For clients in the North Liberty, Iowa area who are looking for a custom home, before you sign up for a floor plan, you might want to get a better understanding of different home design styles so that your conversation with our expert planner goes smoothly. While at Mills Custom Homes, we are able to create a beautiful home for you with the space and versatility your active lifestyle demands, it’s smart to have a vision of what your home will look like in the end.
Let’s check out the different styles and designs that are on the market now.
Craftsman Style
While this early-20th century style not only applies to the exterior, this home design travels inside. However, it’s not necessary to stay true to the original arts & crafts movement when selecting a home plan featuring Craftsman-type design. This home will typically have:
- Low sloping roof that overhangs the sides of the home
- Exposed beams as part of the porch architecture
- Roomy front porch, enough for a swing or sitting area
- Double-hung windows, sometimes with unique tiles or stained glass in the corners
- Square pillars framing entry stairs
- Tends toward the bungalow style
- A single dormer upstairs, if at all. Newer Craftsman-style homes may have a raised rear roofline for extra space upstairs.
Inside you may find 12- or 15-light glass doors, built-in cabinetry and unique woodwork throughout the home. Function is always highlighted over fluffy decor.
Keeping It Country
You don’t have to buy a 100-year-old house to get a farmhouse when selecting a home design for your custom home. The country or farmhouse style will have clapboard style siding, which can be wood, vinyl or even insulated. Think of double-hung windows and perhaps a multi-pane picture window looking into the living or dining room. There may be a porch with some scrollwork along the eaves. The kitchen entrance will be as visible to the street as the front door and can be connected with the wrap-around porch.
There will be a steeper roofline and multiple dormers. Newer construction techniques can minimize the slanted ceilings upstairs found in older farmhouses. Your country home will have a blend of comfort and elegant additions. No country-style home will look exactly like any other on the street.
The attached garage will be positioned at the back of the home, away from prying eyes.
Modern Lines and Contemporary Living
Modern homes are often classified in home design by their lean-to, butterfly or flat roof lines paired with single-pane windows varying in size. Symmetry is often left to the imagination while its angles set it apart from the natural shapes of your landscaping.
Inside, the simple roof line often allows for vaulted ceilings in the foyer, living and kitchen areas. Natural light will pour in from the oversized picture windows, while the lines of the exterior will be reflected in the fireplace, stairs and cabinetry.
The second floor will be hidden from the street view or use a split entry. The modern style easily lends itself to open concept living and indoor / outdoor spaces that flow. This is a wonderful style to consider when you are thinking of entertaining during the summer.
Cottage
If you are thinking of downsizing and building a custom home perfect for retirement or weekend use, a cottage may just be the thing. These compact homes are highlighted by steep rooflines, doors framed by their own roof, and clapboard or shingled exteriors. You might think of a chimney popping out the top, a front porch with hanging baskets and hedges perfectly positioned under the front window.
It may have an irregular roofline, unique windows of different sizes and a smaller footprint. If it does offer two-floor living, the upstairs will likely have pitched ceilings.
The smaller size of this home design in North Liberty is that your utility bills can be lower as you are not wasting heat on empty areas of your home. Meanwhile, it will be packed with charm that is easy to maintain. Build your garage either attached or detached.
Rooflines That Cross Design Styles
Many house shoppers have a particular roof shape in mind when describing their dream home. Most rooflines can be found on multiple housing styles. Learn which one best matches the home design you desire for your custom house.
- Hip and Valley: This is the most popular roofline in modern construction. The peaks of the home will match in height while dormers appear in all directions.
- Lean-to or Flat: Instead of creating triangles along the roof line, the lean-to roof is a single slab that is pitched in one direction. The flat roof will highlight a squared-off top on the home.
- Gambrel: Often referred to as a “barn roof,” think of the older farms with a barn that has a roof that slopes down in three different pitches.
- Hip: All four sides of the roof are pitched in to meet in a single line. This roof is found on ranches and many Mid-Century or modern homes.
- Open or Box Gable: A simple and affordable means to place a roof on a rectangular home. The two sides of the roof pitch in to meet in a single line, while both ends of the gable are enclosed.
Smaller Footprints With Full-Sized Function
Just because you are building a custom home does not mean that bigger is better. Many young homeowners are seeking smaller houses on small lots that still offer all the modern conveniences. At Mills Custom Homes, we are eager to help you create a unique home design that fits in with the busy North Liberty urban area. The garage can be positioned underneath your home with direct access to the street while two- or three-story living provides all the square footage you need to keep comfortable.
If you would like to learn more about home styles and how they match functional floor plans, give us a call at Mills Custom Homes to set up an appointment with one of our friendly design experts. We look forward to matching you to your future Iowa dream home.