ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

March 2022

For the annual Show Village, Pro Builder commissioned two homes to be presented as an immersive online experience affording the opportunity to test concepts related to the new normal of lifestyle wants and needs and smart/connected home technologies. This feature will focus on the Smart/Connected Home that launched during the 2022 International Builders Show, which came out of a collaboration between KTGY and John Burns Real Estate Consulting‘s (JBREC) New Home Trends Institute. NHTI surveyed homeowner and professional residential architectural designers to gather the latest data to help feed this design. Then the talented designers at KTGY took the data and turned it into a reality. The following images are renderings and screen shots from the virtual tour with icons that highlighted the insights from the project team, product info and more.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

Contemporary continues to remain on trend. More designers are taking historic styles and rethinking them with a contemporary twist. That is exactly what KTGY did: took the Eichler style from the mid-century and updated it with more modern materials like glass railings. They created something fresh and updated, while not being too aggressive. The showhome’s style is on trend without taking the risk that the home will feel dated quickly. Architectural designers expect Mid Century to be a top elevation style over the next three years. According to the NHTI/Pro Builder 2021 architectural designer survey, the mid-century style ranked #4 in top styles over the next 3 years (#3 on the production side).

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

KTGY created two alternate elevation styles to appeal to different tastes across the country. The modern farmhouse style continues to be popular nationwide. However, there is a shift away from the white and black-trimmed modern farmhouse look that originally became popular towards more regional takes on the style. This elevation from KTGY embodies that shift. Note the mix of stone with two types of siding to add interest to the elevation, while keeping the classic farmhouse form.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The same house could also feature a more contemporary elevation complete with flat roof. According to NHTI research, 40% of architects mixed and matched exterior materials even more frequently than they were previously. Architectural designers typically mix and match three different material types. This elevation style embraces the consumer preference shift to more modern styles, while also mixing materials.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The smart/connected home is 3,400 square feet over 2 floors with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and a 2-car garage. KTGY designs some options that will be highlighted at various points throughout the tour with floor plan snapshots. Note how outdoor living is integrated into the home on both floors with the loggias on the ground floor and multiple decks off the upper floor.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The front entry features three doors: a door to the package drop zone on the left, the main front door in the middle, and a door to the multigenerational suite to the right. The layered entry offers a security and privacy solution. NHTI surveyed homeowners and the most popular two preferences for homeowners are to have their front door visible from the street and easy to find, but also slightly tucked back for privacy. KTGY created a layered approach into the home, providing privacy, giving a great street presence, and even providing a nice dual-sided package delivery area. According to the 2020 NHTI/Pro Builder architectural designer survey, about half of architectural designers consider package delivery when designing homes. 17% consider it every time.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The multigenerational suite, which is located at the front of the house, is conveniently served by a door from the porch so it has a private entry and has a door to the foyer giving it access to the rest of the home.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

This suite can work for long term guests, bounce back kids, or for an elderly parent. The suite features a studio layout with the living area, kitchen, and bedroom combined. The murphy bed is a creative solution for the space since it allows residents to put away the bed and have more space to gather or entertain.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The kitchenette helps the space be more autonomous from the rest of the house. It includes a mini refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, and plenty of storage.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The multigenerational suite can also flex as a home office, quiet zoom room, home gym or flex space for what a family’s lifestyle requires. This variation still includes the separate entry but offers a less formal connection to the main house with a glass door or glass barn door versus the more solid separation seen in the modeled suite.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

Light fills the foyer from windows in and around the front door, while the volume adds some “wow factor” to the space.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

What makes this home so smart and connected? Some features you can’t see and some you can. What you can’t see is a robust, reliable infrastructure of structured wiring and cables with strong Wi-Fi signal that optimizes things you can see. The basic package of connected devices and systems includes a garage door opener, video doorbell, programmable and sun sensitive lighting and window shading, and smart major appliances. A wall mounted control hub, sensors, and aps control and maintain indoor comfort, lighting, and indoor air quality.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

Beyond the smart technology, KTGY also amped up the entertainment opportunities in the home. Check out the wet bar tucked under the stairs. What a creative use of space!

