Latest Stories

Plan Collection
Teddy Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill: A Modern Home for America’s First Modern President

Called the “most vividly personal of the presidential shrines,” the picturesque, sprawling two-story Shingle-style Queen Anne home stands atop a hill in Cove Neck and overlooks Long Island Sound. Teddy Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill estate exudes every part of his energetic personality and his passion for nature, hunting, and the environment.

Plan Collection
Historic Homes Spotlight: Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Thanks to "Hamilton," the break-out Broadway show that everyone on the planet seems aware of, Alexander Hamilton is top of mind these days. Because of the immense popularity of the show, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of Hamilton’s history, particularly his New York home!

Plan Collection
Answers to the Top 10 Mysteries of House Plan Modifications

Don't be shy! Choosing – and maybe tweaking – the right house plan for your forever home comes with a LOT of questions. Here are 10 of the most frequently asked home plan modification questions – and answers to help you get closer to your dream home!

Plan Collection
Welcome Back, “Small House!” The Small Home Design Can Pack a Big Punch

Big and extravagant homes might be beautiful to admire from afar, but how many homeowners really want the mortgage payment that comes with it plus spend their nights and weekends maintaining them – or incur huge expenses to have others do so for them? Below I explore some of the advantages and comforts offered by a smaller home floor plan as well as my “Top 5 Tips” to enhance your smaller space design.

Plan Collection
Joseph Eichler – Father of California Midcentury-Modern Housing

Inspired by the simplicity, efficiency, and craftsmanship of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes, Joseph Eichler embarked on a new and challenging career in real estate development in the late 1940s. His bold vision of creating beautifully designed but affordable homes for middle-class families introduced the world to the “California Modern” style.

Plan Collection
Smart Homes: The Way of the Future

There are countless gizmos and gadgets that are designed to help us overcome tedious tasks and lead a more fulfilling lifestyle at home. Here are just a few of the ways that modern technology is allowing homeowners take complete control of their living space.

Plan Collection
Pros and Cons of Building Your Dream Home on a Corner Lot

Property with a view, unique design, and extra parking? Yes. Privacy issues, more foot and motor traffic, more maintenance? Could be. Corner lots are loved and hated by many, for different reasons. Might it be the spot for your dream home?

Plan Collection
Here’s Why Building a Home with Panels May Be Better for You

Start building your home in the spring and be sitting pretty in it by summer. Sound too good to be true? With structural insulated panel construction, it could be your reality. If cutting the building time of your home by more than half isn’t appealing enough for you, its other features are sure to be.

Plan Collection
Wellness Communities: Housing for Today – and the Future?

Designed for a more holistic approach to life, wellness communities are popping up all over the globe. With amenities such as free yoga classes, miles of trails, community gardens, community retail spaces, and entertainment like sports areas and swimming pools, many are asking, "Is this the future of real estate?"

Plan Collection
Top Trends in House Plan Design for 2018

Will the open floor plan continue to be in demand? Or will more formal spaces be on the horizon? What about farmhouses and exposed beams? With 2018 looming, residential architects and house designers weigh in on the top trends that may be “must-haves” for new and potential homeowners.