The diverse array of home styles commonly seen on Florida’s West coast can be overwhelming when you first take a look at it, so we are here to breakdown and simplify some of the most common trends and styles seen in the Florida market recently.
Popular Styles
“Contemporary Coastal” is a style defined by its clean lines, light airy feel, and natural fabrics and materials. Many ocean-inspired colors are used in contemporary coastal, sun-bleached white to ocean blue hues. Natural materials and finishes are emphasized along with the bold clean lines. Lots of natural light helps keep this style feeling so fresh and beachy. It’s no surprise why this style is popular among many Florida coastal and inland homes.
“Key West Coastal“ is a home-style defined by its spacious shady porches, large numerous windows, raised foundations, and open floor plans. Many fun bright colors are used throughout Key West Coastal homes. All these aspects combined give Key West Coastal Homes a very cottage-like feel, making you feel like every day is a vacation.
“British West Indies” style developed as a less formal, more island-inspired version of traditional British homes. The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and many other Caribbean islands are an inspiration to this style of home. Columns, clean lines, flat tile roofs, railings, large outdoor living spaces, porches, and shutters are all commonly found in British West Indies Style homes. This style of home is an adaptation that developed from the desire to keep the Mediterranean feel of the homes that we have seen in Florida for so long but give it a more clean-line, modern approach.
“Modern Farmhouse” is an updated version of the beloved farmhouse style that America has loved for centuries. Typically Modern Farmhouse style homes have a split bedroom layout, spacious open kitchens, and an open floor plan. Wraparound porches, gable roofs, wide plank wood floors, rear porches, and lap siding are all common design aspects found inside Modern Farmhouse homes. This updated traditional style won’t be going out of date anytime soon.
Similarities throughout the Styles
A major trend that is a commonality between most of the top design styles desired in Florida today is clean lines. Simply defined a clean line in a building is easy to identify the contrast between different elements in a space. It is also strongly related to minimalism and overall favors a sleek function-oriented design. We see a trend in people wanting to simplify their lives and in turn, also wanting to simplify their homes’ unique design.
Florida’s year-round beautiful weather also contributes to the trend of emphasizing outdoor living spaces. In a majority of top Florida design styles, you will see outdoor porches, large outdoor spaces, patios, sliding glass doors, balconies, pool areas, outdoor kitchens, outdoor living, and outdoor dining spaces. It’s common in Florida to want to bring the outdoors in, and the indoors out, making both your indoor and outdoor living spaces flow well into one another.
When asked about the recent trends she has seen lately, Elisa LaBram, President of LaBram Homes, commented that she has seen a trend toward houses that have “open floor plans, white kitchens, and an airy coastal feel.” She said that they are using a lot of clean lines and no-frills which gives spaces a more modern and contemporary feel. LaBram Homes has built and designed houses from every popular style discussed above, along with many others. The two most recent houses added to LaBrams project list are both Modern Farmhouse style.
Choosing Your Style
If you struggle to figure out what style you most are interested in, don’t worry, bring in pictures of styles that you love and are inspired by your initial meeting with us and we will help you figure out what styles will suit you personally. One of the many incredible aspects of designing a custom home with LaBram is that it allows you to combine or create your own styles so that your home is perfectly suited to you.
There are no set rules when it comes to designing your perfect home, the perfect style is the one that makes you feel at home.
