Custom Home Design Trends of 2015

You are very close to realizing the dream you have nurtured for a very long time—that of owning a home for yourself and your family. You have successfully completed all the preliminary steps, including arranging for the finances. But in your mind, you are still undecided about the type of home that you would like to create for yourself, a design which would be a true reflection of your taste. To help you in this process, I am going to introduce you to the latest styles in the custom home design market.

Building “Green”

Growing concerns for the environment have put the focus firmly on the design efficiency of every building. Utility costs are not likely to reduce with time either. Many new buyers are requesting a green building design that would help lower utility costs and increase the overall efficiency of the construction. The use of renewable or recyclable materials and the installation of solar panels are being highly encouraged. The latest technology is being employed to reduce wastage of water.

Modern insulation processes are being utilized to augment efficient heating. Inside the house too, automated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are helping to create an energy-efficient home. Tankless water heaters, automatic dimmers, etc., come in handy while creating a modern green building. According to U.S. Department of Energy, a home equipped in this manner is 40% more energy efficient than buildings constructed without these features.

Contemporary Styles

The optimal use of living space and minimal interior décor help contemporary houses to be in vogue season after season. Modern residential premises inspired by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, and Adolf Loos are still very popular.

The growing trend of inclusion of flexible living space in home design encourages creative usage, and often, homeowners reorient this space according to their necessity and lifestyle. Big windows with glass panels help reconnect with the nature outside. The use of concrete, glass, vinyl, and wood ensures cost-effectiveness without detracting from the durability and beauty of the architecture.

Universal Design

The concept of universal design, sometimes referred to as inclusive design, stemmed more from necessity than anything else. The arrangement of modern homes often promotes multigenerational living, which means the aged members of the family frequently move in to stay with their children or other close relations. The principles of universal design result in homes equipped with facilities and features that aged persons or people with disabilities find comfortable to occupy.

A barrier-free concept is fully employed in accessible buildings, carefully blending with design aesthetics. Wheelchair accessibility, elevators, ramps, wider doors and hallways, and installation of light switches and mechanical buttons at reachable heights are being used to make homes compliant with the universal design philosophy.

Sometimes separate apartments equipped with all these facilities and complete in all aspects are being created inside a bigger home. Homeowners are doing this not only to accommodate their aged relatives, but also to ensure comfortable living at their advanced age.

The trends of the year amply reveal the changing mood of the consumers. Homeowners are now more inclined to opt for design sensibility than sheer aestheticism. They have also started thinking about the long term, sometimes decades down the lane, while planning for a custom designed home.

Brian Miller is the owner of Miller's Residential Creations, a custom home builder and remodeling company servicing Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties of West Virginia since 2004.
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