Good house design takes its form in part from the forces that act on it.  Climate and weather are two of the strongest form-makers (there are no igloos in the tropics) since houses must be designed and built to repel the damaging effects of the world we live in.  Mother Nature is always trying to tear our buildings down.

Climate and weather also affect the comfort of our homes, and cause us to seek out ways to maintain the temperature and humidity of our homes within tolerable levels.  A great deal of design effort is devoted to keeping the heat in or keeping the heat out, depending on the climate and season.

This Old House

At times throughout American history, the forms of our homes have reflected – to greater or lesser extents – our ingenuity in making our homes’ internal climates more comfortable.

Settlers in the Deep South built deep porches around their low-slung homes to shade them from the harsh sun and to create a reservoir of cooler air that could be drawn into the house.

New Englanders built compact homes with small windows to shield them from winter winds and to hold in as much heat as possible.  And prairie homes, often built of stacked sod, were half-buried in the earth to even out the temperature swings and to protect them from the frequent violent storms that sweep the plains each summer.

Simple and effective strategies like these were necessary because fuel for heating homes was limited.  We created houses that conserved resources; we didn’t know how not to.

That changed with the era of cheap and plentiful electricity and natural gas for home heating, and with the introduction of the first air conditioners for private homes in 1928.  Suddenly, houses didn’t need to respond to their environment; any home could easily be kept as warm or as cool as desired using mechanical means regardless of the weather outside.  Little thought was given to energy conservation strategies until the early 1970s, when the cheap energy we’d taken for granted became suddenly very expensive, and the climate-ignorant houses we’d built for decades became expensive to heat and cool.

That 70’s Show

But then a very cool thing happened.  Architects and builders across the country began to revive the “lost art” of designing homes that responded to climate and weather.  Ancient ideas like earth-sheltering and thermal massing were used again.  New passive-cooling strategies and unique ideas like the Trombe wall were invented.

And most interestingly, the houses using low-energy techniques took on new, exciting forms.  Suddenly there was something else out there beside Old World inspired design.  It was a fun time full of invention and experimentation.

But that era was short-lived.  By the mid-1980s fuel was cheap again and energy-efficient unique home design was all but forgotten.

Back To The Future

So it’s no surprise that we now find ourselves having come full circle, with rising energy prices and a revised interest in home energy efficiency.  It’s a critical concern in a time when some studies show residential buildings consuming up to 21% of the nation’s energy.

Today’s home energy efficient strategies are different than they were 30 years ago, however.  Today the focus is on technology rather than on design.  New materials are techniques have been developed that make otherwise climate-insensitive home designs (and there are plenty) better stewards of the energy they need to maintain human comfort.

Technical solutions can be expensive, however, since they demand that common building materials perform at a higher level.  Windows have “high-tech” glass with low-emissivity coatings, Argon gas-filled spaces, and up to three sheets of glazing.  Heating systems are running at higher efficiencies, and may come equipped with programmable thermostats and insulated ductwork.  Solutions like these do conserve energy and are important components in any home but the technology crutch shouldn’t be leaned on too heavily.  We also need better design.

Designer’s Challenge

What if, instead of spending hundreds of additional dollars on high-tech glazing to keep the sun’s heat out, we more carefully located our windows to avoid direct sunlight in the first place?  What if we used elements of the house itself to shade those windows from heat radiation and UV rays?

Suppose we took better advantage of the ground’s relatively stable temperature to stabilize the temperatures in our houses, rather than exposing every square foot of a home’s exterior surface to the elements?  Instead of constant mechanical air conditioning to remove heat and humidity, why not try opening windows onto shady porches and let the breeze cool the house?

And what if we opened our minds a bit – stopped thinking so much about fashion and resale value – and allowed the forms of our houses to be shaped more by how they respond to the climate and the environment we live in? 

The surprising result might be interesting and beautiful homes that cost very little to heat and cool – just like the old days.

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Tim Carter, of AsktheBuilder.com, demonstrates just how helpful some home software can be when drawing out plans for landscaping, building, or remodeling.

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I have over 20 years’ experience in the field of architecture and have designed homes and buildings across the country.

I see my work as much more than just designing homes – I see residential architecture as an expression of a social art; an art with a strong responsibility to culture and environment, expressed in its enrichment of family life and by its contribution to community.

