Staff Picks: Our Favorite House Plans

We see a lot of houses working at America’s Best House Plans, and we fall in love with new ones every day. Our staff spends hours daily exploring our 17,000+ plans to give you the best possible presentation of each house plan. With so many options, we tend to find house plans that we like more than others. That being so, it’s impossible not to daydream about multiple homes at once, but we asked our staff to share their current favorite house plan with you. After analyzing the results, we found that each team member likes different styles and layouts. Below are their picks:

Modern Farmhouse Plan 9401-00018

Brandon, Co-Owner of America’s Best House Plans, has caught the Modern Farmhouse bug that’s been going around. His favorite house plan, Plan 9401-00018, reflects his preference for clean lines, bold accents, and perfect porch space. This gorgeous Modern Farmhouse plan has a highly detailed exterior that draws you into its 2,984 square feet interior. The exterior facade highlights deep-set covered porches, multiple gables, a stone perimeter skirt, and stunning window awnings adding to the charm and character of the home. The angled garage hosts plenty of space for three vehicles, with a pedestrian door, room for a workbench, and access to the utility porch. The remaining patios of this house plan include an 8-foot wide veranda granting front entrance into the home, the lanai serving as an entertainment area, and the side porch. 

Stepping inside this three-bedroom, two-plus bathroom house plan highlights an open floor plan, a main floor master, a two-story ceiling, and a bonus room. The main suite steals the show on the main floor with its vaulted ceiling, 5-fixture main bathroom, and generously sized walk-in closet. The standard rooms entail a warming fireplace in the 2-story family room surrounded by wall-to-wall windows and an adjoining kitchen with a breakfast nook. This kitchen details two islands with a bar top, a walk-in pantry, and a butler’s pantry leading to the semi-closed dining room. Designed with other vital architectural elements, this Modern Farmhouse plan covers all the bases in the two-story home.

Modern Farmhouse Plan 009-00292

While Mark, Co-Owner of America’s Best House Plans, is drawn to Craftsman homes more than any other house style, his favorite house plan is an exclusive Modern Farmhouse: Plan 009-00292. A 1,884-square-foot home, this single-story house plan has an eye-catching board and batten exterior with exposed timber beams, window panels, and window dormers sitting under a steel roof. The rear countenance is equally as charming as the front. Here, you’ll find a vaulted covered porch with just enough space to place a grill or add a few pieces of furniture. The two-car garage is a side entry with a pedestrian door and a storage area.

The incredible interior of this Modern Farmhouse plan is full of architectural details that draw the eye and provide modern conveniences. Right off the front entry, the vaulted family room boasts a 16-foot height outlined with exposed beams calling attention to the warming fireplace. Thanks to its immediate access, this room receives extra amounts of natural light from the windows overlooking the front of the home and the dormer windows above. The open layout encourages a family-centered lifestyle as the adjoining kitchen and dining room configuration keeps the family cooks in the loop. Split bedrooms and the bonus room continue to make this house plan a flexible and comfortable place for you and your family.

Modern House Plan 207-00084

Shawn, our Team Lead, leans more towards the Modern and Contemporary styles, and Plan 207-00084 reflects that. This 3,083 square foot Modern home design treats you with an exterior that attracts glamour, showcases straight lines and big windows, and unique architectural details that impeccably represent the Modern style. The interior draws inspiration from the body as it removes the fluff of unnecessary design elements and sticks to clean lines sparking an energy-efficient use of space. With very few walls, the open floor plan of this Modern home design is brightened by natural light pouring in from the tall windows surrounding the entire home. 

This house plan highlights the entertainment factor provided by the covered lanai. Spring and summer will be filled with memories as this outdoor living area has a warming fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, and plenty of space to decorate the room with comfortable patio furniture. With amenities as calming and festive as these, this gathering spot will surely please you during any time of the day, making this three-bedroom, three-plus bathroom house plan Shawn’s favorite.

French Country Plan 9401-00083

Cynthia, our Jill of all trades and Head of the Customer Service Department, seeks charming characteristics when choosing her preferred style. Drawn to her love for whimsical cottages, Cynthia’s favorite home, Plan 9401-00083, combines various architectural styles to create this French Country home design. Its 3,230 square foot boasts a storybook-like exterior with warm woodwork, smooth stucco, a tower window accent, and a turret. In addition to its dedication to stylish elements composing the home, the practical use of the exterior highlights a welcoming place to create an outdoor oasis on the lanai and multiple porches. Complete with a fireplace to sit around during those chilly nights and a barbecue grill space to fire up your favorite foods, the rear of the home provides plenty of room to lounge and relax. The front covered entry greets the homeowner through an archway leading to the 6-foot wide veranda. This area makes the perfect spot for welcoming friends and family into the home or having delightful conversations with the neighbors while overlooking the beautiful courtyard.

The interior of this house plan equally satisfies the eye through its dedication to decorative ceilings and its family-centered, open layout. As each room lies under a different ceiling type, the dramatic archways create an Old World vibe adding to the warmth of the overall house plan, making it a place to settle in as a home sweet home.

French Country Plan 041-00187

Brent, one of our Customer Service Representatives, thinks the European details and the Southern style found in Plan 041-00187 make for a phenomenal place to call home. That’s what makes this French Country design his ideal pick. The massive curb appeal of this house plan delivers a fabulous mixture of brickwork, board and batten, and timber for a contrasting rustic pop of color. Matching rustic window panels, gable roofing, and the vaulted front covered porch add to this plan’s appeal as the two-car garage offers a side entry for uninterrupted views of the front countenance. 

