Architects are cooking up new business in the kitchen, according to Matthew Strozier at the Wall Street Journal. Citing a recent survey from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Strozier writes that as kitchen areas are growing and becoming more wide open in nature, architects are seeing steady work from homeowners interested in a kitchen [...]

We’ve long been a fan of architect Sarah Susanka and her “Not So Big House” philosophy, and it seems we keep seeing more evidence that a significant number of American homeowners are more interested in craftsmanship, quality and fine design than they are in raw square footage. Affluent, mature homeowners especially fit this profile. The more [...]

Remodeling has been a bright spot in the homebuilding and design industry, and a recent report by the Harvard Center for Joint Housing Studies suggests that the long-term trend will continue to be favorable. Several factors are converging to produce the positive outlook. First, as Baby Boomers age, the turnover of their homes will generate remodeling [...]

In February, President Barack Obama introduced an energy security proposal that could have vast implications for the building industry. The Better Buildings Initiative aims to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 20 percent by 2020, reduce energy bills by $40 billion per year through energy efficient improvements and create a series of new tax [...]

The American Institute of Architects recently released results from the Home Design Trends Survey for the fourth quarter of 2010, finding consumers are demanding larger kitchens and more accessible bathrooms. Kitchen size had been trending downward the past few years, but Q4 marked a turnaround. Kermit Baker, AIA’s chief economist, writes the larger kitchen is [...]

The American Institute of Architects’ recently published report on top home design trends offers an interesting glimpse into the American homeowner’s mindset. Affordability — making practical renovations and additions more so than flashy and perhaps unnecessary ones — is key, the report finds, though homeowners are certainly not shy about investing in features and products [...]