Simple House Designs

Simple House Plans for Busy Lifestyles

It looks so much bigger inside! That's what you'll say when you see Donald A. Gardner, Architect's simple house plans. Two of these homes, The Courtney (Plan 706) and The Tanglewood (Plan 757), provide a big list of amenities in a small design. There are so many reasons today to build a small house: budget considerations; concern for impact on the environment; and busy lifestyles that leave less time to care for a larger residence. These and other reasons have led to a rising trend where homeowners want all the same quality and luxury found in a big home, built into a smaller house. Don Gardner understands your needs and offers a big collection of simple house plans, complete with images you can view, to get an idea of what the completed home will look like.

Charming Cottage Home

The Courtney is a charming cottage style home that lives large with its open concept kitchen/great room space. But before we get to that, let's spend a moment looking at the great curb appeal of this home. This front image of The Courtney shows you the beauty of this simple home plan:

Inside you'll find that this home makes the most of its 1859 sq.ft. and there's room for expansion with the 225 sq.ft. bonus room. When you step inside you'll wonder how this home does it – there's such an openness and feeling of space – that's because Don Gardner designed it to maximize the ability to move freely within its modern interior.

This simple house plan offers everything you've been looking for; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, within a beautiful, open concept.

That great room/kitchen space will become the focal point for family meals and movie nights, plus it will be a natural gathering spot on a cold night, as everyone gravitates to the fireplace, and enjoys this room with its cathedral ceiling.

When it's time for privacy, the master suite welcomes you with its lavish master bath and big walk-in closet. The other two bedrooms are upstairs, along with the second bath and the bonus room.

Outdoor enjoyment is a part of this home plan, too. Two porches provide relaxing spots to enjoy the day. You'll especially love the rear porch, with easy access from the great room. It's easy to take the party outside from this home, and then easily re-enter the home, back for refreshments, or to coax more guests to join you outside.

This Small Home is Big on Modern Amenities

But what if you're looking for an even smaller home, with much of the same quality as a larger house? Don Gardner's The Tanglewood checks in at 1473 sq.ft. of finished space, with a 297 sq.ft. bonus room as your opportunity for expansion. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, like The Courtney, makes the most of a terrific open concept design.

Imagine a fun morning in this home – the kids are enjoying a great time playing right outside near the deck; you can easily see them as you whip up some pancakes in the kitchen. The unobstructed view from there into the great room and out to the deck and yard make it simple to fix breakfast and call the crew without ever leaving the modern kitchen!

That great room is going to be one of your favorite spots in this home. Its fireplace and cathedral ceiling, along with that easy deck access, give The Tanglewood a big advantage over other homes that have a solid wall and only a few windows in the great room. This home is designed to accommodate your busy lifestyle.

When the day is done, the master suite awaits with its cathedral ceiling and inviting master bath that features separate tub and shower areas. Privacy is assured, with the two additional bedrooms located on the other side of the house. The additional bath is on the second level, adjacent to these bedrooms.

Small Footprint = Big Possibilities!

Who knew that simple house plans like these would be able to go toe-to-toe with some of the nicest larger homes available today? Don Gardner designs quality small house plans that incorporate all the 'must haves,' in a small footprint. If you like what you see, it's likely time you signed up for your free MyDAG account. Register on our site to save, sort and compare house plans, and pay particular attention to the images – you'll want to see every inch of our delightful simple house plans!