Direct from the Designers
House Plans
Affordable Fireplaces for Your Home Design
4 months ago
No matter what size or style home you have, adding a fireplace to your home design will create a warm and cozy living space. Traditional fireplaces are not the most energy efficient, but you can still enjoy the comfort and warmth of a fire without wasting energy by installing an electric fireplace or insert instead. Here are three beautiful built-in electric fireplaces that are also affordable to operate:
The Kendal Electric Fireplace from Dimplex® has traditional grace and elegance. Take a look at our collection of traditional house plans for beautiful homes that complement this fireplace.
This Dimplex® Kendal electric fireplace is beautifully crafted and operates at a low cost. You get the look and feel of a fireplace without having to retrieve wood. The Kendal electric fireplace operates for pennies an hour, four cents with flame only and nine cents with the heat cycling at fifty percent. With high-efficiency and beautiful craftsmanship, this would make a beautiful centerpiece to any room.
The Modern Flames® Home Fire series is a more contemporary fireplace. With sleek lines this hearth will look perfect in any of our contemporary house plans.
The Home Fire series from Modern Flames® operates with a low energy LED flame. Unlike the Dimplex® model, this fireplace is sleeker with a more contemporary fit and finish. This fireplace can be used with or without heat, so the ambiance of a fire can be found enjoyed all year around.
The Lennox® Ravelle™ fireplace comes with a variety of facing and insert options, making it perfect for any decor. Take a look at our collection of French country house plans for design ideas.
The Lennox® Ravelle™ fireplace is a high-efficiency, furnace-rated fireplace. With everything from white to black arches to nickel, gold, and black inserts, this fireplace is a stylish fireplace that will meet high heating demands. This is perfect for anyone who wants lots of options and can””t quite find the perfect fireplace for their decor.
The charm of a fireplace is enthralling, but it doesn””””t have to be expensive. Consider an electric fireplace and make sure you get the most for the cost of your heating bill. These beautiful fireplaces are energy-efficient and perfect for your home and any style home. Take a look at any of Direct from the Designers”””” specialty collections and you are sure to find the right match for your vision.
Make This the Year Your Holiday Lights Go Green | house plans
6 months ago
by Christine Cooney
in House Plans
For many, outdoor decorations and lighting are as much a part of the winter holidays as gift giving and enjoying our favorite foods. With the rising cost in electricity, using LED (light emitting diode) lights can save you money without sacrificing your holiday display. LED holiday lights use 10 times less energy than mini bulbs and 100 times less than traditional holiday bulbs. For outdoor lighting, consider solar powered LED lights.
Twinkling and bright, outdoor decorative lighting brings holiday cheer to your home and yard. View our collection of small country house plans with front porches.
If you’re concerned about how holiday LED light strands compare to traditional incandescent lights, you’ll find you’re in for a wonderful treat. Here are some great, green reasons why making the switch to LED lights makes sense this holiday season.
LED lights are energy efficient. They can save up to 98% of the electricity needed to power incandescent light strands. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of electricity consumed by just one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LEDs — enough to light two 24-foot strings.
White lights give this great room a warm and luxurious appeal. View additional images of this luxury house plan.
The environmental benefits of using LED holiday lights are numerous. They use less electricity, are recyclable and don’t contain ultraviolet light or mercury.
Because they generate less heat, LED light bulbs are cool-to-the-touch. There’s also less risk of them overheating and catching fire.
The cost is surprisingly affordable if you’re a smart shopper. LED Holiday Light Exchange programs from your local utility company and government are making it easier for consumers to switch. Consult the website of your local utility, city or county for holiday light exchange or reduced-fee programs.
Unlike incandescent light bulbs, LEDs don’t have a filament that might break or burn out. They have epoxy lenses that are almost indestructible, which means you can drop them or step on them and they’ll keep on shining brightly. LED bulbs can last for more than 100,000 hours. That means you could potentially have your LED holiday light set around for several holiday seasons.
LED holiday light strings that have earned the U.S ENERGY STAR® rating last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent strands. They are also independently tested to meet strict lifetime and electrical requirements. Check for manufacturers that offer five-year warranties.
