Trend to smaller, efficient brighter-coloured homes
The residential building company reports 59% of its customers commissioned four-bedroom properties in 2014, while 38% built three-bedroom, and 3% built five-bedroom houses.
Generation Homes says most homebuyers last year preferred a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
The residential building company reports 59% of its customers commissioned four-bedroom properties in 2014, while 38% built three-bedroom, and 3% built five-bedroom houses.
“The standard four-bedroom, two-bathroom home is still the most popular among homeowners,” Generation Homes chief executive Kevin Atkinson says.
Homes larger than five-bedrooms are becoming less commonplace, consistent with the new trend of building smaller homes. Mr Atkinson says this is confirmed by the average house size among group home builders decreasing by 24m2 over the past year.
Housing affordability, increasing concern for the environment and efforts to reduce energy costs could be behind the new trend, he speculates.
More than 40% of Generation Homes’ enquiries in 2014 were from people with a household income of less than $81,000, “representing the average Kiwi family in the market for a more affordable, smaller home.”
When it comes to interior design, there was a return to bright colours with pastel tones overtaking the dark greys and beiges predominant in recent years, according to home stylist Jennifer King from House Couture, who advises Generation Homes.
House exteriors are also moving away from the dark colours and going back to traditional white.
“In 2014 we saw a huge movement towards the Scandinavian look of light wood and white tones – a trend that I expect to continue in the year ahead.”
Generation Homes’ customers were most concerned with the kitchen. Walk-in pantries, vinyl wood planking, white cabinetry and neutral palettes were key kitchen trends in 2014.
People are opting for a contemporary look in their kitchens and moving away from more traditional materials.Engineered stone bench tops and drawer-loaded rubbish bins are a common trend plus a move towards inbuilt range hood cabinetry.
Other trends in 2014 included covered outdoor entertaining areas, walk-in wardrobes and edible gardens.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home was No 1 on the wishlist
Chris Hutching for NBR NZ Property Investor
Mon, 26 Jan 2015
Mon, 26 Jan 2015
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Trend to smaller, efficient brighter-coloured homes
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