The National Association of Home Builders’ 2022 Best in American Living™ Awards (BALA) recognized and honored design excellence in the following categories: Single-Family, Multifamily, Affordable, Remodeling, Community, Interior Architecture & Design, and Specialty. The judges also awarded nine Best in Region and top awards for Home of the Year, Community/Community Facility of the Year, Multifamily Community of the Year, Remodel of the Year, and Room of the Year. These award-winning projects featured many new trends in single-family and multifamily architecture and design that are expected to continue into 2023 and beyond, among them:
Emphasis on Outdoor Living
The outdoors was a significant source of inspiration for the 2022 awardees. The winning designs highlighted the importance of providing outdoor living spaces to promote beauty, relaxation, communication, and entertainment at home. Cozy firepits, conversational areas with comfortable and durable seating, rooftop spaces, green areas, and outdoor activities enhanced the awarded projects, as they guarantee serene and private areas to work or relax while enjoying nature. In addition, there was a renewed focus on creating seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces. Designers chose materials, focal points, and layouts to blur the line between the two spaces and create a natural flow from interior to exterior. As a result, landscape design continued to show its importance in creating a cohesive and harmonious transitional outdoor space that feels like a natural extension of the home.
Design for Wine Lovers
Many projects contained extraordinary designs that were focused on wine storage and enjoyment. Designers created unique and elegant spaces, including gathering spots for entertaining with plenty of seating, ample countertops for preparing drinks, task and mood lighting to create ambiance, luxurious materials to bring in warmth, and wine cooling systems and built-in open-shelf wine racks to showcase collections. In addition, architects and designers focused on the strategic flow for homeowners and guests to move between the wine storage and bar. The varied approaches and creativity enable each design to be unique and suited to the owner’s tastes and budgets.
Luxurious Bathrooms
The spa-like bathroom design was a popular trend. Many bathrooms featured high-quality fixtures that complemented the overall aesthetic and incorporated high-end materials such as marble, granite, and natural stone for flooring, countertops, and shower/bathtub surrounds. Soaking tubs, steam showers, heated flooring, and connections to the outdoors produced lavish retreats for relaxation and rejuvenation. Intentional storage spaces for toiletries, towels and other essentials created through shelving, cabinets, or vanities maintained clean lines and an organized look. With careful planning and attention to detail, the submissions included luxury bathrooms that were both functional and visually stunning.
Colorful Kitchens
Turning away from one-color designs and incorporating colorful kitchens is becoming an increasingly popular way to add personality and vibrancy to a home. Bold color palette choices featuring either bright and saturated hues or muted pastel tones paired with neutral-toned materials embellished many of the updated kitchens, as colorful tiles, paint, wallpaper, and hardware helped make their eye-catching statements. Bold-colored kitchen cabinets were also a popular choice among the winning submissions and brightly colored appliances created a focal point in several of the unique kitchen designs. Coupled with clean lines, ample light and sometimes a bit of whimsy, color in the kitchen appears to become a new staple.
Elegant Entryways
Dramatic entryways set the tone for many of the entries in 2022, as many designers focused on the home’s foyer to make a lasting impression on guests and to create a welcoming atmosphere. The notable designs featured intricately crafted staircases and floors made from high-quality materials such as hardwood, marble, or natural stone to create a luxurious feel. Winning designs also used focal points such as a prominent chandelier, artwork, or a carefully selected piece of furniture to anchor the space. Mirrors and natural light were used to create the illusion of space and help to make smaller entryways feel larger and bright. In 2023, this careful attention to balancing functionality with style to create coordinated, cohesive, elegant, and inviting foyers is expected to continue.
In addition to these top trends, the 2022 BALA Awards showcased many more impressive and innovative design ideas in the various categories of single-family and multifamily architecture and design that home buyers can expect to see over the next few years. Good design is the cornerstone of any successful home or community. As these projects demonstrate keen attention to detail, the thoughtful use of innovation and technology, and a healthy dose of creativity can all work together to create functional, aesthetically pleasing, award-winning spaces.
