So you don’t fancy the mansion residences at Mount Vernon and Monticello? If you prefer a classic or renovated ranch, a summer house on the beachfront, or a fabulous Dutch-villa style home, get set for some inspired ideas from the homes of four living U.S. Presidents from the South.

Well-placed outdoor lighting fixtures and accents can completely transform just about any space, allowing you to achieve wide range of effects for and around your dream home. While it may seem that implementing a new outdoor lighting design is complicated, it’s actually much easier than you may think.

Features such as high ceilings, an expansive master suite, home office, media room, or separate guest space can easily fit in a mid-sized home plan. Many luxury home features are added during construction, such as upgraded bathrooms, custom kitchens, and upgraded flooring or lighting. With well-designed floor plans and wonderful interior finishes, many of today's luxury homes are in the 3000-3500 square foot range.

Stuck on creating a landscape plan for your home? You probably have dozens of questions: What do you include? What works in your climate? Where do you even begin? Before you have feelings of wanting to give up, take a step back and begin with the basics – evergreens!

Have four or more kids at home? Moving Grandma and Grandpa in with the rest of the family? Have a grown child who has decided to boomerang? Consider building a multigenerational or large home, which can give you the versatility you need to live with everyone under one roof.

A study by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that single-family home construction continues to rise. Not since 2008 has the outlook for the housing market been more promising – with millennials and first-time buyers poised to purchase new homes. We look at the interesting trends reported by the study.

Stepping out of the shadows into the limelight, today’s women architects – like their predecessors – are changing the face of house plan design, and forging a legacy for the next generation. As we observe National Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate the remarkable and amazing women architects of the 21st century.

Have you considered building your next home with a metal roof? The roofing is not only a long-lasting solution but a sustainable one. And it’s a handsome, contemporary look for those looking for some serious curb appeal.

It’s a design trend that has captured the attention of architects and home décor experts from coast to coast. But the mud room has been around for a while – in farms, country home plans, and ranch house plans. Today, this once simple, functional space has become a “must-have” for homeowners.

Every year, the National Association of Home Builders creates a house to show off new trends. The 2016 New American Home doesn’t disappoint. With its open floor plan, outdoor living spaces, and integrated automation apps, the home can be adapted whole or piece-by-piece anywhere in the country or the world.