Archive for the ‘Outdoor Living’ Category

Designing an outdoor structure

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Designing an outdoor structure

by: Alice Wynn

DALLASDESIGNGROUP.COM

11/22/2011

  Decks are getting fancier and easier to maintain.  Wood decks are sometimes being replaced by plastic, aluminum, and other man-made decking materials, which are prized for their easy maintenance.  When you are ready, builders are making decks into showpieces and will use the plans drawn for your house plan including outdoor structure designs to accomplish their task.  Decks might have multiple levels,  custom railings and other perks.  Even wood is getting an upgrade, with some buyers seeking out rare, tropical hardwoods for their durability.  Twenty years ago the average deck was probably made of cedar.  Now 90% of customers choose man-made decking materials even though they are more expensive.  There seems to be a pent-up desire for outdoor structures designed to fix up existing homes.  It seems that no matter how much you spend building a new deck, your investment will pay dividends.  According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2011 survey, homeowners who build a deck can get up to 73% of their investment back when the time comes to sell their home.  Building a wood deck with no railings or benches has been estimated to cost as little as $15 per square foot.   Using man-made materials do add on to the cost of building a deck, but you can pay that back over time because you will spend less on sealants and cleaning products. It has been estimated that adding railings adds about $35 per foot. Modifying your house plan and sitting down with a designer is a great way begin the planning process for your new deck project.

DallasDesignGroup.com connects home buyers, developers, and custom home builders to affordable, house plans with the click of a mouse. Our Website makes it easy for you to find your dream home and purchase your complete set of house plans within minutes.

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.

WHY CHOOSE DALLAS DESIGN GROUP?

The plans – Each custom house plan is a Dallas Design Group original design. These are not “stock plans”. They are all one-of-a-kind unique designs. Many of these plans are award winners in their category. Our home designs are recognized for their superb detail, curb appeal and ease-of-use during the building process. Our House plans range in size from modest homes to large Luxury estates.

The price – We price our pre-designed house plans based on the air-conditioned “A/C” footage of the floor plan. The extra-footage such as patios, bonus rooms and garages are not factored into the price-per-square-foot. This means you get more house for your money. We also offer custom design services, please see our custom design page for more information. Custom Designs are priced based on total covered footage.

Free shipping – We offer free shipping of our house plans via Fed Ex standard.

Personal service – We are a 40-year old family-run business and we enjoy helping you find your perfect dream home. Contact us at: U.S. # 1-(972)907-0080 Int. 19729070080 or email us at: info@dallasdesigngroup.com

Plan modifications – When building a custom home, flexibility is a must. We offer a CAD Set version of each house plan which can be modified by our skilled DDG design team or an Architect /designer of your choice. Also we offer plans in PDF, printed sets, and vellum.

Search our house plans at DallasDesignGroup.com, find your dream house design and contact us with any questions. Many of our customers have often told us that living in a home designed by Dallas Design Group is a rewarding and wonderful experience! Please visit our testimonials page for examples.

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Drainage Systems

Saturday, November 12th, 2011

Drainage Systems

 

DALLASDESIGNGROUP.COM

HOUSE DESIGNERS AND PLANNERS

11-12-2011

   Who’ll stop the rain?    When designing house  plans with an integrated drainage systems it is a good idea to meet with your architect/designer and discuss where the water will flow.  Many times when homes are built the gutter systems may be inadequate.  The goal for gutters is to get water to flow better off the roof and to the ground rather than end up in the house or garage.  Determining the right size of gutters is important.   In designing your house plans water flow  and updating your guttering system  it is important to know that your gutters may need to be six inches wide rather than the 5 inch size.  In approximately 98% of cases homeowners need a 6-inch gutter to handle the volume of water.  As for your downspouts, they should measure 3-by-4 inches.  With the proper size gutters installed and the proper size downspouts, together they should eliminate drainage problems around the foundation.  In material choices there are several to choose from, including corrosion-resistant copper.  The copper looks spectacular with its patina, but it can be costly.  Many installers recommend a seamless aluminum system which may be fabricated at the site to be certain it fits properly and doesn’t get nicked in transport.  When thinking about your house plans, you need to be aware of the importance of proper gutter installation, the gutters need to be attached to a roof’s rafter tail rather than just to the fascia.  Otherwise, if there is a lot of water, there is a tendency for the gutters to pull away and cause the fascia to rot.  Gutter guards are also useful to stop unwanted leaves or ice from collecting.  To ensure success, be sure to get your system cleaned out at least twice a year.

