Plantation Cottage Video

We recently added a new video to our YouTube Channel.



See the interior and exterior of the Plantation Cottage with pictures from a built home!  If you like what you see, this house plan is available for purchase on our website:  www.southerncottages.com.

Thanks for checking out our blog!

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitectpa.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Home Trend for 2015: Small Houses

According to articles on the internet, like this one from The Fiscal Times or this one from Slate, the small home is making a come-back.  Whether you're an empty-nester looking to downsize or a young couple looking for your first home, people are looking for smaller homes and smaller mortgages.

 

At 1,260 square feet, our Hip Cottage fits the bill for being small.  Yet, it still has everything you need!  Inside of this house you get two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open concept living & dining room, good sized kitchen, laundry room, front porch, rear screened porch, plus storage.

If 1,260 sf is too small for you, the Hip Cottage comes in a few different sizes: 

• 1,423 sf which includes a wrap around porch; 
• 1,545 sf with an attached garage; 
• and 2,497 sf with a basement.

What's great about our house plans is that all of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford! 

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitectpa.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

What To Do When The Cost of Home Construction is More Than Your Budget

Image courtesy of ponsulak at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You have been waiting years to build your own home.  You have found the perfect house plan.  You have financing in place and are ready to begin.  The only problem now is that contractors have given you bid prices that are more expensive than you had imagined!

Generally, the trade-offs to lower the costs of home construction involve using less expensive products, such as vinyl windows vs. clad windows and vinyl siding vs. wood shingles; and even composite shingle roofing vs. metal roofing.  The amount of ceramic tile surfaces, granite counter tops, pricey fixtures and appliances can dramatically add to the costs as well.  Let the builders know that you need to be in a certain price range so that they won't assume that you are expecting the most expensive finishes.

Second, if you haven't already done this, take your house plans to another contractor.  You will find that the prices you receive will vary wildly - don't ask why - but this is our experience. Some builders add bucks to their bid if something is a little different or unusual - while others see it as an interesting challenge and something that they want to be a part of.  If you need advice on finding a good contractor, our post "Selecting Your General Contractor" can help you out.

Third, if you are in no rush to get your house completed, you can always wait to build in the hope that the costs of construction will go down in time.  You could wait a few years if the economy is high.  Or you might wait until the "off season" of construction (usually winter) with the idea that contractors will not be as busy during that time and will give you lower numbers so they can get the job.

The last thing you might do (and it's usually the last resort) is have your home plans revised.  It will cost more money up front to have the alterations done, and you will have to sacrifice some of the things on your "want list", but in the end you will lower the cost of construction.

Good luck and let us know if you have any questions we can help you with!  

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.

View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com. 

Grassy Green Paint Colors

You want to paint your room green, but you're not sure what color is the best one.  You know you like the color of the grass outside because it's lush, pretty and inviting.  But how will you know what the right choice of green is?  There are so many different colors of green!  What will keep you from making the wrong decision?

I'm going to help you out with my selection of four colors that are pretty, inviting and hopefully fit the bill for lush.  These grassy green paint colors are from Sherwin Williams and you can use them to enjoy that refreshing green color inside your home.  I'm showing you the paint color, plus a picture of a room painted with it.  

SW 6718 Overt Green

 

In southeastern North Carolina, where we're located, one of the typical grasses available is centipede.  Overt Green is a nice yellow-green color, similar to the look of centipede grass.  It is also a bold color so it's perfect for an accent wall, as pictured below.

Contemporary Bedroom by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators Panache Interiors

Although beautiful, the picture is slightly misleading about the color of this paint: the lamp light gives the wall a yellowish color.   If you look at the wall near the window on the left you can see the true color of the paint.  So, here's a lesson in paint and the type of light bulbs you're using: the color of your light bulbs can have a dramatic effect on the perceived color of your room.  Different types of bulbs give off different colors.  This in turn can make your paint or furnishings look different at your house than in the store.  Or even from one room to the next.  Home Depot usually has a light bulb display next to their bulbs.  If you haven't taken the time to look at it, it's worth the 5 minutes it takes to review.


SW 6732 Organic Green

 

A name that includes "organic" portrays an idea of fresh, all-natural, beneficial, and healthy. In my opinion, this color is bright and cheerful.  What could be more beneficial and healthy than that?  What I like about Organic Green is that it's a "clear" color.  By that I mean that it hasn't been lightened too much, nor has it been darkened too much.  It's a nice medium color of green.

Picture from Fred Smith Company

In the picture, even though there are lighter spots and darker spots the color remains bright and clear.  By painting all of the walls one color you are surrounded in a consistent hue.  I have to say that this room is refreshing to me.  Using white trim and cabinetry adds to the overall feel of the room, contributing to the alluring color.


