Recently I ran across an article on newhomes.com that discussed evolving new construction home design. I found it very timely given Estridge's recent introduction of a variety of new 2-story and ranch home designs.
http://www.newhomes.com/realestateblog/2008/06/16/survey-saysbuild-new-homes-smaller/
…In past years, more people buying a new home would focus on getting the most square footage for the money, according to Gopal Ahluwalia, National Association of Home Builders vice president of research. But that’s not the case anymore. In an NAHB survey released in February, a majority of potential home buyers revealed that if they had to choose, they would rather build a smaller home with more amenities than the other way around.
If smaller homes will be the new norm, how will new homes evolve to meet our lifestyle needs? Many builders and architects predict these changes:
¨ Nix the formal spaces. Homes of the not-so-distant future may be smaller in square footage, but they’ll live larger since all the space will be designed to use on a daily basis- not just on special occasions.
¨ Functional foyers. Buyers will expect spaces to add value. Who wants to waste square footage on a space that people walk through? No more three-story, gargantuan foyers.
¨ Multi-functional spaces. Not only will all the rooms in new homes be used daily, many will serve more than one purpose.
¨ Built-in storage. No home functions well without well-planned storage. Look for new homes to have efficient storage systems incorporated into every space to keep the smaller home well-organized and orderly.
¨ Outdoor living areas. Buyers understand the importance of maximizing the potential of their space. They want a home design that extends living and entertaining areas through blended indoor/outdoor rooms.
¨ One-story living. Baby boomers looking to the future want homes that will accommodate their needs as they age. No more stairclimbing or upkeep on a multi-story home. And with the heightened concern about energy efficiency and rising fuel costs, single-story homes are less expensive to heat and cool as well.
In designing the new homes, our architects borrowed concepts 
from some of our more recent custom home designs and created open, spacious living areas so that families could be in a variety of places and still be connected to each other. Additionally, all of the new home designs have a “family foyer” area with storage cubbies and a “PDA Pantry.” These may not be familiar terms, but they certainly are relevant.
The family foyer is located off of the garage, which is truly the most used entrance point to the home. Therefore we created organized areas to store all of the things that are dropped when you enter your home – purses, shoes, coats, cell phones, IPods… That’s where the PDA Pantry comes in. Imagine having a small cabinet with hidden wiring so you could simply plug in your phone when you get home, always know where it is, and not worry about tangled wires. Smart, right?
