Category: Design

What Are Some of the Top Trends in New Construction Home Design?

In the world of home construction, home design trends are ever-evolving. Whether you’re a developer looking to stay ahead of the curve or simply interested in the latest in home design, understanding these trends can help guide your next project.

Franks Betz Associates has created award-winning house plans builders and homeowners love since 1976. We continue expanding our house plans to ensure they reflect the functional, stylish residence today’s homeowners are looking for. Here, we explore nine top trends in home design that we’ve been seeing.

Nine Trends in Custom House Plans

1. European Cottage-Style Homes

The charm and character of European cottage-style homes are appealing for their ability to bring you back in time while feeling modern. This design trend emphasizes cozy, rustic aesthetics with natural materials like wood and stone. Wembley Place is one of Frank Betz custom house plans that showcases this trend perfectly, incorporating the quaint, timeless appeal of a European cottage with practical and contemporary layouts.

2. A Scullery Off the Kitchen

A scullery, often referred to as a back kitchen, is becoming a must-have in contemporary house designs and plans. In fact, there’s one included in our Wembley Place house plan. Positioned adjacent to the main kitchen, a scullery provides extra space for food preparation, storage, and cleanup, allowing the primary kitchen to remain a clean and inviting area for social gatherings. There are several pros to a scullery, like a place to hide messy dishes, less used countertop appliances (toaster, mixers, etc.), china storage, space for a beverage fridge, and more. The practicality and convenience of a scullery make it a popular addition in today’s home design trends.

3. Dark Colors on Elevations

Dark exterior colors are making a bold statement in modern home designs. Shades like navy, dark gray, black, and deep green are being used to create striking, sophisticated home exteriors. These darker hues not only add a dramatic flair but also offer benefits you may not have considered. Things like increasing a home’s value, accentuating a home’s landscaping, reducing heating costs, and hiding imperfections are pros to a darker elevation. Designs like Becton Park and many of our custom house floor plans demonstrate how dark colors can elevate the curb appeal of a property.

4. U-Shaped Staircases

U-shaped staircases, also called “switchback” or “half-turn” stairs, are gaining popularity for their elegant design and space-efficient layout. Unlike traditional straight or L-shaped staircases, U-shaped stairs offer a compact footprint while providing a grand architectural feature within the home. They are perfect for creating a seamless flow between different levels of a house and add an element of sophistication to the interior design. Our Stansbury Glen and Forsyth Knoll custom house plans are great examples of this trend.

5. Flex Rooms

Flex rooms are all about versatility, allowing homeowners to adapt spaces to their changing needs. Whether used as a home office, a hobby room, gym, playroom, guest bedroom, or an additional living room, these multifunctional rooms provide invaluable flexibility. This trend offers homeowners a more adaptable living environment that can cater to a variety of lifestyles and life stages.

6. Bathtub/Shower Combo vs. Standing Shower Only

Both bathtubs and walk-in showers offer their own positive impact on a home’s design and person’s lifestyle. They’re a major trend in bathroom design that shows no sign of disappearing. Standing showers offer water conservation, accessibility, and are quick and convenient. They create a sleek, modern look and are often easier to maintain. Bathtubs are a great option for families with small children and a relaxing spa day or soak for sore muscles. Overall, the bathtub/shower combo provides versatility within custom house plans, incorporating both options to cater to diverse preferences and needs.

7. Water Closets

A water closet is a dedicated space within a bathroom just for the toilet. This trend is becoming a hallmark of luxury home design. It offers privacy and a cleaner bathroom aesthetic by separating the toilet from the main bathing area. Some prefer not to have it completely closed off and instead opt for using glass or tile walls to separate the toilet, making it feel less claustrophobic and closet-like. High-end homes frequently include water closets as a standard, highlighting their appeal in contemporary house designs and plans.

8. Steam Showers & Saunas

Incorporating steam showers and saunas into home bathrooms is a growing trend that brings the spa experience into everyday living. These features not only offer health benefits, such as improved circulation and relaxation, but also add a luxurious touch to a home. Developers are increasingly including these amenities in custom house floor plans to attract discerning buyers.

9. Heated Flooring in Bathrooms

Heated flooring in bathrooms is a trend that combines comfort with luxury. Especially appealing in colder climates, heated floors provide a warm, soothing surface that enhances the overall bathing experience. Heated flooring offers pros beyond comfort. They require no maintenance and last up to 20+ years, they’re non-allergenic, energy-efficient, and are easy to install. This feature is becoming standard in high-end homes, reflecting a commitment to creating comfortable, inviting spaces.

Contact Frank Betz Today!

