Archive for the ‘Helpful Info’ Category
Sunday, February 5th, 2012
DDG Plan "Monticello"
Custom home plans
by: Alice Wynn
DALLAS DESIGN GROUP
02/04/2012
Designing and building since 1972
The most common ceiling height in homes throughout the world is 8 feet. While some may consider that a comfortable height , others, especially taller folks, will find this standard too small. Having your custom home plans designed by an Architect or a Designer can enable you to have the ceiling heights you need in your new home. In your new home you can create the feeling of height by decorating the rooms with with furnishings such as shelves that go from floor to ceiling. Painting the walls in a bright yet neutral tone such as an off-white, beige, or ivory, will contribute a feeling of lightness and spaciousness. Another method to employ in your custom home plans is to have your ceiling lacquered with a gloss paint. The light will bounce off the surface and create the idea of more space. Any bright white color will be effective for this technique. By highlighting any vertical elements you have in your rooms in a distinct color different from your wall you will accentuate them. Even adding millwork and/or mirrors can enhance height in rooms. Remember that in your custom home plans floor-to-ceiling doors and doorways , if structurally possible, also help give the sensation of height. Vertical stripes on the walls, either as a decorative finish or a wall covering can visually enhance height. Another successful technique for creating height in your custom home plans is to select sleek contemporary furniture lines. Many of these newer lines of furniture have a lower European profile, which by contrast will make your ceilings seem higher. Lighting a room from below can make a ceiling seem higher. Lighting can come from spotlight canisters placed around the perimeter of the room. If the setting of the room is right, you can even place lights underneath your furniture. Then, your furniture will seem to float, and your eye will be drawn down to the floor.
Tags: architects and building, architects who build, dallas design, dallas design build firms, design build in dallas, design/build in dallas, experienced design build firms, heath design/build, rockwall design/build, texas design/build, texas designs, top design build firms
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Friday, February 3rd, 2012
"THE VENETIAN"
House plan modifications
by: Alice Wynn
Dallas Design Group
02-03-2012
Consulting your Architect/Designer to create a special deck plan as part of your house plan modifications is a great idea since decks are getting fancier but easier to maintain. Thee are many decking materials on the market. Wood is often used for a deck to be built because of its cost as well as authentic look. It’s also durable. The undersides of most decks, even plastic ones, are still made of pressure-treated lumber, although steel frames are starting to come into the market. Pressure-treated pine is the least expensive for your deck material, and costs around $10 per square foot including labor. Cedar and redwood are popular but more expensive options. At the top end are hardwoods like ipe, which is grown in South America and is close to $30 per square foot. In considering your house plan modifications for your deck remember that there are downsides to wood. It may crack, change color,and absorb stains. It also requires more maintenance. An alternative material is composite. It is made of plastic and wood fiber. Composite does ot need staining and it can be washed off occasionally with a deck cleaner. Its cost $18 to $25 per square foot including labor. Plastic is another option for your house plan modifications to create your new deck. Plastic, or PVC decking, is newer to the market and is basically composite without the wood fiber. It stays cooler in direct sunlight but is more expensive since it is petroleum based. Another alternative decking material is aluminum. It has long been used for deck railings, but can sometimes be used for decks themselves. It is light but tough, slip resistant and lasts a long time. It does come in fewer colors than composite or PVC and doesn’t have the warmth of wood. It is also the most expensive option, about $1 to $2 more per square foot than plastic. Whichever material you choose, your house plan modifications to include a new deck will give you many years of enjoyment.
