Modern

Choosing from these modern house plans

The practical question with a modern is not style, it is footprint. This collection spans 800 to 3,215 square feet, which is a wide range in build terms: the smallest sets here are realistically owner-buildable, while the largest need a general contractor and a proper schedule. Bedroom counts run from 2 to 4, so there is something here whether you are building a rental, a second home, or a full family residence. Work out your budget per square foot first, then pick the plan that fits it. Building smaller and finishing well almost always beats building larger and running out of money at the finishes.

Modern plans in this collection

• Lean Guest House, 26×32 – 26×32 ft, 800 sq ft, 2 bed, 1 bath
• Lean Cabin, 24×36 – 24×36 ft, 864 sq ft, 2 bed, 2 bath
• Modern Lean Cabin, 32×38 – 38×32 ft, 1,216 sq ft, 2 bed, 2 bath
• Modern Lean Cottage, 30×46 – 30×46 ft, 1,380 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath
• Modern Farmhouse, 32×32 – 32×32 ft, 1,400 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath
• Modern Lean Cabin, 30×50 – 30×50 ft, 1,500 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath
• Modern Cabin with Loft, 35×35 – 35×35 ft, 1,675 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath
• Modern Lean Cabin, 40×50 – 40×50 ft, 2,000 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath
• Twin Gable Modern Scandinavian Barn – 81×39 ft, 2,045 sq ft, 4 bed, 2 bath
• Chestnut Springs Mid-Century Farmhouse – 70×32 ft, 3,215 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath

What a typical plan set includes

Whichever modern you choose, typical sets include the drawings below. Contents vary by plan, so check each plan page or ask us for the sheet list before you buy.

• Dimensioned floor plans for every level, drawn to scale
• Exterior elevations on all four sides with materials and heights
• Building sections and construction details
• Foundation plan and framing layouts for floor, wall and roof
• Electrical layout with outlets, switches and fixtures
• Window and door schedules
• Roof plan with pitch and overhang dimensions

Permits, codes and modifications

Permit requirements depend on your location, site and proposed construction. Your building department determines which drawings, calculations and professional approvals are required, and local review may identify changes needed to the plans. Check locally before you build. Non-structural changes are usually handled on site by your builder; anything affecting spans, load paths or the roof structure should go past an engineer first. Either way it costs a fraction of commissioning a bespoke design.

Digital PDF plans

Every modern plan on this page is supplied digitally as a PDF set. Our Shipping and Delivery Policy explains how and when files are made available, and the full PDF set is yours to keep and print as often as you need for your own build. Because these are digital files, cancellations and refunds are handled as set out in our Returns & Refunds Policy.

Why buy a stock plan set

Commissioning a bespoke design from an architect for a house this size typically runs into five figures before anyone breaks ground, and takes months of back-and-forth to produce. A stock plan set gets you to the same place for the cost of a weekend away, because the design work has already been done and paid for once. The trade is that you build what is drawn rather than something shaped entirely around you. For most people building a cabin, a second home or a rental, that is a trade worth making, and the money saved goes into the build itself where it does more good.

What it costs to build

Construction cost is driven far more by where you are building and how you finish it than by the plan itself. Across most of the United States, owner-builders should expect somewhere between $150 and $250 per square foot turnkey, with the lower end achievable if you take on labour yourself and keep finishes simple. Rural sites with cheap land often carry higher trades costs; urban sites are the reverse. Site work, utility connections and septic can add substantially and are easy to forget at the budgeting stage. Take the drawings to a local lumber yard or builder for a proper take-off before you commit to a figure.

Common questions

Can I build this more than once? The licence covers a single build. If you intend to build repeatedly, get in touch before you buy.

Are the plans metric or imperial? Drawings are dimensioned in feet and inches to United States building conventions.

Will my building department accept them? Only your building department can decide. It determines which drawings, calculations and professional approvals it needs, and its review may identify changes to the plans. Ask before you buy.

How quickly do I get the files? Once payment is confirmed, the download link appears on your confirmation page and is emailed to you.