Housing Trends
By Dennis Family Homes|July 24, 2008
Houses like fashions go through trends, although thankfully not as often. Bert Dennis, founding Chairman of the Dennis Family Corporation, has seen many of these trend come and go in the more than 45 years he has been in the property and building industry.
In recent years there has been a move toward open plan homes with large spaces that are used for multiple purposes rather than smaller walled-off rooms. But one of the biggest trends to in modern house design is the need to accommodate not just young children, but also the growing instance of these children staying at home well into their 20’s, says Bert.
“Children are staying in the family home much longer than in previous generations so to accommodate this change in demographics houses must also change. Master bedrooms are getting bigger with the addition of a sitting area containing a TV and couch so Mum and Dad can have a private space away from the kids. An ensuite with luxury extras such as a spa also adds to the sense of making this area a haven. For teenage and adult children, minor bedrooms are getting larger to accommodate double beds and the second bathroom is now doubling as another ensuite with two-way access.”
“In addition to the main open plan room, families are also looking for a separate second or third living space to ensure that there is ample room for the family to spread-out and enjoy their own activities without getting under each other’s feet. This extra living space now is increasingly becoming a games room or a home theatre rather than a separate formal lounge which is decreasing in popularity in much the same way as the formal dining room has disappeared from today’s home.”
Bert adds that the changes to house design are not just taking place inside the home but also outside with alfresco areas increasingly being built as indoor/outdoor rooms.
“The outside entertaining area is no longer just a paved patio with a pergola, it is a stylish extension to the home usually with large doors or windows that fully open bringing the outside inside. The area itself has decking, a permanent roof, a designated space for a BBQ and for year-round use even a fireplace.”
“The front of the home is also changing, as more and more families look to use different feature materials such as render and stacked stone in the facade of the home in order to enhance the initial impression visitors make of the property.”
“Overall today’s family is looking for a house that they are proud to call home with an efficient, functional and practical design, room for their family today and into the future, and with a few modern touches to make their busy life easier – a sanctuary from the outside world.”
In recent years there has been a move toward open plan homes with large spaces that are used for multiple purposes rather than smaller walled-off rooms. But one of the biggest trends to in modern house design is the need to accommodate not just young children, but also the growing instance of these children staying at home well into their 20’s, says Bert.
“Children are staying in the family home much longer than in previous generations so to accommodate this change in demographics houses must also change. Master bedrooms are getting bigger with the addition of a sitting area containing a TV and couch so Mum and Dad can have a private space away from the kids. An ensuite with luxury extras such as a spa also adds to the sense of making this area a haven. For teenage and adult children, minor bedrooms are getting larger to accommodate double beds and the second bathroom is now doubling as another ensuite with two-way access.”
“In addition to the main open plan room, families are also looking for a separate second or third living space to ensure that there is ample room for the family to spread-out and enjoy their own activities without getting under each other’s feet. This extra living space now is increasingly becoming a games room or a home theatre rather than a separate formal lounge which is decreasing in popularity in much the same way as the formal dining room has disappeared from today’s home.”
Bert adds that the changes to house design are not just taking place inside the home but also outside with alfresco areas increasingly being built as indoor/outdoor rooms.
“The outside entertaining area is no longer just a paved patio with a pergola, it is a stylish extension to the home usually with large doors or windows that fully open bringing the outside inside. The area itself has decking, a permanent roof, a designated space for a BBQ and for year-round use even a fireplace.”
“The front of the home is also changing, as more and more families look to use different feature materials such as render and stacked stone in the facade of the home in order to enhance the initial impression visitors make of the property.”
“Overall today’s family is looking for a house that they are proud to call home with an efficient, functional and practical design, room for their family today and into the future, and with a few modern touches to make their busy life easier – a sanctuary from the outside world.”
