Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Create a Cozy Space with Small Cottage Style House Plans

There is something cozy and more welcoming about a well planned small home, especially when it’s built with a cottage design in mind. Larger houses may seem appealing to many people, but a smaller home is not only easier to take care of, but it’s also less expensive to maintain. With the environmental movement on the rise, smaller homes are also seen as more “green” since they consume less energy and use fewer materials to build. If you are on the fence about what you want out of your future home, take a look at some the advantages to keeping things small and simple with small cottage style house plans.

Why Choose Small Cottage Style House Plans?

There really isn’t a delicate way to say it, so let’s just say it. Big houses cost a lot of money for features and space you might not even need. Money you could be putting towards retirement, the kids’ college tuition, or even that trip to Europe you have always wanted instead gets put into your home. The average utility and repair bills are typically much higher on big homes as well. If you are interested in spending your money wisely, checking out small cottage style house plans is in your best interest. One look at a couple of different floor plans will have you convinced that small doesn’t mean inconvenient or lacking in stylish appeal.

Another thing to keep in mind as you consider your small cottage style house plans is flexibility. If you are building from scratch, the sheer amount of options on even pre-made floor plans is outstanding. You can often decide on the number of bedrooms in the house. Let’s say you only need 2 bedrooms. Most small house plans leave options for taking the third one and creating an indoor/outdoor porch, den, or family room. In this case, small means choices and lots of them.

If you’re ready to start building your dream small cottage style home, hire a contractor or architect and get the plans that will fit your needs best. Professional builders and architects will be able to help you make the right decisions about your design to get exactly what you need from your space.

For more information on small cottage style house plans

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Options for Eco-friendly Flooring for Your Bath and Kitchen

You have already made it a priority in your life to recycle things like plastics, glass, and metals. Some of you might have already even made carpooling or taking the bus a part of your daily routine to improve the quality of the earth and limit your personal use of natural resources. When it comes to your home, it’s also possible to make the green movement a priority there as well. It can go beyond turning a light off when you leave a room too. One way to make your house truly earth friendly is to look into eco-friendly flooring for bath and kitchen remodels. With just a little bit of research, you will be amazed at the beautiful and elegant choices you have for earth friendly materials. Be sure to get in touch with a good contractor to help you with the installation process.

Choosing Eco-friendly Flooring for Bath and Kitchen

The biggest element to look for in eco-friendly flooring for your bath and kitchen is that the materials used in the flooring be renewable and biodegradable. Two of the biggest trends in interior design lately are bamboo and cork flooring. Both are perfect for use in the kitchen or bathroom. They both have the added bonus of having enough give to make life easier on your legs and back. Bamboo is the fastest growing grass on the planet and can replenish itself in a matter of weeks. This trait makes it the perfect earth friendly material. Cork is a natural sound insulator and looks much like hardwood when used in the bathroom or kitchen.

For a truly unique spin on eco-friendly flooring for bath and kitchen, consider glass tiles. There are several companies out there that use recycled glass to create stunning tiles for use on the wall or floors of any room. You can pick from one color for an elegant look or decide on several for a mosaic look in your bathroom or kitchen. These tiles are available in an amazing assortment of colors and shapes.

For more information on eco-friendly flooring for bath and kitchen