BUILDING TRENDS
By Janice Milliner
The American dream of owning a home has morphed into the dreamier ideal of building your own customized home. As people continue to thrust themselves into their workday and maintain longer hours, they seek to provide themselves with the luxury of well-appointed and perfectly situated surroundings. “In Pittsburgh alone, new home construction has increased 20% over last year,” according to BAMP Executive Director, John Auciello, “home building in and of itself is becoming a trend!”
Although the practical elements of making a house into home are ever evolving, the root of what drives this transformation has evolved. Quality and convenience are at the core of centering a new home’s style, form and function. In step with the new building trends, Pittsburgh builders are welcoming the opportunity to customize and create a house that is supportive of a homeowner’s lifestyle of today.
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| Above: Paragon Homes: "The Massey row" boasts an impressive path leading into a raised study featuring French doors,
then into an upper level floor plan that preserves the visual interest of the home. |
“The majority of new construction is contracted by people who already own or have owned a home,” says Jeff Costa, owner of Costa Home Builders. “They are well acquainted with the quarks that they would like to make right in their new dream home. People are deciding for themselves what they want in a home based on their current lifestyle and what works for them. Today’s consumer is also well educated on current trends. Combine that with their likes and dislikes – they have a lot to say to a builder when contracting new home construction.”
Families and singles are now opting for a free-flowing, open floor plan. Combining once traditional rooms into one large multi-functional space allows people to part ways for their own agendas (cooking, dining, entertaining, etc.), yet still keeps everyone together. Aside from the welcoming atmosphere, an open floor plan allows for greater flexibility when accommodating many of today’s high-tech “must-haves” into one fluid arrangement.
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| Above: Nomak Custom Homes: Rich use of color and sleek clean lines accent this open space and showcase the fantastic view. |
“Home audio and video [centers or individual rooms] is becoming more common place in the home,” says Al Crawford of Wellington Custom Homes. Not surprisingly, they are starting to influence the floor designs or are being incorporated instantly into new plans. Not much further behind is the request for a “smart home.” Homeowners want the means to control virtually any mechanical or electronic device throughout the house, such as security systems, whole-house audio and video, sprinkler systems, lighting systems, heating and cooling, and more through one localized control. Wireless home networks are linking up homeowners to multiple computers and accessing a number of functions simultaneously. These networks can also access the Internet and Intranet, check e-mail and print to and from anywhere.
Above: Kenmore® Elite Washers and Dryers available at Sears ® in Champagne, Pacific Blue and Sedona. Photo courtesy of Sears®
High-tech exterior materials continue to gain in popularity as they curb necessary home maintenance. Longer lasting paints, protective coatings and more weather-resistant materials are minimizing outdoor chores and maintenance that comes with ownership. Consumers today are also more environmentally conscious. Partnered with his son Brett Ligo, Lee Ligo of Ligo Architects explains, “Although the use of environmentally friendly materials or ‘Green Construction’ is a movement in the building industry out west, we have integrated these principles here for years. Our designs incorporate not only the thoughtful use of space, but also ‘green’ materials.”
Finished basements are not only a trendy room today, but also a space that allows – key word here – separate space; specifically for parents of teenagers and for teenagers and their friends. Furthermore, the addition of an in-law suite is being created to provide extended family accommodations. These suites or apartments are appearing either on second floors or in basements. Incorporating a “guest” apartment reflects the growing trend of the current generation who are either confronted with the reality of caring for an aging parent or who are in need of live-in accommodations for help with the care of smaller children with two income families.
Whether it’s providing a multi-functional space, a separate safe place or an addition for family, the focus, though not new, is definitely more involved than in years past. “When my kids were very young, I welcomed the fact that our house was the place where all the neighborhood kids gathered. As my children grow into teenagers, that same consideration is going into the planning of our new home. The basement is being designed with our children’s input. As a result, we have created space for a pool table and an electronic video gaming area. We are also including a home theater complete with popcorn machine and movie posters,” comments Andrea Richard who is building a home in Jefferson Hills. “The kids also wanted a café bar like Starbucks,” she laughs, “We’ll see about that one!”
