Builders say custom homes trending toward ‘personal oases’

Building a custom home today involves much more than specialized floor plans. Homeowners have endless options for special features and unique touches that can turn a home into a personal oasis.

Most people who build a custom home prefer to be able to influence the design, appliances, fixtures and dcor selections rather than buying a replicated product, Kevin M. Stuckey, managing partner at Stuckey Builders LLC, explained.

Stuckey and other members of the Custom Builders Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association cite several hot trends in todays market.

Functionality over Formality

James D. McVaugh, founder and president of McVaugh Custom Homes Inc., said homebuyers tend to prefer functionality over formal living spaces.

This is particularly true with great rooms where dining, kitchen and living rooms all blend in an L-shape configuration with a high ceiling, he explained. We are also seeing kitchen islands getting bigger and designed in new shapes like the letter T which seats more people and allows for easier conversations.

Amanda Pallotta, associate designer and of sister companies Contour Interior Design LLC and Capital Builders & Designers LLC, explained that clients tailor their homes to fit their lifestyle.

Separate playrooms, theaters and home offices are all integral spaces that are consistently requested by clients, she said. It is very important to design for all members of the family so each individual living in the house can be comfortable. In order to achieve this higher standard of livability, the spaces need to be multifunctional.

The Great Outdoors

Functional living spaces often incorporate patios and backyards, McVaugh said. With our favorable weather, we are incorporating outdoor sliding pocket door systems that when open, literally blend the inside with the outside. Outside areas now offer fire pits, water features, summer kitchens and the newest evolution away from giant pools to smaller splash pools.

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Builders say custom homes trending toward ‘personal oases’