SW 6725 Pickle

When I think of pickles I imagine the zesty flavor of a pickled cucumber.  This color is very similar to Organic Green, but to me, it has some zest to it!  It's not quite as bright, but it's still beautiful.  I think Pickle is one of those colors that is very much like the color of grass and any number of green plants growing outside.

Eclectic Bedroom by Los Gatos Interior Designers & Decorators Design Theory Interiors of California, Inc

The room above has been decorated with items that are white, black and a slightly different green that are brought together in a cohesive and beautiful way.  Even though this green is darker than the rest on my list so far, there are a greater number of white elements in the room.  It keeps the atmosphere light yet still incorporates darker items that do not dim the space.


SW6733 Grasshopper

Many things come to mind with the word "grasshopper".  But the fact of the matter is that this is a very good candidate for a color reminiscent of the turf outside. It looks like one of those beautiful dark green lawns you see sometimes.  This color is the darkest green on my list; it's light enough to match the color of grass and foliage, but it's also not going to make you feel like you're in a dungeon. 

Picture from Pinterest

This picture has a darker atmosphere, almost opposite of the one painted with Pickle, yet it still works well.  Instead of lighter accents, it has natural wood trim, dark floor and a smoky blue ceiling.  The wall color does not overwhelm the space, yet it still brings in the lush color of grass. The paint color invites you into the space.

So, what will help you know if you're making the right or wrong decision with a paint color?  The best indicator is this: go to the paint store, get the color chips for the colors you're interested in and take them home.  Hold them up to your furniture, the floor, and pictures on the wall.  You can even tape them to the wall and then stand back to see if you like the way the color interacts with your belongings and the light in your room.  Make your decision based on this action.  If the color isn't quite right, go to the next one.

The four colors that I have suggested are all lush, pretty, and inviting.  They show how beautiful and refreshing the color of a lawn can be inside a home.  If you're looking to make a bold statement in your room while also bringing a touch of the outdoors to the inside of your home, using one of these colors will help you accomplish your goal. 

Do you agree?  Let me know.

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Top 5 Kids Rooms

Sometimes it's fun to go crazy and design the most creative and whimsical bedroom for a child.  And for those of us who can't afford to do something like this, it's always just fun to look and wish.  When I was young I would have loved to have any of these bedrooms.

A colorful indoor gym.

Kid's Bedroom #1
The Gym
In addition to all the color and fantastic lighting, this bedroom has exactly what kids want:  a place to climb, swing, scale, jump and pull themselves up!  This is just what they need to get out their energy and exercise their muscles, all while keeping the living room clean.  (Who's going to want to play in the living room when they have a bedroom like this?!)  Anchoring the gym to the ceiling structure is definitely a must in order to use this.  But let's be honest, if my kids had a room like this, you would probably find me in there playing on that equipment with them! 

 

What do we do with that column?

Kid's Bedroom #2
The Indoor Tree
This is a fantastic use of a column.  Instead of living with a boring column that is required for the structural stability of the building, spruce it up and make it interesting!  This brings so much imagination into the room.  At Christmas you can string lights on it.  You can store your child's stuffed animals in there:  dogs, cats, foxes, snakes, chipmunks, monkeys, or owls.  You can have a picnic under its leaves any time of the year.  The fun is endless!

Bunk beds with a slide?  That's brilliant!

Kid's Bedroom #3
The Bunk Bed Slide
As if bunk beds did not incite enough enthusiasm with kids, adding a slide makes it that much better!  This is a great idea for a vacation house. If your kids are going to be sleeping in a room with 4 or more people, why not mix in some fun and put in a slide?  This gives them a great way to start the day and a fun incentive to sleep in a room with that many people.  Plus, you will not have any trouble getting them to go to their room and play for a while so you can relax.

A loft in the kids room?

Kids Bedroom #4
The Jungle Loft
Kids love to climb and be taller than everything else (especially their parents).  This loft gives them a place to do that!  It's also an exciting location to play or read...up at the ceiling level.  The jungle theme gives them a way to be in the tree tops to feed the imaginary giraffe that's come to play.  Or giggle with the monkeys.  Or they can rescue the cat who has climbed too high and gotten stuck.  And of course, when they get in trouble, that's where you're going to find them.  This would definitely be a favorite spot in the house for any child.

A secret hideout.

