A-Frame Cabin Plan 270129AF: 1,482 Square Feet of Loft, Glass, and Vaulted Volume
This two-story A-frame residence is designed for efficient use of space within a compact footprint. The main floor contains public living areas with direct…
A Hudson Valley design-build journal
Read the plan first. Renovate with intent.
Renovate and Plan is a Hudson Valley design-build journal: honest house plan reviews, real before-and-after renovation studies and room-by-room design guides — written for everyone who believes the best renovation starts with reading the plan first.
153Studies & guides
37Plans reviewed
2Designers
10Northeast cities
Fresh from the drafting table
All articles Latest studies & guides
11 Ways to Turn a Forgotten 1970s Ranch Into an Organic Modern Home
The humble ranch home remains one of the most versatile canvases in American residential architecture. By stripping away decades of neglect and reimagining…
10 Dramatic Duplex Exterior Transformations That Redefine Curb Appeal
Exterior renovations are the ultimate opportunity to establish identity, boost property value, and create a welcoming first impression. Whether drawn to…
From Ruin to Retreat: 7 Rooftop Transformations That Read the Slab Before They Renovate It
Urban rooftops are among the most underutilized assets in city living. When reimagined with intention, these open-air platforms become private parks…
Nine Exterior Transformations of One Classic American Home — Read the Bones First
Exterior renovations are one of the most impactful ways to redefine a home's character without altering its footprint. From coastal cottages to desert modern…
One Mediterranean Fixer-Upper, Eight Curb-Appeal Rewrites
Exterior renovations of classic Mediterranean homes offer a unique opportunity to balance historic character with contemporary lifestyle needs. These eight…
The Renovation Library
All categories Browse by what you are planning
House plans, room guides, renovation studies and seasonal celebrations — organized for the way you actually browse.
Bedrooms & Kids Rooms
Primary suites, guest rooms, nurseries and rooms that grow with the family.
9 articlesCelebrations & Seasons
Holiday decor, weddings and seasonal styling for the rooms a renovation delivered.
2 articlesPlan-by-plan reviews
All plan reviews House plans, read with a renovator’s eye
Circulation, structure, daylight, cost to build in 2026 — and what each design would actually become five years after move-in.
The Renovation Mind
All essays Why what we renovate matters
The Floor Plan of the Self: How the Rooms You Live In Quietly Shape the Mind You Bring to Them
Welcome to The Home Files. We often view interior design through the lens of aesthetics, trends, or perhaps functionality. We ask, 'Does this look good?' or…
The Blueprint of Being: How Your Home Decor Maps Your Inner World
Welcome to The Home Files, where we believe a house is far more than just a shelter; it is an external manifestation of your internal landscape. In a world…
The Invisible Biography: Deciphering the Hidden Language of Your Home's Decor
We often view interior design through the lens of aesthetics—a pursuit dominated by color palettes, furniture trends, and spatial arrangements. Yet, beneath…
The people behind the plans
Meet the team Two designers, one rule: read before you renovate
Theo Caldwell
Renovation Designer & Plan StrategistSeven years bridging architectural drafting and design-build practice, hundreds of house plans walked through doorway by doorway. Theo reviews Architectural Designs marketplace plans with a…
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Nora Whitfield
Renovation Designer & Interiors EditorNine years of design-build renovation work across the Hudson Valley and the Northeast. Nora runs the Renovations, Room Guides and Renovation Mind desks — before-and-after studies, room-by-room…
Read Nora’s work →