Homeowners thinking outside of the traditional wood-framed residential box are pouring on the creativity when building houses with precast concrete walls.

Not only used in below-grade applications, concrete shows its durability and energy efficiency from the ground up in new home construction, says James Baty, executive director of the Concrete Foundations Association, based in Mount Vernon, Iowa. "It's hard to beat concrete's thermal performance, storm resistance and sustainability qualities," he says. "A concrete home built with the proper supports can easily last 200 years and, as in 'The Three Pigs' fairy tale, can withstand nature's 'huffs and puffs' better than the house made of sticks."

Concrete is comprised of cement, which is a fine powder made from limestone, clay and/or shale. When mixed with water, cement binds aggregates, such as sand and gravel, into solid concrete through a chemical reaction called hydration.

But Baty says today's concrete isn't that of your grandfather's generation -- technological advances build a better, stronger and firmer concrete -- especially when it comes to the precast variety.

Superior Walls of America, based in New Holland, Pennsylvania, is a 35-year-old company with a dozen licensees in the United States and Canada, and has been an innovator in precast concrete building systems since its inception, says company president Jim Costello.

The precast concrete process is one in which wall panels are fabricated to architectural plans in factory-controlled conditions and assembled on-site, Costello says. "Instead of pouring concrete into forms on the construction site, our products are steel-reinforced concrete walls with insulation inside, for the highest energy efficiency," he says. "Precast concrete walls are up to 10 1/4 inches thick and can be up to 12 feet tall with custom-made holes so forms are easily bolted together to create a tight seal."

A specially formulated concrete that can withstand up to 5,000 pounds per square inch after a full 28-day curing process, precast concrete wall panels need not remain a utilitarian gray color. Texture can also be achieved in precast concrete walls shortly after being poured into forms through stamping -- a process by which patterns are pressed into wet concrete. Colorants can be spread over the top of stamped, wet concrete so the outside of panels can emulate stones or bricks. Or, after the house is built, skilled masonry workers can affix stone or brickwork to concrete panels.

Foam insulation is layered in each precasted form, and acts as an impervious barrier to water and air. Precast concrete forms serve as a solid wall structure, and are bolted together for below-grade applications and multiple story homes. When fit together according to architectural plans, the precast concrete walls create a tight building envelope, which wins awards for energy efficiency.

"There's a higher concentration of concrete homes in Europe, while concrete homes in North America can range from 15 percent to 25 percent more on front-end costs than traditional new construction that uses wood," Baty says. "But we are finding that more people are considering building concrete homes in storm-prone coastal regions and in places where tornados are prevalent."

An energy-efficient home in Litchfield, Connecticut, constructed with Superior Walls precast concrete wall panels, was recently declared a winner in the state's sixth annual Zero Energy Challenge. The residence, built by Revival Homes LLC of New Hartford, tied in the category for the home with the "lowest projected annual net operating cost."

The precast concrete walls are structural, but also serve as the finished surface on the outside of the home. Since the low-maintenance concrete panels will not burn or rot over time, they add to the durability and energy efficiency of the home.

Precast concrete panels have vertical steel rebar inside each stud and insulated access holes for ease in wiring and plumbing. Inside the home, galvanized steel stud facings are ready for drywall or plasterboard finishing, so interior walls conceal the solid stone-cold nature of concrete.

Meticulous planning is essential when choosing to build a concrete home made of precast walls, because once poured, walls are set in concrete. "The beauty of concrete is that it can be formed in all different shapes," Costello says. "A house in the round, or geodome, made of concrete is attainable if an architect can plan it, then we can cast it and build it."

Set in Concrete

For precast concrete information, go to SuperiorWalls.com.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

Rustic charms roost in timber-framed homes that resemble barns. Rooted in American agrarian architecture, barn home designs have an expansive "cathedral" quality, says Kevin Durkin, president and founder of Heritage Restorations, based in Waco, Texas.

"Barn-style homes are popular for their large, open areas and classic farmhouse architectural style," Durkin says. "The beauty of the interior of a barn home is that it can be contemporary or rustic."

Cupolas, steep-pitched roofs, exposed timbers and expansive open interiors are some of the key architectural elements found in barn homes. Built using timber frame construction, barn homes are built strong with lengthy wood posts fashioned in a horizontal and vertical framework using wooden peg or mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques. This timber frame bears the entire weight of the structure, which makes load-bearing interior walls unnecessary and cathedral ceilings possible.

