Design Highlights From the 2020 Best in American Living Awards

The National Association of Home Builders’ Best in American Living Awards serve as examples for the most current residential design and future design trends. NAHB’s Design Committee says the 2020 BALA entrants showed well-edited design, renewal, indoor/outdoor connections, impressive amenities, and a plethora of flex rooms. Thoughtful and well-edited designs emerged as judges noticed even production homes attempting to achieve more character and uniqueness. Renewed focus on our built environment and living spaces pushed adaptive reuse and historic preservation, says the BALA judges. Both new and remodeled homes are gaining strong indoor/outdoor connections through glass walls, pocket doors, and large windows.

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• Watch: Design Trends From the Best in American Living Awards and NKBA
• Best of BALA 2020

Pool and landscape designs are more an extension of interior circulation and design, rather than an afterthought, and are even more accessible, both visually and physically, thanks to increased indoor/outdoor connections.

High-Design Multifamily Amenities
Multifamily projects are taking their cues from the hospitality industry and designing higher-quality lobbies, leasing offices, mail centers, etc., to be true amenity spaces for residents.

Flex Rooms
Flex rooms are a big draw for a potential buyer, especially if they anticipate the needs of their family changing while they own the home. Grandparents could move in, a relative could come to stay, or they could start a new business, and the home needs to match. Flex spaces are replacing traditional guest suites. Hidden spaces, tucked-away furniture, and furniture that transforms allow for even greater flexibility.

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