What Are The Features To Look Out For In A Modern Home?
The government has issued an aim that by 2016 all new housing in Britain will be carbon zero . And in the 21st century homeowners across the country are striving for environmentally-friendly homes in droves. Sustainable and recycled materials are increasingly fashionable when it comes to construction, as are everyday energy efficient products in the home, from lighting to solar heating panels . Eco-friendly paints (free of harmful additives) are highly popular, as is reclaimed wood and recycled insulation material.
New and innovative products have also changed the way many people live, for example, with state-of-the-art underfloor heating widely available and in plenty of properties. And glass has been somewhat redefined as a building material, as developers choose to use glass across the exterior of homes like never before. But while the development of new-builds is widespread as the demand for housing rises, renovations are also very popular.
The renovation and conversion of existing, old buildings is widespread. We are seeing many old properties benefiting from new technology features- modern insulation, damp-proofing, heating, air-conditioning, electronics- but still using traditional materials, oak, lime-plaster, brick and slate to maintain the architectural integrity of the building. These range from barn conversions to disused churches, and pubs which are being converted into fashionable apartment blocks.
Today we have a wide range of ground-breaking inventions to make life easier – take for instance the new self-cleaning and odour-removing paints . Security is also crucial to many families and there is a vast amount of high-spec technical packages available for the home. Standard fireplaces are not as common as they once were, but if present, they are likely to be electric or gas ‘faux’ fires. And exposed brick or a simple unadorned surface is often preferred, rather than ornate surrounds or prominent mantelpieces.
The living area focal point of most homes is the "entertainment centre" – flat screen television, DVD, game console, digital receiver et al. Traditional dining rooms are less common than in previous decades, but roof terraces are a popular trend, as are loft conversions. New homes tend to be light and spacious, and colour schemes are increasingly neutral and natural. A new era of housing has begun, where radical design is the norm, eco-friendliness is an aspiration and technology is key.
The aim of the
Sustainable Building Association is to facilitate environmentally responsible practices within building.
Building For Life is an initiative which promotes and celebrates design excellence and the very best in British housing today.
Warmup
is an award-winning supplier of state-of-the-art under-floor heating products.
Sto manufactures innovative new paints including the self-cleaning and odour-removing ranges.
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