The computer age and the technology revolution have prompted modern homes to be designed and built with a changing purpose. More people are working from their home than ever before. For example, this changes the once familiar home office. Gone are the days when the work desk was tucked away in the garage or regulated to the basement. Building a house that “works” is not limited to the home office either. Garage space has morphed into a catch-all for hobby stuff, bicycles, tools and the family’s motorcycle. Some homes now feature a fitness area, and pantries are making a comeback as well. A house that “works”, simply put, means a house that is designed and performs exactly the way you live. Not a small thing to achieve considering the same family will need 4 different homes over the course of their lifetime. You have the starter home, the family home, the empty nester, and the retirement home. This is the main reason people have a hard time accepting homes that are ready built. They can get close to what you need, but no cigar! It would seem that the only way to achieve a house that works for you is to buy one that is close to what you need, and renovate it. Most of the time this will cost more than building a new house- believe or not! A better way is to build a new house that is custom designed for your particular lifestyle, family size and budget. Although family size has declined over the past few decades, house sizes have increased. Also, upgrades of the last few years have worked their way to the standard features list. Granite counters, large windows, 3-car garages, a main floor master, etc. are now common even in more modest homes. Houses now are surely a reflection of changing lifestyles and tradition is giving way to comfort. Dining rooms are now on the bottom of the want list and media rooms are near the top. Home offices, as the prior example, are now being designed to interact with the main flow of a home so the user can grab a quick cup of coffee and just as quickly be back at work to answer that email or conference call. Comfort and convenience is the new gold standard of home design. A well designed home will fit like the proverbial glove. A house that was designed and built in another time and for someone else- not so much.
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