What Will My Next House Be Like 

With diverse audiences with different needs in a new home, it can be challenging to say what the new housing trend will be. Home builders turn to residential architects for answers.

One of the biggest factors impacting design is in how technology will change the space needs in the home.  With the option to telecommute expanding throughout the country, people will need dedicated home office space with appropriate telephone, fax, modem and computer service.  While this will create a more fluid workday with less rigid lines between professional and personal lives, it will also affect the use of space in the home and family dynamics.   In addition, people are looking to the home to be their center for entertainment.  Many homes will have media rooms with sophisticated sound and video systems built in or retrofitted to suit the owners. 

Life cycle housing is another trend in home design.  Many people are moving less, and they want their homes to grow and change with them as they go through different stages in their lives.  For example, a builder may offer a home with three bedrooms today, but he'll give the new owner the option to finish an attic or garage area as needed to accommodate a new child or a parent that comes to live with the family.  Other homes will be placed on a lot so that there will be plenty of room to add an addition for a family room or sitting area, and the owner can see the plans for that addition when the original house is purchased.  This will also help when the owner wants to sell the home since the floor plan is flexible and can meet the needs of many potential buyers.

Garages are likely to be set back from the street and be attached or detached depending on the market.  In addition, the space above the garage can also be flex space for later additions such as an in-law suite or home office.  Garages are increasing in size to an average of three berths both to accommodate more vehicles in the household and to provide more storage space. 

We will see more features designed for casual entertaining such as front porches and expanded kitchens and family rooms with formal areas like dining and living rooms becoming  multi-purpose rooms.  For example, many new custom homes come with bookshelves built into the dining room so the area can be used as a substitute home office or study area when it is not needed for formal entertaining.  The architects also called for all-season rooms in a finished basement to allow for specialized areas for exercising, hobbies and other projects.  The rooms will have light shafts from the ground level to allow for natural lighting, floors designed to cushion an exerciser's feet and specialized storage for tools and hobby supplies.

Homeowners will continue to ask for homes that use energy efficiently and are easy to maintain.  More and more homes will come with flat ceilings, vinyl windows and use glass strategically to enhance natural lighting without creating glare.

Members of the Metropolitan Builders Association are well-equipped to help consumers with all of their building needs. The MBA is a non-profit and non-partisan association which represents the building industry in the metropolitan Milwaukee area. The MBA develops and offers education  for consumers as well as members. By establishing business ethics and industry standards, the MBA has earned a reputation as a trusted resource. Consumers enjoy our promotions for housing and housing products, while members take part in our professional and social activities throughout the year.

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