From the rustic charm of European cottage-style homes to the luxurious appeal of heated bathroom floors, these trends highlight the dynamic nature of home construction design. If you’re looking to incorporate these trends into your next project, Frank Betz Associates offers a wide range of contemporary house designs and plans to fit your needs. Contact us today by phone or visit our website to view our house plans. Let us help you bring your vision to life with designs that are trendy and timeless.

10 Home Floor Plans That Are Sure to Wow You!

Design
Plans

At Frank Betz Associates, we have maintained a solid reputation as a leader in house plan designs. Our team works hard to not only follow the trends of popular floor plans but to set them! Whether a consumer, builder, or developer, you will find a Frank Betz Associates plan that’s suitable for what you want and need. And if you’re not quite sure what you want or need, we can help!

Choosing a house plan

Our simple steps to choosing a house plan along with our online search tool and excellent team of experts are all here to help you choose among the endless list of house floor plans we offer. But if you need a little extra help, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 best floor plans to get you started.

Choose a Dream Home from Our Ten Best Floor Plans

1. Becton Park

Perfect for multigenerational families or one who often hosts guests overnight, Becton Park offers an endearing design. Picture days on the covered front porch relaxing on a bench swing or in a rocking chair sipping iced tea with the sunset. It hosts four bedrooms total with the owner’s suite privately set on one side and a secondary main-floor bedroom on the other. The additional rooms are on the second floor with an optional bonus room that can be finished later for whatever you need. Three bathrooms, a two-car garage, spacious living areas, and a vaulted covered porch complete the layout of this two-story home plan.

2. Edgewood Place

The timeless and classic exterior of Edgewood Place makes it perfectly suited for any location. It’s a multigenerational family’s dream with a private luxurious owner’s suite with a fully appointed spa bath, a three-car garage with room for a hobby vehicle and plenty of storage, a main floor guest suite, a large family room and open kitchen with views of the rear yard, and an optional bonus room upstairs. Everyone in the family can enjoy quiet meals together in the dining room or fun movie nights in front of the fireplace while still having their own private oasis to retreat to. The mudroom entry also allows for built-ins for convenience and transitioning into the laundry room for easy clean-up.

3. Allendale Farms

Ranch style floor plans

Allendale Farms is one of those house plans for builders that will catch any buyer’s attention due to the desirable ranch-style single-level living. The exterior includes a standing seam metal roof, a combination of sidings, and unique details giving it a modern farmhouse style. It’s equipped with three bedrooms (and an optional fourth bedroom and extra bathroom on an added floor), two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a three-car garage with a two-car garage attached at the front and a one-car garage attached at the side. The garage layout is great for three cars or two cars and workshop space. Whether for family celebrations, backyard barbecues, or a relaxing staycation, this house plan has everything from the spacious family room to the expansive outdoor living spaces to accommodate what you want.

4. Carolina Cottage

Growing families and homebodies will love the two-story Carolina Cottage. The modest front porch welcomes you into a cozy cottage that offers everything you’d expect from one of our many home floor plans. Its exterior design mixes textures and colors that complement each other for a striking elevation design and the inside is just as exquisite as the outside. Residents can enjoy a free and easy lifestyle with the open, airy light-filled rooms. A few major highlights include the private owner’s suite with a spa bathroom that has amenities like a luxurious resort, a main floor flex room to be converted into whatever you need, a covered outdoor space, and a loft for reading, homework assignments, game area, or even another bedroom!

5. Cameron Walk

Another one of the popular ranch-style floor plans is found in Cameron Walk. It offers three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a two-car garage with the ability to add a second level with a fourth bedroom, a full bathroom, and a bonus room. Entertaining family and guests is a breeze with this modern open layout. It’s complete with a warming fireplace and beamed ceiling in the large living room, adjacent kitchen and dining/flex room areas, and separated bedrooms for privacy and quiet.

6. Selwyn Park

If contemporary modern and traditional are among your favorite house floor plans, you’ll love the transitional home design of Selwyn Park. It includes the best of both a fresh, modern appearance with a traditional feel. The expansive 2,905 total square foot layout creates a functional, open design while still maintaining a strong sense of family. There’s plenty of room for elderly parents and hosting the kids’ friends for a sleepover with the owner’s and guest suites set on the main floor and two additional bedrooms on the second floor. The owner’s and guest suites are located on opposite sides of the home with the common living areas as the center point. This helps provide a balance between privacy and togetherness whether it’s game night in the living room or prepping dinner in the kitchen. The large window groupings and views of the large covered back porch from the common living areas provide ample natural light.

7. Wood Hollow

The Wood Hollow is a refined farmhouse cottage that offers so much within its two-story design. The crisp standing seam metal roofing mimics the homes that dotted the countryside many years ago. Wide window groupings and bright white sidings complete the exterior. There are many great features of the Wood Hollow, but the gorgeous outdoor living spaces might be the best part of this already amazing layout. Create the perfect outdoor living space with an outdoor kitchen area with a grill and countertop built-in and open sun deck that can be found or added to many of our custom house plans. The main floor owner’s suite, open kitchen and living areas, a flex room, three upstairs bedrooms, one-and-a-half remaining bathrooms, and a two-car garage complete this home plan.

