I toured a new listing in La Jolla recently. The home is a new construction contemporary residence complete with expansive ocean views. What struck me was that the home was generic. I am not saying it wasn’t high end, what I am saying is, it was generic. There was nothing in the home that showcased architecture, creativity, or customization.
Lack of those three elements is to be expected in a moderately priced home but should not exist in a luxury-priced home. For a couple decades now, the ubiquitous open concept, with the grey/white color palette has been in.
As we enter 2025, it seems design, architecture, and custom touches, both indoors and out, are making a comeback.
Glass Blocks
Patented by Swiss engineer Gustave Falconnier in 1886, the original glass blocks were faceted to allow filtered light into factories. In the 1920s, with the Art Deco and Bauhaus movements’ fixation on geometry, glass blocks became a mainstay of residential architecture. Then came the 80's and some rather questionable uses of glass block that fortunately faded.
Now...glass blocks are coming back! A few months ago, my husband and I had an overnight layover in Houston on our way to Belize. The airport hotel we stayed at for one night had a 60’s vibe that featured long corridors with floor to ceiling glass block walls that let in natural light yet protected guests’ privacy from the outside while walking through the hotel.
I know the idea of glass bricks probably takes you back to odd uses in offices built in the '80s, but I think when used correctly, glass blocks can add something cool and vintage to your home. For example, the idea of using glass bricks as a window in a bathroom where you don’t want the window to be able to open, but you want nature light coupled with privacy.
Glass bricks are versatile. You can use them to add a cool structural, non-load-bearing wall to your home, allowing natural light to stream in. There are many glass bricks designs, and their use has a lot of potential in many spaces, even outdoors, to add visual appeal, a different aesthetic, and a cool architectural detail to your home.
Defined Rooms
Back to the new construction I toured. This was a large home, 4,600+ sq. ft. As you entered the front door, there was no foyer, you walked straight into a massive great room, a staircase was immediately to the right of the front door complete a wine frig and shelves built under the stairs, soaring ceiling, walls of glass both facing the street and the backyard. Right off the kitchen at the back of the house was a small designated TV area, the kitchen was defined by a massive island that floated between a formal-ish dining area, large opening doors and the small TV area. Where am I going with this?
There was a noticeable lack of scale and space with purpose. In fact, the living area was so open that there was no quiet zone in any part of the public area of the home.
The ubiquitous open concept floor plans that have defined home renovation trends in recent years are giving way to a rise in partitioned rooms—dual-function, sectioned-off spaces that can transform into closed spaces when needed. The trend now is to create gracious movement between rooms. Designed spaces with purpose that create flow yet provide separation of space as well as use.
Architects and designers are prioritizing unique uses within these defined zones, so that when one person wants a quiet space to read, listen to music or have a conversation they aren’t impacted by others in the home that are watching TV, cooking, or doing homework.
Color
The popularity of minimalistic gray tones in the last decade somehow also meant the loss of color in literally every aspect of public and private architecture and design. Nothing was more painful than watching so many whimsical places remove all sense of uniqueness and color from their establishments. Everything either turned gray, bright white or beige. Even when color is included, long gone are the many colors of the rainbow; it's usually relatively muted or neutral.
Welcome back bold, beautiful, bright colors as part of the design palette of 2025. Now, I'm not saying you have to go and paint every wall in your home neon green, but even just using your furniture, accent pieces, appliances, cabinets, and artwork can bring saturated color use back into your home can make a huge difference.
Outdoor Rooms
The trend for comfortable, functional outdoor living spaces got a jump start in popularity during the pandemic. That trend has only expanded and now many people are transforming unused or under-used yards into elaborate “outdoor rooms” with outdoor kitchens and multi-functional furniture that offer flexibility and comfort to a yard.
Another design element is the resurgence of courtyards, tranquil private outdoor spaces that are inward-looking bring in light and nature to the home while providing visual and acoustical privacy and a greater sense of security. As much as we might want the front porch to make a comeback, the courtyard concept creates a private haven where homeowners can relax, rejuvenate and commune with nature.
Are there a design trends you see making a comeback? Share your ideas, I would love to hear them!
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