Thoughtful Designs Can Differentiate Any Home More from the 2017 International Builders Show

Submitted by Judie Docs, Executive Officer, North Coast BIA CSP, MCSP, CGP, CMP, MIRM

Attracting prospective home buyers involves more than touting quartz countertops and hardwood floors: Those types of features are expected. But homes that truly appeal to new-home buyers are those that infuse elements of the unexpected.

It’s no wonder that “60 Design Ideas in 60 Minutes” is consistently one of the most popular and wellattended sessions at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show. Each year, several of the industry’s leading architects, designers and builders crank through more than 60 ideas that can differentiate a home—as well as its builder—from the competition.

Today’s buyers are constantly receiving design inspiration from a variety of sources [online and on TV]. They’re looking for design that is well executed, adds convenience and gives them an experience, such as escaping to relax in a spa-like bath, or entertaining and connecting with friends. That requires thoughtful design, which is all about the details.

Some key takeaways from the session:

• Dining and entertaining — Bigger is better when it comes to doorways, especially those that open to outside dining and entertaining areas to blur the line between the indoors and outdoors. This form of “inside-out architecture” can create the illusion of space in smaller homes, and can be a wow factor in larger homes. For homes with no room for patios, creating a rooftop deck can be a huge selling point to maximize outdoor space.

• Bathrooms — There’s no such thing as an over-the-top bathroom. That’s because everyone appreciates having a place of their own to escape and relax. Bathrooms most likely to get buyers “oohing and ahhing” should feature spa-like details such as a separate glass-enclosed shower alongside a soaking tub, automated and customizable lighting, and elements of nature like indoor plants and stone or pebble accents.

• Bedrooms — Because this is where the most hours of the day are spent, look for ways to make the bedroom as functional and visually appealing as possible. Installing panels of wall art is one example of how to add elements of design, and many wall panels can double as soundproofing materials.

• Kitchens — Not all floorplans (and budgets) can accommodate an enormous kitchen. For tighter layouts, pullout countertops stowed beneath the permanent kitchen countertops can significantly increase usable space. These can be ideal as an additional food-prep area, buffet space or eating location during large gatherings.

• Materials — Characteristics of the modern-farmhouse design are among the most popular in today’s new homes. Going beyond the repurposed or unfinished wood features, “living wood” details on countertops, walls and sliding doorways can significantly augment a home’s rustic appearance.

• Floorplan - To be (completely open), or not to be (completely open). That is the question for today’s new homes as builders adjust their layouts according to everevolving home buyer preferences. General results from NAHB surveys of home buyers (in 2015) and home builders (in 2016) show that buyers have a strong preference for open floorplans, and that most builders are doing their best to create those open spaces for their clients.

There are, however, some differences between what buyers are seeking and what builders are delivering.

For example, regarding kitchen/family room layouts:

o 54% of builders said their typical new homes have a “completely open” floorplan.

o Yet only 32% of buyers said that’s what they were shopping for.

And as for kitchen/ dining room layouts:

o 51% of builders said their typical new homes feature a “completely open” floorplan.

o But just 41% of buyers preferred this option.

While the surveys may suggest a slight disparity between the groups, it’s important to consider that the home buyers survey includes responses from both newhome and existing-home shoppers. The strong demand for completely open floorplans enables builders to compensate for the shortage of such layouts in the existing homes market.

Visit BestInAmericanLiving.com for a closer look at the latest design trends from some of this year’s BALA winners.

These details and many others can be found in a new NAHB report. The report includes an analysis of buyer preferences for home size and the number of bathrooms, among other housing characteristics.

An additional summary of the report is also available on EyeOnHousing.org.

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Judie Docs