Our team is back from the 75th annual International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas where we saw the latest trends in the residential home building, design, and construction industries.
With more than 100,000 people attending Design & Construction Week, the exhibit halls were jammed and filled with high energy. The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was held at the same time. This was the biggest show in a decade. The IBS exhibit floor alone spanned more than 600,000 net square feet and featured more than 1,500 exhibitors. Attendees saw the latest in home technology products, watched live building demos, attended seminars, and networked with the best of the best in our industry.
We value the opportunity to continually learn from our peers. Whether learning from industry experts, fellow remodelers, builders or our trade partners, we love to challenge ourselves to push the envelope and come up with creative solutions for our clients.
Here are our team’s key takeaways from the three-day show in Las Vegas.
Key Takeaways from the International Builders Show
Create Flexible Spaces in Floor Plan
Homes are the “right size” when they are not too big. Homes are utilizing fewer square feet with flexible space so the rooms can be used for multiple purposes. Make your current home fit your needs. More and more people are taking out their formal dining rooms – how many times a year do you really use it? Secondary bedrooms or bonus areas are transformed to provide flexible spaces.
Trends include creating “snore rooms” as a second master, dedicated play and homework areas, home business spaces, sports and recreation rooms, home bar and brew rooms. The extra bedroom that might have been used as an office in the past is needed for flex rooms for kids, guests or living quarters for multi-generational families. It’s still popular to feature a Murphy bed for the occasional overnight guest. Laundry rooms also function as multi-tasking spaces for crafts and pets.
Finishes Make a Statement
Cabinet hardware styles and finishes are becoming more of a statement for a bit of jewelry design. There are a plethora of finishes, textures and shapes now available. Plumbing and appliance finishes are expanding giving more choice to homeowners.
Kohler introduced Ombré Vibrant, an artistic finish which use an innovative technique that melds two vibrant metal finishes together to render a subtle but striking transition from light to dark. The word ombré, French for shadow or shade, has been seen on everything from haute couture gowns to celebrity hairstyles. Kohler’s new finish is offered in two color combinations: vibrant rose gold to vibrant polished nickel, and vibrant titanium to vibrant rose gold.
Storage Solutions to Hide Clutter
One of the seminar speakers advised, “Hide what needs to be hidden and make accessible that which needs to be.” Storage trends include panels that open to reveal the TV, barn doors to hide pantry storage, built-ins to house small appliances, and pull-out storage for organization. Another area to utilize is under stairs with pull outs or hidden access door.
The mudroom has become the new landing area or “drop zone” for a second pantry, coats, shoes, kid’s stuff, and pet storage. A “welcome home valet” area helps families transition from work and school to home, as well as helping to control the chaos-place for backpacks, keys, mail, purses and dog leashes.
In new home design, it’s common to add a parcel delivery vestibule. The rise in online shopping shift creates a need for a place that can be secure and covered for dropping off packages. This design is almost like having two front doors; the packages are out of sight from the street and out of the elements.
Gray is still cool
The gray colors are still popular. Mix deep tones of greens, black, blues, and dark corals to add some pop and life to the overall look. The blend of organic style to contemporary is still strong. Mixing wood and stone materials with sleeker tile finishes adds a bit of texture and comforting style to the mix. “Contemporary Cozy” is the buzz. Non-cluttered, open spaces with a “less is more” aesthetic works well in every price point from luxury to entry level houses.
Outdoor Living Integrated into House
To provide an indoor/outdoor feel, it’s common to open the space to the outside as much as possible. The use of large exterior doors and panels create this feeling. Fully retractable wall of windows join outside to inside living seamlessly. Mitered corner provides clear, unobstructed view and access to join rooms together.
More to Come
Stay tuned for more up and coming trends we learned about at the International Builders Show. We can’t wait to integrate these ideas into our upcoming custom homes and remodeling projects.
Would you incorporate any of these trends into your own home?