TOP 12 CUSTOM HOME DESIGN TRENDS 2023
TOP 12 CUSTOM HOME DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2023
While thinking about my annual forecast for custom home design trends, the word consistency kept coming to my mind. In the last couple of years, and I suspect the same will be true for 2023, the way space is being utilized in custom home design seems to be holding true. No matter the location and region of the projects I’m working on, full service or virtual consultations, today the spaces, amenities and symmetrical layouts clients want in their custom homes are relatively consistent from project to project.
Whats’s driving this, you ask?
THE PANDEMIC AND IT’S INFLUENCE ON CUSTOM HOME DESIGN
I started journaling my forecast for custom home design trends in 2021, right in the height of the pandemic. In that first article, I shared that during the lock-down phase of the virus, there was an immediate shift with how clients wanted to prioritize their square footage. There was a strong emphasis on creating rooms in their homes that would allow for them to prosper during a pandemic, or other potential challenges that would require sheltering-in-place. It wasn’t as if the clients were asking to incorporate new and unheard of rooms in their floor plans but rather to create more self-sufficient homes that provide spaces for multiple scenarios that include things like:
Work-from-home
School-from-home
Study-from-home
Workout-at-home
Play-at-home
Family entertainment-at-home
Convalesce-at-home, while having space away from the rest of the family
DESIGNING AND BUILDING HIGHLY LIVABLE HOMES
Now, nearly three years into dealing with the pandemic, clients are more focused than every on designing and building homes that are highly livable and provide the amenities and square footage needed to allow their families to thrive, no matter the circumstances.
CUSTOM HOME DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2023
Based on my nearly twenty five years as a custom home designer, working with clients from all over the US and some even in Canada, here’s my forecast for consistent design trends going into 2023. The list that follows isn’t in any particular order, nor is it intended to be comprehensive. In reviewing you’ll even notice some overlap, especially when it comes to symmetrical layouts.
.01
SYMMETRICAL DESIGN LAYOUT BETWEEN KITCHEN AND DINING
Symmetry has been a driving force with kitchen and dining room design during the last many years, especially as it relates to the physical and visual relationships between the kitchen and dining room (as well as the great room). Though I’m not certain what’s influencing this trend, a few years ago, a photographer friend of mine suggested that it might be because of social media and how beautifully symmetrical spaces photograph. I think she might be right about that!
I particularly love the timelessness symmetry creates, and how it can be incorporated in any architectural style, from minimalistic to traditional. The aesthetic virtues that symmetry brings to projects is exactly why we’ll see it to be continually incorporated within custom home design for 2023, and beyond.
PROJECT SAINT WATERWAYS - NEW BUILD - ONTARIO, CANADA
At Project Saint Waterways, we designed the kitchen to center absolutely on the dining nook. Notice too, how there are symmetrical bookend openings on each side of the range, with one leading to a scullery and the other a mudroom. Not shown in the floor plan is the great room that is located to the right of the kitchen. You can rest assured that the fireplace is perfectly aligned with the kitchen hood.
SIDE NOTE:
You might think that symmetrical layouts are simple to design, but don’t be fooled. Perfect symmetry is typically much harder to achieve than asymmetry. It takes someone with skill and experience to be able to achieve absolute uniformity, particularly when it comes to centering all of the adjoining spaces like I did with the nook, scullery and great room.
.02
SCULLERIES OR MESSY KITCHENS
As our kitchens continue to be vital and important places for gathering and entertainment, walk-in pantries have morphed essentially into mini kitchens, with nearly all the same amenities as the main kitchen, just paired down in size. Today the auxiliary kitchens are most often referred to as sculleries, and dirty or messy kitchens and have solidified their place as mainstays in custom home design.
CITRUS POINT PROJECT - NEW BUILD - MESA, ARIZONA
For the Citrus Point Project, a new build in Mesa, Arizona, the scullery will basically have two parts that include a one-sided, pass-through space with the kitchen on one end and the laundry and entrance from the garage on the other. Included in this portion are appliances that will be easily shared between the kitchen and the galley area of the scullery. The galley section will be where the majority of food prep and clean up will take place. Notice too, the centrally located water dispenser and ice maker, which will provide convenient access for the clients no matter if they are coming or going.
SIDE NOTE:
In the design of the floor plan, we didn’t initially set out with the intention of having a two-part scullery but it turned out that if we designed it that way, we would be able to better utilize the available space to incorporate everything that was on the client’s wish list. If you’ve been following along with this project, you’ll know that it has required some unique creative spatial problem-solving due to the shape and size of the building site.
