Merlot Elegant Wine Country House Plan

Architectural Features

One of the unique features of French Country architecture is that it revels in being asymmetrical. Modern designs are a blend of the elegance that comes with old-world French design and comfortable and functional modern design. A French Country exterior could have gorgeous, complicated brick and stonework with tall windows like you would find in a chateau. However, on the interior you will find all of the modern comforts, including large sleeping rooms, covered outdoor areas, and entertainment rooms with all the bells and whistles you might need.

Edward’s Pride Old World European House Plan

Lot Locations and Sizes

One of the great things about French Country house plans is that they can fit in no matter where you want to live. They are appropriate for rural and countryside locations, but they can also work in urban and suburban neighborhoods. They are very adaptable in size, so you can find large estates of approximately 15,000 square feet, and smaller sizes of around 1,000 square feet. Whether city or country, a French Country home will work for you.

Sky Lodge Luxury House Plan With Master on Main

Interior

Many people chose to bring the French Country aesthetic from the exterior to the interior. There is plenty of romance, glamor, and classical style to find in any French Country house plan. Color schemes can be warm and inviting, with neutral shades that offer a subtle touch. Furniture can be in antique style using traditional materials like stone, marble, and wood. These will give the space a vintage and classic look with a medieval flavor. Four post beds will carry this vibe through the home, as will white and cream upholstery. To complete the theme, make sure that you have chandeliers throughout the home. Other appropriate accessories are vintage mirrors, exposed beams, and iron components.

Take a look at all of the available French Country house plans in our collection. There is certainly a home design that will meet your personal style and needs. As always, if there’s a house plan you’d like to modify or customize just let us know.

The post What to Know About French Country House Plans appeared first on Modern House Plans by Mark Stewart.

The housing market also had a strong showing. In fact, new home sales were at their highest point in almost 15 years. Much of this spending is being powered by the recent $1.9 trillion stimulation package, along with vaccination rates continuing to grow.

In the retail sector, March of 2021 was another booming month, and it’s expected that this trend will continue into the near future. It may be that the economy is on track for the best growth it’s seen in 40 years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that well over ⅓ of the adult population of the United States is fully vaccinated, and close to 60% have received at least one dose. With added protection and money flowing into people’s hands, the hope is that the economy will recover strongly from Covid-19.

That said, one issue is that with such high demand, supply is starting to dwindle. The effect of the pandemic in 2020 and into 2021 has meant that factories and suppliers have lost labor, meaning they are not able to produce at their normal levels. This has caused the price of materials to rise. IHS Markit has found that manufacturers are paying their highest prices since the economic downturn of 2008. These can be directly attributed to supplier shortages, as well as an increase in shipping costs.

Unfortunately the rising cost of materials and other inputs is going to push inflation past forecasts and targets. The Federal Reserve had set a target of 2%, but it may go higher than that if supply chains continue to be stunted. If they are able to adapt, then inflation can be better controlled over the long-term. The industry that is perhaps most indicative of the material shortage is automobiles. There is currently a global shortage of semiconductors, meaning that many plants have had to lay off staff and cut their production.

The housing market has also been hit hard by supply issues. Lumber prices are at a record high, which means that home builds are incredibly expensive. Pre-pandemic, there was already a shortage of previously-owned homes for sale, and the lack of new home builds is only exacerbating that shortage. However, home sales shot up almost 21% in March, which means that 1.021 million were sold. That would signify the highest rate in 15 years. Industry experts had forecast sales to be in the range of 880,000 units. What is happening is that since there is so much demand from previously-owned homes, they are being purchased almost immediately after they go on the market.

Low Supply, High Demand

One of the major trends in housing as a result of the pandemic is the demand for bigger homes. This also tends to mean more expensive homes. This is a result of so many people going to work and school from home and spending so much time indoors with each other. They want more space, and nicer accommodations in which to spend their time. However, housing contractors are having a difficult time keeping up with these new home builds since they are short on labor and on land.

Compared to last Q3 of 2020, the median home price went up 0.8%. However, in those numbers is a decrease in previously-owned homes as prices have gone up and supply has gone down. In March there were 307,000 new homes on the market, which was the same as the month before. Estimates show that clearing this backlog would take around 4 months.

