Want to stay on trend in 2023? When it comes to home interiors think Farmhouse 2.0. Farmhouse All Grown Up. Move that farmhouse to, say, Sweden.
The claustrophobia of the last few years gave us time to look around our homes and consider what works and what doesn’t. And as this year’s stalwart band of crocuses pop up on the lawn outside, many Westport homeowners are looking for ways to pair the crisp freshness of simple lines and an everything-in-its-place order with the well-considered warmth and creature comforts of Scandinavian hygge.
“You don’t see huge formality anymore or ornateness. Nobody wants to live in a museum,” says Jeff Titus, who has witnessed many a trend over his 28 years building and remodeling homes through his busy TitusBuilt firm. “The appeal of the open floor plan and its benefits are still there, but there’s an eagerness for cozy spaces.”
One of the biggest trends Jeff and his team are seeing is the continued popularity of the first-floor bedroom suite – planned for a master suite or a private space for extended family. A boon for homeowners looking into their senior years and those who want to let grandparents feel at home, they are often outfitted with curb-less showers and heated flooring.
Large spas have been replaced by vintage clawfoot or modern free-standing tubs.
“There’s a more European feel to it,” Jeff says.
And couples aren’t sacrificing their own comfort in 2023. He’s seeing many craving a sanctuary for themselves, updating a master suite with a sitting area and highly customized closets featuring dedicated display such as glass-topped storage for beautiful watches and jewelry.
Customization is key in other parts of the house, Jeff says, including must-have mudrooms. “Kids come in with sports equipment and trombones and need a place to put it all,” he says.
The kitchen, too, is getting an orderly facelift.
“There’s a strong trend toward simple, simple, simple,” Jeff says.
That translates to clean cabinet and counter lines, swapping fussy molding for interesting color schemes. Some homeowners are asking for multicolored kitchens, with one hue on the cabinet frames and another on the doors or two different colors on cabinetry above and below the counters.
Wide plank flooring, quarter-sawn white oak and “flashes of texture and natural materials” are making an appearance, replacing the cherry and orange-hued woods of the past, Jeff says. “Nobody wants that anymore,” he says.
Clients are requesting specific items in their kitchens, including knife blocks set into drawers and sliding elements for easier access.
The concept of the open floor plan is evolving, with homeowners envisioning a family room separated from the kitchen by a glass wall or the balcony above with an open wood-and-cable railing.
The pandemic may have spurred another mini-trend – requests for optimal air and water quality, including UV light and filtration, duct cleaning and units to regulate healthy humidity.
“There is more and more awareness of things like that,” Jeff says.
TitusBuilt.com
“There’s a strong trend toward simple, simple, simple,” - Jeff
titusbuilt.com