8. Lake Pointe

While the exterior details of Lake Pointe are breathtaking and inviting, the interior home plan design is just as inviting. Filled with natural light due to large window groupings, this plan also features the kitchen of every chef’s dreams with an expansive island opposite the stovetop for an easy transition between prepping and cooking. For the rest of your family and friends, there’s ample room on the shaded front and back porches, grand room, and terrace level with additional bedrooms and a large family room for movies, games, and relaxation. To top it all off the luxurious owner’s suite is positioned to take full advantage of water, mountain, or golf course views.

9. Teesdale

Our Teesdale is one of those house plans for builders with customers looking for a little bit of everything included. From entertaining to relaxing and spending quality time with your family, there’s simply nothing missing from this plan. It has a spacious, open layout with incredible features like a dining area that opens onto a covered grilling porch, a family room that opens to a deck, a main floor bedroom/flex space, and a loft and optional bonus room on the second floor. This is just the start of what’s within Teesdale’s 2,950 square feet. You can also enjoy beautiful accents like raised ceilings with beams in the family room and a warming fireplace. Not to mention the exterior details including painted brick, dark charcoal claddings, and timber accents.

10. Olmstead Place

Last but not least, the Olmstead Place plan is a charming craftsman cottage that’s sure to blow you away from the outside in. The cladding is a combination of horizontal lap siding, shakes, and a touch of board-and-batten, and there are many more details to love about the exterior of this two-story home (optional third floor available). Inside, you’ll find an incredibly open and spacious layout on the main floor with the entire rear of the home completely open and light-filled due to the large vaulted covered back grilling porch. It also includes a guest suite/office, full bathroom, and mud room. The additional three bedrooms and two bathrooms are housed on the second floor including a laundry space with a folding area and utility sink. This plan is ideal for large families and work-from-home residents with the office room and option third-floor game room.

Connect with Frank Betz: Offering the Best House Plans for Builders!

If you’re interested in any one of these plans or have questions about any of our custom house plans, please connect with Frank Betz Associates. We offer the best of the best floor plans for builders, developers, and consumers alike. We’re consistently showcasing new designs with the latest trends and continue to provide exceptional customer service and top-of-the-line home plans for our clients. Connect with us today. We’re always happy to help!

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING YOUR MASTER BEDROOM SUITE

Besides the kitchen, the master suite is considered one of the most important areas of a home. It’s where you’ll be spending a good portion of your life, not only because it’s where you and your significant other sleep, but where you get ready for the day ahead. Taking the time to design a master suite that best fits your needs is well worth the effort. With a few design tips outlined in this article, you’ll be on the right path to creating a well-planned master suite.

The matter of privacy
Because your master suite will act as a retreat from the hectic world, a sense of privacy should be woven into the design. Positioning these rooms near the back of the home and/or on the upper story is recommended. The privacy issue also comes in to play when locating windows and doors. Yes, you can add curtains or blinds, but it’s comforting to be able to dress and undress freely without having to worry about putting on a show for the neighbors.

The size is right
The master suite most commonly consists of the largest bedroom and bathroom in the house.
Larger walk-in closets and sitting rooms are also popular features for these areas. When designing your home’s floorplan, assigning a generous percentage of the square footage for the master suite is advised. One should also consider the furniture that will go in these rooms. The size of the bed, dressers and sitting room chairs can help determine the amount of space needed.

Closet space. More is more.
One of the most attractive features of a well-designed master suite is ample closet space. If the square footage is available, including two walk-in closets is the best course. This allows enough room for both occupants to keep their individual wardrobes. A master suite with two walk-in closets is also a huge advantage when selling your home.

Bathroom zen
While the rest of your home’s bathrooms are purely functional in nature, the master suite bathroom can be extraordinary. Beyond function, this bathroom can be a place of relaxation.
Double sink vanities, spa tubs and steam showers are just a few examples of luxurious master suite amenities.

Laundry convenience
Since the master suite is usually inhabited by two people, it will generate a significant amount of clothing and bedding. To conveniently handle the cleaning and upkeep of these items, designing easy access to the laundry is suggested. If the master suite is on the second floor and the laundry room on the first, a laundry shoot is a feature that can aid the accessibility and save time.

Every great home should have a master suite to match. As your own personal escape from the busy world, it should include the space and amenities that will enable both functionality and relaxation. As much if not more than any room in your home, the master suite should be a reflection of your style with the space and features that will complement the home as a whole.