The Bungalow Style

Bungalows are very convenient for the homeowner in that all living areas are on a single-story and there are no stairs between living areas. A bungalow is well suited to persons with impaired mobility, such as the elderly or those in wheelchairs.

A bungalow is a type of building. Across the world, the meaning of the word bungalow varies. Common features of many bungalows include verandas and being low-rise. In Australia, the California bungalow was popular after the First World War. In North America and the United Kingdom, a bungalow today is a residential building, normally detached, which is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof, usually with dormer windows. Full vertical walls are therefore only seen on one story, at least on the front and rear elevations. Usually the buildings are relatively small, especially from recent decades, however, early examples may be large, in which case the term bungalow tends not to be used today.

The term “bungalow” originated in India, deriving from the word baṅgalo, meaning "Bengali" and used elliptically for a "house in the Bengal style."Such houses were traditionally small, only one story, and had a wide veranda. The term was first found in English from 1696, where it was used to describe "bungales or hovells" in India for English sailors of the East India Company, which do not sound like very grand lodgings. Later it became used for the spacious homes or official lodgings of officials of the British Raj. It was well known in Britain and later America, where it initially had high status and exotic connotations, and began to be used in the late 19th century for large country or suburban houses built in an Arts and Crafts or other Western vernacular style—essentially as large cottages, a term also sometimes used. Later developers began to use the term for smaller houses.

Neighborhoods of only bungalows offer more privacy than similar neighborhoods with two-story houses. With bungalows, strategically planted trees and shrubs are usually sufficient to block the view of neighbors. With two-story houses, the extra height requires much taller trees to accomplish the same, and it may not be practical to place such tall trees close to the house to obscure the view from the second floor of the next door neighbor. They are a very cost-effective way of living. On the other hand, even closely spaced bungalows make for quite low-density neighborhoods, contributing to urban sprawl. In Australia, bungalows have broad verandas and as a result are often excessively dark inside, requiring artificial light even in daytime.

Why We Do What We Do: The RMPC Philosophy

EASY TO USE AND WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE
Choosing a home can be an overwhelming experience, and with good reason. With so many
options, styles and factors at play, it is one of the largest and most personal
decisions you will make. We want to support you, wherever you are on
your journey. Our Plan Collections are offered in expertly curated collections available for purchase. With any collection you choose, you will receive a selection of plans and informative articles chosen specifically for you, whether you are searching by architectural type, square footage, or lifestyle. If you are ready to take one of our concept plans into construction, our expert drafting team can make it happen, or if you are just starting out finding home ideas, we have everything you need.

GOOD IS IN THE DETAILS, GREAT IS IN THE DESIGN
Our passion is good design, and we believe your home should be intuitive,
thoughtful, and perfectly tuned to the way you live your life. The Rocky Mountain Plan Collection is comprised of our favorite plans that we know work and live beautifully. The elevations and layouts of each design allow for flow, ease, and comfort, and we have thought about every detail of how a good home should function. If you love a concept plan but have some ideas of your own to further personalize your space, we can certainly customize any plan to fit your needs.

A HOME TO SUIT YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
Our Rocky Mountain pride is a part of every home we design, though this does not mean that these homes won’t nestle just as cozily near the coast, amongst rolling hills, or on sprawling plains. The “Rocky Mountain” in our company name is more than just our geographical location, but a why we do what we do.

GREEN YOUR HOME, LIVE YOUR LIFE
We believe fervently in protecting our greater home: planet earth. Green building
is in our blood and our (recycled) pencil tips, and members of our team are constantly leading and contributing to local environmental initiatives and furthering our education on developing materials and techniques. That’s why in each Plan Collection we create, you will find pertinent information on new building materials and tips on how to build greener and safer homes. We do the research for you so you can make conscientious choices and get back to enjoying your home.

EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST
Our team of experts come to the table with decades of experience in residential design and building. Our collective passion is to spread the practice of good design and to create homes that make people happy. We have extensive experience in conceptualizing communities, green building, and custom construction, and this knowledge comes standard with everything we do.

Using Plan Books and Media to Inspire Remodel Ideas

Remodeling projects that go well include adequate planning. Remodeling projects did not go well usually experienced the most common mistake, which is a lack of planning. Home owners who want to keep and upgrade their homes are looking for creative ways to improve or change an existing space, such as a kitchen remodel, bathroom upgrade, room addition, more outdoor living space, or an area to call "my space."

How to make the best use of a space can be difficult without knowing what you can do with that space. I recommend the Rocky Mountain Plan Company, of which I am a member. This innovative company provides inspiring residential house plan ideas that you can use to stir up your imagination. Find them on the Internet at rockymountainplan.com.

Using a plan book is one of many ways to look for ideas. Other sources include Houzz.com, Pinterest, and online plan book Web sites such as ePlans.com, which has dedicated house plans that are prepared by residential designers who belong to the American Institute of Building Design. Keep in mind that plan book companies have strict copyright laws. The intent is to understand how experienced residential designers have problem solved the use of spaces, but not to copy those plans. It is always advisable to hire an experienced AIBD Residential Designer or Architect to help you achieve your remodel visions.

The exterior remodeling of an existing home looks great as long as the style of the home doesn’t become a mixed variety of styles. As best as possible, it is aesthetically appealing to make an exterior add‐on appear as though it was meant to be there in the first place. Become familiar with architectural styles to help you define the exterior look.

The following example is from the Rocky Mountain Plan Company. The exterior is presented in two different conceptual styles, Contemporary and European. Both styles are derived from the same floor plan. Understanding styles like these can help you ensure that your remodel exterior aligns with the style of your home. Pay special attention to the details. Those details will define the style of your home.

Open space is a common request by home owners when evaluating space in an existing home to create current home design trends. Many older homes have separate Kitchen, Dining, and Living Rooms, and these rooms are usually close to each other but confined. Opening up these rooms to serve as a single great room for the interaction and enjoyment of family members and guests is a great remodel idea.

The following diagram shows a typical floor plan for an American 3‐bedroom ranch style home with a living room, kitchen, and dining room. Using popular Great Room floor plan layouts, we can open up this space and create a much better environment and outdoor living for a typical American family.

Plan books can also be a great source to look for design ideas such as adding nooks and bay windows, a second story, or even a second Master Suite bedroom. Look for ideas and floor plans that have a similar feel and footprint to your existing home. Every home has an element to it that tells a story, such as a lower level plan that adheres to home schooling, or an extension to a family room that provides a therapeutic pool or hot tub. Or the element might simply be a space to entertain hobbies, create art, or have relaxing conversation.

A family's enjoyment of a home is only as good as its floor plan, so when considering a remodel, home owners should study numerous floor plans, with an emphasis on finding a plan book that focuses on what they value. Plan books focus on maintaining architectural detail and charm, along with ease of living and intelligent design. You might find them a great place to start.








---
All of our plans are available here
OR
You can buy our entire set of plans here!