Neoclassical House Plans, or Neoclassics, were inspired by the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. These classical architectural reflections have given the Neoclassics a sense of beauty and a dash of elegance. Two of the main architectural characteristics are the grand two-story porches with columns and the stately symmetrical design. Neoclassic styles have distinguished lines and are proportional. These homes are generally two or two and one-half stories. They may be constructed of brick, stone, stucco, or wood siding. Drawing upon a sense of simplicity, although it be on a grand scale, they still maintain stately dignity. Two-story porches with porch-supported columns are typical on Neoclassical homes. A prominent full width portico supported by classical wood or stone columns or Corinthian style pilasters are an identifier as they generally extend the full two stories. Symmetry is exhibited by the centered front door (or doors, as double doors may be used at the main entrance), balanced windows, matching winged porticos, and side and wing porches. Neoclassics incorporate double hung multi-pane, and of course symmetrically placed, windows that are conducive for great natural light flowing into the expansive square shaped rooms or rectangular shaped rooms. Neoclassical plan roofing is often a simple side gabled roof that includes roof-line balustrades. The interiors generally feature the elegant formal areas, the formal living room and the formal dining room on the front part of the home at the main entrance and the relaxed, private areas of the family room or den and the kitchen on the back. Ornate features such as, dentil molding below the cornices and detailed pediments at the doorways and windows keep with the design theme of stateliness with elegance. These dignified, classical touches decorate the exterior façade and transfer in the interior as well. Neoclassical House Plans are grand, yet welcoming with the columned two-story porches. Neoclassics are symmetrical , yet stately with a touch of elegance. If these properties fit the criteria for your dream home plan, then the Neoclassic House Plan may be right for you! The Neoclassic’s architectural style of stately symmetry and clean lines are indeed beautiful and timeless!

Recycled glass, or exquisitely repurposed glass, is a great idea for kitchen countertops. You can express your own design style while respecting the earth with a green choice! These artful, artistic surfaces are incredibly strong and durable. The color palettes range from brilliant cobalt blues to shimmering champagne flints! These beautiful, durable, unique materials may be used anywhere natural stone is used including: countertops, vanity tops, tabletops, bar tops, tub decks, shower surrounds, hearths, fireplace surrounds, architectural wall cladding, and many more. Recycled glass is combined with a binder of cement, additives, pigments and other recycled materials. Most recycled glass countertops contain at least 85% of glass from recycling that uses glass from bottles, drinking glasses, automotive glass, stained glass, laboratory glass, post-industrial glass and many others (just picture that recycling bin!). The great element of these recycled glass countertops is that no two pieces are, nor ever will be, the same. It is a definite one-of-a-kind design feature. With the various hues, it is a home’s piece of art. Recycled glass countertops are comparable in strength, scratch resistance, thermal resistance, durability, and care and maintenance to granite. The porosity is generally better than that of marble, concrete, and some granite. The 85% composition of the countertops is impervious to staining thanks to the recycled glass component. The other 15% (the binder, concrete elements) just needs to be wiped away at the time of the spill. Acids like red wine, lemon juice, citrus juice, and vinegar may etch the matrix of the surface (the concrete, binder elements) if left for long periods of time and staining agents like coffee, tea, cola, and berries will leave traces if allowed to remain on the surface. These “signs of everyday living!” can actually enhance the character of the surface (consider that beautiful aged butcher block!). The darker pigmented mixes and those with patinas generally camouflage these signs better. To clean and care for the surface, it should be wiped clean with a damp cloth. For rings and dried spots, use a mild liquid soap or mild detergent with a damp cloth. Consult your professional as to which finishing polish should be used and how often. Also, your professional will instruct you as to the guidelines for resealing your countertops every year or two to keep it like new. It is generally a simple process of applying the sealant, leaving it for 20 minutes or so, and wiping it off. These countertops will likely exhibit variations in color, shade, glass size, and glass particle distribution that are part of the inherent character and beauty of mixing post consumer and/or post-industrial recycled glass. It is extremely durable and strong, and it is quite resistant to chipping and cracking. In the unlikely event chipping or cracking does occur, simply consult your fabricator. This recycled glass surface handles heat and hot cooking and baking pans extremely well and even further adds to its value in the kitchen! It is also quite durable to high traffic and use. When choosing your dream home plan and mapping out that great kitchen, consider the beautiful earth-friendly, green choice of recycled glass countertops!

Contemporary House Plans are known for more modern architecture and unusual, distinctive design features. Contemporary house plans are typically asymmetrical, and they have mixtures of textures and building materials. Unique exteriors with finishes that combine wood, stone, brick, stucco, and even metal complete the home’s facing. Multiple rooflines and lines that intersect form a distinctive, one-of-a-kind look. Contemporaries may even have low pitched or flat roofs or roof sections. Large overhangs and split level designs are common to the Contemporary home plans. With the Contemporary home plan, there are no defined, distinct design rules. The architecture may be fanciful to whimsical and may even have a touch of traditional. These home plans vary in size and shape. Large expanses of fixed glass including grand, oversized windows, transom windows, light, open floor plans with high ceilings and lofts add to the Contemporary feel. Clean, straight line designs complement the Contemporaries. Modern railings, geometric shapes, and glass blocks are popular features. Low ornamentation is a definite identifier of the Contemporary; however, low ornamentation does not mean dull or boring! Some decorating features of the Contemporaries incorporate some modern amenities of skylights, stainless steel, and thickly varnished wood. There is just something about the Contemporary home plan that exudes unique simplicity with an air of luxury!

