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Top 10 New Home Trends
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Homes built in
in the next few years will differ significantly from homes
built
just a
decade ago,” predicts
Linda Reimer, president of Design Basics, Inc. “Because our
company’s
success depends on creating popular designs, we’re constantly
researching the market, surveying builders and listening
to consumers. In so doing,
we’ve
identified the following trends:
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In the past,
a majority of homebuyers chose greater square footage over
added amenities. Now it’s pretty evenly divided, with nearly half opting for smaller,
well appointed homes frequently referred to as “jewel boxes.” Features
of such homes often include unique architectural details, oversized
molding, rich finishes, special windows and high end building
materials and products. |
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The Leighton
Design 2377-33A-01 |
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The Eldon
Design 4105-33A-01 |
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Craftsman style
homes, which naturally incorporate a good deal of style and
character, are enjoying a revival. On the exterior, the Craftsman’s
sturdy appearance includes wide, overhanging eaves with exposed rafters
or decorative
brackets, deep porches with blocky, tapered pillars and a
variety of materials including split wood shingles, shake siding, brick,
stone,
slate, stucco and clapboard. Inside, stained or leaded windows,
an abundance of woodwork and built-in cabinetry create a warm, nostalgic
sense. |
This emphasis
on character and craftsmanship has not translated into formal
living, however. Instead, the pendulum has swung to casual, comfortable
decors.
Environmental – or “back to nature” decorating is very popular, featuring
fruits, vegetables and florals; a variety of natural wood flooring
and wood blinds; stone, marble and granite floor and counter surfaces;
and
warmer hues replacing off-white walls. The long-favored American
Country style is giving way to French Country, English Country and Scandinavian
Country. |
Today’s floor
plans are family-friendly, designed to encourage families to
spend more time  together.
For example, kitchens – once secluded, utilitarian work spaces – nowadays
open onto primary living areas such as family rooms. Often
a snack bar acts as a comfortable link, allowing family and friends
to mingle during
food preparation. Hearth rooms, also an open extension of this
kitchen area, likewise entice family members to gather near the cook.
While
formal living rooms are more commonly omitted, dining rooms
still have appeal to many buyers, as they provide extra space for extended
family
gatherings. |
 Not
only are kitchens one of the most popular rooms in the home,
they are becoming grander than ever. Restaurant-quality stoves and refrigerators,
double ovens and dishwashers, partitioned trash bins for
recycling
and oversized, 42-inch cabinets and work islands add convenience.
Cabinetry, “dressed up” with bead and rope trim, thick crown molding,
glass mullion doors and decorative base legs, add style.
Homeowners often draw attention to their appliances by choosing stainless
steel
refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens and microwaves -- or minimize
them with wood paneled fronts that match their cabinets. The latter
is
particularly popular in kitchens that are open to formal living areas. |
Hectic lifestyles
are causing more and more people to “cocoon” -- to spend as much time
as possible at home. This has spawned an increase in specialized
areas, such as home offices, dens, sitting rooms, exercise rooms, game
rooms,
home theaters and media rooms. |
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 Creative
uses of lighting has added a new dimension to several rooms
in today’s
home. In the master bedroom, rope lighting concealed by soffits or crown
molding creates an intimate atmosphere. It is also used inside bookcases
and china cabinets and above and below kitchen cabinets. Eyeball recessed
lights make kitchens bright and cheery and direct beams of light to
work areas. In dining rooms, dimmer switches provide a full range of
lighting options. On the exterior, landscape lighting is used to draw
attention to homes’ architectural details, decorative trees, fountains
or pieces of sculpture. |
While it’s always
been important, storage space is in higher demand than ever. In addition
to walk-up attics, walk-in kitchen pantries and room-size bedroom closets,
builders are adding recycling bins and appliance garages in kitchens,
butler’s pantries adjacent to dining rooms, hair appliance hideaways
and over-commode cabinetry in bathrooms, computer niches near secondary
bedrooms and built-in entertainment centers in family rooms. They’re
also making closet space more efficient with built-in dressers
and smart shelving systems. |
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The need for
more storage is also evident in the shift toward larger garages. Many
people keep their recycling bins in the garage, along with seasonal
decorations, lawn and garden tools and a growing collection of sports
and recreation equipment. Companies that sell closet-storage systems
now offer garage-storage units to keep everything organized. The popularity
of sport utility vehicles has also produced a need for wider garages
with higher doors. |
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With 85
million aging baby boomers, the phrase “aging in place” is taking
on major significance. Many boomers building their dream
homes are looking ahead to the future, adding special design features
that will
allow them to remain in their home as they mature. Commonly
included are main floor master suites, an abundance of natural light,
wide
hallways and doorways, walk-in shower stalls, easy-open cabinets
that require little bending and levers instead of door or faucet knobs. |
| “Ten years from now,” Reimer concludes, “the
list of current trends will be much different than this one.
New homes are constantly evolving, reflecting changing lifestyles
and an ever-changing world.” |
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