By contrast, most new home construction is "stick-built" using 2-by-4-inch or 2-by-6-inch boards. When nailed together, the boards make the studs, joists and rafters that distribute the weight load from the roof. This type of construction requires plaster or drywall to hide the inner workings of a home's studs, joists and load-bearing walls.

"From the 1700s, it used to be that every farm had a barn before American agriculture began becoming mechanized in the 19th century," Durkin says. "For 20 years, our company has been disassembling these old barns -- before they fall down -- and reassembling these old barns as someone's new home."

With other office sites in Connecticut and Montana, Heritage Restorations has rebuilt 340 barns into residences across the world. Other companies such as Barn Pros, based near Seattle; Yankee Barn Homes, in Grantham, New Hampshire; and Sand Creek Post & Beam in Wayne, Nebraska; also specialize in timber-frame construction, but use modern materials and have customized factory-built components, which eliminate the need to cut wood on the jobsite.

Durkin says his barn-building company believes in green building -- the construction of homes in a way that conserves natural resources and emphasizes energy efficiency. "Although these barn homes are expansive inside, they are really the 'anti-McMansion' in terms of sustainability," he says. "Not only are we reclaiming and repurposing these old barns, there's no replicating the patina of these old-growth, hand-hewn timbers."

Energy-efficient windows and the use of structural insulated panels (or SIPs) create a tight barn-building envelope. SIPs are a product that provides insulation, an interior finish and outside sheathing, while still allowing the timber framing to be admired from the inside.

The square-footage of a barn home doesn't have to be expansive and as "broad as a barn door" to be livable. Durkin says they've designed barn homes that range from 900 to 5,000 square feet, with an average size around 1,200 square feet.

"In its simplest form, a barn is a 'big box' that can be configured any number of ways to suit the homeowner," Durkin says. "Some people want a loft built for bedrooms and actual barn doors that open up to the outside." Construction costs average about $200 per square foot, but can be a barn-raising $400-plus per square foot, Durkin says.

A contemporary take on a barn home's classic "country" design has elements found in modern construction, including vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. Modern barn home designs should begin with solid craftsmanship, whether it requires repurposing an original barn or just bringing a bit of "old soul" using exposed wooden elements into a newly constructed home.

Indoor-Outdoor Living

A modern barn-home style allows for the space to be both uncluttered and contemporary. Incorporating natural elements -- such as stone and wooden timbers -- into an airy atmosphere anchors the design and creates a warm and cozy feeling in the space.

Natural light is enhanced in the space with window treatments that are barely there, or just bare, so outdoor views are unobstructed. Large barn doors can lead to an outside deck, patio or porch for seamless entertaining.

Barn-Raising Space

In addition to a primary residence, a barn can be built for both work and play:

-- A barn home office can be a space that is both professional and productive, including an easy commute and large area to hold meetings.

-- A barn-style artist-in-residence studio can be a creative space flooded with natural light from windows, and expansive enough to work on large-scale artistic projects.

-- A guest barnhouse is a sweet suite for visiting friends and family, with enough space and privacy to accommodate loved ones.

-- A party barn is a social outbuilding for friends who are in for a good time.

"A barn really bespeaks of an age when people were tied to nature and made things by hand. When you are surrounded by a structure that harkens back to this time, it becomes easier to unplug and relax," Durkin says. "If people ask, 'Were you raised in a barn?' we like to take it as a compliment."

Farm Out for More Information:

-- Timber Framers Guild: TFGuild.org or 360-746-6571.

-- Heritage Restorations: HeritageBarns.com or 877-354-2276.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

Homeowners can cook like experienced epicures by borrowing design details from commercial kitchens. From creating a well-run workflow in the kitchen to the use of commercial-grade appliances in homes, culinary upgrades are big "bon vivant" business, says National Kitchen and Bath Association's Chief Executive Officer Bill Darcy. Based in Hackettstown, New Jersey, NKBA has been a kitchen and bath professional association for 50 years, with an enrollment of more than 60,000 members.

"Cooking is a popular pastime, and the kitchen is the hub of the home," Darcy says. "Professional kitchen elements bring a level of sophistication and a gourmet feeling to a residential space."

When it comes to today's kitchen design, being on the cooking line is part of a homeowner's lexicon. Whether there's a long countertop or a free-standing island workspace, a deliberately designed kitchen is essential to avoid accidents involving scalding or sharp items, says Adam Gibson, an NKBA-certified Kitchen and Bath Designer for 20 years and owner of a design firm bearing his name near Indianapolis.