Tags: dallas builders, fort woth builders, frisco builders, heath builders, mckinney builders, plano builders, rockwall builders, rowlett builders, sunnyvale builders, texas builders
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Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Los Rios
Custom home plans
by: Alice Wynn
DALLASDESIGNGROUP.COM
02/02/2012
When your Architect/Designer creates your custom home plans be sure to mention any potential drainage problems on your lot. Lot drainage problems can be a hassle if you will have children playing outside. A good idea is to view your lot after a rainstorm. Standing puddles maybe an obvious sign of a potential problem area. Wait one day and then visit the lot again. If the areas have dried out in a 24-hour period and now feel solid and stable, they will probably not be a problem. Keep in mind that when your custom home plans are built on the lot of your choice, there is less ground to absorb the water. In the event you are looking for a lot in a new subdivision ask the builder to see any future plans. Your lot may be very dry now, but if a clubhouse, recreational area or other streets will be located nearby and above your lot, it could be a drainage problem. A lot with a 3-to-4 foot slope across it is ideal for natural drainage for your custom home plans. Should you choose a lot with potential drainage problem areas there are some thing you can do. The foundation can be built a foot or two above the level of the ground. Slope the ground gradually away from the house to provide a natural path for the water. Installing a french drainage system is relatively simple and usually effective. Typically it is a 6-inch-wide, 2-foot-deep trench dug around the house with a perforated drainage pipe in the bottom, with the trench filled with 1-inch gravel. Your custom home plans can be built on the lot you just fall in love with, just remember to check with your real estate agent for a lot tour early on in the process.
Tags: Architect Dallas, architect dallas texas, architect dallas tx, architect frisco, architect mckinney, architect mckinney texas, architect plan texas, architect plano, architect rockwall, architect rockwall texas
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Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
"INVERNESS"
Great house plans
by: Alice Wynn
Dallas Design Group
Home Plans online and much more
since 1972!
www.DallasDesignGroup.com
In designing a set of great house plans your Architect/Designer will design your home theater so that you will get the most out of it. The ideal lighting for an entire family to watch a full-length movie in the evening might be with the recessed lighting turned off and the decorative lighting at the ceiling and the wall sconces dimmed to a low level. On the other hand if your children are watching cartoons or playing video games you may want to turn on the recessed lighting to the maximum output, and turn off the decorative lighting. As your Architect/Designer knows, without the right lighting you will not get the most out of your investment in you great house plans. On weekends when your home theater is the focal point to watch sports , the recessed lighting should be turned down 50% while your sconces and ceiling fixture could be turned off or dimmed to a low level. Having an integrated dimming system is key. This type of system in great house plans can control all of the lights from one location, and the layers can be pre-set to designated ‘scenes.’ All of the lighting settings for various activities can be programmed into the memory of the system and the manufacturer can customize the label for each setting with titles. The beauty of these integrated systems in great house plans is that the ‘scenes’ can be controlled with a remote so that the lighting can be adjusted with the same ease as the control of our cable and entertainment systems. A lighting control system allows people to dim the lighting in order to create a genuine movie theater experience.
Home plans, new designs, commercial plans, and more.
Tags: great designs, great home design, great home plans, great homes, great house, great house design, great house plans, great plans, home design, house design, www.designsplans.com/
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Monday, January 16th, 2012
PALAZZO PROGNOLI
Click to enlarge Image
Mediterranean home plans
by: Alice Wynn
01/15/2012
Dallas Design Group
Home plans and more since 1972!
Working at home has become a natural extension of home life. Even though at one time taking work home was seen as unnecessary , in the modern world when your Mediterranean home plans are created by your Architect/Designer, you need to consider a functional space for your home office. For individuals working off-site as contractors and established entrepreneurs, creating a workspace that acknowledges their home life, available area, and personal needs may be more important than decorating any room. The first step is to figure out everything you want to go into your office space. Layout, privacy, organization and an effective use of space are very important considerations and each should be discussed with your Architect/Designer who will then interpret your ideas and design your Mediterranean home plans. It is vital to know if you will have clients visiting so that your office space will be designed to have a door you can close to help create a healthy life-work balance. Should you choose a more family-friendly environment, work spaces can be designed to be communal and centrally located to serve everyone in your family. Two features home-office designers of Mediterranean home plans are considering vital to a productive work space are lighting and an ergonomic chair. Recommended are an indirect, adjustable light source and the use of energy-efficient bulbs in a balanced color range. Task lighting, ambient lighting, sconces and bouncing lighting off the ceiling are viable solutions. Since there is often a lag time between new office devices, it can be a challenge to find a solution that not only works for the time being, but can accommodate future technical needs.
What’s in a “set of House Plans” from Dallas Design Group?
Dallas Design Group & Associates provides the following in a set of ” house plans”. All house plans include a cover sheet with an index of the home plan, a schematic slab foundation plan, detailed floor plans fully noted and dimensioned, schematic code compliant electrical plan, ¼” scale elevations of all 4 sides of the home, and a ¼” scale roof plan. House Plans may include detailed sections as required to better describe specific areas of the home. DDG also offers many add on options such as schematic roof framing, schematic floor framing, schematic pier and beam foundation plans, cabinet details, and additional requested sections. DDG also offers Home plan modifications. At Dallas Design Group we will work hard to meet and exceed your expectations.