.03 AGing-IN-PLACE OR UNIVERSAL DESIGN
When clients, of all ages, embark on a custom home design and builds, typically they intend for it to be their forever home and expect it to transition well for them, if and when their needs might change. To achieve homes that are designed for aging-in-place or universal design, it requires planning ahead to make sure that we allow enough space, particularly in the event of limited or restricted mobility for anyone living in the home. Today it is rare for custom home clients not to request that their new home be designed for aging-in-place, and this is true no matter the clients’ ages. I expect that this practical trend will continue well beyond 2023.
ORCHARD ABODE PROJECT - NEW BUILD - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
You can see from the primary suite floor plan, shown below, for the Orchard Abode Project, that the extra space makes the rooms throughout the primary suite feel gracious and more luxurious, rather than institutional.
SIDE NOTE:
An easy way to meet aging-in-place recommendations is to include 36” wide doorways throughout the entire floor plan(s). This will naturally force the hallways and circulation areas to be wider and more generous.
.04
SYMMETRICAL DESIGN LAYOUT BETWEEN KITCHEN AND Great Room
Along with positioning the dining nook so it centers on the kitchen island, an even more common trend is centering the great room fireplace so it aligns perfectly with the range hood.
ORCHARD ABODE PROJECT - REMODEL + ADDITION - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Like was the case with Project Saint Waterways, that I showcased above in trend .01, besides centering the range wall on the fireplace, I also created bookend openings in the kitchen design for the Orchard Abode Project, as well. The doorway on the left leads to a mudroom and garage entrance, while the one on the right goes into a dish pantry.
SIDE NOTE:
Are you wondering where the dining nook is located in this project? For point of reference, notice the two framed openings on the far left wall of the great room. The wider of the two leads to the dining room and the other one leads to the foyer. Also take note of how the short wall dividing the two framed openings, is centered on the large, exterior great room doors. It just goes to show that even with remodel and addition projects, with careful planning, a dated layout can be altered and refined to meet the current expectations for custom home design.
.05 RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT SPACES
Recreation and entertainment spaces have always been included in custom floor plans, but in more recent years there has been a resurgence of interest and intention. During 2023, we’ll continue to see an assortment of spaces included in custom homes that create self-contained living, and eliminate the need to depend on outside sources for gathering, entertainment, movement, games and work-out spaces.
PROJECT SAINT WATERWAYS - NEW BUILD - ONTARIO, CANADA
At Project Saint Waterways, the entire walk-out basement will be dedicated to recreation and entertainment. Shown below is a preliminary plan for the basement floor.
SIDE NOTE:
It seems that no one wants to get caught again not being prepared for quarantines, especially when the end is still not in sight. I think the pandemic has forever changed the way space is being designed and used. When it comes to interior architecture, we’ll look back in time and recognize the historical importance of the period that we’re now living in, and the significant role it’s played in the development of custom homes.
.06 ENSUITES
Ensuites have nearly replaced single bedrooms and hall bathrooms. Today it’s rare in custom home design to have a bedroom that doesn’t have an adjoining bathroom. Though additional bathrooms add cost to projects, it’s a practical use of space especially for young families raising children and for empty-nesters who want to offer hospitality for their aging parents and young adult children. During 2023, we’ll continue to see ensuites dominate bedroom and bathroom designs for custom homes.
FEATHER RIVER FARMSTEAD PROJECT , NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
The clients from the Feather River Farmstead Project, who are empty nesters wanted to include a guest ensuite that would offer privacy and comfort for an older parent to stay long-term.
SIDE NOTE:
We’ve designed the entire main floor for the Feather River Farmstead project to accommodate aging-in-place scenarios, including the ensuite shown below. The space is efficiently designed with 36” wide doorways and ample space for circulation
.07 MUDROOMS WITH EASY ACCESS TO LAUNDRY AND BATHROOM
07 MUDROOMS WITH EASY ACCESS TO LAUNDRY AND BATHROOM
There are many components that work together to create well-designed homes, and at the top of the list is appropriate adjacencies which simply means locating rooms and spaces near one another that either have common purposes or the functionality between the spaces are progressive and are related to one another. For example, mudrooms are typically located immediately off the garage so no matter if the clients are coming and going, there’s a convenient place for shoes, jackets, backpacks, dog leashes, etc. Another good example of appropriate adjacencies is the proximity of the kitchen and pantry to the garage. In welll designed homes, all three space are located near one another for convenience in offloading groceries.
FALKEN VIEWS PROJECT - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
The clients from the Falken Views Project have a young family with kids that love to romp and play outdoors, so having close proximity between the garage, mudroom, laundry and a bathroom was particularly important.
SIDE NOTE:
In the world of custom home design appropriate adjacencies are especially important. Today, given the busyness and demands of modern life. Clients want their new homes to be designed in ways that provide convenience and simplicity to their lives.