"A seamless workflow in the kitchen is essential, and that means planning out an uninterrupted triangle between the cooktop, main sink and refrigerator," Gibson says. "Passes in the kitchen also require a minimum 3-foot clearance, but a 5-foot-wide walkway is ideal, so a person can pass through, even if a dishwasher, range or refrigerator door is open."

The Island

The days of appliances being tethered to walls are over. A kitchen island can house a second sink, cooktop or dishwasher. Dimensions of a kitchen island should be at least 4-feet-long by at least 2-feet-wide, but are often larger to proportionally fit a kitchen with an open floor plan.

"There is a certain amount of show that happens when you're preparing a meal, especially when entertaining guests," Gibson says. "When diners are able to watch chefs in an open restaurant kitchen, people only see the drama of cooking, not the dirty dishes." To shield guests from spills and splatters, consider a dual-height island with a 42-inch-high raised counter, which comfortably accommodates stools, and a lower 36-inch-high work counter for stashing dirty dishes.

Also, the kitchen island should be surrounded by water sources. In addition to having a second sink for food preparation tasks, many larger kitchens have two dishwashers into which dirty dishes are loaded immediately.

"Instead of a residential faucet, some homeowners opt for a professional sprayer over a deep non-divided sink with a garbage disposal," Gibson says. "If boiling pasta is something that happens regularly in your home, you might consider a pot filler which is plumbed into the wall above the range." Gibson says faucets that switch on and off with a touch or waving motion are also becoming more popular in the home kitchen.

Bring the Heat and Chill Out

Elements of professional kitchen design are overlapping into the residential sector, and that is no more evident than in the appliances people buy. "High-grade ranges adapted for residential use take many design cues from commercial-grade ranges," Darcy says. "Many designers are including multiple appliances -- built-in double ovens, freestanding ranges and tower wine storage -- in residential kitchens."

The use of new technology in an induction cooktop heats liquids faster and is a more efficient way to control the temperature, Gibson says. Also, if space allows, homeowners are also opting for the largest refrigerator and freezer they can, instead of having a second one stowed in the garage or basement.

Under-the-counter refrigerator drawers are also an organized way to store bottled beverages and allow people to serve themselves. An ancillary icemaker and wine refrigerator take cues from professional drink stations in restaurants.

Clean, Airy Qualities

With an open-plan kitchen, everything is on display, so it's important to have no-fuss, no-mess surfaces, such as engineered quartz stone countertops, which are both durable and require little maintenance, Gibson says.

Also called e-stone or quartz countertops, engineered stone is a manufactured surface comprised mostly of quartz. The remaining ingredients include high-performance polymers, resins and pigments that are colorized for a monochromatic look or made to mimic natural stone or concrete surfaces.

Engineered stone is nonporous, waterproof and stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant. The surface of e-stone is smooth and can have a shiny or honed appearance. Because it lacks surface holes, engineered stone does not support the growth of bacteria and doesn't require sealing as natural stone does.

Removing smoke and cooking odors quickly and efficiently is the work of the range hood or a downdraft fan installed near the cooktop for ventilation. Backsplash tile near the range hood should be easy to clean up and wipe down.

While recessed can lights can be a kitchen standard, task lighting for food preparation or plating dishes is essential above an island. The use of simple pendants or under-cabinetry lighting is a bright idea when more illumination is required for the task at hand.

Two-top or Table for 10

Seating in an open kitchen is dictated by the home's layout. People are tearing down formal dining room walls and creating banquettes with comfortable seating that provide undivided, easy access to the kitchen, Gibson says.

"You don't want your kitchen to feel industrial, so I like the warmth of wood underfoot in a kitchen, which is both easy to clean and a contrast to the use of cool colors and stainless steel," Gibson says. "Creating places for people to sit and eat together is important, whether it's for a larger group or small gathering at the kitchen island."

An Epicure's Equipment

If a homeowner is investing in a kitchen that caters to the inner chef, it's important to have cookware and utensils that match these delicious desires. But a kitchen and its cookware does not a chef make, Gibson warns. "It's important to consult a design professional in the planning stages of a kitchen, before integrating more water sources and professional appliances with greater electrical and gas draws," he says. "You don't have to have a professional top-of-the-line kitchen to be able to cook like a top chef."

Pro Tips

To find a certified kitchen professional, go to the National Kitchen & Bath Association's website, www.nkba.org, and type your zip code under the "Find a Professional" link under the DESIGN tab.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)