Designing For Keeps: Timeless Trends in Custom Home Building

This week we would like to share inspiration from our partners at The Scout Guide.

We tapped husband-and-wife team Kevin and Leigh Misso, owners of River Brook Design & Build, a renowned full-service architectural design and construction company in Birmingham, Alabama, to get the scoop on what’s trending in home design. From building from the ground up to adding on or renovating, the lauded firm has a keen eye for detail and a pulse on upcoming trends, making them a go-to for creating timeless dream homes.

Honest materials

Opt for classic, genuine materials like wood, stone, and copper to elevate your home’s exterior. Think cedar roofing, copper gutters, and limestone accents for a sophisticated and timeless facade.

Eat-in kitchens

The heart of the home is returning to its roots. Embrace a more traditional table experience in the kitchen, whether it’s a breakfast nook or a full-fledged table, to foster connection and togetherness.

Prep kitchens

Also known as working kitchens, these adjacent spaces dedicated to food prep and cleanup will keep the main kitchen tidy and guest-ready — a must for entertaining.

Multiple islands

Enhance the functionality and flow of your kitchen by separating the island into two distinct work areas with a pathway between.

Open concepts reimagined

The open concept gets a refresh. Create defined spaces for different activities — think interconnected spaces that offer both togetherness and separation.

Cozy reading nooks

Carve out peaceful escapes for relaxation and reflection with inviting reading nooks furnished with built-in benches and clever storage solutions.

Color drenching and wallpaper

Embrace bold colors and statement wallpapers. Painting walls, trim, and ceilings in the same hue, otherwise known as color drenching, creates a dramatic and immersive effect that actually tricks the eye into believing ceilings are higher.

Luxurious bathroom retreats

Elevate your bathroom with his-and-hers vanities, separate primary closets, and specialty cabinet inserts for hair styling tools.

Seamless indoor-outdoor living

Blur the lines between indoors and out with screened-in porches, patios, and outdoor kitchens that become extensions of the home.

Photography by Laurey Glenn; design & construction by River Brook. River Brook appears in The Scout Guide Birmingham. Discover more of River Brook’s portfolio, here.

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