DESIGNED FOR YOU - Custom Home Trends to Consider for Your New Build
As a custom home builder at Ocean Homes, our mission is to craft beautiful homes that fit your family’s life and accentuate it. We believe that you shouldn’t force yourself to fit an outdated blueprint – instead, we think a home’s floorplan should be carefully designed for its residents. After all, your home is the biggest purchase you’ll make and one you’ll live with for years to come.
Over the past three years, we, as a home builder, have seen changes in how our clients are using their homes. The changes in how we utilize our living space result in functional design changes that allow families to better capitalize on every square foot of living space within their home.
Passionate for home building, at Ocean Homes, we pride ourselves on staying up to date with the current trends in home building and home design. When you choose us to build your custom home, our team of design experts will work to ensure your home is a perfect fit.
What are the most prominent trends we’re seeing in custom home designs? Great Question! Read on to learn about 2022’s biggest home building trends
Must Have Custom Home Features for 2022:
A Family-Friendly Mud Room:
Hands up if you like mud tracked into your home from kids, pets, or whatever else. No one, we didn’t think so. For a family home, a well-planned mudroom is a MUST. Mudrooms (located either at the backdoor or just off the garage) are necessary for family homes. We love a dedicated mudroom because the room helps prevent clutter from outdoor toys, accessories, and clothing. At Ocean Homes, we often recommend our clients build lockers or cubbies for their children in the mudroom. Doing so allows parents to use the space to help keep their kids organized for school.
Main Floor Laundry Suite:
Laundry, a necessary evil for any working mom. Throughout the 2010’s we saw a removal of the dedicated laundry room from the floor plan to allow for more “bonus space.” In 2022, we are seeing a revival of the laundry room. No busy parent loves doing laundry – that said, a dedicated laundry room can help you breeze through the chore. Add a craft table to your laundry room if you have little ones at home. Let your kids play as your fold. The beauty of a craft table within your laundry room is it allows for easy craft clean-up.
A Dedicated Home Office:
The home office is sticking around! While we might be out of the worst of the pandemic, many employers and employees are adopting a hybrid work week. (You know, two days at the office, 3 days at home…) As many of us discovered over the pandemic, working from the couch or kitchen table just didn’t work. If you’re building or renovating your home in 2022, a personal home office is a requisite. When creating your home office, to maximize space, consider a murphy bed desk so the area can be used by out-of-town visitors.
His and Her Walk-In Closets:
Don’t have enough shoe racks or closet space for both your and your partner’s clothes? Neither did we until we opted for “His and Her” walk-in closets. The beauty of two walk-in closets off the primary suite is that both partners can make the space theirs and use it in a dressing room.
Spa-inspired shower:
There is nothing relaxed about showering in a cramped shower stall or a shower/bath combo. It’s 2022, and at Ocean Homes, we believe your ensuite should inspire you as you start your day. We encourage our clients to think spa-inspired – spacious, luxurious, and elegant when designing a bathroom. If you have kids at home, make the shower big enough for the whole family! This year we’re advising our clients to opt for multiple showerheads and/or to include an in-shower sound system.
Smart Kitchen Tech:
Just think how much simpler your smartphone has made your life. No more palm pilot, no more bulky contact books, no more loose sheets of scrap paper for all your lists and on the go ideas. Now just think what investing in innovative kitchen technology could do! At Ocean Homes, we’re big fans of incorporating smart appliances into our kitchen builds. A smart oven is a game-changer for the busy mom as it can pre-heat remotely, remember your favorite recipes, and automatically adjust temperature and cooking times. Smart microwaves and motion-activated lights and faucets offer other ways to incorporate technology into your new kitchen.
Outdoor Kitchens:
In 2022, we are continuing to see homeowners incorporate their yards into their living space. As a custom home builder, we are big fans of including outdoor kitchens in our builds. An outdoor kitchen can expand your living and entertaining space while making outdoor cooking and dining more enjoyable for the entire family.
Personalized Games Rooms:
Do you and your family enjoy Friday night movies and scheduled game nights, or do your teens like to game after finishing their homework? If so, a dedicated games room may be just what your family needs. As a games room is a shared family space, get the whole family involved in the design and ask your kids what they want. Some cool features we’ve seen include a state-of-the-art theater, climbing wall, old-school arcade games, and a golf simulator.
Secret Oasis Wine Sellers:
Whether you enjoy entertaining or the casual glass (or bottle) of wine, a home wine cellar can help take your vino hobby to the next level. If space is limited, start with a small closet size wine cellar (and wine fridge). If space is not an issue, let your imagination go wild and consider adding a “private tasting room” in your wine cellar.
Single and Double Kitchen Islands:
Can you even have a kitchen today without a kitchen island? First made popular in the 1980’s kitchen islands have gone from “nice to have” to “can’t live without.” Logically, it makes sense; if one island is nice, two are twice as nice. With families spending more and more time cooking at home over the pandemic, we saw requests from our clients to include two kitchen islands. An extra kitchen island doubles your food prep space, increased storage, expands your seating for casual meetings and homework sessions, and improves the flow of our kitchen when entertaining. And plenty of space for food prep, everyday family meals, and entertaining.
If you’re now thinking you can’t live without dual kitchen islands, “his or her” closets, or a private tasting room – give us a call to learn more about our custom-built homes or complete home renovation services. Our Ocean Homes team is passionate about creating living spaces that complement your lifestyle.