I truly love my work, and look forward to sharing the excitement of the custom design process with you.

Richard Taylor, AIA
President
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
Residential Architects

Pre-drawn home designs:

Pre-drawn home designs are, by contrast, home designs which have been developed to fit the needs of a particular group of the general populace. They are not “custom-designed” for a particular person, but rather, standardized for the needs of a larger group.

Pre-drawn home designs normally include the “most requested” house plan features including square footage, room dimensions, floor plan layout, amenities, and other like features. These home designs provide an excellent value when compared to the corresponding price of a set of fully custom-designed home designs which may well exceed several thousand dollars.

When you buy a Pre-drawn house plan, you’re not paying for the countless hours spent drawing up a plan, re-working the plan, and finalizing drafts. You’re paying a reduced fee for a single license of that plan.

Advantages of Pre-drawn home designs:

- In most cases, are significantly less expensive

- Minor plan modifications can usually be made by the original designer or a local building design professional for a reasonable charge.

- Very simple and quick purchase process

- Can order the plans and be able to submit the home designs for a building permit the next day

Disadvantages of Pre-drawn home designs:

- May not be as extensively customizable

In conclusion, I would recommend trying to find a pre-drawn house plan, first, at a reputable online house plan website such as HousePlanGallery.com.

There are thousands of pre-drawn home designs available online, and http://www.HousePlanGallery.com offers a huge selection of unique home designs in many different architectural styles.

More likely than not, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for by doing a simple search. With so many home designs available to choose from, it’s a safe bet that you won’t see your house plan replicated in your area. And if you find a plan you like, but want to make a few modifications – no problem! All of the plans available at http://www.HousePlanGallery.com can be modified to your specifications.

Determining whether your particular needs merit custom or pre-drawn home designs is, ultimately, a personal choice based on your particular situation. Both types will provide you with the information that you need to successfully build your dream residence!

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Best Selling House Plans and Floor Plans

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Green home design used to be popular because of tax credits. Green home design includes energy efficiency and designing for your climate. Green home design is sustainable and can be a reflection of the self. Learn more about green home design from author and architect Sarah Susanka.

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Mark Mathis is the president of House Plan Gallery, a residential design firm that specializes in the development of stock house plans and home plans with flexible floor plan layouts and all the most-popular home design features.

Be sure to visit HousePlanGallery.com and join the “House Plan and Home Designe News” mailing list. You’ll be the first to know about new house plans and special SUBSCRIBER-ONLY offers! Don’t miss out… Join today!

There is no place that can replace the comfort and relaxation the our own homes provide. So, it is imperative that we make it sure that it will a be a place that we always want to be and we can do this by making it more pleasant through proper arrangement of furniture, proper selection of colors for home stuffs, ect.

The feng shui (originated in China) system clearly highlights the importance of proper arrangement of our home stuffs. The feng shui color design, proper placement of furniture– whether it is for modern home design or the classic ones– are said to give essential contribution for homeowners.

Arranging the furniture properly ensures that the room area is efficiently used. A clever furniture arrangement can also magnify a favorite piece of furniture. However, figuring out the best method to utilize space and create a comfortable atmosphere can be a hard task. But with some planning and creative minds, it can be accomplished easier than you think.

Before you move anything, you have to think and decide what the focal point of the room is going to be. Focus your efforts on that location or item. Center your furniture arrangement with that focal point. It can be anything; a fireplace, a picture window, a home entertainment center, or even a wall painting.

Chairs should be situated within about eight feet of each other to encourage communication. You have to position a table in such a way that it is easily for everyone to accessed. Keep a light source near the seating area or location. Coffee tables should have a clearance of about 14 to 18 inches from the sofa. Side tables should be at least as tall as the arm of the chairs or sofa to make serving simple and discourage liquid spills. When arranging furniture, make sure you give enough space to move around the room.

In a multipurpose room, arrange furniture in a way that you divide the room into different living and dining spaces. A strategically placed screen or curtains hung from the ceiling are simple and inexpensive methods to accomplish this. Make sure the room stays balanced and that the sections or divisions do not fight each other. Area rugs are a great avenue to define areas and groupings. Small pieces can easily get lost in a huge room, so be sure to group them with larger stuffs or elements.