With LEDS you don’t have to worry about your lights burning out if one fails because holiday light strands have tiny built-in fuses. Be sure not mix incandescent and LED strands together.
Holiday LED lights come in vibrant colors, bright lights and a variety of shapes and styles. You also get the same special effects like blinking, dimming and color shifting but with new and more efficient technology.
Since they’re made of plastic and aren’t breakable, like their incandescent forefathers, they don’t require the extra cardboard, special slots and packing material that the old ones do. This makes them lighter and easier to store.
By using LEDS you are can still create a big holiday light display while being eco-friendly.
Designing for Fido | house plans
8 months ago
by Lauren Busser
in House Plans
October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month, and shelters all around the country are filled with dogs and puppies of all breeds who need a new home. If you already have one of these beautiful dogs or are thinking of adding one to your family after you build. Here are a few things to consider.
This charming country house plan with a white picket fence would be ideal for a smaller dog.
Keeping Pets In
A dog is active, and if you plan on letting them out to roam the yard, it would be wise to put a fence up. Yes, an invisible fence won’t obstruct curb appeal, but while it keeps your precious pet in, it can’t keep predators out. Your fence should also have a buried, inward, forward-facing section to keep your pets from tunneling.
Dealing with the Mess
There is also substantial mess involved in owning a dog. They are living beings and are as curious as a small child. There is definitely a chance that your dog might step in mud and track it through the house. For this, a mudroom is a nice addition to the house. Serving as a second entryway, it often helps to dirt from entering the house proper. Likewise, if your dog or puppy gets wet or muddy and feels the need to shake, it’s more likely the grime will end up on an easily washable wall, instead of some new furniture.
Decorating and Designing
When it comes to designing the particulars of a room, keep your flooring choices washable. Think of hardwood floors, semi-gloss paint, and easily washed area-rugs. Also, consider interior, dutch-doors. These two-piece doors will allow for easy control over which animals can enter each room and eliminate the need for awkward baby gates.
This kitchen house plan shows the use of a Dutch door. While not on the interior, it demonstrates how easily these elegantly designed doors can corral a dog.
Owning a pet can be a rewarding experience, but to avoid regrets later on, it is essential to think about how the pets will be cared for in their new home. To prevent the loss of a four-legged friend and keep the humans of the house sane, a few stylish design additions will ensure a great quality of life for both humans and canines.
Fall Decorating Ideas & Tips from Direct from the Designers House Plans
9 months ago
by Christine Cooney
in House Plans
Decorating your home for the fall months can be both an enjoyable time spent with family and relatively inexpensive. There are plenty of great things about this particular time of year like the return of cooler temperatures (gather round the fireplace), fall colors and nature changing before our eyes (take in the gorgeous foliage). Adding fall touches of décor to the interior and exterior of home will help you transition into a new and exciting season of holidays and family traditions. Here are some great ideas and tips to decorate your home for the fall from the leading designers and architects of American’s most popular house plans:
The warmth of this classic two-story Craftsman house plan starts at the front entry with wraparound porch and continues through the opening living space to the rear covered patio cozy breakfast nook. Curb appeal and efficiency is easily achieved with fiberglass doors, columns and trim from Therma-Tru® and Fypon®. View Direct from the Designers extensive collection of Craftsman House Plans.
Dress up your porch
You can easily give your front porch and entry fall inspiration by wrapping corn stalks, raffia or straw around your columns and railings. You can easily add rich colors to this theme by adding thick ribbons and placing mums on your front steps. If you have children, don’t forget the pumpkins. Pumpkins not only symbolize Halloween but fall harvest. The best thing about using pumpkins to decorate your porch or entryway is that you can turn them into Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween night, while snacking on homemade pumpkin seeds.
Light up your home’s exterior
Luminaries are not just for the winter holiday season, they are perfect for fall too as the sun starts to set earlier in the afternoon. Try some harvest string lights in fall colors, Maple leaf garland string lights and of course there’s a wide selection of Halloween themed lights. Battery powered candles placed inside paper bags with sand in the bottom, makes perfect luminaries for your walkway and front stairs.