The experienced design team at Dallas Design Group  will sit down with you and listen to your ideas to create a beautiful set of Architectural Plans. We design starter house plans, luxury house plans, light commercial buildings, estate home plans, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, medical offices, and much more. Our specialty is unique custom design. Call our office to schedule a free consultation on your Architectural design project. (972) 907-0080. Conveniently located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro-Plex, our design team will help you throughout every phase of the architectural design process. Dallas Design group works with individuals, home builders, developers, and realtors. With many years of creative experience our talented design team is here to help you. Call us at U.S. #1-(972)-907-0080 for a free design consultation. M-F 9-5 central standard time

 

  • Architectural home plans, commercial buildings, town-home designs, multi-family plans, apartment plans, medical buildings, community centers, vacation homes, and condominiums
  • Custom Designs that are elegant and timeless including French Chateau, Mediterranean, Neo-Classical, Traditional, European Tudor, Contemporary, Modern, Spanish Villa etc
  • With decades of experience creating unique beautiful designs that translate easily from the construction documents, blueprints, and specifications into the field, your builder will appreciate our attention to architectural detail.

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Pergolas

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pergolas

by Alice Wynn

DALLASDESIGNGROUP.COM

08/28/2012

What do you think of when you see the word pergolas?  Pergolas are an overhead structure, and they extend your livable space, and create a special shady retreat. Pergolas were known in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome and were a common feature in the early gardens of the Renaissance period in Italy and later throughout all of Europe.  Pergolas in today’s world come in many different styles and shapes and Dallas Design Group can custom design any of these.  The basic styles are Garden Room, Roman, Star Gazer, Post & beam fiberglass, Vinyl, PT pine and the Hot tub. Building a pergola we design will add grace, style, comfort, and character to your home.  The pergola area may even become a favorite part of your home and add an environment that reflects your entertaining style.  Exclusive outdoor drapery is available for your pergola.  A Sunbrella fabric which is a dyed acrylic outdoor fabric stitched with silk threads and uses stainless steel snaps is often used on Pergolas. Lattice work may be planned by our Design team as a full inlay with both horizontal and vertical pieces and lagged for a flush finish.  Using this method will create a durable and sturdy lattice that may last a lifetime.  Many pergolas are strung with rope lights and may have head beams and detail work.  Pergolas are often designed with the use of  columns to give  them added interest.  In high rise apartments pergolas are even seen on the rooftops and the same is true for their use in commercial building applications.

Pergolas, arbors, gazebos,outdoor kitchens, outdoor environments…Dallas Design Group designs all of these types of outdoor living structures and more!  Call us at 1-972-0080 for an appointment to schedule your design consultation with one of our talented design team.

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Courtyards

Monday, August 15th, 2011

 

Courtyards

by: Alice Wynn

DALLASDESIGNGROUP.COM

08-16-2011

Why have your Architect/Designer include a courtyard in your house plan?  One reason is that finding a refuge in a city is not easy.   Fencing helps.  The courtyard is its own little world and offers a place for barefoot seclusion.  The courtyard may be hidden by fencing and sheltered by the house.  Some courtyards are covered by trellis’s creatively designed. Another term for trellis is ramada. The feeling outside may be like an outdoor cafe.  An arbor is another design element often employed in courtyard design and it gives the entire courtyard a buoyant atmosphere that delights family and guests.  Courtyards let the homeowner enjoy the buoyant quality of light and air.  Courtyards provide some quiet in a busy world and seem to work calming magic.  The atmosphere in a courtyard is peaceful and relaxing. Courtyards may be designed with walls separating the courtyard from the surrounding garden. Sandstone tile pavers are often used as flooring in the courtyard plan where they may form a patio. Some courtyards may be secluded but they invite you to kick off your shoes and just relax.

