Lee Wetherington Homes
Trendspotting
Trendspotting
Hungry for inspiration and eager to see something different, Parade of Homes- goers come out in droves to see what's hot on the homefront. Here's a sneak preview of exciting elements builders are big on.
Bigger and better outdoor living areas. "We are creating seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor living space with disappearing walls, the same flooring materials that flow from inside the house all the way? to the swimming pool and cutting-edge technology for outdoor television and music," says John Cannon. "We're creating a sense of place with privacy and protection though semi-enclosed outdoor rooms, using colonnades and arches to create 'rooms' without walls. And the furniture industry is driving this with gorgeous designs and increasingly durable materials on chairs, tables and sofas so elegant it's hard to believe they were created for the outdoors.
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Old World craftsmanship. Builders are besieged with requests for specially milled woodworking to give their home that elegantly finished feel. "More and more we are edging wood floors with a strikingly different wood or using intricate stone borders to frame stone floors," says Cannon. "We're layering crown molding, sometimes six and seven different woods, to create depth and dimension. Painted baseboards have given way to mahogany and fine maples. Ceiling treatments are much more involved today."
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Green building. Water conservation, energy-efficient appliances, natural landscaping and renewable building products all add up to healthier homeowners and houses that last. Green building is red-hot right now, and manufacturers are coming up with improved products and exciting innovations every day. The companies most dedicated to the cause are getting certified by the Florida Coalition for Green Building. "People come to Florida for the beauty offered by nature," says Derek Nelson of Arthur Rutenberg/ M. Pete McNabb.? "Homes should be built in a manner that helps maintain natural resources."
Retro flair. Tin ceilings, stained glass, built-in wooden bookshelves and carved wooden banisters were de rigueur in the homes of our grandparents. David Hunihan of Fidelity Homes is finding that contemporary homebuyers are responding to these old-fashioned elements. "I believe buyers in every price bracket are looking for the kinds of details that make homes feel warm and inviting," he says. "New construction does not have to be cookie-cutter or boring beige. We are creating homes that are more individual, with back-lit stained glass and tin squares on the ceiling and deep, recessed bookcases and beautifully carved banisters and stair railings. The charming elements of older homes translate very well into new designs."
?Subtle shifts. Lee Wetherington, who has 10 homes entered in the Parade, sees subtle shifts in home design, from exterior elevation to wiring buried deep within walls.
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"We are starting to see a demand for authentic architecture, particularly Country French and Tuscan, in lieu of those Mediterranean Revival homes that have sold so well for so long," Wetherington says. "This does not mean we will never build another Med Rev, because people coming down from up North like them and want them. But the demand for authenticity is growing."
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Two-story homes with more upstairs bedrooms and the evolution of the kitchen are also new trends. "We're creating oversize kitchens now because the kitchen has become the new gathering space," Wetherington says. "Many kitchens will have multiple work stations, and we're even doing kitchens with dual islands."
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Finally, Wetherington points to high-tech entertainment in homes incorporating state-of-the-art plasma, HDL, DLP and high-definition televisions with surround sound, DVD players, CD players and more. "Electronics are a very important aspect of today's homes and will continue to command our attention," he says. "As systems grow in sophistication, home design must adapt."
Bigger and better outdoor living areas. "We are creating seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor living space with disappearing walls, the same flooring materials that flow from inside the house all the way? to the swimming pool and cutting-edge technology for outdoor television and music," says John Cannon. "We're creating a sense of place with privacy and protection though semi-enclosed outdoor rooms, using colonnades and arches to create 'rooms' without walls. And the furniture industry is driving this with gorgeous designs and increasingly durable materials on chairs, tables and sofas so elegant it's hard to believe they were created for the outdoors.
?
Old World craftsmanship. Builders are besieged with requests for specially milled woodworking to give their home that elegantly finished feel. "More and more we are edging wood floors with a strikingly different wood or using intricate stone borders to frame stone floors," says Cannon. "We're layering crown molding, sometimes six and seven different woods, to create depth and dimension. Painted baseboards have given way to mahogany and fine maples. Ceiling treatments are much more involved today."
?
Green building. Water conservation, energy-efficient appliances, natural landscaping and renewable building products all add up to healthier homeowners and houses that last. Green building is red-hot right now, and manufacturers are coming up with improved products and exciting innovations every day. The companies most dedicated to the cause are getting certified by the Florida Coalition for Green Building. "People come to Florida for the beauty offered by nature," says Derek Nelson of Arthur Rutenberg/ M. Pete McNabb.? "Homes should be built in a manner that helps maintain natural resources."
Retro flair. Tin ceilings, stained glass, built-in wooden bookshelves and carved wooden banisters were de rigueur in the homes of our grandparents. David Hunihan of Fidelity Homes is finding that contemporary homebuyers are responding to these old-fashioned elements. "I believe buyers in every price bracket are looking for the kinds of details that make homes feel warm and inviting," he says. "New construction does not have to be cookie-cutter or boring beige. We are creating homes that are more individual, with back-lit stained glass and tin squares on the ceiling and deep, recessed bookcases and beautifully carved banisters and stair railings. The charming elements of older homes translate very well into new designs."
?Subtle shifts. Lee Wetherington, who has 10 homes entered in the Parade, sees subtle shifts in home design, from exterior elevation to wiring buried deep within walls.
?
"We are starting to see a demand for authentic architecture, particularly Country French and Tuscan, in lieu of those Mediterranean Revival homes that have sold so well for so long," Wetherington says. "This does not mean we will never build another Med Rev, because people coming down from up North like them and want them. But the demand for authenticity is growing."
?
Two-story homes with more upstairs bedrooms and the evolution of the kitchen are also new trends. "We're creating oversize kitchens now because the kitchen has become the new gathering space," Wetherington says. "Many kitchens will have multiple work stations, and we're even doing kitchens with dual islands."
???
Finally, Wetherington points to high-tech entertainment in homes incorporating state-of-the-art plasma, HDL, DLP and high-definition televisions with surround sound, DVD players, CD players and more. "Electronics are a very important aspect of today's homes and will continue to command our attention," he says. "As systems grow in sophistication, home design must adapt."