In most cases, tight inventories is a boon for the home building market. This might be the case down the road, but at the moment, with such a shortage in supply, it simply has not been so far. There are some positive signs, however. Just last month, 74% of the homes that were sold had yet to be built, or were still being built.

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ICF = Insulated concrete form (ICF) is a system of expanded polystyrene (EPS) rigid blocks separated by plastic web spacers. It is used as an integrated concrete form to pour a concrete wall instead of a traditional wood form. … and it is so much more then that!

ICF is a technology who/s time has arrived. ICF construction is basically the use of permanently placed foam concrete forms with re-enforced concrete poured in the middle.  The technology has been in use and growing and improving for at least 30 years with the earliest documented experimentation dating back to 1972. During the rich history of ICF Construction many leaps in technology have brought the system directly in to the mainstream.

On the left is wood frame construction thermal imaging. The red/yellow areas indicate heat loss. The right side is a thermal signature of an ICF home. Almost no red is seen.

The advantages of ICF Construction have been well known and documented since its inception. This construction methodology produces massive energy savings, incredible acoustic properties, full fire protection, building go up faster, bug and pest proof and not to be forgotten an incredible advantage in high seismic zones. Not to mention that you have Concrete Walls at the exterior of your home. Not wood that can rot, burn, warp and let you down in many ways. Wiring and Plumbing can be groove cut into the foam during the construction process. Piping and wiring can also go through the segment as they traditionally do.

A huge plus with ICF is that you get all the energy efficiencies and other benefits without your house being sacrificed aesthetically. The same interior and exterior finishes that you can choose in wood framed construction are available to you with ICF exterior walls.  Delight also in the 100 year shelf life of an ICF constructed home, insuring its longevity and insuring your investment.

The most significant con that has been raised with this system is increased costs of materials. This is no longer true or a significant disadvantage. The skyrocketed cost of lumber and wood products has pretty much put this technology on a par with wood framed construction costs. A disadvantage that most feel is outweighed by the enormous advantages of ICF is that you wil lose a few inches of floor space due to the increased wall thickness the system provides. You can avoid this by adding the increased width to the outside perimeter of your house plan. The only remaining significant disadvantage that we see is that future remodeling could prove very difficult. If you anticipate in any way a future addition you can easily wood frame that area to make it accessible.

At Mark Stewart Home Design we have seen the light about ICF construction. We offer an ICF conversion for all our house plans. Ordering this option will add a couple of weeks to the delivery time of your stock house plan but will be so much worth the wait! We currently use Stronghold and Fox Blocks ICF systems.

Our ICF conversion:

This is an option for us to revise the architectural plans for exterior wall ICF construction. This is an additional cost and is available only with a PDF, PRINT or CAD order. This option is for any increase in wall thickness to go to the “exterior” which preserves the current floor plan but increases the footprint slightly to the exterior. We will show the Stronghold or Fox blocks system in the details. Once the plan has been revised the system and details can be substituted in construction. Final engineering for the ICF system is done by the ICF provider and their consultants.

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Samuel Stewart

What is included in a Set of Working Drawings ? Whether you are building a custom home or building from a stock house plan, at the core of the project will be the working drawings. It is important to understand what working drawings are, what they are for, and what you need and don’t need in the set of working drawings for your home.

Working drawings are integral to the construction process of your home. They are a set of drawings including all of the details and structural information required to both get a building permit and to build your home. When we put together a set of working drawings, we strive to prove what we call the “Minimum Optimum” set of house plans. A lot of architectural firms will provide 30 pages of drawings when really only 10 would suffice. By paring this down to the essentials, it will save you money and confusion. The goal of your working drawings should be to have everything you need to build the home and nothing you don’t. Let’s take a look at what a set of working drawings from Mark Stewart Home Design will and won’t have. We encourage you to click on each image to get a more detailed look at each of these plan pages.

