Top Design Trends, According to Bella Custom Homes

Poodle skirts? Gone.

Land lines? Almost gone.

Model T car? Museum piece.

And so it is with design trends for homes. Trends come, trends go, and sometimes they circle back around.

“Interior design and home trends are always evolving, but overall do tend to stick around for quite some time,” said Stacy Brotemarkle, vice president and co-owner of Bella Custom Homes. “Follow fashion to see what’s next.  And remember also like fashion, the good things come back around.”

Brotemarkle and her business partner Tony Visconti, president and co-owner of Bella Custom Homes know about these changing trends from their decades in the home-building business. Visconti, a third-generation home builder, is a graduate master builder and a member of the Dallas Builders Association who founded the luxury home-building company 30 years ago. Brotemarkle, who holds a degree in interior design with a minor in engineering technology, is a certified graduate builder and a member of the Allied ASID and the Dallas Builders Association.

So, with all that background, this duo truly knows home building and home trends.

1. Open Floorplans Are Waning

One major shift they’re seeing is a move toward floor plans that are less open than the wide-open movement that saw people tearing down walls, lots, and lots of walls.

“Clients want a little more privacy in some areas of their homes,” the interior designer said.

2. Catering Kitchens to Put the Mess Away

Many homeowners now request “catering” or “prep” kitchens, where the mess is not front and center and the appliances are hidden. It’s perfect for entertaining, Brotemarkle said.

3. Specialized Organization for Kitchens, Closets

Increasing customization also is in demand for custom, luxury homes — Bella Custom Homes’ specialty. Again, the kitchen serves as an example of this. Their clients want specialized organization integrated into their kitchen designs.

Those who often cook at home have requested specific storage for spices. Some who entertain frequently ask for customized tray storage. Still, others want to ensure their homes are designed with ample space for leftover containers.

4. Expansive Luxury Outdoor Living Spaces

Nature is influencing home design in several ways. Perhaps because the pandemic forced people to enjoy their home surroundings, more and more crave luxurious outdoor living and connections to the outdoors. New home designs often feature large sliding doors, expanded verandas, and outdoor kitchens.

5. Incorporating Nature to Bring Outside In

These large sliding doors help bring the outside in. Expansive luxury bathrooms are included in this trend, Brotemarkle said. They’re designing luxurious primary bathrooms with Zen gardens and courtyards off owners’ suites.

6. Wood and Natural Stone to Offset All-White Design

Natural materials, such as stone and wood, are increasingly being used throughout residential interiors, warming up that all-white look so popular for years.

7. Out: Cool Tones. In: Warm Tones

Decorating trends are shifting, too. Move over black and white, the jewel tones are making a return. Warm tones are replacing the grays. Greens are being traded for the blues. Wallpaper is back as a way to introduce not only color, but also texture and patterns to a room.

8. Statement Lighting Is Still Big

Interior details that are on-trend include rethinking specific decorating choices, according to the Bella Custom Home leadership. Statement lighting is a fun way for homeowners to show their personalities.

9. Mixing Metals for Hardware and Fixtures

Mixing metals is not only okay but encouraged in a home’s hardware and fixtures. “Don’t be afraid to mix your metals because they’re all neutrals,” Brotemarkle said. “Mixing your metals, like warm gold and a polished nickel, makes for a more collected feel and keeps things interesting.”

10. Quality Over Quantity in Home Building

There’s a shift, too, in overall home design choices, the Bella Custom Homes team says.

“Clients want quality over quantity,” Visconti said.

For example, Baby Boomers are downsizing but not willing to give up luxurious amenities, even as they move to smaller homes. Bella Custom Homes has available lots in Frisco’s The Preserve in Fields development, as they are one of only a few homebuilders selected for the luxury home development. They partner their customers with licensed architects to ensure these trends and their desires are carried out in their newly designed homes.

“It’s an exciting time to be in home building because the designs, materials, and options are so varied,” Visconti said. “We know that there are great ways for homeowners to get the home they envision, and nothing makes us happier than to make that dream a reality.”