Adding all that square footage can add up however. “Generally speaking, a one story or ranch-style home is significantly more expensive to build since the foundation and roof are much larger. Consumers must keep in mind that no matter what their preference is, they should set aside funds for additional expenses that they might have otherwise overlooked; respective cost according to house size and design, potential increases in cost of materials and incorporating the most recent building codes for a ‘safer’ home,” says Christy Guyaux of Paragon Homes.
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| Above: Ligo Architects: The rich use of materials, such as mahogany wood, stone floors and an indoor waterfall create this breathless retreat. |
“In Pittsburgh, regardless of the style of house that we build or where we build, people demand quality construction.
The work ethic here in Western PA has to represent integrity. Our clients expect it,” notes Jeff Costa of Costa Home Builders. Other builders concur with both Costa and Guyaux. They also point out that in addition to the quality of construction, homeowners like to incorporate “little extras,” such as extensive trim work with the heavy use of ceramic tile, granite and/or marble. In bathrooms, kitchens and dinning rooms, some owners desire to create a true European look of the French and Italian Mediterranean. Others choose to indulge in looks that reflect a more cosmopolitan lifestyle by using concrete or industrial materials for flooring and countertops. “Sleek, clean lines and open spaces compliment the homeowner’s desired design taste to display color and artwork. These spaces resonate a museum-quality by combining the simplicity of the space in relation to fantastic views,” notes Michael Kamen of Nomak Custom Homes, who has contracted and developed extensively on the South Side of Pittsburgh and Mt. Washington, PA.
Designing a custom home obviously entails a homeowner communicating specific ideas to a builder. Therefore, builders make spec homes and floor plans based on current trends for customers to see up close and in person what they might be envisioning. Even so, if there are frustrations to be found between an owner and builder, employing the aid of an architect can help bridge any gaps and mediate between the two.
“Homeowners do have the option of contracting their own architect and builder individually,” states Lee Ligo of Ligo Architects, “Many of my clients desire a more efficient use of space. Less is more. We design very comfortable homes that work great, yet the square footage may amount to less than 2000 sq. ft. This saves the homeowner immensely in heating and cooling costs, as well as overall maintenance.”
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| Above: Paragon Homes: Magnificent multi-level spiral staircase serving the entry is surrounded by a finished lower level encased in custom paneling, and surrounded by marble flooring, detailed wood columns and arched openings to display meticulous craftmanship in "The Villanova". |
Home remodeling expert, Pat Folan of Accent Contracting Corporation elaborates, “Even for those who are seeking to make home improvements, great care needs to be taken to ensure that additions or remodels are ethically pleasing to the original architectural integrity.” More often than not, an architect can prove to be most essential when it comes to merging old and new construction. “Homeowners desire kitchens and family rooms that have granite surfaces or stone-faced fireplaces, but they also want them to tie into the current style of the home. Upgrades that look like they were original to the structure are both an art and a science,” says Folan.
Not to be forgotten, design fees are also a part of the builders’ and owner’s expense. “A little known fact that homeowners often seem to overlook is that most builders are willing to credit the homeowner’s design fees should they opt to contract an architect.” notes Lee Ligo.
Homeowners are smart to research every avenue when it comes to building new construction or remodeling their existing home. Doing so will insure that all of your options have been addressed and are customized to fit your specifications. Walk-in pantries, for instance, are very popular now not only for their economical costs, but also for the storage convenience they provide. Pantries are now designed with shelves and bins to store everything from baking trays to bottled water. They serve homeowners with a central location to stash their home-living supplies. They add convenience and organization, which results in the homeowner having operational control of the household. Other modern day amenities on the rise include built-in cappuccino and coffee machines, hair dryer mounts in bathrooms, steam showers and saunas. Major appliances, such as washers and dryers, refrigerators, ovens and more are now being offered in a variety of finishes and in a rainbow of colors to better coordinate with room style.
Variety. Simplicity. Control. Convenience. From floor plans to building materials and extra rooms to extravagant amenities, the American dream of owning your own home really has morphed into the reality of building your ideal custom home. The long and short of it – new home construction has inducted a new standard; homeowners want to build a new home that suitably addresses their lifestyle.
The new building trends are all about designing your home lifestyles.
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