THE NEW MILLENNIAL DEMOGRAPHIC(PART II) WITH BOBBY BERK

Now that you’ve had a chance to see what millennial buyers are looking for in their homes, lets’ take a closer look at the project I completed

earlier this year for the 2016 International Builder Show, and see what elements were chosen with respect to millennials and how you can

incorporate some of the same strategies in your own design work.

If you haven’t had the chance to read Part 1, yet, you can check that out here.

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Front Elevation of the Modern Farmhouse at Sunset.

View of the outdoor space from the side of the house. You enter into this space before you even go through the front door. We were

fortunate enough to have had a lot of input in the early stages of planning and design development with the architect team at Bassenian

Lagoni. Because of this early involvement, we were able to program several outdoor spaces. One of the things that you’ll see that we did to give

millennials not only more actual outdoor space, but the illusion of additional overall living space was to make the �ooring continuous from

indoor to out. That’s why we chose a wood-look plank tile from Daltile, which is pretty indestructible and easy to clean. It has the e�ect of

making the entire home feel even more visually expansive than it is. You would never guess it’s only 2,100 S.F. when you’re inside.

Entry from the Kitchen. One of the things we mentioned that millennials are looking for with respect to their homes is something with custom

features. The inside volume of the entry extends up to the second level and follows the angles of the steep roof gable, which really creates a

very open feel that reads anything but cookie cutter. Custom details like this give character to a space (and aren’t always typical builder

features!).

A shot of the living room. Millennials appreciate functional �oor plans that o�er opportunities to entertain. This home utilized the connection

to the outdoors to make the entire lower level so well-suited to having parties. Again, the tech that we featured was smart tech, but not

overdone. We had the home’s climate controls, entertainment systems and televisions all hooked up to one automated system (Crestron by

Audiovision). Everything is accessible from an ipad or on an app on your phone. Another smart partnership for people to consider is a company

such as Solar City, which will come out to your home and �t you with solar panels, but only if they calculate that doing so will save you money.

There is no out of pocket expense to the homeowners, so it’s really a no brainer, and great for the environment!

The Farmhouse Kitchen. One of the things that we are a fan of, especially in houses that aren’t super large, is using a consistent material

palette throughout the homes. We used the same white carrera marble and subway tile for the kitchen as well as the bathrooms. When you

take a space and cut it up a lot, making each powder room, bathroom or wetspace di�erent in terms of materials, you in e�ect lose continuity,

and it can make things feel smaller. Think more in terms of cohesion. Also note the faux beams. They gave the space architecture on a budget!

Basic white subway tile with a black grout. Another thing we really like, especially with respect to designing for �rst time buyers, who want

some visual interest and good design that doesn’t break the bank, is using basic materials such as this super inexpensive white subway tile with

something less expected like a dark grout. It’s not a new idea; we didn’t reinvent the wheel here, but consider something classic and a�ordable

like this when you’re designing for millennials.

The front guest suite. This space is right o� the front entry by the stairs. It can serve as a guest suite with connection to the rest of the house,

but it also has it’s own kitchenette, bathroom and side entry. This type of standalone unit o�ers new millennial buyer’s a lot of �exibility to grow

with a home. It has so many uses, including a suite for a multigenerational family member to age in place, yet still have some privacy, an income

suite for AirBnb or a traditional roommate situation, or a separate home o�ce. It can also just be a regular bedroom! Many people renovate

older homes to include these spaces. We thought, why not build one right into a new home?

The home features not one, but TWO potential income suites. The Casita, Spanish for “Little House,” is at the back of the house above the

garage. This space has all the same features as the unit in the front, but is completely closed o� to the rest of the house. Again, FLEXIBILITY. It’s

nice for new home buyers to know that the potential to generate income from the home they already own is built right into their space, so if

anything changes with their income, they are able to adapt and don’t have to go through what their parents may have experienced in 2008.

A shot of the loft. We used a lot of West Elm pieces, as the price point was well suited to a �rst time home owner, and the aesthetic is perfect

for this home.

The Nursery.

