Thanks to technology, homeowners have greater access to design ideas than ever before. Think Houzz, Pinterest and similar websites that offer a mind-boggling array of innovative ideas and applications.
But with so many choices comes the challenge of paring them down to fit the way you live, work and play. Whether building a custom home from scratch or updating an existing home, today’s homeowner needs to come prepared with an interesting mix of must-haves and want-tos.
The essentials will all be there, of course, but it’s important to incorporate a little flair and flourish, starting with some of the hottest new home trends.
This beautiful wet bar/server is party perfect. Closed storage, floating shelves and glass front cabinets make the most of minimal space.
Built-ins Add Style, Storage and Charm
These are not your grandmother’s built-ins. They’re built-ins that closely follow how people and families live today. With effective and clever built-ins, organization follows suit.
Built-ins add style and storage and maximize every square inch of your home. They can occupy an entire wall without making the room feel smaller: a wet bar with a shelving or serving area, bookcases flanking a fireplace. Or they can be tucked away to make use of smaller spaces: a half-wall bookcase, a cozy reading nook with window seat and storage drawers.
An extended mantle creates plenty of extra shelf space. Stacked stone fireplace surround adds rustic charm.
Other built-in ideas to consider might be include lockers, cubbies and charging stations for family foyers or mud rooms; banquette seating in the kitchen; laundry room shelving and storage; a pet area with storage for bowls, food and supplies; and storage geared especially for kids’ rooms.
“Trends in built-ins are also following trends in technology in a big way,” says Jake Remley, who handles built-ins for Bob Webb Custom Homes. “People have so much access to design ideas, they have a pretty good idea of what they do and don’t want. And it’s our job to help them achieve it.”
Built-ins are evolving to match the needs of a technological age.
“Gone are the massive entertainment centers of the past,” says Remley. “Clients today are asking for smaller set-ups to house audio/video components, while the TV is mounted on the wall. Smaller is definitely better.”
Technology also plays a role in the design process at Bob Webb. Remley works closely with clients so they can see what a feature might look like in their own home. He often takes ideas clients have found online on Houzz or Pinterest and creates a three-dimensional, photorealistic interior rendering so clients can see how it looks in their existing design – a valuable service, Remley says, for customers who can’t fully picture how a feature might be incorporated.
Flooring in Unexpected Places
Flooring materials are surging in popularity and showing up in some of the most beautiful (and unexpected) places – walls, fireplaces, showers and more.
The focus is clearly on tile – not your standard 12” by 12” tile, but large-format tiles as big as 18” by 18” square, or even rectangular tiles 24” long, are growing in popularity.
“Homeowners’ tile preferences have started to trend bigger,” says Tim Henson, president and chief operating officer of America’s Floor Source. “Believe it or not, the larger format tiles make rooms look larger.”
Wood-look tile has already been established as a favorite, and porcelain has proven to be more popular than ceramic due to its thickness and durability.
A mix of open and closed shelving and storage makes use of every square inch of your home.
Now here’s the new twist. America’s Floor Source has started seeing a surge of calls for its services for flooring on walls – and not just tiles, but hardwood and other materials, too.
“Clients use them on feature walls, like a fireplace wall or a dining room wall,” Henson says. “It’s really beautiful and adds a lot of character to the room when it’s done wisely.”
The larger format tiles mix nicely with other materials, such as wood and stone.
“We do a tremendous amount of artistic-looking backsplashes and shower walls. Really, anything goes,” says Henson. “We help clients create the design they’ve seen or imagined, and the results are pretty spectacular.”
Visit the 2016 BIA Parade of Homes
Sept. 3-18 at Verona in Powell
Bob Webb is the builder of this year’s Foundation Home
Stop by the Bob Webb Parade Home to see some of the beautiful built-ins and unique flooring applications mentioned in this issue of CityScene. Visit www.bobwebb.com to learn more.
We Asked You: Do you want a formal dining room in your home? And if not, what would you want instead?
You Voted: Rather than a formal dining room, the most preferred option was a beverage center.
