Homes continually evolve to meet owners' needs

Debbie Ikerd is an interior designer with Habersham Interiors.

Rooms come and go, expand and shrink, and their uses change according to our changing lifestyles.

Parlors are a thing of the past; home offices, exercise rooms, media rooms and nanny quarters are today's homeowners' requests. More emphasis and design elements are created for new areas of homes with family needs in mind. Home buyers today are driven by the desire to balance the demands of family, job and time for themselves.

New trends in design to facilitate these needs include gourmet kitchens, spa bathrooms and laundry rooms extraordinaire.

New designs focused on empty nesters and senior living also suggests home design created for target markets.

Gourmet kitchens

Gourmet kitchens are now designed to accommodate entertaining, eating, cooking and often a children's play area, as well as desk space for the computer. The trend is toward sophisticated appliances such as professional style ranges with exotic stove hoods and warming lights. Modular cooking components such as deep fryers and barbecue grills can be integrated into stove-top surfaces.

The kitchen space now serves as an entertainment space loaded with functionality. Granite currently the most popular countertop surface is easy to clean and maintain in our fast-paced world. Stainless steel is the most requested finish for appliances. Custom touches also might include wine storage, wet bars and even a trash compactor that will compost trash for garden fertilizer. Various cabinet sizes and accessories can solve storage problems and facilitate work flow, encouraging family togetherness.

Spa bathrooms

Spa bathrooms are a true source of luxury and relaxation. This in-home retreat, often located in a master bedroom suite, adds tremendously to a home's value. Vertical spas with multiple showerheads, whirlpool bathtubs with air massage or air-jet tubs, saunas or steam facilities are just a few of the latest bathroom innovations. More common in today's bathrooms are heated towel bars, walk-in showers with 12-inch showerheads or radiant under-floor heating.

For additional relaxation, baths are often equipped with stereo systems, television, VCRs and telephones. The master suite spa is one area where parents can relax in privacy away from the demands of everyday life.

Laundry rooms

Not only are laundry rooms changing and growing in function and utilization, the size of the average laundry room is expanding. Traditionally a 6-foot-square, closet-style room with wire racks and a washer and dryer, the laundry room is growing to include a crafts or sewing center, a powder room, an ironing station and sinks for soaking clothes.

Many better-looking, high-performance, energy-efficient machines are being developed.

The average family of four spends nine hours a week doing laundry. Creating multifunctional laundry rooms, with uses for many family members, offers an opportunity to fully utilize the time spent together doing chores like laundry.

Empty nesters, senior living

All markets, including the housing industry, are quickly changing to meet the needs of both the empty nester and the senior adult. Empty nesters are in their highest earnings potential ready to spend now that the kids are gone. The over-50 population is the most affluent consumer group that exists today. Many houses are being built that can be further adapted later as aging homeowners' specific needs change.

Downsizing is quite popular but supported by a higher level of elegance. Many personal details are built into these custom homes stressing quality, not quantity. Empty nesters' homes are filled with amenities, often integrating the latest technology to make life easier and more comfortable. Homes are designed to entertain family and friends, providing plenty of space to enjoy each other's company.

Another frequent request is utilizing energy-efficient appliances and low-maintenance, durable products. Management of expenses and home upkeep are a central concern. Home offices and flexible sleep/play arrangements are created to balance the needs of visiting children and grandchildren.

Hallways and doorways are designed wide enough to allow a wheelchair to easily go through. Even safety elements, such as grab bars in the shower, are being used more consistently. The empty nester/senior home designs attempt to utilize every square inch of space while incorporating luxury and flexibility.

The consumer of the future will be more educated, researching products and design features through Internet access. The designer will also need to be well-prepared regarding product knowledge and offer a complete range of design services to better support both the consumer and architect.