Cookie Cutter House Plans

I live in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis / St.Paul, where we have one of the largest Parade of Home tours in the country.  Every year I look through all of the Parade offerings to see if I can identify any new trends.

A couple of things have struck me;  1) how very similar many of these houses are and 2) this economy can not be a great environment for many home builders.   The question begs to be asked;  if you are by-and-large building the same house as your competition, how is your much sought after customer going to decide which house to purchase?    Right, pretty much on price alone.    This doesn't seem like a good business formula to me.

As an architect  I have worked with a number of builders that understand the benefits of  a creative and well thought out home design.   Builders such as this  are not afraid to separate themselves from the pack.  Now more than ever architects and builders need to examine whether their current business practices are serving them well.  Perhaps this is the time to consider doing something completely different,  because quite honestly the consumer has become much more savvy and selective!  They are going to demand smaller, efficient, better designed, and more economical homes.  Cookie cutter homes, clone homes, and yes even McMansion homes may always have a share of the market, but I believe if we don't as an industry, embrace and adapt to the ever changing building market, we will continue to see one business after another close their doors for good.  Now how sad is that?

Unique Cottage House Plans 

Trend to Smaller House Plans

I ran across this article the other day -  "trend toward smaller homes for thriftier seniors"

The article sites the following housing trends for the 50 and over market:

• New house plans are getting a bit smaller - down to about 2300 sf average
• People are looking for affordability
• Folks are doing a lot of in home entertaining,  so open floor plans and kitchens with island seating are important.  Didn't I see this on a golden girls episode?
• People are seeking smaller house plans that still feel large - quote "more space-efficient design concepts include using less space for hallways, fewer walls to give a more open feel, and more storage under stairways and above kitchen cabinets"  Are you kidding me?  These are cited as revolutionary concepts?
• Seniors are open to smaller lots and higher densities
• Clients are making less expensive choices - eschewing granite counters for other alternatives
• 

Well I say it's a great feeling to be in style again!  These are exactly the kinds of homes we have been designing for years at Larson Brenner Architects, and exactly the kinds of house plans I offer at Simply Elegant Home Designs.

And I have news.  The trends cited are not exclusive to the 50's and over crowd.  These are the kinds of homes that our clients have been seeking for quite some time.  And most of our clients have been 30 and 40 somethings.  They are looking for a smaller yet highly functional and livable floor plan.  A house plan that is smarter and nicer.  Around here we call that "just plain good design".