I know it would take a lot of work to create a mod like what is in hearthfire but do releases like hearthfire help with modding? Could you use the home style and put new skins on it or move it to another location?. Just wondering.

Much easier to add new places to build and change and probably add to the house building like an basemant than doing it all from scratch.

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/18480

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/23201

as you see modders put in what heartfire does months before hearthfire was announced. There's also plenty of other house mods. So yeah it would be pretty easy for change up indoor layouts and stuff.

Get your creation kit on!