Welcome to Silver Spring. Its large wraparound porch, covered by a standing-seam metal roof, recalls an inviting style long favored in the Upper South. The exterior design is enhanced by a center gable with a classic Palladian window and a series of sturdy, boxed columns supporting the front porch roof. Interior features include a formal living room with fireplace, a separate study, a two-story family room, and a hallway balcony on the second floor, as well as a spacious country-style kitchen. The angled island houses the cooktop and serving bar. Ceiling heights are 9 feet on the main level and 8 feet upstairs. This livable and attractive house plan design was contributed by The CHK Architects Residential Design Studio located in Silver Spring, Maryland. more

Adapted from the simple, classical lines of the historic Wythe House in Williamsburg, our two-story brick home offers generous servings of tradition and comfort. Precise proportioning and simple detailing give the design a distinctive Virginia flavor. A double-door entry set beneath the characteristic jack arch and ribbon transom welcomes guests inside. Brick is laid in a Flemish-bond pattern with additional jack arches above the windows. Following the basic rectangular shape of the house, interior rooms are simply proportioned but spacious. The plan offers 21/2 baths and the option of 3 or 4 bedrooms. Our Virginia House was designed by architect William H. Phillips, Jr., of Dauphin Island, Alabama. more

With more than 3,000 square feet, this plan is grand in scale and graciously detailed. Its exterior combines the formality of classic styling with old Southern charm. The gable's half-round window, called a lunette, and the fanlight window over the doorway recall the early Classic Revival style. The front porch, covered by a hipped copper roof, welcomes guests with a wonderful open-air living space. Designed by Stephen Fuller, Inc., in Atlanta, this plan achieves a simple elegance. An impressive entrance hall separates the living and dining rooms. A fireplace, flanked by a pair of built-in bookcases, is the focal point of the family room. An open rail separates this room from the combination kitchen/breakfast room. The upstairs plan maximizes its more than 1,700 square feet of heated space. The master suite, with sitting room and spacious bath, occupies almost half the second floor as well as the area above the garage. Three other bedrooms and a bath complete the plan. more

It's the details of this plan that give it a Country French flavor. Sidelights and a transom dress the front door, and an arch above the entry offers a warm welcome. With a steeply pitched, hipped roof and exterior walls of stucco, the house offers elegance as well as Southern charm. The house sits on a compact foundation defined by a raised band. Another band separates the first and second floors. Inside, rooms are thoughtfully proportioned with airy 9-foot ceilings. Careful placement of the windows and doors allows traditional furniture arrangements. The plan features a central foyer flanked by the study and the dining room. The comfortable family room contains a fireplace, a bookcase wall, and view-catching, floor-to-ceiling windows. French doors expand the living area onto a wooden deck. The kitchen opens to a spacious breakfast area with a box bay window. Upstairs, a central stair hall organizes four bedrooms and two baths. more