A NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) conducted a survey last year to determine what industry professionals thought we'd have in houses in 2015, and targetted the survey at both the average home and the upscale home. Many ideas and trends affected both segments:
- Living rooms disappearing, or being replaced by a retreat/library/parlor
- Fiber cement siding (such as Hardiboard)
- Higher tech and capacity wiring, including fiber optics
- Larger family rooms
- Greener homes
- Greater accessibility for the aging or handicapped (wider doorways, etc)
Buyers are more concerned with green building, with technology including home controls, with energy efficiency - security - storm protection, better storage space, and flexible functional floor plans.
I agree with most of these, but don't want the living room to disappear. No, I don't need a formal living room, but I do want a place I can escape from the family room, to have a quiet talk, or to read.
