HOW WE LIVE Family units change, housing styles evolve, and home owner preferences develop. With those changes come design trends that help us live better in the spaces we live. 1. Improved indoor-outdoor connections Indoor-outdoor connections are stronger every year, and they can be found at every price point and in every corner of the country. Materials can be used to enhance connections. For example, color palette and flooring should blend from inside to out, either using the same or complementary materials. Some firms offer different window options in production homes to make outdoor connections affordable at every price point: a fixed window option at the lowest end to fully operable window walls at the higher end. 2. Creatively integrating outdoor living into the plan Traditionally, outdoor living has been focused on the rear of the home. NAHB members, however, are reporting that more communities and plans are featuring outdoor living spaces at the front as well. And outdoor spaces are designed to respond to the local environment. Architects and designers are incorporating a mix of covered and uncovered outdoor spaces, so in rain, sun, or snow, home owners can still use the space. 3. Multigenerational living As the definition of a “typical” family unit expands and changes, floor plans have to adapt and deliver to meet the needs of all sorts of family set-ups. Incorporating spaces such as separate suites—with their own bath and kitchenette, when possible—allows families to use the space for whoever needs it, whether the guests be drop-in friends or live-in grandparents. OVERALL ARCHITECTURAL STYLES 1. Quiet but purposeful architecture “Everything but the kitchen sink” is not going to fly with today’s buyers. Home owners are favoring cleaner lines and thoughtful design choices on both interiors and exteriors. Forms are purposeful, and color and material palettes are carried through the home for a consistent style. 2. Modern farmhouse Doris Pearlman, president of Possibilities for Design in Denver, Colorado, says modern farmhouse style is “a slam dunk with the nation.” This style continues to be popular, with no end in sight. 3. Mid-century modern Mid-century modern continues to be popular and is now finding its way out of housing and into more community and shared spaces, such as hotels and amenity centers, offering a fresh look to these spaces. In some cases, pricing for mid-century modern pieces has also come down, enabling more architects, designers, and buyers to opt for this style. 4. Transitional design Laura Sullivan, president of ID.ology Interiors & Design in Asheville, North Carolina, says transitional design can perhaps best be described as a “style fusion” resulting in unexpected combinations. Transitional design can be hard to pin down on the national level, as it appears differently depending on the market. For example, contemporary transitional design may trend in California, while farmhouse transitional may trend in the Pacific Northwest. Regardless of what styles are combined, it typically results in an open plan and leans contemporary. 5. Other overall architectural trends Micro-housing and smaller homes, typically in urban areas, offer more affordable options to single city-dwellers who cannot afford the rent of a full-sized, one-bedroom rental. While contemporary design has been mainstream in some markets for some time, other markets are accepting the style for the first time. DESIGN FEATURES 1. Ceiling is the fifth wall of design Designers are focusing more on the ceiling, providing creative and eye-catching designs to both custom and production homes. This trend also touches lower-priced homes, and options are available to meet lower budgets, such as vinyl plank on ceilings instead of wood and creative solutions with sheetrock and soffits. 2. Black window and door frames Available at most (if not all) price points and styles, black frames are more accessible and style-friendly than ever. Often originally seen in conjunction with the modern farmhouse style, black window and door frames are transcending almost all architectural styles, single- and multifamily housing. Windows, overall, are getting taller, with a focus on floor-to-ceiling windows when appropriate. 3. Stairs as a focal piece If opting for open treads—as is increasingly popular—remember that the 2018 IRC states that stairs with open risers should have an opening of 4 inches or less. Having thicker treads can help meet the open riser requirement, as does adding partial risers between treads to keep the look of an open tread design. MATERIALS 1. Delineation of spaces and forms through mixed materials Both interiors and exteriors are featuring swaths of different materials or different colors of the same material to delineate spaces. In open plans, using materials to differentiate spaces is particularly helpful, as home buyers can better picture their furniture and how they’ll live with this added guidance. 2. Texture on texture Every year sees new advances and innovations in textures and materials, and designers are incorporating them in homes from floor to ceiling. The best designs use a mix of complementary textures and colors to add depth to a design. Not just limited to surfaces, designers are also adding texture through patterned area rugs and upholstered furniture. Wood—with no limit to where you can find it in the home—is trending lighter, but there is also a rising popularity with wire-brush, maple of the 1980s, and hickory and red tones. 3. Mixed metals No matter which way you turn in this Boerne, Texas, home, you’ll find mixed metals from top to bottom. Appliances, lighting, drawer pulls, furnishings, and more all incorporate different colored metals, but still blend with a cohesive palette. Dror Baldinger, FAIA No matter the region or price point, there is likely a way to incorporate one or more of these trends into your homes—and impress buyers. Source: https:// bit.ly/2Ecg7p7