What comes to mind as you head home from a long day of work?
Think about it.
Do you look forward to going home because it is your sanctuary? Is it a place that reflects everything that is important to you? More importantly, is it the one corner of the planet where you feel most comfortable?
Whether you are considering building a new home or just wishing your current home had some different amenities, there are trending, lifestyle-features that can make your house the most enjoyable place for you and your family to be.
Some of these will impact – first and foremost – your monthly overhead, making it easier to stay within your budget. Others will address the daily functionality of your abode. Finally, there is always room for improving the fun factor.
1) Energy Efficiency
Certain trends are here to stay and energy efficiency certainly seems to fit that category. Regardless of the reasons that resonate most with you – environmentally responsible, tax incentives, consistent comfort in your home, improving home value, or just saving money month-to-month – efficient energy just makes sense.
For the typical Florida homeowner though, understanding all the energy efficiency options and language can seem overwhelming.
Whether you are building a new home or remodeling your current home you need a builder that can help navigate all the choices and recommend where best to use the newest technologies in your space. Look for one that is Green Building Certified.
2) Generous Use of Wood and Stone
The warmth you gain with wood and stone is hard to beat. Homeowners now have almost limitless options to design their own personal look.
Here are some of the most popular to choose from:
- Cultured stone
- Brick
- Granite
- Quartz
- Real Stone
- Wood-like porcelain tiles
- Wood beams
- Engineered Wood Flooring
- Wide plank wood floors
- Hand-scraped wood floors
- Exotic Woods
Use of these two mediums on the exterior of your home will create an inviting and immediate curb appeal. Inside they are versatile enough to use in every room and add warmth, high-function, and tough durability.
3) Flex Space
With our economy tightening, the homebuilding industry has had to adapt to the changing needs of families – herein enters “flex space.”
Scenarios such as these require creative and effective approaches to design:
- Grandparents living with their kids’ families
- Young adults failing to “launch” until later in their 20’s
- Newly married couples that need to move back in so they can save a deposit to buy their own home
Two aspects of a home that greatly impact its ability to meet multi-generational needs are the flow and privacy. Open floor plans are great for taking advantage of all the square footage available. A bonus room with private entry and/or a full bathroom can start out as a play-room and later turn into a young adult or senior apartment.
Some families might choose to put in two master suites or a breakfast bar area to accommodate more than one couple in a home. With the help of an experienced builder, the possibilities to make it work for large extended families living under one roof are endless.
4) Low Maintenance
With approximately 10,000 baby boomers retiring daily a trend toward lower-maintenance properties has surfaced.
Lifestyle takes priority over sprawling landscapes that require a lot of upkeep. Choices that include Florida-friendly plants, like Indian Hawthorne and easy-care grass – such as Zoysia – are favored by many communities and homeowners.
Smaller properties also requiring lower maintenance have an ever-increasing appeal due to:
- More buyers on fixed incomes
- People wanting to live closer to cities
- Desire for an affordable but quality home
- Master plan communities maximizing every bit of space
5) Outdoor Areas Optimized For Family Enjoyment
At one time having a swingset in the backyard was the highest and best use. Now families can enjoy so many other outdoor areas that are designed to bring people together.
Florida’s weather makes it possible to spend time comfortably outside for a good part of the year.
Even when property space is limited many of these outdoor areas are possible:
- A garden courtyard
- Outside kitchen and/or bar
- Firepit
- Outdoor movie theater
- Pool and/or spa
- Koi Fish Pond
Making Your Place Your Home Sweet Home
Design trends will come and go, but at the end of the day, you want your home to be your favorite place – unique to the needs and desires of your family. Homeowners working with a custom home builder have endless options to make a new home or current home efficient, flexible, warm, and fun.
Get in touch with the team at Westmont Homes to begin a conversation about how we can help you.
