Enhance your lifestyle: expect more from your home

Housing, long one of the favourite topics of discussion when friends gather, is now taking on new challenges as people routinely spend more hours in their home. So, it’s no surprise to hear that builders and developers are investing significant hours and money into designing housing that’s flexible, beautiful and creates a private, restful oasis in today’s hurry-up world.

In this issue, we chat with Clare Linton, director of sales and marketing at Alabaster Homes, about trends in what homeowners expect from the spaces they live in and challenges the industry faces in meeting these expectations.

New Home + Condo Guide: The past two years have put even more pressure on designing homes that enhance our lifestyles. What are some changes you’ve seen, especially as technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday living?
Clare Linton: Tech is definitely becoming more multifunctional. For example, art TVs like Samsung’s The Frame can transition to look like a painting when not in use. So now, your living room or family room is about more than entertainment.
There’s also an emphasis on simplifying the tech experience to make it more intuitive. We have so much information coming at us all the time that being able to control multiple devices from your phone means you no longer need bulky keys or fobs. Even 15 years ago, most people would never have imagined that everything from home security to music to interior temperature could be controlled through devices like Alexis or Sonos and accessed from anywhere in the world through your iPhone.

NH+CG: But what about people who resist technology?
C.L.: As builders, we need to educate buyers about the benefits, the ways technology can help them live more easily in their homes. Technology shouldn’t be there just for the sake of it. Think about how often most people shop online now. If you’re not home when those purchases arrive, being able to see the delivery driver’s identification and then open a secure storage space and relock it when they’ve gone makes the whole process more seamless and convenient.

NH+CG: Functionality has become one of the housing industry’s buzz words. What type of features help create highly functional spaces?
C.L.: Little nuances often have a big impact. Putting a bench and shoe storage in the foyer, making sure there’s an unobtrusive place to hang your keys and charge your phone, incorporating a variety of storage options, a kitchen island with a two-sided bar that seats four people — all these things are small details, but when combined, the extra efficiency is amazing.
And, of course, open-concept floorplans that maximize the flow between different areas like the kitchen and living room make even small condos feel larger.

NH+CG: A discussion about efficiency in a home would not be complete without talking about the new work-from-home reality. How is design getting people off the dining room table and into a space that feels like a real office?
C.L.: The main thing people want in a home office is the ability to tuck it away, so it becomes its own, defined area. Having a den that could double as a guest room is one solution, but in a smaller home, that’s not always possible.

So, we’re starting to see more plans that incorporate a niche with a built-in desk in a corner of the living room or a flip-down desk in the kitchen. Another idea is to put a narrow work surface and maybe a small filing cabinet inside a closet. Then at the end of your workday, you just close the doors and your office vanishes.

Another increasingly popular feature showing up in multi-family developments is co-working spaces or work pods. We’re social creatures and sometimes we just want to be motivated by being around other people, probably one of the reasons working in coffeeshops has such a long history in urban centres.

NH+CG: Any final thoughts?
C.L.: The last two-and-a-half years has taught us a lot about how we live as individuals and as families. I think one of our biggest challenges going forward will be to continue finding creative new ways to ensure our homes function at even greater efficiency. Because no matter what else happens, we still need to enjoy life.

Alabaster Homes is found online at alabasterhomes.ca.