Austin architects were asked about what kinds of things clients are looking for in a home these days. The general consensus is that there has been a definite shift in the area toward smaller, more efficient homes that are closer to downtown. A decade ago, the motto was "bigger is better." People were living in excess with huge wine rooms and home theaters. Whatever they could afford to build or install was what they got. Now, it seems people are becoming more conscious of getting just what they need rather than what they want. They don't want a huge mansion to clean and maintain when less than half of the house is really being used. Another trend is a move toward more modern and contemporary spaces and homes. People are preferring open areas, especially in the kitchen/dining/living spaces. Energy-efficiency is also on many people's minds when building or remodeling. They want to lower their utility bills and carbon footprint. The questions architects in the area now have definitely changed from what they used to be ten years ago.

Blog inspired by article written by Carrie Alexander featured in The Austin American Statesman and can be seen here: http://www.statesman.com/homes/how-austin-lives-now-1157186.html