We are planning to build a new home next year, and want to go back to a bungalow style. Our last bungalow was a 1918 cottage style that we left in Illinois. Unfortunately, the community we are moving to has little vintage housing stock, leaving construction our only option. <br> <br>I've done the usual searches, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has suggestions on where to look for plans, or other construction ideas. <br>Peace, Dennis

If you go to the AB resource pages, there are bungalow architects. <br>Or find a floor plan and style you like in the links below and have a local architect creates plans. <br>Or go the AB bookstore, there are several floorplan books there. <br> <br> <br>Sears floor plans <br>Aladdin floor plans <br>

This book is (I think) the only book you can buy plans that you can give to a builder. I don't think most regulars of this BBS would consider most of the plans to be true bungalows but a couple are pretty good.

There are two other plan books that you can definately buy plans to give to a builder but they have many regular styles of homes in addition to bungalow styles.

If you can find an architect in your area that specializes or at least has designed homes in the bungalow style, it might be worth it. Not all architects are incredibly expensive, and a good one can keep you from making some expensive mistakes. This is particularly true if the lot is something other than a flat rectangle. The architect that designed the house I'm building did a wonderful job of fitting the house to both a lot with many mature trees (including a 36" oak smack dap in the middle), our needs as far as living space, and the style we wanted (a non F.L.Wright Prairie Style). She was particulary good at tweaking the design while maintaining the balance. Not every architect can or will do that, but if you can find one who has built houses that you like, it can really work well.

Hi, <br> <br>I just read your post, but couldn't access the books you recommended w/ plans. My address is: lf9012@yahoo.com. I would certainly appreciate any input! <br> <br>Thanks very much, <br>Lisa

Go to the American Bungalow bookstore then go to the bungalow plans pages. <br>Book BN09 is the main book that contains craftsmen / bungalow plans that were recently drawn. <br>Books OH03 and OH04 have regluar floorplans some of which are bungalow style. <br> <br>Book SG37 is about how new bugalow plans are created. I belive there are a couple plans you can build.

I just got back from BookExpo America. In addition to Crafttmen homes listed in the AB store, Home Panners now has <a href=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1931131260/qid=1086567323/sr=1-52/ref=sr_1_52/103-4774084-5797444?v=glance&amp;s=books>this book.</a>

I almost ordered this book last night when I was ordering yet more old plan books to try to find a plan to build since I can't find an old bungalow in the area I'm going to. <br> <br>Since you've actually seen the book- is it worth buying? Does it have true bungalow plans? Inside and out? <br> <br>I ended up not ordering it since there were no reviews and little to go on other than the title. <br> <br>Those of us faced with the unhappy prospect of building a new bungalow have very little to work with in terms of modern plans so I will certainly get this if it is good.

Sorry. I should have been more clear. <br>I saw a couple of plans and the cover in a catalog. <br>For some purist, I don't think most would meet their stanards. <br>I think the key to building a new "bungalow" is the builder. <br>Does the builder have craftmenship and care that they used in building homes in the 20s and 30s? <br>I don't think the plans from home planners give the interior "arts and crafts" details. That would be up to you and your builder.

Finding a good builder with experience with the detail work is certainly important. In our case the fact that our builder's conference room had really great wainscoating built by his "in house" cabinet maker was a real good sign. Unfortunately, the details can add up real quick. <br> <br>As I said in my previous post, finding a good architect can be a real help as well. This doesn't have to be outrageously expensive, and they can be really helpful with things like taking advantage of a difficult site and dealing with permitting and zoning issues (I know this from experience). It also helps if the builder and architect have worked together. In our case they were a husband/wife team that shared offices. This made for great communications. <br> <br>Considered against the total cost of building a new house, an architect can be pretty cheap. <br>

I have been searching the net and bookstores for a year for same. Old plans won't work for our family and lifestyle usually. If you want the "flavor" of a&amp;c try"Old House Journals" 'Historic House Plans'(www.eplans.com) ISSN:1071-0868 retails under 10.oo, p.62,p.63, p.78, p.79 etc. We found a beautiful, not too large, plan with nice details that we will add to with mostly repro. period trim, color, materials etc. ("The Breckenridge" plan THD-HDS-5065, by James Zirkel thru "thehousedesigners.com"....new, but works for us.)Also,REALLY cool,13.oo book called "117 House Designs of the Twenties, Gordon-Van Tine Co., by Dover, ISBN 0-486-26959-0, see www.doverpublications.com. Claims to be an authentic catalog, black and white but outstanding for ideas etc. Check it out. Good luck. Oops, wanted to mention that Sherwin-Williams paints has an a&amp;c palatte that is beautiful. go to www.sherwin-williams.com or 1-800-4sherwin to see colors.

Dennis-- <br>I don't know if you've found something or not, but you might want to take a look at my company, Harken Home (<a href="http://www.harkenhome.com">http://www.harkenhome.com</a>). We sell home plans for new home construction based on authentic period homes. Each of our plans is based on an original floorplan from the style's orginial era, updated to meet modern building codes and consumer expectations (having closets, for instance). Each of our plans are designed by architects and includes a ton of detail on finishing touches and extra elements in the home --- elevations of bookcases, for instance, so your builder can get the look and feel of the home perfect even if they haven't done a ton of period homes. Our first collection, The Eastlake Collection, was Arts &amp; Crafts, as will be our next collection due out this fall. <br> <br>Take a look and tell me what you think---particularly since this forum is more knowledgable about Arts &amp; Crafts architecture than the general public, I'd love any feedback anyone had for us. My personal email is ed@harkenhome.com. <br> <br>Best of luck finding a plan for your new home! ---Ed

I love the look of your homes, but I was disappointed in two things...one is that you don't have any plans on your web site (although I figure that is to keep people from stealing your plans), but that nearly all of the homes I looked at either had the master upstairs or the house was one story. Personally, I want a 2 (or 1 1/2) story house with a master downstairs for when/if I lose the ability to climb stairs...If I build a house, I want to keep it until I die, so I want to plan for the future... Just my 2 cents worth. <br> <br>But the houses were beautiful!

You aren't the only one with that concern. In the Prairie style house I'm having built the architect put the master bedroom in a small wing to the side and a library/laundry room wing to the other side to balance it. It is a house that we intend to live in until we can't any more. Of course we ended up using all the buildable area of what is a fairly large lot to do it in. You can see the plans by following the link on my profile.