Master Bedroom. We used a fantastic product called Stikwood. They’re real wood pieces, about 1/8” thick that are sustainably collected from

salvage and add really fantastic character to an accent wall. It’s easy enough to install yourself. Be sure to �rst apply a dark coat of paint to the

wall behind. This way, you won’t have white showing through any of the imperfect gaps in between planks. Another tip: Even though the pieces

are self adhesive, in certain climates you may want to consider using liquid nails as an added precaution to ensure a good adhesion. In the Las

Vegas climate, we had to let the product acclimate before installing. Ship to the construction site a week or two early, and let the product adjust

to the humidity levels and local climate.

Master Bathroom. We carried the wood plank tile into the bathrooms, again to keep a consistent material palette and add a layer of warmth.

Note the subway tile and Carrera marble counters used again. In this space, we chose to paint the ceilings black. The home had 10’ ceilings, so

we were able to forego traditional school of thought with respect to dark ceilings and give this space a sexy black lid. A note about black paint:

Always use a minimum of an eggshell sheen (I would even recommend a satin �nish) for all applications. Black paint simply doesn’t work for

interior spaces in �at. This is a wet space, so a minimum of a satin would be required anyways, but once you make the mistake of specifying

black in �at, you won’t do it again! You’ll �nd that any dust that gets on the paint will show, and you can’t clean it o�. It will look extremely

messy. The shower doors here are from Coastal Shower Doors. They make these fantastic glass shower enclosures with powder coated

aluminum mullions that give this space a super cool architectural feature that is reminiscent of old factory windowpanes. This is another

a�ordable yet custom looking feature that is a great selling point for a millennial buyer looking for something di�erent.

The Gallery House at Sunset. We love the use of at least three materials on the façade of a contemporary home. The limestone, polished

stucco, and Trespa give the home fantastic visual interest and curb appeal. This home was designed as a “move-up” property, for the older,

slightly more established millennial professional.

The Gallery Home’s double height entry. The full height custom entry door sets the tone of the home’s concept from the get-go. You can see

right through to the back yard as you walk up. The double height entry makes a statement, with neutral grey Sherwin Williams “Tin Smith” in �at

on the walls that serves as a great backdrop to allow the art on the walls to really take center stage here. The Andrew Neyer “Big Mobile Light” is

architectural and clean, and the rather thin pro�le doesn’t impeded views of the art which could potentially have been obstructed from certain

angles above and below.

The dining room. The Panton chairs and custom table lend a sculptural element to the dining room, playing up the art gallery concept. We

speci�ed American pocket sliding doors that opened up the dining room on both sides, with views of the Las Vegas strip to the front, and the

fabulous backyard to the rear. Note the use of consistent �ooring from inside to out, unifying the space and visually expanding the livable

square footage to the outdoor courtyard.

The Kitchen. We loved adding rich hues of color to highlight the youthful spirit of the space, and re�ect the young art collector that we

imagined occupying it. The navy subway tile contrasted really well with the marble countertops and the natural maple cabinets. Open shelving

kept the space from feeling too impeded by upper cabinets. Make sure that you don’t overwhelm your open shelving with too many di�erent

colored dishes or pieces. We chose glass and white ceramic dishes and counter appliances; simple and classic, these items are beautiful to

display with the open shelving. We were able to accomplish this look, because behind the stove wall, there is a “home management” room with

additional cabinetry, pantry space and laundry, and it can be used as service kitchen. This gave us the extra storage to not over-clutter the main

kitchen.

Home Management Room. The service kitchen is a great space for pantry, laundry and additional kitchen storage. If I were having a party, I

would use this space to keep my main kitchen clear of dirty dishes and store any hors d’ouvres and snacks. LED strip lighting is relatively

inexpensive, and the added layer of accent lighting at the toe kick and under shelves really makes the home feel much more custom. We also

utilized square LED can lights, which o�ered a unique alternative to a typical round down light. These little details are the kinds of things

millennials are looking for.

The Living Room also opens up to the outdoors. We used inhabit wall �at tiles to give a textural accent and spec’d a pink wall color which

added an invigorating pop. Playful accessories lend the space a youthful vitality that says “We’re here to have a good time.”

Covered game porch o� the living room. Millennials are looking for more space to entertain, so again, we made the connection to the

outdoors a huge priority here. The RS Barcelona ping pong table has modern lines, mid century splayed legs and pink accents that suit the

aesthetic of the home. This porch would be a great space for kids, teens or adults to play ping pong or darts on a nice day. Further down the

yard, we incorporated above ground planter boxes for herb gardening, and a custom dog house! Millennials don’t want to keep up a huge yard,

and in the desert there is a major shortage of water, so indigenous plant species were used in the landscaping. Astroturf was lain in lieu of a

green lawn to save on irrigation. These passive money saving features are important to millennials, who want low maintenance in both yard

work and utility costs!

