Cedar Creek Dogtrot

If your idea of a good weekend is a house full of family and a long evening on the porch, I think you will like Cedar Creek Dogtrot. This dog trot with stairs gives you places to gather and a little separation when everyone is ready to turn in, with three main-floor bedrooms and a sleeping loft upstairs.

Come in from the front porch through the French doors, and you are in the vaulted great room. The fireplace gives you a comfortable place to settle in on a cool evening. The kitchen opens right into the room, so whoever is fixing breakfast or getting supper ready can stay part of the conversation.

At the back of this wing, the main bedroom has its own full bath and French doors onto the screened porch. Laundry and a separate half bath are close by. You can keep your everyday living on the main floor, with space for company when you need it.

The screened porch is what makes the dogtrot layout so enjoyable. It connects the living wing to two more bedrooms with a shared full bath. Guests have some separation from the main living area, and everyone can meet on the porch for a meal or a game of cards. At 14 feet wide and 23 feet 6 inches long, this is a porch you can furnish and spend time in.

Back inside, the staircase leads to a loft with bunk spaces, another full bathroom and a small office. It gives you another place for overnight guests, or a spot to step away and get a little work done. The great room remains open above, keeping that tall, airy feeling downstairs.

Cedar Creek has 1,528 heated square feet and 3½ baths. If you want a dogtrot house plan with three downstairs bedrooms, extra sleeping space and a screened porch at the center of daily life, this is a good one to look through. If you have a change in mind, tell us what would make it work better for your family.