Does it seem to you that new homes are generally bigger than older ones? If so, your observation is correct. The average new home today is nearly 500 square feet (or 25%) larger than the average house built 20 years ago, and 12% larger than those built in the late 1990s.
However, mere square footage is not the primary reason why new homes are more spacious than their predecessors.
Homes are now designed to enhance the perception of larger space and to allow a variety of functions in the common areas of the home. Open floor plans, increasingly popular across all housing types, sizes and prices, create long views through the home and afford "shared" spaces that serve multiple needs.
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Q: What is "structured" or advanced wiring?
A: The combined growth of personal home computers, consumer electronics, entertainment systems, and home security products-not to mention the dynamic evolution of the technology behind them—has prompted builders to offer wiring schemes that enable whole-house communications, data and audio-visual sharing, and other features. Typically consisting of Category 5 (or "Cat-5") wiring and coaxial cable, structured or advanced wiring schemes allow homeowners to customize their use of technology to meet their lifestyle needs
Kitchens have always been the center of a house. It's where everyone congregates at a party, regardless of the host's intentions. It's where the mail, the keys and the family news are dropped on the way in. The kitchen is so important to most people that it is the feature most likely to make or break the purchase of a home.
Not surprisingly, the kitchen is a lightening rod for design and lifestyle trends. In addition to such products as cabinets, appliances, and plumbing fixtures (to name only a few), the layout, function, and look of the kitchen continually evolves to meet modern needs. Here are a few current trends to consider:
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