.08
HOME GYMS
Home gyms are another important practical trend that continues to remain consistent in floor plan design for custom homes. They typically vary in size and can be similar to what you might see at a small boutique hotel that has a good assortment of machines and weights, to a room that has just enough space to accommodate a few favorite pieces of workout equipment. Either way, convenience and the desire for simplicity is what drives clients to include such spaces in the floor plans.
PROJECT SAINT WATERWAYS - ONTARIO, CANADA
As part of the walk-out basement floor plan for Project Saint Waterways, we included a home gym adjacent to the rec room. Besides the workout equipment, we were able to include floor space for stretching.
SIDE NOTE:
The essence of custom floor plan design is primarily driven by the desire for convenience and simplicity. The more amenities the home offers, the greater the convenience and simplicity it provides to the home owners.
.09
GUEST WINGS
In the last few years, guest suites have become more important for clients to include in their custom floor plans, and not just for hosting family and friends but as flex spaces. For example, one of the points that comes up with clients is how the guest suites can provide the perfect “away” place for members of the family to convalesce while recovering from illness.
FEATHER RIVER FARMSTEAD PROJECT - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
The primary objective for the guest wing at the Feather River Farmstead Project is to provide a comfortable private retreat for visiting family and grand kids sleep-overs but will offer flexibility as needed.
SIDE NOTE:
While in design school, I would have never guessed that nearly twenty five years into my design practice, I would be working with clients to include rooms and spaces in their new custom homes to potential isolate a sick family member so they don’t pass on germs to the rest of the family while recovering from illness. But it just goes to show how the use of space and the priorities given to it can fluctuate depending specific lifestyle needs.
.10 HOME OFFICES AND STUDIES
If anyone ever thought that home offices and studies would phase themselves out in modern homes, the last few years has shown us that that’s never going to happen. Home offices, studies and remote work spaces are here to stay! The only thing that has changed in custom home design is we’ve upped the square footage that’s designated for home offices. For custom homes with families, clients typically request at least two home office spaces, and often three, one for each adult, and a shared space for all the kids.
CITRUS POINT PROJECT - NEW BUILD - MESA, ARIZONA
For the Citrus Point Project, we designed a study right off of the front entrance that will serve as a flex space for work, study and a sitting room.
SIDE NOTE:
Designing with custom cabinets is the way to go, especially when you’re packing in as much functionality as possible within a limited amount of space.
.11
PRIMARY SUITE WITH WASHER AND DRYER
Another consistent and practical trend custom home clients request is to have a washer and dryer included in the primary suite. Besides being a convenient way to keep up on personal laundry, having a dryer handy to be able to quickly fluff clothes and remove wrinkles, without having to navigate down the hall, and around the corner and maybe even up a flight of stairs, simplifies things.
SAINT WATERWAYS PROJECT - NEW BUILD - ONTARIO, CANADA
As you can see from the primary suite floor plan for the Saint Waterways Project, shown below, we included stackable washer and dryer set, to the right, when entering the closet space, as well as storage for laundry soap, dryer sheets, and hang drys, etc.
SIDE NOTE:
Having a washer and dryer in the primary closet is ideal for convenience, but it’s important to make sure that the space can be vented properly so as to quickly eliminate moisture from the air. Even so, don’t let that deter you. It’s common practice in today’s custom homes. Just be sure to talk it through with the contractor so it doesn’t get overlooked. Along with proper venting, consider including an operable window in the closet, like we did here. That way, you have the ability to move fresh air throughout the space, as needed and wanted.
.12
UNEXPECTED, DELIGHTFUL SPACES
This trend is an absolute favorite of mine, so much so that I’m quite certain that you’ll not see it on any other forecaster’s list for custom home design trends for 2023. In every custom home I design, I look for places that we can include a bit of a surprise, an unexpected, yet delightful space. However, since I’m practically minded and functionality drives my designs, the criteria for these unexpected, delightful spaces have to make sense both spatially and functionally.
CITRUS POINT PROJECT - MESA, ARIZONA
The clients at the Citrus Point Project wanted to make sure that every inch of their house counted so besides deigning an efficient floor plan, we took the opportunity to create unique spaces in places that would have otherwise been underutilized and / or underdeveloped. Take for instance the reading nook shown below. It went from a basic dead-end hallway to a practical, intriguing space.
SIDE NOTE:
Designing intentional space is always the objective, no matter what clients I’m working with. But I especially love working with like-minded people, who value and appreciate a home where every inch of it has been well thought-out and designed. This makes the process even more rewarding.
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Cheers!
Tami
PHOTO CREDIT: Lynda Kennedy