After we chatted up Riha Design Group‘s Kenneth Riha about where sales centers are heading, he gave us some insight into design trends in the homes themselves. First, Riha said, we should expect to see “very well received” stone finishes like granite and marble continue to dominate kitchens and master bathrooms, which, Riha noted, are the two most important rooms in the house. Stainless steel appliances are also going to stick around, but he predicts a departure from the traditional silver color to include other colors, like bronze. Riha points to the progression of Frank Gehry, who has begun to introduce color into his trademark silver titanium panels.
Riha also notices a continuing trend toward the incorporation of space. “The kitchen,” he says, “is no more than an integrated multi-purpose room in the living room.” As the boundaries blur between the living, dining and kitchen areas, we’re seeing more and more “master suites.”
“The master bedroom, master closet and master bathroom are becoming very integral,” Riha says. “The master bedroom now has a closet that is more than a pole and a shelf– it’s a piece of furniture.”
New technology will also play a big role in design in the coming year, Riha says. Technology in HVAC systems, kitchen appliances, lighting (“not just an on and off switch anymore”), telephones and other communication devices is advancing, but the biggest changes are coming in home entertainment. Look for the proliferation of surround sound, iPod docking stations and high-definition flat-screen televisions.
“The TV is no longer a big item,” Riha says, noting that the tube– well, it’s not really a tube anymore– is migrating out of the living room and into a separate media room, and it’s usually mounted on the wall.
People also want central control of their media for both entertaining and personal use, Riha says, and interactive, user-friendly touch-screen technology in the home will soon be standard. He says, “They want to be master of the universe.”