The simple interior layout is designed for convenience and openness in a 2,373-square-foot, four-to-five-bedroom home. The split bedroom layout, united with the hallways, adds much-appreciated privacy to all the bedrooms. These convenient design features, such as the built-in shelving flanking the fireplace, the walk-in kitchen pantry, and the mudroom lockers, work together for a comfortable dwelling lacking in nothing. Moreover, the best highlight of this house plan is the flexibility of the bonus room. Functioning well as a guest bedroom, crafts room, game room, or home office, the bonus room marks this French Country house plan as a beautiful family-friendly option.

Southern House Plan 963-00372

Megan, our Marketing Director, typically falls more in love with modern and contemporary homes as their sleek lines and unique angles draw her eye. Still, her favorite plan is surprisingly the complete opposite. Plan 963-00372 speaks to her southern roots as this Southern house plan presents a charming modern take on this old-school southern style dwelling. Right off the bat, the grand wrap-around porch sets the tone for the remainder of the home as a feature you won’t take your eyes off. A patio like this beckons for long, relaxing rocking chair conversations while sipping a cool glass of fresh lemonade. This adds to the attractiveness of the pergola on the rear patio as it presents a place to dine al fresco under the semi-protection from the sun. The remaining exterior of the home blends clapboard siding, metal roofing, and window shutters harmoniously to create a perfect southern mixture. A ton of multi-panel window views draw natural light, while the two-car garage offers a side entry leading to the convenient mudroom, complete with double benches, double lockers, and access to the guest powder room.

Once inside, the dedicated family spaces comprise the entire main floor, right from the two-story foyer. When your family is ready to retreat to privacy, the second floor houses the sleeping quarters, which all enjoy the accommodation of en suite bathrooms. Whether you envision hosting formal or casual gatherings, this house plan is designed to provide you with all the needed spaces with built-in elements for convenience and an open floor plan.

Southwest House Plan 425-00029

Lexie, our Content Coordinator, gravitates toward various house plan styles that balance indoor and outdoor living spaces well. Once she feasted her eyes on Plan 425-00029. The unique elements of the enclosed courtyard, the two-sided fireplace between the dining and great room, and the large covered deck are all highlighted features of this Southwest house plan. The exterior comprises smooth stucco, natural elements of stone veneer and timber, and two outdoor living areas. The courtyard entry splits the garage entries into a double and single bay. The front entry garage leads to the mudroom, with lockers, a guest powder room, and a storage room, while the second garage entry leads to the hallway where the sleeping quarters are located. The main entrance leads to an entry tower behind a steel gate for an extra layer of protection as the entry tower opens to the enclosed courtyard. Besides the covered deck, this area makes for an exciting place to entertain. The spacious yard features a warming fireplace to gather around as you gaze at the stars, while the terrace provides the ideal spot to host barbecue luncheons.

The wonderful thing about these two outdoor spaces is the natural light from the near wall-to-wall windows from the sliding glass doors. In its 2,770 square footage, the home’s interior showcases an open floor plan with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each bedroom provides en suite access to the adjoining bathroom and walk-in closets. Separated from the secondary bedrooms by the laundry room, the main suite enjoys a little privacy and provides private access to the rear deck, his and her walk-in closets, and a 5-fixture bathroom with style. The option to build a basement foundation adds to the captivating nature of the home as it adds extra bedrooms and dedicated entertainment spaces. This Southwest house plan delivers a modern layout with unique features and a brilliant exterior design.

Mediterranean House Plan 1018-00054

Cindy, our Builder Relations Specialist, fancies Plan 1018-00054 with aof its elegant Mediterranean details. This swirling one-story home design features an exterior countenance consisting of smooth stucco, brick, and a grand courtyard entry leading to the three-car garage. The rear of the home details a covered lanai spanning almost the entire width of the home and is complete with an outdoor kitchen, pool bathroom, and a fireplace. This, in addition to the ample space for outdoor furniture, is an area just right for hosting pool parties and other summer activities while delivering a convenient 3-fixture pool bathroom complete with a shower. This brilliant addition removes the chances of water being tracked into the home. 

The 3,089 square foot interior offers three bedrooms with three bathrooms in a split bedroom layout, allowing plenty of privacy between rooms. Right off the foyer, the great room presents a considerable size with a double-sided fireplace shared with the dining room. Both rooms lie under a tray ceiling, host excellent windows overlooking the lanai, and deliver great space for family gatherings and dinners. As the homeowner, you’ll love the main suite so much that you’ll be tempted never to come out. The bedroom hosts excellent space under a tray ceiling, a romantic fireplace, a sunlit sitting room with private access to the lanai, and a spa-like bathroom past his and her closets. Step into this main bathroom and either dive into the bump-out soaking tub with different window views overlooking the front of the home or step into the large shower with two shower heads. With a warm exterior façade highlighted with multiple outstanding outdoor spaces, this Mediterranean house plan functions as a comfortable dwelling you will love to call home. 

As you can see, we seem to gravitate toward various styles, sizes, and features in our dream house plans. Thanks to our dedicated house designers, we receive new projects daily, so the pool of homes to pick from grows constantly. That being said, we might fall in love with entirely different homes tomorrow, but those are our favorites for now. Do you have a current favorite house plan? Has your favorite style changed over the years? Let us know in the comments, and explore our website to find your dream home.