2009 Design Trends
Create the Homes Buyers Want Now
by Judy Riley
Offering homes that incorporate the features consumers want today is more important than ever for homebuilders hoping to shine in a competitive market. Trends in home design are popularized quickly in this age of entire networks as well as a mass of magazines and websites devoted to the home. Indeed, comfort, convenience and aesthetics are paramount for today's home buyers.
For residential builders, understanding the needs and desires of today's home seekers is essential to staying in the game. What current trends should homebuilders consider when designing new models and offering upgrades that will appeal to buyers?
The Desire for Escape
As in any era, societal trends are providing the impetus for today's home design movement. From the economic downturn and housing market woes to political uncertainty about a new president, consumer confidence is down. And because American consumers are anxious, there is a psychological need for escape.
Technology enables escape. Today's technology is more humanized and is becoming an increasingly larger part of the American lifestyle, from Wii Fit to iTouch and more. Technology-based features are vital for innovative home design.
On another level, during times of economic strain, the home becomes a place of comfort and serenity where homeowners expect to escape from the pressures of the world outside. More than ever, opportunities for leisure activities and a bit of pampering at home are important to buyers.
To save money, more homeowners are staying home to be entertained rather than going on vacations or to movie theaters and restaurants. But, ideally, they'd like to find the luxuries these venues offer at home. This trend is apparent in the popularity of spa-like bathrooms, chef's kitchens and dedicated media rooms.
Baths & Kitchens Redefined
The bathroom is now a place where people expect to relax and unwind. Cramped bathrooms with little to offer other than function are going by the wayside as spa-like bathrooms gain popularity. Today's bath is all about wellness and rejuvenation. Fixtures and furnishings that add a luxurious feel to this room are in high demand.
Because it's a private space, homeowners are adding bathrooms or expanding their existing bathrooms even in small homes. In high-end homes, they are adding amenities such as flat screen TVs and seating. Just as the boundaries between kitchens and living rooms have blurred, so have the lines between bathrooms and bedrooms.
It's important to note that the bathroom is the most age-discriminating room in the home, and accessibility will be an increasing concern for aging Baby Boomers. In fact, in light of the "aging in place" trend, accessibility throughout the home will be a factor.
Today's kitchen, too, is not the functional room of the past but has become a place to socialize, email, surf the Web, and to charge cell phones and iPods. It's truly the hub of family connectivity, and flexible, open plans continue to be preferred both in urban loft interiors and single-family homes.
No longer an isolated room, most buyers want a kitchen that blends seamlessly into the common living space. Thus, the aesthetics of the room are more important than ever. Cabinetry, countertops, flooring, appliances, hardware and fixtures must integrate beautifully with one another as well as with the surrounding living area.
The trend toward green living is another major influence in bath and kitchen design. But while people want to feel as if they are doing their part to help the environment, they aren't willing to sacrifice a product's performance to do so. For example, for homeowners who want a low-flow showerhead but don't want a weak shower experience, water-efficient products that meet high quality performance standards are the best choice.
Design Trends
Home design in 2009 incorporates these lifestyle trends. Visually, two design trends are in the forefront: Futuristic and Nature as Inspiration.
Futuristic design encompasses four popular style concepts:
Transformers - This trend is all about adaptability-products that offer customized, meaningful features. "Transforming" products can be adapted to meet different needs; for example, a dining room table that rises to bar-height for parties.
Anti-Gravity - This look is popular in architecture and interiors where masses are cantilevered as though defying gravity. For example, many new kitchen faucet designs are horizontal/square-shaped, replacing conventional goose neck spouts to better coordinate with countertops and tables.
Invisible - This trend embraces the idea of seamless integration. For example, buttons on the iPhone are integrated into one surface rather than individual touch buttons. This is seen increasingly in kitchen design where cabinetry flows into appliances with refrigerators featuring a cabinet-like surface.
Facet - Seen in architecture, the facet look is considered ultra-modern. Unique features are designed to be self evident, such as furniture with origami-like construction.
Nature as Inspiration is another prevalent trend, sparked by both recent attention to the environment and the fact that many see nature as an escape from stress. Three trends are most evident:
Nature Patterns - In architecture, nature patterns highlight the popularity of natural materials and colors both inside and outside of buildings. In interior design, fixtures and hardware offer matte, brushed and distressed finishes. Showerhead design now embraces the principle of Biomimicry, using nature-inspired design to maximize the shower experience.
Organism - This trend features forms that are more nature-inspired rather than mimicking nature patterns, which is more of a graphic application. The forms in Organism are often plant-like. A fitting example is the "Water Cube" aquatic center at the Beijing Olympics.
Organic Soft Modern - This trend offers a more simplified design with mass appeal, using warm, friendly and playful designs rather than the stark, modern appeal of previous products.
Judy Riley is Vice President of Design for Moen Incorporated.
Infolink:
showhouse.moen.com