The backyard. There is a pool with a sustainable water feature and LED lighting, a Jacuzzi, sun lounge areas, a sunken-in �replace lounge, an

outdoor kitchen with a bar, dining area, outdoor living and a courtyard with a water feature and living plant wall.

Outdoor Dining and Kitchen. Fermob outdoor furniture.

The sunken-in �replace lounge. Make sure you always put a mantle above a �replace where you’re going to hang a TV. We hadn’t installed

ours yet, and someone turned on the �replace only to come back and �nd it had completely melted!

The master bedroom. We did a custom color-block mural on the headboard wall. You can get creative with a fun DIY project like this, and paint

can o�er a lot of bang for your buck! We did a design on the computer and then used a projector to lay out the design and then taped o� the

sections with painters tape. Simple graphic bedding and a neutral Bobby Berk Home “Swirls” rug have visual interest yet allow the mural to be

the focal point. A small balcony o� the front of the master suite has the best views of the Vegas strip in the house.

The Master Bathroom. Here again, we used a very simple black hex tile from Daltile and contrasted it with a light grout. It gave the space a

very sexy, masculine feel. We warmed things up with a beautiful slab of oak with a natural edge for the countertop. The same �ooring extends

into the shower pan, where we cut it to achieve the necessary drainage slope, but still kept a uniformity to the �ooring that makes the space

feel that much larger. The �replace is a great touch that you can enjoy in the soaker tub with a peak through to the master.

Another view of the master suite.

The o�ce space o� the master baths o�ers connection to the master suite, yet gives some privacy from a sleeping spouse.

One of the bedrooms. Check out that “Retro-Geo” wallpaper by Bobby Berk for Tempaper.

The loft. Everyone loves a game of foosball!

We also programmed a “Casita” in the Gallery House. This standalone unit o�ers an income suite, generational suite, or simply another

bedroom with its own entry at the rear. It has an en suite and kitchenette and is Airbnb ready!

The Casita bath. We love the penny rounds in white and yellow in the shower in this space.

Whether you’re a designer, architect or home builder, the “Responsive Home” project was designed to give you an idea of what the millennial

demographic values. We hope you enjoyed looking over this project, and learned some ways that you can design and program your spaces to

o�er features that millennials are looking for. To Recap: Remember to �nd ways to connect the indoors and outdoors and o�er as much

outdoor living space as possible.

Register with Responsive Homes for a Complete Virtual Tour.

Use consistent �ooring and consider running tile from the inside out to visually connect your spaces. Use cohesive materials and don’t

overdesign every wet space with varied product. Find cost e�ective ways to inject design without using really expensive materials. Add features

such as accent lighting or select an atypical feature like a square can light to give your spaces something unique. Add architecture where you

can, or vault a ceiling to give a space grander volume. Think about o�ering some type of standalone unit that can be self-sustaining and grow

with the home and homeowner’s changing lives. Happy Designing!

For more design insight, education, and inspiration, be sure to SUBSCRIBE!

About the Author

Bobby Berk’s rise to bonaာde “IT” status in the home design world has more in common with being a rock star than it does a contemporary designer.

Originally hailing from Texas, Bobby had big dreams of the big city and moved to New York in 2003 with only a few dollars to his name and no job in

sight. After working his way up in retail at Bed Bath & Beyond and Restoration Hardware to Creative Director at Portico Home + Spa, Berk decided that it

was time he started his own brand. Since in 2006, Bobby Berk Home has consistently provided customers a unique approach to modern design

aesthetics. Epitomizing hip, minimalist urban luxury, Berk’s designs reာect a stylish and youthful spirit that perfectly ာts any cool, relaxed lifestyle. His

past season’s were inspired by mid-century modernism, taking ideas from the colors and shapes of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. At the age of only 30, Berk’s

brand is beginning to gain national attention, and is on track to quickly become a household name. Berk and his designs have appeared on shows on

HGTV, Bravo, NBC, and more. He’s also graced the pages of Elle Decor, New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out, and many more. Most recently he

was named one of Miami’s Most Stylish Men by Miami Magazine.

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