Custom Home Trends

Trends for custom homes change year to year but one trend that seems to be sticking and is even more popular this year is Going Green

. Designing or redesigning your home to be more environmentally friendly can be stylish and attractive. One can combine design trends with the use of green building materials to get the best of both worlds.

So what are some design trends for custom homes of 2010? One includes a trendy kitchen. Knowing the kitchen is both a place where quick meals are tossed together and where the family entertains crowds, accommodating all of these functions is important. Today's kitchens are designed to open up into a family room on one side and a butler's pantry or breakfast room on the other. The best of trendy kitchens also has access or a connection to outdoor rooms.

To renovate your kitchen, you may want to include a small sink or refrigerator in an updated breakfast room. Installing a climate controlled wine-storage area and a wet bar near the family room is also fun for entertaining.

To maintain the green aspect of your remodel or new construction, ask for Energy Star rated appliances.

Building a family room or adding one on to your home is also a trend. These family rooms can hold flat screen TVs in a way that hides them; screens can sink into consoles or become hidden in furniture that appears antique. Keep your family room's electronics wireless so that everybody can play and work together in the same room.

Keeping furniture comfortable and livable in neutral colors is also this year's trend. Some are using two-tone color schemes to unify two separate rooms together. An example would be floor coverings and hard furniture in one medium-to-dark color and walls and soft furnishers in a paler shade.

Installing quality bath tubs or whirlpool tubs may never go out of style. The bath is a place of retreat and luxury. Use soft colors and subtle patterns with classic fixtures in your bathroom. Get rid of any clutter and keep this room simple.

Many modern bathrooms separate the shower and bath areas. Having a bath area dedicated for relaxation helps one relax. Mixing materials such as stainless basins and bamboo counters creates a soft serenity. Radiant floors keep your feet from being chilled after stepping out of your bath. You can also install steam-free mirrors in your shower room. Want to have even more of a special treat? How about a heated towel rack? Keeping your floors warm and your towels after stepping out of a relaxing bath helps maintain your relaxed state of mind.

As for basic overall trends in custom homes, builders state that they are seeing these four things requested:

1. Keeping the square footage of a home down and maximizing space. Smaller and better-designed homes that integrate green features that are more affordable to heat and cool, appear to be a popular trend in the building of custom homes.

2. Open floor plans. This feature has been a trend for quite some time and still is. People want an open and flexible design where the kitchen opens up to the dining room or family room. The open floor plan allows families to remain in the same room' together while each individual may be doing their own thing.

3. Home offices - Many people are working at home today or telecommuting so the necessity of a home-office is still important. For those who have clients coming and going, having an separate entrance is important with their home office.

4. Utilizing the outdoor area more - People want to extend their living space to the outdoors and make more use of the outdoors with the addition of fire pits and outside kitchens. This allows folks to entertain more outside without having to run in and out of the house.

Whether you are designing or redesigning your home, you can integrate any of these trends into your home.

Custom Home Trends

By: Carolyn Boden

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