Your Working Drawings Will Have:

Elevations

Elevations provide scaled views of the exterior of the home. This is where we include information about the roof slope, ceiling heights, exterior finishes, and more topographical information. The roof slope will be listed as a ratio of the vertical rise over a horizontal run. In the home pictured above, the roof has a slope of 4:12, or 4 inches of rise for every horizontal 12 inches. Crucial information about materials and techniques for finishing the exterior will also be given. Overhangs will be indicated where appropriate. These pages will also have additional details about what is required for the house plan to meet applicable building codes.

Floor Plans

The floor plans will include tons of information, and are shown as a horizontal cross section that will show all rooms, windows, and doors. Builders will be able to determine specifications for many materials, including framing components, cabinets and fixtures, doors, windows and much more. While some may choose to include separate framing sheets for floors and walls, this information is usually readily accessible via the floor plans. This is where the size of the individual rooms, location of windows, and location of things like fireplaces, appliances, kitchen islands, and plumbing fixtures will be shown. Floor plans will show all necessary information to make the sure the home meets fire life safety code (Currently the 2017 IRC). This is also the place where you will find information regarding exterior features like decks and garages.

Foundation Plan

The foundation plan is where you will find all of the critical information for the structural support features. The builder will be able to determine what type and what width of foundation wall is to be used, as well as locate and determine the size of the footings. Additional concrete features will be indicated where necessary. As you can see in the house plan above, any additional information will given through very detailed notes regarding footings, point loads, construction techniques, and more.

Roof Framing Plan

These will provide accurate, detailed information about the structural members used to frame the roof. It will allow the builder to determine the number and size of the necessary structural members as well as the location. The roof framing plans will show information about the size and spacing of the rafters. Overhangs, venting and connectors will also be found here.

Section Views

Section views will provide very specific information regarding various construction and design features. Shown above, you will see a few examples representative of a detailed section view. You will notice larger cross section views of the home as well as smaller, more focused drawings of features like walls and stairs. Sometimes designers will display these sections as simple outline drawings and do not include key details. Remember, the function of a set of working drawings should be to provide everything needed to keep the building to code as well as everything needed to maintain the architectural integrity of the home. It is critical that these drawings show good structural detail and include detailed, specific notes.

Electrical Plans

Electrical plans will be included that show light fixtures, outlets, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, switches and all code required fixtures. This Electrical plan will be a guide for you. Many people use it as a starting point and customize the layout to suit their lifestyle and particular requirements. Having built homes for years, and designed thousands of homes we are careful to give you what you need without adding unnecessary additional expense or complication.

Construction and Architectural Details

Our plan cross sections show much more detail then most. That being said sometimes additional construction and/or architectural details are necessary. Some plans need very few such details and some need pages of them. We use our best judgment from our dozens of years in the business as designers and builders to give you an optimum amount of detail for each particular house plan.

Your Working Drawings Won’t Have:

Narrow Details or Minutiae

It is not necessary to include narrow and minute details about how to case each opening or finish each wall. A lot of these types of details will vary between individual builders and homeowners and are not included in the set of working drawings. While it is vital for the drawings to provide specific details, it is important to keep in mind whether or not these details are integral to the design and structural integrity of the home.

Detailed Plumbing Diagrams

In the floor plan we have shown above, you will see the accurate placement of the plumbing fixtures, but it is a misconception that you need to have detailed plumbing diagrams included in your set of working drawings. This was something that is sometimes needed in commercial buildings and was more commonly needed decades ago, but is not a requirement.

Site Plan (Only If you are having us prepare a custom design for you, or have otherwise contracted for it)

The site plan will include vital information about the lot that the home is to be built on. Your working drawings will provide information regarding easements, setbacks, property lines, and topography, as well as the footprint of the building, location of driveways, and any auxiliary buildings. The site plan also includes something called a benchmark, an elevation to which all other points of elevation will be referenced against. In the home shown above, it is marked as the top of an iron rod at 110 feet. Builders will use the benchmark as a starting point to calculate foundations and finished floor heights. Site plans also may include solar information that is crucial for orienting the home to maximize solar/energy efficiency. This is increasingly important for green building strategies and overall planning in conjunction with the rest of the house plan.

There is a lot involved in a set of working drawings, but they don’t need to be more complicated than they already are. If you have further questions about the working drawings for your new home or have any other questions, contact us and we will be happy to help.

