Home Design

Cost-Conscious Design

Balancing the Save/Splurge Equation An architect explains where best to spend your kitchen remodeling budget

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So Many Choices

Amazing Countertops
Manufacturers have improved old materials and developed new ones, expanding the potential for new and remodeled kitchens by Rob Yagid

5 Roofs That Will Last a Lifetime Online Membership Required
These premium products offer time-tested longevity, so your choice depends on price, appearance, and installation requirements by Harrison McCampbell

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Project Gallery

4 Season Porch Conversionjeffsaul
Front door entrySECRAINC
Hickory tub panelstagco
Well Housemaconarc
Hidden rain gutters and down spoutsMarkFossen
Special PergolaMrNailhead
deck railtgray

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Design How-To

Designing shed dormers Online Membership Required
With its long, simple roof, a shed dormer adds the most floor space and more opportunities for windows than other dormer types by Katie Hutchison

Designing showers for small bathrooms Online Membership Required

Integrating a home office

Design FAQs

Do compact fluorescents and dimmers mix?Ralf Emerson, Minot, ND asks:Q: What type of dimmer will work with compact fluorescent lightbulbs?

Clifford A. Popejoy replies...

Design Collections

Kitchen Planning Guide
From design to installation, use our comprehensive guide to navigate your next kitchen build or remodel
Small Homes Guide
Discover big ideas for small houses in this collection of features on designing and building for a small footprint
Bathroom Planning Guide
Everything you need to know to plan a perfect bathroom from design ideas to choosing materials and fixtures

All home building books All home design books

Idea Books

500 BungalowsExplore the charm of the bungalow through 500 color photos.

Concrete CountertopsDesign, form and finishes for the new kitchen and bath

Fire PlacesA Practical Design Guide to Fireplaces and Stoves Indoors and Out

Home by DesignAmerica’s leading residential architect goes beyond The Not So Big House

Special Sections

Enter to Win a Senco Cordless Trim-Nailer

Deck Planning Center

Tool Guide Sweepstakes

Design Essentials

Big Gable Hides a Boring Ranch Online Membership Required
A change in a ranch's ridgeline transforms a suburban house without disturbing the neighborhood by Frank Riepe

Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting Online Membership Required
All 12v lighting systems are safe, but quality components and careful installation make the difference over the long haul by Clifford A. Popejoy

The Smart, Small Kitchen Online Membership Required
Finding a home for the fridge was the key to designing a tiny kitchen for serious cooking by Dana Moore

Design Video Spotlight

A Custom Floor Medallion Centerpiece
This method turns an ordinary wood floor into a visual stunner
with Charles Peterson
AirTap Water Heater Heating Element
This add-on to your water heater uses hot air to heat the water in your tank
with Chris Ermides
Hippo Hardware Tour
Where else can you find Victorian-era doorbells, a dragon fixture and a real John Douglas?
PaperStone Countertop
Paper beats rock in this new countertop material
with Chris Ermides

Breaktime Discussions

Best way to fix troubled plaster-and-tile bathroom walls grout joint size Ceiling heights more discussions...