Dallas Design Group (DDG) offers a unique portfolio of Luxury House Plans and Luxury Home Plans for builders, individuals, developers or anyone wanting to build a new home. We offer a wide range of Luxury house plans from starter homes to one-story designs to luxury estate plans.  DDG Home Plans have beautifully flowing rooms, special ceiling treatments, efficient use of space and wonderful curb appeal. All of our Luxury House plans can easily be modified or changed, elevations or styles can be changed, rooms can be added or the Home plans can be reduced in size to accommodate your needs. From Mediterranean House Plans to French Home plans and Tuscan House Plans, to Traditional home plans or Narrow Lot House Plans, Dallas Design Group offers a large variety of Luxury House plans. All of our home plans were designed by experienced Architects and designers.  Call us for a free estimate on any plan modifications or a free quote for a new custom design. U.S. # 1-(972) 907-0080 Int. 19729070080.

DDG connects home buyers and home builders with “Luxury House Plans” at the click of a mouse.

We accept all major credit and debit cards. We offer FREE GROUND SHIPPING. U.S. # 1-(972) 907-0080  Int. 19729070080 Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5).

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Outdoor Rooms

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

 

“Outdoor Rooms“

by: Alice Wynn

Dallas Design Group Architecture

08-14-2011

House plan modifications can take many forms.  The homeowner may want a new bathroom, a media room, a pool room, or a cabana or gazebo.  A basement addition is a frequent modification request as are additional garage spaces with adequate storage.  One of the most often requested home plan modifications is adding an outdoor room. Outdoor rooms plans may come complete with built-in fireplaces, grills, refrigerators, furniture, flat-screen televisions and other technology.  An affordable  outdoor living space is at the top of the list for many homeowners. Inn the design process your Architect/Designer will guide you and the outdoor space can be designed to be as simple or luxurious as the homeowner desires.  Outdoor rooms have become a high priority for homeowners and may be taking the place of the living room or extra bedroom in providing a functional, comfortable area for the family and for guests.  Often the outdoor living area is planned initially when the house plan design is done.  Adding such a space to an existing house plan is called a plan modification or add-on.  The outdoor living area can be used early morning or late evening and with a covered roof the temperature in the room will be more comfortable. Adding a ceiling fan that is reversible will enable the homeowner to direct the air flow and reduce humidity. Energy efficiency inside the home may be improved with an addition of the outdoor room having a roof.

Dallas Design Group offers hundreds of house plans online. They are beautiful and affordable and all can be modified or changed to fit your exact specifications.

Contact us for a free design consultation @ info@dallasdesigngroup.com

“Architecture for the way you live!”

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Three Season Room

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Three Season Room

by Alice Wynn

Dallas Design Group Architecture

 

A Three Season room is an excellent way to give your home a larger look and feel.  Having a screened-in porch or a three-season room designed for your home is a way to add viable living space to a house.  Not only will the room/space be functional but it will make your house look and feel much larger.  These rooms will often serve as a bridge between the indoors and outside while offering the same comforts of any other room in the house.  Many homeowners choose to decorate these rooms so it does not look like an extension of the home or backyard, thus allowing the homeowner to highlight their own personal style.  Many new and different accents can be added to these room. The home designer will need to keep in mind the elements when designing these rooms, ie. weather, moisture, sunlight, direction exposure.  Planning for lighting is very important as well as electrical outlets.  The designer will need to plan for an entertaining area in your three season room that is functional for the home owner and family members and/or guests. The porch may also include electrical outlets to make it possible to include a small water fountain or water feature.  Some outdoor rooms may include drop down electrical screens to provide protections from insects.  These screens are installed in tracts.  Be sure to allow enough space to add some potted plants to soften the room and add color. Essentially the designer can create a mini living room right outside.  A throw rug made of outdoor fabric can be used to define the entertaining area and ceiling fans will help cool and circulate the air and at the same time add aesthetic appeal. At Dallas design Group, we can help you plan the perfect three season room for your remodel or new home design. Our expert team of architectural designers are creative, talented and our prices can’t be beat! Dallas Design Group, Architectural plans for the way you live!”

