Homeowners Getting More Interested in Energy Efficiency, Simplicity
Posted by Eileen Komanecky on Thu, Mar 18, 2010 @ 02:28 PM
Are the days of "bigger is better" when it comes to housing in America finally over? Now that the days of sky-rocketing appreciation in home values we experienced between 1995 and 2005 are a distant memory, homeowners are placing a premium on smart home products and features that promote energy efficiency, over larger kitchens and bathrooms. Also important is adaptability in the use of space for seniors and those with accessibility concerns. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey for the fourth quarter of 2009, which focused specifically on kitchen and bathrooms.
"The general consensus is that homes will continue to be smaller on average than they were in the past decade,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “But since kitchens remain the nerve center of the home, doing more with less space is a key consideration. Integrating kitchens with family space remains a design priority, as does including areas devoted to recycling, pantries, computer workstations, and spaces devoted to recharging laptops, cell phones and PDAs.”