International Home Builders Show in Florida Highlights Home Designs for 2012

Published by nora | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Real Estate

Home designs addressing the needs of families during these challenging economic times were highlighted in the international home builders show held in Orlando, Florida this February 2012.  Architects and builders used their creativity in improving home efficiency and in controlling costs without sacrificing aesthetics.

Here are some home design trends seen on many of the homes that won Best in American Living Awards and on homes highlighted during the home builders show:

Spaces for Extended Families

With some adult children returning back to stay with their parents to save on costs and older people being encouraged by their children to live with them and their grandchildren, new designs for single-family homes include spaces for them. Additional space could be a smaller home built beside the main house, or a separate living unit with access to the main house or an additional master suite on the ground floor for the grandparents.

The continuously growing cultural diversity in the U.S. is also contributing to the rising popularity of homes that support multigenerational living.

Redesign of Spaces for Utility and Efficiency

In many families, members usually congregate in the kitchen, so designers have increased kitchen spaces to allow family interaction. To support multitasking, office desks are now incorporated in pantry or kitchen designs and laundry appliances are now installed in walk-in closets.

Remedies for Smaller Sizes of Units

Formal dens and large home offices are eliminated and replaced with individual workspaces and small libraries. To provide areas for reflection or private time, alcoves and window seats are integrated.

Cost-effective overall design

New home designs now are mostly rectangular and are moving away from multiple roof lines which are pleasing to the eyes but which are creating unnecessary interior spaces. To compensate, materials such as glass, wood, stone and metal are used in innovative ways to create a visually stimulating exterior look.

Increase in safety and energy efficiency

Materials and building systems that reduce energy consumption are now among the most highlighted features of new home designs. These include the use of airtight exterior walls, spray foam attic insulation, double-paned insulating glass windows, insulated garage doors, fiberglass entry doors, Energy Star lighting fixtures and Energy Star appliances.

Certified energy-efficient homes for sale in Tampa Fl are available. These Tampa homes, built by the best home builders in the Tampa Bay region, are certified energy-efficient by the nonprofit Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) and the U.S. Green Building Council’s program Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Contact Tampa4U.com.