Our Architects' Top 10 Home Products of 2020
Our Architects' Top 10 Home Products of 2020
by Rachel Lyon & Brooke Thiele, Editorial Director & Creative Director for The House Designers®
If you're the type to seek expert opinions, you'll love to know what architects are drawn to when they draw up new house plans! In this roundup, we'll share the home products that appealed to our professional residential designers this year. And if you ever want to see a whole house specified with preferred products, check out our America's Choice House Plan Collection—you'll find a lot of these products plus plenty more detailed in the renderings!
Durable Siding in a Variety of Styles & Colors
If you're in the market for siding for any type of home, the wide collection available from
Ply Gem® will serve you well! Their
Mastic® brand has solutions in attractive lap, vertical, and shake and shingle looks, in addition to trim and shutters to finish every façade. This premium vinyl siding is virtually maintenance-free and offers resistance to high winds, denting, and UV fading. Dozens of colors are available, so there's no need to worry about painting or staining. You can invest confidently with a VIP limited lifetime warranty, and if you're worried about sustainability, you'll be happy to know that Mastic
® uses recyclable materials!
Model: Ply Gem® Mastic® Cedar Discovery® | Find a Pro Installer
Windows That Put Modern Design on a New Scale
Designed to address the particular standards of modern architecture, the
Signature® Modern product line from
Marvin® offers stunning design, leading performance, and thermal efficiency. Look no further if you want the opportunity to transform walls into expansive views and connect to the outdoors! Narrow rails and stiles and minimalistic hardware come together to create a sleek picture that doesn't complicate interior aesthetics or distract from the scenes outside. Modern windows and doors are stunning in both design and engineering, honoring the exacting principles of modern architecture.
Model: Marvin Signature Modern Casement | Contact for a Quote
Insulated Garage Doors with Trendy Recessed Panels
The right exterior products make all the difference when it comes to curb appeal, so designers always love to see more style-specific options come to market.
Clopay® introduced Bridgeport™ Steel garage doors this year, adding a new traditional-yet-simple vibe to their collection. With recessed panels that produce clean symmetrical lines, these doors are reminiscent of the Shaker style—a popular finish for all sorts of homes! They also feature durable three-layer construction with insulation for energy efficiency, and you can choose from a variety of solid and wood-look colors.
Model: Clopay® Bridgeport™ Steel | Contact for a Quote
Natural, Electricity-Free Lighting & Fresh Air Ventilation
There isn't a homeowner around who doesn't want to create a healthier household, and of course architects design with that in mind. Since the beginning, skylights have brought uplifting natural light inside, but be sure not to overlook another important function—passive ventilation!
VELUX® offers a variety of fixed skylights and ones you can open with a remote control. The most popular option is the Solar Powered "Fresh Air" Skylight, which installs and operates wirelessly. A built-in solar panel charges a battery that stores enough energy to open and close it on demand or in response to interior and exterior conditions. It makes airing out the house one of the easiest chores imaginable!
Model: VELUX® Solar Powered "Fresh Air" Skylights | Contact for a Quote
Stone & Brick Veneer Selection Made Easier
If you don't know where to start with stone or brick, you aren't alone. Whether used on a grand scale or for small accents, these elements have a huge impact on design and should be chosen with confidence.
Eldorado Stone helps simplify the selection process with their handy
Create Your Space section, which includes a visualizer tool to try options in real spaces, a product selector that can help you narrow down the best profiles and colors for your needs, and idea books for inspiration. This is the perfect place to get acquainted with the gorgeous possibilities veneer offers!
Model: Eldorado Stone Visualizer | Free to Use!
High-Powered Cooking Potential That Grabs Attention
Appliances from
JennAir® definitely set kitchens apart. You'll see them featured in luxurious homes where they impress with their breadth, form, and firepower. Don't worry if you're low on space—even ranges designed in the style of professional models come in 30", 36", and 48" widths, making them perfect for kitchens of any size. As you go up, though, you'll find extra features that can transform your cooking experience. From side-by-side double ovens to cooktop additions like grills and griddles, the grander the range, the more you can do with it. All that's left to choose is the style!
Model: JennAir® RISE™ 48” Dual-Fuel Professional-Style Range with Chrome-Infused Griddle and Grill | $11,999.00 MSRP
Gorgeous Lighting to Upgrade Every Space
Light fixtures have a huge impact on design, so be sure to find the right ones for each room! And whatever you have in mind, check out the huge selection available from the
Hudson Valley® Lighting Group. They have four brands that cover all styles, offering beautiful and high-quality products for every sort of home and family. Their collection includes interior and exterior fixtures as well as lamps, and you can purchase from showrooms around the country and from authorized online dealers. Their site is a fantastic place to get some inspiration and keep up to date with the latest—see some of the
newest fixtures coming soon! (Photo: The Tile Shop)
Model: Hudson Valley Lighting® Wallis Wall Sconce | $428.00 MSRP
A Kitchen Faucet Smooth in Design and Function
The right faucet makes all the difference—it defines the sink area to give it personality and can simplify cleaning with a smart design.
GROHE has a variety of faucet collections and technology to ensure every homeowner can create the best kitchen and bathrooms for their needs. Whether you'd like faucets that turn on and off at a touch, touchlessly through a sensor, or that you control with a
foot sensor, they have you covered. Need a great solution for the kitchen? Essence faucets offer a chic cylindrical modern design and intelligent features like pull-down sprayers with super smooth handling. You can retro-fit them for completely hands-free operation, or enjoy adjustable flow at the touch or turn of a button on the SmartControl model, if you prefer.
Model: GROHE Essence Single-Handle Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet Dual Spray 1.75 GPM in Starlight Chrome Finish | $483.00 MSRP
A Dazzling Fireplace That Takes Center Stage
Every home should have a beautiful fireplace—that's why there are so many different types! But have you considered going beyond the norm by visually linking rooms across the hearth? Now, thanks to
Heat & Glo®, you make a statement with a stunning fireplace that fits unique specifications. The
Foundation Series of custom gas fireplaces includes single-sided, see-through, and two three-sided models—one with two long sides for viewing, and the other with two short sides—to give every space the perfect ambiance. They're available in lengths of 4' to 7', feature SafeSurface™ glass to stay cool to the touch, and offer chromotherapy to create different experiences on demand. If you're looking for a way to set your home apart, this is a great way to do it!
Model: Heat & Glo® Foundation Pier Custom Gas Fireplace | Contact Dealer for a Quote
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