NATIONAL NEWS
DESIGN TREND ROUNTABLE SHOWS US NEW AND EXCITING WAYS FOR UPCOMING YEARS The National Association of Home Builders’ Best in American Living Award (BALA) winners exemplify the best of the best in national design trends, as identified by the industry-leading BALA judging panel each year.
Pool and landscape designs are more an extension of interior circulation and design, rather than an afterthought, and are even more accessible, both visually and physically, thanks to increased indoor/ outdoor connections.
Using these winners and trends, NAHB’s Design Committee hosts an annual Design Trends Roundtable High-Design Multifamily Amenities during the International Builders’ Show. These projects are taking their cues from the hospitality Trends are expanded upon, debated and added to, industry and designing higher-quality lobbies, leasing resulting in a comprehensive collection of trends. These offices, mail centers, etc., to be true amenity spaces for trends are subdivided into five main categories: overall residents. design, how we live, architectural features, colors and Flex Rooms materials, and design details. Expect to see these trends They are a big draw for a potential buyer, especially if across the home building industry this year and beyond. they anticipate the needs of their family changing while they own the home. Grandparents could move in, a Thoughtful, Well-Edited Design relative could come to stay, or they could start a new Architects are pushing for more character and business, and the home needs to match. Flex spaces uniqueness, especially in production homes. Well- are replacing traditional guest suites. Hidden spaces, edited doesn’t necessarily equal simpler, but it does tucked-away furniture, and furniture that transforms mean there needs to be a genuine purpose of place and allow for even greater flexibility. points of interest that draw the eye across the façade – Nontraditional Storage Solutions without all the fussiness of past decades. All kitchens must come with upper cabinets, right? What’s Old is New Again Wrong. Maybe as residents hope to declutter, so, too, A renewed focus on genuine sense of place makes does their storage. Instead of traditional cabinetry, adaptive reuse and historic preservation projects designers will opt for shelving, both as a storage solution a focus of 2020. By focusing on what came before, and as a design element. designers can build on history instead of starting over, Outside of the kitchen, architects are creating more and residents will feel more connected to the place artful interpretations of traditional storage spaces, like they now call home. Through preservation and adaptive wine cellars or under-stair displays. Artfully crafted, reuse, builders and designers can capture parts of our these storage areas purposefully blend into the room, heritage. It all boils down to this: Why get rid of a sense instead of another typical closet door along a hallway. of place, when it’s already there? Sophisticated Indoor/Outdoor Connections Architects are also incorporating floating cabinets, often starting first with the bathroom vanity and extending to Having indoor/outdoor connections in a design kitchens, entertainment centers, and more. enhances livability and provides a great amenity to future residents. With new technologies and High-Quality Signature Entries increased availability of glass walls, pocket doors, and In our often car-centric society, residents spend a lot large windows, new and remodeled homes alike are of time coming into their homes through garages. In benefiting from seamless indoor/outdoor connections, 2021, expect to see a greater focus on front entries and both visually and physically. Even on tight lots, architects improved streetscapes. The entry extends behind the are finding design solutions to ensure every home has a front door and includes the entire entry sequence. view of or access to outdoor living. HOME BUILDING NEWS 2021
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