Home Remodeling Trends for the New Year

Planning a home remodeling project in Washington, DC in the new year? Or perhaps keeping it simpler with a bathroom remodeling or kitchen remodeling project? Below are some trends we’re seeing in home remodeling, including green solutions that can help you save money, better support your lifestyle, and help sustain the environment.

The kitchen remains the pulsing heart of most homes. Kitchen remodeling in Washington DC includes substantial islands for meal prep, cooking, and chatting with guests. Cook hearths, energy-efficient appliances, and unique light fixtures and systems are sought after accessories, while granite is now on par with Carrara marble as the choice for kitchen counter tops.

Bathrooms are more compact while retaining an open feel. Glass shower enclosures eliminate the need for walls, reduce unused floor space, and provide enhanced access. Many Washington DC homeowners are removing tubs altogether in their bathroom home remodeling projects.

Outdoor living spaces offer cooking areas, areas for eating, and casual seating for entertaining. They are covered so you can enjoy them on rainy days. Wired for lighting and electronics, featuring any option you can imagine, these spaces are essential for green home remodeling in Washington, DC.

Universal design meets ADA building standards for those with disabilities. These are improvements that make sense to do now for aging in place later, and are necessary for anyone with mobility or rehabilitation issues. For example, eliminating shower curbs, enhancing open floor plans, installing access ramps, and including bracing inside walls. In any home remodeling in Washington, DC, should plan for halls and transitional areas that allow for free wheelchair access.

Look up! Ceilings are important design elements again, especially where light and heat are concerned. Architectural elements such as skylights, solar panels, barrel vaults, tray ceilings, and coffers add depth and texture and can reinvent interior spaces while saving energy. Lighting options now allow for various styles, beautiful finishes, and energy-efficient lighting technology to complement any green home remodeling in Washington, DC.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems keeps your home healthy and comfortable. You depend on your heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation system more than any other equipment to keep you healthy. Many custom home builders include state-of-the-art air quality control and distribution systems, which includes a dehumidifier, humidifier, HEPA purification/filtration, and sensors for specific gases like radon and carbon monoxide. Many of Hanlon Design Build’s clients are using geothermal systems, which are 50% more efficient than traditional HVAC systems.

Homes built today are 100% more energy-efficient and constructed with more environmental materials than those built just 50 years ago. Environmentally sound construction techniques in home remodeling have dramatically altered the way we live. Better designed materials that have been evaluated from “cradle-to-grave” for sustainability and impact to the environment are key elements of green home remodeling in Washington, DC.

When you plan home remodeling in Washington, DC, remember to consider these simple suggestions to achieve greater home harmony and more environmentally friendly choices for your remodeling investment.