on the perimeter.”

At Shodeen Homes, a lot of people upgrade to 42-inch upper cabinets and choose a gourmet kitchen with double oven in homes where that isn’t a standard, Harmon said.

And at Heritage Harbor, custom open shelving is big right now, Barry said.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms rank up there with kitchens as a heavily upgraded room in new homes. At Shodeen Homes, a lot of people want to upgrade tub fixtures. “They bring in photos and ideas they see online, and we work with them to accommodate their desires,” Harmon said.

“People are going for the more modern tubs, and we’re seeing more linear styles that take up less square footage. In some of our floor plans, we show a free-standing tub in the master suite, and it’s an exciting trend that a lot of people want.”

At Newport Cove, the free-standing bathtub is also a hit, and customers also like the large walk-in shower with no doors, Tauke said.

Customers at M/I Homes are also moving away from the tub/shower combination and opting for a larger shower, said Cheryl Bonk, vice president of sales and marketing. “That’s been a big wave that we’re seeing.”

Flooring

Although carpeting has become more environmentally friendly with softer textures, wood flooring reigns on the main level of new homes.

At Toll Brothers, the popular floor color is a weathered look, which is a mix of taupe and gray with brown undertones, said Trisha Houser, sales manager. “That’s what people are asking for all day long.”

At Shodeen, it’s popular to upgrade standard flooring, and vinyl wood planking has become really popular for the basement, Harmon said.

K. Hovnanian Homes offers site-finished hardwood floors, Murphy said. Newport Cove sees people selecting the engineered wood flooring. Porcelain tile that looks like wood is also popular now, Tauke said.

Outdoors/exteriors

Let’s not forget about the outdoors. William Ryan Homes has put in a fire pit for a customer, and Shodeen Homes has done a custom deck and arbor feature that gives the backyard a nice look.

Shodeen also offers a screened-in porch option, and they’re big at Heritage Harbor where people want to sit and enjoy the nice views and spend more time outdoors without worrying about bugs, Barry said.

For home exteriors, William Ryan Homes offers six different exterior elevations including farmhouse- and cottage-style homes, and also it has a prairie craftsman that’s always very popular, Mencias said.

“The cottage look is really popular and is a big attraction to our Newport Cove community,” Tauke said.

Included as standard

Some builders include many upgrades as standard items, especially in higher-end homes where buyers expect luxury finishes, upgraded kitchens and flooring.