Kids Bedroom #5
The Clubhouse
When I was young a clubhouse would have been so awesome!  And one in my room would have been off the charts!  This imaginative idea creates a cool place to sleep or a great locale for your child's clubhouse meetings.  You can imagine the floor is a lake full of alligators that you've got to stay away from.  Or you can go sightseeing above the treetops.  Maybe you can get out the flashlights and have story time in there.  Or have a camping trip every night.

All of these different kids room ideas are on my list of fun ways to decorate a room and inspire play.  Which is your favorite?  Which do you wish you had as a child?  Do any of them inspire you to play and imagine more with your children?  Let me know!

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Disclaimer: Southern Cottages House Plans and Michael R. McLeod Architect, PA did not design any of these rooms.  Click the picture or the caption to find out where I found these pictures.

Step Back in Time

The Grand Gazebo Cottage will take you back to an age where time slows down and relaxation is a way of life.

Grand Gazebo Cottage

This is a grand and sumptuous house with four exterior gazebos connected by wrap around porches. Spend your evenings relaxing on the porch with a lemonade in hand. Inside you will find spacious rooms perfect for comfortable and tranquil living.

The gazebos provide a lot of outdoor living space.

All of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford.
  
Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

The Battleship North Carolina

For Memorial Day yesterday, my family and I took a trip to the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington.  This is such a great place to visit!  If you ever visit Wilmington, plan a few hours to tour this great ship.  It is chock-full of history.

In the visitors center there is a video that shows the history of how the battleship came to Wilmington and how it was maneuvered into its current position.

Main deck guns, anchor chains and flags.

We spent a lot of time going into the various rooms and checking out all the different guns on the main deck before heading down under it to the second deck.  To help visitors understand how the sailors used the spaces, there are pictures and descriptions of what happened in a lot of the areas.

 

The battleship contains a lot of places to explore and see, which makes this such a great place to visit.  You can tour the kitchens, sleeping areas, food storage areas, sick bay, laundry, post office, etc.  However, on this trip my family just toured the second deck and one or two above the main deck.

After touring the battleship, travel across the bridge to have lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants along the river in downtown Wilmington.

Visiting the Battleship North Carolina is one of our favorite things to do on Memorial Day.  It's a wonderful way to remember those who have served our country. 

Thanks for reading!
Stacey

We Are On Houzz

click here

If you are a fan of Houzz (and a lot of people are), you can now browse interior and exterior pictures of the Island Cottage, Woods Cottage, Plantation Cottage, Porches Cottage, Shelter Cottage and Winds Cottage on our profile (with more to follow soon).  We also have some renderings of the Grand Island Cottage there.  Click the Houzz button above, the one on the left of our blog, or the following link:  Southern Cottages Houzz profile.

If you are not aware of what Houzz is, it is the "largest and most influential directory of remodeling and design professionals".  One way you can use Houzz is to do a search based on a keyword.  A picture list will come up showing you ideas of how to incorporate that particular item into your home. 

Another important feature is the reviews we have received from previous clients.  Take some time to look through those, browse pictures and get some ideas for your home.  As always, please leave us comment if you have any questions or use the "Contact" tab above to find our phone number.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Icicles

After the snow, rain and sleet yesterday, the cold temperatures froze all the water.  Here are the icicles that formed on our street sign.  Thankfully, it's all melting now.

Another Snowy Day

It's happened again: we have more snow!

Snow falling on our office.

The snow started about 6 am and will last another few hours before turning to freezing rain. 

Snow out our front window.

We hope everyone stays safe!

Snowy Morning

This morning our office is covered in snow. It's the first (and possibly only) snow of the year for us.  That's just the way it is in southeastern North Carolina.

Changing Technology

As technology has come and gone, we've all had to make changes to accomodate the latest hardware and software.  What do you do to store your older computer files?  You use the latest technology to save them and then remove the files from your computer.  That's what we've done at our office, too.

Unfortunately, all the changing technology has made it so our electronic file storage from years ago is almost extinct, and one day it will be inaccessible.  One of the means of our electronic file storage is 3 1/2" floppy disks.  Yes, the little, hard disks from two decades ago.  Today Stacey has been taking AutoCad files off of some of these disks so we can keep the files for the future.  It's possible you are astonished we still have a drive to read these files, but it's true.  We have one computer with a 3 1/2" drive, which we've needed because of our old file storage.

One interesting fact about these 3 1/2" floppies is their storage capacity:  1.44 MB.  That was pretty impressive back in the day.  However, the picture above was taken at 1.91 MB.  That wouldn't have even fit on one of those disks.

All of the files on the floppy disks are being saved to our office network.  It has a 4 terabyte capacity.  A disk, a picture and a network aren't exactly the same thing, but it goes to prove the point about the changes associated with technology through the years.

Technology is an interesting thing.