Latest Stories

Not everyone lives with a view of the countryside or in a home with a huge yard of lush greenery, shrubs, and colorful flowers. So many suburban and urban dwellers embrace nature by incorporating an atrium, skylight, conservatory, or other feature in their new house plans for an airy, bright space that brings in the outdoors.

With a few design tricks and clicks of the home-design-software mouse, savvy house designers can create floor plans that make smart use of every square foot. This skill enables homeowners to live larger in a smaller house, make day-to-day living more comfortable, and their storage dreams come true. Learn more about these secrets and tricks. -more-

Can you imagine the excitement if Snoopy lived in Charlie Brown’s house? What never happened then is now a reality for many homeowners incorporating their pets in the design of their homes. We look at house plans with spaces for pets, plus helpful ideas to transform your home into a comfortable pet haven.

Throw in a little Spanish Colonial, a dash of the Native American, terracotta roofs and arches. Voila! You get a picture of the wonderful Southwest style house plan blending into the desert landscape with its charm, warmth, and splashes of color in the interior and exterior designs.

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?"

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.

You know you need light, but do you know how to get the right type and proper amount in your kitchen? There is probably no other room in the house that serves as many different needs as today’s kitchen, and it needs proper lighting to make it welcoming and efficient.

Ontario's Building Code Identification Number (BCIN) is a must-have before building in that province. It’s similar to the requirement in most parts of the United States that local architects or engineers inspect/stamp blueprints before homeowners can receive a construction permit from their municipality’s building department. Here's what you need to know.

Taking a page from the carriage houses of the late 18th century that were later converted into rental rooms, workshops, and studios, today’s garage apartments are a step up in style, luxury, and efficiency. We look at these trendy and imaginative living spaces for college-age children, overnight guests, in-laws, and more.

Ensure that your newly built dream home has just the right curb appeal with its Craftsman style. The little details like paint colors, landscaping, and the perfect Craftsman door will make all the difference in making your house the “it” home of the block.