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The two-story volume over the great room makes for a grand space, while also allowing KTGY to integrate a fireplace with materials that stretch to the ceiling as is common in the mid-century modern style.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

Sometimes families want more space, but they are unwilling to give up bedroom count. This option creates a bonus room in place of the volume over the great room, which allows residents to either pick the wow factor of having the volume or a generous bonus room. All while not giving up any bedroom space.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The home features a zoom room off the kitchen. A right-sized office opportunity for the times when you need privacy, but don’t need a formal setup.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

Instead of trying to accommodate both a formal dining setup and an island, KTGY chose to give up the dining area and instead created an enhanced island that supports both prep along the upper section and dining along the lower section. This setup is good for a casual family meal or formal dinner party. Unlike formal dining rooms, this will be used every day. One of the biggest things in the last decade or so was the shift to the great room versus ancillary spaces, which led to a rethinking of the dining room. This home shows another step further by combining the dining setup with the kitchen island with dedicated dining space with a dropped section of the island that is table height versus counter height. NHTI identified an eat-in kitchen as one of the top trends for 2022, so keep an eye out for more kitchens like this whether grander like this one or a simpler take for a smaller home is to forgo the dining setup in favor of eating along multiple sides of the island.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

According to NHTI consumer research, outdoor nodes is one of the five current outdoor trends. Mirroring the trend toward nooks within the home (for a private getaway), multiple smaller gathering nodes have replaced one big outdoor space. KTGY managed to provide multiple outdoor living areas into this design like this covered loggia off the kitchen.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

Along with the covered and more private loggia on the ground floor, the home also includes a covered gathering area off the great room and the backyard beyond. NHTI research found private and multifunctional outdoor living was even more desired by homeowners coming out of the pandemic. KTGY took that to heart by designing space to relax, cook, eat, and play.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

Outdoor cooking and dining are now nearly essential in new housing. Currently very few households currently have an outdoor kitchen or bar. The low share of households with these features, combined with the high share of homeowners and architects that plan/desire to add the, signals high potential growth.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The back of the home continues the drama of the front and reveals additional outdoor gathering areas on the upper floor. The home blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor. The use and function of the outdoor spaces and yard will change with time and by region. By providing the outdoor space and various connections to it, KTGY is allowing people to program what they want.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The casita is a semi-detached room that is separated from main house for privacy but has easy access to the kitchen, laundry room, and garage beyond. This space is great for remote workers. With glass on all sides the windows provide views and light throughout the day. Work-from-home, or work from anywhere, has been a hot topic for the past 2 years. If you weren't designing office spaces into your homes before 2020, I bet you are now.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The laundry room is well outfitted with plenty of storage and counter space. Its location is convenient to the mud room, garage, and backyard for easy cleanup, while also being out of sight.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The laundry room also includes open shelving over the washer and dryer and a direction connection to the loggia and casita beyond.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The drop zone includes both storage opportunities and seating. Over the past two years, demand for drop zones has increased as people looks for a transition space between the public and private realms.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The garage provides storage space well beyond what is needed for two cars. The additional width offers the opportunity for storage along both sides.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

KTGY outfitted the garage for a modern family lifestyle with plenty of storage and a handy sink. The garage also provides easy access to heating and cooling equipment.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The open layout and connection to the outdoors of the ground floor continues to the upper floor with glass railing and multiple windows to the outside. The upper floor starts with a loft that provides an alternative gathering area to the great room below.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The loft also benefits from a direct connection to the outdoors with a nearby deck.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The loft can also option as an enclosed fitness room with a glass wall separating the space from the hallway and nearby stairs.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The upper hallway also enjoys access to another deck, which is covered.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The home includes multiple opportunities for work from home with the zoom room, private casita, and now this more informal workspace. This setup works as an alternative to the more formal spaces below as well as a spot for kids to study. Architects tell us, two separated office spaces are the prevailing “video privacy” solution, over Zoom rooms or soundproofed rooms. Consumers' preferred office location is upstairs, and not in the bedroom.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The primary bath brings some color and design to the space with a pop of color in the tile backsplash behind the vanity.

ProBuilder's 2022 Smart/Connected Home

The home has a realistically sized bath that still has an oversized shower with dry off space and space for towels and robes. This layout is efficient yet still feels luxurious.

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Design analysis

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New Home Design Driven by Insights from 12,000 Consumers and over 300 Architectural Designers

Renderings by RM Design

Buyer: Families, including multigenerational living opportunity
Elevation: Mid-Century Modern with material mixing
Unique Home Features:
- Dual office spaces, including a casita at the rear of the house, merchandised as an office, plus a separate pocket office upstairs
- An extended island with seating in place of separate kitchen dining
- Four distinct outdoor access points, with the primary one extending the kitchen
- Smart home features that homeowners value and are willing to pay for

Product type: Single-family detached

PROJECT STATS

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Project Summaries

Price as of...: –/ starting at

Square footage (min): 3,400

Lot size: –/ square feet average

Density: –

Sales start date: n/a

Total homes: 1

Sales as of: n/a

HOA: –

Target market: Families, including multigenerational living opportunity

Unique selling position: A virtual solution for a typically physical showhome at IBS that created an opportunity to push the limits and explore new solutions.

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