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If you feel like you’ve been hearing the words “modern farmhouse,” “rustic,” “heritage,” or “Barnhouse” everywhere, know that it’s not just you. In the last year, there has been a rapidly growing interest in rustic materials, reclaimed wood furnishings, and farmhouse inspired design. Retailers like Target have even started offering country-inspired products with their “Hearth and Hand” line (created in collaboration with Chip and Joanna Gaines).

While the interior design world has risen to meet the colossal consumer demand for nostalgic and heritage-inspired pieces, the home design world hasn’t quite caught up. Until now, those wishing to have their own farmhouse have been limited to converting existing barns (which are found almost exclusively in rural counties), updating the interiors of their current homes, or by purchasing custom house plans. Mark Stewart Home Design has created a line of stock plans to meet the demand for beautifully designed and functional modern farmhouses. This line aims to cover the needs of anyone looking to build a farmhouse of their own, and includes homes ranging from under 1000 square feet all the way up to our sprawling 5000 square foot home for Phillip Pahlisch and the 2018 Street of Dreams.

Sandridge – Farmhouse Design

“Sandridge” embodies everything we love about the modern farmhouse style. We’ve employed the charming, traditional materials that are integral to this style, and incorporated barn-like roof lines that hearken back to a simpler time. We designed Sandridge as a supremely flexible home that will accommodate your family for generations to come.

The floor plan of this farmhouse design is open and welcoming and includes features that would be hard to find or expensive to build in an existing home. The two-story foyer leads to the two-story great room, where we’ve included a fireplace and seamless access to the outdoor living room. The bedrooms on this home plan have all been thoughtfully placed to simultaneously ensure privacy and accessibility.

Cove – Farmhouse Plan

The “Cove” farmhouse plan is a sterling example of what can be had under 2000 feet. This home would work well in many settings, be it in the city or farther out into the country. This modern house plan maintains the same finishes and barn inspired touches that Sandridge does while keeping a smaller footprint to ensure ease of construction wherever you decide to build.

This Farmhouse design has the master suite at the rear, with two additional bedrooms at the front of the home, just off the foyer. The additional window above the foyer brings in a great deal of light all the way to the great room. The great room features an 11′ ceiling and fireplace, allowing for a comfortable, family-oriented gathering space. The kitchen overlooks the covered patio at the rear of the home, with a large corner pantry close by. The master suite has a large walk-in closet, two sinks, and a large window to the back of the home.

Generosity – 2 Story Modern Farmhouse

We developed “Generosity” for the Phillip Pahlisch of Legacy Built Homes and the 2018 Street of Dreams, and believe it is the crown jewel in our line of modern farmhouses. We detailed this home in full in an article in December which you can find here. At just under 5,500 square feet, this home allows you to spread out and entertain and has the flexibility to handle anything you throw at it.

The exterior of the home greets you with a warm and inviting front porch, where you are then escorted to the large great room (complete with fireplace and 11-foot vaulted ceiling). The great room connects to a dream kitchen, nook, pantry, and mud room which are a world unto themselves. This modern home has three full bathrooms in addition to the full bath included in the downstairs master suite. The third master suite is privately located at the front of the home closest to the secondary bedrooms, providing a perfect arrangement for live-in family or live in nanny. Everything about this modern home will be well considered, full of meaning and value, and will have the unparalleled fit, finish, and creativity that Phillip Pahlisch is known for.

The modern farmhouse style is here to stay, and we at Mark Stewart Home Design are committed to producing the finest examples available. We are thrilled to bring you this collection and have many more on the way.

The post Make Way for the Modern Farmhouse appeared first on Modern House Plans by Mark Stewart.

Legacy Built Homes in the Street of Dreams 2018.

This plan is available for purchase as well!

It has been nothing short of a joyful experience to work with Phillip Pahlisch of Legacy Built Homes on the design for their  entry in the 2018 Street of Dreams! We often do our best work when our clients completely  trust us with their vision, and that was the case here. From beginning to the end of the design process we were able to bring Phillip’s ideas to life in a smooth and easy process. This Mark Stewart Street of Dreams 2018 Design for Legacy Built will be a true classic.

