Home designs have taken a turn from the aesthetically pleasing to the practical. Home designs that are unconventional and geared towards a practical purpose, such as “green” homes, are gaining popularity with homeowners and builders alike.
More popular designs include earth-friendly architecture, healthy homes, abundant storage and flexible floor plans.
Earth-friendly architecture uses recycled materials such as wood, metals, glass, and plastics as building materials for new homes, states a press release. Simple, biodegradable materials and the use of ancient building techniques are also becoming popular.
A healthy home incorporates non-toxic building materials that emit no toxic gasses and are resistant to mold. Non-toxic building materials include things such as bamboo flooring, cork, natural linoleum, natural clay plaster, and recycled tile. Non-toxic paints are made with no fungicides and with natural pigments. Formaldehyde-free countertops and epoxy-free grout are also popular, non-toxic building materials.
Storage space has become a popular demand for homeowners, according to a press release. Builders have taken to designing large, walk-in closets, dressing rooms, second-floor laundry rooms, and linen closets. Built-in cabinets have also become popular as well as more spacious garages.
Flexible floor plans allow homeowners to change around the layout of their home at their convenience. Sliding doors, pocket doors, and other types of movable partitions allow for flexible living arrangements. Gone are the days of dedicated living and dining rooms; they are being replaced with large, multipurpose rooms. Some homes come with private “bonus” rooms that can be adapted to a variety of different needs.
“Architects, builders, and home buyers are starting to look beyond the aesthetics of home design and focus instead on the purposes they would like the home to serve, what they can gain from its design,” said Kathy Kalnes, regional vice president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, says in a press release.