#house plans

Product Round Up: Porches, Decks, and Patios

Porches, decks, and patios are an important part of your home, so we’ve put together a list of products that are perfect for your outdoor living spaces.

Building a new home is an exciting time. Whether you like to entertain or spend some quiet time outdoors, Don Gardner homes offer efficient layouts and outdoor features like porches, patios, decks and summer kitchens. Browse Outdoor Living Space home plans on our website, and read on to discover some great product ideas!

TREX DECKING
Trex has a lineup of low-maintenance, long-lasting composite decking in a range of textures and colors for your new deck. It stands up to weather and resists stains and mold thanks to its high-performance shell, and offers a soft, splinter-free finish with a deep wood-grain pattern. Their earth-friendly products are made from 95% recycled wood, sawdust and plastics. No sanding. No staining. No painting!

Trex Decking for outdoor decks.

www.trex.com


KINDRED OUTDOORS & SURROUNDS
Many Don Gardner home plans include a fireplace on the screened porch for year-round enjoyment. Kindred Outdoors & Surrounds feature an integrated scratch coat and are ready to be dressed with stone or brick for the ultimate masonry appearance. Choose from wood-burning or gas, with additional accessories available including chimney extensions and seating walls to truly customize your space.

Dog-Friendly Home Ideas

Any house plan can be dog-friendly with a little creativity, planning, and design!

From small space savers to over-the-top suites, there are many creative ways to incorporate living space for your Best Friend into your new home. Especially when it comes to the mud room or utility room. Here are 5 ideas from around the web to inspire you:

1. A pet spa in the utility room
A dog spa like this one makes bath time easy…no bending over, and a handheld hose for rinsing. Having bath time in the utility room keeps messes out of the bathroom and makes for simple clean-up.

Dog Spa in the Utility Room

dybdahldesign.com

2. Built-in feeding bowls
This idea is perfect for taking advantage of the unused space at the bottom of kitchen or utility room cabinetry. Install it under the cabinet where you plan to store dog food and other supplies to save time in your daily routine.

Choosing the Perfect Style for Your Dream Home

Choosing the Perfect Style for Your Dream Home

With hundreds of styles to choose from, finding the perfect solution for your dream home floor plans proves to be a daunting task for anyone. With each style designed to give off a different feel and atmosphere both inside and out, determining a specific style that meets all of your lifestyle needs may be a challenge. From classical country homes to small ranch house plans, understanding what each different style offers a homeowner can help one to better choose the home design that is perfect for their needs.

Click to download your personal copy

Assessing Your Situation

Before you begin browsing the hundreds of different styles of home floor plans, it is important to first take the time to carefully plan out both your needs and limitations to make sure you choose the style that provides the best fit to your home needs. When looking at new home designs, think of the characteristics of homes you have lived in throughout your life. What features did you like? What did you dislike? How much living space do you need? Establishing a list of features to look for with your new home can help you to better select one that is suitable for you and your family.

Beyond the features, it is crucial that you take note of any restrictions of limitations you may have in place when choosing your home design. If there are any space limitations on the lot you plan to build on? What is your planned budget for your new home? Your answers to these questions can help you when it comes to selecting your home floor plans.

Choosing a Floor Plan Style that is Right for You

After you have carefully assessed your needs and restrictions, you can then begin to identify a specific style that is the best fit for your home. When looking into different styles, work to understand the pros and cons of each. Prioritize the features that you simply cannot live without and make certain that the final floor plan you choose either has these features in place or can be easily modified to include them.

When narrowing down your decision, look at the other home styles in the area of the lot you plan to build on. Consider if your dream home will be a welcome fit to the neighborhood. Most importantly, the floor plan you choose should feel like “home” to you. When looking at home floor plans online, focus on how you can make your home even more personalized. Think of your home floor plans as the blank canvas for which to paint your dream home and design style onto.

Choosing a home style suitable for your floor plan needs may be one of the biggest decisions you face, so do not hesitate to consult the professional advice of architects or designers. Not only can they help you determine the home floor plan that best fits your needs, but they may be able to modify an existing home floor plan to help turn your dream home into a reality.

No matter what design you make with your home floor plans, it is important that you purchase your plans from a professionally respected architect. Choosing from the hundreds of floor plans and home designs available through Donald A. Gardner Architects guarantees you just that. Since 1978, every home plan designed by Donald A. Gardner Architects is guaranteed to provide functional living and timeless design. Additionally, our home floor plans are easily modifiable to fit any lot limitations or your specific needs. Contact Donald A. Gardner Architects today, and let us help you move one step closer to making your dream home a reality.

Free Download: Choosing the Perfect Style for Your Dream Home by Donald Gardner

WoodTrac Closet Organization

WoodTrac Closet Kits help you get organized and make the most of both walk-in and reach-in closets.

WoodTrac Closet Kit

With tons of customizable features and solid wood shelves and railings, WoodTrac closet systems work well in any closet in your home. Wood shelves allow clothes to be stored without the impression marks associated with wire shelving – and they are much easier to clean. Options include double hanging rods, shelving, or doors and drawers. The new reach-in closets are available in white, cherry and espresso finishes and can be installed for under $200 in a space up to 8 feet wide.

Plan your space
A handy tool on their website lets you design the perfect system for your needs. Just plug in the left, middle, and right wall measurements and select a finish to see the available options.

Contact the Customer Services Representatives at Don Gardner Architects for closet dimensions if you haven’t purchased your home plan yet. Call 1-800-388-7580, or email [email protected]!

WoodTrack Designer

Installation is simple and fast
Easier to install than custom closets, WoodTrac’s cleat system secures the kit to the wall, supports shelves and creates a finished furniture appearance. Cleats are run wall-to-wall and screwed into studs for maximum holding strength. Cabinets are pre-routed and hardware is included, so all you need is a tape measure, level, drill, screwdriver and saw. Here’s a quick how-to video: