by Jay Winslow
The end of the McMansion, more eco-friendly features and a return to simple living are shaping home design trends in 2010, according to architects and designers at the 2010 International Builders Show in Las Vegas.
The annual gathering of builders, remodelers, architects and contractors is where the latest products are introduced and trends discussed. While various design viewpoints are expressed, there are 10 design trends the industry agrees homeowners can expect to see this year.
1. Goodbye McMansion
While big houses aren't going to vanish on the high end of the market, the oversized cookie-cutter home developments that flourished during the building boom appear to be a thing of the past.
"It's the end of the McMansion as we know it," says Sanford Steinberg, principal at Steinberg Design Collaborative, an award-winning, Houston-based design firm. "People couldn't afford them in the first place and now they're realizing they don't need them."
Instead, home design is now all about building homes that make the best use of their space with multi-use rooms and smart design, Steinberg says.
"Design has to be smarter now," says Rick New, AIA, director of residential architecture for DTJ Design, a Boulder, Colo. design firm.
2. Family-friendly design
The formal style that dominated over the last few years is being replaced by more traditional, homey styles. That means fewer formal spaces such as living and dining rooms, and design that encourages families to spend more time together, New says.
"It's a very simple approach, where things open up off of the great room," he says. "We're seeing fewer walls and more open spaces."
In order to create that open space, rooms are being defined by varying ceiling heights instead of walls, Steinberg says.
3. Eco-friendly features
Green and sustainable features are increasingly a standard in homes today. "Anything that emphasizes the green, environmentally friendly movement will be important," New says.
Some of the most popular green features are energy-efficient windows, walls made of insulated concrete forms, tankless water heaters and solar panels. The trend moves outside the home, too, with landscaping that reflects the native plant life of the area instead of traditional landscaping, such as grass and flowers.
4. Custom bathrooms
Bathrooms are shrinking along with the rest of the house, but designers are making up for that with individual custom touches that reflect the way homeowners live. Personalized design touches can be as simple as small features like accent mirrors or extra towel racks.
With smaller rooms, the his side/her side bathrooms that feature two of everything from sink to toilet are going away, New says. At the same time, many homeowners are still opting for separate baths and showers.
5. First-floor master bedrooms
Seniors who were looking to have easily accessible bedrooms and full baths sparked this trend, but it has now been adopted by homeowners of every age, Steinberg says.
In many cases, this trend is driven by the needs of multi-generational households as younger homeowners make room for visiting parents or grandparents.
6. Classic front porches
For years, front porches were a standard feature of every home. Now, they're reemerging as homeowners look for an easy way to add more livable space, especially in warmer climates, Steinberg says.
"It's a great way to make a house look better and at the same time make it a more livable, enjoyable home," he says.
7. Bold colors
People are looking for a way to make their homes stand out and color is an easy way to differentiate a home and give it instant curb appeal, New says.
Using bold, contrasting colors also helps to separate living spaces on the interior of the home as walls are eliminated.
8. Back-to-basics kitchens
Traditional finishes in the kitchen are replacing contemporary styles. Cabinets are highlighted by dark wood tones, such as cherry, contrasted with white, beige or other light colors for tiles and other kitchen elements.
9. Walkable communities
While there's not much new construction going on, what is being built are developments that are near public transportation and within walking distance of shopping and recreation.
"We're seeing a real shift toward urban living," says Jim Constantine, principal of community planning, at Looney Ricks Kiss Architects in Princeton, N.J. "People want to be in high-density developments."
10. The loft look
The urban trend carries over to the interior of the home as more homeowners opt for loft-style design with high ceilings and lots of natural light.
"Generation Y loves it, and people are picking up on that," Steinberg says. "Anything that they like is going to get passed on to everyone as the marketers get a hold of it."
Copyright 2010, Sears Brands, LLC. All Rights Reserved.