Nature-inspired door wreath
Welcome visitors with a beautiful autumn wreath at your front entry door. You can use simple grapevine wreaths, which are gorgeous on their own. If you prefer more adornment consider adding pinecones, leaves, berries and corn husks to your wreath. If you have a lot of windows that face the front of your home, consider hanging similar wreaths from these windows as well.
Roll out the welcome mat
Accent your front entry with a fall themed doormat. Whether you’re searching for a harvest, football, school or any other fall theme, there’s a bounty of options to choose from. To help with visitors tracking in the elements, you should consider both an outdoor doormat and an indoor entrance mat.
Add autumn artwork to your walls
Display artwork that depicts fall themes and colors in your front foyer or on a predominate wall in your family room or dining room. Consider nature themes with fall colors like oranges, reds and golden yellows, which can alter the mood in your home. Wall candles will not only provide ambiance, but also bring the aroma of fall into your home with the scents of apple, cinnamon and pumpkin.
This is Direct from the Designers most popular selling house plan. It’s packed with amenities and lots of style. Enjoy additional images and the floor plan for L’attesa di Vita.
Use your fireplace mantel to showcase seasonal décor
Your fireplace mantel is a great place to showcase your seasonal décor. Simply by taking a walk in the woods or your own backyard you can find a treasure chest of pinecones, dried leaves, cattails and red berries to create a simple decoration. Adding small pumpkins, gourds, dried arrangements and rich colored candles will add appeal to your mantel.
Create cozy sitting areas
As the cooler temperatures begin, you’ll want to bring out the colorful throw blankets and cozy pillows so you can cuddle up with a good book or movie. There are so many variations in pillow and throw sizes, styles, prints and textures that you can give your living room a whole new look for the fall.
Don””””t miss out on the latest home design ideas and the newest house plans from Direct from the Designers, simple sign up for Dream Green, a free weekly e-newsletter.
House Plans: Inspiring Outdoor Living Spaces
11 months ago
Direct from the Designers presents Her Dream Home Magazine. This issue features fabulous outdoor living spaces so you can enjoy the summer outdoors with family and friends.
Now that summer is in full swing it is the perfect time to think about cookouts, backyard swimming and creating outdoor living space to enjoy with family and friends. Something as simple as a covered patio or a grilling station or as extravagant as a fully functional outdoor kitchen with a dining area and fireplace that surrounds a custom pool and patio, can increase the amount of time you spend outdoors.
This issue of Her Dream Home features house plans with our best outdoor living spaces to inspire you to design a new outdoor area or to redesign your existing space. You’ll find everything from covered patios, grilling stations, dining and sitting areas, fully equipped gourmet kitchens, custom pools and much more in a wide range of architectural styles. A personal favorite is the Terrebonne House Plan featured on the cover. This two-story European-styled home is absolutely gorgeous inside and out and features plenty of photographs.
You’ll also find some great articles including Stepping Outside: Creating an Outdoor Living Area featuring innovative design ideas and tips including helpful suggestions for lighting, patio furniture, decks and more! To inspire the cook in all of us, there’s 5 Sizzling Tips for Cooking Outdoors so you can create the perfect grilled dishes.
This is also the perfect time to think about building a new home or remodeling your existing home. The key to a well-designed house plan is one that offers flexibility with an open floor plan and bonus spaces. Learn about all the benefits of an open floor design in Create a Spacious Home with an Open Floor Plan.
Latest Issue of Her Dream Home Magazine Features Step-by-Step Home Building Guide | house plans
1 year ago
by Christine Cooney
in House Plans
This issue of Her Dream Home features a step-by-step guide to building your new home from creating a home building budget to knowing what to expect during each building stage. Preview new house plans and our most popular Craftsman house plans.
The newest issue of Her Dream Home magazine from Direct from the Designers House Plans features a step-by-step guide to building your new home. This guide includes important information consumers need to know before they begin this exciting project.
