PLAN 497-58

This modern green house plan is tailored to the family that wants a comfortable practical modern design but is on a tight budget. This plan has been stripped down to reduce cost but still contains many popular features such as a kitchen island, mudroom, integrated outdoor space, 2nd floor laundry room and extra flex space. The design team made an effort to provide quality outdoor living opportunities even on narrow urban infill lots. Innovative features like vertical planter shelves and a deck space over the carport provided elevated exposure to sunlight that is often blocked on narrow lot developments with multi story buildings. A simple form with minimal structural spans keeps framing costs low. The allocation of the majority of the glazing to a single side makes this an excellent design for homeowners interested in passive solar design principles. Passive solar design techniques such as Southern exposure for large areas of glazing, window-shading devices were key considerations for this project. This design has a casual modern layout with cost effective industrial finishes like concrete floors, open shelves, and DIY options for the built-ins. A mini mudroom off the carport is a great way to contain the mess of daily life. A full bath instead of a half bath on this level is a minor cost increase that dramatically increases the flexibility the home. The first floor bedroom could serves as a home office, grandparent suite for multigenerational living, or simply a spare bedroom. Large glass doors connect the kitchen to a generous deck that features a convenient nook for a BBQ. Simple and cheap wooden trellises can be used to dress up the simple form. An open carport with a gate provides privacy to the side yard but still allows for easy access from the front. The common room has sliding or bi-folding glass doors out onto the patio deck that creates a sunny communal space with polished concrete floors that provides a casual and durable setting for gathering around the food preparation island. A sliding barn door provides a nice aesthetic and allows the mess of the mudroom to be hidden. Any builder can tell you that kitchens are one of the most expensive areas of a home. Even low-end cabinets and countertops can be pricey. This Scrappy Modern option features a painted backsplash, open shelves instead of upper cabinets and a DIY butcher block island designed from scrap 2x4s. Open shelves around the refrigerator are relatively easy to construct and can provide a flush fit for less expensive refrigerators that are deeper than more costly cabinet depth ones. The family room has “scrappy” options like a plywood floor and a feature wall with chalkboard paint. The layout of interior walls provides nooks in which simple affordable shelves or desks can be easily inserted by the home owner interested in saving money on labor. A floor made of sanded plywood can reduce cost and still leave the homeowner with the option of installing a conventional wood floor at a later date. A DIY finished sub floor can save thousands of dollars if you are willing to embrace an unconventional look. The staircase to the second floor ends up in a generous family room that would serve as the social hub of the 2nd floor. A nook with a built in desk would be a great place for doing taxes or homework. Plenty of wall space would allow this room to serve as the media room, playroom, office, or nursery. Large windows on either side provide plenty of cross ventilation. Built in shelves ensure that every bit of hallway space is utilized. The staircase to the second floor ends up in a generous family room that would serve as the social hub of the 2nd floor. A nook with a built in desk would be a great place for doing taxes or homework. Plenty of wall space would allow this room to serve as a media room, playroom, office, or nursery. Large windows on either side provide plenty of cross ventilation. Built in shelves ensure that every bit of hallway space is utilized. An oversized laundry closet on this level reduces the need for trips up and down the stairs. This house plan was designed with an emphasis on providing generous spaces at an affordable price. As drawn the master bedroom is quite large with a simple efficient and affordable bathroom. The bathroom and closet could be increased in size by moving the bedroom wall. A flat membrane roof can funnel rainwater to a pair of downspouts where it can be collected. Optional inclusions of photovoltaic panels and electrical panel for charging an electric car provide for the potential of improving the value of the home while reducing transportation fuel costs.

• LEED for Homes Rating System: Guidelines to meet LEED for Homes certification levels of: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. LEED for Homes is a national, voluntary certification system, developed by national experts and experienced builders, that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes and encourages the adoption of sustainable practices by the homebuilding industry. The LEED for Homes Rating System is part of the suite of nationally recognized LEED Green Building Rating Systems administered by USGBC. Like all LEED Rating Systems, it is the market's leadership system, targeting the top 25% of home building practices in terms of environmental responsibility. LEED provides industry resources and tools on how to "green" any new home. With LEED, homebuilders can differentiate their structures as meeting the highest performance measures, and homebuyers can readily identify high quality green homes. LEED provides national consistency in defining the features of a green home, enables builders anywhere in the country to obtain a green rating on their homes, and assures homebuyers of the quality of their purchases, all based on a recognized national brand. Learn more about the LEED® Rating System here.
• Window shading details: External window shading devices are an effective method for reducing heat gains through windows during Summer. In fact, external shading devices can reduce heat gains by up to 80% if sized and built properly. With this in mind, the founders of Green Living, formerly Free Green, created this page to assist home builders in constructing effective window shading devices. The information we provide includes a zoning map of the United States, zoning charts for proper sizing of shading devices and a variety of shading device styles and materials to suite different tastes and different home designs.
• General Notes: Typically one sheet of general notes pertinent to the construction of the home
• Exterior Elevations: A blueprint picture of all four sides showing exterior materials and measurements.
• Foundation Plan: Drawn to 1/4" scale, this page shows all necessary notations and dimensions including support columns, walls and excavated and unexcavated areas. 
• Floor Plan(s): Detailed plans, drawn to 1/4" scale for each level showing room dimensions, wall partitions, windows, etc. as well as the location of electrical outlets and switches.
• Interior Elevations: Detailed drawings of kitchen cabinet elevations and other elements as required.
• Cross Section: A vertical cutaway view of the house from roof to foundation showing details of framing, construction, flooring and roofing.
• Wall sections and other construction details: Detailed drawings showing wall connections, from foundation to the roof. wall connections to foundation, window installation, siding installation, stair details, and more.
• Framing Plans: Drawn to 1/4" scale. The framing layout is intended to be a suggested layout only. Design loads & weather conditions vary by region. As a result the size, spacing & layout of all structural elements in this home design must be approved by a structural engineer and code official based on your specific site location prior to construction.
• Electrical Plan with electrical symbols legend: In general, each house plan set includes an electrical plan which will show the locations of lights, receptacles, switches, etc. Note: Most Green Living plans have an electrical plan, however some do not. Please contact us to verify.