What's Hot in New Homes? Check out these Top 10 Design Trends for New Homes in 2012

Top 10 Design Trends for New Homes in 2012

Wonder why some people are turning towards a brand new home? What is different about some of the new custom homes being built today? If you study some of the Design Trends that are popular today and you'll find the answer.

It's exciting to see the resurgence in new home sales in our Hampton Roads' area of Virginia. Builders are paying closer attention to what buyers' really want in a new home. It is vitally important to listen to what our homebuyers are telling us.

Times have changed, and people aren't living in their homes the way they did five to ten years ago. There are some new "old" features that builders should try and incorporate into their new homes today if they want to stand out and appeal to today's homebuyers. Of course, there are still certain things that the different buyers want in their new home- an empty nester buyer doesn't necessarily want what a young family considers important in a home, but I've put together a list of 10 top trends that we've seen in our four new home communities in theHampton Roadsarea of Virginia.

The following Trends for new homes were presented during a recent Southern Living® Custom Builder Seminar at Founders Pointe:

1. Unique flooring materials such as reclaimed wood, walnut, other exotic hardwood finishes are becoming more popular. Pebbles are being used on shower surfaces, offering a foot massage while showering. And, a herringbone pattern is being used for outdoor brick pavers to create greater character and warmth.

2. Wall coverings are making a comeback. Wallpaper is returning to the Dining Rooms and more tile on the bathroom walls again. Taller wainscoting is also found in dining rooms and Southern bead board in drop zone areas and Utility Room areas.

3. Creative use of color with yellows, greens, and blues. Deep chocolate and darker tones are also used as accent colors to add warmth to a room.

4. Fabulous ceiling treatments including medallions with trim detail, coffered ceilings, and materials typically used for floors applied to the ceiling.

5. Greater use of natural and hand-crafted materials such as wrought-iron gates and antique doors. Many are using reclaimed wood, beams and mantels milled from trees cleared from their lots. Old photos were used in door panels from an old house in Virginia. They were displayed in our Berkshire Pointe model in Founders Pointe (Virginia).

6. Functional and Fabulous kitchens with features such as cabinets with glass doors, and a center island with fold-away table. Accent colors are also popular in islands. More quality features are being included in the Kitchen- it is where buyers make their decision! The kitchen below is from the Meadow Glen model by Norman Miller in Founders Pointe (Virginia).

7. Unique use of lighting such as pendant lighting, smaller chandeliers hung over dining rooms tables rather than a single large one.

8. Live-Work Spaces such as desk-top work surfaces in the kitchen. Work spaces at counter height rather than desk height.

9. Outdoor living spaces with fireplaces and outdoor cooking. (The Southern Living Showcase Home, built in The Riverfront at Harbour View, pictured below by Sasser Construction shows the ultimate "Twilight porch".)

10. Maximizing space with built-ins Drop zone and cell phone charging areas, mudroom seating, cubbies, and other interesting uses for nooks inside the home. (Shelves under a staircase is an easy area to inlcude a built-in shelf)

Other Hot buttons for Kitchens so far this year:

• Center islands
• Mix finishes
• Wine racks
• Extra kitchen storage space under islands on ends of cabinets
• Staggered-height cabinets
• Walk-in pantries
• Solid surface or stone countertops
• Decorative moldings, Glass doors,
• Plate racks, Tilt-out sink tray
• Built-in spice and wine racks
• Deep drawers, Over-refrigerator cabinet
• Wastebasket base cabinet (hidden)

Brick was used on the interior wall of this Founders Pointe home to give a feeling of warmth in this Kitchen. African walnut floors, and pine cabinets. The center island was a shaker style cabinet with a darker stain and a leather finish granite top.

Branch Lawson, East West Partners (Left), Brent Warren formerly with Southern Living Custom Builder program(Center), Mark Edwards, East West Partners, Russ Hohmann custom builder (Right)

For Information about East West Partners’ communites, visitwww.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities atFounders Pointe,Eagle Harbor,Liberty Ridge, andThe Riverfront at Harbour View.East West RealtySales Centers are open 7 days a week onsite. Equal Housing Opportunity

East West Realty ~ 1302 Founders Pointe Trail Carrollton, Virginia 23314 ~ (757) 238-9009 East West Communities.