From creating a home building budget to knowing what to expect during each building stage, 10 Steps to Building A New Home is a “must read” article that will assist homeowners every step of the way.
This issue also features a small sampling of Direct from the Designers most popular house plans, which combine the latest in green building techniques and products. These designs also feature open floor plans, large gourmet kitchens, luxurious master suites and comfortable outdoor living spaces to accommodate the demands of homeowners.
One of the most popular architectural styles is the Craftsman House Plan. DFD House Plans extensive collection features homes in a wide range of sizes with classic Craftsman styling touches like front porches, dormers, plenty of interior woodwork and warm earth tones to create a charming design inside and out. To view the entire collection, click here.
Enjoy fabulous photography of two brand-new home plans: the Riverside House Plan is a sleek, one-story contemporary design, and the Randolph House Plan is a two-story classic with lots of natural light featured on the magazine cover.
Direct from the Designers House Plans recently created their DFD House Plans boards on Pinterest to showcase photographs of their best-selling house plans, as well as added the “Pin It” button to all their house plan images to make it easy to add to your own boards.
Stay connected by signing up for Dream Green, a free weekly newsletter where consumers and builders can learn about the latest sustainable interior and exterior home building products and design trends and tips to build a new home. Click here to sign up.
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Dream House Plan | house plans
1 year ago
Celebrate mother’s special day with a dream house plan from Direct from the Designers, where she will feel like the queen of the castle. If she loves to cook, surprise her with a home plan with a fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Special attention has been give to create functional work zones with plenty of countertop and storage regardless of the size of the kitchen floor plan. Everyone loves to be pampered, which is why these homes all feature master suites with spa-like baths, walk-in closets and sitting areas so mom can escape for some private time to rejuvenate and relax after a busy day of taking care of the family.
One can never have enough storage space, which is why all of these designs feature walk-in closets, built-ins, bonus rooms and optional basement floor plans. If you’re considering having your mom live with you, you’ll enjoy our extension collection of home plans with in-law suites, many offering the comforts of a small apartment with private entrance, full kitchen and living room.
Here is a sample of some of our favorite house plans, designed with mom in mind:
The Retreat at Waters Edge House Plan is a luxurious estate featuring five unique structures that are joined by trellised arbors and covered walkways with complementing floor plans designed for large families and those that love to entertain at home on a grand scale. The kitchen is absolutely amazing with marble countertops, two center islands, including one with ample seating. There’s plenty of cabinetry including a built-in desk area to keep you organized. View over 50 photographs and the floor plans for this luxurious home.
Mom will absolutely love the laundry room/craft room, which is approximately 500 square feet and located right next to the kitchen.
This master suite is the perfect retreat from a long day with a window sitting area, spa-like bath and exercise room.
You’ll feel like you’re at a 5-star resort when you step outside to the large covered patio with outdoor living room and fully equipped kitchen. Enjoy family time swimming in the large in-ground pool. There’s a beautiful, versatile cabana that can easily be converted into a private living quarter.
This sophisticated cottage house plan offers an abundant of unique features throughout its three floors. Beyond the soft arched entry is a gourmet kitchen that serves for casual and formal entertaining. Speaking of entertaining there’s a music room, large coffered great room, recreation room, two game rooms, a home theater, bar and wine cellar. This is home that one won’t want to leave. Upstairs is a true master retreat with a sitting area, fireplace, extensive his & her closet spaces and a private screen porch where one can relax and refresh.
The gourmet kitchen of the Olmstead House Plan is only one of the many appealing features of this two-story home. An optional finished basement floor plan gives this 5,342 square foot home the potential for an additional 2,092 square feet.
With over 6,000 house plans to preview in a wide range of architectural styles and sizes you are sure to find your dream home. Check some of our favorite designs, including our newest home plans at Pinterest.
Therma-Tru Sweepstakes: Customize Your Own Front Entry Door
1 year ago
by Christine Cooney
in House Plans
You can easily dress up your front entry by selecting a stylish front entry door with decorative transoms and sidelites. The Halstad House plan was designed using a front entry system from Therma-Tru's® new Classic-Craft™ Canvas Collection.
