect house takes a great deal of time and research. You’ve probably gone to an endless number of open houses. You might even have a great realtor to steer you on the right path. Nevertheless, the entire process seems so long! Shouldn’t finding a unique house be a little easier?
After months of scouring the area, you are still without your dream house. After several visits and open houses, you’ve found that houses are starting to look the same. You don’t even look forward to the next visit, anymore. After all, you’ve been let down enough times. You simply can no longer enter a model house without having negative expectations of the tour. None of these new neighborhoods seem to have unique house plans. All of them are over-priced, but average. You are at your wit’s end. Luckily, there is help!
One way to alleviate your woes is to find a new housing subdivision site that offers you a diverse sample of unique house plans. This will give you a variety of master plans, on paper, to choose from—this could save lots of time looking at prospective homes and could point you to your dream home. Or, you may be so delighted with your unique plan that you decide to have your dream home built right away, exactly to your specifications.
Not just any designer will meet your needs, however. You must pick an expert who knows what it takes to create a dream home. With a wide range of specialties, the house designers can adeptly create plans for your perfect home. Ultimately, choosing the best designer will be the best move you will ever make, aside from your move into a new home!
Go with the experts who can draw up your dream house, or at least give you a better idea of what you want. You won’t regret the decision! When you’re living the good life in your newly-designed, unique home, you will undoubtedly thank the experts who helped make it possible. You will thank the house designers.
Go With the House Designers for Your Unique House Plans
2 years ago
by admin
in House Plans
If you are like the millions of homebuyers currently looking for a new house, you might already know that finding that perfect house takes a great deal of time and research. You’ve probably gone to an endless number of open houses. You might even have a great realtor to steer you on the right path. Nevertheless, the entire process seems so long! Shouldn’t finding a unique house be a little easier?
After months of scouring the area, you are still without your dream house. After several visits and open houses, you’ve found that houses are starting to look the same. You don’t even look forward to the next visit, anymore. After all, you’ve been let down enough times. You simply can no longer enter a model house without having negative expectations of the tour. None of these new neighborhoods seem to have unique house plans. All of them are over-priced, but average. You are at your wit’s end. Luckily, there is help!
One way to alleviate your woes is to find a new housing subdivision site that offers you a diverse sample of unique house plans. This will give you a variety of master plans, on paper, to choose from—this could save lots of time looking at prospective homes and could point you to your dream home. Or, you may be so delighted with your unique plan that you decide to have your dream home built right away, exactly to your specifications.
Not just any designer will meet your needs, however. You must pick an expert who knows what it takes to create a dream home. With a wide range of specialties, the house designers can adeptly create plans for your perfect home. Ultimately, choosing the best designer will be the best move you will ever make, aside from your move into a new home!
Go with the experts who can draw up your dream house, or at least give you a better idea of what you want. You won’t regret the decision! When you’re living the good life in your newly-designed, unique home, you will undoubtedly thank the experts who helped make it possible. You will thank the house designers.
Let the Right House Designers Create Your Contemporary or Historical House Plans
2 years ago
by admin
in House Plans
The house has a heritage all its own, but that past is largely tied to that of humankind. Throughout human history, houses have been made of mud, animal hides, stone, sod, clay, logs, brick, wood and any other materials that were available within a particular region during a specific period. In other words, a house’s size and design were largely dependent on the surrounding environment and the culture of the person who lived in a particular dwelling. Luckily, a homeowner’s choice in an abode is far more flexible today than it was during other periods of history.
Today’s homeowners can choose whatever house they want. Their location or culture never has to be a deciding factor. If they appreciate a modern look, they can choose contemporary house plans before the building process. On the other hand, if they like tradition, they might select from a slew of historical house plans for a remodel or for the construction of a new home. With the right house designers, an individual can eventually end up in his fantasy home.
Today, the possibilities for homeowners are endless. In a global economy, homeowners can have floors made of Brazilian wood and bathtubs made from genuine Italian marble. The majority of houses are not extremely extravagant, and yet they each have some small level of extravagance compared to homes in previous historical periods.
Whether it evolves from contemporary house plans, historical house plans or any other kind of design, the modern home is different than times past. Unlike other periods of human history, people do not have to choose a house just because it is made from the only materials available. They can select any type of dwelling that they desire. Ultimately, no matter what size or style a modern homeowner’s house is, it can be truly unique with the help of proper house designers.
