2020 Vision: Trends in Home Remodeling That We're Already Seeing

‘Tis the season for reminiscing about past projects and predicting styles and trends for the new year. We’re gearing up for a busy 2020, with plans to build several new homes, manage many complete home remodels, and renovate a few kitchens, bathrooms, basements and outdoor spaces. We’ll be sharing these projects as we go. In the meantime, here are some fun trends that we’re starting to see, and expect to see more of in 2020.

  1. Wide Open Spaces.

The check list of must have features for any home buyer on House Hunters often includes the wish for an open concept home. For The English Contractor new build team, that’s an easy wish to grant as we’re building a home from the ground up. However, open concept can be more complicated and/or more costly in a home renovation. Removing a wall can often mean rerouting electric, HVAC and plumbing. We love to brainstorm with our clients to find creative ways to give the feeling of open space, without totally gutting the interior space.

These work-in-progress shots of a recent home remodel show how we made an older home feel more modern by removing a portion of a wall that connected the older part of the home, built in the 1940s, with an addition that was built onto the home in the late 1990s. We replaced drywall with a railing that matched those already existing in the home. This simple project flooded the front of the house with light, gives a view from the front of the home to the back yard, and makes the finished basement feel more like an integrated living space. A true open concept home would have been cost-prohibitive for this remodel, but this small detail gives the best of both worlds.

2. Add some color.

White kitchen cabinets still reign supreme. We probably do more white kitchens than any other color, with some glazing, distressing and other details that adds some depth and personality. While we don’t expect the white cabinetry trend to ever go away, several of our homeowners are really making a statement with their kitchen cabinetry by using color.

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We finished up a new kitchen that features the 2020 Pantone color of the year, classic blue. We have several new kitchens on our construction schedule in 2020. We’ll keep sharing our in-progress photos, as well as those of our finished projects to see what they inspire for you.

3. Homes are getting smarter.

We’re installing more and more smart technology in to our home renovations and new builds.

Our projects have included a smart shower system from Kohler, technology-enabled kitchen appliances from Samsung and app-connected ovens and ranges from Wolf Subzero Cove. We’re anticipating that our homes are going to get even smart as 2020 kicks off.

4. Back to basics.

No matter the project, we love the bells and whistles. But our homeowners also care about the basics and will continue to invest in important improvements in their homes. Our projects for 2020 include upgraded windows, new siding, and new roofing. Our new builds this year will include foundations from Nudura, windows from Marvin and siding from James Hardie.

5. Attention to detail.

Whether it’s new build, whole home remodel, or kitchen renovations, homeowners are paying more attention to the small details that really make a house a home. We’re loving the trend we’re seeing in specialty finishes like brass hardware and faucets from companies like Signature Hardware. Many of our bathroom remodels are including free standing bathtubs and large scale showers. Laundry rooms and butler’s pantries are making English Contractor homes the envy of the block.

Are you ready to see these trends in action? Be sure to follow The English Contractor on Instagram and Facebook to continue to see details about our projects. We’re excited about what the year 2020 has in store for us and our customers. If we inspire you to try out one of these trends in your home, let us know! We’d love to partner with you for your new building or remodeling project.

Do you see a trend that you want to learn about for your own home?

Jennifer Buchholz