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Page 28 — Multifamily Properties Quarterly — November 2017
Design
M aybe it is the 300-plus days
of sunshine, the booming
cityscapes boasting mul-
tiple cranes or the call of
adventure in the mountains,
but whatever the reason, people are
drawn to our beautiful state. Due to
this attraction, Colorado is experiencing
a housing boom like never before.This
increase has obligated our housing
market to adapt and explore new con-
cepts and conveniences wanted by the
current renter.
For multifamily housing, one thing
has remained true: People of all walks
of life are looking for the conveniences
and unique amenities it offers. Mul-
tifamily housing continues to answer
the call of millennials looking for their
own spaces, young couples looking
to be first-time homeowners facing
a challenging market, baby boomers
looking to downsize, and families of all
shapes and sizes looking for a sense of
community and home. Keeping these
diverse demographics in mind, the
design trends and appeal of multifam-
ily housing is more crucial now than
ever.
The multifamily housing scene is
flourishing across Colorado, and com-
petition for renter’s attention is not
scarce. Ensuring your property stands
out can be vital for success. Below
we’ve shared some ideas and trends to
help set your property apart.
• Amenity spaces. Amenity spaces
are continuing to make a shift in
their offerings to stay competitive in
the ever-growing market. Past trends
have included things such as big the-
ater rooms with popcorn machines
and entertainment offerings.Today’s
multifamily housing is looking to sup-
port their tenants
through a more
practical approach.
Sleek community
spaces with café-
like vibes offering
beverage stations
with coffee and keg
taps, high-speed
Wi-Fi and com-
munity computers
and printers look to
accommodate resi-
dents who telecom-
mute but may not
want to stay in their
home all day. Offering a private co-
working space or individual offices that
can be rented out is another amenity
gaining in popularity.
In the past, we saw amenity spaces
that were broken up or secluded from
one another in a more compartmental-
ized floorplan. Now it is about creat-
ing an open space where the different
areas can merge.This vision is achieved
through large community tables where
folks can host group gatherings, and
comfortable lounge areas where all sec-
tors of the family are entertained and
relaxed. Further complementing this
trend is the recent interest in indoor-
outdoor compatible zones; such as an
indoor-outdoor bar or game roomwith
the use of a garage door. Accommo-
dating resident’s lifestyles remains an
active focus as well. Dog washes and
dog parks, repair shops for bikes/skis/
snowboards, and electric car charging
stations are all popular offerings of cur-
rent day multifamily housing.
• Design trends. While in the past we
have seen a design focus on bright col-
ors and pop-art effects, we’re grateful
to report a shift back to natural tones
and textures is in the works. Fresh
spaces with subtle tones, contrasting
light and dark, and textures that work
to add a touch of depth are creating
the multifamily spaces of the future.
Playing with light and keeping it bright
works to create this desired natural
are happy to see this shift
back into creating a timeless space for
a sleek and clean living experience.
Additionally, this style lends itself to
not needing replacement in three to
four years, extending the property’s
longevity.
The design focus for shared areas in
multifamily housing is all about using
textiles to activate the space. For urban
settings, we are loving the use of graffiti
graphics and bold wall murals.These
go great in fitness facilities, hallways
and busy areas of the community.
Art pieces are bigger and tend to fea-
ture a mix of mediums with daring
design and bold details. By activating
these zones with eye-catching items, a
unique and fun atmosphere is created.
• Finishes. We all know the design
is truly in the details. Creating these
fresh, clean living spaces is brought to
completion in the finishing touches.
What used to be a focus on darker
Kristen Terjesen,
NCIDQ
Principal designer,
Studio 10 Interior
Design, Denver
David Patterson
Apartment design is shifting back to natural tones and textures, as featured at Urban Farmhouse.