What are the best-selling architectural designs? Aspiring homeowners and first-time builders want to know, not necessarily because they wish to build one right away, but just because they want to know the trends. It is inspiring and motivating. Knowing the sought-after styles can help them make a more informed decision about their likes and dislikes whenever they plan to build or buy their own.
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| Mediterranean-style residential design. |
Home Designs: Best-Sellers of the 21st Century
Do you want to play safe with a popular traditional style, stay simply minimalist with streamlined modern forms, or deviate from the norm?
From architectural styles with sleek lines to country homes, colonial houses, villas, and chalets, some home designs have stood the test of time. Many are still relevant today.
- Craftsman: This is a great favourite for those who love classic home designs. They are large, feature natural stone and wood, and are currently the most popular style on the market.
- Prairie: Contemporary prairie-style plans, not unlike traditional layouts, consist of open floor plans with free-flowing spaces that flow between the indoors and outdoors. Said to be the first original American architectural style, their features include low-pitched or flat roofs, overhanging eaves, and clerestory windows.
- Mediterranean: The architectural home styles from the Mediterranean region (Greece, Spain, France, and Italy) are known for white plaster walls, wrought iron, patios, wood beams, and tiled roofs. Their designs often extend outdoors into courtyards or verandas.
- French Eclectic: They possess symmetrical or asymmetrical facades made with stone, bricks, and stucco. They have characteristic tall, steeply pitched, hipped roofs with narrow eaves. Roof materials are tile, slate, and shingles. They neither have porches nor verandas but come with balustrade terraces off first-floor rooms.
- New American: This style combines elements from various architectural styles to create an entirely new look. Features of interest include soaring entryways, a mix of different materials, prominent garages and plenty of interior space.
- Country: These architectural designs feature wide porches, shutters, meticulously spaced windows, and wood accents.
- European: Fashioned after beautiful French, Italian, and English architecture, they feature plaster walls, marble floors, and centrepiece fireplaces. Their elegance has captivated homeowners for centuries.
- Cottage: A Colonial style that stems from the homes of the first colonial settlements. They are often small-sized homes with features that include a large front porch, painted woodwork, and a small second story.
- Southern: These American home designs are built for the hot, humid climate typical of the South of the USA. Their features include large interior spaces, wide roof overhangs, wood shutters, and wrap-around porches.
- Ranch: Also known as Rambler style, ranch-style houses became popular in the mid-20th century. Their designs are in L, U, or rectangular shapes. Ranch-style homes are most often single-story structures.
- Modern: Modern house designs include pre-fabricated components and are designed to look (and feel) clean, open, peaceful, and relaxing. They embrace the sharp, sleek, and minimalist aesthetics of the ‘tech-hungry’ homeowner.
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| A modern Ranch-style home design. |
Although some maintain the same architectural lines of the past, the homes come with modern interior features like:
- Open floor plans.
- High and vaulted ceilings.
- Split-level floors.
- Master bedroom suites.
- En-suite bedrooms.
- Entertainment rooms.
- Outdoor living spaces.
They also desire innovative storage solutions and luxury fittings and fixtures that appeal to most aspiring homeowners.
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| Cape Cod Style Home. |
The popular choices lean towards small to medium-sized structures. Why? Because of the downsized living trend. Another reason is that this century's digital-oriented folks are smart, realistic, and no-nonsense. They know the bigger a house is, the more it will cost to design, build, and maintain.
(This post was originally published by the author on Luxury Dream Home Designs)
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Modern A-Frame Home Designs for Smart, Compact Living