Design
Designs that Optimize Space, Honor Classic Style and More

Forget those cold, gray skies: The free, digital Winter Issue of Best in American Living magazine is here with hot stories on all the ways design touches our professional and personal lives.
How Smart Can the ‘Smart Home’ Be?

Tech-savvy home design experts who recently saw the latest in smart home innovation at the Consumer Electronics Show were buzzing excitedly around the 2018 International Builders’ Show. While there are still questions and apprehension from traditional home builders, these experts say it’s not a good idea to sit on the sidelines waiting for the dust to settle.
Texas Home Named BALA Home of the Year

Called the Augusta, the home artfully balances stone, wood, metal and floor-to-ceiling glass to create an elegant modern residence that hearkens to historical Texas homes from the 1800s.
When it Comes to Community Design, Pools and Club Houses are Passé

When it comes to building new communities, the traditional pool and clubhouse will no longer suffice if you want to stand out from your competitors. This was one of the key messages delivered at a Jan. 11 educational seminar on new amenities for lifestyle buyers during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando.
So Much Cooking in Latest Kitchen Designs

The latest kitchen layouts offer an abundance of options and design trends follow social trends. These were among the key takeaways during a recent International Builders’ Show seminar in Orlando focusing on “What’s Cooking in Kitchen Design.”
What Millennial Home Buyers Want

It’s all about location, location, location – with a dash or two of compromise – as millennials, the nation’s largest demographic group at 90 million strong, is poised to dominate the home buying market. Two market researchers – who happen to be millennials themselves – offered insight into their generation in Two Millennials Tell All, an education session offered Jan. 10 during the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando.
BALA Awards Shine Spotlight on Top Design Trends

A remarkable 129 single-family, multifamily, interior design, remodeling and community projects were honored at the 2017 Best in American Living™ Awards ceremony held during the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando.
Prospective Home Buyers Sidelined by Availability, Affordability

The average home size, at 2,622 square feet in 2016, was essentially unchanged in 2017, averaging 2,627 square feet. Forty-six percent had four bedrooms or more compared to 45% in 2016; 37% had three full baths or more compared to 35 percent in 2016. Meanwhile, Americans continue to remodel, renovate and DIY at a fast clip.
Color of the Year is Best in Small Doses

The 2018 Pantone color of the year is a rich purple often seen on royal robes, the sky at dusk and unicorn manes. But how might it be used in home design and model home merchandising? Three NAHB member design experts chime in.
Aging-in-Place Modifications Featured in Museum Display

A new exhibit at Washington’s National Building Museum celebrates the flexibility of modern home design and features the role of the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist in helping to ensure that home owners can live safely in their own homes even as they become less mobile.