Kate Heath knows home design. As design center manager for Edge Homes in Orem, Kate and her team work individually with hundreds of couples who build with Edge. She takes them through the enjoyable process of selecting finishes and design elements for a new home.
Here, she shares five trends she’s seeing in today’s new homes.
Getting crafty
“Craftsman-style and bungalow-style exteriors are big,” Kate says. “People are into full siding with lots of white. They want the clean look that comes from those styles with a classic feel.”
Specifically, homeowners like the board and batten fiber cement vertical siding. It’s beautiful and durable — requiring little maintenance — and adds depth to the exterior of the home.
Besides the siding, homeowners like white around windows, doors and trim with rich neutral, contrasting tones.
Hit the deck
Kate sees homeowners bringing their lives outside with spacious decks and accompanying landscape.
“Most of our homes have some sort of deck and many of our buyers are covering them to create an outdoor space,” she says. “People want to gather outside and enjoy the amazing views we have in Utah.”
Edge’s composite wood decks don’t require sanding or staining. This ease of use appeals to today’s busy homeowner.
Kickin’ kitchen
The kitchen is a gathering place that doubles as both an efficient place to work and the heart of the home.
“Wall-mounted double ovens are obviously in high demand,” Kate says. “We’re seeing a lot of those next to a cooktop with a custom wood or stainless steel hood. An extra benefit is that they have additional storage under the cooktop.”
Ceiling-height cabinets — especially in white — are also popular and bring a clean look to the kitchen.
Homeowners are investing in oversized kitchen islands with large overhangs, which make gatherings easier to handle.
Friends of the family
“In Utah, we have large families — lots of shoes, coats and backpacks — and mudrooms are essential,” Kate says. “They keep the mess out of the great room.”
Mudrooms are a fun, flexible space that can house custom-built lockers, benches and coat hooks.
Built-in desks are popular in the dining and kitchen area. They allow for interaction during computer time and make it easy for mom to help with homework while she’s making dinner.
Ground floor opportunity
High-quality laminate looks like hardwood, but with lower cost, easier maintenance and more durability. Win-win-win.
Tile that looks like limestone, concrete and other clean, less textured looks is trending now.