If you have any questions, please email us anytime @ info@dallasdesigngroup.com. If you require immediate assistance please call us at U.S. # 1-(972) 907-0080 Int. 19729070080. A representative will be available to discuss your questions and concerns between 10 AM and 6 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, (GMT -5).
Call us today @ U.S. # 1-(972) 907-0080 Int. 19729070080
Tags: home plans mediterranean, mediterranean home designs, Mediterranean Home Plans, Mediterranean homes, Mediterranean house designs, Mediterranean House Plans, Mediterranean plans, plans house mediterranean, plans mediterranean home, www.designsplans.com/
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Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
"Belmont" 5 Bedroom, 4 Baths, 3,062 Total Square Footage
2012 house plans
by: Alice Wynn
Dallas Design Group Archicture
Home Plan online and much more…
Surfaces in your 2012 house plans will be making a fashion statement. Simplifying life and downsizing seem to be the order of the day for 2012. Glitz has given way to honest architecture with natural finishes and clean lines. But the desire for simplicity is a far cry from boring or basic. As it always has, home decor continues to take cues from the fashion industry. Today’s look for your 2012 house plans is classic and chic with warm neutrals and natural finishes accented by bursts of color accents that radiate the happiness, hope, and serenity that we are all seeking. In our homes, the fashion statement is most noticeably expressed in furnishings as well as in color and material selections for surfaces including floors, countertops, walls, and ceilings. Color experts keep their eyes on fashion and textile industry trends as a way of predicting what’s coming next on the home fashion front. In your 2012 house plans today’s hottest neutrals on the fashion runway are slate and charcoal greys often teamed with black and white and punctuated with the latest accent colors deemed “in vogue”. The neutral color palette includes all the various colors of natural stones-greys, whites, taupes, creams, and browns. The grey palette supports all of today’s popular accent colors and is also a backbone in monochomatic design themes emphasizing the blending of neutrals. With contrasting textures playing a huge role in monochomatic schemes, stone as well as wood, glass and brick accents prevail. In your new 2012 house plans created by your Architect/Designer, the grey trend also supports the continued use of metallics, with silver, nickel, and pewter at the top of the line.
At Dallas Design Group, its all about you. What are you looking for in a house plan or a new home design? We are experts in house plans. For almost 40 years, we’ve connected home buyers, home builders, developers, and others to affordable house plans . Our Website makes it easy for you to find and purchase your perfect set of house plans within minutes. All of our plans can be modified, rooms can be added or subtracted, basements can be added, styles can be changed. Our job is to customize your set of plans to meet your exact criteria. We provide free quotations on plan modifications/changes as well as new design projects. New design is more affordable than most people think. We can complete a residential new design in as little as two weeks, and at prices starting as low as $1.25 per square foot for a complete set of architectural plans. Call Tony or Mike @ 972-907-0080 to get a free quotation on your next new architectural design project.
Dallas Design Group (DDG) has designed some of the most beautiful homes and buildings built in the United States. Each of the Architectural house plans offered on our web site is a custom home designed to a specific set of criteria. Our house plans are not “stock plans”. The house plans available on our website are custom designs that are one-of-a-kind.
Tags: 2012 house plans, american home design, American Home Plans, american house design, American House Plans, Contemporary House Plans, Southern Home Plans, Southwest Home Plans, texas style home plans, texas style house plans
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Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
Lake front home plan "Brookhollow"
Custom house plans
by: Alice Wynn
DALLASDESIGNGROUP.COM
Luxury Home plans online
12-27-2011
When your Architect/Designer creates your custom house plans it is a good idea to talk to them about your roofing material. Because of affordability and realative ease of installation asphalt shingles have long been the number 1 residential roof choice. However, metal roofs have slowly become a closer contender. Though a metal roof may cost more for your custom house plans, it may be much more durable. The lifetime of a metal roof is pegged anywhere from 40 to 60 years, versus 15 years for asphalt. By choosing a metal roof, it’s the last time most homeowners will have to put on a roof. Besides longevity, metal roofs can also be more energy efficient-a “cool” solution because reflective coatings can be applied to the base metal and reduce how much heat enters a home. Aesthetics are yet another plus. Metal roofs for your custom house plans come in a variety of configurations . from standing seam to stamped panels and shingles. With the use of pigments, manufacturers can add vibrant color that withstands strong sunlight for decades. If your area is prone to hail , consider a higher weight metal panel. Always hire an experienced pro to install your metal roof since it takes a high degree of skill.
