Log homes fit well into their natural and neighborhood surroundings, offering timeless style and eye-catching design. Today’s rustic home plans include the latest amenities and options to fit your lifestyle, including open floor plans, multimedia rooms, master suites, garages and more. Here’s a look at some other benefits of building a rustic floor plan.
Category Archives: House Plan Trends
Open Floor Plans Remain a Top Pic for Consumers
Whether looking for a new home or revamping a current residence, home owners continue to be drawn to the feelings of open floor plans. Their spaciousness and easy flow are welcoming for families and guest alike.
Why are open floor plans popular?
Pioneered in the early 20th century, open floor plans remain popular today. According to a recent survey from the National Association of Home Builders, 70 percent of buyers want a kitchen-family room area that is either completely or partially open. Thirty-two percent want a completely open layout.
Small Homes, Big Value
Not all home buyers are looking for a house with a massive floor plan and a massive price tag. In fact, a wide variety of lifestyle changes are motivating many home owners to downsize to something more manageable. Furthermore, many first-time buyers are seeking something other than the traditional “starter” home.

Their reasons may vary, but their goals remain consistent: find a home that fits well, maximizes space, and offers value. Home builders recognize the home-efficiency needs of today’s buyers. For this reason an increasing number of them are finding innovative ways to deliver big value in a small(er) package.
Amenities vs. Square Footage: What do buyers prefer?
As first-time Millennials prepare to invest in their first home we see the average size of new homes decreased in 2016 and a willingness to choose amenities vs. square footage. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the typical square footage of new home in 2016 was 2,634 square feet.

Why Amenities vs. Square Footage?
Recent studies show that features like a separate laundry room, large baths, and open kitchens are at the top of wish lists. Equally important are amenities for outdoor living. They often include vegetable gardens, “she-sheds“, and gathering areas with fire pits and seating.
Spending less of their total income on the home and buying in an urban area makes it an easy decision. The new generation of home owners want to entertain, but do not seek elaborate or large house plan designs.

What are some features you want to incorporate into your new Archival Designs’ home?
Top Customer Pick: Open Floor Plans
Home owners looking to build a new house continue to be drawn to the feelings of spaciousness, easy flow and welcoming togetherness evoked by open floor plans.

Open floor plans
Pioneered in the early 20th century, open floor plans remain popular today, according to a recent survey from the National Association of Home Builders. The survey found that 70 percent of buyers want a kitchen-family room area that is either completely or partially open, with 32 percent wanting it completely open.
And owners of existing homes are choosing to open things up, too. Remodelers reported that 40 percent of their projects involve opening existing homes’ main floors by removing interior walls entirely or by using countertops, cut-throughs or archways, rather than full walls, to define separate areas in a more open way.

Main floors with few or no interior walls allow families to interact more easily, and provides easy flow for entertaining. Equally important, it enables parents to keep an eye on children from different areas of the home.
Open floor plans not only maximize space and flow, they optimize natural light. Windows serve more than their immediate area, illuminating the entire space. Architectural styles with open floor plans that are the most popular are Ranch floor plans and Craftsman floor plans. These styles are usually smaller and appeal to empty-nesters and millennials.

With the increasing focus on accessible design, open floor plans meet another of today’s needs. With fewer doorways, these homes are easier to navigate in a wheelchair or with a stroller.
To find a builder in your area visit nahb.org.
Rustic Home Plans: Cozy & Unforgettable

Exteriors of Rustic Home Plans
The exterior architectural elements that give life to rustic home plans are a rich blend of natural materials such as brick, stone, reverse board and batten, cedar siding and wood beams. This combination of materials bring a superb natural look to the exterior of the home with a high level of curb appeal.

Interiors of Rustic Home Plans
The interiors of these rustic floor plans talk to your heart. As a result, many Americans have a love affair with the simple comfort and cozy designs of wood homes . The beauty of beams on the ceiling, the stone fireplace, and wood accents offer a peaceful feeling away from a hectic world. The balance of the home can have painted walls and regular hardwood floors and carpet. As a result, these two features, traditional and wood, combine to offer a homeowner the best of both worlds.

Connect with nature by building your very own rustic home plan. What are some interior and exterior materials you would incorporate into your own home?