Contact us today @ info@dallasdesigngroup.com or 1-972-907-0080 or on the web @ www.dallasdesigngroup.com

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Courtyards

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Courtyards

By: Alice Wynn

04/17/2011

Dallas Design Group

 

 

Courtyards are a classical design element and historically the home surrounded the courtyard, allowing privacy, security, cool breezes and views of a scenic garden.   Modern courtyards offer tremendous variety in terms of size, complexity and furnishings.  Factors such as how much upkeep people want and how they will utilize the space help  determine courtyard size.   Courtyards are definitely unique in that they generally are smaller in scale but have the feeling of a room. Pavement, furniture,and rock can be used to create a balance of hardscape and softscape.  Styles range from an organized, geometrically clean style with simple lines, a less formal look with curvilinear lines and some unpredictability or a simple whimsical space that is ornate and sometimes full of intrigue.  Traffic flow is a definite consideration as are good views.  To make the space more usable a shade structure such as a retractable awning or cabana style draping may be used. Favorite courtyards have a sense of balance.  An Italianate-style might use terra cotta pots with lush plantings and feature vertical juniper and rosemary as permanent plantings. Paving can be a subtle pattern created with tile or score lines. Here too a simple fountain can be relaxing.  Small courtyards lend themselves to great design. Courtyards are outdoor rooms, each designed and planned to the individual’s taste.

Today’s Architects and designers are creating courtyards in densely populated areas to provide more privacy as well as a safe place for children to play since space is at a premium.  Noticeably, many years ago The Incas built courtyards and grouped several houses  around them, to benefit several families with one courtyard.  This same principle can be applied today in many different styles of homes and home plans.  Courtyards can be found in many different styles of Architectural house plans from Contemporary, French Country, English Tudor, Modern, Spanish,  Mission, Traditional, Neo-Classical, French, English, Mediterranean, Tuscan, Italianate and many more.  At Dallas Design Group we have a variety of plans featured on our website that include beautiful courtyards.

www.dallasesigngroup.com

“Architecture for the way you live

1-972-907-0080

info@dallasdesigngroup.com

 

 

 

 

 

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Cabana Designs: Decorating your back yard

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Cabana Design

Pergolas and Cabanas are great architectural elements that add vertical interest in a landscape. They both create a great focal point and nice outdoor getaway in your own backyard. Dallas Design Group designs beautiful pergolas and cabanas for a unique landscaping feature. Pergolas serve as open-air outdoor rooms providing shade without obstructing any desired side views.  We design our pergolas in a variety of shapes, styles, sizes and finishes providing a unique feature to complement your home and garden.

Whether you are looking for a quiet place to get away or a lovely place to entertain friends, Dallas Design Group will design a unique outdoor living space that you will enjoy for many years to come.

A cabana is a charming addition to the pool landscaping and a wonderful way to enhance your pool and spa landscape. A cabana is a covered canopy that provides a shaded outdoor room built with or without walls. Cabanas are great pool houses for equipment, changing rooms, outdoor bars or a shade structure to relax. Our professional designers will design the perfect outdoor room for your landscape.

Pavilions are similar to pergolas and often have a covered roof. The open-air design is great for parks, residential homes or commercial businesses. A pavilion may be a covered extension of a building marking the entrance at the drive or simply a backyard covered structure.

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