At Dallas Design Group, its all about you. What are you looking for in a house plan or a new home design? We are experts in house plans. For almost 40 years, we’ve connected home buyers, home builders, developers, and others to affordable house plans . Our Website makes it easy for you to find and purchase your perfect set of house plans within minutes. All of our plans can be modified, rooms can be added or subtracted, basements can be added, styles can be changed. Our job is to customize your set of plans to meet your exact criteria. We provide free quotations on plan modifications/changes as well as new design projects. New design is more affordable than most people think. We can complete a residential new design in as little as two weeks, and at prices starting as low as $1.25 per square foot for a complete set of architectural plans. Call Tony or Mike @ 972-907-0080 to get a free quotation on your next new architectural design project.
Dallas Design Group (DDG) has designed some of the most beautiful homes and buildings built in the United States. Each of the Architectural house plans offered on our web site is a custom home designed to a specific set of criteria. Our house plans are not “stock plans”. The house plans available on our website are custom designs that are one-of-a-kind.
Tags: dallas home design, designing a home, designing a home on land, designing a house, designing for a lot, home architecture, home design, house architecture, house design, rockwall home design, texas home design
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Monday, December 26th, 2011
Alice Walker: Holidays underscore value of owning home
The value of a home is never more apparent than during the holiday season.
There is certainly no shortage of holiday songs referencing home, making this is the perfect time of year to reiterate how important homeownership is in our country.
On the surface, homeownership has many benefits. From tax advantages to having a place to call your own, it’s easy to see the value. The holiday season highlights those benefits and more.
For example, the mortgage interest deduction is a savings to many families who claim it on their income tax returns each year. Whether it reduces the amount of taxes owed or creates a refund, those extra dollars are often set aside for use during the holidays for travel or gifts.
As a homeowner, your home decor and style is all yours. You can paint, renovate and design to your own taste. And your style is never more evident than during the Christmas holidays. Decorations can range from trees and lights to blow-up Santas and snowmen in the yard. As a homeowner, you can break out your inner Clark Griswold and go all out. Renters, however, are often capped at how much customization they can make to their properties.
More than that is the sense of comfort and community a home brings. Homes are often a place of refuge not just for the owners, but also for those with whom they share their holidays, whether it’s family, friends or neighbors. For the holiday season the “comfort and joy” of a home is never felt more.
Our homes are where our immediate and extended families gather to enjoy good food and good company, and to make good memories. They are where we welcome out-of-town relatives to stay and invite in those with no other home to celebrate. They are where we take a moment to sit in the glow of just the Christmas tree lights to reflect on how truly blessed we are.
Holiday songs such as “To Grandmother’s House We Go” or “I’ll Be Home Christmas” are filled with remembrances of time spent at home with family. No matter which song describes you, the benefits of being a homeowner are almost never truer than during this season. As the song says: “There’s no place like home for the holidays.”
Alice Walker is president of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors. Contact her at 615-506-2425 or alice@alicebwalker.com
Tags: custom home designs dallas texas, dallas texas house plans, home plans with photos, house plans with photos, house plans with pictures, large luxury home plans, luxury mansions builders in central texas, luxury.house plans 2012, plan family mansion, uffizi luxury house
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Friday, December 23rd, 2011
"BROHAMSAY"
Baby Boomers
by: Alice Wynn
DALLASDESIGNGROUP.COM
Beautiful Home plans online
A recent survey of Baby Boomers reveals some interesting differences. Some Baby Boomers are delaying buying a new home and are using the talents of an Architect/designer to create house plan modifications, while others in that demographic group have a strong desire to purchase a new home and will follow through on that idea. Buyers with the idea of investing are also looking at purchasing a new home. The 79 million baby boomers have an enormous impact on the economy but, like all homeowners they generally move because of lifestyle reasons. Baby Boomers are a diverse group that can’t be generalized, but the recent survey indicates that whether they’re looking for a vacation home or a possible retirement destination , financially secure boomers are taking advantage of the opportunities and value available in today’s market. If you divide boomers into categories you will get an idea of their dynamics. The baby boomers ages 50 to 55 are interested in purchasing a second home, while the younger boomers( those below 50) are interested in selling their present home and buying a larger home. The oldest of the baby boomers may be thinking about downsizing although they still prefer a single family home. The oldest of the boomers may be looking for a townhouse or a condo or an active adult community.
