fashions, and
farsighted
ideas that
define our life
and times.
by Stacey
HOMES ARE GETTING GREENER
Today’s home owners are serious about cutting energy costs and avoiding the health risks of chemicals used in building products. According to a survey taken by the American Institute of Architects, 90% of those surveyed would pay $5,000 more for an energy-efficient house that protects Earth. “We will see a dramatic and rapid transition to buildings that use a lot less energy and are healthier for their occupants,” says Alex Wilson of Brattleboro, Vermont–based Building Green.
STYLE MAKERS
Indoors, we’ll see:
■ home elevators as status symbols
■ industrial-looking concrete counters
■ stylish men’s urinals that prevent odors and splashing and flush automatically ■ cork, recycled glass, and bamboo floors
■ “serviced” condominiums with hotel-style amenities—concierges, maids, and room service from gourmet restaurants
■ electric bills that report power usage by device
Kusterbeck
Outdoors, we’ll see:
■ the “quarry” look in backyards, with natural rock and concrete- stamped ground that resembles stone and audio emanating from rock-shaped speakers. “Full-size trees and bushy plants will make people think that they’re in an outdoor prehistoric oasis, but with modern conveniences,” says R. Brandon Johnson, host of HGTV’s Get Out, Way Out.
■ camp-style fire pits, with outdoor plasma TV screens
■ tumbled and distressed cobblestones that say “aged”
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