5 trends among this year’s Homearama offerings

Homearama, UNIONTWP.— a two-week showcase of luxury homes, opens Saturday in Warren County.

Highlands atHeritage Hill at 3284 Columbia Road, Union Twp., marks the 17th time the show is being held inWarren County. This year’s Homearama features 10 homes ranging in cost from$1 million to more than $2 million.

Here are some of themore unique features and trends we sawduring a sneak-peek tour:

1. Multi-generational homes

Homearama, until this year, has never featured multi-generational homes. This year it features two, both of them by High Pointe Custom Homes.

“These are actually two of the first multi-generational homes that have been built in this region and in the Midwest, for that matter,” said Dan Dressman, executive director for Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati. “What it allows is two or three different families — it could be the in-laws, kids, cousins — they all live in different sections of the house ... and then they’re joined together.

In the case of Heritage A (6,475 square feet) and Heritage B (2,705 square feet), a 32-foot underground hall runs between the two homes.

Constructed using a prefabricated concrete bridge structure, the hall is decorated to look like a combination beer hall/wine cellar with giant casks lining each wall, wooden picnic-style tables and benches as well as solidwood, double-arched doors with a speakeasy window into the wine room.

The Lighthouse is a 6,165- square-foot home connected by a secret passageway in a parlor room just off the entrance. A spiral staircase in that same roomleads toa second-story crow’snest.

2. Front yard social spaces

Rather than sequester family and friends in the backyard for social gatherings, two Home ar a ma 2018 homes put such spaces in the front of the property.

The Ashby Manor by Wieland Builders boasts a Southern style, with awraparound front porch with a wood-burning fireplace. French doors open the space to the dining room.

The Homegrown by High Pointe CustomHomes puts a fire pit in themiddle of a circular driveway in front of the residence. That rarely-found feature allows a homeowner to invite passing neighbors to sit and socialize and, on Halloween, a unique way to ensure trick-or-treaters don’t have far to go to score some candy, according to the builder.

3. Second-floor living rooms and refrigerators in pantries

While living rooms once were relegated to the main or lower levels, several Homearama 2018 homes add mini-gathering spaces on the second floor, giving a social aspect to an area once thought only worthy of bedrooms.

Refrigerators, once the staple of kitchens and basement “man caves,” are fast becoming fixtures ofwalk-in pantries, as well, assuring meal maker or party planners additional space for lesser-used items.

4. Basements now media, billiards rooms

Most of the homes at Homearama 2018 feature lower-level getaway spaces meant to give family and friends a place to unwind and have fun.

Stonewood, by Frazier Homes, takes that sentiment one step further. Following ameal, guests can settle into the lower-level media room or gather in the billiards room or recreation room, which features a bar and built-in booth. There’s a television over the bar, one in the billiards room and three in the main recreation area.

5. Outdoor living, free-flowing floor plans

More than in any other year, this year’sHomearama features an abundance of outdoor living space, entertainment centers and free-flowing floor plans—combining dining room, family room and kitchen.

“Basically what we’ ve seen in the past couple of years, but just more of it,” Dressman said.