Best in American Living Awards Shine a Spotlight on top Design Trends for 2019

This year’s winning projects showcase a variety of prominent design trends expected to pop up in homes and communities over the next several years.

Over 150 single-family, multifamily, interior design, remodeling and community projects were honored at the 2018 Best in American Living™ Awards (BALA) ceremony held during the 2019 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

Judges awarded nine Best in Region, five Of the Year and one Judges’ Discretionary Award for Community Spirit. In addition, one Game Changer award was given as well as one “Wow!” award, a special award given to a project with a jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind design detail. These projects represent the nation’s best in home and community design, interior design and remodeling.

BALA winners showcase top design trends that home buyers can expect to see in homes and communities over the next several years, among them:

• Black window frames. Now available at almost every price point, designers are gravitating to this purposeful frame choice.
• The ceiling as the fifth wall of design. When you’ve finished all four walls, why not look up? Architects are taking advantage of this seemingly blank canvas and transforming it with creative textures, colors and lighting.
• Creative integration of outdoor spaces. Even on the smallest and narrowest of lots, winners found inspired solutions to provide home owners with ample outdoor living.
• Delineation of spaces through mixed materials. Whether pairing two unique materials, like stone and brick, or switching directions of one material, homes have better defined spaces—both outdoor and in—through mixed materials.
• Indoor/outdoor connections. A trend that’s getting stronger each year, most winners included easy physical and visual connections with their outdoor spaces.
• Mid-century modern and modern farmhouse. These styles are both incredibly popular across the country, both in new homes and renovations that bring out the home’s original character.
• Mixed metals. Silver, brass, gold and more, there’s no telling where you’ll find metals and how they’ll be paired in today’s new homes.
• Multigenerational living. Homes are increasingly featuring designated multigenerational suites or transition spaces that can be quickly transformed into additional bedrooms, providing for the increasing number of multigenerational households in some parts of the country.
• Quiet but purposeful architecture. Forms and ratios are following best practices in a muted but memorable manner.
• Stairs as a focal piece. Stairs are taking on a life of their own and featuring fine detailing, unique materials and one-of-a-kind design.
• Texture on texture. Goodbye, smooth walls. Interiors are featuring curated texture palettes, from stone to raw wood details to manmade textured wallpaper offerings.

The awards were sponsored by GE Appliances, a Haier Company; Monogram; Hotpoint; Profile; and Café. The media sponsor was Professional Builder.