2012 Building and Remodeling Trends

It used to be that stealing a glance at building and remodeling trends for the New Year was a bit of a guilty pleasure. It was always interesting to see what some designer, architect, or builder would come up with to push the envelope. And while in years past “trends” tended a bit toward “lavish”, the pendulum has swung the other way. Instead of “impressive” homeowners are looking at “practical.”

Here are a few of the trends we see emerging around the country. And while nobody can dictate your style, it’s not a bad idea to consider what homeowners are looking at—particularly if you keep resale value in mind.

Accommodating Technology: Computers aren’t just for the home-office any more. More families are using them in the kitchen since so much activity takes place there. They’re used for everything from creating shopping lists, to searching for recipes, to searching for a plumber, to paying bills, to homework and online gaming. Some families are creating  special spaces in—or just off—the kitchen for this purpose.

Mud Rooms: A formal entryway may still be nice for guests, but most of us enter our homes through the garage these days. Homeowners are increasingly adding mud rooms—not just for slipping out of muddy shoes, but for keeping the clutter out of the house. The rooms don’t have to be big. Some people combine them with their laundry room. And they are a great place for temporary storage of backpacks, shoes, boots and coats.

Open Family Rooms: An increasing number of homeowners are foregoing the traditional, formal living room in favor of an open family room (some call it a “great room) that combines the kitchen, living room, and dining room. Rather than separate the rooms with walls, natural divisions are created with furniture and decorations.

Expanding into the Great Outdoors: Many homeowners are requesting sliding glass doors with access to an outdoor patio. One of the advantages is that the large glass area creates an impression of increased space—even when the patio isn’t in use. And in warmer months it provides a welcome “extra” dining room that breaks up the monotony of always eating in the same place.

Steaming Replacing Soaking: For years homeowners were including large soaking tubs in their new homes or bathroom remodels. The problem was, they looked great, but were seldom used. The trend today is toward larger, more comfortable showers—particularly steam showers. Not only are these showers more comfortable, but they often incorporate benches and grip bars that make them ideal for older homeowners. This accommodates families with older families moving in with them, and homeowners who are thinking about “aging in place”—both growing trends!