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For more information, visithttp://www.fengshuiuni.com/

Green home designs use eco-friendly reusable materials, furnishings and leftovers. These kind of designs feature the use of long lasting, non-toxic materials as well as recycling. Green home designs make use of materials that are renewable and long lasting. To remodel a residence with new materials every few years is not green building design.

When you use materials to be green, you restore and salvage what you have when possible. Options for green flooring design can provide you many different choices today. You can sand and refinish or even paint and stencil without using materials containing volatile organic compounds (referred to as VOC’s).

Green home designs today features the use of materials such as cork, bamboo and eucalyptus since they are earth friendly and renewable. Cork is especially good since there is no destruction of trees during extraction of the cork. Hardwood flooring can last forever and is very desirable, however, these kinds of woods are often the remnants of old growth from rain forest trees and this is not eco-friendly or green. You can select types of woods that have the approval and certification by environmental groups.

Which glues and finishes to use for floor installation are issues that should concern you since many contain toxic synthetic formaldehyde resins. It is best to use non-toxic low to no VOC sealants as well as non-toxic cleaners, polishes, finishes, refinishing and adhesive products. To do so will result in having better indoor air quality since your home produces less toxins and is a healthier environment to live in.

Even buying low to no VOC products does not guarantee your safety and good health for you and your loved ones. Since we encounter so many chemicals on a daily basis, nothing can be 100%. However, it is essential to select eco-friendly products for the green design benefits. This helps to better our environment and not expose us to as many chemicals every day.

While creating your green home designs using these ideas, be sure to include many glass window and doors as well as roof and wall skylights to allow natural lighting into your home. Skylights provide the green design benefits of reducing and avoiding moisture accumulation in a room while conserving energy consumption.

Concrete floorings have made the circle of fashion, coming back in style. They come in various colors, patterns, textures and polishes. This type of flooring is not so harmful to your health since it uses no glue, finishes or refinishing products and their chemicals.

Green home designs in the kitchen can feature the use of concrete counter tops since they are a natural appearing material and have become quite popular. They can add a modern look and style to your kitchen, bathrooms and fireplace.

Vertrazzo, which is recycled glass, is another popular choice for green kitchen counter tops. Recycled glass is attractive and comes in various colors to match your decor perfectly. You can use it as both kitchen counter tops and as a backsplash. Recycled glass tiles are another beautiful alternative in trends of green kitchen designs.

While choosing your appliances, consider their functionality, style and energy efficiency as well as your budget. When you replace appliances or remodel your kitchen, be sure to find the most energy efficient appliances available as well as those that use less water. To recycle old appliances, call your local recycling department for advice on what to do to recycle them.

Sending your appliances to a landfill or passing them on to someone else is not a good idea, since ninety-five percent of refrigerator parts are recyclable. Older models that are not as energy efficient will not save you money and they are not good for the eco-system. You should recycle all of your old kitchen appliances.

Green home designs add lots of ceiling and wall insulation to your entire home. This is most beneficial and keeps your home more energy efficient. Remember to use eco-friendly insulation materials. Always chose high performance windows and double or even triple pane windows, doors and skylights as they help conserve energy as well.

With rising energy costs, energy efficient design makes economic sense. Saving money after the initial investment, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals and helping save the environment all are goals of green home designs. Learn as much as you can about the choices you have in the green interior design products that will best serve your interests.

Copyright 2008 InfoSearch Publishing

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Learn more green kitchen remodel ideas and how to create healthier kitchens. David Lee Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com – visit the website for a wide variety of articles on home improvement.

Japan is a country which is modern, fashionable but also traditional, low-pitched…

In Tokyo, those skyscrapers and modern fashion designs will make you dazzling, and their high-tech tools also very advanced and high-developed, but if you entered in some common families in Japan you will find their foods, living room, and daily-use articles still been kept very traditional, especially in Kyoto, there are very few high-rise buildings, and most of buildings there are traditional low living houses, inside which there are tatamis, Japanese are accustomed to sitting and sleeping on the floor, that is a most traditional way of life in Japan.

In past time the demand rank of life in most Japan families was arranged according to food, clothing, transportation and living, now that has shifted to a new order as living first, transportation next, then clothing, and food last, which put the improvement of living conditions to the first place. And during the peorid of post-war, Japan began to emphasis much on both technical quality and talent development, which constructed a solid base for Japan’s rapid development later.

