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The Modern Earthy Elements For Your 21st Century Custom Home

a beautiful Villa Custom Home made from rammed earth

a beautiful Villa Custom Home made from rammed earthHomebuilding and decor will always carry elements of past and present. Designers and architects look at the trends of the past and use them to create new patterns and trends while evoking fashions of times past. Villa Custom Homes specializes in custom design and building unique visions. Yet, there are often beloved features that homeowners seek during a specific period of time. The 21st century home trends seem to be defined by a tribute to past, open spaces, natural elements, earthy and minimalist styles. We thought we’d take a look at some of these more closely. 

The Pre-War Home and Changing Trends 

If you look at homes that were built before the 1950s, you’ll likely recognize certain features that have since then been somewhat abandoned, or at least modified. Homes built between 1890 and 1940 are referred to as pre-war homes and many displayed elements of colonial New England style. While charming in their own way, these homes now possess some characteristics that the modern family might deem a little antiquated. Common features of the pre-war home include:

  • Closed floor plans: Pre-war homes were known to have cozy kitchens that often had a doorway that led into the living room or the dining room. 
  • Hardwood floors: These floors were especially popular during the pre-war era and continue to be a favorite today.
  • Fireplaces: Another feature often found in prewar homes included the fireplace, as this was largely before central heating. Families had fireplaces as a necessity. 
  • Compact two-story layouts. Many pre-war homes were a two-story home that had a very compact design with long hallways and individual rooms, not many open spaces. 

The Road to Minimalism and Modern Earthy Styles

The homes of the Southwest have always had their defining features. Most people would recognize them if they saw them, even if they are not from the area. In Las Cruces, New Mexico, we see a great allegiance to the traditional adobe and stucco homes. Here at Villa Custom Homes, we specialize in building rammed earth homes, as they are actually far more long-lasting than traditional adobe. From afar, the style is often confused and used interchangeably. 

The 21st century has seen a recurrence of certain design patterns in homebuilding. These include:

  • Open floor layout: Since the post-war home building, people have preferred a more open floor layout. This means that there are far more shared spaces in the home and rooms “spill into” each other, creating a far more welcoming and inviting open space. 
  • Big elegant windows: One design request we see a lot includes larger windows that allow for natural lighting and plenty of sunshine. 
  • Neutral and earthy: A modern aesthetic in any home will most likely include far more neutral colors and effects. The 2000s have so far been dominated by the idea of keeping things neutral and evoking the earth element in the home. 
  • Energy efficiency: It wouldn’t be the 21st century if it didn’t have the phrase “energy efficient” in there somewhere. Today’s homes are concerned with energy efficiency and conserving energy as much as possible. 
  • Rustic features with a contemporary touch. Many homeowners have fallen in love with the concept of evoking rustic or vintage features in a way that is new and refreshing. 

The Prominence of Simplicity and Functionality 

There is a movement in 21st-century homes to make things simple and yet increase functionality. It is a delicate balance, however, because simple does not mean sterile and empty. In many ways, a good modern design incorporates elements from the past, uses them sparingly and has minimal decoration to highlight spaces, lighting fixtures, and subtle shine through. A good designer finds this balance between beauty and functionality. 

How We Create Modern 21st Century Classics 

A modern classic might seem like an oxymoron, but a Villa Custom Home so often has a fusion of what is known as the classic Southwestern Style with the spark and sleek design of modern features. The Villa Custom Homes motto is to build the client’s vision. Yet, our approach to home building is very much one of the 21st century as we adopt the design and architectural elements of the traditional Southwest style and modify it to be simple and functional for the modern family. 

Pueblo-style homes built out of rammed earth or adobe are a great way to combat the region’s climate. Prominent features that make our homes stand out include:

Rammed earth. Villa Custom Homes is the only experienced and specialized rammed earth builder in town. A home constructed out of rammed earth will always offer the utmost performance in terms of longevity, energy efficiency, and comfort. 

Wooden Features. The beautiful wood material can be used as decorative or structural elements. These might include such desired features such as posts, corbels, and vigas. Using a combination of modern light fixtures and wooden beams in the ceilings—also known as vigas— is a sought after design in our homes. 

Other common features of the Southwest style include:

  • Thick, round-edged walls
  • Earthy materials 
  • Natural colors for the interior and exterior
  • Wooden roof beams 
  • Flat or gently sloping roofs
  • Brick, flagstone, or wood floors
  • Cantera stone features

Build Into the Future With Villa Custom Homes

Your home is a statement of past and present. Villa Custom Homes works closely with our clients to ensure that we are fulfilling their vision and constructing a home that will become a modern classic. Our homes are inspired by a beauty from past and present, as well as earthy materials, all to create a home of optimal comfort and performance.