Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 10/19/2004

Question
I'm thnking about building a new home around 3000 sq. ft. give or take. What is the latest trend in new homes,high ceilings,two story great rooms, large laundry rooms or what? I like a modern look NOT country.Do you  have any ideas or where I can get some different looks on internet? What would you want in a new home?

Answer
Bob:

Thanks for your questions.

The latest trend depends on where you are and what your budget is!  We've seen a split lately, with luxury homes getting bigger and more expensive; but we've also seen a very large number of clients who value the quality of their home over the sheer size.

From my perspective, the most pronounced trend is that clients are demanding a higher level of customization.  There was a time when many of our clients asked for very similar designs; now they're interested in homes designed to address their personal tastes and desires.  Our clients have become less interested in designing towards resale and more interested in designing a house that is tailored to their specific needs.

You did hit on one important trend that ties into what I've said above - the large laundry room.  Many peoples are fed up with having to kick aside a basket full of dirty clothes when they come home, so we design an area called a "family entry".  The family entry includes a bench seat, a closet, a small bath, and a large(r) laundry room.  Some include space for shelves that hold bookbags, shoes, briefcases, etc.

As far as style, it depends completely upon where you are.  Thankfully, we're seeing a return to regionalism - southwestern homes in the southwest; colonial homes in the northeast, etc.  We're also seeing smaller homes with front porches, detached garages, and other elements from an earlier era.

The best way to get an idea of what kind of house designs are popular in your area is to look at the planbook rack at your local bookstore; talk to local builders and architects; and frankly, just look around in new developments in your area.  If you want to look for plans on the web, just type "house plans" into a search engine.  That'll give you plenty to look through.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
President
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com