However, modern finishes and a sleek, contemporary look are still popular among homebuilders. Alan Lev, president at Belgravia Group, is still seeing many of his firm’s clients opting for custom kitchens. While the stainless steel look that was popular for several years has seen better days, the material still sees plenty of use in the kitchen. People are also opting for appliances that are integrated into the cabinetry.
Lev also sees a lot of demand for clean lines and bright, open living spaces. Outdoor areas that can be used for entertaining, such as balconies, terraces and roof decks, are all very popular features. Master baths are also in vogue, though the trend is toward big steam showers rather than a traditional tub and shower arrangement.
“People don’t really seem to care for the combination of tubs and showers anymore,” Lev said. “They just want a big shower with steam and funky rain heads or hand-held shower heads.”
White and ivory painted cabinets are taking the place of natural wood finishes, such as the maple and cherry cabinetry that has been popular. Beaver is also seeing changes in kitchen finishes. People are now choosing quartz countertops over granite for a fresher look.
“It’s starting to become more popular, so that’s made a shift in the tile,” Beaver said. “We have a whole new lineup of tile and tile backsplashes going right now. They’re a little whiter and a little fresher. They’re really more warm grays than the earthly tone colors. They’re becoming a little more cool.”
Energy-efficient appliances, heating systems and lighting continue to be favored fixtures for new homes. Energy-efficiency also continues to be a factor in how homes are designed. Appliances, heating systems and consumer electronics are designed for greater energy efficiency than they were just a few years ago. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Buildings Technology Office now sets minimum energy efficiency standards for more than 50 categories of appliances and equipment. Those products represent about 90 percent of home energy use, with the standards saving consumers an estimated $55 billion since 2013.
Newer homes, in general, are proving more energy-efficient. A 2013 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that homes built between the years 2000 and 2009 use only 2 percent more energy than older homes, despite being about 30 percent larger. Heating efficiency in particular improved, as the newer homes used 21 percent less energy for that purpose than older homes. The shift was due to improved energy efficiency for heating equipment and better building shells that follow more exacting codes than in the past. Energy consumption rose in several categories, including a 56 percent increase in the amount used for air conditioning, a 3 percent increase in energy used for water heating and an 18 percent jump for electronics, appliances and lighting.