The result is an honest, new, surprising and very satisfying Mark Stewart Home Design sure to please. 11 foot ceilings on the main floor offer a myriad of options, including interior transom windows, creative ceiling treatments, not to mention exciting door and window options. The kitchen, pantry, mudroom and utility area are a world unto themselves. The main floor master suite is private and luxurious with a Master Bathroom of the highest order. A Vaulted Great Room is both inspiring and intimate at the same time. Upstairs is a bonus room suite well suited for any imagined use. It comes complete with its own full bathroom and walk-in closet for those times when the family has long term guests. The rest of the year it is a perfect recreational space for all. The third master suite is privately located at the front of the home closest to the secondary bedrooms providing a perfect arrangement for live in family or Nanny Quarters.

You can explore this Street of Dreams Modern Farmhouse in 3d 

The exterior architectural mood is pure American Modern Farmhouse with Modern touches like black window framed  Double Hung Windows. The front porch is inviting and functional as a transition space for visitors as well as a connecting element to the neighborhood. There is a large covered rear outdoor living area with vaulted beamed ceiling, fireplace and kitchen area. The roof-line has been carefully crafted to instill a comforting, well scaled sense of home. Everything about this home will be well considered, full of meaning and value, and will have the unparalleled fit, finish and creativity  that  Phillip Pahlisch is known for. We are honored to be his design partner in this Mark Stewart Street of Dreams 2018 Design!

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Mendecosta Summit

Cassiopeia

Stafford View

I knew we had struck a design nerve and immediately began creating smaller stock home plans that to this day, still sell all over the world.  Plans such as The Bright, Sunrise  and

New plans such as Sunrise , have built on the success of the past 25 years of working with this design, along with our careful attention to modern amenities, energy efficiencies, and advanced building techniques.

Sunrise

This style also works magnificently well on sloped lots, as it marries the building to the landscape and provides an elegant yet comfortable street presence. Plans such as Smooth Jazz, and Turner Pointe among others have been built dozens of times and are a welcome addition to any neighborhood. Many have reported significant cost savings with the Prairie Style, as the roof forms tend to use less lumber , and are certainly easier to navigate during construction and maintenance.

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The Marin is a prime example of the synthesis of the Wine Country style and the flexible Casita. This Tuscan styled home includes many popular features among the empty nest market, including a main floor master suite, a vaulted foyer, and a private den. The upper floor of the home includes two guest rooms and a library loft, highly sought after features in this style of home. Perhaps most importantly, the Marin features our signature Casita. Regardless of the situation, the homeowner can easily convert the space to suit their needs.

The Chateau Rothschild has many of the same versatile qualities as the Marin, but is designed in more of an Old World style. This home includes a very open great room which leads to a covered living area at the rear of the home. As the dining area can often function as the social nucleus of a home, we have given it a very central role in the home, connecting it to an equally social kitchen. On top of all of this, the home also includes an independent Casita.

Pictured above is the Casita in The Sunrise Plan

Many homes will have good looks, while others will be functional, but it can be difficult finding a design that has both. Mark Stewart designs bridge this gap, affording you and your family only the finest in style AND flexibility.

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Basic Urbana

Basica Urbana is the ultimate fusion of these two ideas. At 473 square feet, this home provides modern styling in a slim, simple package. This home features gorgeous sliding glass panels at the front, allowing for beautiful views and the ultimate in flexibility. Looking to the opposite side of the studio, you will find another floor to ceiling glass wall, giving you beautiful views regardless of where you are in the home. The central studio space is balanced evenly with the bath on one side and the kitchen on the other which lends a sense of completeness and stability to the home.

Black Pearl Sunset

The Black Pearl Sunset is another excellent example of our fusion of modernity and a minimalist floor plan. Outside you’ll find similar styling to the Basica Urbana, but with a garage down below. The garage space, if vehicles are not an issue, can also be easily used as a creative space, rec room, office, or simply just more storage. This floor plan, unlike the Basica, features a separate bedroom space from the studio. Should you have overnight visitors, this allows privacy for all parties.

We are constantly adding to our minimalist portfolio, so be sure to keep on eye on our “New Plans” page.  As a full-service home design studio, we are also fully equipped to design you your dream home in any style, at any size.

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