Sky West Builders has created a resource section to inspire plans for your next remodeling or home building project. Browse top design architecture blogs, borrow room ideas inside home design magazines, learn what room is the most popular for remodeling in Austin, TX, or discover the top 7 remodeling trends below.
A recent poll by NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) revealed that many people are opting to do a series of smaller upgrades around the home rather than tackling larger renovation projects.
Take a peek at the top 7 remodeling trends for the next two years:
#1 Bank on a Kitchen Makeover
Real estate appraisers agree that kitchens are among the most popular rooms in the home to remodel. Homeowners in the market for reselling their home recoup about an average of 81% from their investment. For homeowners who wish to stay in their newly remodeled home, kitchen upgrades offer convenience and energy savings. Cooktop and counter trends include induction and gas stovetops and engineered stone and quartz bars. Fixtures and appliances feature French door refrigerators, European spray pullout faucets, and deep single bowl sinks (to cleverly disguise dirty dishes from sight).
#2 Bathrooms Become Everyday Spas
Master baths are the next best return on the remodeling dollar and homeowners truly take pride in their bathrooms. Creating a mini-spa like environment is now possible with dual rain shower heads, deep Jacuzzi soaker tubs and soft, multi-colored mood LED lighting. Quartz and granite countertops, integrated sink tops and sink vessels and bronze fixture finishes are among the latest trends for bathroom remodeling.
#3 Return of the Great Room
Many homeowners who live in floor plans featuring a series of small boxed-in, low-ceiling rooms eventually complain of cabin fever. Breaking down a interior wall or two to create free-flowing space between the kitchen and living room or a dining room and living room can instantly make a space feel lighter and more spacious. Homeowners love the extra square footage for entertaining with family and friends.
#4 Floors Dare to Bare it All
Next to paint, switching out carpet for hardwood, laminate, bamboo, stone, cork, tile or reclaimed flooring makes one of the biggest impacts in the before and after of a home remodeling project. Plus, bare floors are a better option for people who have pets or suffer allergies since there are no fibers to collect pet hair or dander.
#4 A Pool Rules: Year-Round Privacy & Play
Texas summers are lasting longer and getting hotter. Tired of noisy community pools you have to share with the entire neighborhood? More and more Texans are electing to cool off without the crowds by having a pool built in their own backyard. No deeper than five feet, play pools are perfect for relaxation or swimming short laps while diving pools require at least a depth of 8 ½ feet. Rectangular, minimal lined geometric pools complement post-modern and urban architected single family homes. Those seeking a pool to camouflage with their backyard’s natural setting opt for a freeform pool featuring rock and water cascade features. Pool houses offer restroom and showering facilities for guests as well as a storage area for pool supplies, toys and more.
#5 Best-Kept Getaway? Your Backyard.
Given Texas’s temperate year-round weather, outdoors is a popular destination. Rather than packing your bags and hopping on a plane, many residents choose to allocate next year’s travel budget to building an outdoor entertaining space. From arbors to outdoor kitchens to sun rooms to multi-leveled decks, there are many options for soaking up the outdoors in summer, fall, winter and spring.
#6 Recycle, Reuse & Renew
The trend to utilize commercial building materials for residential purposes shows no signs of fading away. Using recycled materials can infuse new life into old and reduces your footprint on planet Earth. Shipping containers, wood pallets, farm silos and scrap metal are inexpensive housing material alternatives for architects and homebuilders alike.
#7 Weather or Not
Although the Federal tax credit program has ended, the value of upgrading the envelope or skin of your home for weatherization cannot be underestimated. To keep homes cool during the hot Texas summers, many homeowners upgrade ducting, HVAC equipment and/or windows. Window replacement combined with HVAC sizing is a science and consultation with an expect is important for maximizing your dollar and your home’s energy performance.