The Butler's Pantry is making a comeback in homes today as home entertaining, nesting, and “staycations” have become quite popular out of economic necessity. In America, pantries evolved from early American "butteries", built in a cold north corner of a colonial home and was more commonly referred to and spelled as "butt'ry”. (Wikipedia). A butler’s pantry, also called a serving pantry, is a most requested feature in home designs. Even though kitchen sizes are larger than ever, there is a certain charm and great usability to a butler’s pantry. The butler’s pantry makes entertaining and serving quite convenient. A butler’s pantry is traditionally located in a short hallway between the kitchen and the dining room. This location makes for easy access to glassware, silver, linens, and china that can be stored there. It also offers a great serving surface for appetizers, drinks, dessert, or even coffee and pastries. If there is a wine cellar in the home design, the butler’s pantry is usually adjacent to the cellar. When designing a new butler's pantry, factor in storage for the items that will be placed there. Cabinetry with wide drawers offer roomy storage for table linens, candles, and silver. You may choose leaded glass panel cabinets to display your china and double as beautiful decoration. Simply set into a small nook, a butler’s pantry can be filled with style. Gorgeous cabinetry, stone counters, custom tile, and even chandeliers make the butler’s pantry lovely and functional. Adding a bar sink and dishwasher makes the butler’s pantry even more useful for easy clean-up and fast! So when choosing your new home plan, consider the design of the comeback butler’s pantry!

When choosing your home design, go ahead and think about a possible matching playhouse! Who doesn’t love a great adventure in the fairytale land of make believe? Picture a mini version of your dream home! We offer custom design services for playhouses. What an adorable addition to your homesite. These playhouses add extra stand alone recreation, play area square footage and space. You can also add many features including dutch doors, window boxes, porches, dormers, shutters—anything you wish to give it that extra dollhouse charm or to simply mirror your own house plan. Exterior finishes range from wood and vinyl siding to brick! Anything goes! Paint colors complete the perfect look to your playhouse. You can “doll” up the interior to reflect your child’s own personal taste or match your own home’s interior style. Add some of the many choices of playhouse furnishings, and you are set for years of fun. What a great way to cultivate your child’s creativity and enjoy countless hours of family time! If you choose not to mimic your own home plan, there are many styles and designs for playhouses and clubhouses. We offer custom design services for these as well. The many styles include cottages, chalets, Victorians, Cheshire manors, contemporaries, Cape Cods, cabins, English manors, Spanish villas, country farmhouses, and Tudors. Any home design and home plan can be scaled down to a playhouse. The choice is yours! Start your search here today for your house plan, and then complete it with a playhouse too!

Houseplancentral.com has a new look and new owners! We are very excited about the future of this site and it is our number one goal to constantly improve upon the current content and provide the very best in customer service. We are adding new designers and new house plans over the coming weeks and we have made some changes to the home page to highlight our newest floor plans. We are working hard behind the scenes to make this site your number one source for house plans on the internet! Please check back often and tell your friends, too!

One question that we receive almost every day is whether or not the plan package for plan 1234 contains everything that a person would need to build the home in the state of "INSERT STATE/LOCATION HERE"... As such, we wanted to provide some additional information to clarify the subject.

In most areas of the country, these stock house plans will be everything you need to build, but not necessarily everything you need to obtain a building permit.

In addition to the house plans you order, you may also need a site plan that shows where the house is going to be located on the property. You might also need beams sized to accommodate roof loads specific to your region. Your home builder can usually help you with this. You may also need a septic design unless your lot is served by a sanitary sewer system. Many areas now have area-specific energy codes that also have to be followed. This normally involves filling out a simple form providing documentation that your house plans are in compliance.

To find out what documents you should expect with your house plans, see What's Included?.

In some regions, there is a second step you will need to take to insure your house plans are in compliance with local codes. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering requirements. Examples of this would be earthquake-prone areas of California and the Pacific Coast, hurricane risk areas of the Florida, Gulf & Carolina Coasts. New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and parts of Illinois require review by a local professional as well. If you are building in these areas, it is most likely you will need to hire a state licensed structural engineer to analyze the design and provide additional drawings and calculations required by your building department. If you aren't sure, building departments typically have a handout they will give you listing all of the items they require to submit for and obtain a building permit.

Additionally, stock plans do not have a professional stamp attached. If your building department requires one, they will only accept a stamp from a professional licensed in the state where you plan to build. In this case, you will need to take your house plans to a local engineer or architect for review and stamping. In addition, plans which are used to construct homes in Nevada are required to be drawn by a licensed Nevada architect.

It is always a good idea to check with your local city, municipality, and state building authorities to ensure that your home construction will meet all applicable building codes.

Hopefully, the above information will provide you with a good basis for evaluatiing your particular house plan situation.

Well, after many months of hard work, we've finally launched the House Plan Central.com houseplan blog!.

Through this section of the site, we'll be able to provide you with the information that you're looking for, as it relates to finding your next home plan.

In addition, we've spent a great deal of time to ensure that we have the website features and functionality that you need in your search for the perfect house plan, and this site will be continually updated with new home plans and designs, as well as useful articles, house plan comparison features, and increasingly advanced search functionalities.

If you should have any suggestions on ways that we can improve your experience and ability to find what you're looking for, quickly, please let us know. We are here for you, and are committed to making House Plan Central the Internet's #1 location for finding your next house plan. Thank you in advance....