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When it comes to elevating a home’s comfort and functionality, homeowners are moving away from surface-level cosmetic enhancements and leaning into highly tailored, purposeful features. According to interior design and home remodeling experts, the most requested custom projects right now focus on integrating character, order, and everyday luxury into spaces.
From the hidden efficiency of a prep kitchen to a dedicated drop zone, these customizations are designed to streamline daily routines. At the same time, adding covered outdoor kitchens, built-in fire features, and hot/cold wellness rooms shifts the focus toward well-being, providing spaces to either unwind or entertain guests. Whether you are looking to conquer clutter, enhance your wellness routine, or add warmth to your living spaces, these seven sought-after custom home features represent the latest trends.
1. Prep Kitchens and Sculleries
A concealed secondary kitchen that is located behind the primary one is being implemented more frequently today, says Yoni Asulin, a licensed contractor, remodeling expert, and owner of ASL Remodeling in San Francisco. “The thinking is that the showroom kitchen remains spotless for visitors, while the messy work, such as food preparation…and food delivery, takes place out of sight,” explains Asulin. In the scullery, there is typically another sink, additional refrigeration drawers, dishwashers, and open shelving in a compact space.
2. Custom Drop Zone
Janelle Patton, principal designer and owner of Lark Interiors in Dallas, Texas, is seeing an uptick in requests for a proper utility space and drop zone off the garage. “I’m not talking about just a closet with hooks, but a real room,” says Patton. She elevates the space to a dedicated, built-in system designed specifically for the flow of the household. “Think built-in lockers for each kid, a charging station, a bench with hidden storage, and maybe a sink,” says Patton.
Asulin agrees that nobody wants hooks hanging on walls anymore. “We have rooms now with benches, cubbies, dog washes, and laundry connections,” says Asulin. “Our most successful mudrooms feel like a complete room, rather than just a bare-bones utility area. Even radiant heating is mentioned in nearly every project bid.”
3. Arched Doorways
When choosing architectural features for a custom-built home, homeowners are looking for soft, round lines and edges. “Arched doorways and curved walls are still going strong, and honestly, I think they’re here to stay,” notes Patton. “They soften a floor plan in a way that’s hard to replicate with any other detail.” Her clients who were on the fence about them 3 years ago are now specifically requesting them.
4. Outdoor Fire Features
A fire pit embedded in a small masonry table, along with seating walls made out of the same material as that used in building a patio, is among the most commonly requested features that Asulin designs for clients. “The fire pit makes the outdoor space functional even during the winter season, as well as provides an outdoor focal point for the property,” explains Asulin.
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Patton, Asulin, and Lerner note the popularity of covered outdoor kitchens with extensive amenities to serve as an extension of the home. Homeowners seek an actual kitchen outdoors, not just a grill area. “This requires installing a grill in a permanent location, along with a stove, a fridge, an outdoor sink with hot and cold water, stone or concrete countertops, and a roof over the whole space so that the cooking area can be used in the rain,” explains Asulin. Keep in mind that a roof over a grill needs to comply with code requirements, as it could be a fire hazard. Many grill makers suggest a 60-inch clearance overhead.
“What clients want now is a fully equipped second kitchen with refrigeration, a pizza oven or smoker, and a covered structure that makes the space usable 10 months out of the year,” adds Lerner. Finally, Patton also has clients requesting ceiling fans and a misting system to help stay cool outside even during the summer heat.
6. Integrated Library Wall
The trend of having floor-to-ceiling library walls and reading rooms is back. “People want this design to be seamless by integrating lighting strips and a ladder on rails,” explains Asulin. “Our clients request us to extend the wall [of books] all the way to the ceiling without leaving anything else to hang around.” This feature serves both as an aesthetic value, while eliminating the need for any additional shelving.
7. Hot/Cold Wellness Rooms
A dedicated wellness room is the custom feature that Lauren Lerner, founder and principal interior designer at Living with Lolo in Scottsdale, Arizona, is working on the most. “This is not a home gym with a treadmill pushed against the wall, but a real room designed around recovery that contains an infrared sauna, cold plunge, soft lighting, and natural materials,” she explains.
“Clients are going further than ever, adding red light beds, hyperbaric chambers, and fully custom sauna builds.” In her experience, customers who have these spaces stop treating wellness as a scheduled item and start treating it as part of how their home functions. “That shift in daily routine is what makes it worth the square footage.”
