Designs For Today’s Living

Home builders are offering plans and designs to meet the needs of today’s consumers, using modern technology to build homes that are attractive and highly functional. Often a builder’s standard designs are just a starting point; many builders will customize their homes to suit homebuyers’ individual needs.

Here are some new home design characteristics:

• Efficient use of space – Many new homes stress spaciousness rather than square footage. Well laid out homes with all the details and amenities of larger homes such as high, sloped or cathedral ceilings, add to the sense of space. This also allows for larger windows that extend your home visually.
• Open layouts – One of the more popular design trends is the open concept, or “the great room”-a large informal space for living, working, eating and relaxing. Partial walls, bulkheads, lighting and floor treatment help to define and add character to individual areas within this space.
• Natural light – Today’s new homes are light and bright, and with high-efficiency windows, there is no worrying about heat loss in the winter and overheating in the summer.
• Kitchens that work – The quality and the finishing details of a new kitchen are done with careful attention to matching or complementing the surrounding spaces. Enjoy open-concept kitchens with well-appointed, organized workspaces; attractive, separate eating areas with one and even two kitchen islands; walk-in pantries; energy-efficient appliances; and great natural and built-in lighting.
• Flexible space – Layouts are designed to accommodate changing household needs over time. A den can become an extra bedroom or a nursery. Basement rooms can be converted to a home office or a family entertainment area.
• Built-in convenience – Look for direct access from the garage to the kitchen on hard-surface flooring; mudrooms with large closets; and a ground- or second-floor laundry room. And check out details such as extra-large pantries, lots of storage space and built-in recycling bins.
• Lots of storage – Plenty of built-in storage will help to eliminate clutter; ample closet space in bedrooms, including walk-in closets; drawers, cupboards and shelving in the bathrooms; linen closets; and room in the kitchen for appliances of all sizes, pots and pan organizers, and walk-in pantries.
• Ambience – Shiny, gleaming surfaces, clean lines, warm natural materials, pleasing curves, attractive accents – it’s all part of the design and another reason why a brand new home is a great place to live.