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.

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, LLCResidential Architects
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A log house is quite literally a nest type home whose peculiar beauty is a byproduct of its woodland charm. In spite of the durability of log homes that derive their character and strength from tightly woven trees, the appeal of a log house floor plan is limited to less than one percent of all new homes built every year.

A log house is quite literally a nest type home whose unusual beauty is a byproduct of its woodland charm. In spite of the durability of log homes that derive their character and strength from tightly woven trees, the appeal of a log house floor plan is limited to less than one percent of all new homes built every year. Of those log houses built on a yearly basis, approximately 90 percent are kit houses

For those home builders determined to have a log house of their very own, they should be aware of the fact that they face certain challenges unique to the log house.

1. Because most log homes are built from a kit, finding a lender can be difficult.

2. Most lenders want to be assured that the home is appraised appropriately. Home appraisal of log houses isn’t easy because of the lack of comparable log homes and this can lead to difficulties in obtaining a construction loan.

3. Underwriting of mortgages is based on approximately 3 comparable sales and one must be a log house. Underwriting criteria for do-it-yourself kit houses such as the log house tends to be much more strict than for a traditionally constructed home.

Beyond the financial challenges of owning a log house, there are further considerations.

1. Dust collection: Dust collects on the rough interior planed surfaces of a log house over time and is difficult to remove. This can be a problem for those with house dust allergies.

2. Chemical Sensitivities: Allergic individuals should double check that logs haven’t been treated with chemicals, stains, sealers, or solvents. Most chemicals are added to prevent rot or deter pests. This can also pose a long term problem.

3. Finally, it’s hard to the decor if you grow weary of it – you can change the floor covering, the window dressings and wall art, but the basic flavor of the home will always stay the same.

How much does a home built from a log house floor plan cost?

The cost of a log house is comparable to other home types but is dependent on several factors:

1. The average cost for a kit log house runs between $85 to $125 per square foot. this is for the kit house only. The costs of land, septic, and water well are not included in the price per square foot.

2. A hand built log house can cost considerably more. The average price begins at about $100 per square foot and can rise up to $350 per square foot or more depending on the size and complexity of the log house floor plan being built.

The do-it-yourself home builder can save big money on construction. If you want to construct your own log house, but haven’t the necessary skills there are several schools across the country that will teach you how to build your own log house from the ground up. Tuition averages approximately $900 and does not include tools.

Although nothing says rustic American design quite like the log house floor plan, without careful planning the cost could be quite painful. For those who love the rough pioneer spirit, the log house floor plan is the perfect place to live out those American Western dreams.

Get fantastic ideas for your new house! House floor plans come in all shapes and sizes. Find the right house floor plan for your family today!
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With an already existing stock of house design plans comprising projects as diverse as 34,000 square foot mansions and small, simple, and elegant homes, Great House Design can design your future home based on a customised version of an already existing plan or, if you require, generate a whole new plan to cater to your specific needs.

The existing stock of house design plans on the Great House Design database covers a wide variety of styles including Cape Cod, Bungalow, Duplex, English Cottage, European, French, Greek Revival, or Victorian. By asking the designers working for Great House Design to customise any of these existing house design plans for you, you could work towards a house that combines old and new, while incorporating any amount of variation in between that suits your tastes.

In addition, the experts at Great House Design are well versed with the legal environment in which they function. It is no coincidence that their plans have been used by general contractors, sub contractors, and building department officials who have described these plans as some of the best they have worked with in regards to clarity and thoroughness of detail. Through the use of computer aided design tools and state of the art technology in the generation of these house design plans, Great House Design always ensures that its plans are accurate and up to date.

Sometimes it’s hard to express in words exactly what it is that is unique or special about a given plan. Often such sentiments are felt rather than said or quantified. Homes are as remarkable and individual as the people who live in them. To ensure that the space you live in makes you feel comfortable and relaxed, you need to ensure that you find a house design plan that suits you. At Great House Design, we have the knowledge and expertise to help you get there. Get on the phone and talk to one of our design experts on the possible house design plans that might suit you.

For more information on a company that makes the best house design plans, visit GreatHouseDesign.

Great House Design prides itself on the practicality of their house plans and home designs, as they are functional and cost effective. For more information, please visit www.GreatHouseDesign.com.
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#1 Game Table

Since you’re creating a home game room the number one must-have is the game table. Now which game table or tables you have is of course a personal choice. The two best game tables for home game rooms are billiard tables and shuffleboard tables. They’re the best because of multi-player use, the skill of the game and the fun competition each one brings to your home.

If your game room is big enough it’s always fun to have a combination of two different game tables. The best combo idea would be to have a billiard or shuffleboard table plus either an air hockey, foosball or ping-pong table. They say “Variety Is The Spice Of Life” and that is especially true for a home game room.

#2 Three More Great Games

The second must-haves are more great games. Again this is a home game room and to be “Ultimate” you’ll need at least three more great games. These are games that will compliment your table games and add even more variety. The types of games that fit into this category are: arcade games, indoor basketball games, bowling games, crane games, dart games, pinball machines, football games, golf games, pachinko/pachislo games and slot machines.

