Home Construction Design Trends Of 2014

Home construction design is taking a turn for the more streamlined and sustainable. Last week at the New Haven County Home & Remodeling show in Connecticut, Johnny Carrier, a homebuilder and vice president of company By Carrier, revealed current construction trends. A precursor to interior design and decor styles of 2014, Johnny discussed what homeowners are looking for in the structure and the bones of their homes.

Johnny touched on four elements that are in high demand in today’s housing market:

Open Concept: Floor plans are not the series of boxed off rooms that they used to be. Today, it’s all about an open concept that connects the kitchen with the dining room and living space. Johnny says that he sees many homeowners leaning toward this open floor plan not only because it's a better layout for family time and get-togethers, but also because it gives the illusion of more square footage.

Homeowners are taking this concept and applying it to spaces like the bathroom. Before, large luxury master baths included both a Jacuzzi tub and a shower. Now, homeowners claim that their bathtubs go unused and ignored in the master bath. In order to keep the illusion that the master bath is still grandiose while saving on square footage, Johnny installs European showers—open showers without a door that appears as an extension of the bathroom instead of a separate space.

Fewer Separate Rooms: In order to successfully pull off an open floor plan, rooms are being eliminated. In fact Johnny pointed out that at least 50 percent of buyers go with huge open plans without a separate living room. Homeowners say formal living rooms just collect dust and were more for appearances than practical use. So now Johnny builds homes in which the family room, kitchen and dining room all flow together and leaves out the extra living room all together.

Another way to maximize space in a home is by getting rid of the home office. Traditionally, homebuyers might have wanted a four-bedroom home, intending to use one of those bedrooms as an office. Johnny’s home-building solution is to reclaim that square footage for the home and simply add a few feet to the landing to accommodate a work area, putting a desk and computer in the foyer or under a staircase.

Why the need to save on space you may ask? Well, according to Johnny, property lots are getting smaller and homes have to adapt without the homeowners feeling cramped. Open floor plans and room eliminations help to create a large and comfortable flow of space in an efficient way.

Finished Basements: Refinishing the basement is the cheapest way to add square footage of living space to your home. Basements can be dingy and dark so it’s important that they’re refinished in a way that makes the space feel like a natural extension of the home. There are a few ways to pull this off—high ceilings, window wells for added light and an open staircase to give the perception that the basement is another living level instead of a separate space.

The photo on the right is a look from the second floor landing into the basement. The basement feels like a natural extension of the home with this open staircase.

Find more information about basements in our FAQs What kind of flooring is appropriate for a finished basement? and What’s the best type of insulation to use in a basement?

Energy Conservation: The fourth most popular construction trend today is a home that is energy efficient. As a builder, Johnny says that it's important to take into account window placement and the home’s footprint to achieve this goal.

A home built in a square with the footprint of the second floor built to match the footprint of the first saves a lot of energy. When the second floor does not encompass the first floor and has protruding rooms or space, those areas give way to heat loss.

A strategic window placement can be the difference between needing and not needing your heat on during a sunny winter day, says Johnny. Windows that capture a lot of sunlight can actually heat a whole room, helping you save on energy costs.

For more information on energy efficient homes see our FAQ: What are the top home improvements for energy efficiency?

For more information about By Carrier visit www.bycarrier.com