Dive summary:

• Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces were among the items that were in high demand in high-end house designs this year, as were windows turned into room corners and wet-room bathrooms that extend space into the shower area and feature no-step bathing for less-mobile seniors.
• Builder magazine also found that green building, including passive design, has become a technique that's expected in many cases, not one that's an extra.
• Other popular features included kitchens with multipurpose kitchen islands, sometimes two of them; pocket offices to use small spaces and open floor plans throughout common areas.

From the article:

Homes that blur the divide between interior and exterior let light in, increase the amount of livable square footage in a house, and make a house live bigger. ...