There are other games you could add but this is a good list to get you started on the right track to creating a fun family game room. These three additional great games are just enough to keep everyone happy. Any less and you could lose that ultimate status, any more and your home game room could become cluttered. A home game room that’s cluttered with games will lose its uniqueness!

#3 – Jukebox

So now that you have the games and everyone is having a blast you’ll want to add some music. The best way to add music is with a jukebox. Stereo systems are good also but they don’t give you that “Ultimate” game room look and feel that a jukebox does.

Don’t worry there is a large assortment of jukeboxes available. Personally I prefer a jukebox from the 1940s. The old songs from the 1920s-1940s are great for all ages and they’re a nice change from the norm. There are some really catchy tunes from those years!

But if you’re not an oldies fan then there are other jukeboxes, like the ones that play 45rpm records. If those are still too old for you then a CD jukebox will do the trick. Some hold a hundred CDs giving you the ability to add a large assortment of music that would be perfect for any occasion. Also the jukeboxes look vintage 1940-ish. Finally if you love technology there are digital jukeboxes. They don’t look so much like a traditional jukebox but you can download music right to them using various methods like from a home computer.

# 4 Game Room TV

The fourth item you’ll need is a Game Room TV. It’s great to have a jukebox and music but when the big game is on New Year’s Day you’ll want your Game Room TV. Whether it’s a 13inch TV attached to your ceiling or wall or a large plasma TV doesn’t matter. It’s having the TV that bumps your game room up to the “Ultimate” level.

Now one of the best TVs to have in a home game room if you have the room is the projector TV with a movie screen. Having one of those is like having your own mini theatre in your home and they’re great for watching sports. It’s probably not a good idea to use one of these TVs for everyday use as the projector bulbs have a limited lifetime. You can however buy a replacement bulb but they can get expensive on some models. The bulbs usually last around 3000 hours and that is plenty for home game room use.

#5 – Refrigerator

The fifth must-have is the refrigerator. The reason being that if you’re creating an ultimate game room then you’re most likely planning on having parties with family and friends. A refrigerator that holds a couple cases of your favorite drink is perfect. You don’t need something large and fancy.

The reason these are good is that you won’t have everyone trouncing into your kitchen all day and night to get a drink. Also it helps keep the party in your game room not to mention your kitchen floors clean. On top of that they’re great for storing extra food for everyday use if your main refrigerator if full.

#6 Game Room Bathroom

The last must-have item on our list is a Game Room Bathroom. Like the refrigerator above it keeps the foot traffic to a minimum throughout the house if you have a bathroom in your game room. Plus adding that additional bathroom to your home is great if you have parties because someone always needs to “go” when your one bathroom is occupied.

Besides the added benefit during parties, adding another bathroom to a home usually increases a homes value. That is always a good thing and it’s just another reason why a bathroom in the game room is the number six must-have item.

There are many more items that can be added to your home game room. For example neon signs, clocks, pictures, posters, pub lights and so on. But this is a list of must-haves to push your game room up to the ultimate level.

Of course not everyone has the room or the money to add a bathroom to the game room. Or has the space to add so many different games. That’s ok because game rooms aren’t about having the biggest and best things. They’re about having fun with family and friends. Also creating the “Ultimate Game Room” isn’t done overnight. It takes time and that is part of the fun in bringing your game room to life. Set a budget if you need to and take as much time as you like in adding your favorite game room items. In the meantime have fun using your game room with family and friends as much as possible. And never forget that “Families That Play Together, Stay Together”.

Find more fun Rec Room Decorating Ideas and more visit www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com.
Have a look at our Juke Box, Music Pages and more to learn more about fun ways to add music to your home game room.
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Although there are lots of porticoes, nonetheless the majority of plans represented are of modern-style homes – new yet classic – with the particular taste of the South in the antique; in fine fabrics, prints, and painting; in fine landscaping with every Southern hospitality in mind, awaiting the stylish party guests to arrive. These plans featured Southern cottage house plans morning rooms, sleeping porches, and drawing rooms which were decorated by exclusive firms such as Porter and Porter – Interiors – of Atlanta’s Peachtree Street; and of James Blauvelt of New York City.

The genesis of Southern Architecture Illustrated lies in a magazine called Southern Architect and Building News, which originated in different format in 1882, and then began regular publication in 1889 in Atlanta under the directorship of distinguished architect Thomas Morgan (1857-1940) of Atlanta. The Harman Publishing Company took over publication of the magazine in 1910, and Henry Harman (1856 – 1926) became the publisher of the magazine. The original edition of Southern Architecture Illustrated is dedicated to Henry Harman. His son Harry Jr. became the business manager of the magazine. Later on Ernest Denmark (1899 – 1980) who started as an employee of this publishing concern while still in is twenties, went on to become the last editor of the magazine until it ended. It was Denmark who edited Southern Architecture Illustrated even though his name does not appear in the book. The Harman Publishing Company defined “The South” to include the old Confederacy of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Virgina; as well as the border states Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Oklahoma, and District of Columbia. Thirty-eight of the illustrated houses are in Georgia; another sixteen are in Tennessee; there are seven each from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Missouri; there are six each from Alabama, Texas, and Virginia; three are from Florida; two are from Oklahoma; and there are one each from the rest of the states and D.C.