Now the space characters and home design concepts Japanese pursued could incorporates as following:

1. More Purified and Abstract Design thus to Attain a More Pure beauty…

2. Appreciate Natural Materials, Sights Stirs Up with Feeling, and Return to Original and Natural

Think much of the surface material processing when to create a space, and emphasis on the textures of material commonly, that imply its functions to break through frames.

Keeping those surfaces of concrete, wood textures as well as metal plates such as aluminum alloy, steel and other metal composite panels, artificial stones, mosaic revealed intact and boldly.

To show the material texture or its original forms specially, plus precise polishing, and let the quality of the surface materials which throughout modern technology processing entirely same as them shown on photographs from camera, or as quality viewed from a color filter, a particular method of material application with visual effects.

This type of filtering space effects featured with cool, smooth visual effects on surface, which could affects people’s emotion, so that people living in cities could get some redeems for their potential moods of nostalgia, nostalgic, and back-to-nature.

In the process of design forms purification and abstraction, the more attention paid on material’s texture and quality will bound to rise to an unprecedented level, and the modern technology also has built good conditions for this rise.

Now, to create new texture effects, and the psychological effects people respond to these texture effects have become one of particular parts pursued deliberately by modern home designers.

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See it before you build it. Starting at $99 per drawing. See your new home or renovation in a full-color, photo-realistic computer drawing before you build.

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I’m a Chinese girl, I love all beautiful, fashion and artistic things, and I’d like to introduce and display an excellent selection of China fine art, gifts, traditional Chinese handicrafts, jewelry, toys, home decorations and fashion accessories to you, also give you great suggestions about gift ideas and introduce you the latest fashion trends in China.

Home Design Plans

It is a fact that a house is never truly a home if devoid of some personal touches applied by the homeowner. It is the choice to design every portion of your house in preparing custom house plans is perhaps the best way to achieve the desired personal touch and really revolutionize your house into a home. With the help of a contractor, you can always tailor every part of your house to suit your needs and reflect your personality. If you are new to house plans and are not sure how to draft them, then hiring an experienced contractor is the key to success. Moreover, even if you feel confident in designing and drawing up the home design plans, the help from a professional will ensure that the progression is standardized and that the results are much more satisfying.

While going in for a home design plan, there are many considerations that require your attention. These considerations are essential to follow if you choose to design your own home. Deciding the budget before you start wit the home design plan is absolutely necessary and can be considered as a first step. Employing an experienced and reputed home design contractor to help you with the design process is also an important step. The process of designing begins with the details of designs and requirements you have in mind. If you are unsure about the designs, you can have a look at house and home books and also a quick search on he Internet will help you to form an aesthetic design. This is the most challenging part of the process as you will have considerable options to choose from. Once you have finalized the designs you can begin to actually outline the house design plans.

It is better to keep in mind that at any time before the plans for your custom home are finalized, you can opt to revise and change them. The changes would get difficult once the building process begins. Thus before you start with the actual building work, make sure that you are absolutely comfortable with the house design plan. Many home design services offer the advantage of pre-designed home plans in a variety of floor plans, and while these can save you money as well as time in the short term by offering the convenience of the ready-made home designs. But the chances are that these may not be exactly what you are looking for and changes may cost a minor fortune. Not all home plans may be appropriate for your available lot, and you may find yourself with home plans which are difficult to adjust. The most satisfying home plans are those that offer enough space for your family’s style of living as well as the potential to grow with your needs. You should also have the ability to plan for additional construction if the need arises. Your outdoor living should also be part of your home plans. Access to you home and its interior should be easy as well as secure.

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Part 3 of a series of video based training tutorial for the Virtual Decorator Home Design Software from visualsupercomputing.com This video covers some problems experinced by beginner users. The basic version of the software is free from www.visualsupercomputing.com If you like what you see we are currently seeking expressions of interest from distributers and business partners around the world. There is an affiliates link on our web site for anyone intersted in reselling our upgrade …

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Looking for more information on Home Design Plans check out www.DESIGN-PLANS.NET” target=”_blank”>www.DESIGN-PLANS.NET””>www.DESIGN-PLANS.NET your guide to Home Design Plans.