At Dallas Design Group, its all about you. What are you looking for in a house plan or a new home design? We are experts in house plans. For almost 40 years, we’ve connected home buyers, home builders, developers, and others to affordable house plans . Our Website makes it easy for you to find and purchase your perfect set of house plans within minutes. All of our plans can be modified, rooms can be added or subtracted, basements can be added, styles can be changed. Our job is to customize your set of plans to meet your exact criteria. We provide free quotations on plan modifications/changes as well as new design projects. New design is more affordable than most people think. We can complete a residential new design in as little as two weeks, and at prices starting as low as $1.25 per square foot for a complete set of architectural plans. Call Tony or Mike @ 972-907-0080 to get a free quotation on your next new architectural design project.
Dallas Design Group (DDG) has designed some of the most beautiful homes and buildings built in the United States. Each of the Architectural house plans offered on our web site is a custom home designed to a specific set of criteria. Our house plans are not “stock plans”. The house plans available on our website are custom designs that are one-of-a-kind.
Tags: baby boom homes, baby boom housing, Baby Boomer Designs, baby boomer homes, designing a baby boomer home, designs baby boomer, designs for baby boomers, homes baby boom, homes baby boomer
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Thursday, December 15th, 2011
DDG Collage
Buying a home The best way to start the buying a home process is to obtain a pre-approved mortgage loan. This is an easy, practical way to simplify your homebuying experience. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, (Freddy Mac) recently announced that mortgage rates were the lowest in four decades, as the average rate for a 30-year fixed loan dropped to 4.12 percent. To get pre-approved for buying a home, homebuyers need to provide personal financial information to a lender. The lender then commits to a loan amount and interest rate up front,so buyers are confident that adequate financing is in place before they start house hunting. There are numerous advantages of having a pre-approved mortgage loan before you begin planning your new home design or hunting for an existing home that may be modified to suit your particular taste. One advantage is to establish your advantage in a competitive market. Having a pre-approved letter provides the homebuyer with an edge in a multi-offer situation. Another advantage is finding the best possible type of loan when buying a home. Working with a mortgage lender before looking at houses or designing your dream home gives you time to evaluate the best mortgage produce for his or her financial needs. In pre-establishing the price range, getting pre-approved before house hunting makes it easier to find homes that suit your budget. By taking the time to seek pre-approval, the homebuyer can select a comfortable loan amount. Many times, buyers will qualify for mortgages that are larger than what they feel comfortable committing to long-term, so its always important to purchase a home you can afford.
At Dallas Design Group, its all about you. What are you looking for in a house plan or a new home design? We are experts in house plans. For almost 40 years, we’ve connected home buyers, home builders, developers, and others to affordable house plans . Our Website makes it easy for you to find and purchase your perfect set of house plans within minutes. All of our plans can be modified, rooms can be added or subtracted, basements can be added, styles can be changed. Our job is to customize your set of plans to meet your exact criteria. We provide free quotations on plan modifications/changes as well as new design projects. New design is more affordable than most people think. We can complete a residential new design in as little as two week, and at prices starting as low as $1.25 per square foot for a complete set of architectural plans. Call Tony or Mike @ 972-907-0080 to get a free quotation on your next new architectural design project.
Dallas Design Group (DDG) has designed some of the most beautiful homes and buildings built in the United States. Each of the Architectural house plans offered on our web site is a custom home designed to a specific set of criteria. Our house plans are not “stock plans”. The house plans available on our website are custom designs that are one-of-a-kind.
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Tags: buying a home, buying a house, home appreciation, home buying, home equity, house appreciation, house buying, house buying plans, plans house buying, renovating a home, renovating a house
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