What are the design & build trends for custom home builds & renovations?

2020 was a year that impacted the real estate, home construction and renovation industry more than any other. As we struggled to stay home and separate ourselves from others during the pandemic, we discovered that home was a place that we wanted to be more comfortable, more connected and happier to be stuck in.

We couldn’t go to restaurants and bars so we created spaces that would create the ambience and allow us to expand our abilities as cooks and gardeners. Home hobbies, working at home, home schooling, home entertainment, and having our own home bubble became crucial to overcoming the confinement.

There was not only demand for homes to be renovated in small and major ways, but the way designs were being developed for new homes began to adjust for the growing need to build a house that creates a home for all reasons and seasons. The move away from open concept to creating purposeful versatile and multi-functional spaces has evolved out of Covid19.

Following is some of the major building and design trends we saw in demand for new home construction and home renovations:

Basements and other unused spaces re-purposed and home gyms become important. 

With more rooms needed for working at home, and having kids home all day out of school, an unused basement or attic became an opportunity to re-purpose into additional space for the family to spread out and have some separation. We saw transformations to home gyms where you could add a weight bench, a yoga mat and Peloton to give you your own home gym.

Outdoor living spaces.

With nowhere to go but your backyard meant that we craved spaces that gave us patio dining, outdoor bars, gardens and sanctuaries. People found their inner green thumb, and the trend was to building gardens adjacent to patio spaces with the addition of vegetable garden boxes. Landscaping became a way to make us feel able to get out, while being stuck on our own property. The addition of indoor/outdoor living areas was huge, and the addition of pergolas, as well as covered and heated outdoor kitchens made life at home more divers. All these additions to a home also made for a good investment. If you plan to sell your home, buyers are now valuing outdoor space more than ever.

Home work spaces.

Working from home became critical to our economic survival during the pandemic. Being able to find privacy and quiet spaces to concentrate and conduct zoom meetings put stress on the living spaces of our homes. The home office design took many different approaches with major room renovations, or re-organizing spaces in our main living areas. With more people working from home, quiet spaces that allow privacy will be included in the interior design of homes to serve as home offices, Skype, and Zoom rooms. Creativity and using things like closets and corners with partitions made it possible to separate a workspace from living space. 

Kitchen updates make it part of the entertainment.

The kitchen has always been a major asset to a home and has put even more emphasis on the importance of it when we had no restaurants as alternatives to our meals.  Having a kitchen that is functional and stylish became important and we saw the kitchen as one of the top choices for renovations. Food storage also drove design trends since 2020 when we became concerned about having the supplies we need in times of possible shortage. Adding a pantry became a standard.

Bathrooms that you like to spend time in.

The bathroom has become a place to take sanctuary in. Bathtubs became as important as showers and the trend to separating the two into their own spaces in the ensuite bathroom became a thing. Freestanding tubs and large tiled showers as almost their own ‘room’ are the way we now envision the dream bathroom. Glass enclosures and tiled in corners and steam rooms transformed the bathroom into a spa. Double sinks with granite countertops complete the look with black and white design trends.

On the inside, board & batten and shiplap are big.

When it comes to the interiors, trendier interior design ideas can be found. Board and batten are once again found and wisely used as wainscoting. A neutral, but far from boring, color scheme is found in the main rooms of the house. Soothing colors are accentuated with cabinet colors that will continue to be popular in 2021, such as blue grays, light greys, moody greens and of course, the ever classic; black and white.

New home architectural design trends.

The Modern Farmhouse exudes plenty of curb appeal with its impressive architectural details. It is the popular style of 2021 with new homes and exterior renovations taking on this classic, clean line look. Adaptable to small or large building sites it is versatile for square footage adaptability.

Exterior design trends – clean lines, large, long and modern.

If you’re looking to redesign your exterior or build a new home, you want to be current with the trends for look and style. However, while getting that ‘trendy curb appeal’ you don’t want the details to incorporate some timeless choices, so it won’t be outdated again within a few years. This takes balance of choices. Here are a few of the trends we see for 2021 and beyond:

• More windows as part of your design
• Pergolas & front porches
• Garage doors & architectural front doors that add to the overall exterior design
• Straight lines not arched 
• Painted brick and natural wood accents