On the 276th page of Southern Architecture Illustrated appeared an advertisement for the Southern Architect and Building News which stated that it had been in continuous publication since 1882, and that it had the modest widespread circulation in the seventeen states of the South. Original copies can be viewed at Emory University, Charlotte Public Library, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Atlanta History Center. Originals of the magazine, which cost fifty cents each originally, now routinely sell for from ten to twenty dollars. The original print run was 5000 copies. Southern Architecture Illustrated cost five dollars when it was first published in 1931. It was to be part of a planned series of like books. However, the Depression finished the company and magazine off in 1932. Now, a clean copy of Southern Architecture Illustrated sells for over five hundred dollars. The present print run of 1000 copies has its own slip case, which faithfully mirrors the style of the original green-clothed cover which was embossed in gold.

Southern coastal vernacular home plans as exemplified in the republication of Southern Architecture Illustrated run all the way from humble southern cottage house plans up to plantation-manor style southern home floor plans.

“harry”
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Some small homes have two floors and come with or without a basement. Some more common small homes have crawlspaces for extra storage. Traditionally they have a room off the kitchen which you can place a washer and dryer. These house are frequently Cottage or Bungalow style.

More about small house plans

Some other small house plans consist of homes that keep the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms to the end of the house and the living room in its center. This gives more simplicity and also a sense of luxury to the house.

Small house plans are normally defined as houses with less than 1800 square feet, excluding a basement. These house are also space efficient and less expensive to build on a small plot of land.

Where to find small house plans

If you are interested in small house plans you should always look for the best deals on blueprints. Blueprints or plans are available from a variety of sources and at many different prices. Two of my favorites are coolhouseplans.com and dongardner.com. Plans from coolhouseplans have prices ranging from $585 for five sets of blueprints up to $1,175 for CAD files. If you are not familiar with CAD files, these are Computer Aided Drawing files, meaning that they provide all the information needed to build the house on CD-ROM and have blueprints that can be printed and as often as needed and in any quantity.

Materials for these homes are usually lower in cost since they don’t require as much wood or brick. Someone interested in small house plans can also look for a designer who can make custom blueprints with all the specific features you want. These custom plans may cost less then complete house blueprints or they may cost more – depending on the designer or architect. You can also find kits that come with plans where the home can be built in a few weeks or months.

Can you build that dream house free?

I didn’t think this was possible until I ran into this ebook titled “How to Build Your Free House.”

The guy who wrote the book, E.S. McArthur, says he will guarantee you can own a brand new, high-quality, custom-built dream home in just a few months and that it could cost you nothing.

If the idea of a free house interests you, just Click Here! for more information.

Douglas Hanna lives in a suburb of Denver. He and his wife have bought and sold many houses throughout the years – to live in, as rental unit and to “fix and flip.”Hanna is also the publisher of a popular blog on http://smallhouseplansadvisor.blogspot.com
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Get an estimate. You shouldn’t choose a company that will quote a price on the phone. Every basement is different, and one basement might need different work than another one. A competent basement waterproofer will do an inspection of the basement to see what the right solution is. If they are not interested in doing a basement inspection, you should not be interested in them.

Choose a contractor that is licensed, insured and bonded. Since there will be several workers in your basement working in close proximity with your foundation (a very critical part of your home structure), you need protection. Always question whether or not the basement contractor is licensed, insured and bonded. You want to be assured that they are qualified to perform these services on your home, and that you have protection against loss or damage.

Get references from several customers. Every company thinks that they have the best service, but what is more important to you is how their customers feel about the the company’s service. Every company has the potential of having a few negative reviews if they work on thousands of wet basements each year, but make sure that most of their customers love them. Check out the most important factors like customer service, honesty and reliability. The company’s website should include some reviews, and you should be able to request more from the representative.

Get the best bang for your buck. As attractive as the lowest bid is, avoid the impulse of hiring a company just to save money. You will probably save money by hiring an unqualified basement contractor, but you will spend more to try to correct their mistakes in the long run. You also don’t want to hire a company just because they were the highest bid. Price does not always reflect quality. Aim to find a company that is within your budget and has a good reputation for solving wet basement problems.

Dry Basement Householder Systems is Kansas City’s leading basement waterproofer and foundation repair specialists. We have helped thousands of Kansas City area homeowners with permanent basement waterproofing solutions since 1975. Check out our customer reviews on our website. Our satisfactory rating with area homeowners has also earned for us an A+ rating with the Kansas City Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Dry Basement Householder Systems is a leading provider of basement waterproofing and home foundation repair in Kansas City Metro. They have provided thousands of homeowners with reliable, permanent solutions since 1975. In addition, they also provide crawl space solutions, sump pump installation and basement finishing.5121 East Front Street.Kansas City, MO 64120816-741-8500Kansas City Basement Waterproofing
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