“Square Deal” House. 1518 square feet, plus 224 square feet covered porch. Two full stories. Three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms. Ground floor: entry vestibule, half bath, kitchen, dining space, sitting space, den/office. Upper floor: two bedrooms, full bathroom with laundry space, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom.

According to “Old House Web”: “You’d be hard pressed to find a housing style more typically American than the Foursquare. Economical to build and uniquely suited to make use of every square inch of the house itself and tiny city lots, this style can be found in city neighborhoods across the country.”

This is our take on the Foursquare, updated with an open floor plan and heavy insulation, plus strategic window placement for energy efficiency. This design offers a lot of livability in a simple, compact form. It’s well suited for in-town lots and would also look nice in certain country settings, such as on a knoll in a field. It can be a comfortable, affordable, and practical place to raise a family.