Exclusive Research: Design Innovation

Any builder, architect, or real estate agent knows that the kitchen and bathroom are where clients devote most of their attention to design and dollars. The least important spaces for new-construction homes were the entry and outdoors, according to Professional Builder’s Design Innovation survey. More than 46 percent of respondents also noted that their kithens are bigger than what they designed and built two years ago.

Methodology and Respondent Information:

This survey was distributed between July 12, 2017, and Aug. 24, 2017, to a random sample of Professional Builder’s print and digital readers and to members of Builder Partnerships. No incentive was offered. By closing date, a total of 153 eligible readers had returned surveys. Respondent breakdown by discipline: 38.2% custom home builder; 21.8% diversified builder/remodeler; 17.3% production builder for move-up/move-down buyer; 15.5% architect/designer engaged in home building; 4.6% production builder for first-time buyer; 0.9% luxury production builder; and 1.8% other. Approximately 41.8% sold one to five homes in 2016, and 13.6% sold more than 100 units.

High-end bathroom amenities such as wall-mounted commodes are only catching on in a smattering of luxury homes, but more than half of respondents—which also includes members of Builder Partnerships—have used innovations such as dual-flush tiolets, radiant floor heating, and tankless water heaters in most or some of their projects. Despite the flexible office and telecommuting making inroads, the home office, and even the informal office/computer nook, ended at the bottom of a list of 25 possible living spaces ranked for level of importance.

Adding more grab bars, zero-threshold showers, accessible drawers, and other aging-in-place and universal design features were mentioned most often as the biggest design changes respondents intend to make. Home automation also was mentioned multiple times. A Colorado custom home builder noted that his struggle is keeping up with more contemporary, clean design aesthetics while executing that look and feel with warmth. For more Design Innovation survey results, see the charts that follow.