Black
Simple but dramatic, black is both trendy and classic. On anything from window frames to fixtures, it adds interest and depth. Manufacturers have been coming out with appliances available in both glossy and matte finishes. Though it may seem like an edgy choice, using black is a simple way to create sleek lines throughout your home.
Where to use it: window frames, interior trims, fixtures and appliances (in both gloss and matte)
Intelligent Housing
Thanks to these fun and convenient technologies, Disney’s “Smart House” may not be so far off after all!
Smart apps available for tablets and smartphones can help you have control of your home with just a simple tap or even voice command. Smart thermostats not only look futuristic, but some can also help you save money on heating by creating heating and cooling schedules based on your daily routine. Autoshades are becoming more affordable and easier to use, while smart lighting can be adjusted to change the mood and feel of your home.
Where to use it: smart thermostats, smart shades, smart lighting
Open Kitchens
Open concept is expanding into the kitchen! Beyond just creating a breezy space, reducing the number of wall cabinets and moving non-everyday appliances into the pantry frees up the area for entertaining. You can even opt install pantry and shelving space in all of the walls of the room. To drive home the open theme, full walls of windows can allow for beautiful views
How to use it: reducing number of wall cabinets, installing open shelving, incorporating more windows
Photography - Iris Bachman
Larger Kitchen Islands
In the past limited to marble sizes and that limited the size of the island
Now we have materials such as concrete and resins that are almost unlimited sizes we se 16 ft islands now
How to use it: BIg islands, wow your guests while entertaining
Photography - Iris Bachman
Wet Rooms
Wet rooms are popular in apartments but are becoming increasingly common in larger homes. A wet room includes a bathtub and shower in one separate area created completely with materials designed to get wet. Laying out master bathrooms with separate tubs and showers can be difficult, and a wet room is not only an interesting space in and of itself, but it also gives more flexibility to do things with other parts of the bathroom.
How to use it: Design the tub and shower together in their own separate area instead of including them separately.
Passive Houses
Popular in Europe but gaining traction in America, passive houses are sustainable and energy efficient. Making a house tighter and more energy efficient makes it environmentally — and economically — friendly. Design of a passive house allows for “free heat” — heat given off from appliances — to be reused to heat the home so that conventional heating systems that require fossil fuels to operate become unnecessary.
How to use it: more energy efficient appliances and windows, better insulation and ventilation
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