Fireplaces, big backyards, three-car garages and ranch houses are fading away in Orange County.
Coming into play are many windows—to take advantage of the weather—in three- and four-story houses that even have elevators. Backyards are being replaced by rooftop rooms that could double as man caves or she sheds with a view.
“California doors” that lead to “California rooms,” also playing off the many warm, sunny days, have become synonymous with the state’s laid-back lifestyle of beach and fun.
Those are just some of the changes appearing in Orange County’s newest 36,300 “production” homes, meaning not customized.
“We export a lot of the ideas that are created here,” said Steven Dewan, senior principal at Newport Beach-based Bassenian Lagoni, which has designed many of the new homes in Irvine, China, Dubai, Thailand and elsewhere.
“Orange County is really the hotbed of residential housing for the U.S. and a lot of people say for the world, for that matter.”
The Business Journal asked some of OC’s top home designers and developers about the newest trends, including Emile Haddad, chief executive of Five Point Holdings LLC, the master planner of Great Park Neighborhoods.
Their comments appear below and in the Special Report. n
