Like interior design, floor plans change over time. Some large shifts are easy to see, most notably the rise of today’s open layout and the corresponding decline of formal spaces. Other adjustments may be smaller but nevertheless reflect subtle evolutions in homeowner lifestyles and expectations. Such micro-changes can be seen in this case study of a stock plan that has been altered to fit the needs of one builder’s target audience.
The starting plan was a modest 1,718-square-foot,
two-story design by Frank Betz Associates from 2007. Though that doesn’t sound
like a long time ago, the proliferation of television design shows and the
massive popularity of visual online curation sites like Pinterest and Houzz
have brought certain trends to the forefront. Builder Frank Batson knew it was
time to update the plan for his model home in the Lakeside Meadows community of
Mt. Juliet, Tenn. (near Nashville).
“The Heydon Hall plan, by Frank Betz and Associates, has always offered a great deal of function for the space, which in turn offers a high value to homeowners,” says Batson. “When we began to consider building it as our new model home, our challenge was to incorporate multiple features that could enhance its livability and to offer flexible options for the various needs of our clients.”