The architects and designers from Direct from the Designers House Plans wanted to make sure that all builders, remodelers and other home building professionals were aware of a new sweepstakes being offered by Therma-Tru called “Unlock the Opportunities.” This interactive sweepstakes allows visitors to pick a home and customize its front entry system using the latest products from Therma-Tru.
By creating and submitting an entry system, visitors are entered to win daily $25 gift cards, monthly televisions and laptops and the grand prize, which is a trip for two to the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans. One entry is allowed for every demonstration you take. The contest runs through June 30th.
House Plans: Her Dream Home Magazine features Designers Personal Favorites
1 year ago
Building a new home is such an exciting project and it all starts with a having great house plans – one that compliments your lifestyle, taste and budget and that you can envision living in for many years.
For Direct from the Designers latest issue of Her Dream Home the editor decided to share some of their top designer’s favorite house plans, based simply on their personal favorites and of course aesthetics, not their best-selling (though a few just happen to be) house plans. These plans were selected to help inspire you to find your dream house plan.
Direct from the Designers latest issue of Her Dream Home Magazine showcases the designers and architects favorite house plans.
If you’re looking for luxury, you’ll enjoy the Ciscyane house plan, a contemporary Mediterranean featuring rich interior detailing. For every comfort of home, take a tour through the L’Attesa di Vita or if Craftsman is your style, take a look at the classic Halstad house plan. For a luxurious cottage house plan there’s the Olmstead, which features 3 levels of high-end living or if you’re looking for something smaller, there’s the well-designed, affordable bungalow cottage that’s just less than 2,000 sq. ft.
This issue also features articles about how to create a romantic master suite, the latest in pampering bath products and tips to design a cutting-edge home.
We would love to know which of these designs were your personal favorite and would be happy to answer any questions about these house plans or any of our collection of over 6,000 popular home plans.
Tour of Homes: House Plans Perfect for Entertaining from Her Dream Home Magazine
1 year ago
by Christine Cooney
in House Plans
Direct from the Designers recently released Her Dream Home: Tour of Homes featuring house plans perfect for entertaining.
The newest issue of Her Dream Home magazine features great house plans for entertaining from the leading house plan designers and architects at Direct from the Designers. Each of the designs in this special Tour of Homes issue features a dream kitchen with all the latest amenities including additional seating for socializing, innovative energy efficient appliances, eco-friendly cabinetry and flooring products.
These featured house plans also have large great rooms with fireplaces and plenty of windows, open living areas, as well as extended outdoor living spaces. One of the benefits of a having a home with an open floor plan and flexible living spaces is that it can easily accommodate small or large gatherings without having to rearrange your home’s interior.
Each plan features an abundance of great photography to help inspire consumers to design a beautiful, functional and festive home that they can enjoy all year long.
On the cover of Her Dream Home is the Cariati House Plan, which is a 5 Star Mediterranean masterpiece. Take a tour of this home with over a dozen photographs showcasing the two-story stone turret and great room, a pampering master suite and bath, sunken media room, formal dining room, cozy breakfast room, gourmet kitchen with island seating and custom pool area.
The Bellesera House Plan is a natural beauty featuring a private casita above the two-car garage, which is great for overnight guests and features a kitchenette and full bath. The foyer leads to an open living area with a gourmet kitchen, living room and cozy dining room that opens to the pool area with a covered courtyard. The interior décor shown in this home provides plenty of inspiration for consumers looking to replicate an authentic Mediterranean-styled home.
Travel back to Europe with the Boddington House Plan, which is a stylish two-story European Cottage that offers exceptional living spaces for entertaining and easy living. For a timeless traditional home, the Palladian House Plan features and exterior accented by columns and arches, warm shingle-style accents and welcoming front porch. The interior features rich wood flooring, intricate millwork and cabinetry that flow naturally through the open living spaces.
These house plans are just a small sampling from the thousands of best-selling house plans offered by Direct from the Designers, which are available in a wide variety of architectural styles and sizes. Please share your favorite designs from this issue on Direct from the Designers Facebook.
