Vancouver, BC, has the highest home prices in Canada, and British Columbia has the highest average home price compared to all the other Canadian provinces.

Even though housing pricing have fallen about five percent in Vancouver over the last year, the new home market is still doing well.

So, what are the trends in custom home design?

1. Biophilic design

Biophilic design means bringing the outside in. It means having big, energy- efficient windows that allow you to see the greenery outside, and windows that open and will let you feel the breeze. Many offices now incorporate “green” walls or rooms with lots of space designed for indoor plants. And homes are doing that, too, complete with a drain in the floor to make watering easy or special shelves designed for plants.

Some homes have walls of windows that open up from a kitchen or family room to an outdoor patio or deck. This is especially true of homes in Richmond and Tsawwassen, where we make the absolute most of any water view (or any other view) clients have.

2. Interesting stairwells

Stairs are much more interesting than they used to be. Both the steps and the handrails are being designed with novel materials, lighting, and textures. Stairwells are no longer the utilitarian, boring, each-one-looks-the-same design of 20 years ago.

3. Sustainability and practicality

Millennials are driving design trends for materials that are more eco-friendly and sustainable. More and more individuals are concerned about our impact on the environment, and clients want solar-assisted energy, and materials that aren’t off- gassing volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). This means that people want floors that are made of bamboo—which is renewable—rather than a rare wood. And they want natural products like linoleum. Homes are often smaller, but with multi-use rooms. Clients want energy-efficiency and practicality in their designs and finishes.

4. Renovation

If possible, people are substantially renovating their own homes rather than move to a new one.

Renovations may include massive structural changes including changing the locations of kitchens and bathrooms. Clients are trying to make the most of what they have before giving it up for something new.

According to Bastian Weitzel of Mon Dieu Interior Design, the trends in home design are in line with the same current trends in both office design and interior design. The open concept and Scandinavian flavour that is popular work together to make homes as bright and airy as possible, something that marries well with practicality and eco-friendliness.

If you are considering building a new home on the lower mainland or renovating your existing one, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Best Builders has been renovating older homes and building new ones for over 15 years. They are a multiple-award-winning builder that brings fine craftsmanship to projects, turning dreams into reality. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your home project, please call us at (604) 943-2378 or email us at info@bestbuilders.ca.

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